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Stacking Slabs

Brett McGrath

Welcome to the Stacking Slabs, a podcast for sports cards collectors. There's been a tremendous amount of change to our Hobby over the last few years and the one constant has been the passion from the collecting community. Stacking Slabs is built by the collector and lives to tell stories for the collector.

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74 episodes
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#1053
August 19 · 34 min
The Hobby Needs More Collecting Lanes, Not More Pressure
The hobby grows when more collectors find a reason to care and a reason to stay. In this episode, Brett explains why categories such as wrestling, WNBA, Disney, Pokémon, and fictional characters matter. He also draws a line between building a collecting community and selling the claim that a market is about to explode. Brett breaks down how to evaluate category growth, why price alone proves little, and how ownership, urgency, repetition, and status shape collector decisions. He shares a framework for separating your collecting thesis from your market thesis, testing demand, and deciding whether a card fits your collection without borrowing someone else’s conviction. More lanes can strengthen the hobby. The growth needs to serve collectors. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1052
August 18 · 1 hr 8 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: Pride, Belief, and Nneka — Collecting the LA Sparks with Ike (@istockgrizz)
What makes someone choose a team and keep choosing it when the wins are not there? Katelyn sits down with Ike (@istockgrizz) to talk about his connection to the Los Angeles Sparks and the cards that bring him closer to the team. They discuss the Sparks game-day experience, the gap between player accomplishments and card prices, and why Ike buys cards he would feel comfortable holding for life. Ike also shares the story behind his Nneka Ogwumike 2008 McDonald’s All-American autograph. He gave up a Candace Parker Gold Prizm PSA 10 to bring it home. This is a conversation about team history, collector belief, and choosing connection over the latest comp. Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1050
August 17 · 52 min
Passion to Profession: From Baker, to Teacher, to CEO of a Multi-Million Dollar Business — How Stephanie Garcia Built Mama Breaks
Stephanie Garcia started Mama Breaks while teaching from home and looking for a way to reconnect with cards. Her first goal was to reach 1,000 Instagram followers and host one break. Four years later, she leads a 12-person, multimillion-dollar business. Stephanie shares why she left teaching, how she earned trust with collectors, when she knew it was time to hire, and why the experience around a break matters as much as the cards. She also explains how her love for wrestling, Star Wars, and non-sports cards helped Mama Breaks serve collectors who were being overlooked. This is a conversation about risk, community, leadership, and sharing what you love with your kids. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card. Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1051
August 16 · 47 min
Hobby Jobs: Scale the Process. Preserve the Promise + Conversation with Michael Osacky
Supporting collectors gets harder as a business grows. The answer is not to care less. It is to turn that care into a process others can repeat. Brett examines how operators can add capacity without making collectors feel processed. He also sits down with Michael Osacky of Baseball in the Attic at The National. Michael shares what he has learned the years in business, earning trust through independent judgment, staying connected to clients, finding a niche, and refusing to lead with money. Growth matters. The question is whether your standard can survive without you touching every part of the work. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1049
August 15 · 49 min
Booked to Last: John Cena's WrestleMania Patch Auto 1/1 Starts Soon — What's next?
John Cena’s WrestleMania Patch Auto 1/1 is heading to Goldin’s Summer 100 auction. The opening bid alone will set a public sales record for a Cena card. The final price will tell us how much demand exists beyond wrestling card collectors. Adam and Ryan discuss the card, the bidders who might pursue it, and what the sale means for the wrestling card market. They also break down 2026 Topps WWE Universe, recent sales, Solo Sikoa’s growing collector appeal, and Ryan’s $9,000 Finn Bálor gift to Neil. Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs! Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1048
August 14 · 1 hr 18 min
The Football Card Podcast #60: Josh Allen, $1.7 Million and the Value of Belief
A reported private sale valued Josh Allen’s 2018 National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield autograph rookie card at $1.7 million. The reaction focused on what Allen has not done. He has not won a Super Bowl. Pack and Brett explain why championships alone cannot determine collectibility. They discuss the power of player connection, recognizable card features, career narratives, and the people willing to own these cards for the long term. The conversation also covers Jaxson Dart’s grading volume, Tom Brady’s 2002 Topps Chrome market, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice, cards sitting on your eBay watchlist, and the start of Big Ugly Autumn. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1047
August 13 · 44 min
Hobby Jobs: Stay Close to the Problem with Josh Johnson, CTO of Card Ladder
Technology has made it easier to build a product. It has not made it easier to know what deserves to be built. Brett sits down with Josh Johnson, CTO of Card Ladder, at The National to discuss how Card Ladder grew from a problem its team faced as collectors. Josh shares why he spent three months preparing the app for The National, how Card Ladder earned trust through seven years of work, and why the team turns down revenue opportunities that pull the product away from collectors. They also discuss AI, product development, team health, brand building, and what people entering the sports card industry need to understand before trying to serve it. This is a conversation about staying close to collectors and building something that lasts. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1046
August 12 · 24 min
The National Isn’t Over: What Did You Really Bring Home?
The cards are unpacked. The pickup posts have slowed down. That does not mean The National is over. In this episode, Brett looks at the return that does not fit inside a card case: clarity about your collection, evidence that tests your beliefs, relationships worth continuing, opportunities worth testing and a clearer understanding of where your attention belongs. He shares what Wrestling Card Takeover revealed about community participation and offers a 30-minute process for turning your National experience into action. What will be different because you were there? Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1045
August 11 · 57 min
The WNBA Card Podcast: Collecting A'ja Wilson and the Aces with Carter (mcbasketballpc)
Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1044
August 10 · 37 min
Passion to Profession: From a Card Shop at 13 to Building DT Sportscards with Dave Thimesch
Dave Thimesch wanted a 1987 Topps Mark McGwire card. That card started an obsession. At 13, Dave opened a card shop. He returned to the hobby during the Stephen Strasburg rise in 2009, moved from opening products to running group breaks, and built DT Sportscards into a PSA submission business handling thousands of cards. Dave joins Brett to discuss why ripping products created debt, how rising product costs forced him to change his business, and why transparency matters when collectors trust you with their cards. They also talk about the systems required to submit 1,200 cards per week, the challenge of giving up control, and the line between working in the hobby and collecting for yourself. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card. Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1043
August 9 · 47 min
Hobby Jobs: Build Before the Validation Arrives + Chat with Collect Talent Co-Founder Danny Mosse
Most people do not have an idea problem. They have a permission problem. In this episode of Hobby Jobs, Brett explains why operators need to build before the market gives them certainty. He shares a 30-day conviction sprint for testing an unresolved problem, examines how Gabe built his college football card expertise into a career with CardCollector2, and spotlights the content creator role at Layton Sports Cards. Then Brett sits down with Collect Talent co-founder Danny Mosse at The National. After 15 years across Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Goldin, and eBay, Danny is building a job and networking hub for the collecting industry. They discuss trust across collecting categories, the path from passion to profession, and why the gap between companies and talent is an infrastructure problem. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Check out Collect Talent — One network where the collecting industry finds its people Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1042
August 8 · 1 hr 27 min
Booked to Last: The Week Wrestling Cards Took Over The National
Wrestling Card Takeover filled a room with nearly 400 collectors at The National. The shirts disappeared. The room hit capacity. Deals took shape. One-of-ones surfaced. Collectors traveled from across the country and as far as Germany to take part. Adam, Ryan, and Brett look back on the week that showed how much the wrestling card community has grown. They discuss: The demand for Oba Femi cards The John Cena and Rhea Ripley WrestleMania patch autographs The cards pulled and purchased during Wrestling Card Takeover The stories behind the deals The market response to SummerSlam Why attending The National is about more than buying cards The cards brought everyone into the room. The people made it a night worth remembering. Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs! Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1041
August 7 · 1 hr 18 min
The Football Card Podcast #59: The National Aftermath As The Sun Sets On Linebacker Summer
Pack and Brett return from The National to process what they saw across the show floor. Cards priced between $100 and $500 moved at a fast rate. Dealers struggled to keep cases stocked. Seeing cards such as the 2017 Patrick Mahomes Prizm Black Finite and Peyton Manning Gem Masters in person changed how they viewed them. They also close out Linebacker Summer with Luke Kuechly, one of the best defensive players of his era. His career is set, but his card market tells a different story. The conversation covers cards that have moved beyond reach, displaying a collection, selling through auction instead of private deals, eBay authentication, and the football card sales that moved during National week. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1040
August 6 · 37 min
Hobby Jobs: When Doing the Right Thing Costs Millions with Noah Dock of BCW Supplies
Most collectors know BCW through penny sleeves, top loaders, magnetic holders, and storage boxes. Behind those products sits a company with more than 100 employees serving collectors, shops, breakers, and dealers. Noah Dock joined BCW as CFO after working in finance, private equity, and his family’s pawn business. He did not earn the role because he knew more about cards than everyone else. He earned it because he understood finance, operations, and how to help a company scale. Noah shares why passion cannot replace skill, why a CEO must become the “chief repeating officer,” and how core values shape hiring, promotions, and customer relationships. He also explains why BCW returned millions of dollars in tariff refunds to 4,000 customers. This conversation is about the work behind the hobby. It is about bringing your skills into the industry, building trust through decisions, and proving what your company stands for when money is at stake. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1039
August 5 · 26 min
The Most Valuable Thing You Take Home Isn’t a Card
After my first 24 hours at The National, I returned to my hotel with more energy than I had when the day began. It wasn’t because of a card, a sale, or a booth. It came from the conversations. In this episode, I explore how conversations give collectors context that sales data cannot provide. They test our thinking, strengthen our conviction, build trust, and remind us that people exist on both sides of every card. We also examine the difference between attention and connection, why networking can turn into extraction, and how better questions can change the way you collect. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1038
August 4 · 52 min
Hobby Jobs: Passion is the Entry Fee with Chris McGill of Card Ladder
Passion gets you into sports cards. It does not build a product people trust. Brett sits down with Card Ladder co-founder Chris McGill at The National to discuss the work behind one of the hobby’s most used tools. Chris explains why seeing collectors rely on Card Ladder creates pressure, why customer service takes up much of the team’s time, and why standards matter when money is involved. They also discuss the start of Card Ladder, the value of bringing experience from outside the hobby, and what people should consider before pursuing a career in sports cards. Loving cards can open the door. Staying requires skills, service, and a problem worth solving. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1036
August 3 · 53 min
Passion to Profession: From College Football Cards to Working at Card Collector 2 with Gabe (@gabeycardstacks)
Gabe did not follow a career path into sports cards. He created one. His interest in college football led him to Bowman University, player research, value boxes, and content built around a part of the hobby few people were covering. Consistency helped Gabe become a trusted voice in college football cards. It also started a relationship with Ryan Johnson of Card Collector 2. That relationship grew through shared interests, phone calls, podcast episodes, and work behind the scenes. It led to a job offer and Gabe moving his family from Arizona to Ohio to join the Card Collector 2 team. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett talks with Gabe about identifying an underserved category, building expertise, earning trust, and turning the work he enjoyed into a career. Gabe also explains how he evaluates college football prospects, compares Bowman First cards with later college and NFL releases, and uses player talent, price, program demand, and timing to make buying decisions. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card. Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1037
August 2 · 48 min
Hobby Jobs: When the Collection Becomes Capital Building + Hiring, and Serving Collectors Steve Sloan of Heystack
What happens when a collector starts looking at cards as a source of funding for a business? Brett examines the tension between the collector who wants to keep the card and the operator who sees what selling it can fund. He shares four questions every founder should answer before turning a collection into capital. Recorded at The National in the Card Ladder booth, Brett also sits down with Steve Sloan, CEO of Heystack and former president of PSA. They discuss building technology for the card industry, earning business partnerships, hiring for a startup, and why every operating decision reaches the collector. The collector may never see the systems behind a card business. They will feel the results. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1033
August 1 · 1 hr 7 min
Booked to Last: Why Wrestling Cards Have Never Felt Bigger
Adam is joined by Brett for a collector-focused conversation during the biggest week of the year. They discuss why Fanatics Fest increased their confidence in wrestling cards, what the Wrestling Card Takeover represents for the community, and how Topps is putting WWE beside its other sports at The National. The conversation also covers the rookie cycle surrounding Oba Femi, collecting Roman Reigns across different eras, SummerSlam, and recent sales involving Gunther, John Cena, and Roman Reigns. Wrestling cards once felt hard to find at major shows. That is changing. Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs! Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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#1035
July 31 · 1 hr 1 min
The Football Card Podcast #58: What Changes for Collectors When Football Returns?
Football season reconnects cards to the games, players, and moments that made collectors care in the first place. Pack and Brett examine what changes when the NFL returns. They discuss the rush of collecting active players, the effect of weekly performance on card prices, and the risk of allowing one game to shape a collecting decision. The conversation covers the offseason price movement of Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, the long-term case for Josh Allen, and the search for value beyond the cards receiving the most attention. Plus, Linebacker Summer rolls through Derrick Thomas, Jack Lambert, and Von Miller. The episode closes with listener questions and sales involving Jayden Daniels, Dan Marino, Drew Brees, and Mark Sanchez. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Showing 41–60 of 74 episodes