Stacking Slabs

Latest Episodes:

Passion to Profession: From Convention Floors to Break Room Studios: Mark's Paradise Card Breaks Journey Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

This week’s Passion to Profession features Mark, owner of Paradise Card Breaks, one of the fastest-growing and most community-driven card shops in the hobby. From humble beginnings breaking on Facebook during COVID lockdowns to building a 22-person team in the heart of Las Vegas, Mark shares what it really takes to build a trusted business in today’s sports card industry.

We talk about:

Building a brand without a bankroll
Creating experiences that keep collectors coming back
Breaking on eBay Live 18 hours a day
Why celebrity involvement in the hobby matters
The biggest shift in collector behavior he's seen
Preparing to open a second location on the East Coast

If you're thinking about turning your hobby into a profession—or are already in the thick of it—this one hits home.

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

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The WNBA Card Podcast #1: Paige Bueckers Finishes Her Story and What That Means for Collectors Apr 12, 2025

Show notes

The debut episode of The WNBA Card Podcast is here. Co-hosts Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) and Brett (@stackingslabs) kick things off by unpacking the growing momentum in women’s basketball cards.

They react to UConn’s championship run, share thoughts on Sarah Strong’s market spike, and talk about why Bowman Firsts and Prizm parallels are shaping the future of WNBA collecting. The conversation hits everything from the draft to underrated prospects, hobby opportunities, and favorite recent pickups.

Whether you're new to WNBA cards or already deep in the market, this episode sets the tone for a show made by collectors, for collectors.

Make sure you follow The WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram for the latest news and updates.

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

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Online Momentum, Show Reality: What Kevin (@dacaptain37) is Seeing at the Table Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

In this collector conversation, I catch up with my friend Kevin (@dacaptain37) to talk about the current state of the hobby from behind the table. We're hearing a lot about big numbers in online sales, but is that momentum showing up at local and regional shows?

Kevin shares what’s moving, what’s not, and how different segments of the market—from Brady rookies to Pokémon to vintage baseball—are performing in-person. We also touch on what the repacker wave means for collectors, and how shows are changing because of it.

If you're trying to connect the dots between what you see on IG and what’s happening at card shows, this one's for you.

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Smashing BIN: The BIN You Can’t Let Get Away with John (@packnicholson) Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

What makes a collector hit “Buy It Now” without thinking twice?

This week on Smashing BIN, John (@packnicholson) joins the show to break down the psychology behind BIN moments and the 2024 Prizm Jaylon Johnson Black Finite 1/1 as his subject. We talk about the psychology of passing, the weight of regret, and the feeling of relief when the second chance comes around.

We explore what it means to stay patient, how to trust your gut, and why some cards deserve to be overpaid for. With help from Card Ladder data, we look at the pricing trends and what this purchase reveals about timing, instinct, and collector identity.

Because sometimes, smashing BIN isn’t about being first.

It’s about making sure you’re not last.

Enjoy it? Tell a damn friend.

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Why We Smash BIN: The Emotion Over the Data Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

We don’t smash BIN because of comps.

We smash because the card hits something inside us.

In this episode, I’m talking through the psychology of the BIN smash—the real reasons collectors hit Buy It Now without hesitation. I share my personal process, what I’ve learned from others, and the emotional phases we go through when the right card shows up, and why we created a dedicated show about it.

This isn’t about logic.
It’s about desire, instinct, and what it means to build a collection that reflects who you are.

You’ll hear about my recent BIN smash of the 2022 Prizm WWE Charlotte Flair Gold /10 PSA 10 and why that card had to be mine. Let’s stop pretending all of our decisions are rational.

Enjoy it? Tell a damn friend.

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Passion to Profession: Buying Collections and Building a Business with Curt and Aaron from BBC Emporium Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Passion to Profession, I sit down with brothers Curt and Aaron from BBC Emporium to talk about their journey from passionate collectors to business owners. We go deep into what it takes to run a successful business in today's hobby, how their mindset has shifted from collecting to serving, and what makes BBC Emporium feel like home to the local collector community.

We cover:

– Why connection matters more than comps
– Lessons from the early days of setting up shop
– How they think about product selection, pricing, and supporting collectors
– Why authenticity always wins in the long run

If you’ve ever thought about turning your passion for cards into something bigger—or if you’re a collector who values the experience of walking into a great shop—you’re going to connect with this one.

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

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Finding the Pacers Through Haliburton and the Cards That Followed with Rodney (@enjoycards_ig) Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Rodney (@enjoycards_ig) joins the show for a collector conversation rooted in passion, purpose, and Pacers.

We talk about how he became a fan of the Indiana Pacers and why Tyrese Haliburton became his guy. Rodney shares his collecting story, from Duke days and Grant Hill admiration to his gold Halliburton chase. We explore the psychology of choosing a player, committing to a team, and letting aesthetics guide the journey.

You’ll hear about:

His Halliburton Black 1/1 Prizm and how he landed it
The cards that brought him joy in hand
Why he chose to focus on Halliburton in a Pacers jersey, not rookie cards
Thoughts on the Pacers' playoff potential this year
How collecting deepened his connection to the game

This one’s for collectors who build meaning through cardboard and fall in love with the game all over again.

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Smashing BIN #1: Paul (@wardle_kombat) and the Brady Rookie That Changed Everything Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

In this debut episode of Smashing BIN, I sit down with Paul (@wardle_kombat) to break down one of the most legendary Buy It Now moments in recent collecting memory, his late-night Walmart parking lot pickup of a 2000 Bowman Gold Brady rookie /99.

We talk about:

What made him smash BIN without hesitation
How that one decision led to owning three copies
Why understanding rarity is more powerful than comp chasing
What that card allowed him to do years later (think vacations, a new house, and more)

Plus, we dig into three more recent BIN smashes:

Shohei Ohtani’s green refractor auto /99 for $24K
Aaron Judge’s Bowman Chrome auto selling $1.4K higher than an auction on the same day
A sleeper Roethlisberger Rookie Premiere auto /15 for $2,499

We wrap with the question every collector faces: when do you smash BIN, and when do you walk away?

This is a show about instincts, collector psychology, and the stories behind sales that don’t wait for the countdown.

Enjoy it? Tell a damn friend.

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Letting Go: Why Selling That Card You Just Bought Doesn’t Make You a Flipper Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Letting go of a card right after you bought it doesn’t make you a flipper. It makes you adaptable. In this episode, Brett breaks down why collectors shouldn't feel guilt or shame for making fast moves. You’ll hear about the mindset shift that helped him stop caring what others think and start building a collection that actually means something.

Topics covered:

Why intent and transparency matter more than timelines
How ego can hold collectors back
Why the “flipper” label misses the point
The reality of sunk costs and leveling up
Stories from Brett’s own quick moves, including selling fresh pickups to land grails

If you're making decisions based on your collecting goals, you're not flipping—you're curating.

Enjoy it? Tell a damn friend.

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Card Ladder Confidential #6 with Chris (@chris_hoj) and Josh (cardboard_chronicles) from Card Ladder Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Card Ladder Confidential, Chris and Josh are back to talk cards, collecting strategies, and the psychology behind how we rank and value what we own. We start with a cold open—if your collection was a March Madness bracket, which card cuts down the nets?

We dive into:

How Card Ladder is improving price prediction with more accurate historical data
The fine line between educating vs. pumping on social media
Tech enhancements that improve collecting, like PSA to eBay flow and AI-powered search
Why Finals MVP matters more than you think
How sentiment and scarcity shape card markets over time
The froth monsters returning to the hobby
Using bounties to track down grail cards
The role gambling plays in shaping the public perception of the hobby

Plus: card pickups, collecting wide receivers, market movers, and a whole lot more. If you’re a collector who wants to sharpen your edge and stay grounded, this one's for you.

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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