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The Shallow End — Hobbies
The Shallow End

The Shallow End: A Sports Card Podcast On a Budget

Copyright: © david.asa.schwartz

Latest Episodes:

27 Decisions #17/27 - @1980sCardsWithDan and the Decision to Chase a Serial Number Nov 20, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Dan aka @1980sCardsWithDan. One day Dan was looking at Bryce Harper cards. He found one, but when he noticed the serial number on the card, in that moment everything about his hobby experience changed.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #16/27 - @JRFIllini and the Decision to Take Flight With Air McNair Nov 19, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Joe aka @JRFIllini. Joe grew up a Bears fan, but when he decided he wanted to collect a player from 1990s, let's just say the Bears didn't present the most attractive options. Enter: Steve McNair.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #15/27 - @Carlson_Cards the Decision to Go for the Gold Nov 18, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Austin aka @Carlson_Cards, host of the Carlson Cards Sports Card Podcast. At first, Austin was just another Manning and Brady collector. But when he followed an impulse, he began a set chase that has collectors everywhere rooting for his success.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #14/27 - @Deepsouth_Hobbyist and the Decision to Stay Put Nov 17, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Justin aka @Deepsouth_Hobbyist. Justin's decision wasn't to start something new, but to keep something he already had. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones we don't make.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #13/27 - @Pancake_Analytics and the Decision to Visit Mario World Nov 16, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Tom aka @Pancake_Analytics. Tom enjoys trading cards, and Tom enjoys video games. As he began to think of what he and his young kids could do together, he realized video-game cards might just be the perfect thing.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #12/27 - @Scottie_B_Cards and the Decision to Dive Into the '90s Nov 15, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Scott aka @Scottie_B_Cards. For years Scott was curious about '90s cards but never took the leap. But when the perfect card of the perfect player became available, he knew it was time.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #11/27 - @crt_sportscards and the Decision to Go All In Nov 14, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Chris aka @crt_sportscards. At first, all Chris wanted was to buy a few cards to commemorate a trip to Chicago. Little did he know then it would turn into the chase of a lifetime.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decision #10/27 - @tradingcardfinds and the Decision to Follow His George Brett Impulse Nov 13, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is AJ aka @TradingCardFinds. One day AJ was in a card shop when he looked down and saw something he'd never seen. It was the hobby equivalent of love at first sight.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #9/27 - @1956ToppsGuy and the Decision to Honor His Beloved Cubbies Nov 12, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Matthew aka @1956ToppsGuy. In 2016, his beloved Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in 108 years. Matthew, a vintage collector, decided then it was time to expand the modern wing of his PC.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #8/27 - @mre_collector and the Decision to Chase Kyle Hamilton Nov 11, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Ernie aka @mre_collector. Learn how Ernie's decision to personalize his Baltimore Ravens PC brought him closer to both the hobby and his heritage.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #7/27 - @outthebox85 and the Decision to Hunt Old Wax Nov 10, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Rick aka @outthebox85. Rick and his family spend quality time together digging through old wax packs. It all started with an impulse buy that produced a card that will blow your mind.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #6/27 - @RobWongCollects and the Decision to Turn His PC Into a Scrapbook Nov 09, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Rob aka @RobWongCollects. Rob, a longtime sports journalist in Toronto, wanted to remember his career through sports cards. This is how he's doing it.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #5/27 - @Eephus_pitch and the Decision to Think Small Nov 08, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Bill aka @eephus_pitch. Learn how Bill's decision to escape the hobby mainstream resulted in new community and rediscovered enjoyment.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #4/27 - @cardinal_red_refractors and the Decision that Red Means Go Nov 07, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Sully aka @cardinal_red_refractors. Sully never knew he was a color-match collector. That changed when a rare Yadier Molina found its way to his mailbox.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz⁠ ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #3/27 - @SouthernCollector14 and the Decision to Randomly Bid on a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Nov 06, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Tony aka @SouthernCollector14. Learn how Tony's spontaneous decision to throw a bid on a '52 Mantle landed him a copy of the hobby's most iconic card.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #2/27 - @Sole.Tuf and the Decision to Buy Gehrig Nov 05, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Robert aka @Sole.Tuf ⁠. Learn how a '90s basketball collector ignited a new area of collecting thanks to one of the most iconic vintage cards ever produced.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

27 Decisions #1/27 - @TimSalmonCollector and the Decision to Spend a Little More Nov 04, 2024

Welcome to "27 Decisions," a limited-run series all November presented by The Shallow End. Today's guest is Greg aka @TimSalmonCollector. Learn how Greg's decision to spend a little more changed the trajectory of his collection.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/tumblin

License code: ONWKL496FS2NZ4IP

The Shallow End ep 67 - Introducing "27 Decisions" Nov 01, 2024

Beginning Monday, Nov. 4, The Shallow End will drop a new episode in your podcast feed for 27 consecutive days. This limited-run series, "27 Decisions," will run Nov. 4-30, and each day will feature a new interview with a collector about a decision or moment that changed the direction of their hobby experience. More details in today's short episode of The Shallow End.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 66 - A Conversation With @IstanbulCards Oct 25, 2024

As one-half of the team behind the podcast Global Card Collectors, John (@IstanbulCards) puts together his NBA PC while chatting with other collectors from across the globe. In this episode, we talk about the origins of his Luka Doncic collection, Michael Jordan's unending global impact, and why Crusade inserts aren't as harmless as they seem.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 65 - Saying No to the Cards We Want Oct 18, 2024

Do we collect cards? Or do cards collect us? Who's really in control here? If you suspect you're not in control of your own collecting, there's a little-known remedy: Say no to the cards you want.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 64 - Cards From the Shadows Oct 11, 2024

Matt aka @timmy_d_21_pc returns, and he's been busy. One of the hobby's most thoughtful collectors is here to talk the value of patience, research, and realizing that more is not always more. Plus, we hear the story behind his incredible Shohei Ohtani auto.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (IG: @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

I Need Your Help Oct 04, 2024

I need your help.

I’m working on something—something special—and I need your help.

Have you ever made a major change to your collection? Have you ever picked up a new card, or started putting together a new set, or focused on a new player … that changed the direction of how you collect sports cards?

If so, and if you’d like to talk with me, I’d like to talk with you.

I’m Dave Schwartz, and this is my podcast, The Shallow End. You can reach me on Instagram @IowaDave_Sportscards.

I’m interested in hearing from collectors who were willing to make a change, and I want to HEAR about that change—or that moment—because I think there are lots of us out there who would like to know, too.

If you’ve never been on a podcast before, this is your time to say hello to your fellow collectors in a safe setting. And if you’re a podcast regular, or have your OWN podcast, I’d love to hear from you too. Nobody is too big or too unknown in this hobby to take part in this special series I’m putting together. This will be a series by everyone, for everyone.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I need your help.

I’m working on something—something special—and I need your help.

Have you ever made a major change to your collection? Have you ever picked up a new card, or started putting together a new set, or focused on a new player … that changed the direction of how you collect sports cards?

If so, and if you’d like to talk with me, I’d like to talk with you. I’m Dave Schwartz, and this is my podcast, The Shallow End. You can reach me on Instagram @IowaDave_Sportscards. I’m interested in hearing from collectors who were willing to make a change, and I want to HEAR about that change—or that moment—because I think there are lots of us out there who would like to know, too. If you’ve never been on a podcast before, this is your time to say hello to your fellow collectors in a safe setting. And if you’re a podcast regular, or have your OWN podcast, I’d love to hear from you too. Nobody is too big or too unknown in this hobby to take part in this special series I’m putting together. This will be a series by everyone, for everyone.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Shallow End ep 62 - Report from an Iowa Card Show 2 Sep 27, 2024

Dealers closing up shop early, unimpressive con artists … must be a sports-card show. In this episode, Dave recaps a card show he attended last weekend and explains why even a subpar day at a card show beats just about any other experience.

Total Content 9.25.2024 Sep 25, 2024

Welcome to Volume 4 of The Shallow End: Total Content. In this edition, we hear 13 clips from the best and most interesting sports-card podcasts.

The Shallow End ep 61 - To Caitlin, or Not to Caitlin … Sep 20, 2024

Great news! One of my favorite athletes has rookie cards coming out soon. Bad news. Half the planet will be looking for them, driving up prices while shrinking availability. That begs the question: Should I—or should I not—collect Caitlin Clark cards?

The Shallow End ep 60 - Collecting When You're Broke Sep 13, 2024

You've picked up a big sports card. Congratulations! In theory, you should be content for a while, but you're not. You want more. But you spent all your money on that big card. Now what? How do you collect when you're broke?

The Shallow End ep 59 - The High End of The Shallow End w/ @740SmithCards Sep 06, 2024

Justin, aka @740SmithCards, PC's Michael Jordan, but the rest of his PC is made up almost entirely of non-Hall of Famers—players who hold a special place in his history as a fan of Ohio sports. In this episode, we hear how Justin marries his passion for collecting childhood heroes with his fondness for some of the era's most unique and memorable sets of sports cards. We also learn that Justin doesn't consider himself an influencer, except when it comes to passing along knowledge of the hobby to his kids.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz, @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards on IG.

The Shallow End ep 58 - Keeping Sports Cards Fun w/ Inspired Sportscards Aug 30, 2024

Josh is a sports-card collector of many interests: vintage, modern, Yankees, superstars from across MLB. In this episode, learn from a collector who remembers that sports cards are supposed to be a hobby, fun, and most of all, an escape from everyday life. Find Josh on IG at @InspiredSportscards.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 57 - How to Insult a Collector Aug 16, 2024

There's a term in the British art world used to describe someone who doesn't think for themselves, who only collects based on what others are doing, and what they think is "right." In this episode, we talk about that insult and how it applies to sports cards.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Total Content 8.12.2024 Aug 12, 2024

In the third installment of The Shallow End: Total Content, we catch up with some of the most interesting hobby content from the last month.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

The Shallow End ep 56 - Finding Your Way Aug 09, 2024

Soccer-collector Mark (@SJSoccerCards) joined the hobby just two years ago. Like all of us, he's making mistakes, learning lessons, and discovering which cards stoke his interests. In this episode, meet a collector who appreciates cards as much for their artistic value as for their personal connections.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

The Shallow End ep 55- Collecting 'Til It Hurts Aug 02, 2024

I pressed the reset button. I eliminated 90 percent of my collection to acquire one card. In this episode, I discuss how I got the deal done, the emotions surrounding it, and whether "The Shallow End" is still an appropriate name for this podcast.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 54 - How Collecting Obscure Players Made Me a Better Collector Jul 26, 2024

We're told we should collect the greats. The GOATs. But over the last 12-18 months, I've learned the best way to get a hobby education isn't through the legends, but through collecting obscure players who also had cards produced in legendary sets. That is a more practical entry point into a richer hobby experience.

The Shallow End ep 53 - It's Never Too Late Jul 19, 2024

Sometimes the moment comes when the truth hits you: Your sports-card PC isn't what you want it to be. That can be a bad feeling, but it comes with good news. It's never too late to change how and what you collect.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards on IG)

The Shallow End ep 52 - 10x the Community with Samuel C. Evans Jul 12, 2024

By now, the phrase "10x the hobby" has become as cliché as it is superficial. It's a slogan for a cash grab. But 10x the community? Now we're onto something. That's how Samuel C. Evans (@thesprtzcardcoltr) describes his ambition for the sports-card hobby. He wants collectors to feel welcome, encouraged, and at peace when they look at their cards.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 51 - Collecting With a Black Hat Jul 05, 2024

How boring would this hobby be if we all collected the same thing? In this episode, we speak with Chad aka @blackhat_cards on IG. He collects players from his beloved Minnesota, but he also collects the villains of sport. Many of the athletes who make up his PC have decided to wear the black hat.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

Total Content 7.1.2024 Jul 01, 2024

The latest edition of The Shallow End: Total Content. Featuring …

Cardboard Chronicles; Cards to the Moon; Stacking Slabs; The Collector's Gene; Sports Card Madness; Sports Cards Nonsense; Lemme Get That Podagraph; Wax Pack Hero.

Contact Dave Schwartz on IG @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 50 - What If Jun 28, 2024

Collector Kevin M. Cormier once called it the "paralysis of indecision." It's those moments when you have too many cards that you want, the funds to get some, and the decision and contemplation becomes so much that you end up doing nothing. On this episode, we consider it from a slightly different perspective—from the unhelpful point of view of "What If …"

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz ⁠@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards⁠

Read the Kevin Cormier interview from June 6, 2023, ⁠here⁠.

The Shallow End ep 49 - I've Been Influenced, and It's All My Fault Jun 21, 2024

Sports-card influencers have power not because of some cosmic or mystic force. They have power because we give them power. Who are the most powerful influencers in the sports-card hobby? That's an easy answer: Look in the mirror.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Referenced in this episode: "Hodinkee Radio episode 21: Matt Jacobson" (aired Nov 26, 2018)

The Shallow End ep 48 - Why Clark Picked Fanatics Fest Over The National Jun 14, 2024

Clark, curator of @fivecardguys and host of the Cards to the Moon podcast, recently committed to attending his first National. Then he changed his mind and will instead go to the first Fanatics Fest a month later in New York. Here's why. Plus, we talked about Cards to the Moon recently celebrating its third anniversary, how he keeps it fresh, and we close by playing some sports-card related games.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Total Content 6.10.2024 Jun 10, 2024

Welcome to an experiment. A new monthly series, "The Shallow End: Total Content," works to shine a light on some of the best, most interesting, and notable recent episodes in sports-card podcasting. If you'd like to leave feedback, host Dave Schwartz can be reached on Instagram at @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards.

The Shallow End ep 47 - Stranded On an O'Hare Runway Jun 07, 2024

When you spend a good chunk of your week sitting inside unmoving airplanes at one of the world's largest airports, the mind wanders. Mine wandered to sports cards. Please enjoy this abbreviated, hopefully entertaining, O'Hare-inspired episode.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 46 - Surviving the Hobby When You're Not an Apex Predator May 31, 2024

The sports-card hobby is an ecosystem. It has apex predators, parasites and everything in between. If you're among the 99 percent of collectors who fall somewhere between the two ends of the hobby spectrum, how do you survive it?

The Shallow End ep 45 - The Magic Buying Time Before The National w/ Austin Carlson May 24, 2024

A funny thing happened on the road to The National 2023: previously absent or scarce cards suddenly became available in droves. With the 2024 National about two months out, Austin Carlson (@carlson_cards) visits to talk about how last year's trend is informing this year's collecting.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

The Shallow End ep 44 - Catching Our Breath May 17, 2024

In this episode, it's three stories in 15 minutes.

1. A card negotiation in the shallow end of the collecting pool

2. Dave once again gets tripped up by his hobby nemesis

3. A new, surprising experience that could have ended badly, but didn't

- The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

The Shallow End ep 43 - The Caitlin Clark Mega Pod May 10, 2024

The biggest U.S. sports figure over the last year has been basketball player Caitlin Clark. Now, armed with a fresh Panini contract as her WNBA career is set to begin with the Indiana Fever, the former University of Iowa star is beginning a new chapter in her remarkable run. To commemorate the moment, Dave welcomes three guests into The Shallow End:

• Keith Murphy, WHO-TV Des Moines broadcaster who has covered Clark since her freshman year of high school (4:32)

• Brett McGrath, the Stacking Slabs Podcast host and Indiana native who's now directly in the path of the Caitlin Clark Experience (33:20)

• Carter aka @MCBasketballPC, a WNBA fan and card collector with unique insights into how Clark's soon-to-be-released Panini cards might affect the hobby (57:13)

- The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_SportsCards

The Shallow End ep 42 - Nothing Is Better Than Something May 03, 2024

Dave saved up to buy a card that long had been on his watchlist. But when he finally had the funds, something happened: he didn't buy it. This is the story of what made him stop.

Host: Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

The Shallow End ep 41 - How to Build the Ultimate Team Collection (w/ @Henry_Rowengartner_Cards) Apr 26, 2024

Joe (@Henry_Rowengartner_Cards) has one of those Instagram pages you can't stop looking at. His collection of late 1990s Cubs baseball cards is something of a marvel. In this episode we learn how – and why – he chose to build it.

Host: Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards).

The Shallow End ep 40 - #CollectSomethingDumb Apr 19, 2024

In this episode of The Shallow End, we celebrate the quirkier sides of our PC's. We honor the lanes of our collections that nobody but us truly appreciates.

The Shallow End ep 39 - How to Build a Splendid Collection Apr 12, 2024

In this episode, @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards talks with Adam (@SplendidSports) about his ambitious collecting goals and how he reaches them. This is a story of discipline, patience, and sticking to the plan.

The Shallow End ep 38 - Reunion Apr 05, 2024

About. a year ago, two card collectors, @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards and @Paper_and_Chrome, started chatting over Instagram about their collections. Their real names concealed, it would be months before one of them realized the truth about the history of their relationship: close friends growing up who had lost touch after high school. This is the story of how cards helped Greg and Dave reunite after 30 years.

The Shallow End ep 37 - Happy Accidents Mar 29, 2024

Sometimes a mistake is the best thing that can happen to us.

The Shallow End ep 36 - What is JOMO? Mar 15, 2024

After greed, it's the sports-card hobby's greatest affliction: FOMO. The fear of missing out. Recent research has sought how to combat FOMO, with much of that research focusing on an antidote: JOMO — the joy of missing out. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a start. Let's dig in.

The Shallow End ep 35 - Luck, Kindness, and Everything Else Mar 08, 2024

We all want to feel like we're in control of our own destiny, but a little more than two years ago, a moment of luck and an act of kindness sent me down a new path in the sports-card hobby. This is that story.

The Shallow End ep 34 - Setting Up at a Card Show for the First Time (Mark Sanchez aka @mjs_sportscards) Mar 01, 2024

Until two days ago, Mark Sanchez (@mjs_sportscards on IG) had never lived his hobby life as a dealer. Now, with his first card show behind him, Mark reflects on the experience. How did he prepare? How did it go? And what inspired him to do it in the first place?

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards)

The Shallow End ep 33 - Building a PC That Connects With Your Team (with Kevin aka @Colorado.Collector) Feb 23, 2024

Kevin (@Colorado.Collector on Instagram) started back in the hobby by trying to collect his favorite Colorado Rockies. Several years later, he's built a PC that is both deeply personal and full of the types of cards that many collectors can only dream of. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz. Follow him on IG at @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards.

The Shallow End ep 32 - Seven Players Who Cause FOMO Feb 16, 2024

You watch them on the field. You track their cards across eBay and MySlabs. And you daydream about adding them to your collection – for better or worse. They're the players who cause FOMO: the fear of missing out.

The Shallow End ep 31 - eBay Is Not a Recreational Activity Feb 10, 2024

Some of us in the sports-card hobby spend more time on eBay than we do with our families. But it's important to remember that eBay doesn't exist to give us a place to hang out. It exists to separate us from our money.

The Shallow End ep 30 - Why We Buy Sports Cards We Don't Want (a talk with Mike aka @TheGolfCardCollector) Feb 02, 2024

Lots of us have done it. We don't want a card, but we buy it. Why? To get our card fix? For the rush? To keep our PC's from getting stale? Whatever the reason, it's a crucial issue within the sports-card hobby: the decision to buy when we shouldn't be buying. In this episode, Mike (@thegolfcardcollector) and Dave (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards) put themselves under the microscope to begin exploration of this important hobby question.

The Shallow End ep 29 - The Fear of Standing Still Jan 26, 2024

Dave (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards on IG) sent cards off to grade. Now his card funds are tied up for the next 40-60 business days. Which means that for the next couple of months the collecting part of his collection is kind of … stuck. In this episode, we talk about what it means to be standing still in the sports-card space.

The Shallow End ep 28 - Baseball Hall of Fame Voter David Brown Stops By Jan 19, 2024

This is an episode by baseball nerds, for baseball nerds. David Brown, Iowa Dave's friend and former colleague, recently cast his first-ever ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame. They talk player-by-player through David's ballot, his research process, and how much personal views played into his decision making. At the end, they play a sports-cards trivia game to help bring David up to speed within the modern sports-card hobby.

The Shallow End ep 27 - Bob Hosta Has a System Jan 12, 2024

Bob Hosta (@bobhostacollection on IG) wasn't satisfied with his collection, so he created a system to help him upgrade into a PC that he today describes as being so much better that he sometimes forgets they're his cards. This is the story of a collector who created a new ecosystem for himself because the old one wasn't as rewarding as it should have been. Thanks for listening.

The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz (@Iowa_Dave_Sportscards on IG).

The Shallow End ep 26 - Move Fast and Move With Purpose Jan 05, 2024

Would you trade 24 cards for one? Most of us in the hobby would – and have. In this episode, Dave talks about some recent moves he needed to make in order to pick up a new card.

The Shallow End ep 25 - Reflection Makes Our PCs Better Dec 29, 2023

Like any year, 2023 has seen highs and lows. Successes, failures, triumphs, challenges -- all can be used as lessons to make 2024 an even better year in the hobby.

The Shallow End ep 24 - Six Questions That Can Shape Your PC's Future Dec 22, 2023

This is an episode about process, about asking ourselves questions that will keep us focused. In this episode, Dave shares the six questions he tries to ask himself before each card acquisition.

The Shallow End ep 23 - Trying to Find "The Lull" Dec 15, 2023

Somewhere between prospecting and trying to get in on a Hall of Famer before they retire lies "The Lull." It's the forgettable part of a player's career, and if you're collecting on a budget, it might the opportunity we need to get the cards we want.

The Shallow End ep 22 - Interview with Derek, a Ray Lankford Supercollector Dec 09, 2023

Derek, aka @RayLankfordCollection on IG, has been around the hobby for decades and has access to some of the best cards of legendary players. Yet his greatest satisfaction comes in supercollecting Ray Lankford, a very good but from far from iconic figure in MLB history. Derek is proof that when it comes to collecting, true value comes from emotional connection, not monetary value.

The Shallow End ep 21 - Report from an Iowa Card Show Dec 01, 2023

Where Dave lives, a card show is a special occasion. They don't happen all that often, but that doesn't mean they're not plagued with the same issues as card shows across the country. At least the dollar boxes were good.

The Shallow End ep 20 - Why Did I Buy That ^%$! Card? Nov 29, 2023

(Originally aired 11.17.2023) Bad habits never die. They come, they go, but they're never truly gone. In this episode, Dave covers a recent misstep in the hobby.

The Shallow End ep 19 - The Joy of Not Collecting Victor Wembanyama Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 11.10.2023) As sports fans we are witnesses to the beginning of an incredible journey: the start of Victor Wembanyama's career. This might be one of the few times when collecting cards makes the situation less fun, not more. In this episode, Dave wonders whether Wembanyama is better enjoyed on our screens than in our collections.

The Shallow End ep 18 - An Investor Wades Into the Shallow End Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 11.3.2023) Paul Hickey has a simple question: Why? The person behind @sportscardstrategy and NoOffSeason.com visits with Dave to discuss why it's important to investigate the personal motives behind our collecting. Paul is a proud sports-card investing strategist who's built his business on transparency. What you see is what you get. No tricks, no misdirection, just straight-forward talk about sports cards and money.

The Shallow End ep 17 - Talking '80s Baseball With @1980sCardsWithDan Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 10.27.2023) It's an accepted fact since the dawn of time that 1980s baseball cards are the most fun baseball cards—even if they're clearly not the most financially valuable. Dan and Dave talk '80s cards, '80s baseball, and share five of their favorites.

The Shallow End ep 16 - Moms, Dads, and the Cards that Connect Us Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 10.20.2023) Collecting cards can mean so much more than their financial worth or how pretty they look when displayed. They can connect us with past generations. In this episode, Dave and Rob Girard explore the deeper potential of sports cards.

The Shallow End ep 15 - Celebrating Small Moments Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 10.13.2023) We're trained over time in the sports-card hobby who we should and should not trust. But this week, Dave had an experience that could have gone horribly wrong instead turn out perfect. Let's celebrate.

The Shallow End ep 14 - Should I Sell Everything? Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 10.6.2023) Dave has one grail card: the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson. But it's so far out of reach that the only way to get close would be to sell or trade everything he owns. Should he do it?

The Shallow End ep 13 - The Content of It All Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 9.29.2023) Last month, Dave listened to nearly 60 sports-card podcasts in one week. After that, he needed a break. In this episode, he talks about what he learned about the hobby, content producers, and his own place in the collecting space.

The Shallow end ep 12 - Transforming Your PC with Brandon @SportsCardStruggles Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 9.15.2023) There comes a point in everyone's PC when the status quo just isn't good enough. We want more. We want different. We need something new. In this episode, Brandon talks about his transformation.

The Shallow End ep 11 - The Megabid at One Year Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 9.8.2023) It all started with a question on "The Crossover" posed by @packnicholson, and it ended with a new phrase coined by Josh (aka @cardboard_chronicles): Megabid. As we near the one-year anniversary of Pack's question, we learn more about this common hobby practice from @kevin.m.cormier, @signed1933goudey, @drakes_pc, and @jlee_sportscardslive).

The Shallow End ep 10 - Collecting to Remember with Steve Bieleck Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 9.1.2023) Steve (aka @domer_cards on IG) visits to discuss his growing Notre Dame PC — a collection rooted in his rich history with the Fighting Irish.

The Shallow End ep 9 - Major Pickup, Minor Regrets Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 8.25.2023) Dave finally makes a major pickup that he'd had his eye on for some time. Unfortunately, it came at a significant price to his collection.

The Shallow End ep 8 - Should is a Four-Letter Word Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 8.18.2023) When you start collecting what you think you should collect, versus what you want to collect, expect your PC to feel unsatisfying.

The Shallow End ep 7 - Opening a New Collecting Lane Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 8.11.2023) Courtney (@recklesscards_courtney on IG) and Matt (@timmy_d_21_pc) share their separate stories of how their PCs took sudden new directions.

The Shallow End ep 6 - When News Gets In the Way Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 8.4.2023) Dave had a plan for The National that included trading or selling every Nolan Arenado Chrome gold refractor in his collection. But a piece of Arenado news that broke the night he got there disrupted all of his preparation.

The Shallow End ep 5 - There's Nothing Wrong With Your PC Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 7.21.2023) Social media is a meaningful, powerful tool in our hobby. It also can create the misconception that everyone's collection is better than yours. It's not. Your PC is just fine.

The Shallow End ep 4 - Jeremy Lee & John Newman Answer Your National Questions Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 7.14.2023) We've got questions, they've got answers. Two of the most experienced names in the hobby, Jeremy Lee and John Newman, sit down with Dave to prepare collectors who are preparing to attend The National for the first time.

The Shallow End ep 1 - The 40-Year Hunt Nov 22, 2023

(Originally aired 6.23.2023) Before Upper Deck unleashed the '89 Griffey, and before Topps' 1980 Henderson became iconic, there was no bigger hobby chase in the 1980s than the 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly. In this first episode of The Shallow End, Dave, now middle aged and balding, finally gets his Donnie Baseball.

The Shallow End ep 3 - It All Started With Jordan Nov 21, 2023

(Originally aired 7.7.2023) One major decision — to keep, then sell — a Michael Jordan card altered the trajectory of Dave's collecting experience. As with so much in this hobby, it all goes back to Jordan.

The Shallow End ep 2 - Cards are Pure (with Samuel Evans) Nov 21, 2023

(Originally aired 6.30.2023) Dave visits with Samuel Evans (aka @thesprtzcardcoltr on IG). They talk about keeping the hobby enjoyable, focusing on yourself, and the purity of spending time with your sports cards.

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