Lightside Collectibles

David W. Carr

Lightside Collectibles is where the galaxy far, far away meets the thrill of the hunt. Hosts David Carr and Roger Jorns dig into Star Wars and pop culture collecting — vintage finds, grail hunts, market trends, booth and convention stories, and the real economics of turning a passion for collecting into something sustainable. Whether you're chasing your next holy grail or just love hearing what's out there, pull up a seat at the case.

Episodes

  1. 2h ago

    Cosplay, 3D Printing, and Finding Your People

    Roger and I start with a collector find that is easy to overlook, then spend most of this episode on something that amazes me every time I see it: cosplay. Foam that looks like steel, 3D printed props, droid builders, and mashups I never would have thought of.   Here's what we get into Star Wars Cinema Scenes, the 1990s Kenner three packs. In my experience they run about $15 to $20, and sometimes closer to $30 for a rarer one, often less than a single vintage figure. I also point out there was never an Uncle Owen in the original 1978 to 1985 line. How cosplayers make lightweight foam read as heavy armor with paint and weathering, and why a full costume is such a commitment. 3D printing as the big change for props, armor, and accessories, and how fast fans turn a trailer into a build. Mashups, from a Stormtrooper Elvis to a Mandalorian in a Sally color scheme from Nightmare Before Christmas. Groups like the 501st Legion, Mando Mercs, and the Rebel Legion, and the charity work they do. Droid builders, and a Star Wars Celebration backpack build I can't stop thinking about.   The big takeaway Start with something you love, find the people who love it too, and let that be the bridge. Cosplayers are almost always happy to take a picture with you, so go say hello.   Talk to us Do you cosplay? What do you build, and where do you learn? Tell us, and tell us about your favorite cosplayers, Star Wars or anything else.   What's next Our middle three and top three films from the nine movie list, a holiday gift guide for the geek in your life, and Roger's first watch of the Star Wars Holiday Special. I'm also heading to see a very large Star Wars collection and will tell you more on a future episode.   Resources mentioned L.A. Comic Con: https://www.comicconla.comStar Wars Celebration: https://www.starwarscelebration.com501st Legion: https://501st.comRebel Legion: https://rebellegion.comMando Mercs Costume Club: https://mandalorianmercs.orgIG-11 droid backpack build by Emily Billones (@imagination.em): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DepiqMaSVko/ Books Roger mentioned: He Who Fights with Monsters, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and The Murderbot Diaries. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  2. Oct 23

    Our Bottom 3 of the 9 Star Wars Films

    Roger and I kick off a series on the nine main Star Wars films with a fun question: which three land at the bottom for each of us? Here's what we get into: A fandom check in, including Roger's family rewatch of The Mandalorian and Clone Wars. Why vintage is still my sweet spot as a collector. Why Star Wars has such staying power. Our bottom three of the nine films, where we agree on a lot and split on one. Deleted scenes worth hunting down. And memories from Star Wars Celebration in Denver in 1999. The big takeaway: you can disagree about a film and still appreciate one another. Film and pop culture can bring us together instead of dividing us. What are your bottom three, and why? Tell us in the comments, and keep it civil. Resources mentioned: https://whatnot.com/invite/lightsidecollectibles Follow the Light. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  3. Oct 16

    Where Do Collectors Shop Now? Shops, Shows and Community

    We did not record last week, so this one runs a little longer. David has been exploring shops in East Texas, Roger shares a Star Wars shop in Austin with a fun greeting at the door, and we ask a simple question: where are people collecting today? Here's what we get into: Small shops, comic stores, and antique stores. How the places we shopped growing up have changed, and what is happening to the malls. Collector marketplaces, conventions like New York Comic Con and D23, and online options like Whatnot and eBay. How to tell what is truly vintage. Collecting vs. acquiring vs. flipping, including a transparent story about extra D23 pins. A Return of the Jedi-era carded figure collection and why honest condition disclosure matters. And finding your people, including a friendship that started on early online groups and grew at Star Wars Celebration. The big takeaway: the best collecting is about the story, the memory, and the people. If you are starting out, pay attention to what sparks joy for you, be honest about what you are buying, and find your people. Where is your go-to spot for finding collectibles? We would love to hear. Resources mentioned: https://theswca.com https://thesagamuseum.org Follow the Light. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  4. Sep 25

    Galaxy's Edge Finds and Remembering John Villalino

    This one's got two halves: a fun rundown of what we picked up on a recent Disneyland and Galaxy's Edge trip, and something closer to home, a tribute to our friend John Villalino. Here's what we get into: A Galaxy's Edge haul, a Droid Mystery Box, a vibro-ax from Dok-Ondar's, and a seasonal R2 werewolf droid. The updated Millennium Falcon ride, now with a Mandalorian storyline. A conversation about the books that pulled us into Star Wars as kids: the Thrawn trilogy, The Courtship of Princess Leia, and The Truce at Bakura. And our favorite droids across the Star Wars universe. The big takeaway: collecting is more fun, and more meaningful, when it's shared with people. In the second half of this episode, we take time to remember our friend John Villalino, a talented comic book writer who worked on shows like Chuck and self-published his own comics for years at San Diego Comic-Con. John recently passed, and this episode is our way of honoring him and the community he built. We also talk about the Hero Initiative, a nonprofit that supports comic creators facing financial, medical, or career hardship, and a fundraiser we're planning for 2027 using items from John's own collection. If it's been a while since you talked to someone who matters to you, consider this your nudge. Reach out. Resources mentioned: heroinitiative.org Follow the Light. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  5. Sep 18

    Lucas Museum Preview + The Yoda That Came Full Circle

    Roger and I are back for Episode 2, and this one's a two-parter: a walkthrough of the brand-new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art from someone who got to see it before it opened to the public, and a full-circle collector story about a life-size Yoda that's been 27 years in the making.  I'm a founding member of the Lucas Museum, and I got to walk through it with my family the week before it officially opens on September 22nd. Here's what we get into: What's actually inside the museum, and why it's not a Star Wars museum, even though there's a lot of Star Wars there. The building itself, five stories in Exposition Park with a free public garden and a free library. The fourth floor's curated galleries, Norman Rockwell, Frank Frazetta, comic art, and more. The Star Wars exhibit itself, Landspeeder, Darth Maul, General Grievous, R2-D2, costumes, and more, all from the first six films. A surprising detail about some of the pieces on display, including work attributed to Tom Spina Designs. And the story behind my life-size Episode I-style Yoda, a 1999 Blockbuster promotional giveaway, a picture of me with one at my very first Star Wars Celebration in Denver, and how one found its way back to me 27 years later. The big takeaway: whether it's a museum built to house a lifetime of storytelling or a Yoda that's been sitting in a box since 1999, the fun is in getting these things back into the hands of people who'll actually appreciate them. That's the whole reason Lightside Collectibles exists. Got a picture of your own collectibles, or been to the museum yourself? Tag us, we want to see it. Resources mentioned: lucasmuseum.orgtomspinadesigns.com  Follow the Light. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  6. Sep 5

    Is Your Star Wars Figure the Rare One?

    I (David) pull out my original Obi-Wan Kenobi figure in this episode. Turns out there's a far rarer version out there, one that sold for $105,000+, and mine is not it. Figuring out how to tell the two apart is basically the whole point. We're Roger and David, and this is episode one of the Lightside Collectibles podcast. David dug his original Kenner Obi-Wan Kenobi figure off the shelf and breaks down what actually makes it collectible, then gets into the far rarer double telescoping lightsaber variant Kenner tried and abandoned, the one he does not own and has never held in his hands. Why the version people assume is rare usually isn't, and what real rarity actually looks like, is the heart of it. From there, we geek out about George Lucas's brand new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (David just became a founding member), the massive fan-built Saga Museum project combining over a million artifacts, and Rancho Obi-Wan, home to the Guinness World Record for the largest Star Wars collection. This is what we're hoping the show becomes week to week: us pulling real pieces off our own shelves, telling you the stories and values behind them, and catching you up on what's happening across the wider Star Wars and collecting world. Here's what we get into → What a double telescoping lightsaber variant actually is, why it's the rarest version of this figure, and what it has actually sold for → Why the version people assume is rare almost never is, and what really drives value in vintage collecting → The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and why David became a founding member → The Saga Museum, and how a group of major Star Wars collectors are combining over a million artifacts into one future museum → Why Obi-Wan Kenobi is David's favorite character, and what makes collectors gravitate toward specific figures The big takeaway The version people assume is rare almost never actually is. Real rarity in vintage collecting comes down to details most people never think to check. About Us David is the founder of Lightside Collectibles, a Star Wars and pop culture collectibles shop built from a lifelong love of Kenner toys and vintage collecting. Roger is David's co-host and the founder of Reanimation Design, a Georgetown, Texas web design and marketing studio, and also designed and built the Lightside Collectibles website. Between us we've got two different collecting eras and two different generations of Star Wars fandom, and we bring both to the show every week. Resources mentioned in this episode Hake's Auctions: https://www.hakes.com/ World-record Obi-Wan Kenobi sale: https://news.justcollecting.com/world-record-sale-for-obi-wan-star-wars-toy-reported/ Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: https://lucasmuseum.org/ Rancho Obi-Wan: https://ranchoobiwan.org/ The Saga Museum: https://thesagamuseum.org/ Roger's business, Reanimation Design: https://www.reanimationdesign.com/ Got a collectible you want us to check out, a topic you want us to cover, or a story like David's own Obi-Wan Kenobi figure? We'd love to hear it. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  7. Aug 28

    Lightside Collectibles Podcast Intro

    Two Star Wars superfans kept meeting up to talk business, only to end up talking blasters and toys instead. So they made it official. Meet David Carr, founder of Lightside Collectibles, and his co-host Roger Jorns. In this short intro episode, they share why they started a Star Wars collector and fandom podcast, how their very different family generations are experiencing Star Wars right now, and the one rule for the show: it's a fun, honest, non-toxic space where disagreeing about the prequels doesn't make you any less of a fan. You'll hear about: What's coming up in the Star Wars world — the new Lucasfilm Museum, Star Wars Celebration, the Starfighter movie -Generations of Star Wars kids —  discovering itWhy they built this as a place for community first, collecting second.New episodes are coming soon. Connect with Lightside Collectibles: Shop: https://www.lightsidecollectibles.com Call/Text: 714-794-9450 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsidecollectibles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lightsidecollectibles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsidecollectibles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightsidecollectibles

  • 7 Episodes

About

Lightside Collectibles is where the galaxy far, far away meets the thrill of the hunt. Hosts David Carr and Roger Jorns dig into Star Wars and pop culture collecting — vintage finds, grail hunts, market trends, booth and convention stories, and the real economics of turning a passion for collecting into something sustainable. Whether you're chasing your next holy grail or just love hearing what's out there, pull up a seat at the case.

Information

  • Creator
    David W. Carr
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lightside Collectibles
  • Show Website
    Lightside Collectibles