Stacking Slabs

Brett McGrath
  • 4.7 (170)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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.

  1. The Football Card Podcast #30: Football Changes Fast. Football Cards Remember Everything.

    9H AGO

    The Football Card Podcast #30: Football Changes Fast. Football Cards Remember Everything.

    Pack and Brett open the episode inside the emotion of playoff football and what those moments do to collectors. Bears wins. Caleb Williams belief. The kind of games that change how you see your cards forever. From there, the conversation shifts to the hobby. Justin Herbert’s seven-figure sales with zero playoff wins. What that tells you about timing, hype, and risk. Why some parallels age with grace while others fade fast. And how one Patrick Mahomes game-used Shield reframes scarcity in real time. They close with real sales, real numbers, and a reminder every collector needs to hear. Relationships matter. Community matters. The cards you remember most are tied to moments you felt, not comps you chased. 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 [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    1h 13m
  2. What Makes Something Collectible? A Framework Beyond Hype

    1D AGO

    What Makes Something Collectible? A Framework Beyond Hype

    Most conversations about collectability happen after prices move. This episode takes the opposite approach by exploring what makes something collectible before hype and money show up. It breaks down the fundamentals that tend to endure across cycles, including scarcity, demand, cultural relevance, story, and trust. Using examples from different eras of the hobby, the episode examines why some cards maintain long term interest while others fade once attention shifts. The conversation also explores the psychology behind collecting, including nostalgia, the thrill of the hunt, identity, and community. It looks at how emotional connection and shared belief shape what collectors value over time. The episode offers a clear framework for thinking about collectability with intention, helping collectors evaluate what they own and what they pursue beyond short term trends. 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 ★

    24 min
  3. Shrinking the Sea and Focusing Your Collection on What Matters Most

    2D AGO

    Shrinking the Sea and Focusing Your Collection on What Matters Most

    The hobby does not slow down. It expands. More releases, more parallels, more noise telling you what you should care about next. Without a filter, it is easy to collect reactions instead of building something that matters. In this flagship episode, I revisit one of the most important ideas in my collecting journey. Shrinking the Sea. This is about narrowing your focus so your collection reflects what you value, not what the market or your feed is pushing. I share personal stories from stepping back from wrestling cards during manufacturer chaos and refining my football collection by focusing on type, consistency, and card attributes that resonate with me. We talk about why chasing everything leads to burnout, how patience changes decision making, and how to build a simple framework for evaluating cards before FOMO shows up. You do not need every card. When you shrink the sea, the hobby becomes calmer, more intentional, and more rewarding. This episode is for collectors who want clarity, confidence, and a collection built around what matters most. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. 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 ★

    24 min
  4. The Staging Area #16: Hype Is the Fuel. Discipline Is the Edge.

    3D AGO

    The Staging Area #16: Hype Is the Fuel. Discipline Is the Edge.

    Hype drives the hobby. It always has.  The question is what you do when it shows up. Brett sits down with Tory from dcsports87 to break down how hype actually works in real time. They talk Topps Chrome Basketball, Cooper Flagg prices, Jordan autos, McDavid Young Guns, and why some hype creates opportunity while other hype burns collectors. This is a grounded conversation about timing, liquidity, regret, and sustainability. If you collect, buy, sell, or break cards, this episode helps you slow the moment down and make decisions that still make sense when the noise fades. A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night. 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 dcsports87: | Website | eBay | Instagram | Twitter  Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    47 min
  5. Passion to Profession: Trust is the System in the Hobby with Michael Osacky

    4D AGO

    Passion to Profession: Trust is the System in the Hobby with Michael Osacky

    In an unregulated hobby, trust fills the gaps where rules do not exist. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett McGrath sits down with Michael Osacky, Founder of Baseball in the Attic and PSA’s lead appraiser, to talk about what really protects collectors and businesses today. They unpack why reputation functions as currency, how bad actors thrive in gray areas, and why most collectors assume protection exists when it does not. Michael shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the hobby, including why 95 percent of his business comes from referrals, how he handles emotionally charged conversations, and why playing the long game beats chasing quick wins every time. This conversation is about ethics, consistency, and doing the work when nobody is watching. It is also a blueprint for collectors and hobby businesses who want to build something that lasts in a space that moves fast and remembers everything. 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 [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Michael | Instagram | Baseball in the Attic  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    36 min
  6. The WNBA Card Podcast: Closing Season Three and Rewriting the Playbook

    5D AGO

    The WNBA Card Podcast: Closing Season Three and Rewriting the Playbook

    Season three closes with reflection and a clear look forward. Brett and Katelyn talk through what changed this year, what surprised them, and why this season felt different. More restraint. More conviction. Less chasing. More meaning. They also pull the curtain back on what comes next. Season four becomes a collector narrated oral history of WNBA cards. Eras over hype. Stories over prices. Community over noise. This episode sets the foundation for where the show is going and why it matters if you care about women’s basketball and the cards that tell its story. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast Shout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide! 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 | TiktokFollow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    39 min
  7. Booked to Last: Why Wrestling Cards Are Built Different

    6D AGO

    Booked to Last: Why Wrestling Cards Are Built Different

    The wrestling card hobby is not built like the rest of the card world. It never has been. In the debut episode of Booked to Last, Adam Gellman and Ryan Bannister sit down to explain why wrestling card collectors move differently, think differently, and collect with a level of loyalty that rarely exists elsewhere in the hobby. They share their personal collecting journeys, how wrestling cards pulled them back into the hobby, and why relationships matter more than transactions in this space. The conversation spans the Road to WrestleMania, prospecting wrestlers like Bron Breakker, the impact of Topps releases, historic relics, and what recent high-end sales reveal about where wrestling cards are headed. This episode sets the foundation for the show.Who they are.Why wrestling cards matter.And why this corner of the hobby isn’t going anywhere. 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 | YouTubeFollow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    1h 14m
  8. The Football Card Podcast #29: We Want Cards That Represent Super Bowl Halftime Shows

    JAN 9

    The Football Card Podcast #29: We Want Cards That Represent Super Bowl Halftime Shows

    Episode 29 moves fast and covers a lot of ground, the way real collecting conversations unfold. Pack and Brett open with jersey number 29 legends before shifting into a deeper discussion on defensive players, why they remain undercollected, and how limited card catalogs can create opportunity for collectors paying attention. The conversation then turns to hobby resolutions, slowing down, researching more, and pushing back on the pressure to chase every release as it hits the market. The episode spends significant time on 2025 Prizm, including reactions to the design, checklist decisions, and the tension between excitement and obligation for longtime Prism collectors. From there, the discussion moves into playoff storylines, quarterback legacy questions, and how Super Bowl outcomes continue to shape the football card market. The episode closes with notable recent sales, vintage football cards gaining traction, and what value looks like when hype starts to cool. 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 [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    1h 12m
See All (840)

4.7
out of 5
170 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Brett McGrath
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    840
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Stacking Slabs
  • Show Website
    Stacking Slabs

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