Global Card Collectors

Global Card Collectors
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Hobbies
  • Updated Weekly

Forget passports – and go beyond borders with "Global Card Collectors," a podcast that connects collectors from across the globe! Join John, the Istanbul aficionado (@istanbulcards), and Will, the Kiwi card junkie (@kart_adami), as they embark on a journey to celebrate the diverse world of card collecting. From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the sun-kissed shores of Kaiteriteri, New Zealand, each episode dives into the unique collections and captivating stories of passionate collectors worldwide. So give us a try and see what card collecting is like around the world.

  1. 2d ago

    117. Turkey's Sports Card Market Has Almost No Education... So He's Building It Himself

    What happens when two card collectors from opposite sides of the world discover they share the same roots?In this episode, Will sits down with Berk, better known as  @berktheripper , one of the emerging voices in Turkey's sports card community. What started as following his Turkish-language card education videos on Instagram quickly turned into a fascinating conversation about collecting, culture, and building a hobby from the ground up.Berk shares his journey from growing up in New Zealand after moving there from Turkey as a child, to becoming a passionate NBA card collector with Kevin Garnett and LeBron James as his primary PCs. We discuss how his Kiwi upbringing helped shape his perspective and how that unexpectedly connected us.The conversation dives deep into the realities of the Turkish sports card market, a hobby landscape that still feels like frontier territory. While English-speaking collectors have endless resources, podcasts, videos, and educational content available to them, Turkish sports card collectors have virtually nothing. Berk explains why he decided to start creating beginner-friendly content in Turkish, teaching everything from the absolute basics of collecting to understanding the hobby itself.The two also talk about the surprising questions both receive from newcomers, including the ever-present "How can I get rich from cards?" mentality, and why education is so important for the long-term health of any collecting community.From humble beginnings to rapidly growing an audience of hundreds of followers in just a few weeks, Berk is helping lay the foundations for a new generation of Turkish sports card collectors.Topics discussed:• Growing up between Turkey and New Zealand• How Berk discovered NBA card collecting• Collecting Kevin Garnett and LeBron James cards• The challenges facing the Turkish sports card market• Why hobby education matters• Creating Turkish-language collecting content• The "get rich quick" mindset in modern collecting• Building a community from scratchWhether you're a seasoned collector or simply curious about how hobbies grow around the world, this is a fascinating look at what happens when passion meets opportunity.

    1h 2m

  2. May 18

    116. Rare Kiwi Card Grails, WWF Nostalgia & a Huge Hobby Idea

    This week, Will sits down with longtime collector and hobby deep-diver Shannan for a conversation that starts with some classic New Zealand card nostalgia and evolves into a look at a platform that could genuinely change the way collectors connect. Will shares some awesome NZ basketball pickups featuring legends like Kirk Penney and Steven Adams, plus a stack of quirky early 90s World Wrestling Federation cards that bring back serious childhood memories. Shannan then takes us down his latest collecting rabbit hole — hunting rare RJ Hampton rookie Flawless patch cards featuring authentic NBL memorabilia, including some uniquely Kiwi Meadow Fresh branding that collectors in New Zealand will instantly recognise. But the heart of the episode is Hobby Tracker — a new platform/app Shannan has been building for collectors. Think of it as Last Sticker on steroids: a free hub where collectors can catalogue their inventory, track sets, log duplicates, chase missing cards, and eventually trade spares with other users in the community. More than just an app, Hobby Tracker is about bringing collectors together — helping people complete sets, discover chase cards, make hobby connections, and potentially even meet fellow collectors in real life. Whether you’re into sports cards, wrestling, TCGs, or anything in between, this episode is all about the community side of collecting and why the hobby is stronger when collectors help each other out.

    44 min

  3. May 7

    115. Hidden Gems, Bonds Grails and the Future of the Hobby

    In this episode we sat down with Ryan @rookiemoonshots fresh off meeting at the Istanbul Card Show for one of our most fascinating conversations yet.We dive into Ryan’s first impressions of the Turkish card market, what makes collecting here unique, and why he believes there are still massive opportunities hiding in overlooked corners of the hobby.Things get wild when a guest pulls out a Reggie Miller on-card auto that had been stored inside an 80s cassette tape… with NO top loader.From there, Ryan takes us deep into his incredible personal collection including the story of how he acquired his Barry Bonds Mount Rushmore cards before the market truly understood what they were. We talk about spotting undervalued cards early, staying ahead of hobby trends, and why eye appeal and aesthetics can sometimes matter more than rarity itself.We close things out discussing the current state of the hot sports card market and the big question everyone’s wondering:What could eventually bring it all down?If you’re into sports cards, investing, collecting psychology, hidden gems, or hobby history -this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

    1h 39m

  4. Apr 24

    114. Collector’s Freedom: Building a Collection That’s Actually Yours

    John’s Substack: https://substack.com/@energystraits?r=xah83&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=lightThis week’s episode dives into something every collector eventually faces: Why am I doing this, and is it still making me happy? Justin opens up about reevaluating his collecting goals and stepping outside the expectations that can quietly build up in the hobby. Instead of chasing what’s “hot” or what others think he should collect, he’s focusing on what actually brings him joy, and it sparks a bigger conversation about what it really means to collect.We also tackle a question that hits home for a lot of people: How do you budget for cards when real life comes first? From setting aside monthly spending money, to buying and flipping, to selling parts of your collection to fund new pickups- we break down the different ways we approach the financial side of the hobby while balancing family, responsibilities, and everything else life throws at us.Whether you’re deep in the hobby or just starting to question your direction, this episode is all about finding your lane, spending with intention, and remembering why you started collecting in the first place.

    1h 4m

  5. Apr 11

    113. AI bot at Fanatics, and Chaos at COMC… What’s Going On?

    Will and John are back for a laid-back but insight-filled catch-up episode that hits on everything happening in their collecting worlds right now. They kick things off with recent pickups and some honest frustrations-diving into the current state of COMC and what’s really going on with AI-driven decisions at Fanatics Collectibles. From confusing systems to shifting hobby dynamics, nothing is off the table. Will shares how his focus has been shifting heavily toward the selling side of the hobby. From launching his new online store to hunting for the right inventory and learning lessons at card shows, he breaks down what’s working and what isn’t. Meanwhile, John has been busy making some major moves of his own. A stunning quad patch card featuring four European basketball mega stars becomes a centerpiece of the conversation, and sparks a deeper debate: would you take a /10 from an ultra high-end set over a 1/1 from a lower-tier product? It’s a mix of hobby talk, market insight, and plenty of laughs along the way—just two collectors checking in and keeping it real.

    49 min

  6. Apr 4

    112. From the Rink to the Ring: The evolution of an amazing hockey and boxing collection.

    In this episode Justin returns to chat with Bernard, a Canadian collector with a passion for hockey and boxing! Bernard starts by discussing how his son's love of Pokemon cards brought him back into the hobby, and continues by discussing and showing off his amazing collection of Steve Yzerman hockey cards! Finally, Bernard and Justin discuss their shared passion for boxing and boxing cards. Bernard's collection is both extremely unique and very extremely thoughtful, so this is definitely an episode you don't want to miss!

    55 min

  7. Mar 28

    111. The Birmingham Card Show, our latest pick ups and another big card show in Istanbul!

    In this episode, Will and John jump online for a long-overdue catch-up after some time away from recording together. The two reconnect and dive straight into recent pickups, with both showcasing standout Matas Buzelis cards that have them especially excited. The conversation then shifts across the pond as Will shares insights into the card collecting scene in England, including a recap of the Birmingham card show and what stood out most while attending the show (hint: there were plenty of small, yellow furry toys all over the place). They move on to boast about their shared success in their NBA Fantasy Leagues and how it's a great way to wrap up the season. To wrap things up, Will and John look ahead to Collector’s Fest in Istanbul happening this weekend. While there’s plenty of excitement surrounding the event, they keep things grounded by managing expectations and what they hope to get out of it. This is a relaxed episode filled with hobby talk, international perspectives, and the shared enthusiasm that keeps collectors coming back.

    28 min

  8. Mar 7

    110. 2017 Topps Chrome vs 2018 Prizm: The Sets That Changed Soccer Cards

    James  @MadCityCollector  recently launched his podcast, The Soccer Card Collective, a phenomenal survey of the soccer card world and a deep dive into what it means to be an “omniscient collector,” borrowing the phrase from Chris Hoj. In this episode, he and John @istanbulcards discuss 2017 Topps Chrome and 2018 Prizm Landmarks, two iconic sets from what many consider the golden era of global soccer cards. Please come up with ten potentially viral titles for this episode

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Forget passports – and go beyond borders with "Global Card Collectors," a podcast that connects collectors from across the globe! Join John, the Istanbul aficionado (@istanbulcards), and Will, the Kiwi card junkie (@kart_adami), as they embark on a journey to celebrate the diverse world of card collecting. From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the sun-kissed shores of Kaiteriteri, New Zealand, each episode dives into the unique collections and captivating stories of passionate collectors worldwide. So give us a try and see what card collecting is like around the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Global Card Collectors
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Global Card Collectors
  • Show Website
    Global Card Collectors

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