The Hobby Handbook

Alex Llansó
  • 4.8 (33)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Hobby Handbook, your go-to guide for turning passion into profit in the world of sports card collecting. Hosted by the Clever Cuban Cards, this podcast peels back the layers of the fast-growing trading card industry, showing how a simple hobby can become a side hustle or even a full-time gig. From flipping cards to grading, building community to leveraging market trends, each episode dives into the real business behind the cardboard. Whether you're ripping packs for the thrill or stacking slabs with intention, The Hobby Handbook is here to help you use the hobby to fund the hobby. Featuring collectors, creators, and industry insiders, the show offers inspiration, education, and behind-the-scenes access to a world full of potential. Because this isn’t just collecting, it’s building. Let’s get into it. Whatnot - https://whatnot.com/invite/clevercubancards YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CleverCubanCardsTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clevercubancardsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/clevercubancards/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577842226204Website - https://www.clevercubancards.com/

  1. 15h ago

    Getting Ready for a Big Card Show

    Alex and Trent open The Hobby Handbook and discuss the SCN Challenge's continued dominance by the podcast's members. Is Alex's lead insurmountable, or will Trent and Brendan claw their way back to the top of the leaderboard? Is the hobby slowing down? It certainly feels that way for both Alex and Trent. Plus, getting ready for a big card show with tips to help you before you go to your next show. 0:00 - Hobby Handbook is leading the SCN Challenge for another week 3:00 - The WNBA Finals are at an absurd time 8:00 - Alex’s lead in the SCN Challenge looks insurmountable 16:00 - Surprising results through Week 7 in the SCN Challenge 19:00 - The Nash-ional has a new idea breaking down the table selection ahead of time 27:05 - Are things slowing down in the hobby? 36:20 - Auction advice: Do not have auctions that end in the middle of the day 49:30 - If you are at a show and selling, you should be prepared to buy 51:55 - Speaking of buying, the PSA 10 Mantle sale is crazy, if true.  52:30 - The easiest thing to do at card shows is to pay with cash.  1:00:00 - Pristine Auction Game Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ Twitter: https://x.com/SCN_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense Newsletter: https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe SCN Challenge: https://scnchallenge.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Oct 21

    Protecting Yourself After the PSA/FedEx Heist

    Alex and Trent are back with Alex still on top of the SCN Challenge. There's an update on Trent's trade that brought him a Ken Griffey Jr. 1/1 Printing Plate Auto, and it isn't good. What side of the Topps replacement would you prefer? We wrap up with the seven-figure heist from a FedEx truck full of PSA slabs. How can you protect yourself and what you should be on the lookout for when at card shows. 0:00 - SCN Challenge Update + Alex is still on top, but Trent is slipping 7:45 - Breaking down Alex’s moves and whether Trent should make any moves 12:50 - Alex got one of his Jackie Robinson cards back from Arena Club, and it’s tripled since he pulled it. 17:40 - It is so much easier to make money when you have money, and how being prepared going into a card show can help 21:15 - Trent’s trade for the Ken Griffey Jr. Printing Plate Auto 1/1 is going to turn out to be a bad buy 28:05 - Replacing damaged cards can work out, and sometimes it doesn’t - would you rather have a Barry Bonds All-Kings or Bonds On-Card Auto /10 & Ohtani 50/50 Gold /50 40:00 - PSA/FedEx Theft Story and the latest details  42:25 - Be very, very careful buying cards at a card show right now after this theft. If it is too good to be true, it is.  48:30 - People in the hobby can’t do branded boxes/bags/mailers because you need to be inconspicuous when shipping.  52:25 - Alex would rather have a true blue /150 than a Bowman Logofractor /35 55:25 - What is Alex’s plan if there is a strike in baseball? 1:02:55 - There are so many grading companies popping up, but if there is a big card, there is no reason to send it to someone who doesn’t have a corporate booth at the national.  1:08:10 - Grading is dead for now to Alex and Trent.  1:14:40 - Trent has started buying some Pokémon cards. Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ Twitter: https://x.com/SCN_Pod Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense Newsletter: https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe SCN Challenge: https://scnchallenge.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Oct 14

    Rarity Doesn't Equal Valuable, Cool Cards Carry a Premium

    We open up the Hobby Handbook this week with an update on the SCN Challenge, as we have a new leader: Alex! Trent remains in second, and Brendan will eventually be third. Alex and Trent both had big weekends at shows. Discussing why the market doesn't always respond rationally to new products. Looking at why rarity doesn't equal value in cards. Plus, the guys wrap up with their World Series predictions. 0:00 - SCN Challenge Update + Alex takes the top spot 9:20 - Trent’s big trade at a show this weekend for a big Ken Griffey Jr. auto 15:00 - Alex also went to a show and bought a box full of Ken Griffey Jr. singles 28:15 - Building relationships with people helps facilitate deals 34:30 - The market doesn’t always react rationally  36:55 - The most important thing a new collector can do is to watch people open boxes and get a good sense of what is cool or desirable. 42:00 - Is it a junk wax era? Not so much, but we could call it a junk parallel era.  56:55 - Rare doesn’t equal valuable, but cool cards always carry a premium 1:05:55 - World Series predictions Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ https://x.com/SCN_Pod https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://scnchallenge.com/ https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Oct 9

    Are We Past Worrying About the Grade of a Card?

    Caden Favors is in the Guardians system and also a big card collector. He joins Alex and Trent to discuss his baseball journey and his card-collecting journey. Then we get into how Topps Cosmic Baseball isn't an EQL Drop, making it hard for collectors to get their hands on it. Both Trent and Alex completely whiffed on the drop. So what can be done to improve this process? Alex and Trent try to dive into solutions. 0:00- Intro  3:30 - Caden Favors Intro 7:30 - The step up from AA to MLB 10:30 - No 1st Bowman - what’s the process for getting one? 14:10 - Caden is still chasing his first 1/1 15:20 - Who is Caden collecting? Ralphy Velasquez and Braylon Doughty. 21:45 - Lightning Round Questions 24:15 - Is Grading Dead? It seems like collectors are looking for cool cards again than worrying about the grade. 36:45 - Cosmic Baseball instantly doubled on eBay after release and wasn’t an EQL release. 41:05 - Crazy that Cosmic Baseball wasn’t an EQL 46:40 - The market sets the price, and the market is willing to buy Cosmic Baseball at $900 a box. Topps is below market; they just need to do a better job getting boxes into collectors' hands. 49:15 - SCN Challenge Update: Trent is lapping the field 58:00 - Alex is dealing with the issues of not having someone helping with shipping Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ https://x.com/SCN_Pod https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://scnchallenge.com/ https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Sep 30

    MLB Postseason Buy or Sell

    Alex and Trent are back with another Hobby Handbook episode, and Trent has been listing cards like a madman on eBay the last few weeks. Alex and Trent go through some recent pickups. Trent is back on top of The SCN Challenge with Brendan right behind him. Plus, we go through MLB Postseason Buy or Sell! 0:00 - Intro + Update on Alex’s massive card lot he bought 4:00 - Trent has been listing like a madman on eBay thanks to Heystack.  9:45 - Some recent pickups for the MLB postseason  12:25 - Trent is leading the SCN Challenge  22:45 - Bowman Football release day - neither Alex nor Trent are that excited for Bowman  25:45 - Topps Cosmic Chrome baseball is coming out, and that is exciting for both 36:15 - Trent’s Postseason buy list for the AL Postseason.  49:10 - Favorite picks for AL: Camineiro and Rice 49:45 - Trent and Alex’s NL Picks 1:06:00 - Can Ohtani even see a postseason bump without a World Series win? Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ https://x.com/SCN_Pod https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://scnchallenge.com/ https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Sep 23

    A New Trend of Fake Cards?

    Alex and Trent are back, as Trent is leading the SCN Challenge after Week 2. Alex had to make his first waiver move in the SCN Challenge. Plus, we have an update on a new trend of fake cards and what one consignor is doing about it. Wrapping up with the mailbag: how long is too long to hold a card? 0:00 - Trent is now leading the SCN Challenge 4:30 - Will Alex’s move go through, and should he take a big loss? 12:15 - Alex is waiting on a shipment from Fanatics Collect, and it might be a while. 18:40 - DCSports87 puts out a statement on the fake cards that have been submitted to them. 30:00 - The chase for Fernando Mendoza Heritage red ink autos 33:55 - Mailbag! 43:30 - Strategies to recharge the batteries and not get overworked in the hobby. 50:45 - How long is too long to hold a card? Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ https://x.com/SCN_Pod https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://scnchallenge.com/ https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Sep 16

    Are Raw Cards Cool Again?

    Alex and Trent are back, but what is with the slow breaks around Bowman Chrome? Alex bought a 100,000-card collection over the weekend and has spent most of the week sorting it out. What do you do with 100,000 cards? How many are worth re-selling? Plus, we get the latest on the Fanatics Collect Emanate debacle, and with grading taking forever and being so expensive, are raw cards cool again? 0:00 - Are we in a market lull, or are prices just too high? 9:00 - Alex bought a 100,000-card collection 16:50 - There’s a ton of Bowman in this collection that Alex picked up.  27:00 - Dealing with eBay listings, Alex is a self-described diva.  29:45 - How do you feel about eBay's authenticity guarantee?  40:00 - Alex and Trent have been buying singles on WhatNot and Fanatics Collect and have found surprisingly good results 45:20 - The Fanatics Collect Emanate debacle 54:30 - Are raw cards cool again, or are people just over paying high prices for grading? 59:40 - Alex’s rule for grading cards right now Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ https://x.com/SCN_Pod https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe https://scnchallenge.com/ https://linktr.ee/SportsCardsNonsense?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5764ed98-4893-4eae-bf91-0bd89949ed99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Sep 9

    Where Does the Football Market Go From Here?

    With football season here, Drake from Jet Breakers steps in for Trent this week as he and Alex preview the upcoming season, look ahead to Topps Football products, and discuss what exactly football fans should be chasing in the new products. Plus, Drake grades Alex and Trent's teams in the SCN Challenge! 0:00 - Drake is filling in for Trent this week.  4:45 - Drake got into football cards because of his love of fantasy football.  8:00 - Paul Skenes and Jacob Misiorowski broke the mold in baseball; can the quarterback-focused market be broken in football? 15:20 - What happens if Fernando Mendoza doesn’t play in 2026?  20:00 - What products would you like to see come to the football side of the hobby? 24:30 - Drake looks at Alex’s SCN Challenge team and grades his 40:00 - Looking ahead to the football season and awards and how to use that in the market 59:00 - What do you think of Bowman football? 1:08:00 - Where does the football market go from here? 1:17:30 - The best answer for “What should I collect?” Follow Sports Cards Nonsense: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportscardsnonsense https://www.instagram.com/sports_cards_nonsense/ https://x.com/SCN_Pod https://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense https://collectibleslife.beehiiv.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See All (64)

4.8
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Hobby Handbook, your go-to guide for turning passion into profit in the world of sports card collecting. Hosted by the Clever Cuban Cards, this podcast peels back the layers of the fast-growing trading card industry, showing how a simple hobby can become a side hustle or even a full-time gig. From flipping cards to grading, building community to leveraging market trends, each episode dives into the real business behind the cardboard. Whether you're ripping packs for the thrill or stacking slabs with intention, The Hobby Handbook is here to help you use the hobby to fund the hobby. Featuring collectors, creators, and industry insiders, the show offers inspiration, education, and behind-the-scenes access to a world full of potential. Because this isn’t just collecting, it’s building. Let’s get into it. Whatnot - https://whatnot.com/invite/clevercubancards YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CleverCubanCardsTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clevercubancardsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/clevercubancards/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577842226204Website - https://www.clevercubancards.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Llansó
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Hobby Handbook

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