The Hobby Handbook

Alex Llansó
  • 5.0 (24)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    2026 MLB Season Preview: Best Card Buys & Rookie Sleepers

    This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Jetbreakers Trent to break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 MLB season. But before we get to the baseball, we have to talk about Clever Cuban's horror story about ripping 2026 Topps Pristine (missing 5 autos in 4 boxes!) and the frustrating state of "insufficient evidence" claims when you get shorted. The duo also dives into the latest news at PSA regarding price increases and slower turnaround times, debating what this means for the bulk submission market and why Clever Cuban canceled his Collector's Club membership. Then, they shift gears to the diamond to preview the World Baseball Classic, identify Spring Training breakout candidates, and discuss which rookie sleepers you should be buying now—including names like Chase Burns, Christian Moore, and Jonah Tong. They also debate whether Pete Alonso to the Orioles is a buy or a bust and if Jackson Chourio can lead the Brewers deep into the playoffs. Finally, Alex and Trent go head-to-head in a "$10 Card Portfolio" challenge to pick their MVPs, Aces, and Top Prospects for the upcoming year on a budget. And, Alex shares his latest Arena Club trade, asking who won and who lost. If you're new to Arena Club, use promo code SCN to get 20% off your first slab pack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  2. FEB 12

    How to Figure Out the Value of Your Sports Cards

    On this week's episode of the Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is diving deep into the most common question in the hobby: how do you figure out what your cards are actually worth? He breaks down the difference between list price and sold price, and walks you through the exact tools he uses, like 130 Point and CardLadder, to get accurate numbers for your collection. We also cover the latest hobby news, including country star Luke Combs' new interest in the hobby and honest thoughts on the frustrating new price hikes and turnaround times from PSA. Plus, stay tuned for the second half of the video where Clever Cuban comps viewer submissions, hunting down values for rare 1/1s and prospect autos from Caleb Williams, Paul Skenes, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min

  3. FEB 5

    How Packman Could Have Avoided CRASHING OUT On-Stream

    This week on The Hobby Handbook, ⁠ @CleverCubanCards ⁠ is joined by Nick from ⁠ All Day Collectibles ⁠ to break down the biggest story in the hobby: the Packman "Midnight Basketball" controversy (10:59). We look at the situation not to pile on, but to ask the real questions: how did a veteran creator end up "crashing out" on stream, and more importantly, how can sellers handle a dead room without turning on their chat? We also discuss the "guaranteed value" trap, the ethical lines of breaker culture, and why platforms might need to step up their regulations. Plus, we cover the sudden delay of Topps Pristine (1:50), the congestion of the release calendar, and give our predictions for the massive Cooper Flagg Red Geometric Auto hitting the auction block via Sports Cards Nonsense's Mike Gioseffi on Thursday. Today's Episode is presented by Arena Club! Use code SCN to get 20% off your first slab pack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 14m

  4. JAN 29

    Did Topps Just Ruin Stadium Club? (Plus: Hobby Discord Drama)

    This week, Clever Cuban Cards comes to you from a frozen Nashville to break down a week filled with broken trust in the Hobby. We dive into the 2025 Stadium Club pre-order fiasco. Topps originally marketed Hobby boxes as containing 9 Chrome cards, only to quietly change the packaging and announce via email that the final product will have zero Chrome base or parallel cards. We also turn our attention to the massive fallout involving the "Ryan's Cards LLC" Discord group, including allegations of unpaid debts, questionable ownership transitions, and lifetime memberships sold by former owners. Finally, we look ahead to the Super Bowl matchup (Seahawks vs. Patriots!) and discuss selling strategies for Drake Maye cards, as well as the cards of other players in the Super Bowl. Plus, a heated defense of why live sellers can’t pay 100% comps when buying collections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

  5. JAN 22

    The Blueprint: How To PROFIT From Bowman Draft Baseball Cards

    In this episode of the Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards recaps his first eBay Live, sharing insights from his first experience on the platform. He discusses the highs and lows of the event, including unexpected bidding wars and the challenges of extended bidding times. Alex also explores the intricacies of card valuation and the importance of pre-listing items for transparency. Plus, Montgomery Club is no longer, the best and worst Arena Club trades Alex has received and an early review of his new Haystack Scanner. The episode also features an in-depth conversation with Zach Eustis aka Zack's Bowman Hacks. Zack is a special education teacher and card enthusiast, who shares his journey into the hobby and his strategies for success in the card market. He dives deep into Bowman Draft and how he's profited already from this year's release. He also talks pitchers vs hitters and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 11m

  6. JAN 15

    Topps Black & White Scandal? New 2026 Series 1 Design Reveal

    This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down a massive potential scandal involving the Topps Black & White set. Following a deep dive investigation by a Reddit user, the data suggests that the highly sought-after "Golden Hour" parallels were virtually impossible to pull from pre-order boxes, while release-day boxes were loaded with them. We look at the staggering math behind these odds and debate whether this was a catastrophic distribution error or a case of false advertising. We also take a broad look at the current state of Topps releases. We give our first impressions of the newly revealed 2026 Topps flagship design for the 75th Anniversary, featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. However, not all news is good, as we discuss the disappointing revelation that 2025 Series 1 Jumbo Hobby boxes are cutting down their guaranteed hits to just one auto and one relic, despite maintaining a similar price point. We also touch on the general confusion surrounding the sudden disappearance of pre-orders for upcoming products like Bowman’s Best and Pristine. Finally, we shift gears to market strategy and industry controversy. Alex explains his "zagging" strategy on the NFL market and why he is buying Trevor Lawrence during the current dip. We also dive into the hot topics of grading subjectivity, the risks and rewards of cracking slabs, and the recent, troubling allegations of theft occurring at PSA. Join Alex's SCN eBay Live stream Friday at 8 pm ET Join Clever Cuban Cards on Whatnot on Sundays at 2 PM EST and Wednesdays at 7 PM ET! Sign up now for $15 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min

  7. JAN 8

    2026 NFL Playoff Predictions & Sports Card Market Strategy

    The NFL Playoffs are finally here! In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards and guest Brendan fill out their 2026 playoff brackets, debate their Super Bowl winners, and break down exactly how you should handle your sports card investments during the postseason. Should you sell into the hype or hold for a Super Bowl run? We discuss the "Zig when they Zag" strategy for maximizing profits on quarterbacks like Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and Trevor Lawrence. Plus, we dive deep whether PSA is or is not a monopoly and whether there's a monopoly problem in the hobby. We also cover some cool partnership news between Arena Club and the San Antonio Spurs. Follow Clever Cuban Cards: https://www.instagram.com/clevercubancards https://www.tiktok.com/@clevercubancards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    The Reality of Being Married to a Sports Card Content Creator

    For this special New Year’s episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Mrs. Clever Cuban Cards (4:26). We pull back the curtain on what it’s actually like being married to someone obsessed with sports cards. She holds nothing back, sharing her honest perspective on the constant filming, the state of Alex's card "office," and the financial reality of turning the sports card hobby into a business in 2025. Plus, we address the elephant in the room: Does Alex's constant eBay scrolling give her the "ick"? Her answer might surprise you. If you’ve ever wondered what your partner really thinks about the time and money spent on the hobby, this episode is a must-listen. Follow Clever Cuban Cards: https://www.instagram.com/clevercubancards https://www.tiktok.com/@clevercubancards Join Clever Cuban Cards on Whatnot on Sundays at 2 PM EST and Wednesdays at 7 PM EST! Sign up now for $15 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
See All (29)

5
out of 5
24 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
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Hobby Handbook

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