Global Card Collectors

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.

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

In this episode we sat down with Ryan @rookiemoonshots [https://www.instagram.com/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.

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.

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.

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!