Messi Rookie Cards, Lamine Yamal, Fanatics Takeover & FIFA 2026 Card Market with Ric Ellis | Ten21 Podcast Ep. 6

Bateson87: The Truth About FIFA, Pack Addiction, and Weight Loss.

Castro sits down with Bateson87 (Jamie Bateson) — one of the founding fathers of FIFA Ultimate Team content and a 14-year veteran of the FIFA / EA FC creator scene — for one of the most candid conversations in TEN21 Podcast history. Bateson opens up about his 110-pound weight loss journey, the Christmas Eve coughing fit that fractured three of his vertebrae, and why he's been so vocal against weight loss injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro. He shares the unfiltered story of the EA coin sponsor era — how he made tens of thousands of dollars per month, why EA publicly singled him out as the face of the crackdown, and how he rebuilt that relationship to keep his career intact. The conversation moves into the dark side of FIFA Ultimate Team — the addiction of pack opening, who in the FIFA community actually spends six figures a year on FIFA points, and how the introduction of FUT Champions in FIFA 17 changed gaming culture forever. Bateson talks about the day he nearly walked away from content during a community boycott, what it's like being a parent now, and why he'd give up his YouTube channel before he'd give up his Twitch stream. Castro and Bateson trade stories from a decade of friendship — the legendary KSI vs Bateson pink slip pack challenges, their Fall Guys world championship run during COVID, the infamous Vegas roulette machine incident, and being detained at the US border for wearing an NFL jersey one too many times. The episode closes with 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions: Bateson's pick for the tournament winner, his England outlook under manager Thomas Tuchel, the dark horse pick, and an honest take on USA's chances at home — plus an emotional confession from Bateson about his Sunday night viewing habits during Castro's FUT Champions run. A must-listen for FIFA content creators, EA Sports FC players, fans of Sidemen-era YouTube, and anyone who grew up on the FIFA Ultimate Team community. Topics: FIFA, EA Sports FC, FUT, Ultimate Team, FIFA pack opening, FIFA coin sponsors, weight loss, content creator burnout, KSI, NepentheZ, Sidemen, Twitch streaming, YouTube gaming, World Cup 2026, England football, FIFA 17, FUT Champions, gaming addiction. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Is Social Media Good or Bad? The Algorithm, AI Influencers & the Night Castro Got SWATted | TEN21 Ep. 9

Is social media the greatest invention of our lifetime — or the new cigarettes? In Episode 9 of the TEN21 Podcast, Castro and the crew debate whether social media is good or bad, pulling from real experience building businesses, careers, and communities online — and from some of the wildest things social media has put them through. The conversation covers social media addiction and doom scrolling, the algorithm and how it shapes what we see, screen time and kids, parenting in the social media age, AI influencers like Lil Miquela, the high-profile case over whether platforms were designed to be addictive to young users, content creator careers versus pro-athlete careers, online privacy and "swatting," and where AI takes social media next. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Sam Sarver: The Beer Celebration Story, Modelo Partnership, Watching Castro's Streams & USA's World Cup Prediction | Ten21 Ep. 8

The MLS player who went viral for chugging a beer on the pitch is here — and he has a confession. Sam Sarver, FC Dallas's most exciting player right now, walks into the Ten21 studio and immediately reveals that he used to watch Castro's FIFA streams while playing Xbox. OG viewer. 2017 to 2019. His best friend even played against Castro online, beat him, and made him rage quit. That's before we even get to the beer. Sam breaks down the full story behind the most talked-about celebration in MLS this year — the scuba was pre-planned with his teammates before the game. The beer was completely improvised when San Jose fans threw it onto the pitch. He picked it up. The rest is history. Modelo then reached out, sent him eight cases, and his fridge currently has no food in it. Only beer. He also talks about what it's like to go from the North Texas SC affiliate to Pat McAfee calling you a dog within one season, what celebrations he still has coming, why he thinks Germany is the USA's World Cup final opponent, and why he answered "Messi" before Castro even finished the question.  Plus — faith, superstitions, his red boots he refuses to replace, the moon landing debate, his top video games of all time, and Castro's verdict: his favorite guest ever on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

SocccerDave: 65M Views, Zero Dollars, a Telemundo World Cup Deal & The Real Meaning Behind the 3 C's | Ten21 Ep. 7

He has a reel with 65 million views on Instagram. Instagram paid him nothing for it. SoccerDave — David Balyeat, @socccerdave — joins Castro and Konky for one of the most honest conversations about the creator life, faith, soccer, and what it actually takes to build something real from nothing. Dave grew up in Argentina as the son of missionaries, came back to Texas with soccer in his blood, played professionally in Spain, and then retired with no plan. He started posting content from a moving truck working for his in-laws — and five years later he's got 65 million views, brand deals with Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Total Wireless, and just signed with Telemundo to cover the entire FIFA 2026 World Cup from five different stadiums. All while working a full-time job. With twins on the way. They get into the real story behind the three C's in @socccerdave — and why that third C is the most important thing about who he is. They debate Messi vs Ronaldo, the future of soccer refereeing and AI, whether the Kings League could ever replace traditional football, and drop a stat that broke the room: 68% of Ballon d'Or winners have never won a World Cup. Plus — Dave's take on what's broken in US youth soccer, why creators are more valuable to the sport than most leagues want to admit, and the question his dad asked him as a kid that changed everything about how he approaches work. Topics covered: • 65 million views, zero dollars — how Instagram monetization actually works • Growing up in Argentina as an American missionary's kid • Retiring from pro soccer in Spain with no plan — and what came next • Building @socccerdave from 2,500 followers to brand deals with Fortune 500 companies • Telemundo FIFA 2026 deal — covering the World Cup from 5 stadiums • The real meaning behind the three C's in SoccerDave • 18 months of personal rock bottom and the faith that pulled him out • Messi vs Ronaldo — "Messi is an alien. Ronaldo inspires me because I feel like I could actually do what he does." • 68% of Ballon d'Or winners have never won a World Cup — live stat drop • AI in soccer refereeing — chips, VAR, and the future of the game • Kings League vs traditional football — who wins in 20 years? • What's actually broken in US youth soccer • Twins on the way, full-time job, building an agency — the full picture  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Messi Rookie Cards, Lamine Yamal, Fanatics Takeover & FIFA 2026 Card Market with Ric Ellis | Ten21 Podcast Ep. 6

To celebrate the Castro Collects 2-year anniversary, Ric Ellis — the hobby's most knowledgeable insider — sits down with Castro and Konky for one of the most information-packed episodes Ten21 has ever done. Ric breaks down why the Messi 2004 Panini Megacracks rookie — once basically free at your local shop — just hit $1.5 million for a PSA 10. He explains why Lamine Yamal cards are still a buy despite the oversigning concerns, who the most undervalued World Cup players are RIGHT NOW, and why the soccer card market will peak in May — before FIFA 2026 kicks off, not during it. Plus — the $500K card investment debate: would you put half a million into a Messi, a Michael Jordan, a Lamine Yamal rookie, or a Pokémon card? The answer might surprise you. They also get into the real story behind how card breaking was born, how Ric flipped Target and Walmart cards to keep his family fed during COVID, what's wrong with the card show experience and how to fix it, and why Fanatics taking over everything is both terrifying and necessary. Topics covered: • Castro Collects 2-year anniversary — how it all started • Messi 2004 Megacracks: from worthless to $1.5 million • Lamine Yamal vs Messi — which card wins in 10 years? • $500K debate: Messi, Jordan, Yamal, or Pokémon? • Pokémon beating the S&P 500 — Charizard can't tear an ACL • FIFA 2026 card market prediction — buy in May, not during the tournament • Best under-$1,000 World Cup card investments right now • How Ric used card flipping to survive COVID • What's broken about card shows and how to fix it • Fanatics, Topps, and the future of the hobby • How breaking went from Castro's living room to Antoine Griezmann Listen on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.