Episode 18 — “Grading, Breaking, Auctions & Influence: The Mantle Hobby Awards Dissected.” — November 19, 2025.

Episode 20 - "Topps Chrome Football, $3M Kobe, $4M Jordan, and the Hobby’s Next Big Chase." - April 26, 2026.

This week, Justin & Neil dive head-first into Topps Chrome Football — the biggest football release of the new Topps/Fanatics era — and break down why the product matters, what collectors are chasing, and whether the real opportunity is in sealed wax or singles. From Superfractors and Kaiju's to Tecmo Super Bowl autos, helmet-off image variations, retail hits, and first-year licensed Topps football, the guys unpack what could become one of the most important modern football products in the hobby.   🏈 Topps Chrome Football — FDI, Breaker’s Delight, Jumbo, Hobby, blasters, hangers, wave distribution, retail strategy, and why the product is already moving the market. 🔥 Early Monster Sales — Joe Burrow Autograph Superfractor, Jackson Dart Tie-Dye Auto /2, Cam Ward Tecmo Super Bowl Auto, Jackson Dart Kaiju, Josh Allen autos, Caleb Williams parallels, Bo Nix, Puka Nacua, and more. 💰 Wax vs. Singles — Why the boxes are expensive, why singles may be the better play, and whether sealed Topps Chrome Football can appreciate long-term. 👀 Football Collector Psychology — Why NFL collectors are more team-loyal than player-loyal, why licensed logos matter, and why helmet-off image variations could be a genius move. 🏆 Record-Breaking Hobby Sales — Kobe Bryant’s $3.1M Green PMG, Michael Jordan’s $4M+ Game Jersey Autograph /23, Shohei Ohtani dominance, Kaboom momentum, and major April auction results. ⚾ Baseball Market Breakdown — Ohtani as king, Judge, Trout, James Wood, modern baseball concentration, vintage pop-report scarcity, and why diversification still matters. 📸 Neil’s Pickups — A Lew Alcindor-signed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar UCLA photo, 2013 Exquisite college patch cards, 1997 Platinum Medallions, Reggie Miller, second-year football cards, and 1996 Topps Chrome Football. 🎨 Cards as Art — 1955 Bowman TV design nostalgia, Topps Heritage wrestling, manga inserts, error cards, and why some vintage cards hit differently than modern grails. 🧾 PSA Spotlight Auction Preview — 1948 Leaf Babe Ruth, 1959 Yoo-Hoo Mickey Mantle, 1954 Topps Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Ozzie Smith OPC, & Frank Thomas No Name on Front. From Topps Chrome Football to seven-figure Jordan and Kobe sales, Episode 20 is all about what collectors are chasing now, what could matter later, and why the best cards still feel like art.

Episode 19 - "2025 Hobby Scandals Recap and 2026 Predictions." - February 11, 2026.

The boys are back in town with a recap of the biggest hobby controversies of 2025—and what they actually mean for collectors going forward. From “soaking” and hobby accountability to the Whatnot/Backyard chaos, they break down what mattered, what didn’t, and what to watch for next. From there, they zoom out to the business side: Fanatics/Topps’ evolving playbook, Topps Chrome demand vs. “garbage” flagship, $50 retail blasters, and Topps’ “wave release” + real-time pricing strategy—plus why that might be great for Topps and brutal for collectors over time. They also hit grading and market structure: PSA price hikes, slower turnaround times, and whether that pushes more selling back into the raw market. To close, they fire off 2026 predictions (including a CGC take), talk landmines like wax pricing and repacks, and even touch on an MLB labor/strike scenario—and what that kind of macro shock could do to card liquidity and demand. In this episode: 🧪 2025 scandals: “soaking,” Whatnot/Backyard, hobby accountability. 🏷️ Fanatics/Topps pricing: Topps Chrome mania, wave releases, $50 blasters. 📦 PSA price increases → more raw selling + speed-to-market shifts. 🔮 2026 predictions: CGC, market direction, biggest risks ahead.

Episode 18 — “Grading, Breaking, Auctions & Influence: The Mantle Hobby Awards Dissected.” — November 19, 2025.

This week, Justin & Neil dive head-first into the Mantle Hobby Awards — and break down what the hobby got right, what it got wrong, and what made absolutely no sense. From breakers to grading, memorabilia to innovation.     🎙️ Breaking Platforms — Why Whatnot is unstoppable, why eBay Live feels like an intrusive neighbor. 🏛️ Auction Houses — REA, Sotheby’s, Fanatics Collect, Heritage, Pristine… who deserves a trophy, and who deserves a time-out. 🛒 Hobby Shops — Burbank’s efficiency, CardVault’s branding, Roadshow’s personality, Mintink’s customer experience — and what really matters to collectors. 📦 Products of the Year — The Cup, 50/50 Shohei, NT, Rookie Royalty, and why “best” depends entirely on whether you ripped or held. 📊 Grading Companies — PSA dominance, CGC’s steadiness, SGC’s lane. 📡 Influencers & Creators — The ones who add value, the ones who add noise, and who refuses to be influenced by anyone. 🔍 Innovation of the Year — What actually counts as innovation vs. what’s just a fancy wrapper. 🧢 Execs & Culture — Nat Turner’s calm under pressure, the Fanatics ecosystem, and how leadership shapes collector trust. ⚾ Memorabilia — Babe Ruth’s called shot jersey, the Ohtani 50th home run ball, Kobe, Mantle — and which piece truly deserves the crown.

Episode 17 - “In Cards We Trust — But Should We?” - November 11, 2025.

This week, Justin & Neil ask the uncomfortable question at the heart of the hobby: how much trust is really left? From the latest bidding controversy to the blurred lines between self-bidding and price protection, they dig into what integrity means in a market where emotion, money, and reputation all collide. Along the way, they break down: 💸 How market makers and influencers shape comps behind the scenes. 🧾 What auction-house policies actually say about bidding ethics. 🏆 Why transparency—and technology—might be the next frontier for restoring confidence. 🎯 Data, discipline, and the psychology of chasing rarity.

Episode 16 — “Whatnot, Fanatics & The Next Era of the Hobby.” - November 3, 2025.

Neil & Justin are back breaking down the week’s wildest headlines in the sports-card world. 💸 Whatnot’s $225 Million Series F Raise → $11.5 B valuation, new investors, and what it says about tech money flowing back into collectibles. 🧢 Fanatics’ grip on the game → licensing power, product control, and whether anyone can keep up. 🏀 Topps Basketball returns! → print runs, parallels, and that Target-aisle buzz collectors can’t resist. 🎤 Upper Deck fires shots at speculators → is it truth, shade, or survival talk? 💼 Panini wax as an alternative asset.  💫 Caitlin Clark & the WNBA boom or bust?  🚀 A sneak peek at Cardonomics —a new spinoff on tech + finance in collectibles.