This is Part II of my chat with Ryan Stuczynski from GemRate (@gemrate on Instagram and gemrate.com). In this part of the chat, we talk about declared value, why that is a thing and why are we ok that this flawed process is a burden we as consumers are ok bearing. We share our zany self-admitted conspiracy theories with the way we approached our personal submissions based on absolutely nothing. We then get to questions from YOU! So many great questions received from Instagram with a myriad of to...
Aug 28, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Ryan Stuczynski from GemRate (@gemrate on Instagram and gemrate.com) is a self professed data junkie who was first a Cleveland sports team collector submitting cards for grading and wanted to learn ore about the grading space. So he used his finance and data analytics background to turn his love of The Hobby into a full time job. He now provides pop report information on four major grading companies on a monthly basis. This is Part I where we talk about what GemRate is, how this information is f...
Aug 24, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Apologies for the delay! I explain why at the start of this chapter (monologue) episode about grading that sets up my next few episodes about the grading space we are currently in as The Hobby. In this episode, I talk about going back to my childhood home and where my old LCS used to stand, being a natural introvert (a surprise for some who follow me on Instagram, I'm sure), my experience with the grading process and my bewilderment as to why we as consumers in The Hobby have accepted that 1. de...
Aug 19, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 31
YouTube video link here: https://youtu.be/kbc2mHvs5CE Because one hour was just not enough, I had Rob Girard (on Instagram @sportscardtherapist) on again. I think this counts as a repeat appearance? I start this episode with having an individual hobby therapy session about how to handle online criticism with putting my face and voice out there and Rob does an excellent job talking me through this issue, including talking about his own personal experiences and his personal way of handling it. If ...
Aug 11, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 30
YouTube video link here: https://youtu.be/r-N2TRr-OJ4 After an amazing time at The National in Rosemont, Illinois, I thought it would be the perfect time to have a sports card therapy session, and who better than Rob Girard, the Sports Card Therapist? There is no intro monologue to this episode, and instead we just get right to the special guest. Rob and I talk about his origin story, fatherhood, the state of Connecticut, whether The Hobby is about idol worship, and his rollercoaster relationshi...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 29
If my voice is the only thing I lost during The National, then I consider myself pretty lucky, especially since I hope to get it back by the next episode. This is another interlude type episode, neither a chapter episode nor a guest episode. What do I talk about? I'm glad you asked, not that anyone really reads these descriptions right? Right. I talk about the many hats I wore during my time on the show floor in Rosemont, Illinois. I talk about what I did, what I did not do, and give some shout ...
Aug 03, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Despite having a raspy voice after an amazing National, I wanted to publish this episode for those of you in travel status going back home from The National. I hope that you enjoy the discussion Courtney and I have, with this second half really getting into an important topic: Women In The Hobby. I learned so much from this conversation, and I hope some of you do as well. Humans are like onions. We all wear many hats, and so let’s continue to support and uplift each other!...
Jul 31, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Courtney Reckless of Reckless Cards (on all social media platforms @recklesscards) is the first woman in the hobby for this podcast, and it was just so long overdue. We first get into Courtney’s personal origin story with The Hobby, her love of art in and out of The Hobby, and how Reckless Cards started with their social media. We take detours along the way with talking about online and in person selling, the great Midwest, the good and bad about social media, and coin flip rules and etiquette, ...
Jul 26, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Part Deux with Jesse “Sports Boi” Gibson, where Jesse and I finally get to TCG Nonsense, particularly Pokemon. I would write more for the show notes here, but I am really behind with packing for The National!
Jul 25, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Jesse Rhodes Gibson, the better half of the duo that makes up the Sports Cards Nonsense (on Instagram @sports_cards_nonsense) comes by the podcast studio mainly to talk about how he beat Taylor Swift in a Battle of the Bands competition in high school. Jesse then graciously allows me to do his annual performance review by playing the part of Bill Simmons. Jesse provides the origin story for Sports Cards Nonsense and how it all started and how they got with the Ringer Network. We talk about why i...
Jul 23, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 24
The second half of my chat with Blake Grice from The Blakedown (on IG @the_blakedown) takes us down some rabbit holes such as WWII history, Adam Sandler’s humor, what he wants to be when he grows up, and then we get back on track talking about what Blake’s duties are as an Ambassador for The National and how he feels about his local card shop scene. Blake then shares an innovative idea for a card breaking league, based on BASEketball and so he and I workshop the idea some more, before we turn to...
Jul 20, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 23
This is simultaneously the BEST guest appearance I have had the pleasure of hosting, but also easily my most difficult podcast to host and record, and it was because of the pure energy, enthusiasm, and JOY coming from my 11 year old guest, fellow content creator and Hobby Ambassador, Blake Grice of The Blakedown (Instagram @the_blakedown) We talk about Blake’s origin story where he had to think all the way back to his childhood. We talk about his YouTube channel for his interviews called “Ginter...
Jul 18, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this "interlude" episode, I share my plans for The National, just ten days away, inspired by a movie I just saw earlier in the day. I also share my want list and put other things out into the universe on my mind. I dive deep into the number one card on my list, and I don't even know if it exists. I wrap up this non-chapter episode talking about why I would rather be quick than good with creating content. Hope you enjoy! - Denny
Jul 17, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Part III of III of my chat with Doctor Collectible starts off with a monologue that does not include a pseudo-science brain game. Doctor Collectible and I start where Part II ended, with discussion about Geoff Wilson, about how hard it is to be a creator, the scrutiny we face and why we do have some empathy for him. As a result, we talk more about diversity and inclusivity in The Hobby to further the dialogue on this difficult topic. We then transition to discussion about Threads and Twitter and...
Jul 15, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This podcast episode with the second part of my chat with Darryl Garner (on IG @doctorcollectible) starts off with a monologue intro that includes a fun brain game. I hope you give it a try and let me know how you did! Once we get to the guest chat, the good doctor and I talk about how sometimes concepts can sound or feel gimmicky, but sometimes you have to stick to your gut when you are the CEO of your own content. Doctor Collectible and I talk about why we focus on positive content, how someti...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Part I of my fireside chat with the one and only Doctor Collectible! We did have some audio issues to begin the recording, and I also had to stop my dryer from making so much noise, but once we got going, we really started having a deep, meaningful conversation. The doc talked about how he got into The Hobby, how he thinks that adults lose imagination and that is why we need more kids in The Hobby, and then we get right into talking about diversity in The Hobby. We talk about how he started Doct...
Jul 11, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 18
After six consecutive guests on the podcast, we get back to the chapter monologue episodes. Chapter 3 is about what happens after you get your cards, you want to share them right? Right??? Ok maybe you don't, but if you don't, this entire episode about creating content and social media won't be your cup of tea. I talk about why Instagram is my favorite social media platform, how I grew my audience organically to the point where it is today, with the main key being consistency. There are many dif...
Jul 10, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Part II of my chat with Keane, a very successful singles stream seller on Whatnot and equally successful YouTube vlogger. He can be found on Whatnot @keane_ and in YouTube under Someone Talk to Keane. Also TikTok @talk_to_keane give him a follow, as well as my other previous guests, because I’m trying to curate an awesome group of hobbyists and collectors with great platforms and interesting voices. We talk about how being nice helps facilitate deals, the trials and tribulations of content creat...
Jul 06, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Part I of my chat with Keane, a very successful singles stream seller on Whatnot and equally successful YouTube vlogger. He can be found on Whatnot @keane_ and in YouTube under Someone Talk to Keane. We talk about how Keane’s cardboard journey, where he started with selling penny sleeved dollar cards in value bins to now being a successful singles stream seller after he was rejected from 60 places he applied to several years ago. He talks about using rejection and trolls as motivation. We talk a...
Jul 03, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Before I present the second part of my chat with Jason, I monologue for a good bit about diversity and inclusion in The Hobby and in the Netflix show, King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch. This is such an important topic that I think gets swept under the rug, and the conversation is going to be difficult, but it has to happen, and change is inevitable, because that's the only way we are going to grow The Hobby and also because well, that's life! So I shared some of my thoughts to continue the ...
Jun 29, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 14
How would you feel if you pulled a $2.4 million card? What if you owned that card with two other collectors? What would you do, would you keep it or would you sell it on a Netflix show such as King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch? These are the questions I ask Jason Hickey (on Instagram @jhic5175), who was on the show and had the pleasure of owning the 2020-21 Flawless LeBron James Triple Logoman card with two other gentlemen, whom affectionately call themselves the Logo Bros. In Part I, we wa...
Jun 26, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 13
How's the dog walk going so far? Good I hope? This is Part II of my chat with my best card friend and National roommate, David Spinrad, The Rated Rabbi (on Instagram @ratedrabbi and via email: theratedrabbi@gmail.com). Let him know how he did on the pod! Link to Dave's podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theratedrabbi In Part II, Dave talks about 1 marshmallow cards, night stand cards, his podcast, his 23for24 run, why Willie Mays cards mean so much to him, his mixed family makeup and a...
Jun 23, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Join me on a dog walk with my best card friend, David Spinrad, The Rated Rabbi, who will also be my roommate for the National. In Part I, we talk about our dogs, breaking being a form of gambling, going to casinos as kids, our want lists for National, almost getting scammed on Instagram, podcasts we like listening to, eye appeal on vintage and the concept in general. His Instagram handle is @ratedrabbi and he can be reached via email at theratedrabbi@gmail.com and I forget to include this, but i...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Stream of consciousness episode centering around the similarities between hosting a party and being a breaker on a stream, Father's Day, end of school year, Juneteenth, and just whatever came to mind when I hit record. I thought I lost my audio files (uploads were failing), and so I recorded a second time, and I just decided to include that second go around, because why not. If you're reading this or listening to this on or before Father's Day, I want to wish you a Happy Father's Day!...
Jun 17, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Everybody's got a price for The Million Card Man! This is Part II of my chat with Nick Sostak, who purchased and sold a one million card collection. We get into the nuts and bolts of how it was done, and also why this may be his current claim to fame, but there is so much more to come from this incredible young man. We talk about content creation, bobbleheads, fun stories with being a dealer, the downside of the trade up challenge, "kids" in the hobby and his goal for The Hobby (more women in th...
Jun 15, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 9
What would you do if you had the opportunity to buy and sell a ONE MILLION card collection? Would you even do it? Where do you even start? What would your plan be? Nick Sostak, who I have dubbed The Million Card Man (in the lines of The Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase), is the YOUNGEST guest I have had on and yet, with his old soul and immense experiences in The Hobby, I learned so much from him during our chat together about his experience with handling a one million card collection, from start...
Jun 13, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Part II of my chat with Brian Pirrip (@brianpirrip on both TikTok and Instagram). What do we talk about? Well, we finally get into what makes for a great LCS and maybe what makes for not so good of one. We talk about how cardboard can heal our fractured society and our childhoods. We talk about our dads, which I honestly did not think we were going to do, and some similarities in our lives that only came to light because we were getting to know each other. Two potentially controversial topics we...
Jun 07, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 7
If you love The Hobby, if you love America, and if you're a true collector, you are going to LOVE this podcast episode and the next one, where I had the absolute pleasure of having a fireside chat with Brian Pirrip. You may already know him from his positive, uplifting content from TikTok and/or Instagram, and if you don't, please go ahead and follow him @brianpirrip to not only follow his cardboard journey in The Hobby, but his travels across the best country in the world, the United States of ...
Jun 06, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Fingers crossed that this episode description doesn't get deleted this time! Part II of this fireside chat gets to the meat and bones of BTS, and when you take a listen, you'll see why that phrase works so well. You may even salivate during our discussion. Meat and bones and also tenderizing as a way to negotiate.....I hope you marinate on these concepts. Even right now as I type this, I'm getting hungry! In my brief intro, I talk about finally getting my plane ticket for 2023 National, which is...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 5
I totally wrote this really nice episode description and then it got deleted....but let's try it again! I am so excited to publish this first guest episode, where I had on Dan Nguyen, who is widely known in the hobby as The Great Curator (Instagram @the.great.curator and his podcast on YouTube is called Between Two Slabs). For those of you new to the hobby, he is polarizing and you will instantly love or hate him, but his entertaining style as a content creator cannot be questioned. I wanted to ...
Jun 01, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 4
