Sports Boi is under the weather, so Solar Ray is flying solo from the Florida beach for a special Seaside Chat edition of Hobby Nonsense! This week's episode is packed with hobby news, market talk, collecting strategies, and a few hot takes as we break down everything happening across trading cards and collectibles. This week we cover: ● 🟡 Pokémon Mega Evolutions: Pitch Black preview and the biggest chase cards ● 💰 The shocking $192,000 Gold Star Mew sale and what it means for the Pokémon market ● 🔥 Why certain Pokémon cards could become long-term sleepers ● 🎮 Palworld's upcoming trading card game and the ongoing Pokémon lawsuit ● ✨ Disney Lorcana's Attack of the Vine and why it could be the game's biggest set yet ● 🧱 New Pokémon LEGO sets and the must-have collectible ● ️ Bubba Wallace's incredible Space Jam NASCAR tribute ● 🤼 WWE cards that could explode in value over the next few years ● 📈 Smart collecting vs. ripping packs and how to build your collection on a budget ● 🍣 Benihana trading cards... yes, they're actually real. ● 👀 Plus plenty of hobby opinions, collector advice, and nonsense along the way. Whether you're into Pokémon, Disney Lorcana, wrestling cards, LEGO, or just love the collectibles hobby, there's something for everyone in this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray kick things off with a deep dive into Topps Chrome Marvel Comics 🕷️. They break down the most collectible inserts, highlight a few sleeper cards that many collectors may overlook, and discuss the surprisingly strong autograph checklist featuring names like Kevin Feige, Aaron Judge, and Steve Aoki. Next, they cover several notable new releases and announcements: 🏀 Upper Deck's 30th Anniversary Space Jam set, including NASCAR crossover content and Michael Jordan autographs 🦇 Enemies of Gotham City, a new tabletop game that feels like a perfect fit for fans of DC Comics and strategy games like Settlers of Catan 🎟️ Updates on Fanatics Fest and The National, including which event may be the better fit depending on what kind of collector you are and where you can find Jesse and Ray Ray then shares some new Pokémon news, including the possibility of a more collectible Pokémon coin making its way to the United States with additional rarity and chase appeal. The conversation shifts into a broader hobby discussion as Jesse and Ray explore why Pokémon and TCG collectors often seem to have a deeper collector culture than the traditional sports card market. Finally, they revisit one of the hobby's most controversial topics 🎨: card restoration. As the use of paint to repair white edges becomes more accepted in some circles, the guys debate where the line should be drawn and what collectors should consider acceptable. It's an episode packed with Marvel, Pokémon, Michael Jordan, hobby philosophy, and one of the most debated subjects in modern collecting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray kick things off with a review of Disney Chrome ✨. While the product was a fun rip overall, Jesse found some of the hit rates surprisingly underwhelming compared to the published odds, leading to a bigger question: are collectors better off buying blasters and megas instead of hobby boxes? Next, they're joined by Nicholas Barton of the All Stars Card Show, a unique event designed specifically to serve disabled children and their families ❤️. Nicholas shares how the show got started, who it benefits, and how collectors can support the upcoming charity auction this Sunday. After the interview, Ray recaps his experience at the Nashville Card Show, and his biggest takeaway is sure to spark debate: 👉 Sports cards may be slowing down while Pokémon continues to thrive. Then Ray discusses the two newly announced Pokémon sets, what excites him most about each release, and which cards collectors should be keeping an eye on. They close out the show with a return to Lorcana, breaking down recent record sales, current market trends, and lessons Jesse learned the hard way after diving deeper into the game and collectible side of the hobby. If you're considering getting into Lorcana, this segment may save you both money and frustration. 🎙️ Plus: Disney Chrome, Pokémon investing, Lorcana market updates, charity auctions, Nashville show observations, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney takes center stage this week on Hobby Nonsense. Jesse and Ray kick things off by discussing the controversy surrounding Disney Chrome breaks happening days before release, with some breakers charging double and even triple what others are asking while allegedly listing characters that don't even appear on the checklist. Is the system being manipulated, or is this simply the cost of being first? The guys then break down what is shaping up to be the biggest non-sport release of the year: 2026 Topps Chrome Disney They cover: Debut characters Major signers Case hits Top chase cards What collectors should be targeting Why Disney Chrome continues to separate itself from other entertainment products Then they're joined by Digital Inkwell for a deep dive into one of the hottest topics in collecting: Is Lorcana the answer to "What's next after Pokémon?" The conversation covers: How Lorcana got to this point Whether the current boom has historical precedent How collectors are reacting to recent set changes The most undervalued cards and sets What new collectors need to know before jumping in Whether you're a seasoned Disney collector or someone curious about Lorcana's future, this episode serves as a complete guide to where these markets stand today—and where they may be headed next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray bring the drama. The episode starts with the release of Topps Chrome VeeFriends and the announcement of the first-ever MrBeast autograph card. There's only one, demand is already through the roof, and one card in the set already has a $100,000 bounty attached to it. The guys then discuss the challenges of having so many major non-sport releases packed into a single month, including: Star Wars Masterwork VeeFriends Chrome Disney Chrome Marvel Chrome Next, they take a deep dive into Marvel Chrome Comics, where increased print runs may not tell the whole story. With sketch cards increasing by over 1,000%, the hobby may be overlooking some important details. Then the drama begins. The internet has erupted over accusations involving Jason Paige, the singer behind the iconic Pokémon theme song. After claims surfaced that he took advantage of young collectors in a trade, Jason responded publicly. Jesse and Ray break down the situation and explain why the story may not be as simple as it first appeared. The conversation then shifts to the ongoing Bricks & Minifigs controversy, where allegations involving a franchise owner, a dying man, missing LEGO inventory, mafia, YouTubers, and accusations of theft have spiraled into one of the strangest stories in the collectibles world. Also in this episode: Lorcana sets that may still have room to run WWE Cosmic Lunar Box update And the exact strategy Jesse uses to find deals on cards that normally seem out of reach One of the most drama-filled episodes of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray tackle one of their biggest episodes yet. They kick things off with reactions to two major releases: 2025 Star Wars Masterwork, where sketch cards are proving to be a massive draw thanks to book sketches, panoramics, and triptychs WWE Cosmic Chrome, where Adam Gellman joins the show to discuss Planetary Pursuit, collector demand, and whether WWE collectors have already exhausted their budgets after a flood of recent releases The guys also break down: Upper Deck Inspirations: The World of DC The surprising new Feline Collection release A major concern with 2026 Disney Chrome, as facsimile autographs raise questions Then the conversation turns to Pokémon. Recently released data revealed that more than 80 BILLION Pokémon cards have been printed over the past two decades. Jesse and Ray discuss what that means for collectors, investors, and the future of scarcity. They also examine: New details about Pokémon's upcoming 30th Anniversary release A brand-new rarity that could become one of the toughest modern pulls yet Cards collectors should be targeting now before demand ramps up Then the guys explore the news about the PSA shutdown of Value submissions. What does it mean for grading, slab values, raw cards, and the future of the hobby?  And finally... The guys explore a theory that has started gaining traction: Could Taylor Swift actually have autographs in 2026 Disney Chrome? Plus: Ray's newest grail pickup Cards to target before Pokémon Pitch Black And where they see the biggest opportunities in today's market Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray are joined in studio by Matt “Funcle” Hathorn after a huge weekend at Nashville Poké Fest and one of their biggest nights ever on eBay Live. Before diving into the show recap, the guys cover several major upcoming releases, including: 2025 Star Wars Masterwork WWE Cosmic Chrome And the newly announced 2026 Topps Chrome Marvel Comics They also react to some eye-popping recent sales: A $30,000 Woody card from 2025 Topps Chrome Disney And a Disneyland 70th Anniversary Churro card /10 that sold for $560 Then the conversation shifts to Poké Fest itself. As Jesse’s first true non-sport-focused card show experience, the weekend revealed something important: The Pokémon and non-sport markets are MUCH more different than most collectors realize. While Pokémon tables were packed with traffic and activity, many attendees had little awareness of modern non-sport cards at all. At the same time, that lack of knowledge created incredible buying opportunities — including deals that saved the guys hundreds of dollars simply because few people were competing for the same cards. The episode also explores: Ray’s dealer-to-dealer flipping strategy The massive PSA grading gap between Pokémon and non-sport And why the current state of the market may suggest non-sport is still in its early stages A fascinating look at where the hobby stands today — and where opportunity may still exist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray discuss the growing frustration around PSA grading delays, the increasing relevance of grading in the TCG and non-sport space, and why some collectors are now openly pushing for a complete stop to grading altogether. From there, the guys break down: The massive WWE patch bounties, including the $100,000 John Cena WrestleMania patch chase The kindness shown from a Disney card collector to a sketch artist And plans for the upcoming card show they’ll be attending, including giveaways and content ideas The conversation then shifts toward a bigger market question: Can Disney cards attract collectors the same way Pokémon does? Jesse and Ray discuss how Pokémon benefits from decades of games, shows, movies, and TCG infrastructure — and why Disney may need to build stronger collector ecosystems around its cards if it wants to reach that next level. They also cover: The newly announced 2026 Topps Chrome Disney release The record-setting $236K Bubble Mew Black Label sale And why the massive gap between Black Label and PSA 10 prices shows the market is still obsessed with true scarcity To close the show, Ray shares: His top undervalued Pokémon cards And what may be the 25 most popular Pokémon characters in the world A packed episode covering grading, scarcity, Disney strategy, and where the hobby may be headed next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse and Ray kick things off by discussing the recent explosion in high-end 1977 Star Wars card sales, including several record-breaking prices that are bringing renewed attention to vintage non-sport cards. Then they’re joined by Tyler Schmitt and Adam Rips from VeeFriends to break down the upcoming 2026 VeeFriends Topps Chrome release. The conversation covers: New chase cards and inserts Key characters collectors should know And the addition of MrBeast rookie autographs, which could become one of the most talked-about modern creator cards yet After the interview: The guys discuss why the new Dick’s House of Sports locations may be dangerous for uninformed hobby consumers A restaurant introducing Poké Pay as a payment option using Pokémon cards The hidden value in WWE Royalty, especially when it comes to patches The 3 hardest Pokémon sets to find and why their scarcity matters And to close:The newest Lorcana release introduces Pixar characters for the first time, including a certain space ranger already commanding over $1,700 raw. A packed episode covering vintage grails, modern hype, and the increasingly strange ways collectibles are entering everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray start by reacting to the news of a potential GameStop buyout offer involving eBay, and why the move raises more questions than answers — including what Ryan Cohen’s real intentions might be and how it could impact the hobby. From there, they break down 30 Years of Toy Story and then 2025 Star Wars Masterwork, including: A major increase in top-tier autograph signers A limited case run that could make this one of the most desirable Star Wars products in years The conversation then shifts to a growing concern: With Costco now selling bulk top loaders, are we seeing signs of another junk wax era? The guys discuss why it might feel that way — and the key differences that could make today’s market very different. They also dive into: The difference between TCG vs CCG, and a new CCG pushing hard into collectibility with serialized cards and celebrity autos And a look at Pokémon promo cards that could be easy flips, along with an experiment testing how social media messaging impacts buying behavior A mix of speculation, strategy, and real collector concerns about where the hobby is heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices