The Shallow End

Jason @contrarian_cards impulsively started a new PC. Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards impulsively bought a rookie before that rookie had even reached the seventh inning of his first game. No apologies. No regrets. Sometimes, you've got to lean into the impulse.

In 1990, a cable access station in Northern New Jersey aired "Cardboard Dreams," a documentary about the booming baseball card hobby. Come for the bad hair, stick around for a documentary that was eerily prescient about where the hobby was headed. The guys are joined by Jeff May ( Jeff Has Cool Cards on YT) . Watch Cardboard Dreams here

Listener Dan ( @danscardaccount / @brewerbakerpodcast ) asks us about our favorite inserts. From there, we get into Dick the Bruiser, an incredible vintage card, and what happens when content makers make content about the content makers. The Cardcast is hosted by Pat ( @Insta_Account_Haver ) and Dave ( @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards ). Note: Apologies in advance for Dave's less than 100 percent sound quality.

Dylan (Double D Vintage Baseball Cards on YouTube) tags in as the third man for this episode of Overthinking Baseball Cards, in which we talk about some of our favorite under-the-radar players, cards, and sets.

You asked, we answered – but not without a little help. Pat @Insta_Account_Haver and Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards consider what makes a sports card absurd, whether it's better to collect privately or in person, + more.

Sometimes it's not what we do. It's what we don't. OBC is hosted by Jason @Contrarian_Cards and Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards .

In this, our first, and possibly final, episode, Pat ( @Insta_Account_Haver ) and Dave ( Iowa_Dave_Sportscards ) say hello and talk sports cards.

Katelyn ( @coldlunchcards ) joins Jason @Contrarian_Cards and Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards to discuss her re-entry into the world of baseball cards. Katelyn is also host of The WNBA Card Podcast @WNBACardPod on the @stackingslabs network.

After 126 flagship episodes and 200 overall, this is the final episode of The Shallow End. We begin with an honest and insightful conversation with Alan ( @ricebondsmntna2young ), a Barry Bonds collector and one-third of the long-running Essential Credentials Podcast on YouTube (along with Greg @timsalmoncollector and Matt @essential_credentials_podcast ). Then, we hear from 35 collectors who were each tasked with answering the same question: "What do you love about sports cards? And you can't say "the community." The Shallow End was hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

This is the audio version of the May 2026 episode of Overthinking Baseball Cards, which debuted on YouTube about two weeks ago. OBC is hosted by Jason @contrarian_cards and Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

A new podcast audio essay about sports cards, our mistakes, and ultimately finding our way. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

A discussion with Robert @RobertM_Cards about re-finding the cards we've lost, support systems, and maturing as a collector. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Who among us doesn't love a shiny sports card? What are some of your favorites? The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Dave @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards will leave The Shallow End later this spring. Here, he explains why.

Coming off a visit to St. Paul for the Minnesota Card Show, Dave shares his pickups, attempts a few insights, and reveals the card at the show that outsold the cards of Shohei Ohtani. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Pat (IG: @Insta_Account_Haver ) swoops in to save the day with his usual insights and observations. If you like sports card podcasts when two people just talk about cards and collecting, this is the right episode for you.

How far would you go to get your sports card grail? How far would you go to get a second copy of that grail? This is the story of how Keith ( @thekeithy4999 ) did just that. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

This is a podcast audio essay about collecting sports cards. Enjoy. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

Over the last seven days, three cards perfect for Dave's collection have hit eBay. He hasn't bid or made an offer on a single one – and probably won't. Here's why. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards

At the start of this month, The Shallow End ran the 10 part limited series, "Ten Bucks or Less." This episode shares Dave's big takeaway from each episode, then ends with him sharing one of his own favorite $10 or less cards. The Shallow End is hosted by Dave Schwartz @Iowa_Dave_Sportscards