Jeff starts the episode in pursuit of an Ovechkin Young Guns PSA 10, which opens up a conversation about grail cards, rookie cards and what makes certain cards matter more than others.

From there, the conversation gets into the state of the hobby: Fanatics and product allocation, breakers, local card shops, retail, fresh inventory and why the physical card shop experience still matters.

Rob tells the story of being approached about opening Burbank Sportscards inside Dodger Stadium, and why he ultimately decided against it.

They also go back to where collecting started for them; buying packs as kids, trading with friends and collecting players because you actually loved them.

Eventually, it comes down to a simple idea: some cards are meant to be sold. Others find their forever home.

And, naturally, they finish the episode by ripping packs.

Gem Mint & Authentic is a podcast about collecting, made by collectors.

Hosted by Rob Veres, Sammy Veres and Jeff Garlin.

Filmed at Burbank Sportscards in Burbank, California.

Caleb talks about getting into Pokémon as a kid, rediscovering the hobby as an adult, ripping packs with friends, and how collecting became a regular part of his life.

They also get into Pokémon scalpers, keeping product sealed vs. ripping it, card shop break-ins, God packs, and some of the good and bad that comes with the hobby.

And somewhere along the way, Rob completely loses track of Caleb’s name.

Gem Mint & Authentic is a podcast about collecting, from collectors, for collectors.

Featuring:
Caleb Marshall (@TheFitnessMarshall)

Hosted by:
Rob Veres
Sammy Veres

Presented by Burbank Sportscards.

#Pokemon #PokemonCards #TheFitnessMarshall #CalebMarshall #CardCollecting #GemMintAndAuthentic #BurbankSportscards

Will shares how he started collecting Pokémon and sports cards as a kid, what it felt like to see himself on a baseball card for the first time, and why he now collects everything from teammates and legends to soccer, Marvel, Disney and Star Wars.

He also takes us inside the Dodgers clubhouse, including what it’s like playing alongside Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández. Will even tells the story of being too nervous to ask Ohtani for an autograph before eventually becoming his teammate.
Plus, Will talks about his World Series experience, pitching deep into an 18-inning game, the preparation and attention to detail that separates the best players in baseball, his own cards he’s still hunting, and why being a professional athlete hasn’t changed his love for the hobby.
And, of course, Jeff Garlin has plenty to say about Ohtani, vintage cards, modern prospecting, baseball movies and just about everything else.
Gem Mint & Authentic is a podcast about collecting, from collectors, for collectors.

Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, celebrities and collectors about the cards, stories and people that make the hobby what it is.

#GemMintAndAuthentic #WillKlein #Dodgers #ShoheiOhtani #BaseballCards #SportsCards #TheHobby #CardCollecting #MLB #BurbankSportscards

John shares how he went from collecting cards as a kid to taking over a card shop during the COVID hobby boom, the incredible inventory they uncovered, and why he eventually walked away from the storefront even though the business was working.

The guys get into the realities of running a card shop, the changing sports card market, vintage collecting, the rise and fall of player values, card breaks and gambling, buying collections, and why sometimes the inexpensive cards are what actually build a business.

Plus, Rob shares stories from building Burbank Sportscards from 50-cent and $5 cards into what it is today... including selling more than 8 million cards on eBay.

It’s cards, comedy, collecting, business and plenty of stories from behind the counter.

Gem Mint & Authentic: A Burbank Sportscards Podcast.

Joel shares how collecting evolved from opening Pokémon packs with his son to building an incredible One Piece collection, why he believes TCGs are reshaping the hobby, and what separates sports cards from today's fastest-growing collectibles.

The conversation also dives into grail cards, grading, rarity, collecting while touring the world, the future of the hobby, and why the stories behind the cards are often more valuable than the cards themselves.

Whether you're into sports cards, Pokémon, One Piece, or you're simply fascinated by the culture of collecting, this episode is packed with insight, nostalgia, and plenty of laughs.

Topics include:

• Joel Madden's collecting journey
• Pokémon and One Piece's explosive growth
• Sports Cards vs. Trading Card Games
• Grail cards and hobby philosophy
• Vintage collecting
• The future of the hobby
• Stories from card shops around the world

Gem Mint & Authentic is the official podcast of Burbank Sportscards, where the biggest names in sports, entertainment, and collecting come together to share authentic conversations about the hobby they love.

The hobby has a new home.

In the debut episode of Gem Mint & Authentic, Rob Veres (The Cardfather) and comedian Jeff Garlin sit down for an unfiltered conversation about the memories, stories, and moments that made them lifelong collectors. From ripping their very first packs as kids to debating the most underrated cards in the hobby, this episode is packed with nostalgia, laughs, and the kind of conversations that only happen between true collectors.

Along the way, Jeff opens packs live on the show, Rob shares stories from nearly four decades of building Burbank Sportscards, and the duo dives into everything from vintage baseball cards and hockey's hidden gems to favorite players, unforgettable sports memories, and the future of the hobby.

Whether you've been collecting for 50 years or just bought your first pack, this is a podcast about more than cardboard—it's about the stories, friendships, and passion behind every card.

In this episode:

• The first cards Rob and Jeff ever collected
• Why vintage cards never lose their magic
• The most underrated market in the hobby
• Favorite sports memories and collecting nostalgia
• Live pack ripping
• The future of Gem Mint & Authentic

Welcome to the conversation. Welcome to Gem Mint & Authentic