From Origins to Premier League: A Sports Card Journey Without Co-hosts

Ever wondered what happens when a podcast host is left to their own devices? The answer unfolds in this first-ever solo episode as I navigate the airwaves alone while my co-host Mart lives it up in Bulgaria.

Despite my reservations about "the sound of my own voice," the collector's passion shines through as I share an impressive haul of recent acquisitions. From a stunning Federico Chiesa numbered to 25 and a Jalen Milroe /299 to the crown jewel - a gold Topps Chrome Xabi Alonso numbered to 50 pulled from a humble $7 retail pack. These finds demonstrate that significant cards remain accessible without breaking the bank on hobby boxes.

The episode takes you inside our recent Origins blaster box break, where four collectors (including Mart joining remotely from Bulgaria) pooled resources for a $250 box and conducted a snake-style draft. The community aspect of this hobby continues to evolve, transforming what was once a solitary pursuit into shared experiences that build lasting connections.

My thoughts on the newly released Topps Premier League products reflect the eternal collector's dilemma - enjoying the thrill of ripping packs while recognizing that most pulls won't align with your specific collection goals. This struggle between enjoying the process and maintaining focus resonates with collectors at every level.

We've reached some meaningful milestones with 1,603 Instagram followers and 43,000 views this month across our platforms. This growth validates our approach as novice collectors sharing an authentic journey rather than positioning ourselves as experts. The hobby becomes richer through these shared experiences and genuine connections.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel through the link in our Instagram bio, join our Facebook group, and let us know what cards you're chasing this season. The collecting journey is always better when shared!

Chapters

• 0:00 First Solo Show Introduction
• 1:50 Mail Day and Recent Acquisitions
• 8:17 Breaking Origins with Friends
• 10:25 What's Troubling Dom Segment
• 14:13 Social Media Milestones
• 19:12 Sports Updates and Final Thoughts

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:02

Welcome to Coombe and Curry Sports Cards Podcast. We're collecting meat again.

SPEAKER_01: 0:10

Right, podcast vendors or podcast vendor is uh is back. Um this is a this is gonna be a real strange podcast today um because it'll be my first solo show. Um Mart's still we did our we put an extra one out in the in the week which was awesome with Brock and Rhino. Um Rhino's actually just beat me in the head to head this week in the fantasy, so uh not happy about that, Rhino, to be honest. Um definitely words to be had there. Um but despite what people say, I do not like the sound of my own voice. Um so this is gonna be possibly the downfall of the podcast. I was thinking about this. Um if people tune in for the first time thought, oh yeah, I'll give the podcast a go and listen to me waffling on. Um it's not gonna be good for the show. Um but we punch on. Um Mart's still in um Bulgarian Bulgaria, living the dream. Um we were supposed to have Dom on, actually, and uh just reading through Dom's uh is it unfair to say excuse? Um me uh for the regular slot, and it appears he's he's postponed on me again, but that's that's life, isn't it? Things get in the way. So I'll let Dom off, friend of the pod, um, and we punch on. So um I'm not gonna keep it's not gonna be a long show, as you can imagine, and me talking to myself is uh bit of a weird concept, but we still there's still things I wanted to go through, and I thought that we could um still do. So let's start with um mail day, shop day, and what's been acquired. Um interesting week. As I mentioned on recent pods, I'm trying to throttle it back a little bit. Um how's that going? Not very well. I've uh had a heavy week with breaks this week. Um supposed to be another one last night um with KCC. Um but that one's been I think I think possibly going tonight. I was looking forward to that. So it's two two Origins Blasters. Um I've been I've done a few with Card Crazy, which have which have been alright, but but mainly I have acquired uh football slash soccer cards this week. So I had a um actually had my first sort of face-to-face um meet with a with a guy called Liam at Top Play Sports Cards in Lower Hutt. I took my stuff down there and we did a few trades. Um In fact, I don't actually have that here, but it was a funny story actually, because I was bidding on so over here we've got a version of eBay called Trade Me. And I was bidding on a um a Tyler Lockett DK Metcalf jewel patch, but they were both patches of match worn. And whoever was selling it had put it on there for fairly cheap. Um I think it was at like seven dollars or something, a couple of pounds. Um and I was winning until the very last minute, but I was in the car when the auction ended, and someone um sort of snuck in, and then a couple days later, Liam's trying to sell me the the card for for what it's worth with current comps. So I thought fair play to fair play to the lad. But we ended up doing a trade. The trade, I don't remember exactly what was for what, but I picked up obviously that card I was talking about, and I picked up this um Federico Chiesa uh numbered to 25, so 24 out of 25, which is quite a nice card from Optic. So that's something I picked up this week. I'm really chuffed with that. I think this one came from Card Crazy, but I got a nice Jalen Milrow there. Uh and that one is numbered 11, my favourite number, to 299. Um, so chuffed with that, and like you all know, I'm absolutely obsessed with origins, so um, but yeah, so chuffed with that card. Um, part of the trade with Liam picked up a field level Virgil van Dijk in pink, so that's another nice card. And I I think we'll talk about this more on next week's show when uh MC's back. Uh but obviously now the top Premier League's available over here in New Zealand. Um, so I've been hammering that. Um we'll go into detail next week, but just a brief my brief thoughts. It's it's a good product, like you it's really it is fun to open, but you know, as I mentioned before, I'm more from a card point of view, more into NFL. Um so I don't know, maybe a little bit underwhelmed, I guess. A lot of waste for me, because you know, I only really want Liverpool stuff in my PC and only particular um Liverpool players. However, when I was in the mall, having a nice muff muffin, uh I decided to open a pack, and in that pack was a gold Topps Chrome Xabi Alonso, an absolute Liverpool legend. Um numbered to 50, so it's 33 out of 50. What a card that is, just from a retail pack.$7. Um so that's straight in the PC, absolutely love it, beautiful card. Um, so that that was quite good. And I think Mark said it, you know, hell of a lot that there's you can pick up some really nice cards, and they're you know, just from retail packs. Um there's a lot of stuff on Insta with people um pulling some really nice cards. So from that point of view, yeah, it's pretty exciting, and and let's be honest, I'll probably be up there this afternoon buying a few more packs. Um I've done a super tin, a couple mega mega packs, eco packs, and um I chucked a video on Insta and YouTube of me pulling that um case hit from literally my first pack when I opened it, so that was quite good. Um so yeah, some nice stuff coming out of it. So um I also I posted this last night on Insta, but I've got this card here, which is a former Liverpool player, Luis Diaz, in his Columbia gear. Um$2 are paid for that, um, and I think that's an absolutely stunning card. Um, some chuffed with that, that was another pickup. And another deal I did online was a uh despite saying I only like Liverpool stuff, I like the odd um player from other teams, so I've gone for a Morgan Gibbs White Immaculate card, just mainly because it's a really really nice card, it's number to 20. So I've picked that up as well. So they're my pickups this week. Uh I've had a few other bits from brakes, but these are stuff that will probably stay in the PC. Um been quite good. Um got a few more brakes lined up, so it should be a fairly busy week. And I've also um I'm also looking at uh Jalen Milrow jumbo patch to actually buy um an Origins card, surprise, surprise. So uh possibly a busy week for me. Um interestingly as well, we a couple of people that I've met through through breaking and that. We the other night, I think it was last Friday, I was bored and uh I was looking on the Card Crazy website and I fancied a box of Origins, one of the blasters. Um but they're they're a bit dearer than sort of standard blasters for other products. So they were I think it was$250 for the box. So I'm I messaged uh friend of the pod, Nick Blinko, and uh we got a that's the right word, consortium together for want of a better word, of four of us in total, um, paid a quarter in, and then we did a like a snake style draft for the teams, and then we did that um this Friday actually, which is quite good. So I've got the I've got everyone's cards there, um, quite a good bunch. So the I think some of the highlights. Let's have a look. We had uh Lamar Jackson original grid irons, which is again I rave about this product, but that's an in that's that's a case hit from a lot of other products, and that's just a a fairly standard insert for the for the product. Uh one of the guys got a Cam Ward rookie card again, just base, but very nice, Quinn Ewers. Um, and let's have a look. What else did we get? The one guy I got a I think I've from the blasters, I've pretty much got everything you can get for Seahawks. Got a Trevion Henderson rookie, uh, another Elijah Arroyo, and then AJ Barner. Ah, I'll tell you what, I was chuffed about. Just quickly cover the numbered cards. This is similar to the Jalen Milrow. Uh that was for Nick Blinko pulled that, and he also got Will Howard for the Steelers. So beautiful cards. Everyone agree. But what was actually chuffed about is MC was in the break, um, and he actually dialed in from Bulgaria, which is nice. So we all had a nice yarn. Um, and absolutely chuffed, but MC's pulled a Jordan Love original gridirons. Um, so yeah, absolutely chuffed the bits that he's that um he's pulled that nice car. And he got a few other bits as well, which is good. So they'll go back with me later in the year. Um, so that was that was quite good for for MC. So that's it that's it on the the brake front and what I've been buying. Um fairly busy week. Um I've got a Jay another Jalen Milroy patch, actually, that's ordered a while ago. That should be confirmation this morning's in the country. Uh so that's good. So hopefully tomorrow I'll be getting that ready for the next pod. It's uh that's a really nice card. But yeah, it's a chuffed, absolutely chuffed. Let's have a look. Let's see if we can punch on with the original plan without Dom. Uh, one thing Dom uh what was next on our show, what we planned, was a little segment called What's Troubling Dom. Um, and we planned to sort of have a discussion about his strategy and having a bit of focus because Dom's Dom loves Dom loves an idea, chats to me quite regularly about uh he's proper invested into the pod, enjoyed coming on and loves the cards and stuff, but he's a bit all over the place with what he's doing, I think. I don't think that's unfair to say, Dom. I think you're you're lacking lacking direction, lacking focus. Um so we need to try and establish what what you're trying to achieve because uh when I came in, Seahawks, um, we know my story, you know, I started with my Tyler Lockett card, and then I thought, oh, you know, I wonder if I can get a JSN card. Um, the rest is history. Um and I and even I would say to a certain extent that I lack a bit of direction. Um, you know, there's I'll get points where I'll take any Seahawks card and then I'll look at what I've got, and now I've kind of refined my PC quite a bit, so I'm a little bit picky about what goes in. Um also on the the football soccer front, very picky about what goes in. But in terms of how I collect cards, you know, preferred method really is brakes and singles. Um but obviously we all agree that ripping boxes, ripping packs is is fun. But Dom, at the minute, you're you're picking up a lot of these um new top Premier League packs, and you've just started dabbling with the brakes, haven't you? And as we've discussed, the problem is when you when you go into breaks that are random teams, you know, unless you get who you you know who you want in Dom's case West Ham, you probably unless you hit something special, you're probably not going to keep it. So from your point of view, you're I can imagine that you're and from the conversations that we have, you're getting a bit frustrated with uh what you're getting. So definitely something that when you're available again will get you on and have a discussion. Um but I think that you know, do do some numbered, because we you know, even at KCC and Card Crazy, they have the odd random teams. Um, but you know, it's NFL, isn't it? It's different. You can use a lot of the cards for trades of other people or or sell to make money to then get what you want to get. And I think with tops, unless you're pulling, you know, something that's numbered or low numbered or an auto or something like that, everything you're getting is not probably not good enough to trade for things you want. So it's a difficult product. Um might be different when the hobby boxes are more accessible. Um, definitely, because you're the quote the I I guess the the frequency in which you're pulling those type of cards that you'll either keep as part of your PC or be able to trade other people is gonna will will go up a little bit. Um but I'm not sure the retail stuff is I think you're gonna end up with with tons of cards that you you just don't want. So yeah, it'd be good. Like I said, when you're available, let's get you, let's open you up, Dom. Let's get you open up on that on the open road and see what's troubling you, see what see what um what really makes you tick. And I think that that's the thing, you know, sometimes you can't force it. For me, the the obsession, hence me sitting here on my own and talking to myself, um, the obsession's real. Um, and I I would still, like I said, I would still say I lack direction, but I'm you know still focused on what I want to collect and uh and that type of thing. So yeah, it'd be good to chat on that one, Dom. Um before I forget, Instagram, let's have a look, where's my phone? Here it is. Yeah, so Instagram, another little milestone for us, and that's been TikTok and Insta's been uh at the forefront um when we started. But I had a look this morning, and we are now on 1,603 followers, which is mind-blowing, maybe not to some, uh, but I'm getting on a bit, and to me, that's uh just insane that that many people are following the content that we're putting out. Um so I'm I'm chuffed to bits for that. And there's another thing on here where it says on your dashboard, and it says at the minute, over the last 30 days we've had 43,000 views, um, which to think you know stuff that we're putting out online in this format has been viewed by 43,000 people is phenomenal. Um so chuff with that. I know Mark's not here to give us a TikTok update, but I'm just gonna have a little look live. Um let's have a look. I think we've made some progress on numbers. So yeah, pushing nearly at 700 now, which is good, but the view rate is phenomenal, so there's a lot of interaction um via the TikTok. What one thing I wanted to ask people is we've not pushed the the YouTube. Um, so you know, if you do listen, you do you do enjoy the show, jump on the Insta, there's a link there for YouTube, and it would help us if you subscribe to that as well. A lot of what we put on Insta and TikTok goes on YouTube. Um so we want to start building same with Facebook, we've got a group. What's been good to see is a lot of people have been joining that recently. Um whilst we don't know what our end goal is or what we want to do, I think you know a lot of it revolves around this podcast. And you know, even last week having Brock and Rhino on was exactly why we want to do the pod. Um so I think I think that's our goal really. Make this show really big, get people on, talking about cards. We're novices, so there's a lot of shows out there where there's some good content, but it's kind of high like that's I don't know, is it the right thing to say? High-end people with a lot of knowledge, people with a lot of opinions. So I think our USP at the minute is the fact that we're we're really new to the hobby and we're talking to people that have collected for a while, collected at the same time. Um so we want to kind of create that platform for people to to come on and have a chat. And so far we love it. Um and it's weird because I messaged Mark and I just said to him, it's you know, look, we're we're on show 15 now, so I think we're 14 weeks into it, and it's become already a regular thing. And it also plays into the fact that you know Mart's part of my group of best mates, and you know, moving to New Zealand, you you miss your mates, and having him every Sunday join me for the show has been amazing. Like I miss emotional now, but I miss the boy. So um, so that's been really good. So it's weird sitting here doing this show without Mark. Um so looking forward to next week when he's back when we get back to uh our usual chatter. Um but yeah, any support you can give us, get on YouTube, get on TikTok, Insta, um share some of our posts, try and increase that uh what what they call it, what the young ones call it, increase the um I don't know, the range of who's viewing our stuff and and importantly reach out, get on it. Um yeah, like we that first show I remember we were chatting before we pressed that record button and um just checking I'd actually press record on this, that would have been embarrassing. But yeah, we're recording. But yeah, but you know, we chatted before we pressed that record button, and the second you press record, you can sense a change in how you sound and stuff like that. But now I think I listened back to the first show and it was a bit cringe. Probably is now to be fair. Um, this will probably be cringe to be and I I'm hoping that I don't pop people off. Um it's not usually just me talking to myself, but but yeah, like it's not that bad, and I think everyone will tell you that. Um I think Nick Nick said he was nervous after the first show, didn't come across to me, so I was surprised, but um everyone sort of says that. But I think everyone's enjoyed it, you know. Nick's Nick's made two appearances now, and um I think looking at the calendar that he may be on next week for his uh monthly appearance, so that'd be really cool. Hat trick ball. But I think Nick enjoyed it, enjoys it, um, and everyone that's been on. So yeah, give us a shout, get on the show, and um and we'll have a good chat. Alright, what's next? So we've got I haven't thought about all about that base. Um that is poor planning. Let me have a quick look at my let's have a look.

SPEAKER_00: 19:07

I'll tell you what, that's not a base, is it? We will go. I'll tell you what, we're gonna this is big. This is big. Just me this week.

SPEAKER_01: 19:17

So I this will be the last time I go with origins. Uh, but we all know I love Origins or Origins. We know I love AJ Barner, the Barnyard. Let's go with an Origins AJ Barner base card for all about that base. Let's get that in the collection. And when we put it to the vote about what card we're getting graded at the end, that will be up there. Beautiful card. Um, so that'll be going in the collection, that'll be going in the folder, um, and that'll be part of that giveaway uh towards Super Bowl. Um, so very short segment this week with it just being me. Um on the AJ Barner, actually. I've um that rainbow is actually coming on. I keep looking at different editions. Uh obviously I've got that Dreamweaver. I've seen the Dreamweaver's number to four, and I'm actually watching at the minute another one on eBay. I think it's number two. Um I'm tempted with it with there only being four, but the and it's such a lovely card. Um if anyone out there's got any um there must be a one-on-one. So if anyone's got the one on one, get in contact. Um and any other nice AJ Barners for Phoenix, I'd be interested to hear. I'm quite keen to progress that a little bit. Um moving on, some I've decided today to wear my England hoodie, England rugby, because the the Red Roses, the England's women's team have won the Rugby World Cup, so yeah, congratulations. Um what was amazing as well, Twickenham record crowd for the women's game. I think it was 82,000, 83,000. And they've absolutely smashed it this year. Um I'm a massive rugby fan and pretty proud to see that. What was also good, New Zealand uh went on and grabbed the bronze medal, so that was good. They beat France, England beat Canada in the final. So uh everyone's a winner, yeah. So congratulations there. More good news, Seahawks, three and one. Um, good win for them. That was I don't know if who watched it, but that was nervy, that was. I'd um what's been nice, obviously, since the first game, the the next two, been able to actually sit there and actually enjoy the game rather than uh shitting myself the whole game. Um and that was the same for the the Cardinals. Uh Seahawks are in control. Um in that that run from JSN where he sort of as the ball goes up, he he he starts his run and then he sort of does a little feint and then carries on. Um absolutely phenomenal. And that that's why he's elite, that's why he's up there. But yeah, like I sat there relaxed, enjoying the game, you know, I mean Arnold's getting booed most of the game, you know, bloody dreadful. And then all of a sudden, last five minutes, they turn it on, and they get their touchdown to equalise, but they left they left they left 28 seconds on the clock. What I'm already learning is you give you give Sam Darnold 28 seconds, that's all you need. Um and they went and got the field goal, so chuffed a bit, Seahawks 3-1. Um I've not actually it's been a busy morning for me, so I've not caught up on the other than the fact that I've been smashed in the uh the fantasy, so I think that moves me to three and one. So I can't complain. Three win wins, one defeat, to be expected. Um not let's have a look at the scores. Let's have a look at the scores. So we are week four. Right, so four ah good. Jags are smashing the 49ers, which is good. Raiders are up on the Bears, not so good. Chiefs beating the Ravens, Ravens are not doing good, are they? Um, that's not good. Let's see what the earlier scores were. Lions beat Browns, Browns. Oh, we're gonna see. I know he's not next in line, but what are we gonna see some Shador this year? He's obviously massive. Pushed the prices up for Browns. I picked up Browns in a lot of breaks, um, 2024 uh stuff, because they were cheap, and obviously I like Miles Garrett. Uh and I've had I think I think I've had Browns from a Mini, which is quite a good. I've got a nice Shador base card and one numbered from photogenic Illuminance, that's it.

SPEAKER_00: 23:31

So, but they're they're the most expensive team this year, so there won't be many more. Pat's got another win. Nice Eagles, charge continues, beating the Bucks and the Texans, Titans. Ah, Giants won as well. Let's have a look at that, because that would have been um Jackson Dart starting. So yeah. Some good games to catch on, catch up on. Vikes losing by the looks of it.

SPEAKER_01: 23:58

Some interesting scores there. Um frustratingly, Liverpool lost to Palace. I think that we all know they've been um skating and fit nice, actually. Liverpool not been playing well and they were dreadful against Palace.

SPEAKER_00: 24:12

I mean it should have been 4-0 at half time, I reckon. Um but it is what it is.

SPEAKER_01: 24:20

Um I I think with it just being me, I'm not sure without boring people, that there's much more for me to say. I just wanted everyone to know that we're still that we're you know, we're we're all good, we're putting out shows. We're not behind because we put out one in the week. Um as we knew that Mart was away, and that's what happens, but we want to keep the the show must go on, as they say. Look, I'm gonna end it here. It's been good. Um, it's not been as bad as I thought, not from my end, anyway. I just hope that anyone new to the show is not listening to this for the first time uh and being put off because I've got a boring voice, um, and I'm sure this is probably not one of our best shows, but I've enjoyed it anyway. And I will see you all next week. Regards to your families.