Casual Mode | Episode 8: Crunch Time

The conversation covers topics related to card trading, grading, business investments, and expenses. It also delves into the dynamics of hosting and social interactions. The chapters include an introduction and itinerary, hosting and social dynamics, big purchases and investments, card trading and grading, and upcoming card shows and slab grading. The conversation covers the topics of friendship and support, as well as event preparation and strategy. The hosts discuss their interactions, support for each other, and the upcoming events they are preparing for. The themes of friendship and event preparation are explored in detail, providing insights into their dynamics and strategies for upcoming events.TakeawaysCard trading and gradingBusiness investments and expenses FriendshipEvent preparationChapters00:00 Upcoming Card Shows and Slab Grading19:16 Event Preparation and Strategy

The conversation covers a range of topics, including favorite films, the transition to the Dead Good Pod, reflections on recent card shows, positive feedback and engagement with followers, review of notable slabs and vintage card acquisition, the biggest deal at Box Park, vintage card popularity, Pulse TCG and top sellers report, and discussion of specific cards and website features. The hosts also engage in banter and share personal experiences throughout the conversation. The conversation delves into the texture and appeal of Pokemon cards, followed by an analysis of market reports and trends. It then explores the Mega Evolution singles and sets, sponsorship, and wish list functionality. The discussion continues with insights on the upcoming Celebrations set and its availability, pre-ordering and availability of new sets, and the impact of the Delta Rain set on the market. The conversation also covers card art and rarity in new sets, a debate on job roles and responsibilities, and concludes with an announcement and future plans.TakeawaysVending experience at card showsEngagement with followers and feedbackAcquisition of vintage cards Pokemon card market trendsUpcoming Pokemon card releasesChapters00:00 Discussion of Specific Cards and Website Features19:22 Exploring Pokemon Card Textures and Affinities20:15 Analyzing Market Reports and Trends21:05 Discussion on Mega Evolution Singles and Sets22:16 Sponsorship and Wish List Functionality22:58 Insights on Celebrations Set and Availability24:12 Pre-ordering and Availability of New Sets25:05 Discussion on Delta Rain Set and Market Impact26:16 Exploring Card Art and Rarity in New Sets27:29 Debate on Job Roles and Responsibilities32:07 Announcement and Future Plans

In this episode, Ethan, Karl, and Dan discuss a wide range of topics from car materials and football to Pokémon cards and upcoming events. They share insights into card grading, market trends, and hobby tips, making it a must-listen for collectors and enthusiasts. In this episode, we explore the latest in gaming, technology, and pop culture, including GTA 6, Star Fox, and the rising costs of gaming. We also discuss the impact of subscription models and the future of gaming hardware.

Special guest Nathan Ellingsworth joins Ethan this week to recap the highs and lows of Nintendo's most recent Direct showcase, including discussions on the Ocarina of Time remake, Star Fox's strange character designs, Pokopia, Xenoblade, Rayman Legends Retold, and more.Find Nathan on CultureDex: https://www.youtube.com/@CultureDexDoes The Ocarina of Time Remake Teaser Signal Zelda's Sanding Down its edges?: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-sands-down-series-edges/Nintendo Direct announcements and game updatesPokopia DLC and season passXenoblade Genesis announcementStar Fox demo and character designImpact of Nintendo Switch 2 on game performanceThe Ocarina of Time RemakeChapters00:00 Introduction06:20 Pokopia DLC and Season Pass11:05 Xenoblade 18:32 Star Fox Demo and Character Designs26:43 Rayman Legends Retold30:18 General Nintendo Direct Thoughts35:10 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake45:44 Wrap-up

The episode opens, as all great works of art do, with an ad. This time it's Pulse TCG, a Pokemon tracking app, because apparently grown adults need software to tell them how many cardboard rectangles they own. The hosts then wade into the thrilling saga of card grading services, including the various ways these companies keep changing the rules and disappointing everyone. A review of Mandalorian and Grogu is wedged in for reasons known only to them.There are, naturally, personal updates. Things happened to people. We are told about them.Then it's back to Pokemon news and yet more grading chat, with PSA singled out for special scrutiny over whatever fresh mess they've gotten into. The whole thing crescendos with a riveting debate about "Slab Summer" (a real phrase that real people said out loud) and the dream of one day opening an online shop.From there the conversation does that podcast thing where it sprawls everywhere: an eBay store nobody has built yet, gaming updates, Unreal Engine 6, Rocket League, a Lord of the Rings RPG announcement, Cristiano Ronaldo reminding everyone he's Cristiano Ronaldo, World Cup predictions that will age beautifully, and James Bond. Game reviews and "entertainment discussions" round it off, which is the description you use when you can't remember what was actually said.Brought to you by PulseTCGChapters00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship07:28 Personal Updates and Activities16:15 PSA Grading Service Challenges22:24 Ethan's Absence and Gaming Banter

Episode 10. We made it to double digits, which feels like an achievement and a warning sign in equal measure.This week the lads hit a card show, argued about video editing like it matters, and debated whether a camera upgrade counts as a personality. Then it all unravels, as it tends to.Expect: Liverpool managerial speculation (we've fixed it, don't worry), World Cup squad selection (also fixed), strong opinions on a film none of us are qualified to review, vegan pizza discourse, a taxi anecdote that probably should've been edited out, and a deeply serious conversation about Pokemon Snap and Lego Batman.Three grown men. One episode. Roughly forty minutes of content and approximately none of it useful.Chapters00:00 Episode 10: Casual Married Tenet05:11 Setting Up at the Card Show10:12 Recycled Plastic and Vegan Pizzas15:16 Liverpool Managerial Speculation21:41 Film Review and Expectations31:47 Lego Batman and Pokemon Snap

This week on Casual Mode, we cover the important stuff first: pizza. Specifically, whether vegan pizza deserves to exist and what that says about us as people.From there it's the usual controlled chaos. Karaoke, Star Wars, a review roundup of a few games including Replaced (it's good, calm down), and the eternal question of whether a game can be "too indie" or if that's just what people say when a bigger studio didn't make it.We also check in on Blue Sky, which is either dying or fine depending on how emotionally invested you are in engagement metrics. Spoiler: we're a little invested.Then someone lost a wallet, someone found a microphone, and we ended up in an arcade. Classic.Chapters00:00 Pizza Chat and Vegan Options07:01 Karaoke and Entertainment13:03 Star Wars and Gaming Reviews19:02 Nostalgia24:29 The Impact of Blue Sky on Social Media32:28 Lost and Found: A Wallet and Microphones38:36 The Thrill of Claw Machines and Arcade Games44:47 Goodbyes and Final Remarks

This week, Ethan, Dan, and Karl did something nobody asked for and absolutely nobody can stop talking about: a full crisp bracket.Yes. A bracket. For crisps. With a final.Along the way there are childhood memories, strong opinions about texture, and a Squares vs McCoy's showdown that gets more serious than it has any right to be. There's also gaming news and some Star Wars chat, but let's be honest, you're here for the mouthfeel discourse.Somehow this is a real podcast.

Another week, another conversation that started as a retro gaming deep dive and somehow ended at a card show with opinions about event snacks. You're welcome.This episode the lads wade through the warm swamp of gaming nostalgia, argue about whether you actually own anything digital (you don't), and debate Game Pass vs GeForce Now with the kind of energy usually reserved for things that matter.There's also monster truck games. Nobody asked. They delivered anyway.If you grew up haunting the second-hand section of a game shop that smelled vaguely of carpet and regret, this one's for you.TakeawaysGaming nostalgiaRetro game collecting Game Pass vs GeForce NowPhysical vs Digital GamesMonster Truck Games Trading and selling at eventsGaming experiences on new devicesChapters00:00 Gaming Nostalgia and Retro Game Collecting23:06 Gaming Subscriptions: Game Pass vs GeForce Now34:10 Physical vs Digital Games43:55 Monster Truck Games and Card Show

This week we're grieving tennis games that were better when we were twelve, arguing about gadgets that exist purely to make you feel like you're doing something productive, and somehow ending up in a conversation about digital handwriting like adults.The main event: games that looked you dead in the eye, showed you a cinematic trailer, took your £60, and delivered something that can only be described as a crime against expectations. You know the ones.We also get into collectible cards (yes, really), YouTube subscriptions (the irony is not lost on us), and the usual banter that makes this show either charming or insufferable depending on your tolerance levels.Chapters if you want to skip straight to the bit where we lose the plot: 00:00 Tennis Gaming Nostalgia 05:59 Humorous Banter and Inside Jokes 19:43 Digital Penmanship and Gaming 30:49 Games that Lied to Us 38:37 Collectible Cards and SubscriptionsLike, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us which game betrayed you the most. We'll judge your taste accordingly.Chapters00:00 Tennis Gaming Nostalgia05:59 Humorous Banter and Inside Jokes19:43 Digital Penmanship and Gaming30:49 Games that Lied to Us38:37 Collectible Cards and Subscriptions