Beyond The Price Tag: The Shocking Emotional Power of True Memorabilia

What this episode is about

The discussion explores the emotional significance of memorabilia, particularly vinyl records, highlighting how many collectors purchase them not for listening but as collectibles. It emphasizes the blend of passion and investment in collecting, suggesting that while the financial aspect can be alluring, the joy of collecting should also be a primary motivator.

Key takeaways

• Vinyl is the baseball card of music—collectible for nostalgia, not necessarily for spinning tunes.
• Half of vinyl buyers are modern-day art collectors, giving new meaning to 'turntables are dead'.
• Collectibles showcase hidden cultural value; wear and history often trump artificial scarcity in price.
• Trading cards and music are converging, transforming athletes into rock stars—who needs a stadium?
• Nostalgia drives the collectible market; sometimes it’s more about the chase than the catch.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Ryan Alford (Host) · 10 min speaking
• DJ Ski (Guest) · 7 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: DJ Ski
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Project 70, Operation Bullpin
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Project 70, Jiu-Jitsu Kaizen
4. 12:00 – 15:00: DJ Ski, Steve Riiffken
5. 15:00 – 16:55: Collectibles.show

Notable quotes from "Beyond The Price Tag: The Shocking Emotional Power of True Memorabilia"

• Know I was collecting things in both realms of that and that's where you know so fortunate like I kind of really made my name and the collectible like the design scene by my…

  about Tops · at 3:47

• For us, everything starts with identifying what's real. going back to Operation Bullpin, the FBI just estimates up to 50 to 90% of memorabilia and stuff at the time might be fraudulent. And we've seen it, right?

  about Operation Bullpin · at 5:20

• This. And it doesn't have to be oneonone necessarily. It's just different and collectible. I think when we look back on this era, one of the catalysts of cards exploding is…

  about Project 70 · at 7:13

• How I made my money, like flipping stuff and that's how I, was working as a kid. I got connected to Steve Riiffken, the CEO of Loud Records.

  about Steve Riiffken · at 12:47

• Everything that we sell is up on the realist.com. You'll see all of our big partners across the NFL, NBA, MLS, music, etc. you can find more on me at djski.com and at djsk.

  about DJ Ski · at 14:55

• Collectibles.show is where you'll find all of the channels and learn more about what we're doing. And ultimately, hey, we want to hear from you. You do case hits at.show.

  about Collectibles.show · at 15:44

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• DJ Ski — Person · Main guest · 3 mentions · first at 0:43
  Primary interview subject discussing his approach to spotting cultural value, his work bridging music/sports/collectibles, and his memorabilia-authentication business (The Realest).
• Steve Riiffken — Person · Referenced executive / career catalyst · 1 mention · first at 12:50
  Mentioned as the CEO of Loud Records who gave DJ Ski an early break after Ski provided value (helping him source a PlayStation 2 and sharing label strategy ideas).

Companies & orgs

• Tops — Company · Referenced company · 2 mentions
  Mentioned in the context of baseball cards and collectibles, specifically Project 70.

Places & events

• Project 70 — Event · Referenced event · 3 mentions · first at 4:00
  Mentioned as a catalyst for the explosion of interest in trading cards.
• Operation Bullpin — Event · Referenced event · 1 mention · first at 5:24
  Mentioned in the context of fraud in the memorabilia industry, highlighting the need for authentication.

Media & podcasts

• Jiu-Jitsu Kaizen — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 7:51
  An anime show that inspired a baseball card design in Project 70.
  Buyers and showcasing them these different styles and also creating real value from it. Like here's the Otani card that I did as project part of project 70 which was based on…

Sponsors

• Collectibles.show — Company · Sponsor · 4 mentions · first at 15:12
  The platform where the podcast and related content is hosted, encouraging audience engagement.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 In the music industry, vinyl is kind of like the baseball cards for artists. Like 50% of people buying vinyl never even open it and they don't even own a record player. So, it's being treated like a collectible. And of course, we all want the one of one. Who wouldn't? And go sell it if it's going to change your life. Absolutely. But also be doing this for fun.

0:16 Welcome to the Trading Cards and Collectibles podcast on the Radcast Network. From Chasing Grails to Colin Bluffs, I'm going inside the hobby. Are you ready to collect? Let's get at it. Here is your host, Ryan Alford.

0:34 Hello and welcome to Trading Cards and Collectibles here on the Radcast Network. We're your number three sports show in the universe today. Actually, DJ Ski.

0:47 Yeah. Number three on the sports charts for Apple Podcast. We appreciate everybody for listening, watching, all that good stuff. We love you. We appreciate you. And hey, we're You know why we're number one? because we got the best guests, you know, like we go we're going like all I could go so many different directions, you know, I have a host a few different shows and like I want to talk to Ski about a lot of things, but he needs no introduction. I think that you're a curator of what should be more noticed and like it's sort of like that's where I sort of like I always like go deep like on guest like getting underneath like what is this person good at? Why are they like swim yourself like some of the connections you've had and you know how to identify value and value is a loaded word but you do know how to you know how to you're a taste maker like you've probably been called that before but I but I think

1:44 that's what it is man and now you're doing it with a realist what you're doing there but how did you get that skill like is is that is that uh nature or nurture here. Um, I think it's honestly nature, right? It's just something that's always come natural to me. I was always just fascinated by seeing what's next. You know, I think my my skill, if anything, is identifying things and seeing where the the puck is going, right, before others do a little bit early and really diving into collectibles before it became as as popular and mainstream as it was. It was obviously big, right? But we saw was happening. I launched, you know, the a lot of my activities and got in early in the card space um right before the pandemic. And then obviously when when that stuff happened was was able to to double down and now we're doing kind of the same for memorabilia that kind of sector while everybody focuses on cards

2:31 we think that there's a lot going on over here that you know hasn't really been like you know optimized yet looking at where it's going like we see cards and I always like look at RPA cards and these things right and you're like the jersey itself should be worth more than a cutup piece of it like it's just like you look at very obvious things if you were to ask somebody on the street when it comes to I think if you just like my my litmus test for anything right is Like ask somebody that has no idea and just get what an obvious opinion is. And if you were to tell somebody like say a player whose RPA's card is sold for 4 million and their jersey, the debut jersey or something sold for 400,000. If you were to ask somebody on the street like, "Hey, what's more valuable?

3:07 Artificially scarce item with a piece cut up put into it or the actual one that was worn that's naturally scarce that doesn't have to have a number on it."

3:15 They're both valuable, right? Not saying there has to be one or the other, but I just think that like the the value proposition is going to change over time. It's just if you were to ask anybody, it just feels obvious in that sector. But here's what I love about what you're doing and what I think is so smart and what I see myself is this intersection of culture, music, sports, and now collectibles. And that's why I love what you're doing with the realist.

3:41 I appreciate it. I mean, like, yeah, that that's my life, right? like I thought I was going to be an athlete, got into music and collectibles were you know I was collecting things in in both realms of that and that's where you know so fortunate like I kind of really made my name and the collectible like the design scene by by my work with Tops putting out kind of you know when they approached me to do project 70 I was like hell yeah like I'll do baseball cards like who wouldn't that was our dream and then I had to really think like all right what am I going to do designwise I didn't want to just like I needed to do something that had a story and that made sense and that tied into culture. And it brought me back to like, you know, my my start in music was mixtapz. And mixtapz, we'd throw together covers of like pop culture and like put our name on it and photoshop them. And I was like, let's treat the

4:24 players like like artists and combine music and sports. It makes sense to me. And I thought they were just some iconic album covers. And you know, that that's what I did. And we're treating players like rock stars. And if you look at, you know, in the music industry, vinyl is kind of like the baseball cards for artists, right? Like 50% of people buying vinyl never even open it. and you know, they don't even own a record player. So, it's being treated like a collectible. And for me, it was a chance to get product into the hands of collectors that didn't care about cards necessarily, as well as give people that wanted to see like this broader 12in x 12 in kind of uh, you know, beautifully displayed art, highquality print that, you know, we're limited on cards like size-wise, right? Like, here's the card.

5:04 Like, it's a lot bigger space to play with and it's very easy to display. Um, it's like I get that's just fun to me, right? Like it's and it and it fits what I do. So,

5:14 you know, we're talking a little bit about what's in the realist, but the evolution of that company, the that [clears throat] where did it all come from?

5:20 For us, everything starts with identifying what's real. I mean, going back to Operation Bullpin, the FBI just estimates up to 50 to 90% of memorabilia and stuff at the time might be fraudulent. And we've seen it, right? Like, I bought from the biggest auction sites and seen items that were not real. And like there's not that much accountability when you think of like who's authenticating items. At the end of the day, it's a letter of opinion. There's no certification required. Anybody can launch their own business.

5:46 Um it's a space wildly riddled with fraud and especially is I mean we saw what happened with you know card porn like we see these jersey things like it's there's too much money in there to be taking risks. We wanted to build a program in the infrastructure to allow us one protect fans like I built this for myself, but then secondarily to allow the rightful rights holders to go direct to consumers and give their fans a way to get closer to it with ultimate trust in a way that that you know engages fans in a deeper way and um gives them these these assets that you know have the potential to you know really appreciate over time and stuff as we think about it. That was really the foundation of just modernizing an antiquated industry with authentication and then also with like a marketplace.

6:28 We don't charge buyers premium like we don't have like we're not third party. We're not taking those things. We're from the source like we document them and we fully transparent in the whole process. And also like we want things at every price point. A lot of things now are just getting too unaffordable and and we're going to you know alienate a whole audience cuz they just can't participate. And that's why especially in like the memorabilia, the auction site land, like for us, we want to have things across every price point because somebody's first purchase is not going to be, you know, $100,000 item. It's going to be something far less than that. But we we have to hook them early and um and there should be things for everybody.

7:06 You know, I don't need to see the guy, you know, fielding a ball for the hundth time. Like, it's cool and all. I want to see the the artistic interpretation of this. And it doesn't have to be oneonone necessarily. It's just different and collectible. I think when we look back on this era, one of the catalysts of cards exploding is going to be project 2020, which before what I did, project 70 and those things afterwards. And, you know, it just onboarded a whole new demographic because people, you know, artists participating in it. There were some incredibly talented um artists there and they were able to bring in their communities that weren't card buyers while also, you know, taking card buyers and showcasing them these these different styles and also creating real value from it. Like here's the Otani card that I did as project part of project 70 which was based on um his walkout sign at song at the time was

7:51 Jiu-Jitsu Kaizen um which is the anime show and he loved it so much like I really leaned in and storytell like show posted it up. I dropped it off. I went there to do an interview with Mike Trout and left the cloud puffs attendant um some of the Tony ones and next day it ended up on his Instagram story and like seeing players like really react because we dig into some

8:11 unique and like they see the cards and the basic cards all the time and they get asked autographs this all the time but that has thought and creativity and culture like built into it. That's different. Different is a winner.

8:25 That's what's important. That's how we on board new generations. it is doing those cross-cultural collaborations where all sides can benefit. There's too many collabs in the world right now, but when they hit and they're right, like it just serves as an accelerant and I think we're going to point back to that as being a crucial market in and a crucial time in the hobby that there'll probably be a lot of nostalgia 10, 15, 20 years from now for for those. So, you know,

8:47 you know, we can't all go and be [snorts] at these events and these things like either unattainable monetarily, logistics, whatever it might be, but you know, physically, but like putting them in the bottle, like stopping time in a way and making these collectibles and then knowing the authenticity is there and the trust is there. That's what collecting is about, though. It's kind of like, look, attention is fleeting. Moments are fleeting. We're pulled in so many different ways, but having these things that bring back nostalgia, bring back reminders, and being a moment that is sort of captured in time is really cool.

9:26 You nailed it. I mean, like, look, I I'll show you what's behind me. I have a 91 Twins World Series trophy paired with a picture of me and my mom at the, you know, during the 91 World Series. My mother passed away. But like, so for me, like, yes, as a Minnesota sports fan, the last men's championship we won. There's the obvious on field. That's the smallest part from for me that tugs on my memories as a kid, my memories with my mother, my memories of my father, right? Like everything else. And that's what this trophy when I see represents that moment in time. And yes, like to me it's priceless, right? Like

9:58 there's value in it. It's a gold trophy, but it's being there. And that's what I I try to be. That's what I hope this represents. Like it's confetti. It's a novelty product. Let's keep it real, right? Like it's confetti. We we put a lot of effort into collecting it, which is why, you know, it's still like a $60 product because we literally are on the field at the Super Bowl collecting it. We literally seal it up, protective tape with trackers on it. It can't be opened up unless one of our representatives is in the factory. We want to make sure that even at the factory, they're not trying to get cute and add in more confetti or take any of those things.

10:29 Like, we want people to know what they're getting is real, right? And from the source because it represents so much more. again to a lot of people like yes on paper Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl on February 9th in New Orleans.

10:41 There's going to be some kid that is this is going to be sitting on his desk 20 years from now because he represents he remembers watching it with his family and that's far more important than the outcome of the game. This is just what encapsulates that. And that's what I'm trying to bring is like the same nostalgia that some of these items bring to to me in memories. Um we want to preserve for others and it just hasn't been just hasn't been available and it hasn't been in a trusted source. Like that's what we're here for and that's why I say we really storytell through through these. And it's it's more than just the value of items.

11:12 And if you're listening that is what should be a holiday gift and not some socks or something.

11:20 Exactly. And you know what's great is that the fact is that whether you are a billionaire or somebody that's impossible to buy a gift for

11:29 youish. It's it's literally the best, right? And like people will put it on. And like by the way, it's worthless to us that aren't Eagles fans, right? Like to anybody else it's not, but if you are, it is more valuable than anything else. And that's what I love. Like these items worthless to 99% of the population, almost everything that we sell. But to that 1% that is a fan of that team or loves that sport or loves that artist, it's it's priceless. And it's it's really fun to be able to, you know, storyteller through products like that.

11:59 Bring that joy to to fans. You got to be curious. Yeah. I know you're c I bet you're you're you're insanely curious cre creature on some level. Most successful people are.

12:10 But like what's the what's the one attribute or two attribute? Like what is it that's got put you in those rooms? I think it's like, you know, always providing value to others, not looking for others to provide you value, right? Like there there's always some value that you can provide. My start I tell people that one more time I want everybody I'm not this isn't a motivational show. This is a trading card show. We talked about it, but I want people to hear this, you know?

12:32 Yeah. I mean like provide like you get hit up all the time. Hey Ryan, help me out do this. It's like you you don't have enough hours in the day. Like I'm sure you would love to. It's just not realistic. And I think like for me like look, I got my break when I was 16. I wrote a letter. I was flipping PlayStation 2s. I was, you know, that's how I made my money, like flipping stuff and and that's how I, you know, was working as a kid. I got connected to Steve Riiffken, the CEO of Loud Records. He needed one for his son for Christmas.

12:56 Hooked him up and then just stayed close. And then I sent him an idea on what I thought he was doing wrong with his label when the internet was disrupting it. And I I thought I'd get a Wuang Clan shirt and be the happiest kid in the world. And he offered me a job and moved to LA when I was 17. So that was the foundation for me of everything. And if it wasn't for me providing that value, I would have never been able to have that conversation and and ideas for him and he listened from it was there. So I think like providing value at some context and again my value was he it was right before Christmas and you know for your kids you will do anything and he couldn't find a PlayStation. I was able to hook him up with that. So like small value in retrospect something that many others could provide. I just happen to be at the right place at the right time and then I think you know just following

13:36 your passions and trying to find your lane. For me, it's always I'm I'm not really interested by what's done. And that's why I think I'm really well obviously super deep in cards. I've really gravitated towards memorabilia because it feels kind of like just obvious going back to my point in the show. And um I think that this is is a category that has a much bigger even audience profile. It's not limited to just card collectors. I think everybody's a collector of something whether it's music, film, we see the gladiator stuff behind us, sports obviously. And I just think it's just an untapped realm and it brings so much joy to people. I've seen the joy that it brings to myself in my life and I wanted to be there to to provide that and and have fun. So yeah, that's my that's my spiel.

14:17 DJ Ski, he is a true one of one. I appreciate you, brother. Ryan, thank you for having me, man. Congrats on the the success as always. It's it's always awesome to see good people doing good things and um yeah, hear anything that you need. Yeah. Your stuff over. We'll get you some of the the vinyl.

14:33 I would love it, man. and I let's uh let's stay connected and I'd love to have you on the show periodically and uh I just love your energy, man.

14:41 Vice versa, brother, I'm here. Thank you guys. Thanks everybody watching out there for the support and love. Like we're here because of you guys and um yeah, we're we're buy some of this stuff, learn about what it is. Give me some give let's hit some handles, websites, all that stuff.

14:55 Everything that we sell is up on the realist.com. You'll see all of our big partners across the NFL, NBA, you know, MLS, you know, music, etc. Uh, you can find more on me at djski.com and at djsk on socials and lots more to come. We're just getting warmed up. So, we've got some crazy stuff coming.

15:09 Thank you, brother. Appreciate you. Hey guys, you never find us. Collectibles.show. We'll we'll have highlight clips, the full episode, links to YouTube, links to the realist.com, all the stuff. Go just read some of this stuff. He talked about some of those stories, but just go go down the rabbit hole. He's worth it cuz you see how quality he is. You see what they're doing with the realist. And I can't wait to see some of that on the wall over here. I appreciate you, too. Next show, next show. Let's go.

15:36 I know. Yeah, bro. We appreciate it. Hey, we appreciate everybody out there. We'll see you next time on TCC. Collectibles.show is where you'll find all of the channels and learn more about what we're doing. And ultimately, hey, we want to hear from you. You do case hits at.show. We want you to send in your favorite pulls of the week. And here's the difference. This isn't about just value. Hey, we want to see some $10,000 hits. Had a couple of those myself a few months back. But it's not just about the value. It's about what you're collecting. What means something to you.

16:10 Share a story. Share a video of you holding up the card that you hit last week that was your favorite player and you nailed it. So, case hits at collectibles.show. Send in those videos. I want to know the stories. We're going to bring them to life here on the show. We're going to do a segment each week once we get rolling and get some videos in where we share that on the show with us. We'll feature you on Collectibles show.

16:32 Thanks for tuning in to the show. Don't forget to follow us on your favorite podcast platform and don't miss the full video version on YouTube. You can find us at www.collectibles.show or follow Ryan on Instagram at Ryan Olford. Now get out there and collect yours.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Beyond The Price Tag: The Shocking Emotional Power of True Memorabilia"?

Ryan Alford (Host), DJ Ski (Guest).

What is "Beyond The Price Tag: The Shocking Emotional Power of True Memorabilia" about?

The discussion explores the emotional significance of memorabilia, particularly vinyl records, highlighting how many collectors purchase them not for listening but as collectibles. It emphasizes the blend of passion and investment in collecting, suggesting that while the financial aspect can be alluring, the joy of collecting should also be a primary motivator.

What is mentioned in this Collector Nation episode?

7 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including DJ Ski, Project 70, Tops, Operation Bullpin, Steve Riiffken, Jiu-Jitsu Kaizen. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Beyond The Price Tag: The Shocking Emotional Power of True Memorabilia"?

The episode runs 17 min; the transcript is about 3,686 words in 40 timestamped sections.

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