Special Conditions - A Pokémon TCG Podcast

Special Conditions 208: Delta Reign – Legendary Stadiums & Mega Rayquaza!

Two cards, one Stadium, and a whole lot of possibilities!

Lane joins Adam and Justin this week as we dive into the latest English reveals from Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign! We're checking out the brand-new Legendary Stadium mechanic, including Legendary Pyroduct and its ability to shut down Evolution Pokémon Abilities. Could these cards shake up the competitive scene, or are they just another fun gimmick?

We also explore some interesting new strategies featuring Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, Kommo-o, and more.

Then it's time to catch up on Regionals! Dragapult dominated Brisbane, Alakazam made waves in Frankfurt, and an unexpected Ogerpon/Meganium/Arboliva deck took home the win in Recife. Is the current meta more diverse than we give it credit for?

Plus, we've got local tournament stories, a wild loaded-dice judge call, and Justin opens an Ascended Heroes booster bundle with some questionable results.

In This Episode

•

Delta Reign English card reveals and new mechanics

•

Legendary Stadiums and their competitive potential

•

Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, and other new strategies

•

Recife, Frankfurt, and Brisbane Regional results

•

Local Pokémon TCG tournaments and questionable judge calls

•

Ascended Heroes pack openings

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

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Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

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Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

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https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Gym Leaders-

Matty G, BorisYeah, James, Espeon Willow, KJ Da Man, Herbert, Brandi, and FischerJZE

Executive Producer-

Tish Smith

Elite Four-

Ozark Renee

Monika.exe

Thanks to everyone who supports the network and keeps us doing this.

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Special Conditions 207: Grinding the Pokémon TCG Meta

Lane is back on Special Conditions, and apparently he’s been doing nothing but grinding Pokémon TCG tournaments.

This week we’re talking about what people are actually playing right now, from Festival Lead and Mega Lucario to Excadrill, Empoleon, Basic Box, Mega Camerupt, Sharpedo and plenty of other decks showing up online and at locals.

Lane breaks down his recent online tournament runs, why he’s been using them to get back into competitive play, and some of the weird decks he’s encountered along the way. We also talk about which cards from the 30th Anniversary set might actually see play, the current state of organized play, and somehow end up talking about Pokémon LEGO too.

Basically, the meta is wide open and we could have kept talking about decks for another five hours.

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

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Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

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Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Matty G, BorisYeah, James, Espeon Willow, KJ Da Man, Herbert, Brandi, and FischerJZE

Good Morning Johto — Monkeybread Lured Up — Xander Special Conditions — Tish Smith Wayspotters — KateTheKonz

Ozark Renee Monika.exe

Thanks to everyone who supports the network and keeps us doing this.

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Gym LeadersExecutive ProducersElite Four

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Special Conditions 206: 30th Anniversary Fever

We recorded this one right before the 30th Anniversary set dropped… and then Justin took forever to edit it. So now the set is out, the hype is real, and some of our predictions may already be getting tested.

Adam and Justin catch up on what they’ve been doing lately, then get into the 30th Anniversary TCG set, the new artwork, the Lugia and Charizard cards, preorders, and whether any of this product is actually going to be easy to find.

We also look ahead at the 2026–2027 competitive season and ask a question we’ve been asking ourselves a lot lately: are we actually going to have time to compete again, or are we mostly collectors now?

Adam’s Vending Corner is back too, with a recap of his first time vending at Ranger City, what worked, what didn’t, and what he’s learning from doing more and more shows.

Plus, Justin brings a surprise article, we ramble about Pokémon for a while, and try to figure out what comes next.

Listener question:Are you collecting the 30th Anniversary set, playing it, or both? And what card are you chasing?

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

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Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

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http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

GYM LEADERS - Matty G, BorisYeah, James, Espeon Willow, KJ Da Man, Herbert, Brandi, and FischerJZE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS - Good Morning Johto — Monkeybread Lured Up — Xander Special Conditions — Tish Smith Wayspotters — KateTheKonz

ELITE FOUR - Ozark Renee Monika.exe

Thanks to everyone who supports the network and keeps us doing this.

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 205 – Dragons Rule the World

Special Conditions is back! After a longer-than-planned break, Adam and Justin catch up on what’s been happening in Pokémon, collecting, card shows, and life before diving into a huge weekend for the Pokémon TCG.

Adam jumps back into competitive play at a local Worlds Celebration event and immediately walks away with the win using Garchomp. We break down the deck, why Unfair Stamp was so effective, some of the matchups he faced, and how a last-minute Switch inclusion literally saved the tournament.

Then it’s time for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. We talk about Dragapult’s continued grip on the format, some of the more interesting decks and plays we caught during the weekend, the difference between watching Dragapult and the slower formats of the past, and some of what PokémonXP brought to the Worlds experience.

Plus, Justin catches everyone up on his recent Star Wars costuming adventures, Adam opens a pile of Prize Packs, and Adam’s Vending Corner returns with lessons from another month of card shows—including why being the vendor who can find someone’s random 13-cent reverse holo might be more rewarding than selling the expensive card.

Question for the listeners: If you had played in the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, what deck would you have brought?

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

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Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

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Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

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http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer:

Tish Smith

Elite Four:

Ozark Renee

Monika.exe

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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This week on Special Conditions, Adam and Justin keep things lighter with a Pokémon life catch-up. Between travel plans, podcast chaos, collecting fatigue, and the constant stream of Pokémon news, this episode is more conversation than deep dive.

We talk through the current Pokémon TCG vibes, the 30th Celebration reveal, NAIC 2026, reported changes around graded slabs and high-dollar vendor items at official events, and whether the hobby still feels fun when everything turns into a chase.

Plus, we check in on Pokémon GO Fest Global, Justin going to Japan, promos, and the eternal question: what Pokémon thing is giving us joy right now, and what Pokémon thing is exhausting us?

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Hub:https://30.pokemon.com/en-us/

Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration coverage:https://www.pokebeach.com/2026/06/30th-celebration-set-revealed

NAIC 2026 TCG Results / Decks:https://limitlesstcg.com/tournaments/518

Current Limitless TCG deck trends:https://limitlesstcg.com/

Reported TPCi graded slab / vendor restriction story:https://www.pokebeach.com/2026/05/tpci-has-banned-sales-of-graded-slabs-and-pokemon-center-products-at-events

Pokémon GO Fest Global 2026:https://pokemongolive.com/gofest/global

Pokémon Mid-Year Celebrations:https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/mid-year-celebrations-return-to-play-pokemon-stores-on-june-15

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Links Mentioned / Reference Links

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A Magikarp promo in Korea drew a massive crowd, led to the Pokémon Mega Festa distribution being shut down, and quickly became another example of how strange Pokémon promo hunting has become. We start this week’s episode talking about that situation, the frustration around limited promos, and why trying to get special cards from places like GameStop or major events can feel more stressful than fun.

From there, Adam catches us up on his recent card show run. We talk about what it was like vending and buying, the cards he was hunting for, the deals he found, and the moments where walking away made more sense. There are vintage pickups, VS Series cards, Shining Steelix, dollar-bin goals, pricing frustrations, and a lot of talk about what the card show floor feels like right now.

We also get into a few collecting rabbit holes, including hidden cameo cards, Growlithe showing up where Justin did not expect, artist collections, GigaDex-style collecting, and different ways to enjoy Pokémon cards in 2026. To close things out, we touch on Chaos Rising prerelease weekend, the LA Regional meta, Dragapult’s huge share of the field, Adam’s case for Cynthia’s Garchomp, and a few ACE SPEC cards that have quietly become much more expensive.

Competing and collecting collide every week on Special Conditions.

0:00 Adam Returns and Promo Frustration

4:41 Magikarp Promo Chaos in Korea

10:34 Justin Sends Adam a Surprise

12:45 Ascended Heroes Pack Battle

18:37 Adam’s Card Show Adventures

36:38 Hidden Cameos and Weird Collection Goals

51:42 Chaos Rising and LA Regional Meta

1:07:00 ACE SPEC Prices Are Spiking

LINKS

https://youtu.be/CcjC9i13kM8?si=TO1SoahuvFa89UAU

https://www.pokebeach.com/2026/05/pokemon-mega-festa-shut-down-in-korea-after-40000-crowd-turns-chaotic-over-magikarp-promo

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Justin is joined by guest host Lane for a wide-ranging episode of Special Conditions covering the collector side, the player side, and the “wait, what just happened?” side of Pokémon TCG. Lane shares what it’s like working at a card store during modern product drops, while Justin talks Collect-A-Con pickups, Arcanine binder goals, and the continued explosion of Pokémon 151 prices.

Then it’s time to look at the post-rotation format. The crew talks Okidogi single-prize decks, Festival Lead, Dragapult’s early dominance, upcoming Regional Championships, and the rise of “Slop Box” — or as Lane puts it, Good Stuff: The Deck. They also dig into Chaos Rising preorders, Pokémon Center queue survival, and why getting product online still feels like its own competitive format.

Finally, Justin and Lane discuss the Orlando Regional controversy, the difference between the Pokémon TCG and Pokémon GO incidents, and why competitive Pokémon rulings keep spilling into the wider gaming conversation.

00:49 Lane Joins Special Conditions

04:47 Pokémon Market Shifts Beyond 151

09:52 Justin’s Arcanine Binder Quest

14:00 Chinese 151 and International Exclusives

21:00 Post-Rotation Deck Testing

28:18 Dragapult and the Early Meta

41:38 Slop Box vs. Good Stuff Decks

50:15 Orlando Ruling Controversy

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 201 of Special Conditions is all about Justin’s trip to Houston Regionals, and he’s joined by fellow Texas Pokémon player and Star Wars nerd Mitchell Le to break it all down. From tournament prep, deck choices, and brutal matchups to the reality of best-of-three pacing, this one is a full weekend recap from the player perspective. Mitchell talks through his Zoroark run and finishing just one card away from Day 2, while Justin reflects on a day full of ties, time management lessons, and why some matchups felt way tougher than expected.

But this episode isn’t just about the matches. The guys also get into the fun side of the event: retro side events, exclusive championship merch, carnival-style games, Pokémon pinball, raid battles, vendor finds, and the food stops that helped keep the weekend alive. The back half turns into a relaxed pack-opening session with Destined Rivals, making this one feel like the full Regionals experience from start to finish.

00:00 Intro

01:23 Houston Regionals begins

06:12 Mitchell’s run

13:59 Justin’s run

22:03 Side events and merch

28:45 Raid battles explained

39:08 Pack talk

42:10 Pack opening

51:45 Houston visuals and venue

59:19 Food stops

01:06:45 Event highs and lows

01:11:38 Final thoughts

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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How Card Show Vendors Actually Make Money | Special Conditions 200

Episode 200 of Special Conditions is a real behind-the-table conversation with two guests who live the hobby from the vendor side. We’re joined by Zach and Niche from the New England card scene to talk about how they got started, what made them fall in love with vending, and what the card show grind actually looks like once you’re the one buying, pricing, trading, and trying to keep inventory moving.

This one isn’t about fake guru advice or hobby mythology. It’s about the stuff that actually matters: why repeat customers matter more than squeezing every percentage point, why sticker prices and presentation change the whole buying experience, and the mistakes you only make once if you’re lucky. The stories about bad buyouts, early inventory mistakes, and learning how to price for negotiation make this one especially good for anyone who has ever thought about setting up at a show.

On top of that, the episode wanders exactly where a good hobby podcast should: Whatnot growing pains, 151 spikes, Prismatic frustration, Japanese cards, oddball collectibles, and the kind of side quests that happen when four cardboard degenerates get talking. It feels like hanging out at the table after a busy show — which is probably why it works so well.

00:00 Intro + guest setup

01:30 How Adam knows the Zachs

06:00 Why card show vending is a volume business

06:45 Whatnot selling, shipping headaches, and singles

13:30 Buying strategy: moving cards

15:30 Dallas spend vs New England spend

17:15 Pricing philosophy at shows

18:45 Big trades, slabs, and hot table stories

29:00 Could Pokémon ever do serialized cards?

32:30 151 spikes, Prismatic, and current market talk

40:00 How both guests got started in the hobby

45:00 Biggest mistakes new vendors make

48:00 Why sticker prices matter

55:00 Show layout, traffic flow, and vendor setup

01:00:00 Slab guards and deal friction

01:10:00 Growing as a vendor

01:20:00 What actually belongs in the showcase vs binders

01:27:30 Rapid-fire advice for new vendors

01:42:30 Why Pokémon’s community keeps people in the hobby

01:46:00 Final thoughts + where to find everyone

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Giovanni Producer

BorisYeah

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 199 feels like a classic Special Conditions hang—one part “this card rules,” one part “how did that just happen,” and one part real-life hobby grind. We start with Flamigo as the Card-of-the-Day and why United Wings is such a satisfying little engine when it’s clicking. Then we get into the moment that basically defined the episode: Adam hits an Iono to 3, thinks it’s over… and still ends up watching the comeback line appear anyway. From there we talk what Sydney and Santiago might be telling us with EUIC around the corner, swing behind the booth for the Whatnot recap (wins, losses, lessons), and finish with Justin ramping back into competitive mode for Houston—plus a few budget “sleepers & steals” we like right now and what’s been on our content radar lately.

00:00:30 Patreon + Show Intro

00:03:15 Card of the Day — Flamigo (United Wings)

00:07:45 Burned or Learned (TCG Live story)

00:19:15 Meta Minute — Sydney + Santiago results

00:30:45 Break + Patron shoutouts

00:32:00 Behind the Booth — Whatnot + show plug

00:47:30 Leave it or leave it — Road to Houston / deck choice talk

00:51:30 Sleepers & Steals — budget picks 00:58:15 Pack opening + card talk

00:59:15 Status: Recommended

01:14:15 Wrap

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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New year = new segments! In Episode 198 of Special Conditions, we roll out Burned or Learned, Behind the Booth, Sleeve it or Leave it, Sleepers & Steals, and Status: Recommended—plus a festive Card of the Day to kick things off.

🔥 In this episode

•

Card of the Day: Delibird Holiday Calendar promo (snowflake stamp!)

•

Burned or Learned: Light Toxtricity grading gamble (PSA vs CGC talk), Hisuian Growlithe binder copy pickup (customer service win)

•

Sleeve it or Leave it: League Cup recap + Festival Grounds deck talk

•

Sleepers & Steals: budget art rares + a Full Art item pickup

•

Status: Recommended: Britney Spears “Oops” Whatnot swipes + Tricky Gym on Expanded

🗳️ Prompts

•

Delibird: Binder or Pass?

•

Burned or Learned: Burned… or Learned?

•

What are you sleeving up next?

•

What should we watch next?

02:00 Card-of-the-Day — Delibird Holiday Calendar Promo (snowflake stamp)

07:30 Burned or Learned? — Light Toxtricity grading gamble (PSA vs CGC)

13:30 Burned or Learned? — The “just ask” pickup (Hisuian Growlithe binder copy)

16:00 Behind the Booth — NE Card House (Jan 18) + table talk

18:20 Behind the Booth — Whatnot stream: OBS, shipping fixes, and workflow lessons

22:36 Back from break — Delibird canvas + gift/trade stories

28:00 Patron shoutouts + PokemonProfessor.com plugs

28:45 Sleeve it or Leave it — Festival Grounds deck + League Cup recap

36:00 Pack opening break — Twilight Masquerade pulls (Secret Box!)

39:30 Sleepers & Steals — Budget pickups segment intro

40:00 Sleepers & Steals — Ludicolo AR (Phantasmal Flames)

41:10 Sleepers & Steals — Ambipom AR (Phantasmal Flames)

42:30 Sleepers & Steals — Helioptile AR (Mega Evolution)

45:00 Sleepers & Steals — Buddy-Buddy Poffin Full Art

46:35 Status: Recommended — segment intro

47:00 Status: Recommended — Britney Spears / “Oops I did it again” Whatnot swipes

48:15 Status: Recommended — Tricky Gym: “What Happened to Expanded?”

Tricky Gym — Expanded video:https://youtu.be/HGCs8nLeThk?si=ZERQ35QMAzFMikPE

More links:https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

This episode is brought to you by our Patreon—shoutout to the community that keeps the Pokémon Professor Network rolling. For $1/month, you can support the network and hop into our Patron-exclusive Discord: patreon.com/pokemonprofessor

Huge thank you to our Executive Producer Tish Smith, and our Gym Leaders: Ben, Espeon Willow, Herbert, Matthew, and SushiSlayer, as well as the other Executive Producers on the Network: Xander, Monkeybread, and KateTheKonz!

Check out PokemonProfessor.com for links to everywhere you can connect with Special Conditions, grab merch, and connect with all the other shows on the Pokémon Professor Network.

SpecialConditions@PokemonProfessor.comVoicemail/Text/Pics: 732-835-8639

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

Intro Music: Trapped In A Pokéball — Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar (GameChops - Ultraball)Break Music: He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix — Dj CutmanOutro Music: Kanto Trainer Battle — Mykah (GameChops - Ultraball)

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Adam TuttleJustin Keller

Pokémon and all respective names are trademark & © of Nintendo 1996–2024.Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, or Nintendo.

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Episode 197 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG)

This week’s Card of the Day is a full-on vibes pick: Mega Manectric EX full art—loud colors, chaotic Mega-era energy, and the kind of card you love because it rules, not because someone on the internet said it’s “a smart buy.”

That “collect what you like” energy keeps showing up all episode: Adam talks card shows, trades, and the kind of personal chase cards that hit harder than market comps—like the Ditto Charmander promo that instantly time-travels you back to your first big events.

If your binder’s been drifting into “what’s hot right now,” consider this your reminder to steer it back to you. Build the collection you’d still love if prices didn’t exist.

00:00:00 — Cold open: Delibird show survival + Whatnot glow-up?

00:01:15 — Episode start + what we’re getting into

00:04:30 — Card of the Day: Mega Manectric EX (taste over value)

00:07:45 — Freeport, ME show recap (brewery vibes + room to browse)

00:11:15 — Ditto Charmander promo = core memory collecting

00:19:15 — Why is everyone hunting Mudkip?

00:24:30 — Danvers, MA show recap (New England Cardhouse energy)

00:29:00 — TGA slabs + trade talk

00:30:45 — Prismatic product reality check

00:35:30 — Anime Frontier finds (artist alley Pokémon heat)

00:40:45 — Whatnot learning curve: awkward starts, pacing, bids

00:42:45 — Giveaways + keeping viewers engaged

00:51:00 — Buyers, shipping, and stream momentum

00:58:00 — Holiday stream idea + time management panic

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

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Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 196 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG)

In This Meta Shouldn’t Be This Open… But It Is, Adam, Justin, and Lane dive into how strangely wide-open the Pokémon TCG feels right now—on both the tabletop and Pokémon TCG Live. Lane talks about grinding the ladder while waiting for Phantasmal Flames legality, hunting for underpriced singles, and falling in love with one-prize decks again. Adam shares stories from vending at New England Cardhouse, getting showered in DeliBirds, and chasing graded Mega-era cardboard on a budget, while Justin recaps Collect-A-Con Fort Worth, the surprise dominance of One Piece, and finally snagging a long-time grail Skyridge Arcanine for the binder.

From there, the crew breaks down results from the Smart Series charity event and why the top decks prove this meta “shouldn’t” be this open, but absolutely is. They highlight the wild Festival Grounds / Seaking list that surged into third, multiple takes on Goldengo EX (including off-the-wall techs like Picnic Basket), and the brainy Alakazam / Dunsparce Psychic Draw engine that can one-shot while drawing a fresh hand. Lane then spotlights his new favorite rogue: a Conkeldurr “Gutsy Swing” one-prizer that swings for huge damage while effectively ignoring its own energy costs.

To close things out, the hosts swap Phantasmal Flames pre-release stories, talk about new event software headaches, and celebrate some seriously spicy Charizard and Toxtricity pulls. They also chat about starter decks, trainer toolkits, and why dollar binders might secretly be the best way into the format right now. If you like card shows, rogue lists, and metas where almost anything feels playable, this episode is your jam.

00:02:15 – Waiting on Phantasmal Flames meta & Live ladder grind
00:04:30 – DeliBird cosplay, Mega DeliBird hunt & $2 bird pickups
00:08:00 – Vending at New England Cardhouse & ranking local shows
00:12:00 – Collect-A-Con Fort Worth: Skyridge Arcanine grail acquired
00:18:00 – One Piece everywhere & discovering the Life TCG bird game
00:24:00 – Smart Series charity event results & Festival Grounds Seaking
00:31:00 – Goldengo EX deck talk: techs, Picnic Basket, and matchups
00:36:00 – Alakazam / Dunsparce Psychic Draw engine spotlight
00:40:00 – Hydration break & Patreon thank-yous
00:41:00 – Conkeldurr “Gutsy Swing” one-prize deck breakdown
00:50:00 – Mega Absol toolbox, Monkey Dory spreads & open meta talk
00:54:00 – Phantasmal Flames pre-release stories & big Charizard pulls
01:00:00 – Starter decks, toolkits, dollar binders & Poké Ball reverses
01:04:00 – Charizard UPC, Chinese Arcanine tease & outro

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

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http://youtube.com/GameChops

http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 195 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG)

Card of the Day: Uxie 43/146 (Legends Awakened) Main Topics:

TCG Live is actually… fun again? In this episode, Adam and Justin catch up after a short hiatus to talk about their TCG Live ladder challenge, the current regional meta and online events, and why Mega Absol Box might secretly be the deck to beat. They also dive back into Diamond & Pearl era history with Uxie from Legends Awakened, crack a couple of Journey Together packs on air, and react to those wild early Phantasmal Flames blister leaks.

Whether you’re grinding the Greninja League, brewing rogue decks, or just love old-school card of the day segments, this one’s packed with stories, tech, and plenty of “I did what on ladder?” moments.

00:00 – Back from Hiatus: Patreon shout-out & why life needed a reset

01:00 – Live Pack Opening: Journey Together + a very rude Tyranitar ability

03:00 – Ladder Challenge Check-In: Has TCG Live finally won us back?

05:30 – Festival Grounds Converts a Hater (and how mis-sequencing ruins everything)

09:30 – Sick Day Ladder Grind: 50 matches, rank climbs & deck identity crisis

14:00 – Milwaukee Regionals Recap: Charizard survives, Gardevoir hangs on

16:30 – The Mega Absol Box Breakdown: Towert tech, Precious Trolley & 380 HP Kangaskhan?!

22:00 – 19-Energy Ceruledge & Other Online List Degeneracy (Champions Road results)

24:30 – Fighting Gong Lucario, Gravity Mountain math & Espathra item-lock shenanigans

40:00 – Card of the Day: Uxie LA – the “draw to seven” engine that defined an era

48:00 – Journey Together Pack #2: Lily’s Ribombee and an “inviting wink”

50:30 – Phantasmal Flames Leak Story, Delibird Temptations & New Ladder Goals

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

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http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Episode 194 – Special Conditions (Pokémon TCG) Hosts: Adam Tuttle, Justin Keller, and Lane (Good Morning Johto)

We get real about the current card show scene—what collectors actually want, what turns people off, and how vendors can raise the bar. From transparent pricing and fair trade values to kid-friendly engagement and better vibes, this one’s part rant, part playbook.

Card of the Day: Umbreon ex (Prismatic Evolutions) – SAR Main Topics:

00:08:45 – Pricing tools & reality checks (TCGplayer, eBay comps, apps)

00:18:30 – Trading etiquette: cash %, trade %, slab pitfalls, & nines vs tens

00:20:40 – How to spot green-flag vs red-flag vendor booths

00:21:45 – Sealed product at shows (Walmart/Costco/Sam’s restocks, reprints)

00:28:25 – Smart strategy: benchmark a single card to sample pricing

00:34:50 – Buyouts, table fees, & why some booths price high

00:53:10 – Why staying until close should be standard (deposits help)

01:05:45 – Helping newcomers & kids enjoy the hobby

01:07:50 – Trade-up challenge: wholesome vs abused

Community Challenge: We’re racing the Pokémon TCG Live ladder now through November 5—tell us your rank and deck!

We want your take: What do you want from a card show, and what would you change?

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

http://youtube.com/GameChops

http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Special Conditions Podcast Ep. 193 – MEGA EVOLUTION MADNESS

In this week’s episode of Special Conditions, Adam and Justin dive deep into all things Pokémon TCG — from nostalgic throwbacks to the latest Mega cards hitting the scene. We kick things off with a look at Mega Audino EX from Fates Collide, comparing the old-school Mega Evolution mechanic to the new flashy versions.

From there, we explore the brand-new Mega Pokémon set — analyzing artwork, mechanics, and whether these cards will shake up the meta. Check out the official Mega Evolution hub on Pokémon.comhere, Justin Basil’s full visual listhere, and PokéBeach’s detailed English card guidehere.

Of course, we couldn’t ignore some strange news… including how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used Pokémon branding in an ICE raid campaign. Yes, really. Read more about the story and TPCI’s official response atPokéBeach Article #1 andPokéBeach Article #2.

To wrap it up, we cover product news — like the upcoming Lugia EX and Latias EX Premium Collection (plus the Mimikyu EX and Alcremie EX boxes). Curious why these new stamped promos are stirring debate? Read more atPokéBeach’s product preview.

👉 Join the conversation, share your thoughts on Megas, and let us know if you’ve snagged any cool collectibles lately!

🔗 Connect with us 🌐 Website:https://pokemonprofessor.com 🎧 Podcast Network: Pokémon Professor Network

🎧 Podcast Host: Pickaxe 💬 Discord: Exclusive access via Patreon 👕 Merch: Available on our site

📞 Call/Text/Voicemail: 732-835-8639 ✉️ Email: specialconditions@pokemonprofessor.com

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

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http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

02:30 – Fitness, hockey, and life updates 05:00 – Card of the Day: Mega Audino EX (Fates Collide) 12:00 – Delibird collectibles & nostalgic finds 19:00 – The new Mega Pokémon set – designs & mechanics 26:30 – Mega Venusaur, Kangaskhan, and big HP creep 30:00 – More Mega reveals: Camerupt, Manectric, Absol, Mawile 37:00 – Mega Latios & Mega Delibird discussion 40:00 – Supporters & trainers (Lillie’s Determination, Wally’s Compassion, etc.) 45:00 – Stadiums, items, and quirky cards (Repel, Strange Clock, Surfing Beach) 49:00 – Lt. Surge’s Dealings – the strangest supporter yet 52:00 – Forest of Vitality & Grass strategies 55:00 – Housekeeping & community shoutouts 56:00 – Product talk: Lugia EX / Latias EX Premium Collections 01:02:00 – Rant on scarcity, resellers, & Black Friday chaos 01:06:00 – The government “uses” Pokémon?! ICE raid video discussion 01:10:30 – Wrap-up & contact info

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This week on Special Conditions, we step away from the usual gameplay and collecting chatter to honor a community staple—The Grading Authority (TGA). After years of serving the hobby, TGA is officially closing its doors, and with it comes the end of an era in card grading. Adam shares his heartfelt thoughts on what TGA meant to him personally and professionally, from the shows he attended with them to the friendships he made along the way.

It’s not just about slabs and grades—it’s about the people, the stories, and the passion for Pokémon that connected everyone at TGA. Adam opens up about his experiences working alongside them, the lessons he learned, and the emotions that come with saying goodbye. While it’s tough to see them go, this episode is as much a celebration of their contributions as it is a farewell.

Of course, we still bring the heat with our usual segments—talking about the latest TCG buzz, strategies for the upcoming season, and the art of the game. But at the heart of it all, this episode stands as a tribute to TGA, a company that left a lasting imprint on the Pokémon community.

•

00:00 – Catching Up & This Week in TCG

•

04:20 – New Releases & Wild Products Hitting the Market

•

09:45 – Collector Struggles & Market Surprises

•

15:30 – Meta Talk & 2026 Rule Changes

•

22:10 – Strategy Spotlight: Prepping for Events

•

28:35 – Card Art Favorites & Community Shoutouts

•

35:50 – Honoring TGA: Impact on the Hobby

•

43:20 – TGA Memories & Emotional Farewell

•

57:40 – What’s Next: looking forward in the hobby

SpecialConditions@PokemonProfessor.com

Voicemail, Text, and Picture Line - 732-835-8639

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

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http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

http://youtube.com/GameChops

http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Delibird Dreams & Mega Symphonia Screams | Special Conditions 191 In this episode of Special Conditions, Adam and Justin cover a packed week in the Pokémon TCG. We dig into the new Play! Pokémon app — what works, what’s missing, and how it could evolve. We also explore Pokémon TCG Pocket, the latest Play! Series 7 packs, and the incredible Mega Symphonia set, which might feature some of the best artwork we’ve seen yet. Justin shares his experience performing with the 501st at a Weird Al concert, Adam talks about building decks around the newly hyped cards, and together we look ahead to Worlds 2025 with predictions on the meta and the must-watch matchups. Plus, a few grading reveals, recent card finds, and a closer look at the state of the Japanese market. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Patreon shoutout 02:00 – Weird Al concert + 501st backstage story 06:30 – Play! Pokémon App first impressions & frustrations 18:00 – Pokémon TCG Pocket updates (and Delibird hunt!) 21:30 – Plagiarized Ho-Oh card scandal 26:30 – Building decks in TCG Live & the N’s PP Up saga 33:00 – Mega Symphonia set reveal & jaw-dropping artwork 40:00 – Graded card reveals & Dragonite/Kingdra results 44:30 – Collectible finds in Maine 47:00 – Play! Pokémon Series 7 packs preview 49:30 – Worlds hype & travel talk 51:30 – Streaming vs. playing live cards 52:30 – Worlds merch + meta predictions Check us out on the new Pickaxe platform https://www.pickaxe.uk/ppn SpecialConditions@PokemonProfessor.com Voicemail, Text, and Picture Line - 732-835-8639 https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons ▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾ http://instagram.com/GameChops http://twitter.com/GameChops http://soundcloud.com/GameChops http://facebook.com/GameChops http://youtube.com/GameChops http://www.gamechops.com Intro Music Trapped In A Pokéball Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN http://soundcloud.com/belthesar Break Music He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix Dj Cutman http://soundcloud.com/djcutman http://twitter.com/videogamedj http://youtube.com/djcutman Outro Music Kanto Trainer Battle Mykah GameChops - Ultraball http://gamechops.com/ultraball/ https://soundcloud.com/mykah Hosts Adam Tuttle Justin Keller Executive Producer Tish Smith Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo #pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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This week on Special Conditions, Adam, Justin, and special guest Lane from Good Morning Johto dive deep into the highs, lows, and downright strange moments from Collect-A-Con Cleveland. From overpriced cards and Wi-Fi woes to epic deals and Final Fantasy box flips, we cover it all — both from the customer and vendor sides. We also talk about variety at shows, the rising popularity of One Piece cards, and those elusive cards that make our collector hearts race.

Plus: TGA raw grading fun, Mega Pokémon card reveals, and a few spicy hobby hot takes. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or just love a good con story, this one’s for you.

00:00 – A warm welcome (and warmer convention halls)
00:30 – Meet Lane from Good Morning Johto
02:00 – Setting the scene for Cleveland’s Collect-A-Con
04:00 – Why Cleveland almost didn’t make the cut
05:00 – Hunting deals and dodging scalpers
08:00 – The Wi-Fi desert and card show survival
10:30 – When price checks fail you
14:00 – “Market value” vs. “what I’m charging”
15:30 – The $200 booster pack pitch
18:00 – A floor full of variety… and a few surprises
21:00 – The vendor with the untouchable showcase
24:00 – Cash-only lines and an ATM apocalypse
28:00 – One Piece takes over the trading floor
29:00 – Cleveland’s last Collect-A-Con?
30:00 – Vendor life: rules, deadlines, and setup drama
33:00 – Racing the clock (and the load-in line)
36:00 – Whatnot buyers on the prowl
39:00 – Slabs worth cracking open
42:00 – The $7,200 Final Fantasy surprise sale
45:00 – Buying at shows: tips from the trenches
49:00 – Pokémon, Magic, and One Piece sales showdown
50:00 – Shoutout to the New England Cardhouse crew
51:00 – Patreon thanks and TGA partnership
53:00 – Peel to Reveal: a shiny Growlithe moment
56:00 – How raw grading really works
58:00 – The odd charm of a graded Celebrations coin
59:00 – First looks at the new Mega EX cards

SpecialConditions@PokemonProfessor.com

Voicemail, Text, and Picture Line - 732-835-8639

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

http://youtube.com/GameChops

http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Executive Producer

Tish Smith

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

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Welcome to Episode 189 of Special Conditions, the Pokémon TCG podcast where competing and collecting collide! 🎴

In this episode, Justin and Lane from Good Morning Johto break down the 2026 Pokémon TCG rule changes, including the controversial shift from “+3 turns” to “+1 turn” and what that means for tournament timing and gameplay. We also dive deep into the upcoming Black & White mega set — covering the incredible reprint cards, massive 800+ card set list, and the return of horizontal line holos!

🛍️ Lane gives a behind-the-scenes look at prepping for Collect-A-Con Cleveland, revealing what it takes to vend at a major convention, pricing strategies, and what they're bringing to sell — including $100k in sealed Pokémon product!

🎉 Plus:

•

Sideboards in Pokémon TCG? A dream or the future?

•

TGA grading reveal with a surprise 10!

•

Is NAIC better in Columbus?

•

What Union Arena, One Piece, and Magic: The Gathering can teach us about tournament structure.

🎧 Whether you're a collector, competitive player, or vendor, there’s something for everyone this week!

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Johto Heatwave

02:30 – Lane’s Store Life & Event Planning

03:00 – 2026 TCG Rule Changes Overview

06:00 – Swiss Rounds & Top Cut Changes

09:00 – Tournament Timing & +1 Turn Reaction

13:00 – Comparing with Magic & Other TCGs

17:00 – Slow Play, Judges, and Strategy

20:00 – Best of 3 vs. Best of 1

24:00 – Sideboarding in Pokémon?

28:00 – TGA Grading Reveal & Partnership 31:00 – Thank You to Patrons

32:00 – Black & White Mega Set Breakdown

37:00 – Reverse Holos, Pull Rates & Predictions

41:00 – Gen 5 Nostalgia & Market Potential

45:00 – Collect-A-Con Cleveland Prep

52:00 – Pricing Challenges & Market Strategy

56:00 – Con Rules, Setup Woes & Rants

57:50 – Final Thoughts & Shoutouts

Use code FULLHEAL at https://tgacards.com/ for 10% off your order!

SpecialConditions@PokemonProfessor.com

Voicemail, Text, and Picture Line - 732-835-8639

https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork

Music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons

▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾

http://instagram.com/GameChops

http://twitter.com/GameChops

http://soundcloud.com/GameChops

http://facebook.com/GameChops

http://youtube.com/GameChops

http://www.gamechops.com

Intro Music

Trapped In A Pokéball

Dj CUTMAN and Belthesar

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

http://soundcloud.com/DjCUTMAN

http://soundcloud.com/belthesar

Break Music

He Walk - Furret / Accumula Town Remix

Dj Cutman

http://soundcloud.com/djcutman

http://twitter.com/videogamedj

http://youtube.com/djcutman

Outro Music

Kanto Trainer Battle

Mykah

GameChops - Ultraball

http://gamechops.com/ultraball/

https://soundcloud.com/mykah

Hosts

Adam Tuttle

Justin Keller

Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2024Pokémon Professor and Special Conditions are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo

#pokemon #pokemontcg #podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices