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Special Conditions - A Pokémon TCG Podcast

Special Conditions - A Pokémon TCG Podcast

By: Pickaxe
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 Special Conditions is a Podcast dedicated to the Pokémon Trading Card Game that brings over 30 years of combined TCG experience to the game table! Hosts Adam Tuttle and Justin Keller bring unique perspectives on collecting, competing, and the current card market in a family friendly environment.Pickaxe Science Fiction
Episodes
  • 192. Slabs, Stories, and Farewell: Honoring The Grading Authority

    192. Slabs, Stories, and Farewell: Honoring The Grading Authority
    Sep 12 2025
    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 ▾ 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • 191. Delibird Dreams & Mega Symphonia Screams

    191. Delibird Dreams & Mega Symphonia Screams
    Aug 19 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 190. Vendor Rules Are Made to be Broken!

    190. Vendor Rules Are Made to be Broken!
    Aug 12 2025
    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 Johto02:00 – Setting the scene for Cleveland’s Collect-A-Con04:00 – Why Cleveland almost didn’t make the cut05:00 – Hunting deals and dodging scalpers08:00 – The Wi-Fi desert and card show survival10:30 – When price checks fail you14:00 – “Market value” vs. “what I’m charging”15:30 – The $200 booster pack pitch18:00 – A floor full of variety… and a few surprises21:00 – The vendor with the untouchable showcase24:00 – Cash-only lines and an ATM apocalypse28:00 – One Piece takes over the trading floor29:00 – Cleveland’s last Collect-A-Con?30:00 – Vendor life: rules, deadlines, and setup drama33:00 – Racing the clock (and the load-in line)36:00 – Whatnot buyers on the prowl39:00 – Slabs worth cracking open42:00 – The $7,200 Final Fantasy surprise sale45:00 – Buying at shows: tips from the trenches49:00 – Pokémon, Magic, and One Piece sales showdown50:00 – Shoutout to the New England Cardhouse crew51:00 – Patreon thanks and TGA partnership53:00 – Peel to Reveal: a shiny Growlithe moment56:00 – How raw grading really works58:00 – The odd charm of a graded Celebrations coin59:00 – 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
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