Episode 4 - Tales from the Trade-In

We’re heading back behind the counter at GameStop for a collection of wild, weird, and unforgettable stories from the trade-in trenches. From cockroaches in consoles to Black Friday chaos, join Austin and Chase as they relive the retail madness that shaped a generation of gamers.

Grab your Edge Card, dust off your old trade-ins, and step behind the counter — because this week, we’re diving headfirst into “Tales from the Trade-In.”

In Episode 4, Austin and Chase revisit their early GameStop days and the unbelievable moments that defined life in video game retail. From bizarre customer interactions to legendary coworker antics, this one is loaded with nostalgia, chaos, and the kind of stories only GameStop employees truly understand.

We talk:
How we got started at GameStop (quick refresher)
The strangest and funniest customer encounters
Cockroaches inside consoles
Free snacks and the golden age of Red Bull
Storage nightmares
Black Friday madness, overnight marathons
Launch nights, coworker chaos, conferences, Vegas stories, and more

We also bring back Disc of the Day, this time featuring the Grand Theft Auto series, including Hot Coffee, ESRB controversies, and some midnight launch memories.

Then we debut our new segment: Bonus Level — a deep-dive into more niche corners of fandom. For this first installment, we take on card games, from our childhood obsession to today’s collecting vs playing culture… and of course, GameStop’s modern fixation on trading cards.

Finally, we hit the Save Point as we reflect on how GameStop shaped our lives, friendships, and pathways — and how a single job can ripple through the years like a real-life Butterfly Effect.

Next week, get ready for “LAN Parties & Doritos Dust,” featuring special guests Wayne and Howie (Scott), plus a brand-new segment called Co-Op Mode.

Thanks for listening — and don’t forget to like, follow, subscribe, and send your stories or answers to this week’s question:
What was your go-to gaming/midnight launch snack and drink back in the day?
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