The Collector's Compass

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , Alyx sits down with one of his closest friends and a trusted voice from both his personal and professional life, Eric Sterns, to unpack a question more people are asking quietly but few address openly: when does investing stop being investing—and start behaving like gambling? Eric is the Head of Corporate Development at Viant Technology, with experience...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we sit down with one of the most influential voices in the hobby—Geoff Wilson—to talk honestly about something most people still dance around: what happens when the modern hobby starts behaving like a casino, and what responsibility industry leaders have to help collectors #RipResponsibly. Geoff Wilson, founder of Sports Card Investor, CardsHQ, and Marke...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we tackle one of the most urgent and uncomfortable realities facing today’s hobby: how misinformation, pressure tactics, and high-speed live-selling environments are reshaping the collector experience—and why so many people are getting hurt in the process. Our guest, Jack Miller (JBMcards), has emerged as a trusted voice calling out deceptive practices...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we dive into one of the most pressing and often avoided questions in the modern hobby—why does a space built on nostalgia, community, and joy so often drift into manipulation, exhaustion, and financial harm? Our guest, Charles Howard (@CollectorCharles), is one of the hobby’s clearest and most respected voices on market behavior, hype cycles, grading in...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we explore a deeply personal and often overlooked question within modern collecting—when does passion for fandom quietly become pressure, and when does connection slip into compulsion? Our guest, Hyde ( ChinchillaMajor ) is a dedicated member of the Collectors MD community whose journey lives outside traditional sports cards and inside subculture spaces...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we explore one of the most difficult and necessary questions facing the modern hobby—where does collecting end and gambling begin? Our guest, Saul Malek (@SaulMalekSpeaking), is a keynote speaker, gambling recovery advocate, and emerging voice on the psychological and cultural impact of modern gambling systems. A recovering gambling addict himself, Saul...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we explore one of the most urgent questions facing the modern hobby—how do we build systems that protect collectors instead of exploiting them? Our guest, Mark Hill, is the founder of My Card Post (@mycard_post), a subscription-based, no-seller-fee marketplace built on fairness, transparency, and community. With nearly 16,000 users and over $4 million i...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re connecting the worlds of behavioral health and collecting to uncover a deeper question—how do we help people find balance without losing what they love? Our guest, Ryan Roelans, is the President & CEO of Better Way Of Miami , a licensed clinical social worker, and an adjunct professor at Florida International University, where he teaches gradu...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re stepping outside the world of sports cards to explore a broader truth about collecting—how intention, authenticity, and self-awareness connect collectors across every community. Our guest, Mikey Dabb—better known as TheCamp0ut ( @TheCamp0utwithazero )—is a longtime sneaker and streetwear collector who helped shape modern sneaker culture. From lini...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re exploring the powerful intersection between gambling recovery and the modern hobby—how the same psychological triggers that fuel addiction in casinos are quietly reshaping how people collect, spend, and chase. Our guest, Rob “ODAAT” Minnick, founder of One Day At A Time Gambling Awareness (@OdaatGamblingAwareness), joins Alyx to share his lived ex...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re stepping back in time to move the hobby forward—celebrating the stories, history, and humanity behind the cards that built collecting as we know it. Our guest, Brad Sauder ( @tradingcardhalloffame )—founder of The Trading Card Hall Of Fame —joins Alyx to explore how storytelling, nostalgia, and preservation can bring balance back to a hobby that’s...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass we’re continuing a powerful conversation that began back in August—this time turning awareness into action. Our guest, Alijah aka Hoosier_Pulls (@hoosierpulls4689), has been one of the loudest and most authentic voices pushing for reform, transparency, and accountability within the hobby. After our first discussion around repacks, short-fuse auctions, and...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re honored to share a story rarely told in the hobby—the perspective of the partner. Our guest, Ambre LaVanway , is both a collector and the wife of veteran hobbyist Travis LaVanway ( MontanaNorseman ), whose journey we featured in Episode #8 . Together, they’ve navigated the highs of connection and the lows of compulsion that so many couples quietly...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we sit down with Doc Schwartz—educator, government veteran, and creator of EdiSportsCards (@edisportscards6275). Doc has become one of the hobby’s most honest voices, speaking openly about addiction, overspending, and accountability. From the conversation we had with him on his channel last month titled “What Happens When Your Collecting Turns Into an A...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we sit down with Chris MacRae —CPA, strategic finance pro, and founder of The Smarter Collector . Chris is building a platform that helps collectors move from impulse to intention—tracking collections, organizing projects, and making better decisions without spreadsheets. From the Collection Sandbox (tiering/keep-vs-available) to a Wantlist with live eB...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we sit down with Tyler Santiago—owner of Santiago Sports ( @santiago_sports_ ) and one of the most recognizable voices in the New Jersey card scene. As the owner of a thriving LCS in Matawan, NJ, Tyler has built Santiago Sports into both a local hub and a respected name nationally. From brick-and-mortar to Instagram sales, card shows to community buildi...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we continue our conversation with Chris “HOJ” McGill (@chris_hoj)—co-founder of Card Ladder (@CardLadder) and one of the most respected voices in the sports card hobby . In Part I , Chris shared his collecting journey, the origins of House of Jordans, and how Card Ladder was built on data and transparency. In Part II, we go deeper into the culture, lang...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re honored to welcome Chris “HOJ” McGill—(@chris_hoj) co-founder of Card Ladder (@CardLadder) and one of the most respected voices in the sports card hobby. Chris’s journey started like many of ours: chasing his childhood grail, the 1993-94 Ultra Scoring Kings Michael Jordan. That passion evolved into content creation with House Of Jordans and eventu...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we’re honored to spotlight Travis LaVanway—better known in our community as MontanaNorseman . Travis first joined Collectors MD after winning our second Collector Appreciation Giveaway, but it didn’t take long for him to become a cornerstone of our community. Since then, he’s been a constant presence—attending every peer support meeting, contributing da...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we sit down with Dr. Aakar (Rick) Shah, D.O. , to explore the medical and psychological layers of compulsive collecting. As a physician, Dr. Shah offers an informed perspective on how the same mechanisms that drive gambling behaviors — dopamine spikes, reward loops, and risk-reward psychology — are often at play in the hobby. Our conversation digs into...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass , we sit down with therapist-in-training Traylor Disbrow to explore the connection between mental health and the sports card hobby. From his own wake-up call in 2020 to his work with people in addiction recovery, Traylor brings a unique clinical perspective on how collecting can shift from passion to compulsion—and how we can recognize the signs before it...

In this episode of The Collector's Compass , we sit down with Andrew Smith—better known in the hobby as TecmoCards —for a raw, honest conversation about mental health, depression, anxiety, and how collecting helped him rediscover connection, community, and purpose. Andrew opens up about his experiences with therapy and medication, shares how the hobby became a lifeline during dark times, and refle...

In this episode of The Collector's Compass , we sit down with licensed therapist Dayae Kim for a heartfelt conversation about mental health, identity, and the emotional toll collecting can take when passion turns into pressure. Dayae shares her clinical perspective and personal connection to the hobby, breaking down how therapy can help collectors reconnect with their values, set healthier boundar...

In our debut episode of The Collector's Compass , we’re joined by Kevin , a Licensed Gambling Counselor and Drug & Alcohol Counselor with a deeply personal story. Kevin doesn’t just talk the talk—he’s walked the walk. Having overcome his own struggles with addiction and gambling, Kevin has now been sober for 7 years and uses his experience to help others. In this episode, Kevin shares his jour...

In this episode of The Collector's Compass , we sit down with Denny_Cards ( @denny_cards ), to continue the conversation we had on his show, The Card Diary —to unpack where the collecting world stands and where it might be heading. We talk about the highs and lows of the modern hobby, the mental health impact of compulsive collecting, what accountability really looks like, and why the current syst...