The Collector's Compass

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, a subscription-based, no-seller-fee marketplace built on fairness, transparency, and community. With nearly 16,000 users and over $4 million in transactions, Mark has quietly created one of the few platforms in the hobby designed for collectors—not off collectors. Bootstrapped, independent, and intentionally ethical, My Card Post stands in sharp contrast to the fee-heavy, gamified, and increasingly predat...

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 graduate-level courses on substance use and mental health treatment. With over 15 years in the field of recovery, Ryan brings a clinical, compassionate, and reform-minded lens to one of the most important discussions in the ho...

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—is a longtime sneaker and streetwear collector who helped shape modern sneaker culture. From lining up at KITH, CNCPTS, and Supreme during the early “campout” era to building a platform that champions originality over hype, Mikey’s story embodies what Collectors MD calls collecting with intention.

Together, Alyx and Mikey unpack how sneaker culture...

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 (ODAAT), joins Alyx to share his lived experience with gambling addiction and his journey toward recovery—one day at a time. Through his movement and growing YouTube platform, Rob provides education, resources, and daily encouragement to help others break free from the cycle of gambling...

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 lost some of its purity.

From the 1954 Topps Ernie Banks to the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan, Brad’s project honors the most iconic cards in history—not for their prices, but for the mean...

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 (@Hoosier_Pulls), 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 the hidden gambling mechanics shaping collector behavior, we’re bringing it full circle with a deep dive into guardrails, reform, and real change.

Together, we unpack how the hobby can evolve responsibly—without losing the joy that makes it s...

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 face behind the scenes of collecting.

In this conversation, Ambre opens up about what it’s like to love—and live with—a collector. From financial strain and emotional burnout to red...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we sit down with Doc Schwartz—educator, government veteran, and creator of ediSportscards.

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 Addiction?” to his presence in our weekly peer-support meetings, Doc has helped spark conversations the hobby has long avoided.

Doc provides perspective on:

-Why honesty is non-negotiable when talking about addiction in collecting.

-How...

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 eBay feed and a consignment fee calculator, Chris pairs thoughtful design with a philosophy that treats the hobby as a path to self-discovery, not just accumulation.

Chris provides perspective on:

-Designing for how collectors actually collec...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we sit down with Tyler Santiago—owner of 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 building, Tyler has carved out a path that balances tradition with modern presence—without relying on the heavy push of platforms like Whatnot or Fanatics Live.

Tyler provides perspective on:

...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we continue our conversation with Chris “HOJ” McGill—co-founder of Card Ladder 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, language, and future of the hobby.

Chris shares openly about:

-The newly announced Collectors MD × Card Ladder affiliate partnership—and what it means for intentional collecting.

-Why the Na...

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we’re honored to welcome Chris “HOJ” McGill—co-founder of Card Ladder 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 eventually into Card Ladder, a platform built on data, transparency, and a vision for long-term hobby sustainability.

In this conversation, Chris shares openly about:

-The difference between investing and speculating in sports cards...

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 daily in our group chat, lending his time to help with administrative tasks, and offering encouragement to collectors navigating their own struggles.

In this conversation, Travis shares what collecting means to him at its core...

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 how the brain responds to breaks, repacks, and high-risk chase products, why compulsive collecting tends to fall into a “gray area” between gambling and addiction, and what collectors can do to spot red flags befo...

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’s too late.

Our conversation dives into how dopamine and reward loops drive collecting behavior, why compulsive collecting exists in a “gray area” between gambling and other addictions, and the ways marketing and produc...

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 reflects on the harm caused by predatory behavior in the space.

This one goes beyond the cards—it’s about healing, hope, and holding space for others. A must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of menta...

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 boundaries, and navigate stress, burnout, and compulsive behaviors.

We explore topics like people-pleasing, anxiety, life transitions, and the power of defining your own path—one step, one word at a time.This episode is about more th...

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 journey from battling addiction to becoming a licensed counselor, providing firsthand insights into the psychology of gambling behaviors and how they relate to the world of collecting. We dive deep into the...

In this episode of The Collector's Compass, we sit down with @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 system feels so broken to so many.

This isn’t just a conversation about cards—it’s a conversation about clarity, purpose, and how to collect without losing yourself in the proc...

In this episode of The Collector's Compass, we sit down with Mya aka @Bullseye_Breaks—a passionate Gen Z collector and early supporter of Collectors MD—to explore what it means to collect with intention. Mya opens up about the sentimental side of the hobby, why she chooses cards that tell a story over ones that just carry a price tag, and how she’s helping carry the CMD mission forward to a new generation of collectors.

We also discuss her Daily Reflection, “Let The Cards Breathe,” the pressure young collectors face in today’s hype-driven space, and how to f...