Negative Opinions, Honest Thoughts on the Pokemon Invasion & The Hobby's Hottest Market in Years
In Part 5 of Episode 274 of Sports Cards Live, the conversation takes a reflective and at times fiery turn. The panel closes out with thoughts on when it’s okay to voice negative opinions in the hobby and how to separate emotional reactions from honest critiques.
Then, the discussion shifts to the rapid growth of Pokémon and other non-sport cards dominating sports card shows like the National. Jeremy, Chris, Josh, and Joe explore what this shift means for sports card collectors and whether nostalgia still drives collecting behavior.
Finally, Chris reveals data showing June was the hottest sales month ever tracked by Card Ladder and offers a word of caution as FOMO returns to the hobby.
Each week we tackle hot hobby headlines with a rotating panel of hobbyists, taking your questions and comments! We are likely to go into overtime so join us live grab your favorite beverage and snacks and bring your questions and comments as they will be in play.
Originally aired Saturday July 5, 2025
Sports Cards Live has recently been ranked #5 among Feedspot's top 90 Sports Card podcasts https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_card_podcasts/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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49:25
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49:25
Is Hobby Regulation Coming? Breaking, Addiction & the Case for Speaking Honestly
In Part 4 of Episode 274 of Sports Cards Live, we dive into the complex world of card breaking, gambling behaviors, and whether formal regulation should exist in the hobby. Chris HOJ, Josh Adams, Joe Poirot, and Jeremy Lee explore the risks of “regulatory capture,” the unintended consequences of legislation, and the emerging role of peer-led support groups like CollectorsMD. The conversation then shifts to a nuanced debate: is it okay to publicly share negative opinions about cards or sets you don’t like? The panel gets honest about hobby sensitivity, aesthetic subjectivity, and how critical voices, when delivered with respect, can actually strengthen the community. A thoughtful and spirited segment packed with introspection, stories, and hobby philosophy.
Each week we tackle hot hobby headlines with a rotating panel of hobbyists, taking your questions and comments! We are likely to go into overtime so join us live grab your favorite beverage and snacks and bring your questions and comments as they will be in play.
Originally aired Saturday July 5, 2025
Sports Cards Live has recently been ranked #5 among Feedspot's top 90 Sports Card podcasts https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_card_podcasts/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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48:15
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48:15
The Hobby’s Hidden Addiction: Spending Loops, Slabs & the Hobby High
In Part 3 of Episode 274 of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee and Joe Poirot continue the powerful conversation with Alyx Efron of CollectorsMD, pulling back the curtain on the hobby’s hidden addiction.
They explore how seemingly normal behaviors—cracking slabs, grading flips, chasing PSA 10s, even scrolling Instagram—can spiral into spending loops and emotional highs. Alyx breaks down the psychology behind the “hobby high,” how platform design fuels compulsive behavior, and why gambling dynamics have become deeply embedded in modern collecting culture.
This is a raw and necessary conversation about what we risk when the fun stops feeling like fun.If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why do I keep doing this?”—this one’s for you.
Each week we tackle hot hobby headlines with a rotating panel of hobbyists, taking your questions and comments! We are likely to go into overtime so join us live grab your favorite beverage and snacks and bring your questions and comments as they will be in play.
Originally aired Saturday July 5, 2025
Sports Cards Live has recently been ranked #5 among Feedspot's top 90 Sports Card podcasts https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_card_podcasts/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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45:33
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45:33
Gambling in the Hobby? Sports Card Addiction & CollectorsMD w/ Alyx Efron
In Part 2 of Episode 274 of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee and Joe Poirot welcome Alyx Efron of CollectorsMD for a candid and important conversation about gambling, addiction, and the darker side of sports card collecting.
Alyx shares powerful stories from real collectors including those facing six and even seven-figure losses, and explains how platforms like Whatnot, eBay, and even traditional wax ripping are engineered to keep us hooked. Together, the panel dives into the line between healthy collecting and compulsive behavior, the lack of safeguards in the hobby, and the role of community support, empathy, and education.
Whether you’ve experienced these struggles personally or know someone who has, this segment is one of the most important discussions Sports Cards Live has ever hosted.
Each week we tackle hot hobby headlines with a rotating panel of hobbyists, taking your questions and comments! We are likely to go into overtime so join us live grab your favorite beverage and snacks and bring your questions and comments as they will be in play.
Originally aired Saturday July 5, 2025
Sports Cards Live has recently been ranked #5 among Feedspot's top 90 Sports Card podcasts https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_card_podcasts/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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52:13
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52:13
Slabnostic Collecting, Grading Real Talk & the PSA Spell – w/ Junk Wax Hero
In Part 1 of Episode 274 of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee and co-host Joe Poirot welcome Mike from Junk Wax Hero for a deep dive into grading philosophies, card aesthetics, and the growing “slabnostic” movement. Mike shares why he’s done submitting to PSA, how CGC’s partnership with JSA is shifting autograph value perceptions, and why collectors may be waking up from the “PSA spell.”
Mike breaks down his views on grading Hall of Fame rookie autographs, the CGC + JSA partnership, and why eye appeal continues to gain ground over grade. We also hear about Joe’s recent visit to Burbank Sports Cards and preview HobbyPalooza and the upcoming National. Plus, the chat brings the 🔥 as always!
Each week we tackle hot hobby headlines with a rotating panel of hobbyists, taking your questions and comments! We are likely to go into overtime so join us live grab your favorite beverage and snacks and bring your questions and comments as they will be in play.
Originally aired Saturday July 5, 2025
Sports Cards Live has recently been ranked #5 among Feedspot's top 90 Sports Card podcasts https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_card_podcasts/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
These are the audio tracks from Sports Cards Live (on YouTube). Host and lifelong collector Jeremy Lee is joined by passionate collectors, industry insiders, hobbypreneurs, content creators to educate, inform, entertain, and inspire hobbyists of all genres and experience. Sports Cards Live is an interactive livestream video podcast where you are part of the show as your comments and questions are in play.
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