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