Jeremy is joined by Joe Poirot, Josh Adams, and Chris McGill as the conversation turns to one of the most talked about moments in the hobby right now… and a bigger question underneath it all.

Is this kind of attention actually good for the hobby… or does it risk taking it in the wrong direction?

Using the recent Kevin O’Leary moment as a jumping off point, the group digs into the idea of spectacle versus substance, and whether the hobby needs that kind of exposure to grow… or if it already stands strong on its own.

Different viewpoints come through clearly:

There’s also a deeper layer to the discussion… around ownership, voice, and the idea that while anyone can participate in the hobby, the community still has the right to react, critique, and define what it stands for.

This segment closes out the episode by tying together a central tension… exposure versus authenticity, and where each collector lands on that spectrum.

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Jeremy is joined by Joe Poirot, with Josh Adams and Chris McGill joining the conversation as it opens up into a broader look at the hobby itself… and whether what we’re seeing today is evolution, or something else entirely.

Different perspectives start to surface around how the hobby has changed over time, with a clear tension between old school approaches and newer ways of collecting.

Along the way, the group gets into:

It becomes less about right or wrong… and more about understanding where you fit within it all.

This segment zooms out to the bigger picture… the direction of the hobby, and how each collector navigates it in their own way.

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The conversation continues as Chris from Missouri shares a powerful example of what it really means to collect on your own terms… choosing a card that looks right over one that grades higher, and keeping a significant amount of money in the process.

That sparks a deeper discussion around eye appeal versus grade, and why more collectors are starting to question the weight we give to the number on the slab.

Jeremy, along with David Chase and Joe Poirot, dig into the role of set collecting in today’s hobby, including whether tools like the PSA Set Registry are actually driving it… or if collectors themselves are what keep it alive.

The conversation also shifts into how collecting evolves over time:

There’s also a breakdown of what flight collecting really means, and how it offers a middle ground between chasing full sets and owning just a single example.

This segment really gets into the philosophy of collecting… and what actually matters when you decide what stays in your collection.

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Jeremy is joined by David Chase along with Orlando as the conversation shifts into a deeper question…

Does your collection actually mean anything?

This segment digs into the idea of collecting with purpose, and what it really looks like to build a collection that reflects who you are instead of just following trends, hype, or what everyone else is doing.

It becomes a conversation about identity… turning your collection into something personal, intentional, and unique rather than just a group of cards that happen to sit in the same box.

Along the way, the discussion explores:

This is where the bigger theme really takes shape… collecting in a way that tells your story.

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Jeremy is joined by David Chase to start, before Orlando joins, and the conversation quickly gets into something every serious collector eventually faces…

At what point do you stop holding onto cards you like… and start chasing the ones you truly love?

That leads into a bold collection reset strategy, including the idea of upgrading by downgrading, and how moving down in grade can actually improve your collection while putting money back in your pocket.

Jeremy also shares a handful of recent card show pickups, including cards that weren’t even on the radar… but immediately felt right once seen in person.

Along the way, the discussion touches on:

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Jeremy Lee is joined by Joe Poirot, Chris McGill, and Josh Adams as the final segment brings the conversation full circle, digging into one of the most deceptively difficult exercises in the hobby: ranking your own cards. What starts as a simple question quickly unravels into a deeper discussion around whether “top cards” should be defined by market value, personal preference, nostalgia, or some combination of all three. The panel explores different approaches collectors are using, from value-based rankings to fully subjective lists, and the risks that come with each, including perception, bias, and even accusations of “pumping.” Joe introduces a structured framework with multiple categories including personal, value, nostalgic, and hybrid, while others question whether ranking is even possible when collections span multiple lanes, eras, and emotional connections. The conversation also touches on how comps are formed, why market value can sometimes be shaped by just a couple of transactions, and what it really means to “own” your own opinions in a hobby that leans so heavily on external validation. The episode closes with a mix of insight, humor, and live chat interaction, leaving listeners with a question that doesn’t have a clean answer… and that’s exactly the point.

Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and if you enjoy the content, please leave a rating and review. Pick up a copy of POPs & COMPs: Truths, Insights & Psychology into the Numbers that Drive the Sports Card Market on Amazon. Explore the Hobby Spectrum and discover your collector profile at thehobbyspectrum.com. And as always, thank you for being part of the community.

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Jeremy Lee is joined by Joe Poirot, Chris McGill, and Josh Adams as the conversation zeroes in on one deceptively simple question that turns out to be anything but… what actually defines an advanced collector? What begins as a continuation of the earlier discussion quickly sharpens into a multi-layered debate, with input from the panel and the chat helping to shape the definition in real time. Is it knowledge? Experience? Research? Or some combination of all three? Chris introduces a compelling framework, suggesting that an advanced collector should be able to both deliver a concise “elevator pitch” on a card and go deep enough to build a full narrative around it, connecting it to the broader hobby landscape. From there, the group explores how collectors can be highly advanced in one niche while still learning in others, why understanding eye appeal and context matters, and how different eras of the hobby demand different types of expertise. The discussion also branches into how collectors evaluate their own cards, whether ranking by value is a shortcut or a practical tool, and why defining your own criteria might be more important than following anyone else’s. This is one of those segments where the hobby turns inward and challenges how we define growth, expertise, and what it really means to “know” what you’re collecting.

Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and if you enjoy the content, please leave a rating and review. Pick up a copy of POPs & COMPS: Truths, Insights & Psychology into the Numbers that Drive the Sports Card Market on Amazon. Explore the Hobby Spectrum and discover your collector profile at thehobbyspectrum.com. And as always, thank you for being part of the community.

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Jeremy Lee is joined by David Chase, Jeremy “Texas Snowman” Donson, and Joe Poirot as the conversation takes a more philosophical turn before Chris McGill and Josh Adams join the panel. What starts as a continuation of the value discussion quickly evolves into a much deeper debate around how collectors should actually think about cards. Chris introduces a sharp perspective that flips the typical approach, arguing that value should be the result of understanding a card, not the starting point. That idea opens the door to a broader conversation about what it really means to be an advanced collector. Is it about budget, experience, or something else entirely? The group explores the importance of research, context, and understanding the full landscape of a player or set before making decisions, while also acknowledging that not every collector is at that stage. Along the way, concepts like “own appeal,” long-term holding, and the role of value as both a tool and a distraction are unpacked through multiple lenses. This is one of those segments where the hobby gets broken down at a higher level and forces you to reconsider how you approach collecting.

Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and if you enjoy the content, please leave a rating and review. Pick up a copy of POPs & COMPs: Truths, Insights & Psychology into the Numbers that Drive the Sports Card Market on Amazon. Explore the Hobby Spectrum and discover your collector profile at sportscardslive.com. And as always, thank you for being part of the community.

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Jeremy Lee continues with David Chase and Jeremy “Texas Snowman” Donson of Collector Investor Auctions as the conversation moves beyond surface-level takes and into how collectors actually behave in real situations. Reacting to audience comments, the group challenges the idea that collectors can fully separate enjoyment from value, especially when meaningful dollars are involved. Jeremy Donson shares personal collecting experiences that highlight how relationships, timing, and backstory can become part of the card itself, adding a layer of meaning that goes beyond comps. The discussion also touches on how collectors justify purchases, how memory and attachment play into decision-making, and how the line between emotional and financial value is often much blurrier than people admit. This segment brings the collector mindset into focus in a way that feels real, not theoretical.

Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and if you enjoy the content, please leave a rating and review. Pick up a copy of POPs & COMPs: Truths, Insights & Psychology into the Numbers that Drive the Sports Card Market on Amazon. Explore the Hobby Spectrum and discover your collector profile at thehobbyspectrum.com. And as always, thank you for being part of the community.

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Jeremy Lee is joined by David Chase to kick off the show, before welcoming Jeremy “Texas Snowman” Donson of Collector Investor Auctions. The episode begins with Jeremy sharing his experience traveling to New York City to broadcast live from the Fanatics Collect studio, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like operating in a completely different environment and how the show evolved in that setting. The conversation then shifts into one of the hobby’s more polarizing topics right now… value. Is talking about card value a problem? Why does it trigger some collectors? And where should the balance really be between passion and price? With perspectives from both collector and dealer lenses, the discussion explores how different mindsets shape the way we buy, hold, and think about our cards, while also touching on auction dynamics, buying behavior, and the role value plays across the spectrum.

Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and if you enjoy the content, please leave a rating and review. Check out POPs & COMPs for deeper insights into the numbers and psychology driving the hobby. Explore your collecting identity with the Collector Investor Spectrum and see where you fall within the hobby. And as always, thank you for being part of the community.

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