#45: From Sneakers To Cards With Kickstradomis

#45: From Sneakers To Cards With Kickstradomis

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Sal Amezcua (@kickstradomis), one of the most well-known sneaker customizers in the world whose work has been worn by NBA players on the court, and the founder of Kicksverse, a platform merging sneaker culture, art, and collectibles. Kicks is an artist who’s built a brand at the highest level of culture. From designing custom sneakers for athletes and celebrities to expanding into trading cards and art, he’s carved out a lane that blends creativity, community, and commerce. Alyx and Kicks explore the crossover between sneaker culture and the modern hobby—two worlds driven by passion, scarcity, and hype, but also increasingly shaped by scale and pressure. They also discuss intentional collecting, staying connected to passion as the hobby becomes more transactional, and how Kicks' journey as an artist has shaped his approach to collecting. With over a million followers and global influence, Kicks shares his perspective on the hobby, the responsibility of influence, and navigating a space where entertainment, commerce, and culture intersect. They also discuss legacy, giving back, supporting emerging artists and brands, and continuing to push creative boundaries through Kicksverse. This isn’t just a conversation about sneakers or cards—it’s about building something real in a space that’s constantly evolving. At its core, this episode is about creativity, culture, and the difference between collecting, creating, and chasing. Topics covered include: * Kicks' journey to becoming one of the most recognized sneaker customizers in the world * Creating customs for NBA players, celebrities, and influencers * The evolution of sneaker culture and its parallels to the hobby * Scarcity, hype, and the role of community across both spaces * The difference between creating and chasing * What intentional collecting looks like from a creator’s perspective * Building Kicksverse and expanding into trading cards and art * The current state of the hobby through an influencer lens * Responsibility, reach, and the impact of having a large audience * Auction culture, exclusivity, and digital collectibles * Paying it forward and supporting emerging artists and brands * Advice for creators and collectors navigating today’s environment If you’ve ever thought about the intersection of art, sneakers, and collecting—or wondered where passion fits into a space driven by hype—this is conversation will resonate. Building and chasing are simply not the same. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, creativity, and building a more intentional relationship with collecting. Watch The Episode On YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmpdDDbg0lo&t=2378s] Learn More & Join The Movement: Website: collectorsmd.com Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX Contact: info@collectorsmd.com YT: ‪@collectorsmd IG: @collectorsmd Learn More & Follow Kickstradomis: Website: thekicksverse.com | kickstradomis.com YT: @kickstradomis IG: @kickstradomis X: @kickstradomis TT: @kickstradomis Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ‪All Touch Case, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% of your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind. #CollectorsMD | #Kickstradomis | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

#44: The Sports Card Hobby’s Gatekeepers With Rob Livingston

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Rob Livingston—better known as @Jaybelleshhb [https://www.instagram.com/jaybelleshhb/]—a respected voice in the hobby, longtime Collectors MD community member, and someone who’s been consistently showing up, speaking honestly, and supporting others behind the scenes. Rob isn’t just observing the hobby—he’s living it. Through over 1,300 posts and a growing following, he’s built a reputation for calling things as they are, while also being open about his own journey with addiction, overspending, and the work it takes to stay grounded. In this conversation, Alyx and Rob unpack the current state of the hobby—what’s working, what’s not, and where things are starting to break down. From influencers and major platforms to bad actors, incentive structures, and the lack of real guardrails, they explore the growing tension between entertainment, commerce, and responsibility. They also dive into Rob’s personal story—how awareness started to take shape, what it meant to speak openly about it, and how being part of the Collectors MD community has played a role in his recovery and continued growth. This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about seeing the system clearly—and asking what needs to change. At its core, this episode is about awareness, accountability, and what happens when you can no longer ignore what’s right in front of you. Topics covered include: * Rob’s journey in the hobby and building @jaybelleshhb * Becoming a trusted voice through consistency and honesty * His experience with addiction and overspending * Opening up publicly and the impact of that decision * The current state of the hobby and where it’s heading * Influencers, platforms, and incentive structures * Bad actors and lack of oversight in the space * Ongoing lawsuits and growing industry pressure * What’s frustrating—and what’s encouraging * The role of community, peer support, and accountability * What intentional collecting actually looks like * What collectors need to understand moving forward If you’ve ever taken a step back and questioned where the hobby is headed—or your place within it—this is a conversation worth listening to. Because once you see it clearly, it’s hard to go back. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, accountability, and building a healthier relationship with collecting. Watch The Episode On YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQF55tWVZgw] Learn More & Join The Movement: Website: collectorsmd.com [https://collectorsmd.com/] Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX Contact: info@collectorsmd.com YT: ‪@collectorsmd IG: @collectorsmd Follow Rob: YT: @Jaybelleshhb IG: @jaybelleshhb X: @jaybelleshhb TT: @jaybelleshobbyhotbox Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER [https://800gambler.org/] This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ‪All Touch Case [https://alltouchcase.com/], a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% of your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind. #CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

#43: Losing It All On Sports Cards

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Sean—one of our very first community members and someone whose story sits at the core of why this movement exists today. Sean isn’t just a guest—he’s been with us since day one. From early Instagram Live ripping days, to becoming one of the most active and impactful voices within the CMD community, Sean’s journey reflects both the highs and lows that exist within today’s hobby. Alyx and Sean go all the way back to those early days—what it felt like to be “whales” in the hobby, the energy of live streams, the attention, the identity—and how quickly things can shift when the experience starts to take over. They unpack the moment that changed everything for Sean: a $5K Sandy Koufax auto that planted the seed and set off a chain reaction. What started as excitement quickly turned into chasing that first high, eventually leading Sean deeper into Whatnot, repack breaks, and five-figure nightly spending sessions that spiraled beyond his control. Sean opens up about how fast it escalated, what he was really chasing in those moments, and how the line between collecting, entertainment, and addiction completely blurred. The conversation doesn’t shy away from the reality of what followed—losing his marriage, his home, his financial stability, and being forced to confront the full weight of it all. But more importantly, this episode focuses on what came next. Sean shares what recovery has actually looked like for him—not perfectly, but honestly. From showing up to weekly meetings, to writing some of our most impactful Daily Reflections, to now stepping into a role as a peer support host, his journey highlights what it means to rebuild in real time. This isn’t just a story about loss. It’s a story about awareness, accountability, and what it takes to come back from a place that feels impossible to return from. At its core, this episode explores a bigger question: how does something that starts as a hobby turn into something that can take everything—and what does it take to stop, reset, and rebuild? Topics covered include: * Sean’s rise in the hobby and becoming a “whale” on Instagram Live and Whatnot * The psychology of chasing the high and losing control through repacks and high-volume spending * The emotional, financial, and personal fallout behind the scenes * Recovery, peer support, and Sean’s journey through Collectors MD and GA * What collectors need to understand before the hobby starts taking more than it gives If you’ve ever felt the pull of the chase, questioned your habits, or wondered how far things can go—this conversation will hit home. Sometimes the difference between a hobby and something else entirely isn’t as clear as we think. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, accountability, and building a healthier relationship with collecting. Watch The Episode On YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SFsFmA3rJA] Learn More & Join The Movement: Website: collectorsmd.com Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX Contact: info@collectorsmd.com YT: ‪@collectorsmd IG: @collectorsmd Follow Sean: IG: @bfb_suburban_sports_cards Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ‪All Touch Case, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% of your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind. #CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

#42: The Current State Of The Hobby With @PaullyDoughnuts

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Paul Baldwin Jr.—aka @Paullydoughnuts⁩—founder of #GetToStackin, trusted hobby voice, and one of the more outspoken, community-rooted personalities in the space today. Paully brings a grounded, collector-first perspective to a moment in the hobby that feels as exciting as it does uncertain. With 20K+ followers across his socials and years of experience transacting and building trust within the community, he’s become a voice many collectors have turned to as the hobby has started feeling louder, faster, and harder to make sense of. Alyx and Paully unpack the current state of the hobby from multiple angles—including Fanatics’ branded credit card, this year's Topps Industry Conference, the continued financialization of fandom, and what it all means for where the hobby is headed. They discuss the return of iconic products like Topps Chrome Football and Bowman Basketball, the Topps licensing takeover, and why modern wax prices have reached a point where we're starting to question who today’s products are really built for. The conversation centers on trust, transparency, and accountability, honing in on the recent Whatnot controversy, lawsuits, repack concerns, and the growing tension between community and commerce in the live-selling and breaking ecosystem. They explore what’s changing in the hobby, what's worth protecting, and whether the space is evolving in a way that feels healthier, more sustainable, and more aligned with the people who helped build it. At its core, this episode focuses on a bigger question: are we building a better hobby—or just a faster, more expensive, more emotionally volatile one? Topics covered include: * Paully’s roots in the hobby and why his voice resonates * The launch of #GetToStackin and building trust in the community * Fanatics’ new branded credit card and what it signals * The financialization of fandom and hobby participation * Topps’ growing influence and the new licensing era * The return of Topps Chrome Football and Bowman Basketball * The skyrocketing cost of wax and accessibility concerns * Whether modern product is still built for real collectors * The recent Whatnot controversy, lawsuits, and trust issues * Repack culture, transparency, and accountability in the hobby * What still feels worth protecting in today’s hobby * Whether the hobby is becoming healthier or just more intense If you’ve been feeling both excited and uneasy about where the hobby is headed, this conversation will hit home. Growth isn’t always the same thing as progress. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, accountability, and building a healthier relationship with collecting. Watch The Episode On YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E0cc_bWqGI&t=93s] Learn More & Join The Movement: Website: collectorsmd.com Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX Contact: info@collectorsmd.com YT: ‪@collectorsmd IG: @collectorsmd Follow Paully & #GetToStackin: Website: gettostackin.com YT: @Paullydoughnuts IG: @paullydoughnuts X: @paullydoughnuts This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ‪All Touch Case, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% of your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind. Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER #CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

#41: Losing Big & America's Gambling Crisis With Jonathan D. Cohen

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Jonathan D. Cohen—historian, gambling policy lead at the American Institute for Boys and Men, and author of Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling. Jonathan brings a research-driven, public health perspective to one of the fastest-growing—and least understood—issues in modern American life: the rapid rise of legalized online sports betting. In this conversation, Alyx and Jonathan break down how sports betting expanded almost overnight following the 2018 Supreme Court decision, and why the system that emerged has been shaped more by profit and access than by consumer protection. Jonathan explains how mobile betting apps have fundamentally changed the experience—turning what was once occasional into constant, with endless options, real-time action, and design features built to keep users engaged far longer than they realize. They also explore why this has become a growing public health concern, particularly among young men, and how early exposure through sports culture, fantasy formats, and digital environments is normalizing gambling behavior for younger audiences at an accelerating pace. Rather than framing this as a personal failure issue, the conversation focuses on systems—how frictionless design, targeted promotions, and cultural normalization have created an environment where too many people are pulled in before they fully understand the risk. Jonathan also shares practical ideas around reform, including the importance of “adding friction” to slow behavior, improve safeguards, and reduce harm without pretending sports betting is going away. At its core, this episode is about awareness, responsibility, and understanding how modern systems shape behavior—often more than we think. Topics covered include: * The 2018 Supreme Court decision and rapid legalization of sports betting * How mobile apps changed the nature of gambling * Endless scroll, microbets, and constant access * Why young men and younger audiences are most vulnerable * The normalization of gambling within sports culture * Why this is a public health issue, not just a personal one * Behavioral design, addiction, and “the action” * What “add friction” means and how it can reduce harm * Where regulation and policy still fall short If you’ve ever wondered how sports betting became so embedded in everyday life—or what it means for the next generation—this conversation will give you a clearer lens. Because once something becomes normalized, it becomes harder to question. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, accountability, and building a healthier relationship with risk. Watch The Episode On YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OcDV0jUtCI] Learn More & Join The Movement: Website: collectorsmd.com Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX Contact: info@collectorsmd.com YT: ‪@collectorsmd IG: @collectorsmd Learn More About Jonathan D. Cohen: Website: jonathandcohen.com X: @jonathandcohen1 LI: bit.ly/3PGR2Kz Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ‪@ALLTOUCHCASE‬, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% off your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind. #CollectorsMD | #JonathanDCohen | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly