In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with one of his closest friends and a trusted voice from his personal and professional life, Eric Sterns, to unpack a question more people are asking quietly but few are addressing openly: when does investing stop being investing—and start behaving like gambling?

Eric is the Head of Corporate Development at Viant Technology, with extensive experience across investment banking, capital markets, M&A, and corporate finance. He deeply understands traditional investing, day trading, crypto markets, NFTs, and speculative assets—and like Alyx, he reentered the sports card hobby in early 2020, right as markets, collectibles, and risk-taking behaviors collided at full speed.

Together, Alyx and Eric explore how the last 5–6 years reshaped the way people interact with risk. From commission-free trading apps and 24/7 crypto markets to high-velocity live selling and breaking in the hobby, they examine how volatility, accessibility, and manufactured urgency have blurred the line between investing, speculation, and gambling-like behavior.

This conversation isn’t anti-investing and it isn’t anti-hobby. It’s about understanding behavior. Alyx and Eric discuss how many of the same psychological mechanics show up across markets and collecting: dopamine loops, loss-chasing, near misses, the illusion of control, and identity becoming tied to wins and losses. They unpack why so many people feel stress, shame, and financial harm—not because they’re reckless, but because modern systems are engineered to keep people engaged, activated, and chasing.

The episode also digs into the human side of financial harm. Alyx shares what he sees weekly through Collectors MD peer-support meetings, while Eric provides insight from a financial and corporate lens—helping translate market behavior into plain language that makes sense to everyday collectors and investors alike.

Rather than stopping at critique, the conversation turns toward solutions. Alyx and Eric talk about what real guardrails could look like across both investing and collecting—education, transparency, cooling-off mechanisms, and cultural shifts that allow people to slow down without shame. They explore how responsibility doesn’t mean killing growth or fun—it means protecting people long enough for passion to remain sustainable.

You’ll hear:

• How investing and trading can quietly mirror gambling mechanics.

• Why volatility impacts identity, not just finances.

• How the hobby’s boom followed the same emotional patterns as crypto and day trading.

• Why “personal responsibility” alone isn’t enough when systems are built for speed.

• What intentional engagement could look like across markets and collecting.

• How Collectors MD supports people navigating gambling-like harm beyond casinos and sportsbooks.

This episode offers clarity, nuance, and language for something many people feel but struggle to name. Whether you’re an investor, collector, trader, breaker, or someone who’s wondered why “fun” started to feel stressful, this conversation invites reflection without judgment.

Subscribe, share, and join the movement toward a hobby—and a financial culture—where awareness comes before impulse, and people matter more than performance.

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:

Website: collectorsmd.com

Socials: hopp.bio/collectorsmd

Weekly Meeting Sign-Up: bit.ly/45koiMX

Contact: info@collectorsmd.com

YouTube: ‪@collectorsmd

Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Eric Sterns:

Instagram: @sternzo

LinkedIn: bit.ly/3MGQ27M

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLui5HRs0RY&t=2856s