We’re re-uploading every episode of our podcasts—one per day—to make sure our new members and followers can catch up from the beginning.

If you’re new to Collectors MD, these conversations are where it all started—honest, unfiltered discussions about the realities of collecting, recovery, and rebuilding a healthier hobby.

We’ll be sharing episodes from The Collector’s Compass & Behind The Breaks covering everything from gambling parallels in collecting, to mental health, to how we find purpose beyond the chase.

Whether you’ve been here since day one or just joined the movement, this is your chance to revisit the stories that shaped our mission.

Subscribe on YouTube, follow along daily, like, comment, and help us spread the message: the hobby gets healthier when we do.

Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.

The Collector’s Compass #10: The Future Of The Hobby With Card Ladder

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

We’re re-uploading every episode of our podcasts—one per day—to make sure our new members and followers can catch up from the beginning.

If you’re new to Collectors MD, these conversations are where it all started—honest, unfiltered discussions about the realities of collecting, recovery, and rebuilding a healthier hobby.

We’ll be sharing episodes from The Collector’s Compass & Behind The Breaks covering everything from gambling parallels in collecting, to mental health, to how we find purpose beyond the chase.

Whether you’ve been here since day one or just joined the movement, this is your chance to revisit the stories that shaped our mission.

Subscribe on YouTube, follow along daily, like, comment, and help us spread the message: the hobby gets healthier when we do.

Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.

The Collector’s Compass #9: Intentional Collecting With Card Ladder

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

Published September 26, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

At Collectors MD, our mission is simple but non-negotiable: support, accountability, and change. We believe in creating guardrails—tools, education, and community—that protect collectors from the same compulsive cycles many of us have fallen into. We don’t cancel or shame people for spending big; instead, we work to build a healthier ecosystem where collectors can enjoy the hobby without losing themselves in the process.

Chris “HOJ” McGill, co-founder of Card Ladder, echoed this vision when he joined us for a candid conversation on The Collector’s Compass. For Chris, collecting cards isn’t just a pastime—it’s a way to bring purpose, joy, and connection back into his life. What started as an escape from doom-scrolling became a compounding cycle of positive energy: sports fandom deepened, data became meaningful, and the hobby added real value to his day-to-day.

In Part I of our conversation with Chris on The Collector’s Compass, we discuss how nostalgia, data, and purpose collide—exploring how collecting can become more than chance, and how guardrails give it structure and meaning.

Card Ladder practices these values every day in the work they do. Their platform is built on transparency and accountability, with tools like verified sales histories, real-time indexes, and public showcases that give collectors context instead of hype. By surfacing the full picture—not just cherry-picked comps—Card Ladder empowers collectors to make informed choices and avoid overpaying, protecting them from some of the most common pitfalls in today’s hobby.

Just as Collectors MD provides support and community, Card Ladder provides structure and clarity. Their methodology is published, their team is visible, and even their own collections are made public so biases can be seen in plain sight. That level of openness sets a new standard: it shows that data can be a guardrail, not a gimmick, and that the hobby thrives when trust is treated as a non-negotiable foundation.

That’s the power of guardrails. When we build with transparency, trust, and accountability, the hobby doesn’t consume us—it lifts us up. Whether through content creation, open dialogue, or accessible pricing data, every effort helps make collecting safer, more intentional, and more rewarding.

In Part II of our conversation with Chris on The Collector’s Compass we get into the state of the hobby, the language of “investment” vs. “speculation”, and the importance of having real allies—plus we announce our new Card Ladder affiliate partnership, giving collectors trusted tools to cut through hype and collect with intention.

The future of the hobby isn’t about hype or manipulation. It’s about creating a space where passion flourishes without exploitation, where stories are shared, and where we all have a chance to be part of something meaningful.

Catch the full conversation with Chris in Part I & Part II of The Collector’s Compass—now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and all major platforms. And don’t forget, you can download the Card Ladder app and start a free trial today using our affiliate link.

#CollectorsMD
Guardrails keep us from falling into the same traps—and give us room to actually enjoy the climb.

—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
Join The Conversation On Mantel
Read More Daily Reflections

At Collectors MD, our mission is simple but non-negotiable: support, accountability, and change. We don’t cancel or shame—we create tools, education, and community that keep collectors safe from the same compulsive cycles many of us have lived through.

That’s why we emphasize collecting with intention, not compulsion. And it’s why voices like @chris_hoj and @cardladder resonate—because transparency, trust, and data are their guardrails. Together, we’re aligned on one mission: making the hobby a place where passion thrives without exploitation.

The future of collecting isn’t about hype or manipulation—it’s about building an ecosystem where collectors can enjoy the hobby without losing themselves in the process.

Catch the full conversation with Chris in Parts I & II of The Collector’s Compass—now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and all major platforms.

And don’t forget, you can download the Card Ladder app and start a free trial today using the affiliate link in our bio.

Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.

#CollectorsMD | #CardLadder | #RipResponsibly

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPFHKYXER7R/

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we continue our conversation with Chris “HOJ” McGill—co-founder of Card Ladder and one of the most respected voices in the sports card hobby.

In Part I, Chris shared his collecting journey, the origins of House of Jordans, and how Card Ladder was built on data and transparency. In Part II, we go deeper into the culture, language, and future of the hobby.

Chris shares openly about:

-The newly announced Collectors MD × Card Ladder affiliate partnership—and what it means for intentional collecting.

-Why the National has become a metaphor for today’s hobby—where spectacle often drowns out substance.

-The difference between investing and speculating in sports cards—and why precise language matters for kids and newcomers.

-How partnerships and “natural allies” like COMC and Burbank help foster healthier ecosystems.

The future of the hobby won't be defined by hype—it will be shaped by balance, ethics, and intention.

Subscribe, comment, and join the movement. And remember to collect with intention, not compulsion.

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:

Website: https://www.collectorsmd.com

Socials: https://www.hopp.bio/collectorsmd

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

Contact: info@collectorsmd.com

YouTube: @collectorsmd

Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Chris & Card Ladder:

YouTube: ‪@chris_hoj‬ | ‪@CardLadder

‬Instagram: @chris_hoj | @cardladder

Download Card Ladder

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sjEIfP8DKk&t=3000s