in 1968: Denny McLain becomes MLB's 1st 30-game winner since Dizzy Dean in '34 (& likely last ever). After game, he attributes his success to steel-toed cleats used to prevent recurrence of bookie-inflicted toe-smashing that ended his season (& Tigers pennant hopes) in '67.

Recovery isn’t a single road—it’s a network of lanes, each shaped by our own experiences, risks, and choices. For some, the healthiest lane means complete abstinence. For others, it means rebuilding a mindful relationship with collecting through balance and intention.

Neither path is necessarily “better”. What matters is recognizing that recovery can take many forms—and each one deserves respect. The real goal is finding the lane that keeps you grounded, safe, and connected.

At Collectors MD, we honor every lane. Whether you’ve stepped away or you’re learning how to engage intentionally, you are not alone in this journey.

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

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

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we’re honored to spotlight Travis LaVanway—better known in our community as @MontanaNorseman.

Travis first joined Collectors MD after winning our second Collector Appreciation Giveaway, but it didn’t take long for him to become a cornerstone of our community. Since then, he’s been a constant presence—attending every peer support meeting, contributing daily in our group chat, lending his time to help with administrative tasks, and offering encouragement to collectors navigating their own struggles.

In this conversation, Travis shares what collecting means to him at its core:

“For me, collecting is getting cards that I like and that make me feel happy. They do not need to be expensive, just expressive. They also do not need to impress others as my collection is what makes me feel good, not the world.”

We’ll explore Travis’s deeply personal collection—from cards tied to his grandfather’s influence and his own U.S. Army service, to tributes honoring a Marine friend he lost to suicide. His story reflects what “collecting with intention” looks like when it’s grounded in memory, meaning, and legacy.

Whether you’re someone who has struggled with compulsive behaviors in the hobby or you’re simply looking to reconnect with the joy of collecting, Travis’s story is a reminder that the cards we hold matter most when they reflect who we are—not what others think.

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

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
Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Travis:
Instagram: @MontanaNorseman

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnjBA1EKBpQ

Recovery doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, the healthiest path is complete abstinence—stepping away from the behaviors and activities that once consumed them. For others, it’s about intentional engagement—rebuilding a healthier relationship through boundaries, mindfulness, and clarity.

In this episode, host Alyx Effron—founder of Collectors MD—explores the two distinct lanes of recovery and how they apply to collecting, gambling, and other high-risk, dopamine-driven activities like sports betting, day trading, and fantasy sports. From the collectors who had to walk away completely, to those who still find joy in the hobby but want to stay ahead of potential pitfalls, both paths deserve recognition and respect.

At its heart, recovery is about finding what keeps you safe, grounded, and in control—not following a cookie-cutter formula, and not letting outside voices dictate your lane.

Whether you’re considering abstinence, practicing intentional engagement, or still figuring out where you belong, this conversation is a reminder: you are not alone.

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

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
Instagram: @collectorsmd

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

https://www.youtube.com/live/QyRe-Nl5ngE

Published September 04, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

In recovery, there isn’t just one path. For some, the only sustainable way forward is complete abstinence. For others, the goal is to rebuild a healthier relationship by practicing intention, boundaries, and clarity. This is true across many high-risk, dopamine-driven activities—gambling, day trading, compulsive spending, and yes, collecting.

Some members of our community recognize that they can never return to cards—or to any form of leisurely spending or collecting, for that matter. For them, the hobby became toxic—a source of compulsion rather than joy. Maybe they were never truly in it for the purity of collecting, or maybe that purity was stripped away by the insidious side of the hobby: the endless chase for profit, the constant pursuit of the next dopamine hit or impressing others.

When the hobby reaches this point, stepping away completely—and perhaps permanently—may be the only safe option. Walking away for good isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom and courage.

Others in our community don’t necessarily identify as having a “problem”. They still love the hobby, but they want to be proactive about collecting with intention—before it takes control.

For them, it’s about setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, and finding clarity so that collecting remains a source of connection and joy, not compulsion and regret. They understand and acknowledge that the hobby has evolved into an ecosystem built to pull people in—engineered to exploit excitement rather than nurture passion—and, if left unchecked, to keep them trapped.

This distinction isn’t unique to collecting. It mirrors other high-risk, dopamine-driven activities. Gambling, day trading, even shopping—each operates on the same neurological feedback loops. But if someone struggles with gambling, does that automatically mean they can’t safely participate in other high-risk activities like day trading or even something as seemingly harmless and socially accepted fantasy sports?

With football season officially upon us—and chatter and camaraderie around gambling and sports cards everywhere—now is a good time to take a step back, pause and assess where we stand in relation to it all.

Is fantasy sports “gambling”? Some say yes, some say no. Gamblers Anonymous defines it as gambling, and for some, it triggers the same compulsions as a night at the blackjack table or formulating a multi-leg teaser. But for others, it feels more like casual competition among friends and might not ignite the same fire.

The truth is, it depends on the person. Each of us has a different threshold, a different set of risk factors, and a unique relationship to risk, reward, and control. What feels harmless to one person can be destructive to another. That’s why these conversations matter—so we can recognize when the line between fun and compulsion starts to blur and adjust our habits accordingly—before things spiral.

That’s also why there’s no cookie-cutter approach. Each person’s circumstances are unique, and every individual’s journey deserves to be treated as such. For some, abstinence is freedom. For others, intention is balance. Neither path is necessarily “better” than the other—it’s about finding the lane that keeps you safe, grounded, and true to yourself. And for some, it might be a hybrid between the two—or another line entirely.

At the end of the day, we don’t have all the answers—and there’s no perfect antidote we can prescribe to cure addiction. But at Collectors MD, we honor every lane.

What matters most is that you find a path that works for you—not one dictated by the industry, the market, or even the people around you. The choice isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s deeply personal. And whatever path you choose, you don’t have to walk it alone—we support you wherever you are in your journey.

#CollectorsMD
The healthiest lane is the one that keeps you free from compulsion and rooted in choice—whether that means walking away entirely or collecting with intention.

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