Presented By All Touch Case

Each month, our Collector Spotlight series celebrates a Collectors MD community member who embodies the very best of the hobby and reminds us what a healthier, more intentional collecting experience can look like. For August, we’re proud to spotlight Sergio Pizzolante (@instapizzo), one of the most active, thoughtful, and genuinely supportive members of the Collectors MD community.

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Sergio carries an enormous amount of pride in his Venezuelan roots. That connection has remained a constant throughout a career that has taken him across media, entertainment, sports, and business. He began his career with HBO Latin America before eventually becoming General Manager of Sony Pictures’ operations across Latin America and Brazil and later leading E! Entertainment Television in the region.

Today, Sergio works across the worlds of media, entertainment, music, and sports, with relationships spanning major brands, artists, and athletes. His work has brought him particularly close to the Latin American sports community, including relationships with prominent Venezuelan athletes and involvement in projects surrounding the Venezuelan national baseball team.

But what makes Sergio deserving of this spotlight has far less to do with who he knows or what he has accomplished professionally. It’s how he shows up for other people.

Since joining our community, Sergio has become one of the most consistent voices. He participates in our peer support meetings, is extremely active in our group chats, listens when other members are struggling, offers thoughtful feedback and perspective, and makes a genuine effort to help people feel heard.

Sergio once described empathy as his “number one superpower”, explaining that he tries to move through life asking what another person may be going through and how he can add value to their life. That philosophy is something our community gets to see from him regularly.

He has also become an important part of Collectors MD beyond the community itself. Sergio serves on our Advisory Board and has generously leveraged his experience, relationships, and understanding of the media and sports landscapes to help introduce us to new people and potential partners. From the beginning, he made it clear that he wanted to help grow both Collectors MD and the responsible side of the hobby, even telling us to “consider me a soldier” in the effort.

And Sergio genuinely loves collecting. His collection stretches well beyond traditional sports cards into memorabilia, signed jerseys, match-used pieces, Star Wars helmets, and items connected to some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. His memorabilia collection includes signed jerseys from Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, the current Real Madrid team, and the current Manchester City team, along with a signed Pop! from Cristo Fernández, who played Dani Rojas in Ted Lasso and Zorro in one of the television series Sergio helped produce.

Yet some of Sergio’s favorite experiences in the hobby are much simpler. He loves collecting with his kids. He has talked about going to his LCS, looking through inexpensive cards together, opening an accessible box, trading at shows, scanning cards to learn what they pulled, and simply enjoying the experience. For Sergio, that sense of discovery and connection is part of what makes collecting worth protecting. He has consistently advocated for celebrating the beauty of the hobby while also acknowledging its risks.

That perspective also reflects something central to Collectors MD: intentional collecting does not mean giving up the hobby you love.

It means understanding your relationship with it. Setting boundaries. Staying within your means. Recognizing when something is pulling you in the wrong direction. And remembering why you started collecting in the first place.

Sergio has been refreshingly open about that journey himself. Rather than pretending that responsible collecting is always easy, he has spoken candidly about wanting to maintain the joy collecting brings him while becoming more intentional about budgeting, purchasing, and the behaviors surrounding it.

That combination of passion, self-awareness, empathy, and willingness to support others is exactly what this community is about.

Sergio, thank you for everything you bring to Collectors MD. Thank you for listening. Thank you for opening doors. Thank you for believing in what we’re building. And most importantly, thank you for consistently showing up for the people around you.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have you as part of this community.

#CollectorsMD
Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.

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This Collector Spotlight 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% off your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind.

https://collectorsmd.com/collector-spotlight-august-2026/

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Dylan Genschaw, a Wisconsin-based collector and YouTube creator known for documenting new product releases, PSA submissions, and the realities of modern collecting.

Like many collectors, Dylan returned to the hobby chasing a favorite player and the excitement of opening packs. But what started as a simple search for an Aaron Rodgers card gradually evolved into spending hundreds of dollars chasing the next hit, the next rookie, and the possibility of a big return. Eventually, he stepped back, recognized how easily collecting had shifted from enjoyment to chasing outcomes, and made the decision to completely rethink his relationship with the hobby.

Today, Dylan has become a vocal advocate for intentional collecting, ending each of his videos with a reminder to "Collect with intent & spend responsibly", while encouraging viewers to learn more through Collectors MD.

In this conversation, Alyx and Dylan explore what that journey looked like firsthand—from rediscovering the hobby as an adult to recognizing unhealthy patterns before they spiraled further. They discuss the psychology behind ripping sealed product, the temptation to chase return on investment, and why so many collectors unknowingly find themselves caught in cycles driven by excitement rather than enjoyment.

The conversation also examines the growing influence of hobby content and livestream culture. Dylan shares his perspective as a creator, discussing the responsibility that comes with producing ripping content, the pressure to keep opening bigger products, and why creators have an opportunity to encourage healthier habits without taking away the fun that makes collecting special.

Finally, Alyx and Dylan discuss what intentional collecting actually looks like in practice. They talk about setting boundaries, rediscovering the joy of collecting for personal fulfillment rather than financial outcomes, and why changing hobby culture doesn't require eliminating excitement—it starts with encouraging collectors to become more thoughtful about how they participate.

At its core, this episode is about self-awareness, balance, and proving that you can love the hobby while still protecting yourself from the behaviors that can quietly turn collecting into something much different.

If you've ever found yourself chasing the next release, buying boxes you never planned on purchasing, or wondering where the line exists between collecting and chasing, this is a conversation worth listening to. Because the goal isn't to stop collecting. It's to collect with intention.

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around healthier collecting, hobby culture, and responsible engagement.

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:

Website: collectorsmd.com

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Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com

Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX

Contact: info@collectorsmd.com

YT: ‪@collectorsmd

IG: @collectorsmd

Follow Dylan Genschaw:

YT: @dylangenschaw⁩

IG: @dylangenschaw

X: @dylangenschaw

Shop Dylan's Collection: mercari.com/u/dgen42/?sv=0

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 | #TheCMDFoundation | #RipResponsibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRp6FqF58AE&t=5568s

Presented By All Touch Case

Since launching our Collector Spotlight series, a handful of our community members have asked me the same question: “When are you going to do a Collector Spotlight on your own collection?”

I’ve honestly been putting this one off. I’ve never wanted Collectors MD to be about me. But after enough people asked, I figured it was time to share a little more about my own collecting journey – and why this organization means so much to me.

Like so many collectors, my story began in childhood. Whether it was trading cards, sneakers, jerseys, signed memorabilia, or anything connected to the teams and athletes I admired growing up, collecting quickly became much more than a hobby. It became a way to preserve memories, celebrate milestones, and stay connected to the sports, people, and moments that shaped my life.

Over time, however, what started as passion gradually became accumulation – and eventually, obsession. At one point, I owned more than 550 pairs of sneakers, thousands of trading cards, hundreds of hats, jerseys, luxury watches, signed memorabilia, and countless other collectibles spread throughout my home. From the outside, it probably looked like the dream collection many hobbyists aspire to build.

But eventually, it became overwhelming. Instead of appreciating what I already owned, I found myself constantly thinking about what was next. There was always another release, another grail, another auction, another box to open, another card to chase. As my collection grew, it became increasingly difficult to enjoy the individual pieces because they were buried beneath the sheer volume of everything else.

That realization ultimately became one of the driving forces behind Collectors MD. Today, I still consider myself an active collector, but my philosophy has changed dramatically. Rather than asking myself, “What should I buy next?” I now ask, “What deserves a place in my collection?”

My collection today is significantly smaller, but far more intentional. Every piece has earned its place because it tells a story. My signed Eli Manning jersey takes me back to a core memory – watching one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history with my father during my high school years. My Derek Jeter autograph captures my lifelong love for the Yankees and one of the athletes I admired most growing up. My Jalen Brunson cards reflects the resurgence of Knicks basketball and, after decades of waiting, finally bringing a championship back to New York. My sneaker collection represents different chapters of my life. Other pieces simply remind me of people I’ve met, places I’ve been, or moments I’ll never forget.

Ironically, many of the items I value most aren’t by any means the most expensive. Their value comes from the memories they represent. That’s what intentional collecting means to me today – not collecting more, but collecting with purpose.

It’s also important to recognize that intentional collecting looks different for everyone. For some collectors, a room filled wall-to-wall with thousands of cards or hundreds of sneakers is exactly what brings them joy. If someone has the financial means, the available space, the time, and the emotional bandwidth to maintain a large collection while keeping it a positive part of their life, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Intentional collecting isn’t about owning less. It’s about owning in a way that aligns with your life, your priorities, and your well-being. For me, that meant significantly downsizing until every piece left in my collection truly felt meaningful. For someone else, it may mean continuing to build an expansive collection they genuinely enjoy. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong.

What matters is that your collection serves you – not the other way around. At Collectors MD, we often say there is no universal definition of a “healthy collection”. Some collectors are perfectly content owning twenty cards. Others find meaningful fulfillment in owning twenty thousand cards. The goal isn’t to fit into someone else’s definition of collecting. The goal is to build a collection that enhances your life instead of consuming it.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my own journey, it’s that the most meaningful collections aren’t always measured by size or market value. They’re measured by the stories they tell, the memories they preserve, and the joy they continue to bring long after the excitement of acquiring them has faded.

Sometimes the greatest collection isn’t the one with the most pieces. It’s the one where every piece still means something.

Below is a glimpse into a few of the pieces that continue to mean the most to me.

#CollectorsMD
Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.

This Collector Spotlight 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% off your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind.

https://collectorsmd.com/collector-spotlight-june-2026/

The hobby doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people need better data. Some need more structure. Some need better tools. Some just need a healthier way to engage.

That’s exactly why we created The Intentional Collector’s Guide by Collectors MD - a one-stop resource designed to help collectors navigate the the modern-day hobby with more clarity, awareness, and intention.

Inside, we’ve highlighted a curated mix of hobby-related tools, platforms, products, and resources from trusted strategic partners across the space - all built to help you tailor your hobby journey to your collecting profile.

Whether you’re looking for:

• Better market data

• Smarter collection management

• Safer shipping / protection

• Grading / prep tools

• Or a more grounded way to engage with the hobby

…this guide was built for you.

The goal isn’t to approach the hobby exactly like everyone else. It’s to build a version of it that actually works for you. And at the center of it all is #RipResponsibly - a reminder that collecting should add value to your life, not take away from it.

Check out The Intentional Collector’s Guide now live on our newly refreshed website.

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

This month, we’re proud to feature Conor McGrath—one of our own team members and a collector whose story is deeply rooted in Boston sports, 90s basketball, and the moments that stay with you long after the game ends.

Conor’s collection is built on more than players and cardboard. It’s tied to identity, memory, and the emotional imprint that sports can leave behind. Growing up just outside of Boston, sports weren’t just part of the culture—they were the culture. The teams, the heartbreak, the history, and the expectations were always there.

And in the 1990s, there was plenty of heartbreak to go around. For Boston fans, it was a difficult era. The Celtics were rebuilding and still reeling from devastating losses. The Red Sox couldn’t quite get over the hump. The Patriots were a long way from becoming the dynasty people now associate with New England sports. It was a frustrating stretch for the city—but like so many kids growing up during that time, Conor found something bigger through basketball.

That’s where the connection really took hold. Like many collectors of that era, he was drawn in by the stars who felt larger than life. Jordan. Shaq. The rise of 90s basketball. The visual energy of the hobby itself. Cards like Beam Team didn’t just stand out—they stuck. And from there, the collection kept growing.

As the decade moved forward, so did the players who shaped his PC. The legendary draft classes from 1996 through 1998 left a huge imprint on Conor’s collecting identity. Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce—so many of the players who defined that era still anchor his collection today. That stretch of basketball helped shape not just what he collected, but why he connected to it in the first place.

But according to Conor, the most meaningful item in his collection isn’t a card at all. It’s a jacket. A black and yellow Boston Marathon volunteer jacket from 2013—his first year volunteering at the race, and a year the city will never forget. The events of that day left a lasting impact, but what stayed with him just as deeply was what came after: the resilience, unity, and compassion that poured out of Boston and the broader running community in response. That spirit carried into sports in a way that felt impossible to ignore.

When the Red Sox won the 2013 World Series, it wasn’t just another championship. To Conor, it felt like something more. Bigger, even, than 2004. It felt like a city reclaiming itself. A reminder of what people can do when they come together after pain, and a moment that captured Boston’s grit, heart, and resilience in real time. That’s what the jacket represents.

Today, Conor’s collection tells a layered story—one about growing up around Boston sports, falling in love with 90s basketball, and holding onto the moments that meant something deeper than the scoreboard. It’s a reminder that collecting isn’t just about what you own. It’s about what it represents, and the memories it helps you carry forward.

Conor leaves us with a reminder that feels especially fitting: the most meaningful pieces in a collection aren’t always the rarest or most valuable. Sometimes they’re the ones that hold the most story.

#CollectorsMD
Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.

https://collectorsmd.com/collector-spotlight-march-2026/