In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we sit down with therapist-in-training Traylor Disbrow to explore the connection between mental health and the sports card hobby. From his own wake-up call in 2020 to his work with people in addiction recovery, Traylor brings a unique clinical perspective on how collecting can shift from passion to compulsion—and how we can recognize the signs before it’s too late.

Our conversation dives into how dopamine and reward loops drive collecting behavior, why compulsive collecting exists in a “gray area” between gambling and other addictions, and the ways marketing and product  ...