Collector Nation - From Sports Media to Netflix: How Alex Giaimo Went From Watching the Hobby to Living It

Episode Date: January 27, 2026

Sports cards have officially outgrown the label of “just a hobby.” In this episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford is joined by Alex Giaimo—sports media veteran and the voice behind Netflix’s King of Collectibles—to break down how collectibles, media, and money are colliding in today’s market. Alex shares her journey from traditional sports journalism to the heart of the hobby, why most collectors underestimate volatility, and how a single Bo Nix card sale perfectly captures the risk-reward reality of modern collecting. The conversation explores why nostalgia still wins long-term, how hype cycles burn people out, and what today’s biggest hobby events reveal about where demand is really coming from. Whether you collect for fun, invest for value, or just want a smarter framework, this episode delivers perspective without the hype. Episode Highlights Why flipping cards is harder than social media makes it look The hidden risks of investing in active players How media exposure is accelerating hobby growth Fanatics Fest vs. The National: what each says about the future Why legacy icons still anchor long-term value Keep up with Collector Nation 👉 Subscribe for more Collector Nation episodes 👉 Comment: Are you collecting for nostalgia or value? 👉 Follow Alex Giaimo: Instagram & TikTok: @alexgiaimo 👉 CollectorNation.com

When you're a reporter or host or anything, and especially if you work in sports, a lot of people think it's so glamorous, but it's such a grind. I can't explain to you the pepper grind that I've been through. The number one line I get from men, oh, you actually know your shit. Yeah. I know, I do. I've worked in sports my entire life. Welcome to the Collector Nation podcast here on the Collector Nation Network. Whether you're chasing grails or calling bluffs, you take you inside a house.

hobby. Here's your host, Ryan Alford. What's up guys? Welcome to Collector Nation here on the Collector Nation podcast network. We appreciate, we know you got options. We know there aren't many better than this one, though. We'll let's be honest. Come on. Especially when we got guests like this, we're going, you know, I could call her many things. We debated this before the episode, actually. You know, badass, cool as hell, voice of the hobby. Uh, We're just going to call her, Alex, Gimo. Yes.

Yes. I got your name. Slow clap. Okay, very excited. Yes. You got right. I know, do you have Italians in South Carolina? Yeah, of course we do, but it's just not quite as, you know, whatever you all, a fluid, fluent Italian.

I'm not a fluent Italian, you know? Southern guy trying to pronounce deep Italian names. That could probably be like an audio book or something. Fun. A fun little fact. My last name is G-I, so it's I-A-I, so it's three vowels in a row, which is a dip-thong, and that only exists really an Italian last name. So if you're ever on Jeopardy, there you go. A diphthong? That's what it's called, when you have three vowels in a row. And it very rarely happens. So, you know, well done. Kudos to you. I only took, you know, my wonderful producer Bella typing it out in phonics for me, you know, like. But I did get it. I got through it.

But what's up, Alex? Are we in Jersey, New York? Where are we today? We're about an hour south of Manhattan, so in Jersey. Sweet. Bruce Springsteen country, babe. So it's awesome. Just hanging out, but I'm not enjoying the snow.

It's brutal right now here. It's just freezing cold here. We're in that upstate part of South Carolina. Oh, it's literally negative. It's like 15 degrees actually today here. I think when people here South Carolina, of they go, oh, yeah, it's worm and nice. I mean, we get four seasons here.

You know, it's like 25 degrees this morning. You don't come to stuff. I don't think you're done at 25, but I was born and raised. So we're used to it. But we'll be like 60 next week, though, 70. Exactly. It rooms up quick. So MLB correspondent, news journalists.

I met you at the National doing things in around the hobby. And of course, the king of collectibles, the Golden Touch. I know you're narrating, doing different things. things through that. I mean, you got your hands in a lot. Yeah. I mean, I started doing this. I mean, I've been a collector my whole life. And I went to Syracuse University for sports journalism. And traditional sports reporting was my thing for 10 years. Then COVID happened. You know, I haven't told you this in real life. COVID happened. And I was like at the bottom of the barrel like a lot of people were.

And I said to myself, how do I work harder or not smarter? Because when you're, when you're a, you know, a reporter or host or anything, especially if you work in sports, like a lot of people think it's so glamorous, but it's such a grind. I can't explain to you the pepper grind that I've been through. And like the pepper doesn't hit you like the way you wanted to hit you. It's like not a high. It's like salt at all times. Ironically.

It's really like snorting salt. And I worked in Iowa. I covered a big 10 Iowa Hawkeyes football basketball basketball. Oh, that's not sexy. Covering nose Iowa. Hawkeyes. Actually, what was sexy was not that this Jersey girl left the shore to go to Iowa, but the Hawkeyes had the best season of their entire existence when I was there. They went 10-0 undefeated, and we went to the Rose Bowl, the Big Ten championship game.

Christian McCaffrey, I don't know if you remember that year when he was on Stanford. He scored like five touchdowns. I mean, he ran for like five touchdowns. It was embarrassing. But it was such an experience. And it was great. And then I worked for the New York Jets, Ryan. And it was also great, but the Jets are the Jets.

And there was a lot of drama in the locker room, outside of the locker room, all of that. I also went through. It's been a grind. But yeah, so then the COVID happened. And like, everyone lost their jobs that worked in live sports. At the time, I was working for the New York Mets. Just on their Jumbotron. It was honestly a job that I took like a downgrade for because I was like a Jumbotron girl.

They told me I was going to talk like actual baseball, but I essentially was just promoting Dunkin' Donuts gift cards like every freaking night of my life. But COVID hit and then sports ended and it was shut down and obviously I was unemployed. And I was like, I am so done because I busted my ass. Like I was my whole life and I'm like, F this. I literally, we mentioned UFC earlier before our pod started. I literally what's, A.W. hire like they wanted to hire me. And honestly, I probably shouldn't have taken that job because those women make so much funny.

And I'm an actress now essentially as well. But I said to myself, how to work smarter or not harder? And I fell in love with my father's vintage. I moved in my grandmother during COVID because I was in a relationship in Manhattan and then everything shut down and then my relationship ended so I had nowhere to go. So I moved in my grandma, went down into her basement. And she had all these amazing collectibles that I just fell in love with. And I went on eBay and I learned eBay and I started selling on eBay in 2020.

Like the pez dispensers, Barbie dolls, Lego, old Lego Batman sets. Like I made thousands and thousands of dollars and like I enjoyed it. But most of all, I enjoyed my father's vintage baseball card collection that I fell in love with, which is awesome, which is currently at PSA right now getting graded. And I'm off the record. I guess it's not off the record if I'm on the air with you, but I'm working on a little video series with PSS. about the grading process because a huge part of what I want to do in the space and what I have been doing is educating people, not within the hobby. Like everyone, you guys know what you're doing, but outside of the hobby. And I think that ultimately grows the hobby.

It's good for everyone involved. And this series is about, you know, the whole grading process because I can't tell you how many people DM me. And they're like, oh, I have this collection. Do you want to come see it? And I'm like, first of all, no. But they're like, they're like, they're like, what do I do? My friends and family. How do I, how does the process begin?

Where do I go? What to blah, blah, blah. And I'm going to, you know, educate. We as a team are going to educate and have, hopefully have people learn to, you know, grow their personal collections. So that's exciting. I don't want the episode to be about this, but I think it's interesting. You know, Nick, you made a good comment, like an attractive woman that's in media. Oh, it just be so easy.

You know, I think that, and I know the business because I have a lot of friends and have met a lot of people like yourself. And that's just a misconception, right? Thank you. Yes. You guys have to bust your ass. And, you know, like, those heels dig into the turf. You know, like, I'm just saying, like, there's sort of his expectation to look glamorous and you're still having. to cover and walk a million miles with, you know, your camera guy or sometimes doing it yourself.

It is not glamorous being in media. You're right. I mean, sometimes doing it yourself, like when I worked in Iowa, my first job, I was literally a one, they say one man, Ben, but I was a one woman band. And I have arthritis now in my hand because of it. Held the camera, which is like 20 pounds. And the microphone in this hand in my left, you know, my left hand, the camera in my right hand, filmed a live, film myself live.

all throughout Illinois and Iowa with a live backpack in the middle of the field, like all of that. Then I edit, I shoot the video, I edited the video. It's a lot to get to where I am now. Like I was making $27,000 a year, like when I started. And I'm not young anymore, by the way, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I'm 36 years old. And I will, you know, toot my own horn that this was like before the Me Too movement when I got started before any of that. I would like to say, like, yeah, like women like me sort of paved the path for women now today.

And obviously, women older than me did that for me. But it's an easier path now for, it's not easy at all. But Ryan, Asia grind. And yeah, like every day for women in general, I got to look good at the same time and sound good. It's a lot of stress and pressure. And yeah, I would love to do what you're doing right now. Throw on a freaking hat, throw on a hoodie, and just focus on. the content.

It looks right. It just focused on the content. But at the same time, I, like, there are, there are moments where it's an amazing thing because I feel like,

you know, being a young, um, strong-minded, a woman with a voice is such an important thing right now. And I think when you make it in sports as a woman, it's like, it's,

it's cool. No, you've made it. I mean, I think, I don't know there's, again, I was in New York.

and around the sports media, even though I wasn't in the hobby at the time. And I've seen how hard it is, you know, in general, but much less sort of the stigmas and everything to come and, like, what you have to sort of, there's like this bar you have to reach of credibility. You know, it's like one thing to be pretty, it's one thing to talk decent. It's another to sort of have the smarts and the wits to navigate it all. Exactly. And it's like I pride myself on being, I've gotten this compliment a lot for men. you know, I want to sit at a bar and have a beer with you. Yeah.

And it's like, yeah, that's the ultimate goal. I never wanted to be reporter Barbie. Like, I just want to shoot the shit with men or women. I don't care who you are. And talk sports. But being a woman and looking a certain way, sometimes, like, obviously you are a judge. Like, you're, oh, you only got there because of your face. Like, no.

Like, I actually know. And this is the number one line I get from men my entire life and career. Oh, so you actually know your shit. Yeah. Yeah, bro. I do. I've worked in sports my entire life. I went to the number one drill in school in the world.

I know my shit. I have two brothers. I'm an athlete. So yeah. But anyway, I love it. I'm lucky to do. So you like the cards.

You got into, you know, you go in grandma's basement. It's a treasure trove of all, you know, like gold and silver collectibles everywhere, figuratively speaking. And so you get into it.

You're like, so you take a liking to it. And now, you know, you've parlayed that because of credibility and knowledge and, again, being more than a face on the screen. I mean, what do you think about sort of the state of the hobby and media? I mean, and I would lump. And I want to talk specifically, obviously, about what you're doing with King of Collectibles. So you can tie that into it. But, like, maybe connect those dots, like what you're seeing, you know, experiencing at the shows, being a voice at a lot of these events and things.

just paint some picture for us. I think that I'm not sure like when you got back into the hobby, but when I started like 20, 21-ish. It was two years. It's only been two years, like just under two years. And a year of that was just ripping packs with my kids. Like that was a year of it. Only been a year in the business, really.

Yeah, the adrenaline high addiction is real. I get it. I was like, yeah, 80 grand later. Go on. I wish I had that money to frivolously throw away. Dude, you should have seen the landfill in our neighborhood. I'm just kidding. But bro, those are memories you're making with your kids at the same time.

Oh, price. You can't ever, you know, like you can't put a price on that. So that's- I've told that a million times I said, I don't know. I don't know. I know it's more than 50 grand. I would just say that. You said that's your,

don't know your wife. But she knows. She watched it all go down. And, but it was priceless from, because the kids wanted to hang out with dad. And we did. And it was together.

I wouldn't, I'd pay 4x. So what do you guys rent? Like, what's your sport? It was mainly football. I mean, some basketball. But it was mainly in, I clicked to baseball growing up. I mean, you know, the poor.

Bills, living in New York, I refused to pull for the Giants. So I became a Bills fan. This was in 2008, 2009. Wait, who was the quarterback at that time? Oh, geez. We had, well, yeah. Put you on a spot. I can't remember.

Jim Kelly, and then you went to like Neverworld of like, you know, like five or ten guys. It was a hall of famer, and then nobody for 10. 10 years. Nobody for 10 years. And then Josh Allen, 2017, the Savior. So all the matters is Josh Allen came in 2017.

I would at Clemson. So I pull for, Trevor and E-TM being all the same, both going to Clemson. That's an easy, my kids, it broke their heart. It was a really tough weekend

watching Jacksonville and Buffalo play. So do you guys root for the Panthers or no? Is that, but that would be. In North Carolina. We're in South Carolina. I know, but that would be the closest,

is the location of an NFL team. It would be, but we never became Panthers fans. I don't blame you. Yeah. I don't root against them. Like, of course, if two people, if they're playing someone else and I don't care who's, yeah, I'll root for the Panthers. I hate the Panthers for life because I was in the fanatic

survivor pool this year. I actually, they actually hired me to promote it. And then I got locked in. I made it 12, I made it like 11 weeks. I was, it was 150,000 people. I was one of 3,000 left. Remember the same? Saints Panthers game.

Panthers were home. And I said to myself, all right, I'm going to take the Panthers. But then my friend was like, yeah, the Panthers, you know, since being favored at home, have never won a game in like 10 years. And like my idiot self was like, all right, whatever. Like, I'm going against it. And they screwed me so hard. I was out.

But to the same. So I lost a survival to the saints? Yeah. Like, who can say that? Not many people, but I would. Put any money on our money or whatever you're wagering the winner loss on on the Panthers. It was a million five pay out and then like, but then they. Oh, no big deal then.

So I only had to wait. Like I only had to win like another two or three weeks. Oh, I would have gotten like a hundred grand. Wow. I have lost so much sleep. That sucks. But that's what you get for betting on the Panthers. I know.

I know. They're tough. It was it Tyler's show or was it still Spencer Radler quarterbacking that game? I don't remember. I don't either. He took over. Tower looks pretty weird. I'm not going to lie.

I didn't watch it. Why would I watch that trash? That's why we aren't fans of them. We're like winners. Dude, I'm an intense fan. I don't think of much local hate from I don't let all hate on the bathers.

There's not easy to pull for. Like it's just no real history. We didn't. And look, and they've passed on so many Clemson guys. And they're right down the road to be such a great story. So I've been like F them for a long time. Is Cam?

Isn't the best panther of all time? Like who? Probably. I mean, you know, he was the only one that actually got in the playoffs. Actually, I think they were in Super, they were in Super Bowl or? Yeah, they went to the Super Bowl. But still, yeah, he was a beast. Those were fun days.

Baseball is huge for you down there. It is big, but we did, I didn't play baseball. I collected growing up. So I have a lot of junk wax, freaking 87 to 92 baseball, the worst years to have. to have, you know, been collecting as a child. Me too. Yeah. And so a ton of that.

And they were baseball cards because that's what you collected back then. You know, some basketball too. Had Jordan cards and things. I do had some Jordan. That was, by the other thing, worth anything for my collections, like old Jordan cards. Wait, let me, I have to interview for a second. Like, when you got back into the hobby and you knew you had all these baseball cards and these boxes, literally boxes of wax from tops that were like of two,

feet long. Did you think like everyone else in the world, especially me in my grandma's basement, oh, I'm going to be rich. And then once you actually researched and started listening to podcasts and learned, you're like, this is a, this is, I couldn't even sell this for $5. I kept up with, I was not keeping up with what to the level that you're describing and what I'm doing now. Absolutely not.

But I knew and had heard, you know, like, sort of just like going, I know, know I got that at the base of all right what do I have and I doubt you like taking a peek and gone that scene that even 10 years ago it was called junk wax like I was like that stuff's never going to be worth him they printed way too much they had no peril you know no limited cards and so I knew what I had for the most part I had no misconceptions the basketball stuff I knew was going up but yeah I was not surprised okay was it disappointed I've been disappointed a lot of other things Not that. I mean, I did.

I was like, yo, like I was looking for like, you know, like, what's the word I'm looking for? Not malfunctions, but,

error cards. That's all you're chasing in those. Yeah. You know, you know, you know, $500. I was looking for the Frank Thomas

Eric card. I was looking for, you know, all the Griffey rookies, which I, you know, my brother was a huge Griffey fan and is. He's 38 years old.

So it was around that age. But yeah, it was. disappointing but at the same time it's the reason why I am you know sitting here talking to you today because I taught myself it forced me to learn you know and learn what's your favorite what do you like now like obviously you've got some vintage stuff it sounds like but yeah what's like what's like what gets you like if you what gets my juice is going yeah yeah honestly I would just say mostly baseball um and like I hate to say this because it's such like a hobby snob thing to say but like I've

learned. I've lost so much money in this space, by the way. So much money. Only national treasures and like expensive stuff. Ryan, I wish I had that much money. No. I'm saying like when I first started you know, doing this in 2021 and 2022 and actually collecting like I'm not just a face. Like I actually have a passion for this. I, you know, I invested in manual quickly for the New York Knicks and I would spend $500 on his rookie card and, you know, his auto. And now that, cards worth nothing like zero doll like i've lost so much and investing in slabbing them and grading them and all this bullshit that it's it that most people don't understand goes into this um but also at the same time i could say that it's what forced me to be who i am today like i learn from those mistakes

now i don't like recommend that for people to do like do your research before spending money i was very frivolous and i was like oh yeah money grows on trees and it doesn't um these days i've I have a passion for vintage. And your original question is, like, what do you collect? Like, vintage. And I have a bunch of, I have a bunch of cards that are worth, like, under 200 or 100 bucks. And I'm looking now in my free time to sell those. And then buy, you know, go up and buy more of like a goat grill card for myself.

What would that be? What would be a real card? Like a Babe Ruth. I'm looking for like a babe. Like a Gowdy, specifically the yellow one. I don't know the exact name of the card because I don't. I don't care. I just, I like to look at, I think it's art.

But I'm looking, yeah, I'm looking to buy like a babe. I have a nice Ted Williams. I'm a baseball girl. Yeah. So I want to do that. And I'm not in, like at first I was a flipper. Like I would, no, I attempted to flip. It's impossible.

And it also, I think it also ruins the game for you a little bit. It's hard to be a collector and a flipper. Exactly. It's, it's a lot like also like sports betting. I used to bet on games, but I want to sit and actually enjoy the game. So, you know, like, I don't want to bet on Drake May versus sitem. Like, I want to just make fun of them and watch the game. What do you collect?

It's true. I bet a lot in college. I was a big gambler, like, in college. Like, I would do college games, and I'd be watching, like, the Tuesday night Mac special, like, you know, Ohio versus whoever. And in some ways, it made the crappy games interest. But then I was like, I didn't like losing money. And so you don't win over long haul. And so I quit probably right after college.

And now I think you're right, though, because it does kind of changes your perspective. I mean, you're just so into whatever that stat is. What do that thing is, you kind of lose the bigger picture of the game. Right. And that's why I only really nowadays, that's why I want to sell my, you know, lower end cards and buy higher goats because they're retired. Like, right? Like, they can't screw up. They can't get a deal.

Like, I mean, they can't, most of them are dead. But you know what I'm saying. Exactly. I'm not going to throw a hammy. Exactly. And like they're done. Like their legacy is locked in. So, you know, it's like your station.

We buy cards. So, uh, you know, why don't you give me first dibs on everything? I would love that. Give me a deal, though. We'll have to tell. Oh, I'll give you at least, you know, 12% of current market value. I'm just kidding. The, uh, no deal.

No. So what's going on with Netflix and this little show called King of Collectibles? I mean, yeah, it's just a tiny show. Top 10, the first seasons. And I think the average lifespan of an original series on any network is one year. Yeah, no, you guys have been crushing it. One season. So to have three is an honor.

And, you know, Ken works so hard and his brand is exploding. I'm happy for him and everyone involved. My castmates, those are good dudes. And what they do is, they're, they're salesmen. I mean, you know, you know business. And I think what they do is the best of the biz in high-end collectibles. And it's been awesome, like being a part of it. Like, you walk into that building and they have this, like, most people don't know.

There's the business side where you see on the show where we are, and then there's the vault area. So you walk into this room, Ryan, and it's like, it feels like the ghost of sports past and are haunting you. Like Babe Ruth, you know, Jackie Robinson, like everything you can imagine is there. And it's like really cool stuff. And it's like millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars. Not everything is about money. For me, I don't care about money. It's nostalgia.

It's just like, holy crap. Jackie Robinson wore this jersey when he was, you know, being accosted just for simply being black and changing the narrative. of the game in the world. It's really cool. If you can get yourself down there at one point, you know, it's in New Jersey, but it's an hour and 45 minutes away from where I am right now.

It's Philadelphia. It's Philly country. Like, they're all Philly fans, which I judge hard. I don't know why, because it's not like we're doing much better up here in New York. Yeah, you know, the Jets are going for them. But, yeah, King of Cledgels, it's awesome.

It's also season one. I was a narrator as the host, And it's like sort of like really cool being, you know, at that time at least, like a female, you know, voice and face of the space. It's introduced me to so many people and which was the goal, right? Like I and I love, you know, educating and like, you know, helping people not only make money from their mom or dad's, you know, basement, I guess. but also like, you know, make more memories with their kids like we talked about with you and your sons earlier. And it's just an honor and privilege. And this year, I don't, do you know the episode where I spoke to the couple that sold the Bow Nix card?

I have not watched this year's. It's on my DVR. I've been so busy. I've been working. All right. You might have to spend down. I've watched nothing. So take no offense to that.

No, I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't.

I don't. On Saturdays. Okay, so my favorite scene this year in the whole show, and I don't care if I'm a part of it or not is my favorite scene. It's about this couple. They are from Western Maryland. They're around my age. So they're around like 35-ish. They've been together forever.

They've been trying to get pregnant for years, years and years. They're the sweetest couple you'll ever meet. And obviously they've had some issues. The wife has had some health issues as well. and um this the husband pulled a bow nix super fracture and he just like you he was new to the hobby like i think even newer um or new to breaking and he bought into like a hundred dollar break and it was like only like the second or third time he bought into a break pulled it he pulled it what turned out to be a fifty thousand dollar bow knicks super fracture so they came to golden

and it's my favorite scene on the show um me and ryan crupa my cast me talk to them on the couch and we were like, do you want to sell the card? Here's what we can offer you. And they agreed and they said we want the card, the funds from what we get from the sale to go towards IVF to help us have a child. I mean, you have four boys. You know how important that is to people. So it's just such a gut-wrenching, heart-wrenching moment, but also so sweet at the same time because it's like, at the end of the day, we all disagree on topics. but I don't think anyone would disagree that, you know, that is such a special moment. And like, sports cards sometimes are sold for so much money.

And then that money is, is used for things that isn't really necessary. But in this case, the money is used hopefully to make a life. And as a single 35 year old woman myself right now, like the only thing in life I want is to have a child. So I, so it meant so much to me. emotionally. So yeah, I recommend you guys watch that because it's awesome. Anyway, the card sold for 50 grand, right? And then what happened to Bownecks just now

in the playoffs? Ankle broken. ankle broken. What his value shouldn't go down though for that, I wouldn't think. But my point that I'm trying to make is that if they didn't, like

the volatility in the sports card market is crazy, right? So like technically they could have I'm glad they sold up a shit. They might have lost 12 like it's like 25 35 45 40 probably it lost half the value but like bo necks performed he wasn't great but he was good he's young and the play was better in the playoffs and he wasn't a regular season exactly yeah i mean yeah and uh i think he performed better than drake may has honestly and t j strout everyone but like he won right so like if they still had the car they

could have sold it like high when he won but then at the post game conference and a press conference you know, the coach announced that he broke his ankle. So like, it's just such a volatile market. And that's why I don't invest anymore in current players. I just like, I can't take the risk. Does with the golden, like in the show, you know, what's the biggest thing that you could talk about that maybe people don't see? And I'm not saying necessarily juicy or bad or anything,

but maybe just something interesting that, you just don't the camera doesn't show or I mean it's television like yeah I can talk about the like that I can talk about the process of making TV magic in general is that what you would yeah I mean that like the process and just maybe just things people don't see that that might be fascinating to someone I mean I think most people now if if they have you know have a brain just be honest like they know it's TV you know you don't see everything like they get it but we don't know what we don't see necessarily. So maybe there's something interesting. Right. So like working for

Netflix might sound glamorous. It's not. Working on TV. The title of this episode is Glammer or undone. Most of it. Like I like really I make I I don't care. I can say this. I make like barely any money. Nothing. Nothing. I do this for the love of the freaking game. Love the game. It's for the passion. It's like it, listen it, but it helps my credit. ability. It's, it's, it's, I love representing their brand. I also only, um, represent brands and work for people that, like, that I believe in. And I do believe in the golden brand. But working for Netflix, it's that, like, we film eight to nine months before the show airs. So like a lot of the prices drop or go, go up and blah, blah, blah. And, and we don't know what airs until we see it. Like,

I didn't, I didn't know, like, what I was doing until I saw it. Like, like, I didn't, like, live on global TV with everyone else, which is very frustrating. We in TV, especially on a Netflix series like this, like we film every scene like four times over. You know, I don't. I nail it on the first day. You nailed it on the first night every time. Just like this podcast.

A lot of everyone else, you know, you got to, you know, it's called TV magic. It's called one take wonder. The deals are real, but like the magic behind the process is exhausting. Talking with Alex Jimo, she is one of the originators on King of Collectibles. And she didn't want to be called a journalist, though, anything but a journalist, right? No, I mean, I think, I mean, I am one, but just call me a whatever. I think a media personality. Yeah, that's fine with me.

The hobby and in sports. That's all that matters. How many events, like hobby events, like with everything that's going on, are you doing a year? Like, what's that schedule look like? I go to the big shows. I mean, it's expensive to travel, and that's, like, the most frustrating part. I go to all the show, like, a lot of the show, I go to the Philly Show, which is an hour and a half for me. And then I go to a bunch of other stuff, like, you know, in the Westchester's, the Long Island area, New York.

Are these appearances? Are these just, you're going on? No, I just go. And I brought my dad to the Philly show this year, which was awesome. He was like, is this? He was a little underwhelmed. I was like, Dad, you got to come. I'm the national.

Obviously, I go to Fanatics Fest. I actually, the last two years, live 10 minutes away from the Javid Center, which is where Fanatics Fest is hosted, I guess. And, FYI, I was one of the first 50 contestants in the Fanatics Games. Tom Brady gave me a $5,000 check in 2025. That was cool. I wanted to get him to sign it, but I'm like, whatever. I would say, did he sign that thing?

I would make him get to do a big cardboard one, you know, like they did on, what was it, price of right or something? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, he's good at the sales. Yeah, so I go to the National, I go to Fanatics Fest, I go to the Philly Show. I would say I got like 10 shows a year. I would love to go to more,

but if it's not driving distance, I'm not going, because I just don't have, you know, I just can't waste the funds. The Boys and I did the National and Fanatics Fest. Last year. Yeah, I mean, we did local shows. What are you going to do this year? It's tough for a lot of people because of the Fanax Fest is, you know,

FIFA World Cup week it's like yeah I could rent my apartment out for like 15,000 that week that's how crazy the prices are go stay with grandma or she it's it's like 10 minutes away I'm going I'm going to I'm going to I do that I got plenty of money that's what I'd go do yeah so but a lot of people are struggling with like or grappling with the idea of like do I go to FNAXFest do I go to the national and I think it's different for who you are as a person or a collector. Like, FNAX Fest is definitely not mostly about collecting. It's mostly about sports.

And I think I liked it. I mean, I liked it. I want to get your spending on. I'm glad you brought that up. No, I love it. I'm going to lead you a little bit,

but I'm going to, let me tell you my perspective and I want you to give me yours. Like, so we went to both. And we were new back to the hobby. So we hadn't been doing them every year. I'd really, in the,

the national didn't really exist when I was collecting as a kid. Like it might have, but it was nothing. I mean, this is a look, I'm ancient. So like, but in all seriousness,

the National was awesome, like a fire hose, very hobby, very cards, like very specific to the hobby and collecting cards. And memorabilia, but a lot of other things, but mainly cards.

And awesomeness in that, but it's a fire hose. And Fanatics Fest is more like a marketing active, you know, I was in marketing, marketing activation for brand, meets collectibles. So it's like entertainment

plus collecting. And so I enjoyed both for different reasons, but I enjoyed, had a lot of fun. Yeah, I mean, I think you hit the nail on the head. Like,

the reason why I came into, the reason why I started making money in the hobby is my vision the entire time. And it was bridging the gap between traditional sports, collectibles, game use, memorabilia and all of that. And I think Phenetics Fest does a wonderful job

of that. It also it gives you a plethora of options. Like if you're a sports fan, you can do that. If you're a collector, you can do that, but you can do both at the same time. And I think it's great for collecting because, and I think they did a great job this year, as opposed to year one,

you know, infiltrating the hobby more into, you know, the overall space. So like more average Joe's and Janes walked around with their little sons and daughters and they were like, oh, I want a sports card, Mommy and Daddy. And like, then they bought them, right? And I know a lot of, I know, like, this is a factual thing that most,

most of the dealers did, like, 50% better revenue, maybe even more, depending on who you are. Oh, they crushed it. Yeah, we're talking wax. We're talking singles. We're talking, you know, everything. Everything. So, yeah, I mean, they did a, they did a great, great job. I think that this year, I don't know. I mean, I can talk to more people. I'll get back to you. Yeah, get back to me. I think that, I do think that it's going to be, if you, if you're a collector and you're grappling with the decision of going to the national or FNAX Fass. And I would go to the national this year only because Fanax Fess is, it's FIFA World Cup. I think it's going to be like it's going to be all your opinions.

It's going to be wild. Like it, I mean, but it's, but it's also amazing, but the price is going to be like insane. And I'm not hurting FNAX by saying this. They're not going to need any help. the whole soccer world is going to be there and going. If you can go to both go. But if you want to focus mostly on collecting and trading or selling or buying, go to the national. It's in Chicago again this year, right?

Yeah, Chicago then moved to Detroit. Yeah, so fine. As long as it's not in Cleveland again or Atlantic City. I've spent much time. I've been to Detroit like twice. I was just going to say I've never been in Detroit. Right, but I've heard good, it's like. It's come a long way.

It's really, yeah, it's really growing. That's what I hear. And when I was there, I was like, it's cool, you know, but it was, I just spent a lot of time. It's like one night. Yeah, I mean, I think we can use a chance. I mean, I'm pretty, I mean, Rosemont's perfect for the national because of the steakhouses and the, you know, locality of everything. But it does get sort of repetitive. Yeah.

Well, I mean, it'll be my second year there. And we'll be set up with Collector Nation. This will be my. Third or fourth at Chicago, yeah. Like the first national, yeah, it's been like at least four. No, three. At least three. What's the state of the hobby, like from your perspective?

I think it's like never been better. What do you think? Like, I mean, we got past the COVID boom. We dipped a bit, but not everything is about pricing. And now I think prices are leveled and normalized, and which is wonderful because it's, There's no price gouging and people can get, you know, not bamboozled as much and not, you know, lose their bread. Yeah. But in terms of media, I don't even think we've scratched the surface.

Like, I'm on a Netflix show. I'm also on an MLB network show focuses directly on baseball cards. And that show, I will say, gets some of the best ratings that MLB has ever had because they just replay the shows, like when baseball's not on. Like right now in the off season, they'll play the show. I can't tell you how many people text me photos of myself in a bar on the screen, you know, and all over the country, because MLB Network is playing that show. Because people love to watch a baseball card show. It's nostalgia. It's memories.

Everyone can relate to it. Everyone. Like our grandmas can relate to it. You know what I'm saying? So I think the state of the hobby is fantastic. And I would I again, we're only scratching the surface. And I think it's going to go up, up, up and beyond. I mean, I don't know if you heard the news fanatics just announced they're starting to do the media corporation around, centered around it as well.

And we know Michael Rubin and Mahan. They're going to go wild with that. Yeah. I mean, I took, I mean, I had I had, I've had a number one business show and I'm not scrapping it. I'm keeping it as well. but I'm focusing the majority of my attention on collector nation. And so I'm not doing that just for nostalgia. I'm doing it because there's big business to be.

So you're feeling good with the state of the union. Yeah. And I just think there's a lot of opportunity to do amazing content in this space and to bring personalities like yourself and to, you know, professionalize the media landscape in this industry. Exactly. And it's just starting. I think it's like only like,

I mean, it's going to mainstream and it's going to go up. And I'm proud to be one of the people that I think helped bring it there. And I think it benefits everyone involved. Like you know, like the old guys in the hobby are like, oh, like, it's too. No, bro.

Like it's a good thing for everyone involved. And if you don't like it, then don't watch it. but it's a good thing. I agree. It's great. And like I just heard on the news, I think in New York City, New York, a school, an elementary school literally had to ban sports cards from the school because kids were trading and making deals and doing and talking about them during class. And they were like, yo, you guys like, you need to like pay attention.

So they ban, they ban cards. And I think that's a great thing if you think about not. a great thing that it was banned, but think that's awesome that our youth is like invested right now. You know what I'm saying? I mean, other than doing that than doing, I don't know. Yeah, and I think Pokemon, we're only talking about

sports, but Pokemon is helping too. Like, Pokemon is bigger than ever. Yeah. It's huge. Half my stores Pokemon. It should be because non-sports TCG honestly is like even more lucrative and popular. Yeah, it's crazy.

It really is. Again, Charzar can't tear his ACL. True. No? Yes. But Mew can, you know, have a bad day. I love Mew. I love Mew.

Yeah. Just be a T-shirt. What a dad joke. Oh, my God. I got all, geez, I wrote the book on dad jokes. Are you kidding? So, Alex, as we close out here, I mean, what does, like, if you were writing the billboard, like, okay, what do I want the next couple of years to be?

Obviously, you want to be profitable in your efforts. We all do. So I think we can probably put that as an asterisk for everything that we all do in business. But that to the side, I mean, what does success for you in your mind and happiness look like? Oh, my God. Isn't that such a crazy question? It is. But you got to think about it because if you don't think about it, you won't get there.

Like define success, right? It's like, what is success? Like I talk about it. I think it's, but I'd like to put it in groups. Like, I'll tell you, I asked you the question, but I'll maybe maybe take the pressure off because it's like, I try not to be so hyper specific with myself. It's more like, okay, when I set the goal with the hobby, I was like, there's a lot of money to be made here. My kids are into it. We continue to go closer.

And there's business to be done. And I see like we're in a lot of things. There's no blue ocean like because there's no opportunity. Like everything's like done. I see wide open blue space. No, like that was it. I didn't have to define exactly how. it was going to happen, I just saw all that.

No, honestly, I think that your question of what does success look like is like a question that like, nobody really, we can't answer for us all. It's a great question. I think about this every day, right? Because a lot of people think success means money. And if you

work on TV, usually you don't make that much. I'm a type of person, this is why I need to listen to your business podcast, Ryan, that like, I'm an idiot. I should be, you know, focused more on money and I'm going to be this year. That is a thing. Okay. I live in New York, New Jersey. It is expensive. But success to me this year within the hobby. I'm starting my own podcast, by the way, 10 years overdue. I think that I can monetize

that. I want to show my, I want to talk about my dating disasters. I want to talk about, you know, my hobby failures. I want to talk about Bo Nix breaking his ankle on a freaking kneel downplay. Like, I think I can. I think I will. In terms of Netflix, I don't know if the show get renewed. Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't. I don't know if I'll be a part of it. MLB Network, it's baseball offseason.

I can't wait for baseball to come back. I think the hobby is thriving the most when baseball is in play. Unfortunately, those Dodgers, in my opinion, I don't know. I don't know how you feel about parody, but I can't take the Dodgers stuff right now. Yeah. I'm off topic again. It's kind of buying up everything. Yeah.

We could do another show on that. We could do a whole other show on that. But yeah, I'm going to, you know, we've harped on media. I'm going to start posting, posting, posting nonstop and educating not only myself, but other people and just entertaining. Because at the end of the day, when I came into this space six years ago, I'm going to say 99% of the people involved were not entertaining. And then more and more people like yourself have become involved.

And it's more fun now. And I enjoy the competition. Like, bring it on. I love it. We need Mo Gimeo. That's what we need, you know. Get it out there. I like that.

Maybe that's what I should call my podcast. Need Mo Jiamo, you know. People learn how to say your last name without you. What's your success this year? I look, I've got, I'm knee deep in it. I got collector nation, collect your station. I'm going to try a strong arm talent like you to come. and distribute with us and, you know, get some big brands in this book.

My goal is to enlighten the big brands on what's happening in the hobby space and they need to get their act together because there's a lot of activity at a lot of eyeballs and a lot of affluency. And I don't think the big brands are completely awake to the hobby. And so my goal is to do that from the media side with brand deals and stuff like that. while look I want to build a destination you know space like we got a cool ass stores 3,000 square feet it's got a bit of old school new school filled to it we got TVs everywhere feels like a sports bar meets a bougie me don't know speak easy or

something I don't know it's cool I don't know if it's that that last part is like 10% that 90% of the first but but it's cooler than most you know I've got taste I mean and we're doing some fun things but it's going to be experience and so it's like a laboratory for the hobby and for media for collector nation and living, breathing, because, look, I wanted to come into the space, but I wanted to do authentically. Well, you know, what's authentic? It's putting your money where your mouth is. Yeah. And buying a building, building, building a studio that's in a hobby store that you're building and really not taking inspiration from anyone other than what I see the hobby needs.

And I think it needs places where people could come and collect and to not feel. like it's just a transaction and to embrace what this is, which is fun. It's a pastime. It's fun to rip packs. It's fun to hang out and collect. And we need to embrace more than that than just buy it, rip it, move on. So that's the goal. Yeah, I mean, we're just getting to know each other, but I'm proud of you.

That's awesome. Good for you. Kudos to you. Congratulations. I'm excited to come to check it out. would be happy to promote it if it's, you know, decent. I think it will be. I think you're going to have huge success.

I'm sure the hobby, I mean, listen, South Carolina, I'm sure you, it's probably pretty rural. It's not, it's, it gives kids and parents a thing to do that is not drugs or alcohol or something. And I think, I think it's, I think it's a smart movement. And I wish you all the best. I'm excited to see it. I look forward to building on our relationship and keeping up with what you're doing. And, you know, I'm a fan. So I appreciate you a lot for coming on.

We can everybody keep up with Alex Gimo? Yeah, literally just follow me at Alex G-I-I-M-O. So it's A-L-E-X-I-I-M-O on Instagram, TikTok. I need to get my YouTube going, Ryan. That's also on my list this year. You got to do it. And I'm starting a podcast. like within the next two weeks.

Yeah, and I would love if you plug that when it comes out. We will. Thanks for having me. It's been fun. It's been great. Hey, guys, you know where to find us, thecollector nation.com. You'll find the full episode, highlight clips. Links to all of Alex's stuff, including her new show.

We'll update it once that's live. And I'll continue to be working behind the scenes to get her on. Collect Your Nation where we know you'll want her. Thanks for tuning into the show. Be sure to follow us on your go-to podcast platform and catch the full video episode over on YouTube. Visit us at collectornation.com and follow Ryan on Instagram at Ryan Alford. Now get out there and collect yours.