Collector Nation - PSA Hit Pause: What This Means for the Future of the Hobby

Episode Date: June 5, 2026

Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer are back with a hobby-heavy episode centered on PSA’s submission pause and the ripple effects it could have across grading, liquidity, and collector behavior. Ryan and Brian talk through what happens when the biggest grading company slows the funnel, whether that increases the value of already-graded cards, and why timing and velocity matter so much in modern collecting. They also dig into the NBA Finals, Wemby’s long-term ceiling, Brunson’s card-market upside, the Mantle redemption pull, and the broader size of the global collectibles market. What makes the episode work is the mix of perspectives: Ryan as the hobby operator, Brian as the data-and-product guy, and Bella as the one surfacing the questions collectors are already asking. Topics Covered PSA’s pause and how it affects grading strategy Whether grading bottlenecks help or hurt value How the Finals could impact Wemby and Brunson cards The Topps Mantle redemption and why it matters What the hobby’s real market size may be Why alternative graders may benefit now Ludex Super Search and marketplace discovery The Ryan + Brian + Bella take on what smart collectors should watch next Shop now at onitathlete.com and use code COLLECTORNATION at checkout to receive 15% off your first order! Links Collector Nation https://www.collectibles.show/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/collector-nation/id1832831782 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxYLxZTsggQb44TQxnaNylA Ryan Alford https://www.ryanalford.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/ Brian Ludden / Ludex https://www.ludex.com/ https://search.ludex.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp/ Bella Shafer https://www.instagram.com/isabellashafer/

PSA has paused their submissions as of June 2nd. They own two other grading companies now, so it doesn't hurt and it might even help their brand and enterprise value anyways. I mean, it'd be a great play, wouldn't it, just to say, now we're back at the national. All submissions happening here. PSA is back in business, baby. All right.

NBA final start tonight, Jalen Brunson. I mean, I might actually pocket a few Brunson rookies here. They lose. Even if they got swept, I don't think Brunson's cards, the bottom's falling out. I think there's only upside for Brunsson. A recent projection said that right now, trading cards and collectibles are a $50 billion global industry. And that by 2032, they will be a $90 billion industry. And I would argue it could be higher than that.

In Dublin. It's higher. Welcome to the Collector Nation podcast here on the Collector Nation Network. Whether you're chasing grails or calling bluffs, you take you in. side the hobby. Here are your hosts, Ryan Alford and Brian Lut. What's up guys? Welcome to

The Collector Nation here on the Collector Nation Network, powered by yours, truly, Bella, Brian, me, and of course, LuddX. We're at Lodex HQ there in Chicago. Lodex HQ

coming to us from Chicago. Sorry, I had to do that, Mike. Or, Brian, just for you. I like that. Mike, in the mic, just for you, Brian. I will get my words together today. That's a nice warm welcome. Thank you.

How's a shy town this week? Beautiful. 80, sunny. Man, you've had nice, nicer weather than we had. I think you're a... Are you over the hump? Are you over the hump there in Chicago? I mean, you're in June.

You got to be good, right? Well, there's like two different, like, two different weather patterns that exist. this time of year in the city where our offices and the apart our apartment it's by lake michigan so if there's any east wind off lake michigan the city could be like 15 degrees colder than the suburbs and so we're with the city's out of it when the water warms up to about 70 degrees and then it's all good and the opposite in the fall then the fall that keeps it warmer in the city so just a little weather meteorology knowledge on weather

nation. We're covering the covering all all the topics. NBA finals start tonight. I have to just jump into that. We'll get into some other things. But it's pretty relevant to sports and how high Wimby's rookies might go. Yeah, truly. And maybe Stefan Castle. You know, it's funny how, I mean, obviously Wimby's a freak and one of the, could be one of the greatest all time. He's still got some rings. He's got to put on some fingers before that happened. happens. But, you know, guys like Castle and others kind of get dismissed, but it does take a team. It takes all five. They're deep. Yeah. As a native, you know, Northeastern or not Northeastern, New Englander. I, you know, I'm pulling for the Knicks.

I just, I have to. I have to. Yeah. I lived in Manhattan for a while, but never became a Knicks fan. I think I became a What do you think? What's the prediction? You know, it's really weird. If you'd ask me until I started getting poisoned by like maybe the headlines, I think it's all bullshit. But I think like literally, I was thinking like four to one like San Antonio.

It feels like a complete mismatch to me. But New York has been playing really well. And everybody's been saying this. They're like, oh, don't sleep on New York. I'm like, my gut just tells me, San Antonio is going to dominate them. But I don't know. See, but I feel like the Knicks have more motivation because it's been so long and they need to prove themselves.

You know what? My friends had a lot of motivation playing me and basketball growing up. But only one of us was six, five and had a 36 inch vertical. Their motivation didn't get them very far. And, you know. Hey, a girl can dream. Okay. A girl can dream.

And one of them has Wimby and one doesn't. Look, they've been winning by like an average like 25 points. The Knicks have been played really well. I don't know. It just feels like me feels like a mismatch. But everybody else might be right that's kind of going, oh, those people are going, I don't know. It looks like a mismatch. I mean, it's a mismatch in the gambling sites too.

But this could be a start of like, you know, something uniquely called in basketball. it's pretty much the only sport you can do it. You know, where it's like the Bulls winning. I forget the word. What if I'm my listening to the word. Dynasty. Dynasty. Yes.

Basketball can have a dynasty. That's about it, I think. Well, baseball with the Dodgers. NBA finals time is one of those stretches where every possession matters. And if you're anything like me, you're not just watching the stars score. You're watching the matchups, the defensive pressure, and the hustle plays. the guys who completely swing a game with one steal. That's what makes underdogs steal the pot so fun.

There's a million dollar pot sitting there, and all you have to do is pick the player who finishes the NBA finals with the most steals in the series. Your picks don't even need to win. You just have to back the right thief. I love this because it makes you watch the game differently. Start paying attention to who's jumping passing lanes, who's getting more minutes,

who's guarding other team's best player, and who has real defensive edge. Pick your player every game. Include their Steels stat, and when the series ends, the Steels leader is crowned. The pot gets split among everyone who called it right. The more finals games you back that player,

the bigger your share. Download the app today and use promo code Collector to score $50 in bonus entries when you play your first $5. That's promo code collector. Underdog, make picks, win money. Must be 18 plus. 19 plus in Alabama, Nebraska, 19 plus in Colorado for some games,

21 plus in Arizona, Massachusetts, and Virginia, and present in a state where underdog fantasy operates. Terms apply. Concerned with your play, call 1-800 My Reset, or 1-800 gambler, or visit www.n.n.w.n-W-N-C-Gambling.org. Arizona, 1-800, next step. 1-800-639-7-8-3. Or text, next step to 533-4-2.

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