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/
