Collector Nation

The collectibles hobby is changing — and grading is at the center of that shift.

In this episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford sits down with Mike Baker, founder of Mike Baker Authentication (MBA), and Brian Ludden, co-founder of Ludex, to discuss grading innovation, transparency, and the future of the hobby.

Topics include:
• Why transparency is critical in grading
• How MBA approaches consistency and trust
•The impact of PSA acquiring Beckett
•Where AI fits into grading (and where it doesn’t)
•Why the secondary market ultimately decides value
•Vintage vs modern cards and market opportunity
•How long-term trust is built in collectibles

This conversation is essential listening for collectors, investors, and anyone serious about the hobby.

SPONSORS 

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HOST & GUEST INFO

Ryan Alford
Host, Collector Nation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Card Shop: thecollectorstation.com 

Download The Collector Nation app on Android and IOS

Mike Baker
Founder, Mike Baker Authentication (MBA)
Website: https://mikebakerauthentication.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebakerauthentication

Brian Ludden
CEO, Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp

Download the LUDEX app on IOS and Android

In this special milestone episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford celebrates the first 50 episodes by revisiting the most powerful insights from the biggest names in sports cards, collectibles, and hobby culture.

Featuring insights from some of the most influential voices in the hobby — including Gary Vaynerchuk, Josh Luber, Brandon Steiner, Kyle Kravitz, and Mike Baker — this episode captures how the hobby is evolving into a serious business, cultural movement, and generational connector.

Highlights

Why the hobby is healthier than ever

How content changed the collecting game

Teaching kids business through cards

The dangers of hype-driven buying

Why transparency will define the future

Host & Guest Info

Host: Ryan Alford

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford
Website: https://www.collectornation.com

Download “The Collector Nation” on IOS and Android 

Download Ludex on IOS and Android 

Featured Guests:
Gary Vaynerchuk · Josh Luber · Brandon Steiner · Kyle Kravitz · Mike Baker

Subscribe & Review

Follow Collector Nation on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help grow the hobby the right way.

The sports card hobby is evolving — and the old rules don’t always apply anymore.

In this episode of Collector Nation, host Ryan Alford is joined by hobby veteran and Ludex CEO Brian Ludden for a wide-ranging conversation on the real economics behind today’s card market.

They unpack how Super Bowl performances impact pricing, why PSA grading fees keep climbing, and why vintage cards continue to quietly outperform modern hype.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

Why grading modern cards is riskier than most collectors admit

How PSA pricing and turnaround times affect card velocity

The growing dominance of raw card transactions

Why vintage cards behave more like “blue-chip assets”

How branding and auction exposure multiply card values

What most collectors misunderstand about supply & demand

This episode is less about hype — and more about understanding how money actually moves in the hobby.

🤝 Connect with Collector Nation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://ryanisright.com
Instagram / X: @ryanalford

Brian Ludden – Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
Download the Ludex App (iOS)
Instagram / X: @ludexapp

🌐 Collector Nation: https://thecollectornation.com

In this episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford welcomes Eric Wagenmaker, founder of Reclaim Customs, for a deep dive into custom memorabilia, creativity, and what really gives collectibles their meaning.

Eric shares how a simple project for his kids sparked a business that now works with professional athletes, podcasters, and sports teams. He explains the difference between perceived rarity created by big card companies and true one-of-one craftsmanship — where every piece is built by hand around a real artifact.

They explore Eric’s creative process, from foiling and textures to embedding relics, and how each design starts with the story behind the item. Ryan and Eric also talk about scaling a fully custom operation, navigating exclusivity in professional sports, and how social media helped propel Reclaim Customs into the spotlight.

The episode closes on one of Eric’s most meaningful insights: the most powerful collectibles aren’t always about players or value — they’re about family, memory, and legacy.

Key Takeaways

Custom craftsmanship creates deeper emotional value

Manufactured rarity isn’t the same as uniqueness

Creativity lives in details

Story transforms memorabilia into legacy

Building handmade businesses requires patience

Collectibles connect people across generations

📣 Connect with Ryan & Eric

🎙 Collector Nation Podcast:
https://thecollectornation.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectorNation

🌐 Ryan Alford:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ryanalford

Download the Ludex App on IOS and Android!

🎨 Eric Wagenmaker — Reclaim Customs:
Website: https://reclaimcustoms.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/reclaimcustoms

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another collector.

Sponsors

Are you interested in effortlessly growing your bitcoin portfolio? 

↳Gemini Crypto – Gemini.com/card

In this episode of Collector Nation, Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden take listeners inside a week that perfectly captures today’s hobby — digital pulls, vintage surprises, and the unpredictable magic of sports cards.

Brian opens up about hitting a massive LeBron refractor through an online pack platform, turning a risky gamble into a $5,000 card. That leads into a spirited debate: Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron — which actually holds long-term value?

Ryan makes his case for Jordan, citing vintage scarcity, collector psychology, and why older cards continue to outperform modern print runs.

Then Ryan shares an unbelievable story: a suspicious Facebook Marketplace listing turns into a real-life meetup and a full 1986 Fleer set walking into his brand-new card shop — complete with Jordan rookie and bonus Star card.

They also discuss opening the shop, why physical retail still matters, how deals really get done, and what makes this hobby so addicting.

It’s part investing lesson, part collector storytime — and fully Collector Nation.

Key Takeaways

Jordan remains the hobby king

Digital packs bring upside and risk

Vintage scarcity beats manufactured rarity

Physical shops create unexpected opportunity

Stories drive value

The best finds are rarely planned