ALL IN: The Addicted Gambler's Podcast | The Original Gambling Addiction Podcast

Sports cards. Trading packs. Box breaks. What was once a nostalgic hobby has quietly evolved into something far more dangerous — and few people are talking about it. In this episode, we sit down with Alyx Effron, founder of Collectors MD and one of the most important emerging voices at the intersection of collecting culture and problem gambling awareness.
In this episode:
How gambling-like mechanics have become deeply embedded in modern sports card collecting
Why box breaks, pack openings, and hype culture trigger the same psychological responses as casino gambling
The warning signs that a collecting hobby has crossed into compulsive or addictive behavior
How Alyx's personal journey as a collector led him to create Collectors MD
What harm-reduction in the collectibles space actually looks like
How the industry can push for greater transparency, ethical marketing, and stronger consumer protections
Why collectors of all ages — including kids — are vulnerable in today's market
Collectors MD Website: www.collectorsmd.com
leestreetpod@gmail.com
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Could your child's gaming habit be a clinical disorder? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Jennifer Jiyun Park, a postdoctoral researcher at the Yale School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry, whose work sits at the intersection of gaming disorder, gambling addiction, and behavioral health in youth.
Dr. Park studies how problematic gaming develops in children and adolescents — including the brain-based patterns behind compulsive play, how gaming and gambling disorders overlap, and what evidence-based treatments actually work for young people. She's published research on CBT-based interventions, the role of caffeine and sleep in gaming behavior, and how social media use connects to addictive patterns in the adolescent brain.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What "gaming disorder" actually means — and how it's clinically defined
The neurological similarities between video game addiction and gambling addiction
Why teenagers are especially vulnerable to problematic gaming
The warning signs parents and clinicians should watch for
What the research says about CBT and other treatments for gaming disorder in youth
How gaming, caffeine use, and sleep deprivation create a dangerous cycle for teens
leestreetpod@gmail.com
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Before online sportsbooks and casino apps, there was a different kind of gambling world — one run by bookies, back rooms, and the kind of debt you couldn't just close a browser tab to escape. In this episode, host Brian sits down with Tony V, a man with a truly old school gambling story, whose journey from compulsive bettor to person in long-term recovery is as gripping as it gets.
Tony opens up about what it was like gambling in an era before the internet changed everything — placing bets through mob-connected bookmakers, the thrill and the terror that came with it, and the slow unraveling that addiction brings to every area of life. But this isn't just a war story. Tony found recovery, and he shares what that path actually looked like.
Perhaps the most powerful moment in this conversation: what happened when Tony ran into his old bookie well into his recovery AND what the Bookie SAID
In this episode, you'll learn:
What old school gambling culture really looked like — bookies, debts, and all
How compulsive gambling escalates no matter the era or the format
The role of Recovery Chat in Tony's journey and how peer connection supports sobriety
What it feels like to unexpectedly cross paths with your past while in recovery
How long-term recovery is built and protected over time
leestreetpod@gmail.com
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Brian, Jeff, and Sam DeMello, the Proprietor of Evive
Sam joins us to talk about what's new with Evive, an app you can use to assist with your recovery from gambling harm.
In This Episode...
Who is Sam
Recovery Chat
What's New with Evive
Check out Evive!
Gambling Addiction YouTube Series The Bet Free Life
Show Email leestreetpod@gmail.com
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Brian & Jersey Joe
Joe wrote some books about his gambling and recovery.
In This Episode...
Joe's Story
Joe's Books-
https://a.co/d/9pGTF3y - All Gamblers Suffer
https://a.co/d/7VTGAWy - All Gamblers Continue to Suffer
Brian's Website endgamblingharm.com
Gambling Addiction Video Series The Bet Free Life
Show Email leestreetpod@gmail.com
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Thank you to our sponsor - EPIC Global Solutions
Music by T. Vance