In Episode 6 we get into one of the most uncomfortable (but necessary) conversations in the modern sports card hobby: trust.We break down the recent wave of scams and controversies surrounding grading — both scams against PSA and situations collectors feel PSA itself hasn’t handled well. From altered cards slipping through grading, to submitters gaming the system, to grading inconsistencies and upcharges, we talk about the reality nobody wants to say out loud: grading companies are now powerful enough to move markets, and that makes them a target for manipulation from all directions.The big takeaway isn’t simply “PSA bad” or “collectors bad.” The point is the hobby now operates more like a financial market than a collector community. When a number on a slab can change a card from a $40 card to a $4,000 card, people are going to try to beat the system — and sometimes the system itself creates incentives that make those problems worse.We also dive into another topic quietly shaping card prices: hobby YouTube culture.We discuss how certain hobby creators may be buying likes, views, or engagement — not necessarily to become famous, but to influence market perception. In the sports card world, attention is value. If a YouTuber with perceived authority hypes a player, that player’s cards can spike overnight. That means engagement can directly translate into money, and that opens the door to manipulation.We explain how collectors should think about “manufactured hype,” how algorithm-driven popularity can create artificial demand, and why newer collectors especially need to separate information from promotion.This episode is really about learning to protect yourself:don’t just trust slabs, don’t just trust comps, and definitely don’t just trust YouTube hype.Understand incentives — because in today’s hobby, everyone has one.Whether you’re a long-time collector or just getting back into cards, Episode 6 is about keeping your eyes open and collecting smarter.The Player Worn Podcast is a sports cards and TCG podcast hosted by Samuel Lawrence (Samuel Lawrence Collectibles) and Jordan Rose. The show covers hobby news, market movement, collecting stories, and conversations across sports cards and trading card games—always with honesty, curiosity, and a real-world perspective.From seasoned collectors to newcomers, Player Worn is a place for open discussion, learning in real time, and staying connected to what’s happening in the hobby.#sportscards #cards #sportscardpodcast #tradingcards #TCG #cardcollecting #collectibles #hobbytalk #cardhobby #playerwornpodcast, #basketballcards #footballcards #baseballcards #sportsmemorabilia #gameused #playerworn #gradedcards #PSAcards #Pokémoncards #MagictheGathering #TCGcollecting #sportspodcast #hobbypodcast #thehobby #collectorpodcast,