Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement

Mar 05 2025 187 ep. 67 mins 332

Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement Podcast artwork

A podcast dedicated to the journey of adult chess improvement. Each week a guest will join me to discuss what has worked for them, what hasn't worked as well, and the status of their journey.

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Ep. 187 Aidan - Don’t Move Until You See it

Mar 05 2025 86 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Aidan from Don’t Move Until You See It. We talked about visualization, memory work, narrative vs. visual memories, aphantasia, and other related issues. Aidan took me through a sample blindfold exercise to demonstrate how different brains worked. We ended with an examination of my recent slump and focus on basic tactics. This episode is p

Ep. 186 Emly Plays Chess - Twitch and Youtube (1000 USCF)

Feb 26 2025 63 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Emily Plays Chess. Emily hasn’t been playing chess long, but she is all in! We talked about her improvement journey from discovering chess, streaming, tournaments, and resources. Emily discussed the challenges of balancing the learning opportunities with the stress of big tournaments. She also highlighted the social aspects of chess as an

Ep. 185 David (500 USCF)

Feb 19 2025 67 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with David. We talked a lot about his journey into chess and having fun with the game. We also discussed his first tournament and his recent success in tournaments. David talked about his transition into a more serious chess player and resources such as Silman, Naroditsky, and The Butcher. David also laid out the process for starting a club, whi

Ep. 184 NM Gopal (Dr Scull’s Coach)

Feb 12 2025 64 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with NM Gopal Menon. He’s a coach, player, author, and openings guru. We discussed his journey playing chess as a child and beyond. He provided suggestions for improving one’s chess, which focuses on learning that you can apply. We wrapped up the episode with an examination of my game. Gopal provided insights across a wide range of topics th

Ep. 183 Rob (1600 Chesscom)

Feb 05 2025 61 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Rob. He’s trying to juggle career, family, and chess improvement. We discussed his recent rapid success, reaching 1600, and where to go next. Rob has decided to focus on studying for a few months to outline a process that will help him improve more. He’s been focused on Polgar’s mate in 2 puzzles, Calculation: A Complete Guide for Tou

Ep. 182 Shaun (1100 USCF)

Jan 30 2025 55 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Shaun. He’s an ICU nurse trying to juggle a demanding career with chess improvement. We discussed a wide range of topics such as his study plan, chess bootcamps, living in St. Louis and Charlotte, and chess anxiety. Most notable is Shaun’s emphasis on the positive aspects of chess. He told many stories about his encounters with chess pe

Ep. 181 Mike (1150 Chesscom)

Jan 22 2025 54 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Mike. He’s a newer chess improver that has made quite a bit of progress in a short time. He talked about the importance of tactics. Mike emphasized doing them despite not enjoying them. To him they are simply essential building blocks for a successful chess player. Mike also discussed the positive impact of changing his black opening. It

Ep. 180 Tony - Chess Sharkz (2000 USCF)

Jan 16 2025 63 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Tony. He’s a busy family man and co-founder of the Chess Sharkz. In addition to constant streaming, Tony squeezes in tactics whenever possible. We discussed the claim that everyone under 2200 should be focusing on tactics, Tony’s career in chess, his move to Charlotte, and why he plays so many Chess tournaments. We also talked about tou

Ep. 179 Deven (1600 Chesscom)

Jan 08 2025 63 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Deven. We talked about his journey into chess as an adult. He quickly rose to 1200, but got stuck there for a while. We discussed the challenges of finding a coach that works for you, and his approach to chess improvement. Deven credits much of his rise from 1200 - 1600 to his coach, analyzing games, tactics, and working on endgames. It was

Ep. 178 Dr. Scull Year in Review (1700 USCF)

Jan 01 2025 80 mins

This week on Chess Journeys, friend of the show Jay Garrison hosted my recap of 2024. We examined the highs and lows of the year, including massive rating loss and winning the club championship (U1700). We discussed goals, study plans, and results. We also brainstormed new ideas for an adult chess tournament scene like the scholastic one. In short, we covered the entire year with a