The Chess Experience
Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with “chess entertainment” shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I'll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I’m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!
Episodes
113 episodes
Schedule Update For This Week
Just a quick update on why there won't be an episode this week. But we'll be back on November 12th!
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0:31
WCM Adriana Palao: Pursuing Chess Titles & Movie Magic
106 Adriana is a dynamic titled player, coach, and content creator from Spain. She’s already reached a 2000+ FIDE rating and is working regularly towards her WFM title. This year alone, she’s competed in ten OTB classical tournaments.Ad...
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Episode 106
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29:27
Evaluation: A Vital But Overlooked Skill For Club Players w/ GM Eugene Perelshteyn
105 Today’s guest is a huge help to countless adult improvers.GM Eugene Perelshteyn is a highly regarded coach, author, and course creator.In more recent years, he went beyond helping his private students and extended his chess wi...
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Episode 105
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1:04:43
Behind The Scenes of Chess Journalism with Vanessa Sun
104 This week’s guest is Vanessa Sun, a former chess journalist. For years, she covered events for US Chess, from major national tournaments like the US Open to local competitions.She was also a tournament director at the famous Marshal...
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Episode 104
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47:57
Adult Improver Pod: Dr. Ryan Thomas - Revamping His Approach to Chess Study
103 Our guest is an inspiring adult improver, Dr. Ryan Thomas. Ryan is a surgeon, a cancer researcher, and a father of two. With all that, he’s still highly dedicated to chess improvement and his love of the game. Ryan regularly attends OTB cla...
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Episode 103
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1:09:12
IM Boroljub Zlatanovic - How Amateurs Can Play Like GMs & Making Chess Principles a Top Priority
102 Learning from a prolific chess author and course creator is always exciting. Today we dive into various chess improvement topics from Serbian International Master, Boro Zlatanovic.Boro has published over two dozen cours...
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55:57
FM Megan Lee - Achieving New Heights as an Adult in OTB Chess
101 Megan Lee is an inspiration to all of us adult improvers. Even with a busy work life running two businesses, Megan has had an incredible year: reaching her lifetime rating peak (2297 FIDE), earning the FM title, and competing in the US Wome...
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Episode 101
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43:38
Podcast Schedule Update: Sept 3rd, 2024
A quick update on why the show has been MIA for three weeks (spoiler: COVID.) And when I'll resume...
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1:24
Sicilian Advice: WIM Tea Gueci, A Top Italian Female Player & Chess Coach
0100 She’s rated one of Italy’s top female players and has coached adult improvers for years. And she is this show’s first Italian guest! WIM Tea Guecci has had an impressive chess career. She broke records by age twelve, becoming the youngest ...
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Episode 100
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54:53
Chess Coach, Streamer, & Psychologist: WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga
099 She’s been awarded “Chess Coach of the Month” by Chess.com. Plus, she has a master’s degree in psychology. Meet WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga! Hailing from Hungary, Fruzsina has spent the past several years coaching adult club players and begin...
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Episode 99
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51:03
Leveling Up the Chess Community for Adult Club Players w/ Kamryn Heller & Omar Mills
098 Adult club players are a fast-growing part of the chess community. But this growth is relatively new. And the community may not have fully caught up to our sizeable presence. So, in a first for this podcast, I’ve brought in two guests to he...
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Episode 98
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1:22:28
Why Club Players Struggle Against 1.d4 (And Solving This Challenge) w/ IM Mateusz Kolosowski
097 Playing against 1.d4 can be awkward. Many club players say they’re less sure of what to do positionally and have more difficulty finding tactical possibilities. Even the most popular, and arguably best, opening responses like the Slav or th...
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Episode 97
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59:01
State of the Podcast: New Plans & Goals for 2024
096 After a two-week break, we are back! For the first time, I explain what I have in store for the podcast for 2024…and beyond. (Hint: it’s all good news!) From new episode formats to a different category of guests, I share my ambitions for th...
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Episode 96
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17:46
Grandmaster Insights On Mindset & Openings with GM Alex Colovic
095 GM Alex Colovic is an exceptional course creator and an engaging writer on all things chess. He returns to the pod to discuss some intriguing subjects from his weekly newsletter. I hand-picked three topics Alex wrote about that I found fasc...
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Episode 95
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1:02:47
Growing Chess's Popularity With Better Live Coverage with Kaja Snare
094 Kaja Snare, a pro chess broadcaster, has been leading chess into a new and more accessible era of live coverage. Gone are the days of top-level chess being watchable only for the most dedicated to the game. With her co-hosts,...
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Episode 94
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1:03:43
NM Robert Ramirez: A Rising Chess Coach Star (with Tons of Improvement Tips!)
093 An exciting new chess coach has hit the scene. NM Robert Ramirez has seen a huge growth in popularity in the past several years. Already, his YouTube channel has grown to 140K subscribers at the time of this episode. He’s launched two...
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Episode 93
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1:10:28
Elaynah: All In With Chess - Chasing a Title & Rising Content Creator
092 It’s rare to see an adult chase a title and work full-time as a chess content creator. With passion and confidence, that’s exactly what this week’s guest, Elaynah, is doing with her chess life. It's an inspiring journe...
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Episode 92
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54:34
Emilia Castelao: Improving Chess Worldwide For Women & Becoming the Rare Chess Historian
091 This week’s guest, Emilia Castelao, approaches chess in rare but special ways. First, she’s making chess her career. Though not as a player, coach, or content creator. Instead, she’s pursuing a Ph.D in chess history.For most folks, ...
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Episode 91
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54:04
WGM Dina Belenkaya: A Born Chess Entertainer, Her New Course, & Chasing the IM Title
090 With natural charisma and exceptional chess skills, Dina Belenkaya is perfect for this new era of chess. A serious student of the game all her life, she competed professionally and earned the WGM title in 2016. In 2020, Dina began her...
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Episode 90
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1:10:58
Adult Improver Pod: How To Make Progress with Limited Time & Should Club Players Coach? w/ Ono
089 It’s rare to see an adult club player make a career in chess. This week’s guest, Ono, has done just that. He started like many of us: inspired to dive into the game after watching the Queen’s Gambit. Which progressed into workin...
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Episode 89
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56:34
Discussing Strategy For Club Players with IM Thomas Willemze
088 Like many chess subjects, knowing what to study for strategy is a bit murky. Especially if you’re a semi-confused club player like myself. So, who better to chat with about this topic than an author who has written three books on the subjec...
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Episode 88
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44:45
7 Insights From 2 Years of Chess Podcasting With Daniel Lona
087 Rarely have I publicly reflected on my experiences from running this podcast. Or what I’ve learned from talking to so many titled players, coaches, and commentators. But it’s been a little over two years since the show’s launch. And it has ...
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Episode 87
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33:59
Countering the Effects of Aging on Chess Plus Tips on Strategy w/ WIM Natasha Regan
086 She’s a rock star of chess accomlishments. WIM Natasha Regan has represented England in two chess Olympiads. She’s co-authored two award-winning chess books with GM Matthew Sadler. And, in recent years, Natasha has co-created three Ch...
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Episode 86
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1:13:19
GM Noël Studer: Adding Fun to Chess Improvement & Helpful Ideas From His New Beginner Course
085 GM Noël Studer is a fountain of superb chess advice. Many folks loved his first appearance on the show (Ep. 67.) And that’s why he’s here a second time! It’s rare and special to have a Grandmaster working hard to help club players improve t...
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Episode 85
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1:05:49
Adult Improver Pod: Chasing the WFM Title at 1900 FIDE w/ Kincső Toth
084 Hungary has a rich history of producing chess stars. Even at the adult improver level, you have the impressive accomplishments of our guest, Kincső Toth.She’s already reached 1900 FIDE and is gunning for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) ...
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Episode 84
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59:50
