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!
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 52 minutes
- Episodes
- 133
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
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 aut…
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 t…
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 recen…
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 Grandmaste…
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 gun…
Rare Insights Into Chess & Psychology w/ Julia Rios
The life of a chess player is often emotional. There can be huge wins and the joy of learning, but also painful losses and sluggish improvement. Helping me gain new insights into how to address these…
Chess Coaching: What To Look For & Getting The Most From It w/ IM Yuriy Krykun
082 Many adult improvers ask this question at least once: Should I get a chess coach? This episode is designed to help you figure out what to look for in a coach and how to maximize the experience.
He…
IM Kostya Kavutskiy - GM Goals, Candidates Controversy, & Improvement Q&A
Renowned chess coach and co-founder of the Chess Dojo, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, returns to the podcast! Previously, we talked mostly about how to read annotated game books (Episode 17).
This time, we cove…
Five Essential Lessons From My Coaching with IM Andras Toth
080 What can you learn from a year of coaching from one of the world’s best chess coaches More than can ever be packed into a single podcast episode! BUT we cover the top five lessons I learned from …
Turning A Passion For Chess Into a Career w/ WIM Charlize van Zyl
079 Sometimes a passion for chess runs so deep you want to make it your life. That’s the story of South Africa’s WIM Charlize van Zyl. While she earned the WIM at just age 13, she didn’t fully realiz…
The Adult Improver Chess Life with Sam Canciobello
078 Dedicating three years of your life to chess as an adult is huge. Especially when it includes OTB classical tournaments and running a chess YouTube channel. That’s been the story of Sam Cancio…
How to Make Losing Less Painful In Chess w/ Daniel Lona
077 Part of being a chess player is losing many games. But what if those experiences didn’t have to be so painful? To that end, I solicited advice on how to deal with the most difficult losses.
I rece…
WGM Jennifer Shahade: Her New Tactics Book, Appearing on Jeopardy, & Leaving US Chess
076 Jennifer Shahade returns to the podcast! 2023 was a major one for her, and we discuss the major milestones of her year.
If you’re not familiar, Jennifer is a 2-time US Women’s Chess Champion, aut…
Essential Chess Tips From 6 Books By NM Dan Heisman
075 NM Dan Heisman is a world-renowned chess coach and author. He’s on the verge of publishing his thirteenth, and perhaps final, chess improvement book. In this episode, we take a retrospective of s…
Elevating Your Chess With Great Women Players w/ WIM Luciana Morales
074 Many great women players deserve more attention. Consider that even the games of women's world champions are rarely studied. This shouldn't be the case any longer since their chess is instructiv…
Positional Play for Club Players w/ FM Nate Solon
A second visit to the pod from chess coach & author, FM Nate Solon! In recent years, Nate has become a well-known chess educator.
He’s co-authored the highly-praised book, Evaluate Like a Grandmaster.…
Make It Club-Player Friendly: Elite Events & Courses with WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni
072 She’s been making a splash in the chess world. Not only is WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni a regular commentator for top-level tournaments...she’s also become a key commentator for Hikaru’s Twitch channel…
Podcast Crossover: NM Ben Johnson on His New Book: Perpetual Chess Improvement
Not many chess resources are aimed directly at helping the adult improver. But the superb new book by well-known chess podcast host, Ben Johnson, does exactly that. Released this fall, it’s called Pe…
Update on Podcast - We'll Be Back!
This is a brief 1-minute update on the state of the podcast. Don't worry - we'll return soon!
A Rapid Rise to 2000 with Adult Improver Kamryn Hellman
070 A small number of chess players make remarkably quick progress. Perhaps even fewer of those are adults. Which is why the achievements of this week’s guest, Kamryn Hellman, are so remarkable.
She s…