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Artwork for Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement

Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement

Dr. Kevin Scull
Chess
Chess Improvement
Tactics
Tournaments
Chess Dojo
Chessable
Coaching
Endgames
Youtube
Blitz Chess
Adult Chess Improvement
Queen's Gambit
Online Chess
Patreon
Adult Improvement
Opening Strategies
Over-the-Board Chess
Chess Coaching
USCF
Pacific Coast Open

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes295Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HobbiesLeisureSports

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Artwork for Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement

Latest Episodes

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Kyle. We talked about his improvement journey and love for chess. Kyle started pre pandemic with videos and joy. He continued playing looking at openings, endings, and not many puzzles. We talked about chess ... more

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Charlie. He gained 1000 rating points over the last 7 years!! We talked about the secret of his success. It primarily lies in playing chess. He’s also watched many Youtube videos both passively and actively. ... more

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Varun. We talked about his massive decision to retire and go chess full time. He talked about his progress since retiring and his motivation for the decision. We discussed coaching and his favorite resources.... more

This week on Chess Journeys, I recap my recent Southern California Open. It wasn't quite the crowning cap on the summer that I hoped it would be. But lessons were learned and chess was played. So it wasn't all bad.

Chessbook: chessbook.com/?ref=kevi... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Varun Kumar
AI specialist turned chess player, guest on the show
Independent / Chess Journeys guest
Episode: Ep. 293 Varun (1500 USCF)
CM Dr. John
Coach, podcaster, neuroscience specialist, Chessable course author of the year 2024
Chessable / Doctoral researcher in cognitive science
Episode: Ep. 290 CM Dr. Can (Chessable, Youtube, Podcaster)
Mike Carey
Retired professor, adult improver, long-time chess enthusiast
Self-employed/academic
Episode: Ep. 289 Mike (2000 USCF)
Tatev Abrahmian
Chess coach and former professional player, discussed as a guest in the flashback interview
Episode: Ep. 278 Flashback: IM Tatev Abrahmamyan Ep. 41
Junta Ikeda
International Master, coach, Substack writer
Episode: Ep. 273 IM Junta Ikeda
Mauricio Flores
Chess trainer and author, known for Chess Bible (Chess Structures)
Independent chess educator/author
Episode: Ep. 258 GM Mauricio Flores
Owen Blunder Man
Chess YouTuber known as Blunder Man; content creator focusing on entertaining and educational chess videos
Blunder Man YouTube channel
Episode: Ep. 256 Owen - Blunder Man (1550 USCF)
Nathan Ziegler
Tournament Director and hopeful Chess Improver, recently graduated and working full-time.
Episode: Ep. 250 Nathan (1900 USCF)
Nick Weisel
Author of the blog Nick Plays Chess and skilled chess player
Nick Plays Chess
Episode: Ep. 245 Nick (1650 USCF)

Host

Kevin Scull
Host of Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement; guides discussions with guests and shares personal training insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 351 ratings
  • Great advice!

    As an adult improved learning Chess from scratch this Podcast has been a massive help. I started using Podcasts on my daily dog walk around the same time as picking up Chess as a hobby and after some other Podcasts discovered this which is aimed at improvers like me. I’ve learnt some great tips and bought some great resources using this as you hear lots of similar recommendations. Kevin is a great host, always giving the interviewee space to walk through their journey which is great for similar ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RichSwales
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Yes! Keep it going!

    This is a terrific podcast, I red my weekly Chess Journeys fix, don’t ever stop!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AverageChessEnjoyer
    United States6 months ago
  • Just terrific. Don’t ever stop Kevin.

    Back from a 30-year hiatus, and this podcast was my first glimpse into a world that I no longer knew. Adult improvement? What is that? An increment of what? Tilt? Did my pinball machine become stuck? I came for chess knowledge but found something even more. The stories of why we pursue this game, the pain, and the victories. All of this and more from the perspective of an adult with limited time. Appreciate the hard work, Kevin. So yes, we, the community, still need this outlet, so don’t ever st... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boldness is all
    United States6 months ago
  • T

    Not good

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ottoistcool0
    Germany9 months ago
  • My favorite chess podcast

    I discovered this podcast only a week ago and have already listened to the first 25 episodes. I spend tons of time driving for work and I crave to learn about chess in that Los Angeles traffic. This fills the niche—more about how various people approach learning than about theory itself. I’m a relatively low rated adult so this is the perfect in-road to improvement. It motivates me to practice after work, and constantly gives me ideas about how to proceed. Kevin is the perfect host—funny, relata... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeb_C
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are consistently described as motivational and actionable for real-world practice.
A subset notes a strong community vibe and value in long-form, experience-based storytelling.
Guests provide diverse perspectives on training, balancing life, and staying motivated.
Listeners appreciate the host's relatable, down-to-earth style and the focus on practical improvement for adults.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#32
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#66
United Kingdom/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#199
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#178
France/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#184
Germany/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#209
Australia/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 294 Charlie (1700 USCF)
Q: Okay. So what other things did you have to do as you reach different steps on this ladder up to 1700?
He emphasizes consistent practice, balancing play with targeted study (tactics, endgames, and calculation), and gradually increasing the difficulty of opponents to build skills over time.
Ep. 293 Varun (1500 USCF)
Q: What sparked your decision to pursue chess more seriously after a long period of balancing work and family?
He describes recognizing a need to stay afloat and the desire to dedicate more time to chess, balancing coding work and family life while pursuing continuous improvement.
Ep. 291 Don (1350 USCF)
Q: Are you retired from tournament chess? What's happening with tournaments these days?
Tournaments slowed down due to travel and life demands, but I still attend when possible and enjoy local club events and occasional weekend trips to St. Louis for the experience.
Ep. 290 CM Dr. Can (Chessable, Youtube, Podcaster)
Q: What are three big pieces of advice for adults who want to get better at chess but feel stuck?
Understand that improvement is a mountain to climb and requires realistic expectations; build a structured plan with study tailored to your level and life constraints; focus on core, high-impact concepts and use course-based, guided practice rather than random play to raise your floors before expanding to deeper strategies.
Ep. 288 Q’wayne (1780 Lichess)
Q: What challenges have you faced in obtaining FIDE titles, and how do you navigate rating systems and geopolitics of tournaments?
Getting a rating required six games, and sometimes players missing games or unrated opponents complicate the process; I pursue titles via online arenas and international events where possible, while acknowledging the limits of local tournaments in Jamaica.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show focused on adult chess improvement, featuring guests who share their personal journeys, training routines, and practical strategies for progressing as longer-term players. Episodes emphasize deliberate practice, balance with work and family, community involvement, and real-world training methods over abstract theory. Noteworthy is the emphasis on accessible, actionable steps, coaching perspectives, and the presence of diverse guests—from coaches and club organizers to dedicated improvers—creating a relatable path for listeners who juggle busy lives while pursuing improvement.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Perpetual Chess Podcast
2. Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast
3. NextLevelChess
4. The Chess Angle
5. The Chess Cognition Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 295 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Varun Kumar
2. CM Dr. John
3. Mike Carey
4. Tatev Abrahmian
5. Junta Ikeda
6. Mauricio Flores
7. Owen Blunder Man
8. Nathan Ziegler

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