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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
Youtube
Blitz Chess
Endgames
Adult Chess Improvement
Queen's Gambit
Online Chess
Patreon
Opening Strategies
Adult Improvement
Chess Coaching
Over-the-Board Chess
Covid-19
Chess Clubs

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes274Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement

Latest Episodes

In this week's bonus episode I discuss the dreaded IQP. I talk about my fear of it and the problems it caused me. I discuss the process I took to overcome my fears. I conclude with what I now know about the IQP. Hopefully this episode will help you ... more

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with IM Junta Ikeda. We had a conversation about his own chess journey and adult improvement. This episode is full of specific advice for improving your game. Junta offered several book recommendations. He talked ... more

This week I made a recap of my recent Memorial Day tournament. There are highs and lows and everything in between.

Chessbook: chessbook.com/?ref=kevin

Chessiverse Code: DrSCULL20

Check out my new Substack: substack.com/@drscull

My Chessab... more

This week on Chess Journeys, I spoke with Landyn. He’s recently gained 300 points in a few months by playing a lot of tournaments and studying. We talked about the woodpecker method and checkmates pattern for improvement. We also discussed his attemp... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

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)
J.J. Lang
Podcaster, journalist, chess coach, and improver
US Chess
Episode: Ep. 242 J.J. Lang (2100 USCF)
Kamryn Heide
Chess content creator, multimedia professional, and enthusiast promoting chess among young girls.
Episode: Ep. 236 Kamryn - Youtuber (2200 Chesscom)
Chris Wainscott
Chess player and enthusiast focusing on improvement strategies
Episode: Ep. 230 Flashback: Chris Wainscott (1800 USCF) Ep. 29
FM Nate Solon
A conversation with FM Nate Solon about his experiences and insights on chess improvement.
Episode: Ep. 226 Flashback: FM Nate Solon Ep. 11
Tristan Brown
Physical therapist and chess club builder
Phoenix Chess Club
Episode: Ep. 225 Tristan (1600 USCF)

Host

Kevin
Host of Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement; also hosts discussions about listeners' journeys

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 335 ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States2 months ago
  • T

    Not good

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ottoistcool0
    Germany6 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 States7 months ago
  • My Chess rating over 1 year

    I am 16 years old I had started my chess journey September of 2024 and I went from a steady 550 elo rapid on chess.com. One year later I am now 1500 elo. I love chess and I hope I can improve enough to get to 2000 elo and possibly be a grandmaster at some point. My best win was beating a 1700 rated guy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lotr is the best.
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates motivation and a positive, non-intimidating vibe.
Listeners praise the relatable focus on adult learners and practical tips.
Fans value the host's down-to-earth style and diverse guest mix.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#29
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#237
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#21
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#66
United Kingdom/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#196
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#76
Australia/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 266 Bill (2000 Chesscom)
Q: When you finally hit 2,000 rapid, how did you react and what did you do next?
Hitting 2,000 rapid felt like reaching a lifelong peak, but it also spurred me to pursue new challenges beyond rapid, such as continuing to improve through games, exploring over-the-board events, and considering online title pursuits like the Arena titles on chess.com, which added a fresh motivation beyond rating gains.
Ep. 266 Bill (2000 Chesscom)
Q: How did you start the experiment to get better at chess, and what resources did you use?
I began by diving into Reddit's Chess community, following Bartholomew and foundational materials like Chess Fundamentals, then gradually built a self-improvement regimen that included a mix of books, online courses, and a heavy focus on practicing and reviewing lines. I also connected with a friend, Kenny, who kept me accountable and provided feedback as I experimented with different approaches.
Ep. 259 Ono (1800 Dutch)
Q: How do you balance study and play in practice?
There needs to be a balance between studying and playing; too much of one can hinder growth. Practicing with shorter time controls can speed up iteration, while maintaining some classical games ensures depth; the key is consistent, purposeful practice with reflection after games.
Ep. 259 Ono (1800 Dutch)
Q: What role do openings play in your coaching philosophy for adults?
Openings are important not just for the first moves, but for entering positions where clear middle-game plans exist; building a robust opening repertoire helps ensure players actually reach those positions, while still focusing on understanding the plans and ideas behind them.
Ep. 259 Ono (1800 Dutch)
Q: How did you go from 1000 Elo to coaching full-time?
The shift happened as I started coaching while maintaining a blog and building a structured opening repertoire; exposure through the blog helped attract students, and over time I could transition to full-time coaching as my teaching business and online ventures grew.

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?

The show centers on adults pursuing chess improvement through personal journeys, practical training approaches, and balancing chess with work, family, and everyday life. Guests range from coaches and organizers to players returning after breaks, often sharing actionable routines, study tools, and mindset shifts that helped them advance. A standout theme is the emphasis on realistic progress for non-pros, the value of community, coaching, and structured practice, plus how technology and online resources intersect with over-the-board play. This blend of storytelling and practical tips makes it appealing to adult improvers seeking relatable examples and tangible steps, as well as sponsors aiming at a dedicated, hobbyist chess audience.

Notewo... more

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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. C-Squared Podcast
4. NextLevelChess
5. The Chess Angle

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 274 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. Mauricio Flores
2. Owen Blunder Man
3. Nathan Ziegler
4. Nick Weisel
5. J.J. Lang
6. Kamryn Heide
7. Chris Wainscott
8. FM Nate Solon

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