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Perpetual Chess Podcast

Ben Johnson
Chess
Chessable
Chess Improvement
Cheating In Chess
Chess Training
Jan Gustafsson
Youtube
FIDE
Beginner Chess Mistakes
FIDE Candidates
Jeremy Silman
David Smerdon's Research
Gender Equality In Chess
Learning Techniques
Opening Theory
Women In Chess
Abihimanyu Mishra
Chess.com
Goal Setting
Teaching Methods

Perpetual Chess features weekly conversations with the chess world's best players, trainers and accomplished amateurs about their careers, current projects, best practices and the latest in chess news. Learn more at PerpetualChessPod.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes567Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsLeisureHobbies

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Perpetual Chess Podcast

Latest Episodes

Jennifer Shahade is a two-time U.S. Women’s Champion, poker professional, commentator, and acclaimed author. This week, she returns to the pod to discuss her new book Thinking Sideways: How to Think Like a Chess Player and Win at Life. Drawing on che... more

FM Mike Klein of Chess.com  joins the show from Cyprus to give an on-the-ground look at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. We discuss the incredible start by GM Javokhir Sindarov, and what Mike has observed from his interactions with the rising sta... more

It has been over two years since FIDE implemented major changes to its rating system aimed at combating rating deflation. But are those changes actually working?

My guest, Vlad Ghita, joins me to dig into the data. Vlad is a Romanian arbiter, instru... more

The Perpetual Chess book discussion series Chess Books Recaptured returns with a personal, funny, and heartfelt episode.

Gaurav Datta, a longtime student and close friend of IM Jeremy Silman, joins me to discuss Silman’s Chess Odyssey: Cracked Grand... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Vlad Ghita
Romania-based arbiter, trainer, and chess researcher; author of The Rating Revolution
Independent researcher/author
Episode: EP 476-Vlad Ghita: Is the Rating System Still Broken? A Data-Driven Investigation
Gaurav Datta
Former student of Jeremy Silman, local California chess figure
Independent
Episode: Book Recap #38- Silman’s Chess Odyssey + Stories from a Former Student with Gaurav Datta
Jan Gustafsson
Grandmaster, opening theoretician, chess broadcaster
Former Magnus Carlsen prep team member; Chessable author
Episode: EP 476- GM Jan Gustafsson previews the 2026 FIDE Candidates
Matt Biancuzzo
Chess improvement educator and internet content creator
Byredofantome / Chess content creator
Episode: EP 475- Matt Biancuzzo (Byredofantome) on Keeping Chess Fun, Ignoring Rating, and Making Viral Chess Videos
Han Schut
NM Han Schut, retired corporate executive turned chess trainer and prolific author
Chess trainer and author
Episode: EP 474- NM Han Schut on GM Jan Timman’s Legacy, Chess Improvement, & Using LLM’s to Create Helpful Chess Tools
Aman Hambleton
One of Canada's top chess players and co-founder of the Chessbrahs channel
Chessbrahs
Episode: EP 473- GM Aman Hambleton on SCC London, The London System & The Future of Chess
Yasser Seirawan
Grandmaster and renowned storyteller in chess
St. Louis Chess Club
Episode: EP 470- GM Yasser Seirawan on Fischer, Najdorf, Silman & How he Became a GM-Level Storyteller
Brad Stulberg
Bestselling author and co-host of the podcast Excellence Actually
University of Michigan
Episode: EP 469- Author Brad Stulberg on What ‘Excellence’ Means for Amateur Chess Players
Surya Ganguly
Renowned opening theoretician, Chessable author, six-time champion of India
Episode: EP 467- GM Surya Ganguly on Gratitude, Overcoming Bad Tournaments & Life Lessons from Vishy Anand

Host

Ben Johnson
Host of Perpetual Chess Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Enjoyable

    Enjoyable

    Pity about all the adverts for betting .

    No problem with adverts just the content

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Great

    Qualifies for quality background noise from my experience

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m just a cool guy
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • “Just like in my book…”

    Can the host talk to one guest without pushing his own book? Great guests, good content, and I want to listen more, but constant self promotion just cheapens the whole production until it’s just too off putting.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Quercus marilandica
    United States8 months ago
  • Great Podcast

    I love all the guests on your show. I am quickly falling in love with chess myself and love to listen to this podcast while doing my daily routine! Great personalities and would like to see GothamChess back on the pod soon.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skull Island 1276
    United States9 months ago
  • I love that adult learners are also featured in this podcast. It’s inspirational to hear about other people my age who are picking up chess for the first time or dusting off the old skills. And of course the IM and GM guests are amazing, too! Lots of humorous stories from pros and learners alike.

    Audible
    5
    zonnebloem
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A few critiques mention perceived self-promotion or pacing issues and some calls for more neutrality on socio-political topics.
Many appreciate the depth and breadth of topics, from opening theory to chess culture and books.
Listeners consistently praise guest quality and the host's interviewing skill.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#111
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#13
United Kingdom/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#72
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#108
United Kingdom/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#15
Italy/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 476-Vlad Ghita: Is the Rating System Still Broken? A Data-Driven Investigation
Q: What are the main distortions Vlad identifies in the FIDE rating system?
Vlad highlights deflation in many federations, regional mobility issues, age-related rating changes, and the mismatch between activity and true strength, plus auxiliary factors like the ratio of juniors to older players and travel frequency.
EP 475- Matt Biancuzzo (Byredofantome) on Keeping Chess Fun, Ignoring Rating, and Making Viral Chess Videos
Q: How long does a typical video take you to make, given the impressions and variety in your content?
Videos can be very quick to produce, sometimes just a few seconds for five-second clips, or up to a minute for longer pieces; the key is low editing time and high concept, with a focus on being innovative rather than cinematic.
EP 475- Matt Biancuzzo (Byredofantome) on Keeping Chess Fun, Ignoring Rating, and Making Viral Chess Videos
Q: First of all, so you have a day job, right, Matt?
Yes, I have a day job, but I also pursue entrepreneurial chess ventures and create content on the side which feeds into my broader chess-related projects.
EP 474- NM Han Schut on GM Jan Timman’s Legacy, Chess Improvement, & Using LLM’s to Create Helpful Chess Tools
Q: How did Claude-based coding change your approach to creating chess tools?
Claude enabled a smooth, conversational workflow to generate a searchable 1.2 million puzzle database, convert it to a PGN, index with ECO codes, and integrate it with ChessBase for easy reference and teaching applications.
EP 472- Author Katie Kormanik on How Chess Helped Shape Her Life, and Why She Left it Behind
Q: And did you start this before or after the Queen's Gambit came out?
I started this in 2019, before Queen's Gambit.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Perpetual Chess Podcast

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

A long-running, deep-dive interview show focused on chess culture, improvement, and the people shaping the game—from top grandmasters and coaches to authors and community organizers. Episodes commonly explore tournament life, opening ideas, and improvement strategies, often weaving in book recommendations, historic anecdotes, and thoughts on the role of technology (AI tools, databases, and online platforms) in learning and competition. Noteworthy is the balance between high-level chess insight and accessible, relatable storytelling, plus frequent reflections on community-building and grassroots chess development. Listeners can expect thoughtful guests, practical takeaways for players at all levels, and a steady stream of perspectives from e... more

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How many listeners does Perpetual Chess Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Perpetual Chess Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Perpetual Chess Podcast:

1. Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast
2. Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement
3. C-Squared Podcast
4. New In Chess Podcast
5. The Chess Angle

How many episodes of Perpetual Chess Podcast are there?

Perpetual Chess Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 567 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 Perpetual Chess Podcast?

Recent guests on Perpetual Chess Podcast include:

1. Vlad Ghita
2. Gaurav Datta
3. Jan Gustafsson
4. Matt Biancuzzo
5. Han Schut
6. Aman Hambleton
7. Yasser Seirawan
8. Brad Stulberg

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