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Artwork for Piece Talks

Piece Talks

Rob Shields
Speed Puzzling
Jigsaw Puzzles
Competitive Jigsaw Puzzling
World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship
Competitive Jigsaw Puzzles
Puzzle Competitions
Usa Jigsaw Puzzle Association
Puzzle Chess
Puzzle Community
Spain
Wicker Kittens
Ravensburger
World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation
Australia
Euro Jigsaw Jam
Kristen
Jigsaw Puzzle Community
Valladolid, Spain
Puzzling Community
Germany

Discussions with competitors, organizers, and puzzle makers in the competitive jigsaw puzzle world. We cover speed puzzling, puzzle chess, and pretty much any other way that people are using jigsaw puzzles to compete.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes43Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

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Artwork for Piece Talks

Latest Episodes

Emma Quirke won the UK Nationals in 2025. Rachael Chambers won it in 2026. Does that make them bitter rivals? Quite the contrary! In this episode we dig in to their intertwined history, how their differing approaches to puzzling land them within seco... more

YouTube

EB and I are joined by several of the competitors that made a splash at this year's US Nationals. The theme that kept coming up over and over? How much everyone loved this year's event. Joining us are: Alice Rowe Jessa Douglas Josh Trauger Lewis Drac... more

YouTube

Louise Jackett knew she had found her tribe at her very first competition. Since then, Lou has dedicated herself to giving others that same sense of community, building from Covid-era competitor to one of the most influential figures in Australian co... more

YouTube

Trigger Alert! THIS EPISODE CONTAINS NEARLY NO STATS! We wanted to explore a different way of talking about the upcoming US National Championships in Atlanta. To help us out, we brought back some former guests, and a new one you might recognize.

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Emma Quirk
Puzzling competitor and World Series participant
British/Irish puzzle community
Episode: #40 - Emma Quirke and Rachael Chambers
Rachael Chambers
Puzzling competitor and World Series participant
British/Irish puzzle community
Episode: #40 - Emma Quirke and Rachael Chambers
Jessa Douglas
Competitor and participant
Episode: #39 - US Nationals: A Love Story
Lewis Dracobly-Helsel
New to Nationals, competitor
Episode: #39 - US Nationals: A Love Story
Louise Jackett
President of the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association; co-founder of the Speed Puzzling World Series
Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association (AJPA)
Episode: #38 - Louise Jackett
Eby Karen
Returning guest, member of 2023 World Silver Medalist team (The Misfits)
Misfits team, World puzzle community
Episode: #37 - US Nationals Preview
Sarah Schuller
Returning guest
Puzzles community member
Episode: #37 - US Nationals Preview
Michaela Keener
Returning guest
Puzzle Problem / YouTube puzzle community
Episode: #37 - US Nationals Preview
Karen Puzzles
First-time guest
Karen Puzzles (puzzle creator/enthusiast)
Episode: #37 - US Nationals Preview

Hosts

Rob Shields
Host of Piece Talks
Andrew Bradburn
Featured guest

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 38 ratings
  • Awesome Speed Puzzling content

    I’m new to the speed puzzling scene and I’m really enjoying getting to know more about the top speed puzzlers. I can’t get enough of this podcast. Great stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aswizzle
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent Podcast for Puzzle Enthusiasts!

    Rob asks the best questions and has a good sense of humour.The guests are very relaxed when being interviewed which makes for a great listening experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ONpuzzler
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the approachable pace and clear insights from top competitors.
The host asks sharp questions and keeps the conversation relaxed, making guests open up.
Guests come across as knowledgeable and credible, enhancing trust in event and industry discussions.
The show delivers actionable tips for attendees and aspiring guests, with a community-centric vibe.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#94
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#16
Finland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#24
Austria/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#88
Finland/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#111
Hong Kong/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#115
Sweden/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#38 - Louise Jackett
Q: What role did community and volunteers play in shaping the event's growth?
Volunteers were the backbone from early on, with Lou emphasizing governance and institutional knowledge transfer, event planning, and a supportive culture. The community's swift adoption, the federation's ability to run multiple state events, and the feedback loop from participants and spectators helped mold the World Series into a scalable, inclusive platform.
#38 - Louise Jackett
Q: How is the Speed Puzzle World Series format structured and what makes it unique?
It is an individuals-only competition across six distinct puzzles over two days, with no eliminations. Day one features three image-style challenges (color gradient, pattern repetition, detailed/busy detail) and day two focuses on space and visual management, including a mystery puzzle, circle puzzle, and panorama. Scoring is cumulative by time, with penalties for unfinished pieces to keep everyone part of the leaderboard.
#38 - Louise Jackett
Q: What sparked the idea for the Speed Puzzle World Series and how did it evolve?
The idea grew from Mel's and Lou's recognition of the variety and fairness challenges in puzzle formats, plus a belief that a dedicated series with multiple puzzle styles could push the sport forward. After initial discussions at Worlds and in Melbourne, logistical challenges were faced, but strong community interest and a global appetite for speed puzzling accelerated the plan, leading to the Munich launch.
#36 - Thomas Kaeppeler
Q: How did Ravensburger first get involved in competitive puzzling and how did it evolve into the US Nationals?
Initially inspired by local puzzling events and library outreach, the team consciously expanded from casual events to larger, sponsor-backed competitions; the 2022 US Nationals served as a catalyst, validating the model and driving growth toward larger venues and broader retailer involvement.
#31 - Linda Maxwell
Q: What are your main goals with the Cobble Hill brand?
I thought I could do more to grow the brand and that's why I ended up working specifically for Cobble Hill.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Piece Talks

What is Piece Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights the competitive jigsaw puzzle world, with deep dives into speed puzzling, puzzle chess, team dynamics, event formats, and community-building. Topics across episodes frequently include nationals and world championships, organizational perspectives from puzzle publishers and associations, live-event logistics, and the evolving relationship between competition and community. Notable strengths include candid guest conversations with top competitors, organizers, and industry insiders, plus practical tips for attendees and aspiring guests. The format often blends tactical strategies, behind-the-scenes insights, and personal stories that illuminate what makes this niche sport engaging for participants and fans alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Piece Talks?

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How many listeners does Piece Talks get?

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What are the audience demographics for Piece Talks?

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How many subscribers and views does Piece Talks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Piece Talks has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Piece Talks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Piece Talks:

1. Dissectologists
2. Puzzle Chat
3. Dear Hank & John
4. Stuff You Should Know
5. Pop Culture Happy Hour

How many episodes of Piece Talks are there?

Piece Talks launched 2 years ago and published 43 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Piece Talks?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Piece Talks?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Piece Talks from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Piece Talks?

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What guests have appeared on Piece Talks?

Recent guests on Piece Talks include:

1. Emma Quirk
2. Rachael Chambers
3. Jessa Douglas
4. Lewis Dracobly-Helsel
5. Louise Jackett
6. Eby Karen
7. Sarah Schuller
8. Michaela Keener

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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