Dissectologists

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Mirek Stolee, a curator at the Strong National Museum of Play, to talk about the history of jigsaw puzzles. We uncovered how puzzles evolved not just as objects, but as reflections of culture that are shaped by technology, labor, and even moments of global conflict. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Gamel “Meezy” James, the founder of Unified Pieces, a puzzle company bringing street art and culturally vibrant imagery into a space that hasn’t always highlighted it.We started by talking about a Dilla poster on his wall and the simple realization that he couldn’t find puzzles that reflected what he wanted to see. But as the conversation unfolded, it became about something bigger: representation, access, and the quiet power of the images we choose to bring to the table. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Joyce Yoo, a competitive puzzler, creator, and collector whose puzzle shelves tell a story of their own.We started by talking about collecting Alice in Wonderland and Korean puzzles, and the idea that the objects we keep can quietly reflect who we are. But as the conversation unfolded, it moved into something deeper: identity, mental health, and the quiet ways people try to figure out a world that doesn’t always feel like it makes sense. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with vintage puzzle collector Carolyn Broussard to talk about what happens when puzzling becomes a form of time travel.Carolyn’s collection spans puzzles from the 1930s through the late twentieth century, and every box she opens carries a mystery. Who built it first? What house did it live in? What conversations happened around the table while those pieces came together?Vintage puzzles, she says, aren’t just puzzles. They’re stories. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Monica Marlatt from Puzzled About Everything, a puzzler who has taken her hobby from the dining room table to cruise ships around the world.We talked about puzzling as connection. Not competition. Not speed. But community. And what happens when you start paying attention not just to the pieces on the table, but to the people around it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Kyle Kossin, a competitive speed puzzler, to talk about what happens when you take something widely considered meditative and turn it into a race against the clock. What we found wasn’t just stress or adrenaline. It was focus, community, identity, and a surprising amount of warmth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Chris Wirth of Liberty Puzzles, and we talked about wooden puzzles not just as objects, but as experiences, heirloom pieces, design challenges, and what he calls a “social vehicle.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

Kelly Poff Wesley, the artist behind Mintyfizz Puzzles, talks about puzzles not just as a hobby, but as something deeper, a way to move through anxiety, to sit with challenge, and to build calm. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

Welcome to Dissectologists, a podcast about jigsaw puzzles and the people who love them.In this trailer, you’ll get a preview of the conversations ahead: collectors, speed puzzlers, artists, designers, historians, and even neuroscientists, all exploring what makes puzzling such a meaningful hobby.From craft and competition to community and creative rest, this show dives into the world behind the pieces.Full episodes begin March 9.However you puzzle, however you solve - you’re doing it the right way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com