Piece Talks

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 Dracobly-Helsel

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 competitive puzzling. Along the way she made decisions that shaped the culture of the sport in ways she probably didn't anticipate, including an impulsive choice that gave Australian puzzlers their national identity at Worlds. That pattern of going from idea to execution runs through everything Lou does, and it's ultimately what led her to the presidency of the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association and to co-founding the Speed Puzzling World Series. In this episode we follow her puzzling arc, and dig into what the SPWS is all about.

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.

Thomas Kaeppeler has been at Ravensburger pretty much his entire working life. From working on the factory floor at Ravensburger headquarters in Germany, to becoming the President of Ravensburger North America. In this episode, we get a whole DIFFERENT kind of nerdy.

Hannah Doyle really didn’t think about jigsaw puzzles much until a fateful night where she was looking for something to do. Suddenly she was obsessed, and within a year she was finishing second in the California state competition, live streaming puzzles on Twitch, and gearing up for US Nationals and Worlds.

If you think that being a competition judge is primarily about taking down times, well…you’re right. But international judges Daphne Harmsen and William Shandling show us that it’s also about innovation, empathy, and a deep sense of fairness.

What happens when you combine the analytical mind of a physics educator with the precision of a world-class violinist? You get a partnership that shares a single competitive brain to deconstruct jigsaw puzzles at a cellular level. In this episode, Jim and Mari break down their unique roles: Mari provides the world-class "hands" while Jim serves as the analytical "eye in the sky," spotting patterns and pieces from a distance that you just can't see when your hands are on the board. We dive into Mari’s "Type A Plus" competitive spirit and their shared pedagogical approach to mastering the table. Whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore sprinter, this episode is a deep dive into the thoughtful puzzling that defines elite play.

Lauren Kautz's first puzzle memory is also the story of her first cuss word. And honestly, that tells you everything you need to know about her. In this episode, we trace her journey from a kid doing puzzles upside down just to make them harder, to a three-time state champion and member of the legendary Betches. Along the way: an arch-rival turned best friend, an undefeated streak that had to end somewhere, tears at Nationals, and a hype man who just happens to be her husband.

Brand Experience Director for Cobble Hill, LINDA MAXWELL joins me to talk about how a self-described “California girl” ended up working for a Canadian jigsaw brand and how they came to sponsor teams like the Golden State Puzzlers and events like the US Nationals. I learned so much from Linda, and we only had time to talk about a small amount of the topics we could have explored!

I gathered up some previous guests and asked them to bring some topics we can all talk about. Joining me on this episode are: EB Caron Katrina Coleman Kristin Thuv Sarah Schuler Valerie Coit

Before we had any idea what we were going to do for the 2025 Portland Jigsaw Master livestream, I put a call out for people who would be interested in hopping on the livestream and chatting for a brief chat. The thinking was that it would be fun to get some different perspectives on the world of speed puzzling. Some brave souls immediately raised their hands. In this episode I pulled together those six short conversations as well as three additional short conversations with folks that I weren’t able to get on to the livestream primarily due to my own lack of planning. In these conversations we discuss everything from what speed puzzling was like in Australia, to what it was like to do the same puzzle hundreds of times. Some notes: Since many of these conversations were recorded live at the event while competition is going on, the audio quality isn’t the best and you’ll hear us occasionally reacting to what was going on at the moment. These conversations were recorded in July and August of 2025, so references to events in the future at the time are now events in the past (e.g., the 2025 Worlds competition), and references to “last November” were referring to 2024. The complete livestream event can be found on YouTube at PortlandJigsawMasters, where you can also hear interviews with winners, and expert commentary by folks like Jeanne Roiter, Jim Eakins, and EB Caron(?). Speaking of expert commentary, you’ll also hear the insightful questions of my co-host for much of the event, Carlie Craig, who was brand new to competitive jigsaw puzzling.

You might know Tammy McLeod as one of the founders of the United States Jigsaw Puzzle Association. You might know her as a Guinness World Record holder. Or possibly as a US National Sudoku champion, a member of the US escape room team, or competitive ballroom dancer. But however you know her, you’ll probably agree that she brings an unrelenting drive to every single pursuit.

Andrew Bradburn placed third in the US Nationals competition…in 1983. In this episode he talks about what that experience was like, how he was present as the USAJPA began to come together, and what he’s been up to since.

If you’ve watched the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, you’ve probably seen Charlie Kendall. Officially he’s the onsite announcer, but he occasionally appears on the livestreams and the odds are good that if something needs fixing, he’s in the middle trying to fix it.

The last time we talked to Wiktor Kacprzak, we didn’t have enough time with him. We did not make that mistake this time. If you ever wanted to deep dive into a world-class competitor’s experiences at Worlds, this episode is for you!

If the first two episodes in this series were novels, this one is a collection of short stories of things we thought were interesting. We talk to Emma Williamson about her surprise win in an individuals semi-finals round, EB relays text conversations she had with Worlds Individuals Champion Weronika Huptas, and with her partner in winning the Pairs finals Anna Kazana. We talk to Andreas Heyerick and Daniela Berendsen of the European Committee for Jigsaw Puzzling, and EB reads about a unicorn named Silver. Here are the full transcripts of EBs interviews with Anna and Weronika: Anna Kazana Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16ZYOGoHjfwAoQoZzmOj5z1U4k5o0BEUj7N6hZ3jgAiM/edit?usp=sharing Weronika Huptas Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19dbDjDyuEPM8KNBnzR41KNQi8Q-pev8wlbKBRtMGJMQ/edit?usp=sharing

In the second episode of the Worlds Wrap mini-series, EB Caron and I check in with two-time World Champion Alejandro Clemente León to see if the 2025 Worlds ended up being as stress free as he thought it was going to be.

In the first episode of the Worlds Wrap mini-series (!), EB Caron and I talk to European Champion Kathi Reiner about the progress she's made since last year's Worlds and how she managed to place in the top 3 of every event at this year's Worlds. There may even be a stat or two.

EB Caron joins me once again to talk about some puzzlers you might want to watch for at the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship this year.

Alejandro Clemente León was just a regular boy who liked playing sports and using puzzles to relax his mind, never suspecting the extraordinary destiny that awaited him. Until the fateful day stumbled upon a hidden world of competitive jigsaw puzzlers, and determined that he would join them. That bold step would propel him into the stratospheric heights of puzzle wizardry, where he would master arcane techniques and forge bonds with fellow puzzle wizards. But his greatest challenge would be defending the treasure he had unknowingly carried within him all along: The Joy of Puzzling In this episode we talk to the two-time world champion about his journey from being told he had a special gift at his first competition, to his feelings about the 2024 worlds, and his outlook on the upcoming 2025 world championship.

Leading up to Worlds 2024, there were quiet rumors about Poland being a secret puzzling powerhouse. As the competition drew to a close, it was clear that the rumors were true. In this episode, I talk with Polish puzzlers Wiktor Kacprzak and Weronika Huptas live, and weave in parts of a text conversation that I had with Krystian Niedziela to find out what makes them tick. You can find the transcript of my conversation with Krystian here: http://bit.ly/3H8sS7M I highly encourage checking it out as there was much that I didn’t get a chance to include in this episode, like how he would have done the Individuals Final puzzle differently at last year’s Worlds.

In this episode, I talk to the Aussie All Stars: Hannah Farthing, Katrina Coleman, Melissa Townsend, and Rhianna Eriksen. Formed on January 1st, 2024, their explicit intention was to bring Australia onto the World Championships podium; a feat their country had never achieved. We discuss how this elite team, spread across Australia's vast continent (with distances comparable to New York to Dallas), managed to train and build chemistry, often huddling in back rooms at state competitions. The episode also touches on the distinctive green-and-gold Australian team jersey, which has become the official uniform for all Australian puzzlers at Worlds, fostering a powerful sense of national unity and pride.

Michelle Kasper launched the Euro Jigsaw Jam virtual competition series within four months of having her passion for speed puzzling ignited by a YouTube video, despite never seeing an online competition herself. In this episode, we talk about what it took to bring the idea together, the vibrant community that makes it happen, and what led her to creating her own puzzles.

In this episode of Piece Talks, I sit down with Michaela Keener. She takes us back to the early days of the modern competitive puzzling era, from the excitement of the first Duluth Derby to how the pandemic fueled the rise of "puzzlegram" and the unique world of puzzle influencer culture. Michaela shares her personal journey, including how the pressure of early influencer status and a documentary almost led her to step away from the sport. She talks about the about the pivotal moment at the 2023 NE Regionals, where she began her transformation from a performance-driven mindset to a growth mindset, a philosophy she applied during the intense 2023 Worlds Individuals Finals. We also delve into her unique practice methods, from mastering the art of calming and refocusing mid-puzzle to training in public spaces to conquer distractions. It’s an inspiring story of resilience and growth!

Canadian champion Devon Donaldson brings her big heart and thoughtful spirit to Piece Talks! Devon won the Canadian Nationals Individuals in 2023, the Teams in 2024, and the Pairs in the recent 2025 Canadian Nationals. In this episode, Devon gives us a deep dive into the world of Canadian speed puzzling. She reflects on the highlights of the 2025 Canadian National Championship and the journey that led her there including how she navigated the plateaus in her puzzling growth. We also talk about Canadian puzzlers to watch for at this year’s Worlds in September, and what she’s doing to help develop the next wave of Canadian puzzlers.

Kelly Walter swept the 2025 US Nationals. In this episode we talk her experiences at the major competitions, and how her approach has evolved over time, including a change in her mindset (and playlist) at the start of an event.

In this MEGA episode, I talk about the 2025 US Nationals with: EB Caron Conner DeLaat, Kimberly DeLaat, and Josh Trauger Alice Rowe Zak Hill Faith Taylor and Valerie Coit

Speed puzzler extraordinaire EB Caron joins me to run down the individuals, pairs, and teams you should be looking out for (and why) at the 2025 US Nationals competition.

What makes a great speed puzzling image? Nathanael Mortensen, illustrator of five Ravensburger puzzles—including two unveiled at US Nationals—helps pull back the curtain on the art of puzzle design. We explore how he got into digital painting, what goes into crafting an engaging puzzle, and whether the artist or publisher shapes the final concept. Plus, what’s it like watching your artwork get dumped onto a table in pieces?

You may know that Chiara Dellantonio is a world-class speed puzzler who has finished 11th or higher in the individuals at every one of the last three years at the World Championships. But you may not know that she’s also an avid marathon puzzler. In this episode, we’ll talk about her journey through speed puzzling, but also how she got involved in puzzle marathons, and what even is a puzzle marathon?

Twin sisters Jeanne and Cathy Roiter had been quietly kicking around the competitive jigsaw scene for a couple of decades until they won the first US Nationals Pairs competition by over 6 minutes in 2022. Most recently, they teamed up with Andrea Peng and Becca Taylor in the 2024 World Championships to become the first US team to take first place.

Chances are that you’ve heard of Valerie Coit. A competitive puzzler since 1999, she is a member of the iconic puzzling team Wicker Kittens (and a standout personality in the movie of the same name), was a founding member of the USA JPA, and is currently Vice President of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation. And if none of that seems familiar, she announces the live streams at both the US Nationals and Worlds competitions.

She did it! Kristin Thuv is the 2024 World Jigsaw Puzzle Champion! After coming in second place in both 2022 and 2023, Kristin was determined to take home the gold this year. In this episode of Piece Talks, Kristin shares how she transformed her approach from casual to performance-driven. She talks about what was going on in her head during pivotal moments, how her family is an active component of her success, and how sometimes even world champions make mistakes (and learn from them).

In this episode, Jessa Douglas talks about her journey into the world of speed puzzling, and takes me on a journey into the world of puzzle chess!

Kathi Reiner joins host Rob Shields and and returning guest EB Caron about Kathi's journey from the 2023 World Jigsaw Championship to the 2024 Worlds, including how she practiced for Worlds, and the self doubt that she battled along the way. Kathi also brings some analysis she did on this year's worlds, and EB and Rob decide who won their prediction contest (spoiler: it was EB).

Sarah Schuler is a force of nature both in and out of competition, with multiple podium finishes in the US Nationals and World Jigsaw Puzzle Championships. We cover a lot of ground, from her childhood spent competing at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, to her string of second place finishes in major competitions, to her current project to bring competitive puzzling to the masses at breweries across the Twin Cities.

EB Caron joins me for the second of two episodes on who to watch at worlds. This time around: Everyone else! BONUS: Predictions!

EB Caron, world-class puzzler in her own right, joins me in the first of two episodes exploring who to watch at worlds. First up: the Americans!

Yvonne Feucht was the Individual’s champion of the 2022 US Nationals competition, is the current overall leader on speedpuzzling.com and the second member of the Golden State Puzzlers team to appear on the show. We talk about everything from what it’s like to compete on the national and world stage, to the best way to spend your 40th birthday.

Lane Weatherly is the cofounder of Portland Puzzle Company, which, beyond just making great puzzles, hosts a weekly jigsaw puzzling league in Portland Oregon, and is the founding sponsor of the Portland Jigsaw Masters competition. We talk about everything from how puzzles are cut, to how to make the best spectator experience possible for a puzzle competition.

Aly Krasny is one of the cofounders of the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association And a member of the titanic team known as the Golden State Puzzlers. We talked about how a local puzzling competition got started in her house, how the USAJPA got started, and her experiences as part of the USA Nationals competitions. Fair warning though, about halfway through the conversation we dive deep into her efforts to speed run a puzzle and the lessons she learned along the way. Prepare to get nerdy!

Speed puzzling powerhouse Andrea Peng talks about her experiences at the World and US Nationals competitions, and discusses how she approaches puzzles when competing individually, in pairs, and in teams. The podcast cover art for this episode is from Andrea's favorite puzzle.