The Chess Experience

Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with “chess entertainment” shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I'll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I’m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don’t miss an episode!

Are There Too Many Drawbacks to OTB Tournaments? A Chat w/ FM Nate Solon
Apr 8, 2025 – 55:16
GM Arturs Neiksans: From Late-Blooming GM Who Reached 2600+ to a Premier Coach & Course Creator
Apr 1, 2025 – 01:05:40
Bishops, Bullet, and Bobby Fischer: Daniel Lona Interviewed By Omar Mills, Part II
Mar 25, 2025 – 53:51
Schedule Update: Sick Delay, Part II of Anniversary Interview, & GM Arturs Neiksans
Mar 20, 2025 – 00:43
Behind the Mic: Daniel Lona Interviewed By Omar Mills on 3 Years of The Chess Experience - Part I
Mar 11, 2025 – 55:05
GM Susan Polgar: A Chess Legend on How She Broke Barriers & Elevated the Game
Mar 4, 2025 – 59:43
Updates: Schedule Update & Video Pod Episodes
Feb 25, 2025 – 02:13
How to Build Attacking Intuition w/ WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro
Feb 19, 2025 – 01:09:57
GM Boris Avrukh: How to Play Better Defense, Coaching Fabi, & Playing Against Tal
Feb 11, 2025 – 01:03:30
Nigerian Star Uses Chess to Improve Others’ Lives & Her Own w/ WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo
Feb 4, 2025 – 40:19
Adult Improver Pod: Nicholas Sloan - A 400+ Rating Rise in 2 Years (& Chasing the NM Title)
Jan 28, 2025 – 01:03:47
GM Josh Friedel - Common Middlegame Mistakes & Coaching Insights
Jan 21, 2025 – 52:27
Adult Improver Pod: Sydney Strauss - Moving to NYC to Chase Her Chess Dreams
Jan 14, 2025 – 01:01:51
WIM Svitlana Demchenko - Insights on Imbalances and Her Dynamic Chess Life
Jan 8, 2025 – 43:10
WGM Maria Gevorgyan - 5x-Armenian National Champion & Chess Coach
Dec 18, 2024 – 44:15
Schedule Update for December '24
Dec 4, 2024 – 01:21
Ding vs. Gukesh - World Championship Preview w/ FM Carsten Hansen
Nov 22, 2024 – 01:05:33
Aggressive Openings & Innovative Strategies for Club Players w/ FM Midas Ratmas
Nov 19, 2024 – 51:41
Adult Improver Pod - Nick Visel: Pursuing Chess Improvement Without Burnout
Nov 12, 2024 – 01:10:15
WCM Adriana Palao: Pursuing Chess Titles & Movie Magic
Oct 31, 2024 – 30:27
Evaluation: A Vital But Overlooked Skill For Club Players w/ GM Eugene Perelshteyn
Oct 22, 2024 – 01:02:50
Behind The Scenes of Chess Journalism with Vanessa Sun
Oct 15, 2024 – 48:56
Adult Improver Pod: Dr. Ryan Thomas - Revamping His Approach to Chess Study
Oct 8, 2024 – 01:10:12
IM Boroljub Zlatanovic - How Amateurs Can Play Like GMs & Making Chess Principles a Top Priority
Oct 1, 2024 – 56:56
FM Megan Lee - Achieving New Heights as an Adult in OTB Chess
Sep 25, 2024 – 44:38
Podcast Schedule Update: Sept 3rd, 2024
Sep 3, 2024 – 01:24
Sicilian Advice: WIM Tea Gueci, A Top Italian Female Player & Chess Coach
Aug 14, 2024 – 55:52
Chess Coach, Streamer, & Psychologist: WFM Fruzsina Szente-Varga
Aug 6, 2024 – 52:02
Leveling Up the Chess Community for Adult Club Players w/ Kamryn Heller & Omar Mills
Jul 30, 2024 – 01:23:28
Why Club Players Struggle Against 1.d4 (And Solving This Challenge) w/ IM Mateusz Kolosowski
Jul 16, 2024 – 01:00:01
State of the Podcast: New Plans & Goals for 2024
Jul 9, 2024 – 17:46
Grandmaster Insights On Mindset & Openings with GM Alex Colovic
Jun 18, 2024 – 01:03:46
Growing Chess's Popularity With Better Live Coverage with Kaja Snare
Jun 11, 2024 – 01:04:42
NM Robert Ramirez: A Rising Chess Coach Star (with Tons of Improvement Tips!)
Jun 4, 2024 – 01:11:27
Elaynah: All In With Chess - Chasing a Title & Rising Content Creator
May 22, 2024 – 55:33
Emilia Castelao: Improving Chess Worldwide For Women & Becoming the Rare Chess Historian
May 14, 2024 – 55:03
WGM Dina Belenkaya: A Born Chess Entertainer, Her New Course, & Chasing the IM Title
May 7, 2024 – 01:11:58
Adult Improver Pod: How To Make Progress with Limited Time & Should Club Players Coach? w/ Ono
Apr 30, 2024 – 57:33
Discussing Strategy For Club Players with IM Thomas Willemze
Apr 23, 2024 – 45:45
7 Insights From 2 Years of Chess Podcasting With Daniel Lona
Apr 16, 2024 – 34:58
Countering the Effects of Aging on Chess Plus Tips on Strategy w/ WIM Natasha Regan
Apr 2, 2024 – 01:14:19
GM Noël Studer: Adding Fun to Chess Improvement & Helpful Ideas From His New Beginner Course
Mar 26, 2024 – 01:06:49
Adult Improver Pod: Chasing the WFM Title at 1900 FIDE w/ Kincső Toth
Mar 14, 2024 – 01:00:50
Rare Insights Into Chess & Psychology w/ Julia Rios
Mar 5, 2024 – 01:11:23
Chess Coaching: What To Look For & Getting The Most From It w/ IM Yuriy Krykun
Feb 27, 2024 – 52:10
IM Kostya Kavutskiy - GM Goals, Candidates Controversy, & Improvement Q&A
Feb 20, 2024 – 01:10:22
Five Essential Lessons From My Coaching with IM Andras Toth
Feb 14, 2024 – 01:22:48
Turning A Passion For Chess Into a Career w/ WIM Charlize van Zyl
Feb 6, 2024 – 01:01:33
The Adult Improver Chess Life with Sam Canciobello
Jan 30, 2024 – 01:02:26
How to Make Losing Less Painful In Chess w/ Daniel Lona
Jan 26, 2024 – 33:23

Recent Reviews

Kid Sensation

Outstanding!

Daniel Lona knows his chess! I went in expecting it to be good, but this is exceptional. As one of the many new chess adult improvers who discovered (or rediscovered) their love for chess after watching “Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix, I have been looking for anything that serves adults who are also novices. The Chess Experience is that podcast. Honestly, that would have been enough, but Daniel ups the ante by having interviews with chess masters, so there is something for all levels. Entertaining, informative, well-produced and paced. Great work.
ChrisLachance

Been Waiting for This

Finally…a podcast for 95% of the chess community right now—those trying to get out of the beginner category. Love love love it so far. Keep it up!!
Steelcurtain_89

Thank you!

Thank you so much for making this podcast Daniel! It’s great to be able to listen to engaging content that’s focused on people like me (adult improver). The first 3 episodes have been awesome and I can’t wait to see where this journey goes. Very excited to learn and continue to grow.
Rosinbag1

Great new podcast

Jumping right in with a great start on chess improvement. Look forward to the future episodes and hopefully will see some improvement coming my way in the game of chess.
Mur Kadur

Encouraging and accessible

As a relative newcomer to chess and an adult improver, it’s been difficult to find a particularly relevant podcast but…this is the one. Daniel is an excellent host and all of the counsel and encouragement offered here is much needed!