Best Michael Neff Podcasts (2024)

1
EP#48: Michael Tisserand 53:07

2y ago53:07

53:07

For the October edition of One Move at a Time, US Chess Senior Director of Strategic Communication Dan Lucas sits down with Michael Tisserand to discuss his chess writings, his books (especially his biography of George Herriman), and chess and comics. Learn more about Tisserand at michaeltisserand.com.…

1
EP#47: GM Alejandro Ramirez 43:41

2y ago43:41

43:41

For the September edition of One Move at a Time, US Chess Senior Director of Strategic Communication Dan Lucas sits down with GM Alejandro Ramirez to discuss his chess history as the first grandmaster from Central America, being a commentator for the Sinquefield Cup, and the new World Chess Hall of Fame exhibit about the 1972 World Championship.…

1
EP#46: Fred and Bonnie Waitzkin 1:04:17

2y ago1:04:17

1:04:17

For the July edition of One Move at a Time, US Chess Senior Director of Strategic Communication Dan Lucas sits down with Fred and Bonnie Waitzkin to discuss both the book and film versions of Searching For Bobby Fischer and what it all meant to the Waitzkin family, more than three decades after the book's release. Among the topics covered, we learn…

1
EP#45: Elliott Neff 57:05

2y ago57:05

57:05

For the June edition of One Move at a Time, US Chess Senior Director of Strategic Communication Dan Lucas sits down with Elliott Neff, founder and CEO of Chess4Life and author of A Pawn’s Journey: Transforming Lives One Move at a Time to talk about the history of his organization, chess as a transformational tool, and being a chess teacher and coac…

1
EP#44: GM John Fedorowicz 53:53

2+ y ago53:53

53:53

For the May edition of One Move at a Time, US Chess Senior Director of Strategic Communication Dan Lucas sits down with GM John Fedorowicz. From his 2009 US Chess Hall of Fame induction plaque: "Inspired to begin playing chess by the Fischer-Spassky World Championship match in 1972, "The Fed" won the National High School Championship in 1975, tied …

1
EP#43: IM Greg Shahade 44:04

2+ y ago44:04

44:04

Welcome to the April edition of One Move at a Time! Our guest today is IM Greg Shahade, who founded the US Chess School in 2006 and which resumes classes this year in a victory for a post-covid world. He also founded the New York Masters and the U.S. Chess League which is now known as the PRO Chess League. He is a former member of the Executive Boa…

1
EP#42: Tyler Schwartz 51:39

2+ y ago51:39

51:39

For the March edition of One Move at a Time, US Chess Senior Director of Strategic Communication Dan Lucas sits down with Tyler Schwartz, the co-founder of Chess at Three and Story Time Chess. Both companies use an original, story-based method to teach chess to children as young as three years old. This innovative method is explained in Tyler's 201…

1
EP#41: Manasota Chess Center 35:54

2+ y ago35:54

35:54

Welcome to the February 2022 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guests today represent the Manasota Chess Center in Sara…

1
EP#40: David Llada 41:29

2+ y ago41:29

41:29

Welcome to the January edition of One Move at a Time and Happy New Year! Our guest today is David Llada, joining us via Skype from San Sebastian, Spain. David was our April 2021 guest, but I decided to interview him again focusing only on his behind-the-scenes work for the recently completed World Championship during with Magnus Carlsen successfull…

1
EP#39: GM Maxim Dlugy 1:00:43

2+ y ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Welcome to the December 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Grandmaster Maxim Dlugy, joining me in pe…

1
EP#38: Brian Karen 1:04:39

3y ago1:04:39

1:04:39

Welcome to the November 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Brian Karen. Originally from Merrick, Lo…

1
EP#37: Brian Flowers 49:55

3y ago49:55

49:55

Welcome to the October 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Brian Flowers, the marketing manager for t…

1
EP#36: Stephanie Berk 48:02

3y ago48:02

48:02

Welcome to the September 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Stephanie Berk, the Chairperson of the A…

1
EP#35: Mike Nolan 52:14

3y ago52:14

52:14

Welcome to the August 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Mike Nolan, a longtime employee, consultant…

1
EP#34: Young-Kyu Yoo 42:58

3y ago42:58

42:58

Welcome to the July 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Young-Kyu Yoo, the father of Christopher Yoo,…

1
How Food Companies Get Us 'Hooked' On Junk – with Michael Moss (#11) 34:20

3y ago34:20

34:20

They're cheap, convenient, practically imperishable, and engineered to be irresistible. They’re called "ultra processed foods" and in the midst of epidemics of diet-related chronic diseases, some nutrition scientists believe they are the smoking gun. In this week's podcast, Shannon Harvey talks with former New York Times, Pulitzer Prize-winning inv…

1
EP#33: Alan Losoff 44:52

3y ago44:52

44:52

Welcome to the June 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” Our guest today is Alan Losoff, a retired Vice President at Bank…

1
Mindful Myths – With Timothea Goddard (#10) 31:14

3y ago31:14

31:14

Usually I share interviews with scientists doing research that can shed light on how we can live better, healthier lives. But this week you'll hear from a different kind of expert – a mindfulness teacher who has made a big impact on my life. Timothea Goddard led the eight week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course that I participated in …

1
EP#32: Russ Makofsky 1:01:24

3+ y ago1:01:24

1:01:24

This month's guest is Russ Makofsky. Russ is the Founder & Director of Impact Coaching Network which partners with 18 Elementary Schools across New York City, engaging over 4,000 students annually. Quoting from their website, “ICN was founded with the vision of establishing a network of high performing chess programs, where each school embodies the…

1
EP#31: David Llada 36:06

3+ y ago36:06

36:06

Welcome to the April 2021 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” This month's guest is David Llada. David has long been connect…

1
The Importance Of Good Relationships With Robert Waldinger, PhD (#09) 29:26

3+ y ago29:26

29:26

In this episode I’m taking you inside my research files. When I start to think about a new question or film project, I often don’t really know where it’s going to lead. Over the following weeks, months, or even years, I dive headfirst into the academic journals. The process often feels like a journey of discovery – sometimes it’s the evidence that …

1
EP#30: FM Jon Jacobs 56:14

3+ y ago56:14

56:14

This episode touches on FM Jon Jacobs' 50+ years as an amateur competitor, his pending upsets book The Fish That Roared, his time as a pioneer anti-cheating activist during the mid-2000s, the dozen Chess Life articles he has authored since 2005, and his new project in collaboration with IM Yury Lapshun to drive international chess tourism to import…

1
Episode 21: On the Anniversary of the Covid Shutdown & The Risk to Bars of Reopening 47:59

3+ y ago47:59

47:59

Season Two opens on the Anniversary of the Covid-19 shout down of bars all across the world, and coincides with the decision of the Governor of Texas lifting all restrictions and mask mandates, essentially putting the entire public at risk. This risk is amplified in bars, and we have a fair amount to say on the subject. This episode channels the ra…

1
EP#29: FM Wesley Wang 33:57

3+ y ago33:57

33:57

Welcome to the February edition of One Move at a Time. Our guest today is FIDE Master Wesley Wang, who along with his brother Warren Wang founded the non-profit Chessanity in 2014, which has a mission to teach and promote chess among K-12 students around Long Island, New York to build self-esteem and cognitive outreach. Wesley has a peak rating of …

1
Daniel Goleman, PhD (#8) 33:27

3+ y ago33:27

33:27

I know this sounds crazy but over the course of my latest project – My Year of Living MindfullyI spent more than $30,000 on scientific tests. A lot of people have asked me why I went to such lengths to get objective measures to see what, if anything, changed as a result of my daily mindfulness training. And my answer is simple. Because I believe th…

1
EP#28: Mark Taylor 47:13

3+ y ago47:13

47:13

This month’s guest is is Dr. Mark Taylor talking about chess fiction and narrative--we thought this would be a fun time to have this discussion as The Queen's Gambit continues to be popular on Netflix, and of course it was based on Walter Tevis' 1984 novel. Taylor is an Associate Professor of English at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. He is current…

1
Episode 20: “On Dive Bars” with Cocktail Historian & Author Dr. David Wondrich 1:13:51

3+ y ago1:13:51

1:13:51

For those of you who listen to this podcast, you know that we talk a lot about the importance of bars, what they’re for, and what role they play in hosting communities. Few other types of bars show this more starkly than the good ol’ American Dive Bar. But what is a dive bar? What defines one, and how are they made? These questions aren’t well disc…

1
Bartender Masterclass: On Mastery, featuring Modern Bartender ms. franky marshall (Part 2) 33:26

3+ y ago33:26

33:26

Training for Mastery takes years of work and dedication, and after a certain point there is no road map in any industry that helps the novice graduate to the journeyman, and the journeyman transform into the master. In our continuing Bartending Masterclass, host & Master Bartender Michael J. Neff, discusses the different phases of mastery with some…

1
Kristin Neff, PhD (#7) 45:31

3+ y ago45:31

45:31

In this episode I’m talking with the self-compassion pioneer and researcher, Associate Professor Kirstin Neff from the University of Texas. Although this interview was only briefly used in the documentary film that resulted from the year I spent delving into mindfulness (there was just so much ground to cover in just 96 minutes) it was nevertheless…

1
Episode 19: “On Whiskey” with Nicole Austin, Distiller of George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey (Part 2) 37:13

3+ y ago37:13

37:13

In this episode, General Manager & Distiller of George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey Nicole Austin talks with us about the traditions in Tennessee Whiskey, the idea of imbibing a place, and why she doesn’t use the title “Master Distiller.” A wonderful primer into the nuances of whiskey-making in general, Nicole offers insights into the art of distilling…

1
EP#27: John D. Rockefeller V 1:12:56

3+ y ago1:12:56

1:12:56

Welcome to the December 2020 edition of “One Move at a Time,” the US Chess podcast in which Dan Lucas, the Senior Director of Strategic Communication, talks to people who are advancing the US Chess mission statement to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.” This month’s guest is is John Davison Rockefeller V, who is …

1
Episode 18: “On Whiskey” with Nicole Austin, Distiller of George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey (Part 1) 41:18

3+ y ago41:18

41:18

In this episode, General Manager & Distiller of George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey Nicole Austin talks with us about the traditions in Tennessee Whiskey, the idea of imbibing a place, and why she doesn’t use the title “Master Distiller.” A wonderful primer into the nuances of whiskey-making in general, Nicole offers insights into the art of distilling…

1
EP #26: Tim Just 1:01:24

3+ y ago1:01:24

1:01:24

This month’s guest is Tim Just, a National Tournament Director and a FIDE National Arbiter and editor of the US Chess Rule Book since the 5th edition (we’re on the 7th edition now). He is the co-author of My Opponent Is Eating a Doughnut (with Wayne Clark) and Just Law: Common-sense answers to frequently asked questions on chess rules, regulations,…

1
EP #25: Geoff Issak 34:48

3+ y ago34:48

34:48

This month’s guest is the US Chess Development Director, Geoff Isaak, talking about not just his own chess history and impressions of the chess world, but the challenges of creating a Development Department from the ground up.By US Chess

1
EP #24: Jon Crumiller 47:08

3+ y ago47:08

47:08

This month’s guest is collector extraordinaire Jon Crumiller, who is also a recipient of the Special Services award this year from US Chess. He was our September 2013 Chess Life cover subject (photo), he is co-author with GM Lev Alburt of Carlsen vs. Karjakin - World Chess Championship, and has multiple exhibitions at the World Chess Hall of Fame.…

1
EP #23: Christina Schweiss 47:47

3+ y ago47:47

47:47

This month’s guest is Christina Schweiss, the Executive Director of the non-profit Hampton Roads Chess Association. The club was named the 2017 US Chess Club of the Year and Schweiss was awarded the 2020 US Chess Scholastic Services Award for an Individual.By US Chess

1
EP #22: GM Alexander Onischuk 40:45

3+ y ago40:45

40:45

This month’s guest is GM Alexander Onischuk, the head coach and program director of the Texas Tech University chess team which just was named the US Chess College of the Year for the second time. Lucas talks to Onischuk about all the characteristics of the TTU program that has made it so successful, as well as about Alex's own chess career that has…

1
EP #21: FM Robby Adamson 56:02

3+ y ago56:02

56:02

This month’s guest is FM Robby Adamson, a member of the US Chess scholastic council, a past president and a current board member for the Arizona Chess Federation, and a board member for the Southern Arizona Chess Association. We talk to him about building a scholastic chess team and his own chess history, which includes being the 1988 Denker Tourna…

1
EP #20: Abel Talamantez and Dr. Judit Sztaray 41:45

3+ y ago41:45

41:45

This month’s guests represent the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco, California, which is the oldest continuously operating chess club in the United States. Abel Talamantez is the Chess Room Director, a position he has held since 2018, and Judit Sztaray is the General Manager of Youth Outreach and Events, a position she started in la…

1
EP #19: Fred Wilson 1:07:07

3+ y ago1:07:07

1:07:07

This month’s guest is Fred Wilson. In 2019, Fred Wilson was given the Outstanding Career Achievement Award by US Chess. IM John Donaldson wrote for our awards ceremony, “Fred Wilson has taught thousands of young players over the decades. He has edited and authored important chess publications, including very inexpensive books for novices, and has g…

1
EP #18: Justin Morrison 34:58

3+ y ago34:58

34:58

This month’s guest is Justin Morrison, the founder and owner of Kid Chess, a metro Atlanta chess teaching company reaching thousands of children, mainly in after school programs. We discuss what it takes to start and run a chess business and also his ideas on attracting the masses to our game.By US Chess

1
EP #17: Michael Propper 40:23

3+ y ago40:23

40:23

This month’s guest is Michael Propper, the Director of ChessNYC and President of New York City Chess Services Inc, a non profit focused on expanding the reach and impact of chess as far as possible. We discuss ChessNYC's innovative programs such as their $10,000 Championship Challenge and their prison programs in the Queensboro Correctional Facilit…

1
EP #16: Dr. Karen Aronian 38:43

3+ y ago38:43

38:43

This month’s guest is Dr. Karen Aronian, M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D., who is the principal of Aronian Education Design LLC, a full-service education design firm which creates irresistible environments and content for children and families in private and public venues. We talk about how being a professional educator has informed how she is a chess parent to …

1
EP #15: Allen Priest 1:05:54

3+ y ago1:05:54

1:05:54

This month's guest is Allen Priest, the president of the US Chess Executive Board. We talk about where US Chess has been, where we are going, and take an in-depth look at the just-revised US Chess Values. Allen Priest has been the US Chess president since 2018 and is the 29th president in our 80 year history. He was first elected to the executive b…

1
EP #14: Jim Egerton 38:32

3+ y ago38:32

38:32

This month's guest is Jim Egerton, who uses chess to help businesses achieve their goals. Jim Egerton is the CEO and founder of Business on the Board® and the author of the book of the same name which is subtitled, "How the World's Greatest Game Can Build Better Leaders." A respected teacher, coach, manager, leader, and entrepreneur, his speaking h…

1
EP #13: Dr. Alexey Root, WIM 50:13

3+ y ago50:13

50:13

Dr. Alexey Root is our guest today on this October edition of "One Move at a Time." She holds the title of WIM and was the 1989 U.S. Women's Champion. Before earning her Ph.D. in education, she taught high school social studies and English and ran the school's chess club. She has written seven books on chess in education; some are available at USCF…

1
EP #12: David Grimaud 43:19

3+ y ago43:19

43:19

David Grimaud is this month's guest. Grimaud has been the President of the South Carolina Chess Association since 2006, the Chair of the US Chess Senior Committee, a member of the Scholastic Council, and a member of the States Committee. Along with his wife Maureen, the couple was awarded the Koltanowski Silver award this year for their support of …

1
EP #11: Dr. Martha Underwood 32:01

3+ y ago32:01

32:01

This month’s guest, recorded live from the 2019 U.S. Open in Orlando, Florida, is Dr. Martha Underwood of Arizona, one of only seven women to have earned the National Tournament Director (NTD) title; she is also a FIDE Arbiter (FA). She is the president of the Southern Arizona Chess Association and, of particular interest to this podcast and the ma…

1
EP #10: Ranae Bartlett 29:16

3+ y ago29:16

29:16

This month’s guest is Ranae Bartlett of Alabama, who has developed the Madison City Chess League into an established part of the local school system. She is the Executive director of 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting chess education for students in Madison, Alabama and the surrounding area that teaches kids life skills through chess. It w…

1
EP #9: Chris Wainscott 39:46

3+ y ago39:46

39:46

This month's guest is Chris Wainscott of Wisconsin, who has steadily built up an extensive chess resume. Chris grew up in Midland, Texas, where he learned to play chess at the age of four at the end of the Fischer boom. Chris has written for Chess Life, Chess Life Online, and American Chess Magazine while also posting on his blog ontheroadtochessma…

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