Send us a text In Episode 283, I have the pleasure of conversing with International Master Malcolm Pein, Chief Executive at Chess in Schools and Communities, Chess Correspondent at The Daily Telegraph, Proprietor of Chess & Bridge Ltd and Executive Editor of CHESS Magazine. Malcolm is a Former British Junior Champion. As a Qualified FIDE Trainer, he has trained over 20 national and world junior champions. He has been a Chess Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph fo...

Send us a text In Episode 282, I have the merit of speaking with Sami Steigmann, who is a Holacaust survivor, educator and motivational speaker. A few years ago, our 50th Podcast Guest Esther Deutsch, his honorary granddaughter, told me about Sami. I was excited to meet him at a Kosha Dillz Chanukah concert, in which he danced on stage. Sami was born on December 21, 1939 in Czernovitz, Bukovina, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire belonging to Romania. From 1941 through 1944, he was with hi...

Send us a text In Episode 281, I have the pleasure of conversing with Dani Zoldan, Owner of Stand Up NY. Dani has been a serial entrepreneur since he was 19 years old. While in college, he founded the online music company Eargazmic.com, which was a website where independent bands and musicians promoted and sold their music. In 2008, he purchased Stand Up NY, the famous comedy club, which recently moved from the Upper West Side to Time Square. Stand Up NY became popular with many of the world...

Send us a text In Episode 280, I converse with Peter Doggers, Director of Content at Chess.com. Peter is one of the world’s biggest experts on the world of chess, having written about the game for almost two decades. He recently wrote a book The Chess Revolution: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age, in which he explores chess as a cultural phenomenon from its earliest beginnings in ancient India to its biggest stars and most dramatic moments to the impact of the internet and AI. We spe...

Send us a text In Episode 279, I converse with Neha Sharan, Founder of Girls4Chess. Girls4Chess (501(c)(3) non-profit organization) is dedicated to empowering young girls to excel in chess by providing them with the resources, training, and support they need to grow and succeed. Neha is also a certified tournament director. We speak about ways to get more women and girls into chess, her mentorship from our 91st Podcast Guest Judit Starzay, Director of Chess Club Relations at Chess.com, the f...

Send us a text In Episode 278, I converse with Jenny Ingber Ph.D, CEO of Chess in the Schools, one of our favorite charity partners. Jenny Inberg started as CEO at Chess in the Schools in June 2023, after her predecessor Debbie Eastburn, our 117th Podcast Guest, stepped down. Jenny Ingber has a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry and Secondary Education from University of Miami, MA in Teaching Chemistry from New York University and a PhD in Science Eduacation from Teachers College, Co...

Send us a text In Podcast Episode 277, I converse with Gunnar Bjornsson, President of the Icelandic Chess Federation. In addition to serving as the President of the Icelandic Chess Federation, Gunnar hosts the annual Reykjavik Open, which is coming up again, April 9-15, 2025. Furthermore, he is a Vice President of the European Chess Union. Our 131st Podcast Guest International Master Yaacov Norowitz earned one of his norms there in 2013. Gunnar also worked many years in financial services at ...

Send us a text In Episode 276, I have the pleasure of conversing with Joel Dick, who is a Data Engineer at Tempered AI and adult improver. He hails from Toronto, home of our 14th Podcast Guest Mike Ivanov, who recently became an International Master. As a frum (observant) Jew, Joel has 8 kids. Joel studied in Israel with two our former podcast guests, International Master Yaacov Norowitz and Rabbi Mendy Brukirer. Joel has 13+ years of experience in both technology and finance. We speak ...

Send us a text In Premier Chess Podcast Episode 275, I converse with National Master Mikhail Sher, PhD., Associate Professor of Management at Monmouth University. Dr. Sher’s main research interests lie in the areas of inventory control and supply chain management. He has a Bachelors of Science from Carnegie Mellon University, Masters of Science from Columbia University and Ph.D. from Drexel University. He is a national master and the son of the late Grandmaster Miron Sher, and WGM Alla Grin...

Send us a text In Episode 274, I have the honor of conversing with Captain Zoe Marks, Director of Overseas Operations at Yatar Israel. Zoe Is A Former IDF Officer (2018-2021) And Active Reservist Who Served With Distinction, In The Etzion Region. Zoe Joined YATAR In September 2023 After Working For Nearly Two Years For El Al Airline Security In JFK And Dubai. She Is committed to ensure that Yatar can carry out its mission of protecting Israel and Its people from terrorist threats. We speak a...

Send us a text In Episode 273, I have the pleasure of conversing with Davorin Kuljasevic, Grandmaster and FIDE trainer, rated 2539 FIDE. Davorin was born in Zagreb, Croatia and currently lives with his wife International Master Iva Videnova and daugther in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Davorin's career highlights include winning 4th place in World Youth U16 in 2002 and winning first place in the SPICE Spring 2011, Zupanja 2011, Mediteran 2011, Split 2013 and Castelfranco 2014. He has a a Bachelor of ...

Send us a text In Episode 272, I converse with Mark Herschberg, Author of The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You and Fractional CTO/CPO. He has a lot of experience in cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, healthcare, adtech, and marketplaces. He has a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. As a seasoned executive and cybersecurity expert, he often bridg...

Send us a text In Episode 271, I converse with Candidate Dane Zagar, who won first place in the 2024 Chicago Open U-2100 section, despite dealing with the distractions of his 4th round opponent Stan Halstead being thrown out of the tournament for cheating and escorting his friend to the hospital. Dane is a chess and math tutor and serves as the President of The Chess Castle of Minnesota, one of the most active clubs in the Midwest. Dane has a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science and p...

Send us a text In Episode 270, I have the pleasure of conversing with Joshua Pearlman, Personal Injury Attorney in New York. Joshua Pearlman is the Founder of Joshua Perlman & Associates. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Rhode Island and JD from New York Law School. We speak about the founding of a firm, the litigation process, statuatory timelines, Joshua's thoughts on The Queen's Gambit, the gamification of chess and law, and more.

Send us a text In Episode 269, I have the pleasure of conversing with Mandy Ficara, Founder of Every Last One Rescue. After a 16-year creative career, Mandy decided this year to drop everything and start a dog rescue non-profit. Mandy has an Associate Degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications from Fashion Institute of Technology and Bachelor Degree in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development from Bowling Green State University. Every Last One Rescue is a fost...

Send us a text In Episode 268, I have the pleasure of conversing with Alex Bores, New York State Assemblymember, District 73, who I have known most of my life, since we played in a lot of scholastic tournaments. He was a PS 6 teammate of Stefan Botarelli, the younger brother of my Churchill teammate and 246th Podcast Guest Fabio Botarelli, Founder & President of Chessability NYC. As the Assemblymember for the 73rd District of New York, Alex serves the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Turt...

Send us a text In Episode 267, I have the pleasure of conversing with Ranae Bartlett, who became US Chess Executive Director last month. She started at US Chess in September 2023 as Director of Operations. Before joining US Chess, Ranae was an Assistant General Counsel for a Fortune 5 company. She served as a local school board member in Madison, Alabama for ten years and advocated for chess education and funding chess initiatives in her school system. Ranae founded Madison City Chess League,...

Send us a text In Episode 266, I converse with Rabbi Elie Feder PhD and Rabbi Aaron Zimmer, Hosts of Physics to God. Rabbi Elie Feder earned a PhD in mathematics from the CUNY Graduate Center and received Rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yisrael Chait. Since 2004, Elie has been a mathematics professor at Kingsborough Community College. He has published many papers and delivered numerous talks in graph theory, which is his field of mathematical research. As a teacher, Elie has a passion for si...

Send us a text In Episode 265, I converse with real estate prodigy Deven Wohlwhend, COO of Clear Sky Realty, Inc. From the time he was born, Deven has been going to investment meetings. He began investing he was only 5 years old. By the time he was 7, he started a company and started purchasing real estate. By the time he was 10 years old, he attained his Ohio Professional Housing Provider Certification (O.P.H.P.) Within 3 years, he had bought 20% of a 60-unit complex. He is constantly g...

Send us a text In Episode 264, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carol Ann Caronia, Author of Strategic Moves: Mind-Building Chess Exercises For Kids. Carol Ann Caronia was born and raised in Brooklyn. A graduate of St. John’s University, she has pursued a vigorous independent course of study in physics, anthropology, archaeology, and history. Carol's career began in business writing, transitioned to business research, then to financial and management roles in nonprofits, and finally to ...