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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’s best comics, including Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Louis CK and Jon Stewart.

We speak about meeting at Aleeza Ben Shalom, the famous Netflix Jewish matchmaker's event, the reasons for comedy, alternatives to showcases, the behind the scenes of running a comedy club, chutzpah, The Chosen Comedy Festival, improvisation in chess and comedy and more.

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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 speak about the Chess Museum in Amsterdam, journalism, our 91st Podcast Guest Judit Starzay's tournament at the Annual Chess.com meet up, the Carlsen- Niemann drama, Fischer Random/Freestyle chess, thoughts on the Liren-Gukesh World Championship match, mindset and more.

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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 founding of her non-profit, the upcoming Saint Louis Chess Conference, in which I am co-presenting "Chess in the Business World" with our 154th Podcast Guest Jim Egerton, Author of Business on the Board, and our 233nd Podcast Guest Vishnu Warrier, Sr. Technology Consultant at EY & Author of The Chess Bible, and more.

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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, Columbia University. Before working at Chess in the Schools.

We speak about the benefits of chess, inspiration from children, the Annual Chess in the Chess Park Rapid Open, Title 1 schools, employee retention, hands-on leadership, tips for fundraising, successful alumni, the upcoming Saint Louis Chess Conference, which we are both speaking at, and more.

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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 Landsbanki.

We speak about his thoughts on the ongoing Olympiad, the World Corporate Chess Championships, where we met, the Icelandic Chess Culture, the legacy of the 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Championship Match, Queen's Gambit, streamers and more.

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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 about the relationship of chess and Judaism, tips for improvement, our Long Island Instructor Candidate Master Brian Karen's Chess Book Collectors Facebook group, community, the importance of tournaments, the influence of Sammy Reshevsky, his experience participating in the Chess Dojo and more.

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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 Grinfeld, who both taught me as a child.

We speak about Miron's legacy, Miron's book Dream Moves, which was posthumously published, the 20% rule, various chess careers, the late National Master Bruce Alberston, confidence, artificial barriers, parallels between chess, leadership and poker and more.

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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 about saving lives, conversations, unity, fundraising, her experience learning chess a kid and more.