Dissectologists

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Becca Taylor and Faith Lindell-Taylor from the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association. We talked about the organization’s origin story, its role in competitive puzzling, and the many ways USA JPA is helping puzzlers find each other, whether they are racing against the clock or simply looking for people who also want to talk about puzzles all day. This is a publ...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Kelly Striemer, the founder of Villager Puzzles, a women-owned puzzle company known for its artist-centered approach and commitment to human-made art. We talked about puzzles as a way to unwind after long days, what it means to build a business around art, who gets paid when creative work succeeds, and why ownership matters. This is a public episode....

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Liza Fireman, puzzle collector, creator of Puzzles by Liza, and the Guinness World Record holder for the largest collection of puzzles. We talked about Ravensburger's history, quality, what it's like to tour the factory where millions of puzzles are made, and the enormous effort required to document more than four thousand puzzles for a world record. B...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Adam Gray, a speed puzzler, content creator, and host of Puzzled and Chatty . We talk about the first-ever Jigsaw Puzzle World Series in Germany and what happens when a hobby becomes organized, competitive, documented, and (whether the rest of the world realizes it yet or not) a sport. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Aimee Stewart, a self-taught, multi-media artist whose work has become some of the most beloved imagery in the puzzle world. Her puzzles are known for their richness and detail, but more than that, they’re immersive. They’re the kind of images people don’t just complete, they come back to them. And in this conversation, we explored why. This is a publ...

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Mirek Stolee, a curator at the Strong National Museum of Play, to talk about the history of jigsaw puzzles. We uncovered how puzzles evolved not just as objects, but as reflections of culture that are shaped by technology, labor, and even moments of global conflict. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Dr. Donalee Markus, founder of Designs for Strong Minds, to talk about something I’ve been quietly wondering about for a long time. What is actually happening in our brains when we puzzle? We talk a lot about puzzling as calming. As meditative. As something that helps us slow down. But in this conversation, we started to uncover why that might be and...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Gamel “Meezy” James, the founder of Unified Pieces, a puzzle company bringing street art and culturally vibrant imagery into a space that hasn’t always highlighted it. We started by talking about a Dilla poster on his wall and the simple realization that he couldn’t find puzzles that reflected what he wanted to see. But as the conversation unfolded, i...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Joyce Yoo, a competitive puzzler, creator, and collector whose puzzle shelves tell a story of their own. We started by talking about collecting Alice in Wonderland and Korean puzzles, and the idea that the objects we keep can quietly reflect who we are. But as the conversation unfolded, it moved into something deeper: identity, mental health, and the...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with vintage puzzle collector Carolyn Broussard to talk about what happens when puzzling becomes a form of time travel. Carolyn’s collection spans puzzles from the 1930s through the late twentieth century, and every box she opens carries a mystery. Who built it first? What house did it live in? What conversations happened around the table while those piece...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Monica Marlatt from Puzzled About Everything , a puzzler who has taken her hobby from the dining room table to cruise ships around the world. We talked about puzzling as connection. Not competition. Not speed. But community. And what happens when you start paying attention not just to the pieces on the table, but to the people around it. This is a pub...

This week on Dissectologists , I sat down with Kyle Kossin, a competitive speed puzzler, to talk about what happens when you take something widely considered meditative and turn it into a race against the clock. What we found wasn’t just stress or adrenaline. It was focus, community, identity, and a surprising amount of warmth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

This week on Dissectologists, I sat down with Chris Wirth of Liberty Puzzles, and we talked about wooden puzzles not just as objects, but as experiences, heirloom pieces, design challenges, and what he calls a “social vehicle.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

Kelly Poff Wesley, the artist behind Mintyfizz Puzzles, talks about puzzles not just as a hobby, but as something deeper, a way to move through anxiety, to sit with challenge, and to build calm. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

Welcome to Dissectologists , a podcast about jigsaw puzzles and the people who love them. In this trailer, you’ll get a preview of the conversations ahead: collectors, speed puzzlers, artists, designers, historians, and even neuroscientists, all exploring what makes puzzling such a meaningful hobby. From craft and competition to community and creative rest, this show dives into the world behind th...