Dissectologists

Exploring the craft, culture, and community of jigsaw puzzles.

Dissectologists is a podcast about jigsaw puzzles and the people who love them. From collectors and speed puzzlers to artists, designers, and neuroscientists, each episode explores how puzzles are made, why we’re drawn to them, and what keeps us coming back to the table. dissectologists.substack.com

  1. 15 jun

    The Association Bringing Puzzlers Together

    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 public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

  2. 8 jun

    Who Gets Paid for the Art We Love

    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. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

    Who Gets Paid for the Art We Love

  3. 1 jun

    Four Thousand Puzzles Later

    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. But what surprised me most was where the conversation ended up. Because after four thousand puzzles, the thing Liza remembers most isn't a puzzle at all. 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

  4. 18 mei

    Building Something Bigger with Adam Gray

    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 other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

  5. 11 mei

    What Makes a Puzzle Worth Returning To with Aimee Stewart

    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 public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

  6. 4 mei

    Maps to Masterpieces: The Evolution of Jigsaw Puzzles with Mirek Stolee

    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 get access to bonus episodes, visit dissectologists.substack.com

  7. 27 apr

    Puzzles, Attention, and the Way We Think with Dr. Donalee Markus

    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 what’s really going on beneath the surface when we sit down at the table. 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

  8. 20 apr

    Who We See at the Puzzle Table

    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, it became about something bigger: representation, access, and the quiet power of the images we choose to bring to the table. 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

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Info

Dissectologists is a podcast about jigsaw puzzles and the people who love them. From collectors and speed puzzlers to artists, designers, and neuroscientists, each episode explores how puzzles are made, why we’re drawn to them, and what keeps us coming back to the table. dissectologists.substack.com

Informatie

  • Maker
    Exploring the craft, culture, and community of jigsaw puzzles.
  • Jaren actief
    2026
  • Afleveringen
    15
  • Beoordeling
    Veilig
  • Copyright
    © Dissectologists
  • Website van aflevering
    Dissectologists

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