Premier Chess: Conquer the Game; Master Your Life

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In Podcast Episode 2013, I converse with Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, a former Alabama state trooper, Air Force veteran and chess coach. He is the author of the  #1 Amazon best seller, One Move at a Time, How to Win at Chess and Life. He is a captivating speaker/facilitator and founder of Be Someone, a Georgia-based nonprofit which teaches  leadership and life skills through chess. His formula – using the chess board – teaches that for every move that is made, whether it is playing the game or living as a contributing citizen, there is a corresponding positive or negative consequence.

We speak about our visit the 2022 World Chess Championship in Dubai, thought process in chess and life, landmines, resource management, the rise of chess PR, the Atlanta chess community, executive coaching and more. 

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In Episode 212, I converse with my former Oracle colleague June Schaufus, Director, New Business Sales & Business Development at Bluecore. She is a sales leader with previous experience across business intelligence and analytics, back office/front office applications, data integration technology, and engineering software sales. At BlueCore, she helps retailers connect with customers in meaningful ways. She is the author of The Sales Planner, which is intended for all intentional sellers and entrepreneurs, who strive to prepare and execute well.

We speak about her transition from real estate to technology sales, calculated career risks, strategy in sales and chess, time management, competitive analysis, The Filipino chess community, her father's chess match against Former World Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and more. 

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In Episode 211, I converse with International Master Cyrus Lakdawala, Author of 52+ Books. Cyrus  is a former American Open Champion who lives in San Diego CA. He has been teaching chess for four decades and is a prolific and widely read author. Much acclaimed books of his are 'How Ulf Beats Black, 'Clinch It!' and 'Winning Ugly in Chess'. He twice won the Best Instructional Book Award of the Chess Journalists of America (CJA), in 2017 for 'Chess for Hawks' and in 2020 for 'In the Zone: The Greatest Winning Streaks in Chess History'.

We speak about Montreal chess friends,  the San Diego chess scene, the Weekly Gambito tournament, private lessons vs. self-practice, brainstorming for boook ideas, doves vs. hawks , confidence vs. honesty, analysis of strengths and weaknesses, overtraining, Caro Kann theory, endgame study, limitations of the engine and more. 

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In Episode 210, I have the pleasure of conversing with Devin Miller, Founder and CEO at Miller IP Law. Miller IP Law helps startups and small businesses with patents, trademarks, and copyrights.  He is also the host of The Inventive Journey podcast.

We speak about the IP law process in a nutshell, misconceptions about trademarks and patents, inspiration for podcasting,  entrepreneurship, branding, anticipation in law and chess, and more. 

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In Podcast Episode 209, I converse with Reena Friedman Watts, Podcast Host at Better Call Daddy Show,  live from Dubai. She lives for the story, the people behind them and life. Her knack for storytelling has taken her to unexpected places, from the daytime drama of the Jerry Springer Show to the legal drama of the Judge Alex Show. And now, the search for compelling stories is a family affair with her podcast Better Call Daddy!

We speak about avoidal of hestiation, marriage proposals, performing arts, production for Jerry Springer, storytelling on podcasts, rapport in the entertainment industry, motivation, Linkedin optimization,  travel with her father to chess tournaments, running, intergenerational wisdom and more. 

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In Episode 208, I converse with M. Quentin Williams, Founder and CEO at Dedication to Community (D2C) , the national nonprofit he established in 2012. D2C delivers skills-building workshops and ongoing forums to improve understanding and build relationships in communities through healing, reconciliation and unity. D2C experts work with government agencies and the private sector on diversity, belonging and equity, and advise on critical issues in public safety and law enforcement. 

An advocate, attorney and author-educator, Quentin is sought as a speaker and thought leader who draws on personal history as a former FBI agent and federal prosecutor, and in senior positions with the National Football League (NFL), Jacksonville Jaguars and National Basketball Association (NBA). Quentin earned his JD from St. John’s University School of Law, where he is an executive committee member of the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights. He holds a bachelor’s in economics from Boston College, which he attended on football scholarship.  

Known by friends and associates as “Q,” Quentin is of Caribbean and Jewish descent and grew up in New York City and Yonkers, New York. He is the proud father of a son and daughter, and credits his first-born as the inspiration for writing the survival guide, How NOT to get KILLED by the POLICE.

We speak about crime on the Lower East Side, football rivalry in Yonkers, his bar mitzvah with Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz of Chabad of Yonkers at the age of 56 in honor of his grandparents, the American Dream, global justice education, the recipe for  reconciliation, active listening, the art of planning on and off the board, the distinguishment of life and career, and more. 

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In Episode 207, I converse with FIDE Master Todd Andrews, Executive Director at The Nashville Chess Center. At the age 16, Todd became a National Master and member of the United States Olympic Youth team. At the age of 18, Todd became a FIDE Master and was invited to participate in the United States Junior Championship. Todd is a 10-time Tennessee State Champion and 10-time Nashville City Champion. He was also Georgia State Champion when residing there in 2004.  He recently co-founded the Metaverse Chess Club.

We speak about the real rules of chess, transferrable skills, the importance of studying at the board, game analysis, adult improvers, the Nashville Chess Scene, the rise of Nashville's population, live music, our mutual love for The Grateful Dead, tournaments abroad, NFTs, a tribute to Susan Kantor, and more. 

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In Episode 206,  I converse with Episode 206 with Nicole Hamilton, Dean of Faculty at Wardlaw+ Hartridge, one of our clients. Formerly, she was Associate Head of School at Franklin School, which opened in the fall of 2022 in Jersey City.  Nicole Hamilton has two decades of exceptional teaching, technology, and leadership experience to Franklin. She also served as Head of the Math Department at both Dwight School and Dwight Global Online School. She was my math teacher in 11th grade and helped me study for the SATs. 

Franklin School's mission is to broaden access to a world-class private school education, enabling students to become innovators and socially responsible global leaders.

Through a flexible, innovative curriculum, blending world-class academics with real-world readiness, Franklin students will be prepared to navigate life’s unforeseen challenges and our rapidly changing world.

A Franklin education includes:

• Design and tech classes in a state-of-the-art Maker Space
• Micro-courses, enabling students to explore career interests like law, finance, creative writing, engineering, and much more early  
• AP courses for college-readiness and credit
• Built-in SAT/ACT preparation
• Community-based service programs within and around Jersey City 
• Internships
• Global collaborations with peer schools worldwide

We speak about ways to overcome challenges, life and academics in Kingston, Jamaica, individualized teaching, building confidence,  problem solving in chess mathematics, executive functioning, the upcoming grand opening of Franklin JC, economics, collaborative education, entrepreneurship and more. 

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In Episode 205, I converse with Jackie Botelho, Founder of ABCVIP,  a well-known Hospitality and Event Agency, which is the concierge for 6000+ rooms across ten hotels in Manhattan and helps countless travelers and corporate clients have once-in-a-lifetime VIP experiences. 

We speak about dollars vs dreams, productivity during COVID-19, events post COVID-19, interactive activities, benefits of corporate classes, strategy in chess and event planning, nationwide expansion, growth mindset, Waffles, Rilyn, Maxie and more. 

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In Episode 204, I converse with Rachel Herman, Executive Director of Paws NY. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years, and prior to transitioning to PAWS NY full-time in January 2012, she worked in Development at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

During her time at PAWS NY,  Rachel has been named “New Yorker of the Week” by NY1, “Holiday Hero” by The New York Times, “40 Under 40 Rising Stars in the Nonprofit World” by NYN Media, and most recently, “Young Social Impact Hero” by Thrive Global. Rachel received her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Crime and Justice from the University of Michigan and her Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

She  lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two young daughters, and their cat Milo. Rachel’s five-year old daughter is already excited to work for PAWS when she grows up, and both girls clearly love cats as much as their mom.

We speak about hot spots in Ann Arbor, physical care for pets, resiliency, surrender protection, preemptive moves on and off the board, lessons on non-profit management, the upcoming Spring Benefit on May 23, 2022 and more.