Four Thousand Puzzles Later

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 [https://dissectologists.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

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 [https://dissectologists.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

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 [https://dissectologists.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

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 [https://dissectologists.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

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 [https://dissectologists.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]