20 Questions: Perpetual Chess Host Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson is the host and creator of the Perpetual Chess Podcast. With over 300 episodes and more than 2 million listens, it is one of the biggest chess podcasts on the market. He also hosts the “How To Chess” podcast devoted to chess improvement and study habits. Season 3 is in the works, along with a book Ben is writing and publishing later this year.
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1. Favorite Color: Blue
2. Favorite Movie: Groundhog Day
3. Favorite TV Show: The Wire
4. Favorite Music Genres: Old School Rap, Alt Rock
5. Favorite Food: Mac & Cheese
6. Favorite Chess Player: Judit Polgar
7. Favorite Opening: Sicilian
8. Favorite Time Control: As slow as possible!
9. Knights or Bishops: Bishops
10. Hobby other than Chess: Sports Analytics, Reading, Running, Listening to podcasts
11. You are one of the original content creators within the chess world and came along right after Full English Breakfast. Was there a specific moment, question, or catalyst that inspired you to start the show?
There was no specific question or moment that inspired me to start. At the time, no one was doing it besides Macauley Peterson, IM Lawrence Trent, and GM Simon Williams on their show Full English Breakfast. When I started, they had not released an episode in some time.
12. Favorite Chess related memory?
I miss the tight-knit camaraderie of being on chess teams. I went to school with Greg and Jen Shahade. Our team won the National Junior High School Championship in 1993, and we were not expecting to.
13. You have spoken with so many influential figures in the world of chess. Do you have any dream guests you would like to have on the podcast?
Obviously, Magnus Carlsen would be great to have on. On the other hand, I take more pride in finding older players who don’t get as much attention anymore. I love that I have interviewed people like GM Jan Timman and GM Jonathan Speelman. I would love to interview GM Eugene Torre, GM John Nunn, IM Jeremy Silman, GM Yasser Seirawan, and IM Anthony Saidy.
14. You’ve had guests whose views are harmful and controversial, in particular James Altucher and Nigel Short. Do you ever worry about having those guests on the show?
I do worry. There are people in a similar vein that I have not interviewed. I do not approve of James Altucher’s marketing methods, especially around the crypto stuff. At the same time, I legitimately enjoy his writing and have learned a lot from listening to the interviews he does.
In regards to Nigel Short, Macauley Peterson interviewed him in one of the Perpetual Chess episodes with a guest host. After the interview, I received comments that made me regret allowing him on as a guest. I do regret it and don’t support or agree with his statements.
15. What about Hans? You had him on well before any of the drama unfolded. What was that like?
I went back and listened to our discussion after the drama began. It was a unique character study. He comes across as not lacking in confidence, as is the wrap on him. I don’t think he is a great guy, but there is no evidence of him cheating over the board.
16. You host an Adult Improver Series. Are there any commonalities you see between all of the guests that you can recommend as advice for others?
I am writing a book about this. If anything, there are no commonalities. I guess the one thing is they are all putting in a lot of hours. Some of them are not even doing tactics.
17. As a former pro poker player and a long time chess coach: Any lessons from poker play you can offer to chess players to improve their play?
As a poker professional, you need emotional regulation. It was through this that I got into meditation. Especially at the club level, I don’t feel like players utilize it as a tool for overall brain health. Poker helped me think more about secondary things when playing chess, including the expected value of a given move or the opportunity cost of managing your clock in a certain way. All these probabilities are not the foremost thing you think of in a chess game, and regulating your emotions allows for better decision-making.
18. With over 300 episodes, you have catered a wide array of discussions about the world of chess. What topics do you feel need to be amplified and discussed more?
I want more equitable relations between men and women and a supportive environment for female players at every level. Progress is slow, but I believe things are moving in the right direction. Furthermore, I do not agree with everything FIDE does. I feel like chess will have more luck with sponsorships with different leadership. Peter Heine Nielsen has been quite outspoken about the Russia-Ukraine issue in particular, and I certainly sympathize with his views.
19. As a fan of chess, has there ever been a time you have been starstruck by a guest?
Twice. The first was Judit Polgar. As I mentioned earlier, she is one of my favorite players. When I interviewed her, it was towards the beginning of the podcast, and she seemed larger than life to me. Often I try to confirm the interview via email before we talk. With Vishy Anand, I never heard back. I spent many weeks preparing and showed up without knowing if we would be there. When I heard, “Hi, it’s Vishy,” it was very nonchalant and down to earth. I was pleased with how it turned out.
20. How has this podcast impacted you as a person?
It has made me a better listener. I have an information addict personality, but when I interview a guest, it’s a rare opportunity to connect and listen. It’s like over-the-board chess, where you need to concentrate and pay attention over a long time.
Some responses have been abbreviated for brevity and clarity.
