#14 - Nathanael Mortensen

In this episode of Piece Talks, I sit down with Michaela Keener. She takes us back to the early days of the modern competitive puzzling era, from the excitement of the first Duluth Derby to how the pandemic fueled the rise of "puzzlegram" and the unique world of puzzle influencer culture. Michaela shares her personal journey, including how the pressure of early influencer status and a documentary almost led her to step away from the sport. She talks about the about the pivotal moment at the 2023 NE Regionals, where she began her transformation from a performance-driven mindset to a growth mindset, a philosophy she applied during the intense 2023 Worlds Individuals Finals. We also delve into her unique practice methods, from mastering the art of calming and refocusing mid-puzzle to training in public spaces to conquer distractions. It’s an inspiring story of resilience and growth!

Canadian champion Devon Donaldson brings her big heart and thoughtful spirit to Piece Talks! Devon won the Canadian Nationals Individuals in 2023, the Teams in 2024, and the Pairs in the recent 2025 Canadian Nationals. In this episode, Devon gives us a deep dive into the world of Canadian speed puzzling. She reflects on the highlights of the 2025 Canadian National Championship and the journey that led her there including how she navigated the plateaus in her puzzling growth. We also talk about Canadian puzzlers to watch for at this year’s Worlds in September, and what she’s doing to help develop the next wave of Canadian puzzlers.

Kelly Walter swept the 2025 US Nationals. In this episode we talk her experiences at the major competitions, and how her approach has evolved over time, including a change in her mindset (and playlist) at the start of an event.

In this MEGA episode, I talk about the 2025 US Nationals with: EB Caron Conner DeLaat, Kimberly DeLaat, and Josh Trauger Alice Rowe Zak Hill Faith Taylor and Valerie Coit

Speed puzzler extraordinaire EB Caron joins me to run down the individuals, pairs, and teams you should be looking out for (and why) at the 2025 US Nationals competition.

What makes a great speed puzzling image? Nathanael Mortensen, illustrator of five Ravensburger puzzles—including two unveiled at US Nationals—helps pull back the curtain on the art of puzzle design. We explore how he got into digital painting, what goes into crafting an engaging puzzle, and whether the artist or publisher shapes the final concept. Plus, what’s it like watching your artwork get dumped onto a table in pieces?

You may know that Chiara Dellantonio is a world-class speed puzzler who has finished 11th or higher in the individuals at every one of the last three years at the World Championships. But you may not know that she’s also an avid marathon puzzler. In this episode, we’ll talk about her journey through speed puzzling, but also how she got involved in puzzle marathons, and what even is a puzzle marathon?

Twin sisters Jeanne and Cathy Roiter had been quietly kicking around the competitive jigsaw scene for a couple of decades until they won the first US Nationals Pairs competition by over 6 minutes in 2022. Most recently, they teamed up with Andrea Peng and Becca Taylor in the 2024 World Championships to become the first US team to take first place.

Chances are that you’ve heard of Valerie Coit. A competitive puzzler since 1999, she is a member of the iconic puzzling team Wicker Kittens (and a standout personality in the movie of the same name), was a founding member of the USA JPA, and is currently Vice President of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation. And if none of that seems familiar, she announces the live streams at both the US Nationals and Worlds competitions.

She did it! Kristin Thuv is the 2024 World Jigsaw Puzzle Champion! After coming in second place in both 2022 and 2023, Kristin was determined to take home the gold this year. In this episode of Piece Talks, Kristin shares how she transformed her approach from casual to performance-driven. She talks about what was going on in her head during pivotal moments, how her family is an active component of her success, and how sometimes even world champions make mistakes (and learn from them).