Episode

#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
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2:02:37
Published: Wed Jul 29 2020
Description

Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery | Brought to you by Helix Sleep, ExpressVPN, and Athletic Greens. Maurice Ashley (@MauriceAshley) made history in 1999 when he became the first African-American chess Grandmaster. He is a three-time national championship coach, an author, ESPN commentator, iPhone app designer, puzzle inventor, and motivational speaker.Maurice is well known for providing dynamic live tournament coverage of world-class chess competitions and matches. His high-energy, unapologetic, and irreverent commentary combines Brooklyn street smarts with professional ESPN-style sports analysis. He has covered every class of elite event, including the World Chess Championships, the US Chess Championships, the Grand Chess Tour, and the legendary “man vs. machine” matches between Garry Kasparov and IBM’s Deep Blue.Traveling the world as an ardent spokesperson for the many character-building effects of chess, Maurice consults with universities, schools, chess clubs, executives, and celebrities on how chess principles and strategies can be applied to improve business practices and assist with personal growth. Maurice also acts as a master of ceremonies and inspirational speaker at business conferences and high-class chess events.Maurice has received multiple community service awards from city governments, universities, and community groups for his work. In recognition of his immense contribution to the game, he was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Brooklyn Technical High School Hall of Fame in 2018.This podcast episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep! Helix was selected as the #1 best overall mattress pick of 2020 by GQ magazine, Wired, Apartment Therapy, and many others. With Helix, there’s a specific mattress for each and everybody’s unique taste. Just take their quiz—only two minutes to complete—that matches your body type and sleep preferences to the perfect mattress for you. They have a 10-year warranty, and you get to try it out for a hundred nights, risk free. They’ll even pick it up from you if you don’t love it. And now, to my dear listeners, Helix is offering up to 200 dollars off all mattress orders plus two free pillows at HelixSleep.com/TIM.*This episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. I’ve been using ExpressVPN since last summer to make sure that my data is secure and encrypted, without slowing my Internet speed. If you ever use public Wi-Fi at, say, a hotel or a coffee shop, where I often work and as many of my listeners do, you’re often sending data over an open network, meaning no encryption at all.A great way to ensure that all of your data is encrypted and can’t be easily read by hackers is by using ExpressVPN. All you need to do is download the ExpressVPN app on your computer or smartphone and then use the Internet just as you normally would. You click one button in the ExpressVPN app to secure 100% of your network data. Use my link ExpressVPN.com/Tim today and get an extra three months free on a one-year package!*This podcast is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. As a listener of The Tim Ferriss Show, you’ll get a free 20-count travel pack (valued at $79) with your first order at AthleticGreens.com/tim.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the form at tim.blog/sponsor.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more. 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Chapters
The podcast mentions the use of ExpressVPN as a reliable way to secure and encrypt data.
00:00 - 00:45 (00:45)
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Cybersecurity
Summary

The podcast mentions the use of ExpressVPN as a reliable way to secure and encrypt data.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The Tim Ferriss Show is brought to you by ExpressVPN and Athletic Greens.
00:45 - 04:51 (04:06)
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Online security, privacy, nutrition
Summary

The Tim Ferriss Show is brought to you by ExpressVPN and Athletic Greens. ExpressVPN provides online security and privacy without affecting internet speed, while Athletic Greens offers an all-in-one nutritional insurance supplement.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferris talks about his podcast and book guests, as well as his weekly email newsletter called Five Bullet Friday, where he shares his favorite things he's discovered from around the world.
04:51 - 08:12 (03:21)
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Tim Ferris
Summary

Tim Ferris talks about his podcast and book guests, as well as his weekly email newsletter called Five Bullet Friday, where he shares his favorite things he's discovered from around the world.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Maurice Ashley, the first African-American international grandmaster in chess, shares his life story and lessons learned in this wide-ranging conversation with Tim Ferriss.
08:12 - 13:09 (04:56)
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chess
Summary

Maurice Ashley, the first African-American international grandmaster in chess, shares his life story and lessons learned in this wide-ranging conversation with Tim Ferriss.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the guest describes how her mother made the difficult decision to leave Jamaica to work in the US, unable to bring her family with her due to immigration laws at the time.
13:09 - 18:58 (05:48)
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Immigration
Summary

In this episode, the guest describes how her mother made the difficult decision to leave Jamaica to work in the US, unable to bring her family with her due to immigration laws at the time. She finally brought her children over 10 years later, and the guest reflects on their emotional reunion and the sacrifices her mother made for a better life.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
A Jamaican immigrant shares how he discovered chess and how it helped him navigate the rough streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn.
18:59 - 24:23 (05:24)
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Chess
Summary

A Jamaican immigrant shares how he discovered chess and how it helped him navigate the rough streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He also talks about a group of African-American males who took chess very seriously, forming the Black Bear School of Chess.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Blitz Chess is a fast-paced version of traditional chess where players have only five minutes to complete the game.
24:23 - 32:09 (07:46)
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Blitz Chess
Summary

Blitz Chess is a fast-paced version of traditional chess where players have only five minutes to complete the game. The two-faced clock system ensures that each player has their own time, adding to the intensity and competitiveness of the game.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker talks about his experience with the Black Bear School of Chess, where he learned how to stay focused and not be distracted.
32:09 - 41:17 (09:07)
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Chess
Summary

The speaker talks about his experience with the Black Bear School of Chess, where he learned how to stay focused and not be distracted. He also discusses how he advanced to become a chess master by playing against other masters at venerable clubs like the Manhattan and Marshall Chess Clubs.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Chess databases are a crucial tool for players to research and prepare for opponents, as well as analyze and learn from games played by past masters.
41:17 - 49:18 (08:01)
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Chess
Summary

Chess databases are a crucial tool for players to research and prepare for opponents, as well as analyze and learn from games played by past masters. Players also strive to attain certain rating levels to become titled players, such as International Master or Grandmaster.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley discusses the mental and physical training techniques necessary to excel in competitive chess, including building stamina through meditation and physical exercise, and drawing inspiration from the parables of martial art Aikido.
49:18 - 57:02 (07:43)
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Chess
Summary

Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley discusses the mental and physical training techniques necessary to excel in competitive chess, including building stamina through meditation and physical exercise, and drawing inspiration from the parables of martial art Aikido.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Grandmaster and former coach, Maurice Ashley shares his love and fascination of chess, how he makes it captivating for students and the importance of having a love and passion for the activity being taught.
57:02 - 1:05:31 (08:29)
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Chess
Summary

Grandmaster and former coach, Maurice Ashley shares his love and fascination of chess, how he makes it captivating for students and the importance of having a love and passion for the activity being taught.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley shares the power of biographies in his journey and recommends websites for learning chess.
1:05:31 - 1:17:36 (12:04)
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Chess, Biographies
Summary

Chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley shares the power of biographies in his journey and recommends websites for learning chess. He also highlights the impact of Jackie Robinson and Frederick Douglas' lives in inspiring him to navigate the struggles of racism and achieve mastery in chess.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Laws and federal acts have been implemented to solve the problem of racism, but they cannot change people's hearts, and implementation on the ground is necessary.
1:17:37 - 1:28:00 (10:22)
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Racism and Legislative Change
Summary

Laws and federal acts have been implemented to solve the problem of racism, but they cannot change people's hearts, and implementation on the ground is necessary. The majority needs to address the problem by embracing the change, and police tactics and education are the two major areas of concern currently.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Lack of resources such as books and computers is a huge challenge faced by under-resourced schools in America.
1:28:00 - 1:36:14 (08:13)
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education
Summary

Lack of resources such as books and computers is a huge challenge faced by under-resourced schools in America. The American school system is a joke for people who come from countries with top schools, and there is a need for donors and innovative organizations to help provide basic materials and scholarships to economically disadvantaged communities.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, Joe Rogan talks about the books "Mastery" by George Leonard and "The Passages" by Gail Sheehy, discussing the importance of enjoying the process and loving the plateau on the path to mastery, and gaining wisdom from the different stages of life.
1:36:14 - 1:42:58 (06:43)
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mastery
Summary

In this podcast, Joe Rogan talks about the books "Mastery" by George Leonard and "The Passages" by Gail Sheehy, discussing the importance of enjoying the process and loving the plateau on the path to mastery, and gaining wisdom from the different stages of life.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Samuel Arbesman discusses the concept of the half-life of facts and the importance of embracing humility in our pursuit of knowledge and growth.
1:42:58 - 1:49:49 (06:51)
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Knowledge
Summary

Samuel Arbesman discusses the concept of the half-life of facts and the importance of embracing humility in our pursuit of knowledge and growth. He emphasizes the value of admitting when we don't know something and being open to new information and perspectives.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Host shares how he enjoys traveling the world, learning languages, and experiencing Latin culture through dancing and immersing himself in Spanish language and Mexican telenovelas.
1:49:49 - 1:55:24 (05:35)
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Travel, Culture, Language learning
Summary

Host shares how he enjoys traveling the world, learning languages, and experiencing Latin culture through dancing and immersing himself in Spanish language and Mexican telenovelas.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Express VPN is a simple and effective solution to encrypt your data for protection from hackers on public Wi-Fi networks while maintaining internet speed.
1:55:24 - 2:02:25 (07:00)
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data protection, Express VPN
Summary

Express VPN is a simple and effective solution to encrypt your data for protection from hackers on public Wi-Fi networks while maintaining internet speed.

Episode
#449: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show