Podcast by Travis
21 September 2026
This episode is from All Things Go, a podcast about the board game Go, also known as Baduk in Korea and Weiqi in China.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we look at what it takes to grow the game of Go, both by introducing it to a new generation and by building communities in parts of the world where Go is still relatively uncommon.
First, I speak with Al Tang and Paul Barchilon about teaching Go to kids and young players. We talk about what makes a good Go teacher, how to keep children engaged, and how thoughtful teaching and youth programs can help create lifelong players.
Then, in a shorter conversation with Go-General, we shift the focus overseas and explore what it is like to play and promote Go in a place where the game has a much smaller presence: Nigeria. We talk about discovering the game, finding other players, and the challenges and opportunities that come with helping a Go community grow from the ground up.
Together, the conversations look at a question that matters for the future of Go: how do we introduce the game to more people, teach it well, and help new communities take root?
Resources
Full transcript, related episodes, and additional resources:
Join the All Things Go Discord community:
Theme music by UNIVERSFIELD & background music by PodcastAC
Show your support here
Email: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.com
BadukPop - Learn the rules of the ancient Chinese board game Go - also known as Baduk (바둑) or Weiqi (圍棋) - with a fun, interactive tutorial. Sharpen your Go skills with daily random Go problems (Tsumego) at your choice of difficulty level. Play games online or with a variety of AI opponents, each with its own unique playing style and strength.
SmartGo One - Your complete app for the game of Go. Learn to play, practice against the computer, study master games, solve problems, and read Go books. Free to download.
00:00
49:04
17 September 2026
New to Go? This is the second of five short episodes designed to help you understand what makes Go special, how the game works, how to get started, and how to keep going.
In this episode, I walk through the basic mechanics of Go: the board and stones, liberties and capturing, connected groups, the overall goal of the game, and how a game ends and is scored. I also touch on things like who plays first, komi, and handicap stones, giving you enough of a foundation to understand what you're looking at when you sit down to play.
This is #2 in the five-part New to Go? series. If you're starting from scratch, you're in the right place.
Full transcript, episode notes, and more:
Join the All Things Go Discord community:
Show your support here
Email: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.com
00:00
09:31
14 September 2026
This episode is from All Things Go, a podcast about the board game Go, also known as Baduk in Korea and Weiqi in China.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we explore what historic Go boards can tell us about the development of the game across East Asia. The conversation looks at unusual board designs, including historic star and flower points and the mysterious 8th-century Sandalwood Goban, while also discussing the research process behind uncovering these stories and the motivation to contribute that work back to the Go community.
Resources
Full transcript, related episodes, and additional resources:
Join the All Things Go Discord community:
Theme music by UNIVERSFIELD & background music by PodcastAC
Show your support here
Email: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.com
BadukPop - Learn the rules of the ancient Chinese board game Go - also known as Baduk (바둑) or Weiqi (圍棋) - with a fun, interactive tutorial. Sharpen your Go skills with daily random Go problems (Tsumego) at your choice of difficulty level. Play games online or with a variety of AI opponents, each with its own unique playing style and strength.
SmartGo One - Your complete app for the game of Go. Learn to play, practice against the computer, study master games, solve problems, and read Go books. Free to download.
00:00
45:46
10 September 2026
New to Go? This is the first of five short episodes designed to help you understand what makes Go special, how the game works, how to get started, and how to keep going.
In this first episode, I talk about why I think Go is worth your time: as an antidote to the distractions of modern life, as a creative and personal game, and as something that can offer a lifetime of depth and discovery.
This is #1 in the five-part New to Go? series. If you're starting from scratch, you're in the right place.
Full transcript, episode notes, and more:
Join the All Things Go Discord community:
Show your support here
Email: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.com
00:00
06:20
07 September 2026
Season 6 begins with an unscripted catch-up after the summer break.
Travis reflects on the summer and the U.S. Go Congress, shares the results of a listener poll about whether the unscripted episodes should continue, and talks about how the All Things Go Discord has become a useful home for conversations and smaller ideas that do not always fit into a full episode.
He also looks ahead at some of the projects taking shape for the new season, including beginner-focused content, upcoming interviews, and conversations reaching farther into the international Go community, including a recent chat with a dan-level Go player in Africa.
It is a look at where the podcast has been, what has been happening behind the scenes, and what is coming next for All Things Go.
Full transcript, episode notes, and more:
Join the All Things Go Discord community:
Show your support here
Email: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.com
Episode Sponsors
BadukPop - Learn the rules of the ancient Chinese board game Go - also known as Baduk (바둑) or Weiqi (圍棋) - with a fun, interactive tutorial. Sharpen your Go skills with daily random Go problems (Tsumego) at your choice of difficulty level. Play games online or with a variety of AI opponents, each with its own unique playing style and strength.
SmartGo One - Your complete app for the game of Go. Learn to play, practice against the computer, study master games, solve problems, and read Go books. Free to download.
00:00
22:57
10 August 2026
I recently found this recording from before All Things Go officially launched. It was essentially a proof of concept: me thinking out loud about what the show might become and experimenting with some early segments. It’s rough around the edges, but I thought it would be fun to share this little time capsule from the beginning of the podcast.
Full transcript, episode notes, and more: All Things Go
Join the All Things Go Discord community:
Show your support here
Email: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.com
00:00
28:12