January 28, 2026 • 49 mins
Text me what you think of today’s episode!
What if a simple puzzle could rewire your routines, deepen your relationships, and introduce you to a global community? That’s the spark behind our conversation with Monica Marlat, known online as “Puzzled About Everything,” who transformed a quiet hobby into creative storytelling, brand partnerships, and puzzle-filled cruises that bring strangers together.
We trace Monica’s arc from empty nester to Instagram standout: learning stop-motion one tutorial at a time, experimenting with location shoots, and building a feed that feels playful, human, and real. She explains how puzzling became marriage glue—big projects for her, snack-size builds for him—and how walking together to scout scenes reignited curiosity in everyday life. We dig into the pitch that unlocked Royal Caribbean, the logistics of traveling with 200 puzzles, and the thoughtful way she matches each person with the right challenge so every build ends with a win.
You’ll hear why puzzles work so well for families, older adults, and neurodiverse kids; how a husband used whimsy pieces to help his wife with dementia savor success; and where puzzles shine at work—from team bonding and negotiation drills to puzzle-of-the-month tables that turn break rooms into friendly hubs. Monica also shares a realistic social media strategy: focus on one platform, adapt trends without losing your voice, and use giveaways to lift small makers while giving back to followers.
If you’re craving a hobby that blends mindfulness, learning, and community, this story doubles as a blueprint. Grab a puzzle, invite a friend, and see what opens when your hands are busy and your mind clicks into flow. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find the show.
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Puzzled About Everything Website
Puzzled About Everything - Instagram
Puzzled About Everything - FaceBook
Puzzled Aboput Everything - YouTube
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_05 (00:09):
Everyday people following their passions.
SPEAKER_03 (00:13):
That's probably like one of the highlights of my life
so far.
Just being able to be creativelike that.
Something I've always wanted.
SPEAKER_06 (00:22):
And then I decided to get another hive, and that
turned into a lot of hives.
SPEAKER_00 (00:28):
As long as I can do that, I want to be a good
citizen, help people out.
SPEAKER_05 (00:33):
Putting themselves out there, taking chances, and
navigating challenges along theway.
SPEAKER_04 (00:40):
I absolutely identified with having stage
right because, you know, anytimeI went on stage, I just felt
like I was having a hot attack.
SPEAKER_00 (00:47):
Very first lap, very first practice session, I
crashed, turned the car upsidedown, made a spectacle of
myself, and I got back on thathorse and started riding again.
SPEAKER_05 (00:56):
As they pursue what makes them happy and brings them
joy.
SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
As long as people are having a good time and I
have the opportunity to putsmiles on people's faces, I love
what I do.
SPEAKER_02 (01:08):
I have done things that I never thought I could do.
SPEAKER_06 (01:13):
To have somebody tell me how real it looks and
how, you know, from their actualmemory.
Because that's telling me Icaptured what I was trying to
get.
SPEAKER_05 (01:24):
Welcome to Assorted Conversations.
I'm your host, Helen.
Hello and welcome to anotherAssorted Conversation.
This week I had the opportunityto chat with a wonderful woman
who has turned a casual interestin puzzles into an opportunity
(01:47):
and became a social mediainfluencer as a retiree.
She keeps her mind sharp throughkeeping up with the latest
Instagram trends.
She's enriched her relationshipwith her husband as this hobby
has grown for both of them.
And she's developedrelationships with puzzle
manufacturers, cruise lines, andother puzzling enthusiasts.
(02:11):
All because she took the adviceof her girls to go start an
Instagram account to share herpuzzle pictures.
At the time we chatted, I wasrecovering from a head cold.
So apologies in advance forsounding like Peter Brady on
occasion.
If you know, you know.
Take a listen to this week'sepisode, and I'll see you on the
(02:34):
other side.
Today's guest proves thatretirement can be the start of
something wonderfully creative.
What began as a simple love ofjigsaw puzzles quickly grew into
a passion for storytelling,community, and connection.
Alongside her husband, she hostssocial jigsaw puzzle events on
(02:59):
cruise ships, bringing jigsawpuzzle lovers together from all
over the world.
Through Instagram and otherplatforms, she shares playful
content, clever techniques, andstories that celebrate curiosity
and fun at every age.
Her journey is a reminder thatit is never too late to explore
(03:20):
new passions, build community,and turn a hobby into something
truly joyful.
It is my honor to introduceMonica Marlat, aka Puzzled About
Everything, to a Sort ofConversations.
Hi Monica.
SPEAKER_02 (03:37):
Hello and hi everyone.
Thanks for having me.
I'm excited about talking aboutpuzzles.
Yeah, yes, jigsaw puzzles.
SPEAKER_05 (03:45):
I love it.
It's something that when I lookback at my childhood, it was
something, especially this timeof year, right after the
holidays, when it's cold andsnowy here in New England, we
would get together and do apuzzle, a family puzzle.
So it is, it's something I'mfamiliar with.
I can't say I'm a puzzlefanatic.
So for you, when did this loveof puzzling begin?
SPEAKER_02 (04:09):
It's the same as your story.
We did puzzles when we werelittle.
We did them at holidays with ourfamily.
I see a lot of people doing thatin my feed, reconnecting with
their family over the holidays.
Mine's the same.
It started more when my childrenleft, when I became an empty
nester.
I had a lot of time and I waslike, oh, I thought I'd be so
excited about it.
(04:30):
And then I had a lot of time.
I didn't know what to do.
So I was like, what did I liketo do before I had kids?
And I went, oh, I like swimming,I like jigsaws.
So I did some puzzles.
I went, yeah, I still really dolike that.
And I did several puzzles.
I take pictures.
I'd show my children on, youknow, an email or wherever.
(04:53):
And they would go, oh mom,that's really great.
And after about a week, theywere very kind and said, We have
full-time jobs.
We can't applaud people thatcame out.
I was like, Oh, oh, I'm I'msorry.
Oh, what should I do?
And they're like, set up anInstagram account.
I was like, what is Instagram?
And I learned that and I startedposting.
(05:15):
And shortly after that, we hadthe pandemic.
And I I puzzled more and more asmany people started to pick up
puzzling again during thepandemic.
And I post more and more.
And that is my story.
That's how I grew.
SPEAKER_05 (05:30):
What a so this happened prior to the pandemic,
not because of the pandemic.
SPEAKER_02 (05:35):
It was prior.
A lot of people did it becauseof the pandemic.
Mine, I started before.
And I know when the pandemichappened, I got bored.
Like it was fun to build apuzzle.
It was cool.
It was neat.
But then when you take it apartand put it in the back in the
box, I'd be like, that was sucha pretty puzzle.
There's got to be another way ofshowing it because all of a
(05:58):
sudden everyone was posting thesame puzzle, the same picture.
So you sort of skip over it onyour feet.
Oh, I've seen that already.
I don't care what that personwrote because I read the
previous person's uh commentabout that puzzle.
So I was just like, this iswhere the creative side came in.
And like I said, I was bored.
(06:19):
I was like, what could I do?
And on Instagram, as you see inTikTok and in YouTube, there was
a lot of stop motion.
I go, I really like that.
I think I can do something likethat.
Had to learn it.
It's it's not that I havesomeone beside me here and
saying this is what you need todo next.
I had to take many tutorials.
(06:41):
I'm I'm not that tech savvy.
Everything I'm learning and itand I'm slower, but I did it.
And it was very satisfyingmaking these stop-motion reels
for me.
And then people liked it.
And I sort of got a lot ofpeople following me because they
liked the creativity of thepuzzles.
(07:02):
The brands liked it because thesame thing.
People are posting the samepictures.
Right.
Here I'm featuring a puzzle andit looks different.
And people stop and look at it alittle bit more.
So that is my puzzle growthstory.
SPEAKER_05 (07:21):
Yeah, that I that's great.
The creativity, and I was pokingaround on your Instagram and
watching some of your reels, andI'm like, wow, that is so cool.
And and again, we're we'reprobably very close in age.
You know, for me, learning allthe podcasting, the recording
platforms and the editingsoftware and things like that.
(07:43):
Yeah, I'm probably not as fastas somebody else who's a little
more tech savvy, but damn it, Ican do it too.
SPEAKER_02 (07:50):
I I I know, like my friend group are go, how'd you
do that?
And and I I I joke, I said, askme to do it again, and I
probably would have to relearnit again.
Right.
But if that's the challenge forme, and and that's where I get
very stimulated because beingolder, we should be learning new
things to keep the brainstimulated.
(08:12):
And the more I learn about that,I'm like, I'm doing the right
thing now, learning newtechnology.
It could be a new language, itcould be an instrument.
Learning technology, it counts.
This is good.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_05 (08:24):
Well, and especially with where your puzzling
journey, your jigsaw puzzlingjourney, has taken you, you
know, not just being on socialmedia and you know, being
creative on social media, butsome of the other partnerships
and relationships you've formed,which I want to get into in a
little bit.
So, how did sharing your passionfor puzzles with your husband,
(08:50):
how did that transform yourdaily life?
SPEAKER_02 (08:53):
Oh my gosh, that is a great question because I had
more free time than my husband.
He was still running hiscompany, and he's just recently
retired, maybe about three yearsago.
So I would do my puzzling on myown, and now he does join me.
And we do have differentpuzzling styles.
(09:14):
I like a big project, like athousand-piece puzzle.
My husband is older than I am,and it's too challenging for
him.
He likes this, we call themsnack puzzles, 300 pieces or 500
pieces.
He will help me, but he's notexcited about a bigger project.
You know, a bigger project,there's smaller pieces, and as
(09:36):
we get older, our eyes, it it'shard to see the small details.
He doesn't like that.
Uh, he likes bigger pieces.
So I often will put my projectaside so I can spend time with
him and puzzle.
So we are puzzling together.
And when he did retire, all of asudden it wasn't my space, it's
(09:58):
our space.
We're we're just like, oh, wehad to, as a couple, we have uh
it's it's not nice when I say welived separate lives.
Obviously, we didn't, but we wedid separate things.
Now our time we're in eachother's face all the time.
Isn't he not going off to work?
I'm not going here picking upthe kids.
(10:18):
So we had to relearn ourrelationship.
How how do we balance eachother?
So puzzling sitting down besideeach other is great because we
would never really do that.
Maybe we would play cardstogether once in a while.
Watching TV together doesn'tcount.
You're not talking.
Okay.
So puzzling, I'll do thissection, you do that section,
(10:41):
I'll do the sorting.
Like all of a sudden, we'recommunicating.
We have really bonded throughthe puzzling.
Now we go out walking together.
Let's walk around the city andcheck out this park and see if
there's a good quote locationshoot for our puzzle.
And we're like, oh, that's agood one.
I take note, come back, and whenI have an appropriate puzzle, we
(11:03):
walk back there and we do thelocation shoot.
So we're doing things togethernow, whereas we did things
separately.
I feel we've remarried eachother because we're two
completely different people fromwhen we started our marriage,
and we've been married for 42years.
I get a lot of comments when wedo things together.
(11:24):
I get the hashtag couple goals,senior goals, retirement goals,
because they see us together.
And the puzzling has brought ustogether.
I didn't know it was gonnahappen, but it's been wonderful.
SPEAKER_05 (11:37):
Oh, that's fantastic.
Yeah, I in looking, you know,through your through your
Instagram, through your TikToks,you can definitely see, you
know, how how he is a part of ofeverything that's going on too.
That that is great.
Now I know through you know,doing your puzzles, posting
(11:59):
online, getting creative withhow you present your finished
pieces or the process to gettingto a finished piece, you've
drawn the attention of somefolks, I don't want to say
outside the puzzle industry, butoutside of avid puzzlers like
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines andsome of the puzzle
(12:23):
manufacturers.
So let's start with the puzzlemanufacturers.
How did you get approached bythem or did you approach them
for a partnership?
SPEAKER_02 (12:32):
I love that because anyone that's listening and and
let's say they're Lego addicts,they they like to do the Lego.
Yeah.
Here's something it's the same.
You can do the same thing, youknow, just keep posting and
maybe your brand will reach outto you.
There's no reason if if you havea good content and you have some
good followers, real followers,not bots, and not your friends,
(12:55):
people that are Lego people orpuzzle people.
There's no reason why you can'treach out to a brand and and
say, hey, listen, would you liketo do a collaboration together?
So my story is again, thepandemic happened, and you
talked about why wow moments.
This was one of my wow moments.
It was the beginning of thepandemic, and I had a puzzle
(13:17):
brand reach out to me and say,Can we send your puzzle and can
you post about it?
The puzzle brands had problemsbecause stores were closed.
People were puzzling more, theycouldn't get the puzzles on the
shelves to get to people.
The only way they couldadvertise their puzzles were
were on these platforms.
How do they get their puzzlesout?
So they approached a few peoplethat had somewhat of a
(13:38):
following, said, Can you buildthis puzzle and post about it?
So that is how I got my firstpuzzle.
And I was joking with my girls.
I go, oh my god, they're sendingme a puzzle.
I can't believe this.
This is great.
Um, and maybe I had another oneor two send me a puzzle, and I
built it and made some contentand I posted and it was great.
(13:58):
And someone said, Well, youknow, you can ask puzzle brands.
I go, I can.
And they go, yes, just reachout.
So I did reach out to a fewplaces, and they did send me
puzzles, which was great.
I was like, wow, this is justjust fantastic.
And from there, it justexploded.
Now I always get puzzle brandsreaching out to me.
(14:20):
They again, now the pandemic'sover, but they're looking for
new content, they're looking forother people, other places to
promote their puzzles, not juston a shore a store shelf.
The cruising, you you youmentioned that they didn't seek
me out.
No, no, no.
I sought them out.
We we cruise a lot, and when wecruise, I bring a puzzle and I
(14:43):
often build a puzzle on a seaday.
And people always thought, oh,can we help you?
I'm like, of course, you know,we're friendly.
And I just had the idea, I said,we should bring more puzzles on
our cruises and do this.
I know people like to cruise andpuzzle.
It was a big pitch.
It took over two years tofinally connect and make it
(15:04):
happen, but we are wellestablished with Royal Caribbean
and we cruise about anywherebetween four or uh two to four
times a year.
We do a specific puzzlingcruise.
And those connections where wemeet people, it's completely
different from something onInstagram in that people that
come down to puzzle with us, oh,I haven't puzzled in years.
(15:28):
I did like it.
Again, that's the beginning ofmy story.
I haven't puzzled in years.
And I went back and I went, oh,I still like this.
People come down, oh, I forgothow fun this is.
I know they go home and they buya puzzle.
I know it, they tell us, I getemails back, and they're they
send me and like, I'm stillpuzzling, Monica.
I'm like, you go, girl, keep upwith it.
(15:50):
And it's just so fun to seepeople reconnect puzzling.
It could be a family.
All of a sudden, you know,they're they're having a family
vacation, they have dad's 100%attention, no phone.
They come down and they do apuzzle, the kids are excited,
the mom is excited, the dad isengaged, they're like, we are
(16:12):
gonna do a puzzle once a monthtogether.
That's great.
It's for us to see that.
My husband and I, we we know somany connections.
I have so many wonderfulstories, all different age
groups of reconnecting with thepuzzles.
I feel so grateful that I amthat connector, you know.
SPEAKER_05 (16:32):
So, how many how many of these cruise events have
you done?
SPEAKER_02 (16:36):
How many have we done?
Maybe 10?
I I have one in my I I have onecoming up in March.
I I think we're around 10 now,and we're just in negotiations
right now for how many we'redoing for 2027.
So and and the cruise ship is isint is is difficult because not
(16:57):
every cruise ship can host usbecause they don't have the
space.
Right.
Not every cruise ship gets us.
Like it's a still a new conceptof bringing the puzzles on
board.
They're like, what you bringpuzzles?
Like it's I work with it's withRoyal Caribbean, but there's a
different cruise director oneach cruise, each cruise ship is
(17:17):
different.
So there's a lot of littlevariables that we have to
consider when we cruise.
But overall, it's it's beenabsolutely wonderful.
Every guest walks away happybecause I'm very committed when
you come on the cruise.
I talk to you first before Ihand a puzzle to you.
I want to get an idea of yourpuzzle skill because there's no
(17:40):
way I'm gonna give you a hardpuzzle, and then you don't
finish it.
We've we started where we hadall day in the dining room, now
we only get two hours.
It's it's just something thatwe're we're working through what
the cruise ship or how it works.
So now we're down to two hours,which is actually really good.
Generally, 300-piece puzzle isthe perfect size, but I have
(18:02):
people that can't see, they havearthritis, they can't pick up
pieces.
I want to make sure I have a50-piece puzzle that they can
do.
SPEAKER_05 (18:11):
So you bring so it's not just one giant puzzle
project that everybody pitchesin and helps with.
You're you're really customizingit or being prepared for the
different puzzling levels thatare out there.
SPEAKER_02 (18:26):
You will find on a cruise ship there is a community
puzzle on most cruise ships.
I've I've always seen that.
Problem with that is oftenpieces go missing.
You always have the characterthat says, Oh, I'm gonna steal
this piece, I'll come back atthe end and put it away.
I'll be the hero.
Yeah.
Something falls on the floor,night staff comes, it gets lost.
(18:48):
It just happens.
And then some people don't likewho they're puzzling with.
They may or may not.
So here you're working with yourpartner, with your family,
you're working solo.
There's a lot of individualpeople that come down because
their partners are in thecasino.
You know, they're they they theysit somewhere in a lounge and
they read a book, and now theycome down and they puzzle, and
(19:10):
they're so excited that theyhave something to do while their
partner's in the or wherever,whatever they're doing on the
crew.
SPEAKER_05 (19:16):
And something that's interactive, not solo.
SPEAKER_02 (19:19):
And for those people that don't want to puzzle alone,
there's always people thatgravitate.
Oh, can I help you with that?
And then the next day, would youlike to puzzle again?
So there's if you want to puzzlewith people, we'll get you
someone to puzzle with.
If you want to puzzle alone orwith your group, we can do that
too.
It's it's something foreverybody.
(19:39):
And language is never an issuebecause it's a puzzle.
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (19:45):
Oh, that's fantastic.
The collaboration with uh uhpuzzle manufacturers, as well as
the collaboration with RoyalCaribbean and trying to figure
out what that relationshipactually looks like.
Where you fit best in, you know,what ships and and where and for
(20:06):
how long.
I'm sure you have a ton ofstories.
So share with me some some ofyour wow moments or some of your
memorable moments from theexperiences that you've had.
SPEAKER_02 (20:20):
On the cruise ship, I'll mention two.
So our our cruise ship, again, Isaid there are limitations.
One of the limitations is howlong the cruise ship is.
It has to have six or more Cdays.
If you're doing a Caribbeancruise, you're at an island
every day, people get off theship, there's no puzzling time
(20:41):
there.
If it's a transatlantic uhrepositioning or very long
cruise, that's when I would beinvited.
It has to have a lot of C daysbecause they're trying to offer
other activities to fill thatblank space on the cruise ship.
So that is one thing.
On those long cruise ships, ifthere are children, children are
(21:03):
in school.
Often I find they'rehomeschooled.
They they might be on thespectrum, so they're not in the
regular school system.
Some parents take them out ofthe school and they do some
amazing, fantastic trip.
But in general, they'rehomeschooled.
So if I get families comingdown, I just love seeing kids
puzzle just because it'simportant to stimulate their
(21:27):
brain.
I love watching them a puzzlesolve.
So that's exciting for me whenfamilies come down.
When I see the children thatcome down on the spectrum, they
don't necessarily go to the teenprogram or the kids program
that's offered on the cruiseship because they don't really
fit in there.
You know, they're so the parentsare so grateful there's an
(21:49):
activity that their child canengage in and that they like.
So when I see these people comedown, and sometimes, man oh man,
are they smart.
They go through all my puzzles.
I'm just like, oh my goodness,it that just thrills me.
So I'm I'm glad I can offerthose families something.
Right, right.
Another story, and I've toldthis story a few times.
(22:12):
I had an elderly couple, andthey would do a wood puzzle.
I bring a lot of wood puzzles aswell.
I bring a variety of differentpuzzles.
There's shape puzzles, they'rechallenging puzzles, they're
wood puzzles.
A lot of people go, What's ashape puzzle?
What's a wood puzzle?
I've I've never done that.
So they they just love thevariety.
(22:34):
So I had this couple come downand they did these Wentworth
puzzles.
They were 100-piece.
Their pieces are a little bitbigger.
They were nice pieces to pick upthat you could pick up.
And with Wentworth, they havewhat is called whimsies.
They're specialty cut-outpieces.
So the design could be harborwith sailboats.
The whimsies would be ofseagulls, sailboats, of turtles,
(22:58):
and there's probably 10 or 12 ofthese uniquely cut pieces that
are incorporated into the puzzleimage.
They're quite fine to build.
A lot of wood puzzles dowhimsies.
And again, people have neverdone this and they start
building these puzzles.
I want another one.
I want another one.
I'm like, great.
Now let's try a bigger projectfor you, or let's try different
(23:19):
brands.
So they're they're alwaysinterested in.
I again I told you when peoplecome down, I have a conversation
with them first to make sure Iset them up for success.
By the end of the cruise, theydon't pick the picture they want
anymore.
They go, Monica, you pick forme.
You know what I'm like, youhaven't done this one yet.
I know you're gonna like that.
So that's always exciting whenpeople trust my my opinion and
(23:43):
and they go for it.
And at the end, when they finishthat, you were right again,
girl.
I can't wait for tomorrow whatyou're gonna give me.
So, how many puzzles do youactually bring on the cruise?
Oh, about 200.
We bring about between 40 to 50different puzzle brands, and we
bring about uh it's a variety.
I might just bring one or two ofa puzzle brand, but I want again
(24:04):
options.
So people really like that.
And at the beginning, they theymight be pretty, well, I only do
this brand.
Like, oh well, here you go.
And then the next day they'llsee other people have done other
ones.
Well, what's that puzzle thatthat person did?
I go, well, it's a differentbrand, it's a different style.
And I explain a little bit more,and they're like, Well, I I
think I would like to try thatone.
(24:25):
And so people they're they'reslow to branch out, but by the
end of the cruise, they're justlike, I wish we had more C days.
Like, I'm gonna miss this.
But back back segueing back tothat couple, so they did these
wood puzzles, and the woman didstruggle, and then the husband
built most of the puzzle, but heleft out all the whimsy pieces,
(24:49):
so he would line them up at thetop and he would work, it would
take two hours.
Now, this puzzle does not taketwo hours to build.
You could pot quite possiblybuild two or maybe three in the
two hours, but it did take themone hour, and he would work with
her very slowly and goes, You'relooking for a turtle.
Remember, it has a shell, andthe head would stick out, and he
(25:12):
would describe the shape to her,and he goes, and it's gonna go
over in this area.
It would take them to two hours,and they would complete each
puzzle.
They did 10.
That was a 10 C Day cruise, andhe did, and luckily I had 10
different puzzles for them todo.
And at the end, was I waswalking around the cruise ship
and I saw them and I went, Oh, Ijust loved how you two puzzled
(25:35):
together.
It just made me very happywatching the two of you work
together.
And he was very kind andsincere, and he goes, I want to
thank you because my wife issuffering from dementia, and
there aren't a lot of activitiesthat we get to participate
together anymore because it'svery hard for her.
But it really just made me happythat I could do something with
(25:59):
my wife again and thank you.
And I was like, I'm crying.
Yeah, oh my god, I had no idea.
And it it will always stay withme as we get older.
Puzzling brings people together,all ages.
SPEAKER_05 (26:15):
Yeah, absolutely.
That's a fantastic story, yeah,so heartwarming.
It it is, and and that is thepower of a puzzle.
Through your puzzling, your ownpersonal puzzling, and you know,
working with your husband, pluswatching other folks puzzle
while you're hosting thesejigsaw puzzle events on a cruise
(26:37):
ship.
What have you learned aboutteamwork, communication, and
accomplishing a goal together?
SPEAKER_02 (26:45):
Hmm, that's very good.
Well, when I watch peoplepuzzle, everybody puzzles
differently.
And for the like puzzling,there's a big trend in speed
puzzling.
It it's it's like an event now.
Like there's competitions, it'sworldwide.
We we did well.
We're we're not fast, and all ofa sudden it became competitive,
(27:07):
and we're like, no, that it welike the relaxing, the
mindfulness, and the chatter.
It it's not a competition forus, so we don't engage in that.
But it is it is a huge niche inin the puzzling community.
And when people come to ourevents, I see people who are
very fast puzzlers are are verysmart with their sorting and and
(27:32):
pulling it together and theyrecognize what goes together.
You see the math going on, yousee their brain clicking, and
then there's other ones whostruggle a little bit, but they
really like it and they workthrough it.
I like walking around the roomand encouraging people, or they
go, Oh, can you help me a littlebit?
And if I can place two pieces,it gets them going again.
SPEAKER_05 (27:54):
I'm a learning and development professional, and we
were putting together acompany-wide workshop to talk
about how the company, howeverybody in the company has a
piece of the company's success.
And we kicked off, it was athree-hour workshop.
We kicked off the workshop withthis giant, it was very
(28:16):
expensive, this giant five footby five foot puzzle.
And each one of the workshoptables had four or five puzzle
pieces.
So everybody at the tablebrought up a piece to try and
put together the big picture.
And that was how we kicked offthe entire, the entire workshop
that we're working together.
(28:37):
We all own a piece of the bigpicture.
And you know, puzzling, if youdo it solo, um, I'm sure it
serves the same purpose.
You get something out of it.
But when you puzzle sociallywith other folks, I think, you
know, it really opens your eyesto other people's strengths,
your strengths, maybe yourweaknesses, and and kind of
(28:58):
helps promote bettercommunication, better teamwork.
I I just I I I love I love whatyou're doing on these cruises.
SPEAKER_02 (29:08):
Well, I I appreciate what you're saying about
teamwork.
We visit a couple, they don'tlive where we live, like we go
over and we stay for a weekend,and I bring a couple of puzzles,
and the four of us we have wepuzzle during the day.
And we have said, as the twocouples, gosh, isn't this
interesting?
And we all puzzle differently.
Oh okay, we all puzzledifferently, and we have a
(29:29):
different space on the diningroom table where we work.
But we said, This is great forour relationship as two couples.
We don't have to talk, like wewe're happy with that dead
space, not talking and justworking on, and then when we
bring our pieces together, wejoin it up, and then all of a
sudden the chatter starts again.
I was like, this is awesome.
(29:49):
We used to do take our puzzlesto a uh a pub, and like here's
an idea.
I I don't want to pursue this.
A date night.
Puzzling date nights areamazing.
For a first date, you can seethe one person who feels
uncomfortable not talking.
(30:09):
You don't have to talk whilebuilding a puzzle.
And the the girl going, Oh mygosh, this guy doesn't keep
quiet.
He keeps talking and you can'tget two pieces together.
You know, puzzling togethertells a lot about an individual.
Like we would laugh at PubNight, and I go, they were
definitely doing a first date.
(30:30):
I go, I don't think it's gonnaget past the first date.
We could that I've seen somepuzzle influencers, one in
particular.
They do corporate team bondingwith the puzzles.
I I have given puzzles to my tomy daughters.
I have multiple copies, and Isaid they do holiday events,
(30:50):
like what games can we do?
And I go, here's 15 puzzles ofthe same puzzle.
Do a speed puzzling, and theylove it.
And and it's again what youmentioned, it's team bonding,
camaraderie.
It's great, so fun.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (31:04):
We did um, I actually, you know, now that
we're talking, now that we'retalking about it, I've actually
used puzzles a lot in my in myuh professional life.
I I want to think back maybe Idon't know, six, seven years
ago, with a group of interns atthe company to create
negotiation skills or help themwork on negotiation skills.
(31:28):
They all had a puzzle.
However, I had taken two orthree pieces from each puzzle
and put them in other puzzleboxes, and they had to find
their other puzzle pieces andkind of negotiate or talk to the
(31:49):
other group to get their puzzlepiece back.
So it was it was pretty funny towatch them do that.
SPEAKER_02 (31:59):
For for somebody, let's say they're the event
planner for a corporation.
Puzzle brands would love tosponsor that.
And you know, you reach out tothem and saying, we're planning
this and it's you know, it's anevent, we're gonna have a
hundred people and we're gonnadivide them into teams of 10 or
something like that, or five.
(32:20):
Would we be able to get so manypuzzles from you?
Puzzle brands would love to gettheir puzzles out into the
public in that sense.
SPEAKER_05 (32:29):
Good to know, good to know going forward.
And if there's any learning anddevelopment professionals
listening, here's a new in forsome engaging in-person
engagement.
SPEAKER_02 (32:43):
So awesome even more than that, you can say, could we
just get a puzzle of the monthfrom you and have it in our
staff room so people can work onit over the lunch hour?
It you know, it's so engaging.
And even if a puzzle branddeclines that, one brand
eventually will say thatpurchase it.
It's it's$25, it's it's nothing.
SPEAKER_05 (33:06):
Yeah, yeah.
Now, with everything that you'vedone to kind of promote your
puzzling hobby and then youknow, display to the public
through your social mediaavenues, how do you stay current
with the social media trends andapps and techniques for reels?
(33:31):
You know, what has surprised youabout learning all of this
stuff?
And God bless you, learning itin retirement.
SPEAKER_02 (33:38):
Well, another great question.
I I I scroll.
That's what you have to do.
You have to scroll and you'rewatching whatever a trend is,
and then sometimes if it made melaugh, I'm like, oh, it would
make my followers laugh.
So that that is if I if it if Istop, there's a reason why.
(33:59):
And and I analyze why did Istop?
If I stop, someone else willstop.
So so if I see a real, atrending reel, can I translate
that using a puzzle?
And if if it's doable, then I Istart thinking about ideas.
Often I save it, which is I sortof missed the trending point
(34:20):
because if I save it, it'sprobably it probably don't go
back for months and it's nottrending anymore.
But that that's that's how Ifind that.
As for the other platforms, I Ipersonally made a decision.
I do well on Instagram.
That's I I have always had arule raising my family.
(34:41):
Stick with what you know.
If you know how to go from A toB and someone gives you a
different route to do thishighway and this detour, I'll
probably get lost.
Stick with what you know.
I'm very good on Instagram.
I am on TikTok.
I have tried YouTube.
They're work for me.
(35:01):
It's a lot of work, especiallyYouTube.
Like you, you can make money onYouTube.
A lot of people make money.
You know, they have thefollowers on there, they get
paid for the reels that theypost.
Like, kudos to them for makingit work.
But all of a sudden, I have tofilm my content differently.
I have to rotate my phone.
So if I'm doing what I call adeconstruct, a stop motion, I'm
(35:23):
doing that twice.
That's a lot of work to rebuildthat thousand-piece puzzle.
I'm not about to do that.
I had fun building it.
I've done my deconstruct, itgets put back in the box.
So for me, the YouTube is is toomuch work.
SPEAKER_05 (35:38):
Where Instagram is is kind of your bread and
butter.
What are some of the techniquesthat you found really resonates
with your viewers?
SPEAKER_02 (35:48):
The techniques?
Well, I I jump around because Ido the the the silly reels with
my husband.
Yeah I do the stop motion.
I do the stop motion and then Ido location shoots with my
puzzles.
So I sort of do, and then maybeI'll just do pictures of it.
So I sort of do four differentthings.
(36:08):
Oh, and and and now I I start todo, I've started to do
giveaways.
And the reason I do thegiveaways is because I have such
a rapport with the puzzlebrands, and I really want to
support smaller puzzle brandsbecause again, they can't, they
do, they work, they work sevendays a week, and it's not a
(36:30):
seven, eight-hour day.
They're working all the time,five days a week, and on
weekends, because they can't gettheir puzzle in a store, they're
at a fair.
Now they're working at a fairtrying to sell their puzzles.
So if I can bring some attentionto their brand name by doing
collaboration with them anddoing a giveaway, I get nothing
(36:53):
from this.
I am the I am that connectorbetween my followers.
I have a lot of followers and Iwork with a lot of brands.
If I can be that connectorbringing the two of them
together, I think that's that'sa that's great.
I also appreciate all the peoplethat follow me and they know I
get my puzzles free.
(37:13):
They have to buy their puzzles.
I would love to give back tothem.
So I do a puzzle giveaway once amonth, and it it makes me happy
that I'm able to do that.
If I had a small following, Idon't think it would work.
So for my platform on Instagram,I sort of do those five
different things.
(37:34):
And for me, I think it worksbecause whatever I post every
day, it's one of those differentthings.
It's not always the same.
Like there are people when Ilook at their wall, you know
what?
It looks great.
You know, you do a nice pictureand you might do the puzzle
pickup or or or whatever theydo.
I I I like that my I like mywall, basically.
(37:57):
I like that it's a little bitchaotic.
We're organic, we just go, wejust go with the flow.
It doesn't have to be structuredand look so neat and clean.
And I will continue doing that.
And that is what I've learned.
I see some people trying to keepit very polished and like, well,
(38:18):
I I I don't know if that'sworking for you, fine.
I I did that for a little bit,and I like, no, I like
unstructured because I'm a realperson, and and I like to
believe it tells people I am areal person.
I'm I'm not working for anybody,I'm not trying to get anything
out of this.
This is us.
SPEAKER_05 (38:37):
What trends are are you looking to incorporate going
forward into 2026?
SPEAKER_02 (38:44):
Trends, well, the big trend stuff is is the is
speed puzzling.
Again, something that I we'rejust we're just like, no.
But my followers are really intoit.
So on my feed, I see peopleposting their time all the time.
They're going to a competition,they're excited, they're posting
their results.
(39:05):
I try to be as kind and youknow, like them and go, you go,
girl, good luck, or that was agreat time and something I have.
That is a very big trend.
Am I gonna fall into that?
No, no, I am I'm not.
If it's maybe a competition Imight be attending or something,
maybe I'd post a little bitabout that, but I don't really
(39:26):
foresee anything different thatI'm going to be doing right now.
Okay.
SPEAKER_05 (39:30):
And you had mentioned like the puzzling
community and all the differentfacets of that community from
kind of the hobbyists to thespeed puzzlers to the
competition.
If somebody wanted to learn moreabout, you know, maybe puzzling
is a hobby for them right now,but it's a casual hobby and they
(39:52):
have more of an interest tolearn about the different
facets.
Where could folks go to learnmore about puzzling?
SPEAKER_02 (40:00):
you know in general well i i again like start an
instagram account or start a oror or look up on youtube and and
you do your hashtag jigsaw youwill get a lot of people doing
different things i wouldrecommend maybe follow a few
puzzle brands that you like thatthey post a lot and uh some
(40:21):
puzzle brands are very kindbecause if i post something
they'll repost it and then uhlike for the hobbyists like oh
my god and I'll just say RoseArt posted my puzzle that I did
of theirs on their wall likethat's pretty exciting to get
that recognition yeah and andhonestly if if if you're on
(40:42):
Instagram the puzzle grouppeople will find you like uh on
your feed the that algorithmthey'll they'll start shooting
stuff out your way in yourexplore page and you'll see
somebody at a speed puzzlingcompetition or somebody giving a
tip for this and that it findsyou with that algorithm you just
have to like a or follow a fewpuzzle people and brands and on
(41:05):
on your explore page just lookat a few jigsaw puzzling things
it will find you that algorithmis amazing.
SPEAKER_05 (41:13):
What advice would you give to retirees looking for
a fun social and meaningfulhobby to enrich their later
years well my my advice is don'tstop learning.
SPEAKER_02 (41:24):
Okay there's there's as we get older there's two
things and when we talk aboutAlzheimer's or dementia which is
always in the back of my mindbecause it is in our family if
we stop connecting with peopleand we become isolated that is
probably the worst thing we cando.
So get out there and join a cluband you can do a book reading
(41:46):
club a library club a walkingclub a pickleball club I I a
music club I you have to keeplearning all right and when I
talk about my puzzling I'mlearning new technologies all
the time I'm always doingtutorials so I feel fine about
that but I'm missing the elementof connecting with people all
right don't puzzle at home alonethe cruise ship meeting all
(42:10):
these people that is where I amconnecting with people it's not
it's two ways like I I I it it'svery valuable for me too to
connect with people.
So as a retiree you have to lookat those two things learn
something and find some groupwhere you're meeting new people
and you have to find somethingthat you like maybe you want to
(42:34):
do a travel club maybe you wantto do a woodworking club that
there are so many things outthere but you have to find
something that resonates withyou that they have to stick with
it right it's not I'm just doinga book club for six months oh I
didn't like that.
SPEAKER_05 (42:50):
Find something that you really like perfect one last
question for you Monica goingforward where do you see your
puzzling passion going?
Do you see it expanding on thethe cruise ships?
Do you see collaboration withpuzzle manufacturers, you know,
(43:10):
in designing puzzles where wheredo you see yourself going?
SPEAKER_02 (43:13):
Oh the designing puzzles is a great question
because I do get that asked alot because I'm so involved in
the puzzling are you going to doyour own puzzle?
No I'm not yeah I got that's awhole business I that we're
we're not going there.
The cruising yes we we're reallyworking hard to see if we can
get on other cruise lines but itit is a really small door to to
(43:33):
get in hopefully it you knowwe'll make those connections
like we we are always puttingour our name out there hopefully
another cruise line will say yeswe'd like to have you on there I
would really like to see thatpersonal goals for Instagram I I
would really like to have like5000 followers and uh it's a
(43:54):
very it is achievable it's a itis a big number but it it is it
achievable we do make a lot ofconnections with people it it
it's gratifying to me thatpeople approve of my content
like my content like my stylesso for me that that is my reward
a personal reward if it happensgreat if it doesn't I'm very
(44:16):
happy where I am fantastic sowhere can listeners find you if
they want to to see your workfollow along with you and see
how you grow in the future I amon Instagram and my username is
at puzzled about everything andeven if you just did a general
(44:37):
Google search and wrote puzzledabout everything I'm sure I'd
pop up in a few different placesand you'd be able to navigate
your way if you want to followme on Facebook or TikTok or
YouTube.
I again I don't work on thoseplatforms a lot I like Instagram
but we have a website too and ohthat's where people always ask
(44:57):
where can we learn about whatcruises you are there's a small
website and on there I usuallypost the dates because we do
have people that are repeatersand follow us for their cruising
they book our their cruises tobe on our puzzle cruise with us
which is so flattering I'm likeoh my gosh oh that's fantastic.
SPEAKER_05 (45:18):
Yeah I did find your website so I will make sure I
have all of the links in theepisode description so that
anybody can reach out and findyou and and see your work and
maybe plan a cruise.
SPEAKER_02 (45:31):
Wonderful thank you for having me and it's been a
really nice morning chattingwith you and just talking
puzzles.
SPEAKER_05 (45:40):
Yeah you as well Monica I love talking to people
who are passionate about thethings that they do.
And again you've opened my eyesto the the puzzling world
because I just looked at it asit's that thing you do in the
winter when it's too cold to beoutside and you really have
opened my eyes to kind of allthe benefits and may maybe I
(46:02):
knew them subconsciously but nowthey're just more more present.
So thank you for all your timetoday.
Cheers I'm always amazed at howthings fall into place for folks
who make a decision and moveforward with it.
(46:24):
It's so fun to see all the otherdoors and even a few windows of
opportunity that open up forthem.
What I love about Monica's storyis her passion not just for the
puzzles but for challengingherself to go beyond the
self-satisfaction of completinga puzzle and taking the giant
technology leap to share herpassion in such creative ways.
(46:49):
Her Instagram reels are a lot offun to watch and she has such a
variety of content you reallyshould check her out.
I also love how she's taking anactivity that's typically a solo
or a small group activity andbringing it to the masses to
encourage like-minded people toconnect and have fun together
(47:11):
creating kind of a puzzlingcommunity will you be picking up
a puzzle anytime soon if you'reinterested in learning more
about Monica and puzzled byeverything jump down to the show
notes.
I've got links to her websiteand socials and while you're
there don't forget to connectwith me as well all my social
(47:32):
media links and email addressare linked there as well thanks
for listening and I'll see youin two weeks
Everyday people following their passions.
SPEAKER_03 (00:13):
That's probably like one of the highlights of my life
so far.
Just being able to be creativelike that.
Something I've always wanted.
SPEAKER_06 (00:22):
And then I decided to get another hive, and that
turned into a lot of hives.
SPEAKER_00 (00:28):
As long as I can do that, I want to be a good
citizen, help people out.
SPEAKER_05 (00:33):
Putting themselves out there, taking chances, and
navigating challenges along theway.
SPEAKER_04 (00:40):
I absolutely identified with having stage
right because, you know, anytimeI went on stage, I just felt
like I was having a hot attack.
SPEAKER_00 (00:47):
Very first lap, very first practice session, I
crashed, turned the car upsidedown, made a spectacle of
myself, and I got back on thathorse and started riding again.
SPEAKER_05 (00:56):
As they pursue what makes them happy and brings them
joy.
SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
As long as people are having a good time and I
have the opportunity to putsmiles on people's faces, I love
what I do.
SPEAKER_02 (01:08):
I have done things that I never thought I could do.
SPEAKER_06 (01:13):
To have somebody tell me how real it looks and
how, you know, from their actualmemory.
Because that's telling me Icaptured what I was trying to
get.
SPEAKER_05 (01:24):
Welcome to Assorted Conversations.
I'm your host, Helen.
Hello and welcome to anotherAssorted Conversation.
This week I had the opportunityto chat with a wonderful woman
who has turned a casual interestin puzzles into an opportunity
(01:47):
and became a social mediainfluencer as a retiree.
She keeps her mind sharp throughkeeping up with the latest
Instagram trends.
She's enriched her relationshipwith her husband as this hobby
has grown for both of them.
And she's developedrelationships with puzzle
manufacturers, cruise lines, andother puzzling enthusiasts.
(02:11):
All because she took the adviceof her girls to go start an
Instagram account to share herpuzzle pictures.
At the time we chatted, I wasrecovering from a head cold.
So apologies in advance forsounding like Peter Brady on
occasion.
If you know, you know.
Take a listen to this week'sepisode, and I'll see you on the
(02:34):
other side.
Today's guest proves thatretirement can be the start of
something wonderfully creative.
What began as a simple love ofjigsaw puzzles quickly grew into
a passion for storytelling,community, and connection.
Alongside her husband, she hostssocial jigsaw puzzle events on
(02:59):
cruise ships, bringing jigsawpuzzle lovers together from all
over the world.
Through Instagram and otherplatforms, she shares playful
content, clever techniques, andstories that celebrate curiosity
and fun at every age.
Her journey is a reminder thatit is never too late to explore
(03:20):
new passions, build community,and turn a hobby into something
truly joyful.
It is my honor to introduceMonica Marlat, aka Puzzled About
Everything, to a Sort ofConversations.
Hi Monica.
SPEAKER_02 (03:37):
Hello and hi everyone.
Thanks for having me.
I'm excited about talking aboutpuzzles.
Yeah, yes, jigsaw puzzles.
SPEAKER_05 (03:45):
I love it.
It's something that when I lookback at my childhood, it was
something, especially this timeof year, right after the
holidays, when it's cold andsnowy here in New England, we
would get together and do apuzzle, a family puzzle.
So it is, it's something I'mfamiliar with.
I can't say I'm a puzzlefanatic.
So for you, when did this loveof puzzling begin?
SPEAKER_02 (04:09):
It's the same as your story.
We did puzzles when we werelittle.
We did them at holidays with ourfamily.
I see a lot of people doing thatin my feed, reconnecting with
their family over the holidays.
Mine's the same.
It started more when my childrenleft, when I became an empty
nester.
I had a lot of time and I waslike, oh, I thought I'd be so
excited about it.
(04:30):
And then I had a lot of time.
I didn't know what to do.
So I was like, what did I liketo do before I had kids?
And I went, oh, I like swimming,I like jigsaws.
So I did some puzzles.
I went, yeah, I still really dolike that.
And I did several puzzles.
I take pictures.
I'd show my children on, youknow, an email or wherever.
(04:53):
And they would go, oh mom,that's really great.
And after about a week, theywere very kind and said, We have
full-time jobs.
We can't applaud people thatcame out.
I was like, Oh, oh, I'm I'msorry.
Oh, what should I do?
And they're like, set up anInstagram account.
I was like, what is Instagram?
And I learned that and I startedposting.
(05:15):
And shortly after that, we hadthe pandemic.
And I I puzzled more and more asmany people started to pick up
puzzling again during thepandemic.
And I post more and more.
And that is my story.
That's how I grew.
SPEAKER_05 (05:30):
What a so this happened prior to the pandemic,
not because of the pandemic.
SPEAKER_02 (05:35):
It was prior.
A lot of people did it becauseof the pandemic.
Mine, I started before.
And I know when the pandemichappened, I got bored.
Like it was fun to build apuzzle.
It was cool.
It was neat.
But then when you take it apartand put it in the back in the
box, I'd be like, that was sucha pretty puzzle.
There's got to be another way ofshowing it because all of a
(05:58):
sudden everyone was posting thesame puzzle, the same picture.
So you sort of skip over it onyour feet.
Oh, I've seen that already.
I don't care what that personwrote because I read the
previous person's uh commentabout that puzzle.
So I was just like, this iswhere the creative side came in.
And like I said, I was bored.
(06:19):
I was like, what could I do?
And on Instagram, as you see inTikTok and in YouTube, there was
a lot of stop motion.
I go, I really like that.
I think I can do something likethat.
Had to learn it.
It's it's not that I havesomeone beside me here and
saying this is what you need todo next.
I had to take many tutorials.
(06:41):
I'm I'm not that tech savvy.
Everything I'm learning and itand I'm slower, but I did it.
And it was very satisfyingmaking these stop-motion reels
for me.
And then people liked it.
And I sort of got a lot ofpeople following me because they
liked the creativity of thepuzzles.
(07:02):
The brands liked it because thesame thing.
People are posting the samepictures.
Right.
Here I'm featuring a puzzle andit looks different.
And people stop and look at it alittle bit more.
So that is my puzzle growthstory.
SPEAKER_05 (07:21):
Yeah, that I that's great.
The creativity, and I was pokingaround on your Instagram and
watching some of your reels, andI'm like, wow, that is so cool.
And and again, we're we'reprobably very close in age.
You know, for me, learning allthe podcasting, the recording
platforms and the editingsoftware and things like that.
(07:43):
Yeah, I'm probably not as fastas somebody else who's a little
more tech savvy, but damn it, Ican do it too.
SPEAKER_02 (07:50):
I I I know, like my friend group are go, how'd you
do that?
And and I I I joke, I said, askme to do it again, and I
probably would have to relearnit again.
Right.
But if that's the challenge forme, and and that's where I get
very stimulated because beingolder, we should be learning new
things to keep the brainstimulated.
(08:12):
And the more I learn about that,I'm like, I'm doing the right
thing now, learning newtechnology.
It could be a new language, itcould be an instrument.
Learning technology, it counts.
This is good.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_05 (08:24):
Well, and especially with where your puzzling
journey, your jigsaw puzzlingjourney, has taken you, you
know, not just being on socialmedia and you know, being
creative on social media, butsome of the other partnerships
and relationships you've formed,which I want to get into in a
little bit.
So, how did sharing your passionfor puzzles with your husband,
(08:50):
how did that transform yourdaily life?
SPEAKER_02 (08:53):
Oh my gosh, that is a great question because I had
more free time than my husband.
He was still running hiscompany, and he's just recently
retired, maybe about three yearsago.
So I would do my puzzling on myown, and now he does join me.
And we do have differentpuzzling styles.
(09:14):
I like a big project, like athousand-piece puzzle.
My husband is older than I am,and it's too challenging for
him.
He likes this, we call themsnack puzzles, 300 pieces or 500
pieces.
He will help me, but he's notexcited about a bigger project.
You know, a bigger project,there's smaller pieces, and as
(09:36):
we get older, our eyes, it it'shard to see the small details.
He doesn't like that.
Uh, he likes bigger pieces.
So I often will put my projectaside so I can spend time with
him and puzzle.
So we are puzzling together.
And when he did retire, all of asudden it wasn't my space, it's
(09:58):
our space.
We're we're just like, oh, wehad to, as a couple, we have uh
it's it's not nice when I say welived separate lives.
Obviously, we didn't, but we wedid separate things.
Now our time we're in eachother's face all the time.
Isn't he not going off to work?
I'm not going here picking upthe kids.
(10:18):
So we had to relearn ourrelationship.
How how do we balance eachother?
So puzzling sitting down besideeach other is great because we
would never really do that.
Maybe we would play cardstogether once in a while.
Watching TV together doesn'tcount.
You're not talking.
Okay.
So puzzling, I'll do thissection, you do that section,
(10:41):
I'll do the sorting.
Like all of a sudden, we'recommunicating.
We have really bonded throughthe puzzling.
Now we go out walking together.
Let's walk around the city andcheck out this park and see if
there's a good quote locationshoot for our puzzle.
And we're like, oh, that's agood one.
I take note, come back, and whenI have an appropriate puzzle, we
(11:03):
walk back there and we do thelocation shoot.
So we're doing things togethernow, whereas we did things
separately.
I feel we've remarried eachother because we're two
completely different people fromwhen we started our marriage,
and we've been married for 42years.
I get a lot of comments when wedo things together.
(11:24):
I get the hashtag couple goals,senior goals, retirement goals,
because they see us together.
And the puzzling has brought ustogether.
I didn't know it was gonnahappen, but it's been wonderful.
SPEAKER_05 (11:37):
Oh, that's fantastic.
Yeah, I in looking, you know,through your through your
Instagram, through your TikToks,you can definitely see, you
know, how how he is a part of ofeverything that's going on too.
That that is great.
Now I know through you know,doing your puzzles, posting
(11:59):
online, getting creative withhow you present your finished
pieces or the process to gettingto a finished piece, you've
drawn the attention of somefolks, I don't want to say
outside the puzzle industry, butoutside of avid puzzlers like
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines andsome of the puzzle
(12:23):
manufacturers.
So let's start with the puzzlemanufacturers.
How did you get approached bythem or did you approach them
for a partnership?
SPEAKER_02 (12:32):
I love that because anyone that's listening and and
let's say they're Lego addicts,they they like to do the Lego.
Yeah.
Here's something it's the same.
You can do the same thing, youknow, just keep posting and
maybe your brand will reach outto you.
There's no reason if if you havea good content and you have some
good followers, real followers,not bots, and not your friends,
(12:55):
people that are Lego people orpuzzle people.
There's no reason why you can'treach out to a brand and and
say, hey, listen, would you liketo do a collaboration together?
So my story is again, thepandemic happened, and you
talked about why wow moments.
This was one of my wow moments.
It was the beginning of thepandemic, and I had a puzzle
(13:17):
brand reach out to me and say,Can we send your puzzle and can
you post about it?
The puzzle brands had problemsbecause stores were closed.
People were puzzling more, theycouldn't get the puzzles on the
shelves to get to people.
The only way they couldadvertise their puzzles were
were on these platforms.
How do they get their puzzlesout?
So they approached a few peoplethat had somewhat of a
(13:38):
following, said, Can you buildthis puzzle and post about it?
So that is how I got my firstpuzzle.
And I was joking with my girls.
I go, oh my god, they're sendingme a puzzle.
I can't believe this.
This is great.
Um, and maybe I had another oneor two send me a puzzle, and I
built it and made some contentand I posted and it was great.
(13:58):
And someone said, Well, youknow, you can ask puzzle brands.
I go, I can.
And they go, yes, just reachout.
So I did reach out to a fewplaces, and they did send me
puzzles, which was great.
I was like, wow, this is justjust fantastic.
And from there, it justexploded.
Now I always get puzzle brandsreaching out to me.
(14:20):
They again, now the pandemic'sover, but they're looking for
new content, they're looking forother people, other places to
promote their puzzles, not juston a shore a store shelf.
The cruising, you you youmentioned that they didn't seek
me out.
No, no, no.
I sought them out.
We we cruise a lot, and when wecruise, I bring a puzzle and I
(14:43):
often build a puzzle on a seaday.
And people always thought, oh,can we help you?
I'm like, of course, you know,we're friendly.
And I just had the idea, I said,we should bring more puzzles on
our cruises and do this.
I know people like to cruise andpuzzle.
It was a big pitch.
It took over two years tofinally connect and make it
(15:04):
happen, but we are wellestablished with Royal Caribbean
and we cruise about anywherebetween four or uh two to four
times a year.
We do a specific puzzlingcruise.
And those connections where wemeet people, it's completely
different from something onInstagram in that people that
come down to puzzle with us, oh,I haven't puzzled in years.
(15:28):
I did like it.
Again, that's the beginning ofmy story.
I haven't puzzled in years.
And I went back and I went, oh,I still like this.
People come down, oh, I forgothow fun this is.
I know they go home and they buya puzzle.
I know it, they tell us, I getemails back, and they're they
send me and like, I'm stillpuzzling, Monica.
I'm like, you go, girl, keep upwith it.
(15:50):
And it's just so fun to seepeople reconnect puzzling.
It could be a family.
All of a sudden, you know,they're they're having a family
vacation, they have dad's 100%attention, no phone.
They come down and they do apuzzle, the kids are excited,
the mom is excited, the dad isengaged, they're like, we are
(16:12):
gonna do a puzzle once a monthtogether.
That's great.
It's for us to see that.
My husband and I, we we know somany connections.
I have so many wonderfulstories, all different age
groups of reconnecting with thepuzzles.
I feel so grateful that I amthat connector, you know.
SPEAKER_05 (16:32):
So, how many how many of these cruise events have
you done?
SPEAKER_02 (16:36):
How many have we done?
Maybe 10?
I I have one in my I I have onecoming up in March.
I I think we're around 10 now,and we're just in negotiations
right now for how many we'redoing for 2027.
So and and the cruise ship is isint is is difficult because not
(16:57):
every cruise ship can host usbecause they don't have the
space.
Right.
Not every cruise ship gets us.
Like it's a still a new conceptof bringing the puzzles on
board.
They're like, what you bringpuzzles?
Like it's I work with it's withRoyal Caribbean, but there's a
different cruise director oneach cruise, each cruise ship is
(17:17):
different.
So there's a lot of littlevariables that we have to
consider when we cruise.
But overall, it's it's beenabsolutely wonderful.
Every guest walks away happybecause I'm very committed when
you come on the cruise.
I talk to you first before Ihand a puzzle to you.
I want to get an idea of yourpuzzle skill because there's no
(17:40):
way I'm gonna give you a hardpuzzle, and then you don't
finish it.
We've we started where we hadall day in the dining room, now
we only get two hours.
It's it's just something thatwe're we're working through what
the cruise ship or how it works.
So now we're down to two hours,which is actually really good.
Generally, 300-piece puzzle isthe perfect size, but I have
(18:02):
people that can't see, they havearthritis, they can't pick up
pieces.
I want to make sure I have a50-piece puzzle that they can
do.
SPEAKER_05 (18:11):
So you bring so it's not just one giant puzzle
project that everybody pitchesin and helps with.
You're you're really customizingit or being prepared for the
different puzzling levels thatare out there.
SPEAKER_02 (18:26):
You will find on a cruise ship there is a community
puzzle on most cruise ships.
I've I've always seen that.
Problem with that is oftenpieces go missing.
You always have the characterthat says, Oh, I'm gonna steal
this piece, I'll come back atthe end and put it away.
I'll be the hero.
Yeah.
Something falls on the floor,night staff comes, it gets lost.
(18:48):
It just happens.
And then some people don't likewho they're puzzling with.
They may or may not.
So here you're working with yourpartner, with your family,
you're working solo.
There's a lot of individualpeople that come down because
their partners are in thecasino.
You know, they're they they theysit somewhere in a lounge and
they read a book, and now theycome down and they puzzle, and
(19:10):
they're so excited that theyhave something to do while their
partner's in the or wherever,whatever they're doing on the
crew.
SPEAKER_05 (19:16):
And something that's interactive, not solo.
SPEAKER_02 (19:19):
And for those people that don't want to puzzle alone,
there's always people thatgravitate.
Oh, can I help you with that?
And then the next day, would youlike to puzzle again?
So there's if you want to puzzlewith people, we'll get you
someone to puzzle with.
If you want to puzzle alone orwith your group, we can do that
too.
It's it's something foreverybody.
(19:39):
And language is never an issuebecause it's a puzzle.
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (19:45):
Oh, that's fantastic.
The collaboration with uh uhpuzzle manufacturers, as well as
the collaboration with RoyalCaribbean and trying to figure
out what that relationshipactually looks like.
Where you fit best in, you know,what ships and and where and for
(20:06):
how long.
I'm sure you have a ton ofstories.
So share with me some some ofyour wow moments or some of your
memorable moments from theexperiences that you've had.
SPEAKER_02 (20:20):
On the cruise ship, I'll mention two.
So our our cruise ship, again, Isaid there are limitations.
One of the limitations is howlong the cruise ship is.
It has to have six or more Cdays.
If you're doing a Caribbeancruise, you're at an island
every day, people get off theship, there's no puzzling time
(20:41):
there.
If it's a transatlantic uhrepositioning or very long
cruise, that's when I would beinvited.
It has to have a lot of C daysbecause they're trying to offer
other activities to fill thatblank space on the cruise ship.
So that is one thing.
On those long cruise ships, ifthere are children, children are
(21:03):
in school.
Often I find they'rehomeschooled.
They they might be on thespectrum, so they're not in the
regular school system.
Some parents take them out ofthe school and they do some
amazing, fantastic trip.
But in general, they'rehomeschooled.
So if I get families comingdown, I just love seeing kids
puzzle just because it'simportant to stimulate their
(21:27):
brain.
I love watching them a puzzlesolve.
So that's exciting for me whenfamilies come down.
When I see the children thatcome down on the spectrum, they
don't necessarily go to the teenprogram or the kids program
that's offered on the cruiseship because they don't really
fit in there.
You know, they're so the parentsare so grateful there's an
(21:49):
activity that their child canengage in and that they like.
So when I see these people comedown, and sometimes, man oh man,
are they smart.
They go through all my puzzles.
I'm just like, oh my goodness,it that just thrills me.
So I'm I'm glad I can offerthose families something.
Right, right.
Another story, and I've toldthis story a few times.
(22:12):
I had an elderly couple, andthey would do a wood puzzle.
I bring a lot of wood puzzles aswell.
I bring a variety of differentpuzzles.
There's shape puzzles, they'rechallenging puzzles, they're
wood puzzles.
A lot of people go, What's ashape puzzle?
What's a wood puzzle?
I've I've never done that.
So they they just love thevariety.
(22:34):
So I had this couple come downand they did these Wentworth
puzzles.
They were 100-piece.
Their pieces are a little bitbigger.
They were nice pieces to pick upthat you could pick up.
And with Wentworth, they havewhat is called whimsies.
They're specialty cut-outpieces.
So the design could be harborwith sailboats.
The whimsies would be ofseagulls, sailboats, of turtles,
(22:58):
and there's probably 10 or 12 ofthese uniquely cut pieces that
are incorporated into the puzzleimage.
They're quite fine to build.
A lot of wood puzzles dowhimsies.
And again, people have neverdone this and they start
building these puzzles.
I want another one.
I want another one.
I'm like, great.
Now let's try a bigger projectfor you, or let's try different
(23:19):
brands.
So they're they're alwaysinterested in.
I again I told you when peoplecome down, I have a conversation
with them first to make sure Iset them up for success.
By the end of the cruise, theydon't pick the picture they want
anymore.
They go, Monica, you pick forme.
You know what I'm like, youhaven't done this one yet.
I know you're gonna like that.
So that's always exciting whenpeople trust my my opinion and
(23:43):
and they go for it.
And at the end, when they finishthat, you were right again,
girl.
I can't wait for tomorrow whatyou're gonna give me.
So, how many puzzles do youactually bring on the cruise?
Oh, about 200.
We bring about between 40 to 50different puzzle brands, and we
bring about uh it's a variety.
I might just bring one or two ofa puzzle brand, but I want again
(24:04):
options.
So people really like that.
And at the beginning, they theymight be pretty, well, I only do
this brand.
Like, oh well, here you go.
And then the next day they'llsee other people have done other
ones.
Well, what's that puzzle thatthat person did?
I go, well, it's a differentbrand, it's a different style.
And I explain a little bit more,and they're like, Well, I I
think I would like to try thatone.
(24:25):
And so people they're they'reslow to branch out, but by the
end of the cruise, they're justlike, I wish we had more C days.
Like, I'm gonna miss this.
But back back segueing back tothat couple, so they did these
wood puzzles, and the woman didstruggle, and then the husband
built most of the puzzle, but heleft out all the whimsy pieces,
(24:49):
so he would line them up at thetop and he would work, it would
take two hours.
Now, this puzzle does not taketwo hours to build.
You could pot quite possiblybuild two or maybe three in the
two hours, but it did take themone hour, and he would work with
her very slowly and goes, You'relooking for a turtle.
Remember, it has a shell, andthe head would stick out, and he
(25:12):
would describe the shape to her,and he goes, and it's gonna go
over in this area.
It would take them to two hours,and they would complete each
puzzle.
They did 10.
That was a 10 C Day cruise, andhe did, and luckily I had 10
different puzzles for them todo.
And at the end, was I waswalking around the cruise ship
and I saw them and I went, Oh, Ijust loved how you two puzzled
(25:35):
together.
It just made me very happywatching the two of you work
together.
And he was very kind andsincere, and he goes, I want to
thank you because my wife issuffering from dementia, and
there aren't a lot of activitiesthat we get to participate
together anymore because it'svery hard for her.
But it really just made me happythat I could do something with
(25:59):
my wife again and thank you.
And I was like, I'm crying.
Yeah, oh my god, I had no idea.
And it it will always stay withme as we get older.
Puzzling brings people together,all ages.
SPEAKER_05 (26:15):
Yeah, absolutely.
That's a fantastic story, yeah,so heartwarming.
It it is, and and that is thepower of a puzzle.
Through your puzzling, your ownpersonal puzzling, and you know,
working with your husband, pluswatching other folks puzzle
while you're hosting thesejigsaw puzzle events on a cruise
(26:37):
ship.
What have you learned aboutteamwork, communication, and
accomplishing a goal together?
SPEAKER_02 (26:45):
Hmm, that's very good.
Well, when I watch peoplepuzzle, everybody puzzles
differently.
And for the like puzzling,there's a big trend in speed
puzzling.
It it's it's like an event now.
Like there's competitions, it'sworldwide.
We we did well.
We're we're not fast, and all ofa sudden it became competitive,
(27:07):
and we're like, no, that it welike the relaxing, the
mindfulness, and the chatter.
It it's not a competition forus, so we don't engage in that.
But it is it is a huge niche inin the puzzling community.
And when people come to ourevents, I see people who are
very fast puzzlers are are verysmart with their sorting and and
(27:32):
pulling it together and theyrecognize what goes together.
You see the math going on, yousee their brain clicking, and
then there's other ones whostruggle a little bit, but they
really like it and they workthrough it.
I like walking around the roomand encouraging people, or they
go, Oh, can you help me a littlebit?
And if I can place two pieces,it gets them going again.
SPEAKER_05 (27:54):
I'm a learning and development professional, and we
were putting together acompany-wide workshop to talk
about how the company, howeverybody in the company has a
piece of the company's success.
And we kicked off, it was athree-hour workshop.
We kicked off the workshop withthis giant, it was very
(28:16):
expensive, this giant five footby five foot puzzle.
And each one of the workshoptables had four or five puzzle
pieces.
So everybody at the tablebrought up a piece to try and
put together the big picture.
And that was how we kicked offthe entire, the entire workshop
that we're working together.
(28:37):
We all own a piece of the bigpicture.
And you know, puzzling, if youdo it solo, um, I'm sure it
serves the same purpose.
You get something out of it.
But when you puzzle sociallywith other folks, I think, you
know, it really opens your eyesto other people's strengths,
your strengths, maybe yourweaknesses, and and kind of
(28:58):
helps promote bettercommunication, better teamwork.
I I just I I I love I love whatyou're doing on these cruises.
SPEAKER_02 (29:08):
Well, I I appreciate what you're saying about
teamwork.
We visit a couple, they don'tlive where we live, like we go
over and we stay for a weekend,and I bring a couple of puzzles,
and the four of us we have wepuzzle during the day.
And we have said, as the twocouples, gosh, isn't this
interesting?
And we all puzzle differently.
Oh okay, we all puzzledifferently, and we have a
(29:29):
different space on the diningroom table where we work.
But we said, This is great forour relationship as two couples.
We don't have to talk, like wewe're happy with that dead
space, not talking and justworking on, and then when we
bring our pieces together, wejoin it up, and then all of a
sudden the chatter starts again.
I was like, this is awesome.
(29:49):
We used to do take our puzzlesto a uh a pub, and like here's
an idea.
I I don't want to pursue this.
A date night.
Puzzling date nights areamazing.
For a first date, you can seethe one person who feels
uncomfortable not talking.
(30:09):
You don't have to talk whilebuilding a puzzle.
And the the girl going, Oh mygosh, this guy doesn't keep
quiet.
He keeps talking and you can'tget two pieces together.
You know, puzzling togethertells a lot about an individual.
Like we would laugh at PubNight, and I go, they were
definitely doing a first date.
(30:30):
I go, I don't think it's gonnaget past the first date.
We could that I've seen somepuzzle influencers, one in
particular.
They do corporate team bondingwith the puzzles.
I I have given puzzles to my tomy daughters.
I have multiple copies, and Isaid they do holiday events,
(30:50):
like what games can we do?
And I go, here's 15 puzzles ofthe same puzzle.
Do a speed puzzling, and theylove it.
And and it's again what youmentioned, it's team bonding,
camaraderie.
It's great, so fun.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (31:04):
We did um, I actually, you know, now that
we're talking, now that we'retalking about it, I've actually
used puzzles a lot in my in myuh professional life.
I I want to think back maybe Idon't know, six, seven years
ago, with a group of interns atthe company to create
negotiation skills or help themwork on negotiation skills.
(31:28):
They all had a puzzle.
However, I had taken two orthree pieces from each puzzle
and put them in other puzzleboxes, and they had to find
their other puzzle pieces andkind of negotiate or talk to the
(31:49):
other group to get their puzzlepiece back.
So it was it was pretty funny towatch them do that.
SPEAKER_02 (31:59):
For for somebody, let's say they're the event
planner for a corporation.
Puzzle brands would love tosponsor that.
And you know, you reach out tothem and saying, we're planning
this and it's you know, it's anevent, we're gonna have a
hundred people and we're gonnadivide them into teams of 10 or
something like that, or five.
(32:20):
Would we be able to get so manypuzzles from you?
Puzzle brands would love to gettheir puzzles out into the
public in that sense.
SPEAKER_05 (32:29):
Good to know, good to know going forward.
And if there's any learning anddevelopment professionals
listening, here's a new in forsome engaging in-person
engagement.
SPEAKER_02 (32:43):
So awesome even more than that, you can say, could we
just get a puzzle of the monthfrom you and have it in our
staff room so people can work onit over the lunch hour?
It you know, it's so engaging.
And even if a puzzle branddeclines that, one brand
eventually will say thatpurchase it.
It's it's$25, it's it's nothing.
SPEAKER_05 (33:06):
Yeah, yeah.
Now, with everything that you'vedone to kind of promote your
puzzling hobby and then youknow, display to the public
through your social mediaavenues, how do you stay current
with the social media trends andapps and techniques for reels?
(33:31):
You know, what has surprised youabout learning all of this
stuff?
And God bless you, learning itin retirement.
SPEAKER_02 (33:38):
Well, another great question.
I I I scroll.
That's what you have to do.
You have to scroll and you'rewatching whatever a trend is,
and then sometimes if it made melaugh, I'm like, oh, it would
make my followers laugh.
So that that is if I if it if Istop, there's a reason why.
(33:59):
And and I analyze why did Istop?
If I stop, someone else willstop.
So so if I see a real, atrending reel, can I translate
that using a puzzle?
And if if it's doable, then I Istart thinking about ideas.
Often I save it, which is I sortof missed the trending point
(34:20):
because if I save it, it'sprobably it probably don't go
back for months and it's nottrending anymore.
But that that's that's how Ifind that.
As for the other platforms, I Ipersonally made a decision.
I do well on Instagram.
That's I I have always had arule raising my family.
(34:41):
Stick with what you know.
If you know how to go from A toB and someone gives you a
different route to do thishighway and this detour, I'll
probably get lost.
Stick with what you know.
I'm very good on Instagram.
I am on TikTok.
I have tried YouTube.
They're work for me.
(35:01):
It's a lot of work, especiallyYouTube.
Like you, you can make money onYouTube.
A lot of people make money.
You know, they have thefollowers on there, they get
paid for the reels that theypost.
Like, kudos to them for makingit work.
But all of a sudden, I have tofilm my content differently.
I have to rotate my phone.
So if I'm doing what I call adeconstruct, a stop motion, I'm
(35:23):
doing that twice.
That's a lot of work to rebuildthat thousand-piece puzzle.
I'm not about to do that.
I had fun building it.
I've done my deconstruct, itgets put back in the box.
So for me, the YouTube is is toomuch work.
SPEAKER_05 (35:38):
Where Instagram is is kind of your bread and
butter.
What are some of the techniquesthat you found really resonates
with your viewers?
SPEAKER_02 (35:48):
The techniques?
Well, I I jump around because Ido the the the silly reels with
my husband.
Yeah I do the stop motion.
I do the stop motion and then Ido location shoots with my
puzzles.
So I sort of do, and then maybeI'll just do pictures of it.
So I sort of do four differentthings.
(36:08):
Oh, and and and now I I start todo, I've started to do
giveaways.
And the reason I do thegiveaways is because I have such
a rapport with the puzzlebrands, and I really want to
support smaller puzzle brandsbecause again, they can't, they
do, they work, they work sevendays a week, and it's not a
(36:30):
seven, eight-hour day.
They're working all the time,five days a week, and on
weekends, because they can't gettheir puzzle in a store, they're
at a fair.
Now they're working at a fairtrying to sell their puzzles.
So if I can bring some attentionto their brand name by doing
collaboration with them anddoing a giveaway, I get nothing
(36:53):
from this.
I am the I am that connectorbetween my followers.
I have a lot of followers and Iwork with a lot of brands.
If I can be that connectorbringing the two of them
together, I think that's that'sa that's great.
I also appreciate all the peoplethat follow me and they know I
get my puzzles free.
(37:13):
They have to buy their puzzles.
I would love to give back tothem.
So I do a puzzle giveaway once amonth, and it it makes me happy
that I'm able to do that.
If I had a small following, Idon't think it would work.
So for my platform on Instagram,I sort of do those five
different things.
(37:34):
And for me, I think it worksbecause whatever I post every
day, it's one of those differentthings.
It's not always the same.
Like there are people when Ilook at their wall, you know
what?
It looks great.
You know, you do a nice pictureand you might do the puzzle
pickup or or or whatever theydo.
I I I like that my I like mywall, basically.
(37:57):
I like that it's a little bitchaotic.
We're organic, we just go, wejust go with the flow.
It doesn't have to be structuredand look so neat and clean.
And I will continue doing that.
And that is what I've learned.
I see some people trying to keepit very polished and like, well,
(38:18):
I I I don't know if that'sworking for you, fine.
I I did that for a little bit,and I like, no, I like
unstructured because I'm a realperson, and and I like to
believe it tells people I am areal person.
I'm I'm not working for anybody,I'm not trying to get anything
out of this.
This is us.
SPEAKER_05 (38:37):
What trends are are you looking to incorporate going
forward into 2026?
SPEAKER_02 (38:44):
Trends, well, the big trend stuff is is the is
speed puzzling.
Again, something that I we'rejust we're just like, no.
But my followers are really intoit.
So on my feed, I see peopleposting their time all the time.
They're going to a competition,they're excited, they're posting
their results.
(39:05):
I try to be as kind and youknow, like them and go, you go,
girl, good luck, or that was agreat time and something I have.
That is a very big trend.
Am I gonna fall into that?
No, no, I am I'm not.
If it's maybe a competition Imight be attending or something,
maybe I'd post a little bitabout that, but I don't really
(39:26):
foresee anything different thatI'm going to be doing right now.
Okay.
SPEAKER_05 (39:30):
And you had mentioned like the puzzling
community and all the differentfacets of that community from
kind of the hobbyists to thespeed puzzlers to the
competition.
If somebody wanted to learn moreabout, you know, maybe puzzling
is a hobby for them right now,but it's a casual hobby and they
(39:52):
have more of an interest tolearn about the different
facets.
Where could folks go to learnmore about puzzling?
SPEAKER_02 (40:00):
you know in general well i i again like start an
instagram account or start a oror or look up on youtube and and
you do your hashtag jigsaw youwill get a lot of people doing
different things i wouldrecommend maybe follow a few
puzzle brands that you like thatthey post a lot and uh some
(40:21):
puzzle brands are very kindbecause if i post something
they'll repost it and then uhlike for the hobbyists like oh
my god and I'll just say RoseArt posted my puzzle that I did
of theirs on their wall likethat's pretty exciting to get
that recognition yeah and andhonestly if if if you're on
(40:42):
Instagram the puzzle grouppeople will find you like uh on
your feed the that algorithmthey'll they'll start shooting
stuff out your way in yourexplore page and you'll see
somebody at a speed puzzlingcompetition or somebody giving a
tip for this and that it findsyou with that algorithm you just
have to like a or follow a fewpuzzle people and brands and on
(41:05):
on your explore page just lookat a few jigsaw puzzling things
it will find you that algorithmis amazing.
SPEAKER_05 (41:13):
What advice would you give to retirees looking for
a fun social and meaningfulhobby to enrich their later
years well my my advice is don'tstop learning.
SPEAKER_02 (41:24):
Okay there's there's as we get older there's two
things and when we talk aboutAlzheimer's or dementia which is
always in the back of my mindbecause it is in our family if
we stop connecting with peopleand we become isolated that is
probably the worst thing we cando.
So get out there and join a cluband you can do a book reading
(41:46):
club a library club a walkingclub a pickleball club I I a
music club I you have to keeplearning all right and when I
talk about my puzzling I'mlearning new technologies all
the time I'm always doingtutorials so I feel fine about
that but I'm missing the elementof connecting with people all
right don't puzzle at home alonethe cruise ship meeting all
(42:10):
these people that is where I amconnecting with people it's not
it's two ways like I I I it it'svery valuable for me too to
connect with people.
So as a retiree you have to lookat those two things learn
something and find some groupwhere you're meeting new people
and you have to find somethingthat you like maybe you want to
(42:34):
do a travel club maybe you wantto do a woodworking club that
there are so many things outthere but you have to find
something that resonates withyou that they have to stick with
it right it's not I'm just doinga book club for six months oh I
didn't like that.
SPEAKER_05 (42:50):
Find something that you really like perfect one last
question for you Monica goingforward where do you see your
puzzling passion going?
Do you see it expanding on thethe cruise ships?
Do you see collaboration withpuzzle manufacturers, you know,
(43:10):
in designing puzzles where wheredo you see yourself going?
SPEAKER_02 (43:13):
Oh the designing puzzles is a great question
because I do get that asked alot because I'm so involved in
the puzzling are you going to doyour own puzzle?
No I'm not yeah I got that's awhole business I that we're
we're not going there.
The cruising yes we we're reallyworking hard to see if we can
get on other cruise lines but itit is a really small door to to
(43:33):
get in hopefully it you knowwe'll make those connections
like we we are always puttingour our name out there hopefully
another cruise line will say yeswe'd like to have you on there I
would really like to see thatpersonal goals for Instagram I I
would really like to have like5000 followers and uh it's a
(43:54):
very it is achievable it's a itis a big number but it it is it
achievable we do make a lot ofconnections with people it it
it's gratifying to me thatpeople approve of my content
like my content like my stylesso for me that that is my reward
a personal reward if it happensgreat if it doesn't I'm very
(44:16):
happy where I am fantastic sowhere can listeners find you if
they want to to see your workfollow along with you and see
how you grow in the future I amon Instagram and my username is
at puzzled about everything andeven if you just did a general
(44:37):
Google search and wrote puzzledabout everything I'm sure I'd
pop up in a few different placesand you'd be able to navigate
your way if you want to followme on Facebook or TikTok or
YouTube.
I again I don't work on thoseplatforms a lot I like Instagram
but we have a website too and ohthat's where people always ask
(44:57):
where can we learn about whatcruises you are there's a small
website and on there I usuallypost the dates because we do
have people that are repeatersand follow us for their cruising
they book our their cruises tobe on our puzzle cruise with us
which is so flattering I'm likeoh my gosh oh that's fantastic.
SPEAKER_05 (45:18):
Yeah I did find your website so I will make sure I
have all of the links in theepisode description so that
anybody can reach out and findyou and and see your work and
maybe plan a cruise.
SPEAKER_02 (45:31):
Wonderful thank you for having me and it's been a
really nice morning chattingwith you and just talking
puzzles.
SPEAKER_05 (45:40):
Yeah you as well Monica I love talking to people
who are passionate about thethings that they do.
And again you've opened my eyesto the the puzzling world
because I just looked at it asit's that thing you do in the
winter when it's too cold to beoutside and you really have
opened my eyes to kind of allthe benefits and may maybe I
(46:02):
knew them subconsciously but nowthey're just more more present.
So thank you for all your timetoday.
Cheers I'm always amazed at howthings fall into place for folks
who make a decision and moveforward with it.
(46:24):
It's so fun to see all the otherdoors and even a few windows of
opportunity that open up forthem.
What I love about Monica's storyis her passion not just for the
puzzles but for challengingherself to go beyond the
self-satisfaction of completinga puzzle and taking the giant
technology leap to share herpassion in such creative ways.
(46:49):
Her Instagram reels are a lot offun to watch and she has such a
variety of content you reallyshould check her out.
I also love how she's taking anactivity that's typically a solo
or a small group activity andbringing it to the masses to
encourage like-minded people toconnect and have fun together
(47:11):
creating kind of a puzzlingcommunity will you be picking up
a puzzle anytime soon if you'reinterested in learning more
about Monica and puzzled byeverything jump down to the show
notes.
I've got links to her websiteand socials and while you're
there don't forget to connectwith me as well all my social
(47:32):
media links and email addressare linked there as well thanks
for listening and I'll see youin two weeks
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