Danny Rensch
Chess master and prominent figure in the online chess world who helped build Chess.com; memoirist who recounts growing up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness and his journey of leaving the cult, healing, and reconnecting with family.
Best podcasts with Danny Rensch
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21 snips
Oct 20, 2025 • 37min
From Cult Child to Chess Wunderkind
Danny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com and author of the memoir Dark Moves, shares his extraordinary journey from the Church of Immortal Consciousness to chess fame. He discusses the therapeutic nature of writing his memoir and the emotional complexities of revisiting his past. Rensch candidly explains how intelligent individuals are drawn to cults, emphasizing the manipulation by charismatic leaders like Stephen Camp. He reflects on the burden of discovering chess as his 'ordained purpose' amid a tumultuous upbringing.
Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 37min
Escaping a Cult (w/ Chess Master Danny Rensch)
In this engaging conversation, Danny Rensch, a chess master and key figure in the online chess world, shares his powerful journey from growing up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness to building Chess.com. He candidly discusses the challenges of escaping a cult, the painful separation from his mother, and his path to healing. Danny also explores the resilience required to overcome spiritual manipulation and the importance of forgiveness in rebuilding life’s meaning after trauma.
