Layer By Layer: Recent Episodes

Andrew Nathenson / Kit Clement

This is Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast (ostensibly) about cubing and Rubik's Cubes. Hosted by Kit Clement, a WCA delegate, Twitch streamer (kitstopher), and quiet-event specialist; and Andrew Nathenson, a Youtuber (ColorfulPockets), competition organizer, ZZ-user, and FMC specialist.

Kit and Andrew talk about cube news, organizing competitions, and really whatever they're into at the moment.

You can discuss the show at https://www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/

Happy Cubing!

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Episode 43 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics:

  • Cakes

  • Bananas

  • "BLD Championship" (AKA Wingspan)

  • "I forget what Kit called it, someone let me know on Reddit because I can't be bothered to find it in the episode" (AKA Res Arcana)

  • "FMC USA 2018" and "FMC USA 2019" (AKA Splendor and Seven Wonders Duel)

  • The new Disc Golf WCA event

  • Reg of the Day: Guideline 2i1c+: Electronic Hand Warmers

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Episode 42 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.  This episode we were joined by Feliks Zemdegs and Jay McNeill for a head-to-head gameshow competition.

Recorded Saturday, March 13, 2021

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics: IT'S ALL A GAME SHOW! Games:

Name that famous solve based on an audio clip Guess the time based on an audio clip Guess the timing of an event in a video Categories Personal Trivia

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Episode 41 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Sunday, March 7, 2021

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics: 

  • Bananas, and the banana scale: https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/149/2016/04/Bananas-759x419.jpg

  • Kit's idea for a BLD championship

  • New Speedstacks timer design! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qq7wUyZZNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h08w5bVAPyU

  • Reg of the Day: 7f1a

  • Andrew's first forum post: https://forum.worldcubeassociation.org/t/and-or-consistency-with-7f1a/12834?u=andrew_nathenson

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Episode 40 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics:

  • Yunhao Lou 3.86 Clock WR average

  • Ice Cream Cakes

  • ALTERNATIVE TITLE GUESSING CONTEST: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP7PkjtYwguE-b1cAU_Vn8ToU-Rn3dtE8loJgyeCnXhd7Utg/formResponse

  • Some Unofficial MultiBLD results - Graham and Rowe 60 point attempts, Graham's huge 200 cube attempt

  • Graham: 62/64 in 59:17 and 189/200, Rowe: 60/60 in 59:53

- There’s a difference between unsolvable cubes and “wrong color scheme”

  • cubes_art:https://www.instagram.com/cubes_art/?hl=en
  • Pic with all opposite colors:https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ9V0tSpkQ6/

- Is Worlds' 30 second registration cutoff too strict?

  • New SEE Events:

Kit: Among Us Cubing: 10 points; Oops all U Moves:

Average of 5: 1.04

  • 1. 0.91 R' R' R2 R R2 R' R2 R R' R2 R R R' R R' R2 R R2 R R R' R' R' R' R2 (solved)
  • 2. (0.73) R2 R' R R' R2 R R' R2 R R R R R2 R' R R2 R2 R2 R' R R2 R2 R R R (solved)
  • 3. 1.24 R2 R2 R2 R R' R' R' R2 R R' R R R R R R2 R' R R' R2 R2 R R2 R R2 (U2)
  • 4. (3.19) R2 R' R R R' R' R2 R2 R2 R R2 R R' R R' R R' R R2 R' R R R' R' R2 (U2)
  • 5. 0.98 R R' R R' R2 R2 R R' R2 R' R2 R' R' R2 R' R R2 R2 R' R2 R' R R R R (U')

Andrew: Among Us Cubing: idk like 8?; Oops all U Moves:

Average of 5: 0.80

  • 1. (1.22) R' R2 R' R R' R R R' R R2 R' R2 R R2 R' R' R' R' R R2 R2 R2 R2 R R (solved)
  • 2. 1.11 R2 R R' R2 R R2 R' R2 R2 R2 R' R' R' R R R2 R2 R' R' R' R R R2 R2 R'
  • 3. 0.86 R' R2 R' R' R2 R R R' R R R R' R2 R R R2 R' R' R2 R2 R R2 R' R2 R2
  • 4. (0.34) R' R R' R' R2 R R R R R R R2 R R2 R2 R R R' R2 R2 R R R' R R'
  • 5. 0.43 R' R' R R' R2 R2 R' R R R R' R2 R' R2 R2 R2 R R2 R' R2 R R' R2 R2 R'

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Episode 39 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

ALTERNATIVE TITLE GUESSING CONTEST: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP7PkjtYwguE-b1cAU_Vn8ToU-Rn3dtE8loJgyeCnXhd7Utg/formResponse

Fun fact, you can hear Andrew's cat a few times in this episode.

Recorded Monday, October 5, 2020

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics:

  • Martin Egdal of the Day! 4.59 Square-1 World Record Single!

  • Cakes

  • The Alternative Title Guessing Contest - fill out this form and see how you do!

  • "That's Not ZZ, Though"

  • When is it okay to go outside the parameters of the method?

  • Red Bull Competitions, and their terrible country picker.

  • New SEE Events:

From last episode:

Mirror Solves:

  • Kit: 1:25 average of 5

  • Andrew: 1:06.24 Average of 5

Unreal Man Challenge:

Andrew: 7:58. 86 [https://bit.ly/35cuO8r], 3:26.83[https://bit.ly/3ke6eu4], DNF, DNF, DNF

Kit: (DNF(1:40.82)) U B2 U' R2 B2 R2 B2 U L2 D2 U' B R' D L' F U R' F D2 L2

  1. 6:03.91[https://bit.ly/3kaL1ky] D2 R2 B2 L' D2 F2 D2 U2 R' F2 U2 R D' L2 F R2 U B L2 D2 U

  2. 6:04.78[https://bit.ly/3jcnDls] U' R U' L2 D R2 U B2 D R2 D' R2 U B2 R' B' L B2 F' D' R

  3. 5:32.20[https://bit.ly/3j9dTbN] L2 D B L U2 D' F B2 D' B2 R2 L2 U' F2 U R2 D2 F' U' L

  4. (4:35.20[https://bit.ly/3lPDHeO]) L2 D2 R2 D2 F2 D2 B' R2 B L2 U2 L2 D' R B2 D U R B' U' L2

New Events:

Andrew - Oops, All U Moves

Kit - Sneaky Among Us Cubing

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Episode 38 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Monday, August 31, 2020.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics: 

  • IS COLLIN BURNS IN THE TOP 100? (yes)

  • Kit's final score for Bad Prediction of the Day: 2/10

  • Jabari redesigned algdb

  • speedcubedb.com - the new, better AlgDb?

  • Cakes

  • Is 4x4 parity rigged?

  • Rubik's Connect cube

  • Cube Mafia, on Twitch and in Real Life

  • End segment that we totally do every time, and not just because we forgot to do new SEE events this episode: Is a Pop-Tart a Ravioli?

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Episode 37 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday, August 5

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics: 

  • Kit is really bad at math

  • Cakes

  • More Pyraminx NRs! This time in Norway.

  • AlgDB is Dead 🦀🦀🦀

  • Hollywood weather and Google Search quiz

  • New SEE Events:

Andrew does the Cheapskate 3x3 Relay: 

Andrew: Cheapskate 3x3 relay

avg of 5: 45.202:  47.190, 43.437, (1:01.066), (40.399), 44.979 

Kit: pockets.cubing.net/MirrorCube: avg of 5: 1:54.79: 2:07.31, 1:37.09, 1:59.96, (2:42.44), (1:34.96)

  • New ones: 

Andrew: True Mirror Cube: Average of 5: 1:06.241: (1:25.129), 1:03.405, (57.669), 1:00.621, 1:14.706

Kit: Unreal Man's Average

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Episode 36 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Thursday, July 23

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics:

  • Using Axial Turn Metric to determine +2s with Slice Moves

  • Cakes (?)

  • Denmark's Competition:

-- 1.21 Pyraminx NR - Rasmus Stub Detlefsen (longest standing Danish NR)

-- Martin got jinx'd

-- Two identical pyraminx scrambles in a row: https://rb.gy/qzrqcf

  • Kit's Cubing Math Corner: Megaminx Scrambles! Are they representative of random state?

  • Hollywood, Maryland of the Day: Weather, Hotel Prices, Flights

  • New SEE Events:

-- Andrew does GoCube BLD: avg of 5: 24.311: 29.124, (44.731), 22.456, 21.353, (19.520)-- Kit does GoCube Tutorial Speedrun: 7:14

  • Kit's World Record: youtube.com/watch?v=uk448nrg-dw

- New Events: Kit - $50 3-cube relay - 51.46 ao5

- Andrew - Mirrored GoCube: https://pockets.cubing.net/MirrorCube/

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Episode 35 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Monday, June 29, 2020

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics:

  • Is Tazzlyn's slower solving a benefit to streaming?

  • Everybody guessed the Bell

  • The Pockets Show! Every week on Friday from 4-6 Pacific at twitch.tv/ColorfulPockets

  • Productivity links from Kevin:

https://fortelabs.co/blog/one-touch-to-inbox-zero/

https://fortelabs.co/blog/para/

https://fortelabs.co/blog/the-one-touch-guide-to-doing-a-weekly-review/

  • Cakes (??)

  • Kit's Math Corner: Fibonacci and 3x3 Random Move Scrambles

  • To what extent is learning algs worth it?

  • If we had modern hardware many years ago, would a slice turn be a +2?

  • Hollywood, Maryland of the Day: How Hollywood got its name

  • New SEE Events:

Andrew does 3x3 With Face: 1:20.61 average of 5

Andrew: GoCube App Tutorial Speedrunning (7:12.87)

Kit: GoCube BLD (24.71 ao5)

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Episode 34 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things. Recorded LIVE Wednesday, June 17 Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer Or on SpeedSolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics: - Generating random state 7x7 scrambles - rolling the die multiple times - xyzzy: CSTimer FMC scramble filtering - Alpha cuber is awesome on SpeedSolving guessed the bell! - cakes (???) - Andrew and Kit doing streaming - Kit's Math/Cubing Corner: Teaching how to solve a cube intuitively in NCTM journal - Hollywood, Maryland of the Day: Volunteer Fire Department - New SEE Events: Further discussion of Fewest Pockets         - Best fewest pockets solve on example scramble: 10/46 by xyzzy and 10/49 by bartogian         - Kit's attempt: https://rb.gy/riulkb         - Updated Rules: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XjVJxknuwi5HYPCpDak4fxuV0_XTR5f7jwdLhKdL7CI/edit         - Andrew's Bash script: https://github.com/ColorfulPockets/FewestRolls/blob/master/fewestRolls.sh

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Episode 33 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Friday, June 5, 2020.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

or on Speedsolving: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/

Topics:

  • Final Fantasy, emulation, etc.

  • layerbylayer.reddit.com

  • xyzzy's comment: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/the-layer-by-layer-podcast.76921/page-2#post-1372092

  • 5x5 Random State

  • Using 3BLD scrambles for everything

  • Online Competitions: Cubing @ Home, Twisty Puzzle Cup, The Monkey League

  • 15 Puzzle Parity by Numberphile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI1WqYKHi78

  • Hollywood, Maryland of the day: Socks the Cat

  • Kit does Blindfolded 3x3x3: 41.35 average of 5

  • Andrew does 3x3x3 with Mask: 15.13 single

  • New SEE Events: 3x3x3 with Face, and currently-unnamed-but-pretty-cool-event:

For those of you who want to try out Andrew's event, here is an example scramble, rules, and rolls: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19YuG1BmWpYQn_2NCsJRE34FZ9rVp_Ign0QN3yByd1Hw/edit?usp=sharing

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Episode 32 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded LIVE Friday, April 10, 2020.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics:

  • The Wandering Tuttminx Meme: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cubers/comments/fw0j21/when_listening_to_layerbylayer_last_night/

  • Cubing at Home

  • Andrew Reveals the Bell

  • Shoutout to Hollywood, Maryland

  • Andrew invented a new OH M2 fingertrick

  • Delegate fistfights

  • Thought experiment: what if 3x3 scramble generators could only generate half of all states, but It’s an arbitrary half

  • Megaminx is alg-resistant

  • Livestream Q/A

  • SEE Events of the Day: 3x3 with Mask, and Blindfolded 3x3

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LBL LIVESTREAM: FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 3 PM PST - we forgot to say the date in the episode itself.

Episode 31 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Friday, March 27

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics:

  • Magic: The Gathering update
  • Topppits' Great Comment
  • Dobeye's Flow Chart: https://i.redd.it/4txrtk5504p41.png
  • Cubing At Home competitions
  • New SEE Events - the challenge Results: Andrew w/o oven mitts: 59.79; Kit: 2:15.77

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Episode 30 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things. Recorded Friday, March 6, 2020 Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer The video for this episode: Coming soon on ColorfulPockets! Topics:  - Special Guests Mark Boyanowski and Graham Siggins! - Follow-up: Why the Reddit link thing happened - Why people underestimate how large gaps are at the upper end of MBLD skill - THE GAME OF FOUR - The first WCA shirt - "Corner Twist Kid" is back! And doing well! - Outdated thoughts about Coronavirus - Sitting at competition stations - People don't understand what parity is - Cubeography is not a thing - Karate Chop Stops Scores: - Mark: 9/30, + 17 Bells =  -1 points - Graham: 25/41, + 21 Bells = 30 points

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Episode 29 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Monday, February 3, 2020

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics:

TRY THESE LINKS!

  • http://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/posts/?=3

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/tf2/comments/posts/tf2_trading_guide/?=3

  • World Records: Max Park 5x5, 6x6, 7x7; Cale Schoon Fewest Moves

  • Graham Siggins' dedication

  • Feet is Gone 🦀🦀🦀

  • Unofficial events and restructuring the WCA

  • Speedcubing Extra Events (SEE)

  • What can Andrew do with a 3D printer for cubing?

  • Bad cubing memes

  • A GREAT cubing meme

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Episode 28 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

**Recorded Friday January 3, 2020

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer**Topics:

  • The Elbies 2019! Spoilers for the winners below:

  • Best New 3x3: Welong WR M

  • Best New Non-3x3 Puzzle: Valk 5 M

  • Best Episode of Layer By Layer: 16 - I Put It In A Vending Machine

  • Best World Record: Graham Siggins 59/60 MBLD

  • Luckiest Official Solve: Andrew Huang - Skewb U-Perm

  • LBL Subreddit Comment of the Year: Issun_x: "I'd like to see Kit comment on how the WCA regulations views folding your FMC scramble sheet into a paper aeroplane and throwing it to the delegate to finish, in order for increased efficiency in submission of solutions."

  • LBL Subreddit User with a Gandalf-related Username: YueXiaoNotPass

  • Cuber of the Year: Sean Patrick Villanueva

  • Andrew's Bad Prediction: Rowe Hessler will have one of the next 4 solves above the current world record or solve above the other solve that was above the world record/below the time of the world record from previously in the same day, or by the end of the year

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Episode 27 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE ELBIES: https://forms.gle/S69CHxQaJMa5uaui7

Recorded Friday November 22

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics:

  • Kaijun Lin 5BLD WR

  • Andrew Doesn't Forget the Bell this time

  • Red Bull World Cup 2019

  • FMC Americas 2019

  • Domino Reduction

  • The Elbies 2019

  • MEOTD: Food

  • Bad Prediction of the Day: A GAN cube will not win the Elbies listener's choice

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Episode 26 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday, November 13.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • THE NEW MOYU CLOCK IS HERE!!!

  • A bunch of World Records: Yunhao Lou 4.38 Clock, Graham Siggins 59/60 MBLD, Stanley Chapel 1:06.23 4BLD, and of course, Feliks Zemdegs 5.53 3x3

  • Sean Patrick Villanueva and Leo Borromeo 

  • When will we stop finding new Algorithms?

  • Kit is good (but actually bad) at FMC, and bad insertions are demotivating

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: Nordic Championship 2019 overview, 17.61 3bld

  • Bad Prediction of the Day: Whoever wins FMC Americas 2019 will have a 26.67 mean of 3 or worse

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Episode 25 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday, October 16.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics:

  • Congrats to Gundolf for actually guessing the last bell!

  • Max Park OH single (finally)

  • 49 point MBLD WR by Graham

  • The Awards Show: Send us your ideas!

  • Linus Frész's 24.00 FMC Mean

  • Andrew is off Facebook; but where can he find cubing news?

  • Andrew's only cubing goals

  • Kit Clement of the Day: Best counting 2x2 single

  • Bad prediction of the day: The second place 3x3 average at UK Championship 2019 will be sub-6.2

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Episode 24 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

**Recorded Tuesday, October 1.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer**Topics:

  • Baba is Cube

  • Last names that break statistics

  • FMC North America West 2019: Bad scrambles, or just being tired?

  • World Records: 4x4 by Sebastian Weyer again, 4x4 BLD by Stanley Chapel again

  • Kit guesses for whom the bell tolls

  • Groupifier

  • WCA's growth slowdown

  • Rob's Challenge Pen Capping WB: https://youtu.be/X3gQvCoD4W0

  • Fresh Moyu Clock rumors

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Episode 23 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Friday September 6. 

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer 

Topics: 

  • Follow-up: You know, the thing we talked about last episode 

  • Andrew forgot to bring his cubes to San Diego Summer 2019 

  • Scramble Signatures 

  • Our strategies for FMC NA West

  • What should Kit's goal be in the prediction game? 

  • Bad Martin Egdal of the Prediction of the Day: UFC Fights

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Episode 22 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Friday August 23.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • Follow-up: Oreos 

  • World Records:  Max Park 7x7 single, Max Hilliard 3BLD single, Stanley Chapel 4BLD single/average, Juan Pablo multiple Megaminx averages, Daniel Rose-Levine Feet average, and a surprising 4x4 single from Sebastian Weyer

  • US Nationals and Bronycon

  • What to do with a duplicate scramble?

  • The current State of the Smartcubes

  • BLD buffer: Should you choose a different buffer from everyone else?

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: Farming

  • Prediction of the day: Collin Burns will be out of top 100 in a year

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Episode 21 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Tuesday July 23.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • Andrew figured out why he doesn't like 4BLD and 5BLD

  • A whole bunch of world records from the World Championship and beyond!

  • Kit is 1/2 on bad predictions

  • New 3BLD formats

  • What is the ideal venue for a large competition?

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: 3BLD ERs

  • Bad Prediction of the Day: 69/69

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Episode 20 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday June 19.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • Kit makes a prediction

  • The weird and wonderful world of Fewest Moves world records, and FMC 2019

  • A very strange incident

  • 3x3 Tier List

  • Kit's bad prediction of the day: No 4BLD or 5BLD mean WRs before the end of the year, and neither Max nor Feliks will win worlds.

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Episode 19 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Monday June 3 .

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Ask us for advice!  Email Layerbylayerpodcast@gmail.com

Topics: 

  • Email your advice questions

  • WRs: Jake klassen 3BLD 19.79, Jackey Zheng Squan 4.95, Siggins MBLD 50/52, Max Hilliard 3BLD 18.28

  • Podcast apps/Spotify/Luminary

  • Discussion of several (possibly unfair?) practices in the WCA

  • Weird interactions with friends and cubing

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: Most solves in one comp

  • Reg (Guideline) of the Day: a1a2+++

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Episode 18 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday May 8, 2019.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • BIG WR CHECK IN:

-- Tymon pyra, as predicted

-- Feliks! 5.69!

-- Yunhau Lou 4.43 clock average

-- Reto Bubendorf FMC mean

-- Mark’s 19

-- Stanley Chapel 4bld: 1:10

-- Tijmen Van Der Ree - 4.98 squan

  • BigBLD means

  • FMC with erasable pens

  • Jay fingertricks

  • "FMC" is a bad name for the event

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: sub 20 3bld

  • Reg (Guideline) of the day: 4b2++

Ask us for advice! Send emails to LayerByLayerPodcast@gmail.com

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Episode 17 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Wednesday April 3, 2019.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • Revisiting the cubing Battle Royale, with GAN 356i or other virtualized cubes

  • Clock Single WR: 3.29 by Suen Ming Chi

  • The Shared Judging System

  • WE WANT MORE STICKERLESS SHADES

  • The Nod Don

  • MEOTD: Sleep?

  • Reg of the Day: 1e

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Episode 16 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • World Record Check-In: Stanley Chapel 5BLD WR!

  • The Stackmat Conspiracy

  • Online competitions and sketchy results

  • Tetris 99 - Can we make a cubing battle royale?

  • Worlds 2019 - the FMC Prisoner's Dilemma, and superrationality

Vsauce2 video: MrBeast's $1,000,000 Dilemma

  • First North American FMC 21

  • The WCA stole our idea

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: Blindfolded success streak

  • Reg of the day: tendies

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Episode 15 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Saturday, February 16, 2019.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • Follow-up: there is no Follow-up

  • Should the WCA create more incentives to record your solves?

  • Similar to Layer by Layer...

  • Andrew's magical GTS3 fix

  • The FMC Database

  • Skeletype, Andrew's FMC tool: https://youtu.be/bVY31jW16do

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: Water

  • Reg of the Day: A6e

https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#A6e

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Episode 14 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Recorded Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

Discuss the show on Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/layerbylayer

Topics: 

  • The bell

  • RECORD CHECK-IN: 17 FMC single

  • Predictions: will 17 be tied before all other WRs are broken?

  • Re-thinking Worlds

  • Why was Nats so late?

  • What are comps like on the west coast? Are results predictable?

  • Podcon!

  • How to keep older cubers in the community? How to keep friendly atmosphere despite growth?

  • Martin Egdal of the day: chess!

  • Reg of the day: 9M https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#9m

Does anybody read these notes?

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Episode 13 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Recorded Wednesday January 9, 2019

Topics:

  • Follow-up: Cameras aren’t as cheap as we thought

  • Optimizing methods for good singles/one-off averages

  • What current WR will stand the longest?

  • YouTube premiers

  • Ephemeral events

  • Martin Egdal of the day: SOR!

  • Reg(s) of the day

10f4: https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#10f4 

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Episode 12 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/

Recorded Monday December 23, 2018

Topics:

  • Dodgecubing happened!  And we have the rules.

  • Cameras might not be as expensive as we thought

  • So you're an old dude and you want to go to a comp?

  • The Fewest Moves Deal or No Deal!

  • Martin Egdal of the Day: Worst NR

  • Reg of the Day: 12g2

https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#12g2

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Episode 11 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Recorded Tuesday December 11, 2018. 

Topics: 

  • Multi scoring 

  • Dodgecubing 

  • 3x3 world record: should the WCA record solves? Security cam footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB3ut65SFUU 

  • Max Hilliard 16.55 3BLD WR 

  • XC3E skeletons 

  • Martin Egdal of the day: 7x7 

  • Reg of the day: 9b https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#9b

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Episode 10 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Recorded Monday November 19, 2018. 

Topics: 

  • Dodgecubing Update 

  • Computer Vision for scramble verification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaW1dmqRE0o 

  • Andrew is a BLD accuracy god 

  • The crazy FMC World Record weekend 

  • Force Cube Hell (trying to make force galaxy megaminxes) https://www.reddit.com/r/Cubers/comments/9ufb7f/i_hesitated_about_it_but_heres_my_first_video_be/e95cvou/ 

  • There are three Rouxers in the top 7 OH solvers (or 1 in the top 2, or 2 in the top 5) 

  • Martin Egdal is an unstoppable nemesis 

  • Reg of the Day: 9f12c https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#9f12c

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Episode 9 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Recorded October 24, 2018. 

Topics: - Biking Accident 

  • Film (like, actual film) sucks 

  • Starting a non-WCA league with the intention of merging with the WCA if it’s popular and the WCA wants to 

  • We review WCAT applicants: Here's an imgur album with all of the applicants: https://imgur.com/a/7Wgrxv5 

  • 5 people 5 FMC scrambles The best FMC analogy 

  • When should competitions be announced? Subtopic: Is the new distance policy a bad thing? 

  • FIRST! 

  • Reg of the day: 4b3 https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#4b3 The incident: https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/incidents/28?fbclid=IwAR2Sr1O07nznLjg9HDFwS5aRgg0iBbPfMI0QRXjVMhL6RJ0chh4FNs6USxA

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Episode 8 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Recorded September 28, 2018 

Topics: 

  • Andrew pulled a Kit 

  • Walker’s journey 

  • Kit’s classes 

  • Everything you need to know about ZZ and ZZ-CT 

  • Should the WCA add another puzzle? Is there a better system? 

  • The snack registration fee (FMC-A Atlanta) 

  • Reddit pros and cons 

  • Reg of the day https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#3d1b

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Episode 7 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/

Recorded September 18, 2018.

Topics:

  • Weird Sleep Schedules and traveling

  • Kinch improvement: Linear Transformation of all Kinch scores

  • Tillamook - Andrew forgot about his competition, but did well at FMC

  • Kit remembered his competition, and did kinda bad at everything but still won

  • An improvement to multiBLD techniques

  • Podcasts we listen to:

Dear Hank and John: https://www.patreon.com/dearhankandjohn

The Pitch: https://www.gimletmedia.com/the-pitch

Beautiful Anonymous: https://bit.ly/2vZbSsW

Hello Internet: www.hellointernet.fm

Relay.fm: https://www.relay.fm/

The Glass Cannon Podcast: https://glasscannonpodcast.com/

99% Invisible: https://99percentinvisible.org/

Hardcore History: https://bit.ly/2DaN1UD

  • Team events: How to make them engaging and unique

Relays, TeamBLD, Rob's Challenge, Wild card: dodgecube

  • Reg of the day: 1c10 https://bit.ly/2ObYYlL

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Episode 6 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Topics: 

  • Tillamook 

  • Andrew’s new podcast, Brain to Board https://overcast.fm/itunes1430844944/brain-to-board 

  • Pranking Walker 

  • MBLD Basket Case 

  • Follow-up on MBLD N/N situation 

  • KINCH KINCH KINCH (and other ranking systems) 

https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/misc/sum_of_ranks/ 

http://wcadb.net/kinchranks.php 

  • GTS3 Ridges: Gimmick or Useful (or other??) 

  • GAN 354 discussion 

  • Kit's color scheme 

  • Reg(s?) of the Day!  12c4 and 10f4

https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#12c4 

https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#10f4

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Episode 5 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Topics: 

  • Taking pictures of a cat 

  • 3D printing for cubing 

  • Andrew’s method, camp classes 

  • RIDDLES WITH ANDREW!

- Max Siauw vs. Kevin Hays: a correction 

  • Is Kit’s GiiKER cube defective? (Follow-up) 

  • We totally predicted Max Hilliard’s WR 

  • DRL feedback (or should we say, feet-back) 

  • FMC H1a-like reg 

  • Max Park OH, official misscrambles 

  • Reg of the Day: https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#4g 

  • WRs: Juan Pablo Huanqui mega, Shivam MBLD 

  • Basket case for MBLD 

  • Types of learners 

  • Most efficient way to practice 3BLD

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Episode 4 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things. Recorded LIVE at CubingUSA Nationals 2018! 

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Topics: 

  • World Records, Megaminx OcR in the lunch room 

  • Andrew's World Best with Mark: Rob's Challenge FMC 

  • Andrew's possessed stopwatch 

  • Why wasn't there a snack room at Nats??

- Who is the best cuber without a Wikipedia page? 

  • Reg of the day: Crazy regs from 2006 https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/history/files/regulations2006.html 

  • How would someone organize a competition if they've never seen or been to a competition? 

  • Multiple World Records in the Same Day 

  • You mean you're not on the football team?

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Episode 3 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/

Topics: 

-Vidcon 

-Japan 

-Western Champs 

  • GiiKER Cube 

  • Andrew racing Alex Davani to silver membership 

  • Shadow M 

  • Is Kit's GiiKER cube defective??!?!? 

  • Alberquerque - almost learned how to spell it (it’s Albuquerque) 

  • Double Jeopardy - discouraging videos isn’t the issue? 

  • PB vs PR - Rise of cubing on Twitch twitch.tv/kitstopher 

-Reg of the day A1a2+++++ https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/guidelines.html#A1a2+++++

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Episode 2 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Topics: 

  • Oregon State Favorites recap - Go Cube / Giiker Cube 

Go Cube: https://goo.gl/1mw6ZE 

Giiker Cube: https://goo.gl/XnWGD2 

  • World Records: Kevin Hays 7x7 Single: https://goo.gl/ovQZm8 

Daniel Rose-Levine Feet Average: https://goo.gl/YS7iLo 

Jeff Park 3x3 Blindfolded Single: https://goo.gl/WdXXB5 

  • Regulation of the Day: A5b https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#A5b 

  • Video Evidence used to retroactively apply penalties Max Park's 6x6 WR mean (DNFed): https://goo.gl/Fp7KZZ 

  • Andrew's beginner's method: Hexagonal Francisco B https://goo.gl/WBS3CG

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Episode 1 of Layer by Layer: a Cubing Podcast, the show (ostensibly) about Rubik's Cubes, speedcubing, and only occasionally/often about other things.

Discuss the episode on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/layerbylayer/ 

Topics: 

  • Using a different method for OH vs 2H https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCfLsh5vDt0 

  • Andrew gets a lot of LL skips with ZZ 

  • Low attendance at CubingUSA Regional Championships

- Regulation of the Day: H1a https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#H1a