In this episode of Post-Podium, I had the opportunity to chat with Rhone Talsma, a librarian from Chicago, Illinois whose crowning achievement was defeating Jeopardy! ultra champion Amy Schneider and ending her historic 40-game run. Rhone won a total of $29,600 but unfortunately lost in his second game finishing in third. However, Rhone is now part of an exclusive club of Jeopardy! contestants who have defeated ultra champions, which includes Nancy Zerg, Emma Boettcher, and Jonathan Fisher just to name a few.
What kind of free stuff did Rhone receive after his big win? How did Rhone maintain his composure against a formidable opponent like Amy? And why do librarians, historically speaking, make for great Jeopardy! contestants? All of these questions and more are answered in this episode of Post-Podium!
Timestamps
0:14 - Intro
2:12 - What has Rhone been up to since appearing on Jeopardy!?
5:06 - Rhone's Instagram shopping habits
7:13 - Did any brands reach out to Rhone to send him free stuff?
10:24 - Does Rhone like other game shows besides Jeopardy!? What is Rhone's relationship with trivia like?
13:35 - Was Rhone afraid of the possibility of running into a super champion before taping for Jeopardy!?
15:38 - Rhone on maintaining his composure against an ultra champion
17:42 - How did Rhone tweak his gameplay strategy in response to watching Amy play?
20:16 - Was Final Jeopardy! wager strategy a part of Rhone's prep process?
21:14 - Rhone's rationale behind his $12,000 FJ! wager
22:19 - FJ! wager theory: What is a "crush?"
24:53 - How did Rhone draw a line between having low expectations for himself and feeling hopeless or defeated?
29:02 - Was Rhone able to stay in touch with Amy after his taping day?
30:33 - Does Rhone keep in touch with his contestant cohort?
31:15 - Rhone on why Ken Jennings is fit to be the permanent host of Jeopardy!
32:51 - Some meta trivia regarding Amy's loss to Rhone
33:42 - Rhone on why librarians make for great Jeopardy! contestants
35:19 - A series of Pokémon-related questions
37:44 - What was Rhone's watch party experience like?
39:09 - Rhone on reactions to his win on social media
40:12 - How did Rhone prepare for Jeopardy!?
42:15 - Rhone's best and worst Jeopardy! subjects
44:35 - Rhone on the Jeopardy! buzzer
45:28 - Rhone taught an online dating class for senior citizens
48:04 - Rhone on his favorite public metro systems
50:11 - Rhone's prisoner's dilemma in Final Jeopardy!
53:31 - Was there any part of the contestant experience that surprised Rhone?
54:42 - Other behind the scenes stories (Rhone and Amy's astrological signs)
57:02 - What was Rhone's best purchase using his prize winnings?
57:59 - Wrapping up and promoting social media
59:35 - Outro
