In this episode of Post-Podium, I had the opportunity to chat with Finn Corrigan, a student from Vista, California who made his Jeopardy! debut on March 17, 2022. Finn went on to win two games and a total of $40,602. He was also an alternate for the 'Jeopardy! National College Championship,' which aired in February 2022. I ask Finn a few questions regarding his unique experience as an alternate and find out how it differed from being a bona fide contestant on the syndicated program. We also break down his individual performances and games and talk about Final Jeopardy! wagering strategy.

Did Finn celebrate his success by eating at the In-N-Out on Venice Boulevard? Why did one of Finn's Final Jeopardy! responses cause an uproar on social media? And who paid a surprise visit to the Jeopardy! set while Finn was taping? All of these questions and more are answered in this episode of Post-Podium!

Timestamps

0:14 - Intro

1:17 - Finn's introduction

2:11 - Was Finn's Jeopardy! debut on St. Patrick's Day purely coincidental?

3:56 - Finn's watch party experience

6:26 - "Why Jeopardy!?"

7:55 - "What did your audition timeline look like?"

12:17 - How did Finn prepare for the JNCC?

13:37 - Finn's takeaways from observing the JNCC taping

15:45 - How did Finn prepare for the syndicated show?

19:42 - What category did Finn feel most prepared for?

20:46 - What category did Finn feel the least confident in?

22:22 - Does Finn still keep in touch with his contestant cohort?

24:18 - Did Finn get to scout his opponents at all before his first episode?

26:32 - Finn's Jeopardy! buzzer strategy (lights vs. sound, preferred grip/hold)

30:53 - Finn's opinion on Ken and Mayim as the hosts of Jeopardy! 

33:09 - Did Finn get to talk to Ken at all outside of his contestant interview?

33:53 - Finn's unused/alternate contestant stories

35:45 - Finn's PSA for anyone who wants to adopt a rabbit

37:09 - Game 1 Breakdown: Finn goes 4 for 5 in "CIRCUMFLEXING ON YOU"

38:21 - Game 1 Breakdown: "IRISH NAME DERIVATIONS"

39:07 - Game 1 Breakdown: 18 triple stumper clues

40:46 - Game 1 Breakdown: Final Jeopardy! - "NONFICTION"

41:20 - Game 2 Breakdown: Final Jeopardy! - "NEWSPAPER TALK"

42:28 - Did Finn meet or surpass his expectations for Jeopardy!?

44:18 - Why you shouldn't "wait" to apply for Jeopardy!

46:12 - What did Finn do after his first day of taping?

49:39 - Game 3 Breakdown: Discussing Final Jeopardy! wagering strategy

52:02 - The "Diana Ross" backlash

53:34 - Final Jeopardy! wager theory: Explaining Stratton's Dilemma

56:32 - What part of the Jeopardy! experience surprised Finn the most?

58:24 - Who paid a surprise visit to the Jeopardy! set while Finn was taping?

59:30 - Other behind the scenes stories (a rumored celebrity on the Sony Pictures lot?)

1:00:32 - Would Finn have preferred to have been on the JNCC?

1:02:19 - "Have you read any messages from randoms or people from your distant past on social media?"

1:04:14 - What is Finn planning to use his winnings on?

1:06:17 - Wrapping up and promoting social media

1:07:14 - Outro