In this episode of Post-Podium, I had the opportunity to chat with Mike Janela, a sportscaster from Astoria, New York who made his Jeopardy! debut on April 7, 2022. While he may not have emerged the champion, I was so fascinated by Mike's background that I just had to get him on the podcast to talk about his career and how it played a role in his preparation process for the show. We also break down his game/episode, and I ask him questions about what it was like to play against a Jeopardy! juggernaut like Mattea Roach (who has since qualified for the next Tournament of Champions).

What was the last state that Mike visited to finish his travels to all 50 states? Who sabotaged Mike's chances of appearing in a Jeopardy! Teen Tournament? How many groanworthy puns and cheesy analogies/metaphors do we make in this podcast episode (tag me on social if you know!)? The first two questions and more are answered in this episode of Post-Podium!

Timestamps

0:14 - Intro

1:20 - Mike's introduction

4:50 - Mike's watch party experience

6:38 - "Why Jeopardy!?"

10:07 - "What did your audition timeline look like?"

16:44 - Mike's career in media: Being a sportscaster

17:44 - Did Mike see anything as "a lost cause" while studying for Jeopardy!?"

19:40 - Mike's reaction to the "BALLPARK" category

22:32 - Mike's career in media: Travelling for Guinness World Records

30:43 - How much did travelling the world help Mike in studying for Jeopardy!?

32:25 - Mike's career in media: Working for LittleThings and Reward the Fan

33:12 - Did working for LittleThings or Reward the Fan help Mike keep in touch with pop culture?

35:25 - Did working for the American Kennel Club add to Mike's knowledge of dog breeds?

36:23 - Mike's career in media: Appearing on $100,000 Pyramid and dealing with a high-stakes environment

40:06 - What were some additional resources Mike used to study for Jeopardy!?

42:30 - Was there a category Mike felt very prepared for but didn't appear in his game?

45:13 - How close is Mike with his contestant cohort? 

50:07 - Did watching Mattea from the audience change Mike's gameplay strategy at all?

53:58 - Mike's thoughts on Mayim and Ken as the rotating hosts of Jeopardy!

56:08 - Was Mike able to speak with Mayim outside of his contestant interview?

57:27 - Mike's unused contestant stories

59:02 - Game Breakdown: Mike's final words on the Jeopardy! buzzer

1:02:19 - Game Breakdown: "COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET" for $600

1:04:09 - Game Breakdown: Mike's Final Jeopardy! response

1:06:48 - Was Final Jeopardy! wager theory part of Mike's preparation for Jeopardy!?

1:09:15 - Why Reagan should have wagered no more than $2,000 in Final Jeopardy! rather than going all in

1:11:57 - "What aspect of the contestant experience surprised you the most?"

1:13:49 - Other behind the scenes stories (meeting Jimmy McGuire from the Clue Crew, getting roasted by wardrobe)

1:15:19 - "Have you read any messages from randoms or people from your distant past on social media?"

1:17:29 - "Did you get any stray 'thirst tweets' or anyone trying to slide into your DMs?"

1:19:06 - Should Jeopardy! raise the value of its consolation prizes for non-winning contestants?

1:22:18 - Wrapping up and promoting social media

1:24:08 - Outro