Podcast Summary: All Of It – Live Trivia with Ken Jennings!
Date Released: July 29, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! Host and Trivia Expert
Introduction to Ken Jennings and His Career
[00:07] Alison Stewart:
Alison Stewart welcomes listeners to "All Of It," an exploration of culture and its creators. Today’s special episode features Ken Jennings, renowned for holding the longest winning streak on Jeopardy! and now the beloved host of the show. Alison introduces Ken’s latest venture, Connections, a trivia puzzle game that has been a favorite since 2012 and is now available in a comprehensive format with 5,000 questions and 1,000 puzzles.
Ken Jennings’ Perspective on Trivia and Culture
[03:22] Ken Jennings:
Ken discusses his passion for trivia, emphasizing its role in fostering cultural literacy and uniting society through shared knowledge. He reflects on how Jeopardy! has maintained goodwill over decades, acting as a bastion of factual accuracy in an era increasingly skeptical of experts.
“Jeopardy! might be the last place where everyone universally acknowledges that questions have factual answers.”
— Ken Jennings [05:00]
Becoming the Host of Jeopardy!
[06:21] Alison Stewart:
Alison probes Ken about his transition from record-holding contestant to full-time host, especially following the legacy of the iconic former host, Alex Trebek.
[06:33] Ken Jennings:
Ken expresses the challenges of stepping into Trebek’s shoes, highlighting Alex's unparalleled skill and humility. He emphasizes that the host's role is to support the game board and contestants rather than overshadow them.
“If there's anything that I can bring to the table that Alex can't, and that's a pretty big if.”
— Ken Jennings [06:33]
Empathy for Contestants and the Jeopardy! Community
[07:56] Ken Jennings:
Having been a contestant, Ken shares his empathy for current players, understanding the intense pressure they face. He appreciates the exclusivity of being part of the Jeopardy! community, irrespective of their final standing in the game.
“If you've been on Jeopardy!, whether you finished first, second, or third, you and I are in the same very special little club.”
— Ken Jennings [12:19]
Behind the Scenes: Writing Jeopardy! Clues
[15:40] Ken Jennings:
Ken delves into the meticulous process behind crafting Jeopardy! questions. He praises the dedicated team of writers and researchers responsible for ensuring each clue is fresh, accurate, and engaging.
“Our writers are Emmy winning and great at what they do.”
— Ken Jennings [16:00]
Introducing Connections: A New Trivia Puzzle Experience
[21:24] Ken Jennings:
Ken introduces his new book, Connections: 5,000 Questions and 1,000 Puzzles, explaining its origin from a suggestion by Parade magazine. The game combines traditional trivia with lateral thinking to identify common threads among answers.
“It's a puzzle solving aspect and meta puzzles, and it's now run in Parade and mentalfloss.com for over a dozen years.”
— Ken Jennings [22:29]
Live Trivia Session with Listeners
Alison and Ken engage listeners in a live trivia game segment based on Connections. The format involves five trivia questions followed by identifying a common connection among the answers. Here are key moments from the live interaction:
Round One Highlights
-
Question: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick were all Oscar-nominated for their roles in what 2009 comedy movie?
Answer: Up in the Air
Caller: Angie from Brooklyn
Timestamp: [25:43] -
Question: Google’s Lync NYC project converted what obsolete New York City feature into thousands of free Wi-Fi hotspots?
Answer: Phone Booths
Caller: Ben from Tarrytown
Timestamp: [25:59] -
Question: What Jonathan Lethem bestseller has a lonely title that refers to Dean Street in Brooklyn where its protagonists grew up?
Answer: Fortress of Solitude
Caller: Brian in Windsor Terrace
Timestamp: [27:37] -
Question: What chemical element, named from the Greek word for hidden, is the noble gas that's heavier than argon but lighter than xenon?
Answer: Krypton
Caller: Brian in Montclair
Timestamp: [28:25] -
Question: The most valuable movie poster of all time, which sold at auction for $690,000, was from what Fritz Lang sci-fi epic of the silent era?
Answer: Metropolis
Caller: Darren from Rye
Timestamp: [29:08]
Connection Reveal:
All answers—Up in the Air, Phone Booths, Fortress of Solitude, Krypton, and Metropolis—are settings related to Superman.
“They are all subjects painted by Andy Warhol.”
— Ken Jennings [38:27]
Round Two Highlights
-
Question: Whose billion-selling 1964 book included sayings like "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"?
Answer: Chairman Mao
Caller: Ben in Brooklyn
Timestamp: [33:35] -
Question: What product's famous formula is based on a secret flavor ingredient called Merchandise 7X?
Answer: Coca Cola
Caller: Devin in Jersey City
Timestamp: [34:30] -
Question: What music superstar had the number one country hit in America, a song called "Way Down the Week" upon his death on August 16, 1977?
Answer: Elvis Presley
Caller: Liz in Glencoe
Timestamp: [35:44] -
Question: Who converted to Judaism in 1965 to marry playwright Arthur Miller?
Answer: Marilyn Monroe
Caller: Roland from Washington, DC
Timestamp: [36:08] -
Question: What food brand has used the slogan "MM! Good" in its ads for over 80 years?
Answer: Campbell Soup
Caller: Nora from White Plains
Timestamp: [36:31]
Connection Reveal:
All answers—Chairman Mao, Coca Cola, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Campbell Soup—are subjects painted by Andy Warhol.
“They are all subjects painted by Andy Warhol. Very nice.”
— Ken Jennings [38:29]
Round Three Highlights
-
Question: What novel introduced Newspeak, the official language of Oceania?
Answer: 1984
Caller: Carol in Summit
Timestamp: [39:07] -
Question: In what Oscar-winning 1980 song did Irene Cara promise “I’m gonna live forever”?
Answer: Fame
Caller: Courtney from Weehawken
Timestamp: [39:35] -
Question: In 1928, Joseph Stalin ordered the first of many Soviet economic development plans, each designed to last how long?
Answer: Five Years
Caller: Sally from Long Beach
Timestamp: [40:36] -
Question: What TV series launched with the cryptic tagline, "Save the cheerleader, save the world"?
Answer: Heroes
Caller: Katie from Ridgefield, Connecticut
Timestamp: [44:30] -
Question: Jeff Bridges studied the behavior of birds in order to play the alien title character of what 1984 film?
Answer: Starman
Caller: Matthew in Brooklyn
Timestamp: [46:18]
Connection Reveal:
All answers—1984, Fame, Five Years, Heroes, and Starman—are connected to David Bowie songs.
“They are all related to Andy Warhol's subject matter.”
— Ken Jennings [38:21]
Final Interactive Puzzle
In the concluding round, Ken presents an additional set of trivia questions for live listener participation, encouraging engagement and showcasing the dual nature of Connections—factual recall combined with identifying thematic links.
Highlights:
- Question: The inaccessible island rail which lives in the South Atlantic, is the world's smallest bird that can't do what?
Answer: Fly
Caller: Philip in Tribeca
Timestamp: [47:07] - Question: In which Steven Spielberg film did Julia Roberts play Tinkerbell?
Answer: Hook
Caller: Andrea in Brooklyn
Timestamp: [47:35] - Question: According to sportswriter Paul Zimmerman, the highest scoring players on The Wonderlic, the NFL's intelligence test play what offensive line position?
Answer: Tackle
Caller: Bruce in Hackensack
Timestamp: [48:20] - Question: In 1521, Martin Luther was denounced by an edict of the Imperial Diet of what German city?
Answer: Worms
Caller: [49:22] - Question: What kind of photoreceptor cell in the human eye is longer than a cone but can't perceive color?
Answer: Rod
Caller: [49:47]
Connection Reveal:
All answers—Fly, Hook, Tackle, Worms, and Rod—are components of fishing equipment.
“They are all related to fishing equipment.”
— Ken Jennings [50:17]
Closing Thoughts and Book Promotion
[50:39] Ken Jennings:
Ken shares his hopes for Connections, emphasizing the joy of learning, enhancing conversational skills, and building connections with others through trivia and puzzles.
“You might have a story later. It's a conversation with your friends. You feel a little smarter about yourself, easier to make connections with other people.”
— Ken Jennings [50:39]
[51:01] Alison Stewart:
Alison thanks Ken for his participation and highlights the release of his book, The Complete Connections: 5,000 Questions and 1,000 Puzzles, encouraging listeners to engage with the trivia challenges.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
Ken Jennings on Trivia’s Role in Society:
“Jeopardy! might be the last place where everyone universally acknowledges that questions have factual answers.”
[05:00] -
On Stepping into Trebek’s Shoes:
“If there's anything that I can bring to the table that Alex can't, and that's a pretty big if.”
[06:33] -
About Connections: “It's a puzzle solving aspect and meta puzzles, and it's now run in Parade and mentalfloss.com for over a dozen years.”
[22:29] -
On Empathy for Contestants:
“If you've been on Jeopardy!, whether you finished first, second, or third, you and I are in the same very special little club.”
[12:19]
Conclusion
This episode of All Of It offers an in-depth look into Ken Jennings’ journey from trivia champion to Jeopardy! host and author of an extensive trivia puzzle book. Through engaging discussions and interactive trivia segments, listeners gain insights into the intricacies of hosting a legendary game show, the art of crafting compelling trivia, and the communal joy of shared knowledge. Ken’s enthusiasm for trivia as a tool for cultural connection and education shines throughout, making this episode a must-listen for trivia aficionados and cultural enthusiasts alike.