Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: "The Doctor Is In: Katie Nolan and Dan Soder’s Final “Jeopardy!” Share & Tell"
Date: January 26, 2024
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Katie Nolan & Dan Soder

Overview

In this episode, Pablo Torre explores the aftermath and behind-the-scenes of Katie Nolan's run to the finals of Celebrity Jeopardy!, joined by comedian Dan Soder (her fiancé). Fresh off the season’s conclusion, Pablo, Katie, and Dan break down not just the strategies, surprises, and emotions embedded in the game, but also the context: illness, “buzzer thumb,” and relationships both on and off camera. The group leans into humor, sports analogies, and real talk about pressure, performance, and what it’s like to truly want something on national television. This is both a post-game therapy session for Katie and a look at what it means to lose well in front of an audience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening: Impressions, Laser Sounds, and Wrestling Voices

0:30–3:00

• The episode opens playfully: Dan demonstrates his sound effects (laser, machine gun), and Pablo enjoys Dan's "woke Rodney Dangerfield" routine.
• The trio jokes through wrestling impressions, with Katie doing a “macho man” via Dan Soder meta-impressions.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Dan: “Look, I'm telling you, you don't have to get any respect to women of color. It's far too long they haven't been getting... If gender’s fluid, then I'm in love with a puddle!" (01:34)
  • Katie: "Every impression I do is an impression of Dan's impression." (03:14)

Watching Jeopardy: Reliving the Final at Home

3:53–5:11

• Katie and Dan watched her Jeopardy! finals at home together, already knowing the outcome.
• Both reflect on the discomfort of watching oneself lose, equating it to being the partner of a boxer after a tough match.
• Katie: "I full lost the final. I came in third. I full lost the final." (05:19)
• Dan reveals Katie was “very sick” during taping: “Katie was very sick, very sick when she recorded. And that’s not an excuse. I’m just letting you know.” (05:28)
• Katie details a series of illnesses and thumb injury leading to the final.

Injuries, Illness, and "Buzzer Thumb"

6:04–9:03

• Katie recounts having just come out of COVID, then fought off a serious cold for the finals. She also describes injuring her thumb by overplaying Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation.
• Both joke about the sitcom-like absurdity of being physically unready before a big event.
• Pablo to Katie: "What is the most real version of Katie Nolan is the version that you can sense who really wanted to win this." (09:49)

Preparation: Studying and Buzzer Technique

10:15–17:19

• Pablo lauds Katie's preparation—she tried to memorize every country and capital to not "look stupid," a goal she says she achieved.
• Katie discusses reading a book about buzzer technique and describes how to minimize movement for maximum speed.
• Dan: “She put in the work. Learned every country, the fact that—learned every capital.” (10:15)
• Katie (On her Jeopardy! goal): "The original main goal was I don't wanna look stupid, and I don't think I did. So I'm proud of that." (10:38)
• Katie, on buzzer skills: “You just pull. Your thumb, the button.” (16:47)

Inside the Game: Key Jeopardy! Moments and Crowd Dynamics

18:05–21:18

• The viewing party dynamics get sports-like, with Dan as supportive hype-man in a hostile “away game” crowd.
• Katie’s "Daily Double" in Geography was a highlight; Soder likens his reaction to a superfan at a football game.
• Dan: “When I saw it was geography, I reacted the same way I did when we went to the 49ers-Chief Super Bowl…” (19:33)
• Katie, on wagering: “My brain's just going, 7, 3, 4, 5, 16. All of it. None of it.” (26:49)

Notable Game Play Mistakes & Strategic Regrets

21:46–28:32

• Katie regrets not trusting her gut on a clue about the Macarena (line dance confusion) and reveals her self-critical process.
• Dan and Katie openly admit to no grand wagering strategy, more a “what am I comfortable losing” instinct.
• On missed clue about Macarena: “I should have just said it. I think something in my brain was like, oh, you're gonna look real stupid if you say the Macarena is a line dance.” (23:12)

Final Jeopardy: The Big Miss

29:47–34:43

• Final category: Literary Clichés. Katie wagers everything, expecting to dominate “word” questions.
• The answer was “The butler did it”—she wrote “The doctor is in” (from Peanuts), thrown off by clue wording.
• Katie: “For some reason, I did not focus on the word servant, and I think that's because I don't like to use terms like that.” (32:46)
• Dan describes the post-miss emotional swing—“Sad sandwich: the bread is sad, the meat is angry, and you're like, damn it. But then a swell of pride.” (34:47)

Reflections on Losing, Redemption and Charity

35:26–38:15

• Katie wishes she understood wagering better, so she could win more for her chosen charity (Association for Women in Sports Media), who could use every cent.
• Both Dan and Pablo highlight how proud they are of Katie—her preparation, her run, and her representation for women in sports media.
• Notable Quote: “If you're listening to this and it matters, [the Association] can also donate, because I think they'll take any money they can get.” (38:03)
• Pablo: “You did a really good job of explaining to America what this organization was in a real way….” (38:15)

Online Reactions, Advice, and “Haunted” Missed Clues

39:25–46:08

• Katie laments not being able to warn eager fans she didn’t actually win, and how hard it is to read “go get ‘em!” posts when she knows the outcome.
• She describes how missed clues “haunt” her, like not getting “One Dance” by Drake or “Appetite for Destruction.”
• Katie reflects on taking time away from Jeopardy! after the loss, returning later with renewed appreciation.

Losing With Grace & Looking Forward

46:08–49:14

• Discussion on the cultural aversion to losing—Katie expresses pride in her effort despite not winning.
• Dan recounts how Executive Producer Michael Davies personally told Katie she had the highest correct response ("field goal") percentage of anyone in the tournament—a tangible mark of her skill.
• Dan’s sentiments: "I'm very proud of you. It was fun. It's over. It was over. All legitimately.” (48:22)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dan, to Katie (prideful):
  “I'm very proud of her and the way she busted her ass, like, to learn before the finals, it was just awesome. …You did so awesome. And you almost won it. You missed one big question that cost you the game, but you were in it. And you were in it to the end.” (36:39)
• Katie, on post-finale emotions:
  “I think if it had been Mo, I would have been up like more upset. Lisa Ann was just so sweet and she was really smart and she played the game really well. …I was really happy for her.” (33:47)
• Pablo, summarizing:
  “What I found out watching Katie Nolan play Celebrity Jeopardy! Is that she would have wiped the floor with…” (42:59)
• Katie, on represented women’s sports media:
  “Women in sports media. Not stupid, very smart. Oftentimes write their own thing. Believe it or not, they let us do the typing and the talking.” (42:40)

Segment Timestamps: Quick Reference

• Impressions & Opening Banter: 00:30–03:26
• Jeopardy! Finals Viewing, Illness & Injury: 03:53–09:03
• Game Strategy & Buzzer Technique: 10:15–17:19
• Daily Double & Game Flow: 18:05–21:18, 19:32–20:06
• Missteps & Clue Regrets: 21:46–23:27, 45:09–46:08
• Final Jeopardy Sequence: 29:47–34:43
• Post-game Reflection: 35:26–38:15, 39:25–46:45

Tone

The episode combines sarcasm, competitive wit, self-deprecating humor, and surprising vulnerability. The trio uses sports, pop culture, and “dumb smart” references to both deflect and process the emotional stakes of performing under pressure and failing publicly. There’s a deliberate refusal to wallow, and a commitment to finding the fun—and meaning—in a nationalized embarrassment.

Conclusion

This episode is a candid, funny, and energetic deep dive into what it feels like to compete at something you care about, deal with loss, and be cheered on (and chirped at) by the internet. It’s also a loving portrait of a relationship built on mutual support, as well as a promotional platform for the cause of women in sports media. Katie’s authenticity and resilience shine, and the camaraderie with Dan and Pablo makes for essential listening for both Jeopardy! fans and anyone interested in the gap between effort and outcome in public life.

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