Do you know that Ken Jennings hosts a terrific podcast known as Omnibus for trivia nerds? Positive, he has develop into a staple of the 2025 TV schedule because the host of Jeopardy! and even earlier than he was the host, most individuals nonetheless knew him greatest from his time because the winningest champion (a document which he thinks may very well be damaged) within the iconic recreation present’s historical past.
Jeopardy! is definitely the place I first knew him from, after all, however as we speak, not solely am I a fan of his internet hosting work on the present, I’m a good greater fan of his podcast, The Omnibus Venture, or just Omnibus, alongside his co-host, John Roderick. Right here’s why everybody who loves historical past and trivia must be tuning in every week.
Years Earlier than He Was Named Host Of Jeopardy!, Jennings Began A Podcast
The premise of Omnibus is that the 2 hosts are “preserving” bits of historical past that they fear may very well be misplaced to the sands of time. They’re constructing a time capsule to guard these tales in order that when the tapes are found within the distant future, “futurelings,” because the present describes them, can find out about these historic tidbits. With wide-ranging matters, like Dungeons and Dragons, the 1904 Olympic marathon, The Nice Bell of Dhammazedi, and U.S. mail vans, the present does deep dives into the historical past of every and why it’s so essential that they be remembered.
The present releases new episodes weekly on Thursdays, after being launched in late 2017. I found the present very early within the COVID lockdowns within the spring of 2020, and I’ve been a die-hard listener ever since. Like Jennings, I’m a part of what he describes because the “final era that may justify having nerdy pursuits,” I like esoteric historical past and trivia info, and Omnibus scratches these itches like no different podcast I’ve discovered. Should you love bizarre historical past, tuning into “America’s smartest boy” (as Roderick known as Jennings) and getting some deep data on issues you could by no means have heard of is a should.
It’s Additionally A Nice Approach To Hear A Completely different Aspect Of Jennings
Omnibus has a really laid-back strategy. The present often begins with Jennings and Roderick simply riffing on no matter involves thoughts. This will go on for a very long time and is usually essentially the most enjoyable little bit of the present. It’s not normal for it to take half-hour or extra to lastly come round to the subject of the present, and for me, that’s a terrific factor. The hosts by no means appear to know the place the dialog will take them, however in a good way.
Each hosts have a plethora of random data, and their chemistry is incredible. John Roderick is a musician and podcast host from Seattle who grew to become buddies with Jennings years earlier than they determined to do a present collectively, and their friendship is a giant a part of that chemistry. They discuss their household lives, together with Ken Jennings’ spouse, Mindy, and his two kids. As Jeopardy! doesn’t typically enable viewers to see a extra private facet of Jennings, who admits even he doesn’t just like the “cringy” interviews, it’s nice to listen to how witty and humorous he’s, as is Roderick.
In order you patiently look forward to Jeopardy! to lastly begin streaming, which you’ll have the ability to watch with a Peacock subscription in September, seek for John Roderick and Ken Jennings’ podcast, Omnibus, and hear. I believe you’ll like it.