It happens every time a standout contestant hits the Jeopardy! stage. People start Googling. They want to know where they’re from, what they do for a living, and—unfortunately, in the age of the internet—questions about their personal identity often top the list. Lately, the question is zoe on jeopardy a male has been popping up in search bars across the country.
People are talking about Zoe Grobman. She’s the Philadelphia-based therapist who first graced our screens in October 2024 and then made a high-stakes return for the Second Chance Tournament in early 2025.
Honestly, the internet can be a weird place. While most fans were debating her strategy on a Daily Double or her "Amontillado" pronunciation (more on that tragedy later), others were focused on her gender. Let's just get the facts straight and look at who Zoe actually is, because her story is way more interesting than a basic search query.
Who is Zoe Grobman?
If you watched her original run, you saw a powerhouse. Zoe Grobman isn't just a trivia whiz; she’s a professional therapist. She works in Philly, specifically focusing on helping the LGBTQ+ community, neurodivergent individuals, and people navigating trauma.
When you see someone sitting while they compete—as Zoe did—it often sparks questions. In Zoe's case, she has been open about her identity. She identifies as a transgender woman.
She's also been incredibly vocal about her "lived experience." On her professional profile and in various public forums, Zoe describes herself as a trans, queer, neurodivergent, Jewish person. She doesn't hide it. In fact, she uses that perspective to help her clients heal from similar hurdles. So, to answer the blunt question driving the search traffic: Zoe is a woman. She is a transgender woman who has been a visible and proud representative of her community on one of the biggest stages in television.
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The "Amontillado" Heartbreak and the Second Chance
Trivia is brutal. You can know the answer, have the right word in your head, and still lose thousands because your tongue trips over a syllable.
During the Jeopardy! Second Chance Tournament episode that aired on January 7, 2025, Zoe faced off against Josh Heit and Enzo Cunanan. It was a "buzzsaw" of a game, as she later described it on Reddit. She hit a Daily Double in the "Potent Quotables" category. The clue was about a pale dry sherry from a famous Edgar Allan Poe tale.
She knew it. She said it. But she pronounced it in a way that Ken Jennings and the judges couldn't accept.
That one word cost her $6,000 on the spot and, arguably, at least $12,000 in total potential prize money. It was a "live by the Daily Double, die by the Daily Double" moment. She didn't bitter about it, though. In her post-game breakdown, she mentioned that the episode was taped on Election Day 2024. If you remember that day, the "collective anxiety" in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Being under those bright lights with that kind of external stress? It’s a miracle anyone could pronounce anything.
Why the Question "Is Zoe on Jeopardy a Male" Keeps Trending
We live in a time where representation is increasing, but so is scrutiny. Jeopardy! has a long history of featuring brilliant trans contestants. Most notably, Amy Schneider became a household name with her 40-game winning streak.
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Because of Amy’s massive success, there’s often a spotlight on trans contestants who follow in her footsteps. Some people search for these terms out of genuine curiosity or a desire to find role models. Others, unfortunately, are looking for fuel for "culture war" debates.
But if you actually listen to Zoe talk, she’s much more focused on the game and her community than the noise. She’s been a staple in the Jeopardy! subreddit, engaging with fans, explaining her betting logic, and even laughing at the "Amontillado" blunder. She’s human, she’s sharp, and she’s a woman who happened to be very good at trivia.
The Reality of Competing While Trans
It isn't just about knowing who the 14th President was (it's Franklin Pierce, by the way). For a trans contestant like Zoe, appearing on national TV involves a level of courage that most of us don't have to muster just to play a game.
She knew there would be comments. She knew there would be people Googling her gender instead of her stats.
Yet, she showed up. She sat in that chair because of her own physical needs and played a game that was essentially a dead heat for most of the half-hour. In her first appearance, she nearly pulled off a massive come-from-behind victory against a very strong player named Rishabh Wuppalapati. She even beat the returning champion that night, Eamonn Campbell.
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Why Representation Matters on Jeopardy!
- Visibility: It normalizes the existence of trans professionals in high-level intellectual spaces.
- Community: For a trans kid watching at home, seeing a therapist from Philly nail a Daily Double is a huge deal.
- Nuance: It moves the conversation away from "debates" and back to the person—their skills, their sense of humor, and their "Snangle" dance moves (looking at you, Rishabh).
What We Can Learn From Zoe's Run
Zoe Grobman’s time on the show was a masterclass in resilience. Most people would crumble after losing $6,000 on a mispronunciation. She didn't. She kept swinging until the final clue.
If you're still hung up on the question is zoe on jeopardy a male, you’re kind of missing the point of the show. Jeopardy! is the great equalizer. The buzzer doesn't care about your gender. The clues don't care about your background. It's just you, the light, and the knowledge you've spent a lifetime collecting.
Zoe proved she belonged there. She earned her "Jeopardy! Silver Medal" and gave the fans some of the most exciting gameplay of the season.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to support contestants like Zoe or learn more about the community she represents, you can check out her work in the mental health space or follow the official Jeopardy! Second Chance updates. Watching the episodes back—especially her Double Jeopardy! comeback in her first match—is a great way to see just how much of a "buzzsaw" she really was on the boards.