Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
In the 30th episode, Connor talks with 2024 WSOP Main Event champion Jonathan Tamayo about growing up in Humble, Texas, studying hotel management at Cornell University, graduating during the 2008 recession, running deep in the 2009 and 2015 Main Events, his friendship with fellow Main Event champion Joe McKeehen, winning the biggest-ever WSOP Main Event for $10 million, and his first purchase as world champion.
Tamayo also spoke about his infamous fold with pocket queens late in the 2024 Main Event, which he says cost him $120,000 in equity, and gave his thoughts on new rules implemented at the 2025 WSOP in the wake of “LaptopGate,” as well as the Main Event structure and Phil Hellmuth’s proposed boycott that he has since rescinded.
The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Jonathan Tamayo by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.
Be sure to follow Jonathan Tamayo and Connor Richards on X.
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Timestamps
TimeTopic 0:00Intro 0:45Growing up in Humble, Texas 1:45Getting into poker 3:15Studying hotel management at Cornell University 5:46Pursuing poker full-time 10:13Deep run in 2009 Main Event 13:29Learning how to handle the Main Event 17:26Phil Hellmuth Main Event boycott 22:222015 Main Event run/Joe McKeehen victory 25:082024 Main Event 29:43Final table lineup 32:02Folding pocket queens/ lighting $120k of equity on fire 38:41Should you ever fold aces 41:33Laptopgate/WSOP rule changes 45:37Last three tables of Employees Event 46:54First purchase after winning $10 million 48:11How did winning Main Event change your life? 50:27Next person in friend group to win Main Event? 55:14Advice for younger self 56:33Favorite life lesson from poker
Connor Richards
Senior Editor U.S.
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