Jersey's Best Podcast

This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is throwing a birthday party for the Meadowlands Sports Complex! Because the Meadowlands is one of the most essential yet exhausting components of New Jersey life — and Sept. 1 marked the 50th anniversary of its opening! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com's award-winning sports columnist Steve Politi to break down the history of the sports complex, its significance to the Garden State, what it means having all those sports and music venues all in one place and if building this on a swamp was one big mistake. Then Jeremy and Steve break down the 11 best moments in Meadowlands history before going through the Garden State Gauntlet, Meadowlands edition! This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is throwing a birthday party for the Meadowlands Sports Complex! Because the Meadowlands is one of the most essential yet exhausting components of New Jersey life — and Sept. 1 marked the 50th anniversary of its opening!  Email us! at [email protected]! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Steve at @StevePoliti Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jersey’s Best Podcast is helping New Jersey secede from the United States and become its own country! Because New Jersey is basically its own country — with a vibe and culture all its own. We are already the best state in the country — if we were a country, we’d be the best country in the world! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey City-based comedian Alex Nicholas break down who will be the president of New Jersey, the national anthem, the capital, who we're going to war with and who will miss us most. Then Jeremy runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey independence edition! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Alex Nicholas at @notalexnicholas Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch here!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey’s pizza industry is trending away from slices and toward whole pies, and we don’t like it! Look, we're not saying pizza slices are an endangered species. But when Coniglio’s King of Pies, arguably 2026’s most anticipated New Jersey pizzeria, opened in Asbury Park, it did so with a long menu of pies and a proclamation. “No slices. Whole pie or no pie.” More and more pizzerias are going away from slices and serving pies only. This inspired NJ.com to ⁠write a story on the matter⁠ and to do a whole story on the matter. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Mike Bergemann of Corner Slice to break down the business of why more pizzerias are going pie-only, the science of a good slice, the cultural importance of the slice shop and why Corner Slice still serves slices. Then Mike goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, pizza edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Corner Slice on Instagram! Read NJ.com's story on the death of the N.J. slice here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ.com just updated its New Jersey sandwich rankings — which generated no controversy or scandal at all! So this week Jersey's Best Podcast isn't just talking about sandwiches, we're drafting them! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Lauren Musni to discuss why the Garden State loves sandwiches so much before moving on to the draft — with categories ranging from different regions to different types of sandwiches. Then Lauren goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, sandwich edition! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Lauren at @laurengisellemusni Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch here!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A vast network of surveillance cameras has popped up up not all over New Jersey, but across the country. The cameras are automated license plate readers, logging the make, model, and color of passing cars as we traverse the Garden State. Law enforcement agencies say these cameras have become crucial to investigating crimes. But many across New Jersey believe they create a surveillance state, violate privacy and rights and can easily be misused. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com investigative reporter Jana Cholakovska Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Jana Cholakovska @JCholakovska and read her story on Flock cameras here Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Anthony Bourdain in some way shape or form in pretty much every episode of Jersey's Best Podcast. The Leonia native has become synonymous with Garden State culture. He was one of New Jersey’s greatest champions — he famously once said “to know New Jersey is to love her.”  But this week we’re talking specifically about Mr. Bourdain this week because we are days away from the release of "Tony," the A24 film starring New Jersey’s own Dominic Sessa portraying a young Anthony Bourdain as he falls in love with cooking during a summer on Cape Cod. The movie hits theaters on August 7. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Men's Health Magazine culture editor Evan Romano to talk about his recent interview with Sessa and director Matt Johnson, review "Tony," critique Sessa's performance as the iconic New Jerseyan and predict how people will perceive the film. Then Evan goes through the Garden State Gauntlet. Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Evan Romano @EvanRomano  Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is talking to one of the most influential and iconic bands in Garden State history — The Bouncing Souls! The boys from Basking Ridge founded The Bouncing Souls all the way back in 1989 — that’s right, they’ve been rocking for nearly 40 years! Their signature energetic punk rock sound helped make them a staple of the New Brunswick basement scene. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by lead singer Greg Attonito to break down how The Bouncing Souls came together, what coming up in the New Brunswick basement scene was like, Warped Tour horror stories and their newest album. Then Greg runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, music edition! Follow us!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow @gregattonito and @BouncingSoulsNJ on Instagram! Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone loves hot dogs — especially New Jersey. The Garden State’s hot dog history is grand and gluttonous, diverse and divisive. From old-school joints deep-frying dogs, covering them with chili and calling them wieners from another state to new fangled spots slinging glizzies from all over the country, there is a hot dog for everyone in New Jersey. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by hot dog connoisseur Mike Mistake of Moonlite Weenie Ranch to discuss New Jersey's top hot dog styles, why we love them so much and the four hot dog joints that belong on the Garden State's glizzy Mount Rushmore. Then Mike eats his way through the Garden State Gauntlet, hot dog edition! Follow us!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Moonlite Weenie Ranch @WeenieRanchForever Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the most wonderful time of the year in New Jersey — beach season. But as great as going down the Shore is, some people don't know how to act on the beach! That's where Jersey's Beach Podcast comes in with our ultimate Jersey Shore beach etiquette guide! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey City comedian Nick Fierro, a man who proudly once wore combat boots to the beach, to talk about the do's and don'ts of beach behavior. From parking and planning to smoking and sand-removal, Jeremy and Nick cover it all. Then, Nick is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, beach behavior edition! Follow us!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Nick Fierro at ⁠@schtickfierro⁠  Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomato season is in full effect, New Jersey! And to celebrate, we decided it was time to re-run our episode from last summer — the tomato episode with Jersey Shore chef Laura Brahn! You say tomato, we say podcast! It is officially peak tomato season in the Garden State, and there is no better time to enjoy the delicious red vegetable — one that has a distinct connection to New Jersey. Not a tomato fan? Have no fear. Jeremy is joined by tomato expert Laura Brahn, owner of Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park and Mabel in Holmdel, for the ultimate guide to enjoying New Jersey’s top crop. Listen as Jeremy and Laura break down how New Jersey popularized the tomato, invented the most popular tomato in the world, the joys of Tomato Girl Summer, the characteristics of a good tomato, the dirty little secret about tomato sandwiches and how heirloom tomatoes represent New Jersey immigrants. Then, Laura flips the script on Jeremy and administers a blind tomato taste test!  Email us! ⁠[email protected]⁠  Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you!  Follow Laura at ⁠@lcbeanz⁠ and ⁠@crdnal ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey is a burger paradise, and we're hungry! From iconic 90-year-old diners serving tiny onion-laden sliders to pubs and bars grilling up thick tavern-style burgers and everything in between (yes, I’m looking at you, smashburger spots) New Jersey’s burger scene runs the gamut. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by burger expert Nick Lepore aka Burger Buff to break down what makes New Jersey's burger scene impressive, how it stacks up nationally, the best types of burgers and burger spots across the Garden State. Then Jeremy and Nick build there New Jersey burger Mount Rushmores before going through the Garden State Gauntlet — burger edition. Follow us!⁠⁠⁠⁠ @jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA Champions. And two of their most important players were born right here in New Jersey. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Asbury Park Press college basketball writer and news columnist Jerry Carino to break down how it was clear all the way back in middle school that KAT was going to be a star, how Towns took his game to the next level in the playoffs, Karl-Anthony Towns the person and if he makes the all-time all-New Jersey basketball starting five. Then Jerry is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey basketball edition! Follow us!⁠⁠⁠⁠ @jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Jerry Carino @NJHoopsHaven Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Cup has come to New Jersey, and we're excited — but also kind of terrified. MetLife Stadium (renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the event) is playing host to the biggest sporting event in the world. Is New Jersey ready for thousands of tourists to descend on what is already the most densely populated state in the country? Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com reporter Sean Sullivan to break down the politics behind a World Cup bid, if New Jersey Transit is prepared for the onslaught of riders, if you can walk to the games and if New Jersey is actually going to make any money off of this. Then Sean goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, World Cup edition. Editor's note: This podcast was recorded before the first World Cup game at the Meadowlands, which featured massive post-game delays. Follow us!⁠⁠⁠ @jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

School is almost out for summer but that doesn’t mean it's the offseason for kids across the Garden State. There is no offseason anymore. Many of New Jersey’s young athletes are now expected to train year-round now, playing with elite club teams and working with private trainers.  All those club teams, all that travel, all those coaching sessions, all that equipment? Just like everything in 2026, it is expensive. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com sports columnist Steve Politi, who recently reported on the rising costs of youth sports in New Jersey. Jeremy and Steve breakdown what exactly costs so much, why there's more pressure than ever for New Jersey parents to spend on their kids' athletic endeavors, and if Sen. Cory Booker's efforts will do anything to stem the rising costs. Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Steve at @StevePoliti and read his report here Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Jeopardy” just had a player go on an all-time heater, one of the best performances the 60-year-old program has ever seen. Jamie Ding won 31 straight games — the fifth-longest winning streak in show history! He won more than $880,000 along the way. But more importantly… Jamie is from New Jersey! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jamie Ding himself to talk about how he got on Jeopardy, his record-setting strategy and how fast even a month-long run on the show can feel. Jamie also breaks down how he ended up in New Jersey, how his perception of the state has changed and why it’s better than neighboring states. Then Jeremy and Jamie play some Jersey-themed Jeopardy before running through the Garden State Gauntlet!   Follow us!⁠⁠⁠ @jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long before Adam Sandler, Timothee Chalamet and Sydney Sweeney were filming movies all over New Jersey and long before Netflix was setting up shop in Monmouth County, the Garden State was already home base for an iconic film studio — Troma Entertainment. Troma is the longest-running independent movie studio in the world, one of the biggest names in horror and B movies. The studio is best known for the 1984 cult classic "The Toxic Avenger," which was set and filmed in New Jersey! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Lloyd Kaufman, the head of Troma Studios to talk about why Troma filmed so many movies in New Jersey, the inspiration for "The Toxic Avenger," Lloyd's love of New Jersey diners and more. Follow us!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trip to the Jersey Shore is basically a choose your own adventure of beautiful beach options — there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a beach bum, a foodie, a concert-lover, a pinball wizard or a dive-bar aficionado or all of the above, it’s almost impossible to have a bad time down the Shore. In fact, there are so many things to do at the Jersey Shore that it’s almost overwhelming!  That’s where we come in. On this week’s episode of Jersey’s Best Podcast, host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com data reporter Katie Kausch to draft the ultimate Jersey Shore beach day! Jeremy and Katie drafted in categories including beach, breakfast restaurant, on-beach lunch, off-beach activity, dinner restaurant and more! Then Katie runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, beach day edition! Follow us!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Katie Kausch at @katiekausch  Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Jersey's Best Podcast loves celebrating New Jersey's diversity and culture all year long. But with May being AAPI Heritage Month, we wanted to take a closer look at New Jersey's AAPI dining scene. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Lauren Musni to discuss what AAPI Heritage Month means to New Jersey. Then they discuss the best towns for AAPI eats across the Garden State (with a special look at Bradley Beach) and some of New Jersey's top Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Bangladeshi and Taiwanese restaurants and more. Finally, Lauren is put through the Garden State Gauntlet, AAPI edition! Follow us!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Lauren at @laurengisellemusni and read her award-winning story on Bradley Beach here Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diners are famous for long hours and vast menus that cover countless cultures and multiple meals — in a way, they defy time and space. There is no wrong order at a New Jersey diner, per se, but there are some questionable decisions to be made while seated in a cozy — fine, sticky — vinyl booth. And you order can be very telling. That’s where we come in. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey City-based comedian Nick Fierro to analyze what your diner order says about you. From classics like turkey clubs, omelettes and coffee to more adventurous orders like seafood and eggs Benedict, Jersey's Best Podcast has a breakdown for it all. Then Nick is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, diner order edition. Follow us!⁠⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Nick Fierro at @schtickfierro  Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is paying homage to one of New Jersey’s greatest actresses.  A Golden Globe winner. An Emmy winner. An Oscar winner. Most importantly, a native of Millburn, New Jersey — that’s right people, this is the Anne Hathaway episode! There's really no bad time to talk about Mrs. Hathaway. But this is the perfect time, because 2026 is shaping up to be a hell of a year for the pride of Millburn High School. She has five movies coming out this year, including "The Devil Wears Prada 2" which hits theaters on Friday. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by New Jersey pop culture obsessive and Anne Hathaway expert Tom Gawronski to break down Anne Hathaway's career, what makes her such a star, watching "The Devil Wears Prada" in 2026 and finally erecting the Anne Hathaway Mount Rushmore. Then Tom is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey movie edition! Follow us!⁠ ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Tom Gawronski here. Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch ⁠here⁠! Episode artwork: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images | Canva illustration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s always been hard to operate a restaurant in New Jersey. But in 2026? It's damn near impossible. The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the industry to the core — and in many ways it never recovered. With everything becoming more expensive in 2026 as inflation spikes prices, dining habits are changing across the board. NJ.com food and culture reporter Lauren Musni just documented this in her story on how middle-class dining is disappearing in New Jersey. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Laura Brahn, owner of Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park and Mabel in Holmdel, who was quoted in the story. Jeremy and Laura break down the post-COVID dining landscape, why middle-class restaurants are taking the brunt of the crisis, why chain restaurants are thriving and why owning a restaurant is so hard in general. Then Laura is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, restaurant-owner edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Read Lauren Musni's story on the death of middle-class dining here. Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch here!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Jersey’s Best Podcast is getting on my NERVES. Because while we spend most episodes detailing the spectacular, bizarre and beautiful aspects of life in the Garden State, this week we’re breaking down the sometimes annoying components of being a New Jerseyan. That’s right, I’m talking about Garden State pet peeves.  For all this state’s beauty and wonder, living in the most densely populated does have its drawbacks. Stressful and frustrating moments are simply part of everyday life in New Jersey, engrained in our daily routine — ironically, they often happen in the places we love the most! Restaurants. Beaches. Highways. Okay, we don’t always love highways, but you get the point. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Chris Burch to break down what really grinds their gears in the Garden State. From drivers obeying the speed limit on the Garden State Parkway and Central Jersey drivers to restaurants that pretend they're in New York and Bruce Springsteen fans who don't pay attention to his lyrics, the complaints run the gamut. Then Jeremy and Chris update NJ.com's best cheesesteak list, including yet another steak taste test. Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Chris Burch at @swishburch  Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jersey’s Best Podcast is taking you out to the ballgame! Baseball season is here — and even though New Jersey doesn’t have any Major League Baseball teams, the state is deeply connected to our nation’s pastime. The first officially recorded baseball game in United States history took place in Hoboken. New Jersey was also a major hub for the Negro Leagues, with iconic teams like the Newark Eagles and historic venues like Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson calling the Garden State home. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Dave Kaplan, the founding director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and lead consultant for the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium to discuss if baseball was technically invented in New Jersey, how multiple trailblazing baseball moments happened in the Garden State and longtime New Jersey resident Yogi Berra’s Yankee legacy. Then Dave goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey baseball edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Buy Jersey’s best podcast merch here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jersey's Best Podcast is officially one year old, and to celebrate we took over Pet Shop in Jersey City for our first-ever live show! Jersey's Best Podcast's First Birthday Party was an absolute blast — and if you couldn't make it, now you can listen to it! Host Jeremy Schneider was joined by Jersey City comedian and frequent JBP guest Nick Fierro to discuss the 11 weirdos you meet in New Jersey before welcoming the Statue of Liberty to the podcast to discuss her New Jersey roots, what it's like living in the Hudson River and if she listens to Bruce Springsteen on Liberty Island. Then party guests gave us their Garden State hot takes — including why New Jersey should take back Staten Island, why breakfast sandwiches don't need saltpepperketchup and which team jilted New Jersey Nets fans should root for. Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Nick Fierro at @schtickfierro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Concert season is rapidly approaching in the Garden State — and there are few better experiences in New Jersey than going to a concert at one of our myriad music venues. From massive stages like MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, Prudential Center in Newark and PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel to more intimate spots like The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, White Eagle Hall in Jersey City and Crossroads in Garwood, New Jersey’s venues truly run the gamut. Host Jeremy Schneider is once again joined by NJ.com music master Bobby Olivier to talk about why live music is so ingrained in New Jersey's DNA, break down the 11 best music venues in the state and reminisce about the now-closed concert spaces we miss the most. Then Bobby goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, concert venue edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Bobby Olivier at @bobbyolivier  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here on Jersey’s Best Podcast and at NJ.com, we are devoted year-round to highlighting New Jersey's exceedingly diverse food and dining scene. But with March being Women’s History Month, we wanted to spend an episode specifically on not just female chefs, but female chefs making arguably New Jersey’s favorite food — pizza! There are thousands of pizzerias in New Jersey and hundreds of thousands of pizza-makers across the country. And according to job search platform Zippia, less than 40% of them are female. But there are women pizza chefs across the Garden State not just making some of New Jersey’s best pizzas, but pushing to dispel the notion that pizza-making is only for men. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture writer Lauren Musni to discuss her upcoming story on the women of New Jersey pizza. Listen in as they break down the obstacles some of New Jersey’s top pizza chefs have overcome to make some of the Garden State’s top pies. Then Lauren is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, pizza edition!   Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Lauren at @laurengisellemusni, and read her story on the women of New Jersey pizza here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 98th annual Academy Awards are this Sunday. And while they’re taking place 3,000 miles away across the country in Los Angeles, Jersey’s impact will be felt all the way in Hollywood. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Men’s Health culture editor and New Jersey native Evan Romano to discuss if Newark native Michael B. Jordan’s chances at Best Actor for his role in “Sinners,” why more and more movies are being filmed in the Garden State and what Netflix’s presence in the state means for the movie business and New Jersey.. Then Jeremy and Evan break down their Letterboxd Top 4 New Jersey movies before Evan is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, movie edition!   Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Evan Romano @EvanRomano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for March Madness! But we’re less interested in talking about college basketball and more worried about food. Even for non-basketball fans, filling out a bracket is incredibly fun. Which is why we’re taking all of New Jersey’s best foods, and putting them in a bracket to decide the Garden State’s culinary king. After days of consideration (and years of eating across New Jersey) we built a bracket featuring 64 of New Jersey’s most beloved and iconic foods. These aren’t specific restaurants being considered but rather dishes that are found throughout the Garden State. We broke them down into four regions — Italian, New Jersey classics, sweet treats and international foods. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Mike Bergemann, owner of revered pizzeria Corner Slice in Maplewood, to fill out the bracket while discussing the glory of Texas wieners, if cannolis are overrated, which type of pizza reigns supreme, the proper way to serve a chicken parm and more before crowning a Jersey Food Madness champion! Then Mike goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Jersey Food Madness edition! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Mike Bergemann and Corner Slice at @Corner_Slice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a state filled with iconic and beloved concert venues, Asbury Lanes hold a special place in the heart of Jersey Shore punk kids. Not the swanky, sanitized version of Asbury Lanes that opened in 2018 with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, bowling ball art and a full-fledged diner. The dingy DIY venue that emerged in the bowling alley in 2003 and became not just a popular place for concerts, but one of the epicenters of the city’s cultural revival. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by photographer Mike McLaughlin, who published “Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes” in December. The two discuss the beautiful insanity of The Lanes, why it was much more than a concert venue, the rise and fall of Asbury Lanes and what has become of the space in 2026. Then Jeremy bowls Mike through the Garden State Gauntlet, Asbury Lanes edition.  Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Mike McLaughlin ⁠@mikemclaughlinphotography⁠. His book, “Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes,” is available for purchase ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is nothing this painfully opinionated state loves more than a geographical debate!  While the discussion is less philosophical and border-centric than the Central Jersey debate — the map of New Jersey counties is pretty cut and dry — the discussion is just as passionate. Each of New Jersey’s 21 counties has its special quirks and characteristics that capture just how vast and diverse the Garden State is — there’s a reason to love every one. But which county is best? Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com data reporter Katie Kausch to break rank all 21 counties, from the rural counties in the south and west to the beach counties of the Jersey Shore, bustling Hudson County and everything in between. After a heated debate, Jeremy and Katie crowned the No. 1 county in the state! Then Jeremy runs Katie through the Garden State Gauntlet, county edition! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Katie Kausch at @katiekausch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Valentine’s Day from Jersey’s Best Podcast. Some might cynically call Valentine’s Day a made-up holiday pushed by Hallmark and chocolate companies to sell cards and candies. We’re not here to argue with that, we’re here to talk about how romantic New Jersey is! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by comedian Nick Fierro to discuss what romance means in New Jersey, New Jersey’s love language, and then break down the 10 most romantic places in the Garden State! Everything from a famous fast food joint and a beloved Italian restaurant to a revered Essex County overlook and some of the Jersey Shore’s best beach towns make the list. Then Nick is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, Valentine’s Day edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Nick Fierro at @schtickfierro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here on Jersey’s Best Podcast we are devoted year-round to highlighting New Jersey's exceedingly diverse food and dining scene. But as February is recognized as Black History Month, we wanted to spend an episode specifically on Black-owned restaurants, which are one of many pillars of our culinary landscape. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Chris Burch to discuss how Black-owned restaurants in New Jersey go far beyond soul food, the definition of soul food, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant in Camden, the history of New Jersey’s barbecue scene and more. Then Jeremy puts Chris through the Garden State Gauntlet, Black-owned restaurant edition!    Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Chris Burch at @swishburch  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Grammy Awards are coming up! And while Jersey’s Best Podcast was somehow snubbed for any nominations, New Jersey has a rich history of winning the biggest awards in music! SZA and Jack Antonoff are both up for Grammys this year, but the Garden State's musical history goes far beyond trophies.  Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com music writer (and Jersey’s Best Podcast producer) Bobby Olivier to break down why New Jersey has such an amazing music scene, the 51 best albums in New Jersey history and crown the best record from every decade. Everything from Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston and Fugees come up in the musical discussion. There was so much to cover we had to do a double episode. Like a double album! Then Bobby goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Grammy edition!   Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Bobby Olivier at @bobbyolivier  Listen to the Spotify playlist of NJ.com’s 51 best New Jersey albums here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jersey’s Best Podcast is paying its respects — because it’s the end of an era in Central Jersey. Brunswick Square, the East Brunswick mall that was a Middlesex County staple for more than 50 years, officially closed on January 10. While New Jersey’s mall culture is well-established, technology is changing shopping habits, and that means less malls. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com senior political reporter (and Brunswick Square’s biggest fan) Brent Johnson to discuss what he loved so much about Brunswick Square (3:33), some of his best memories from growing up going to the mall (4:50), the mall’s slow decline (12:42) and why New Jersey malls are fading in general (25:19). Then Brent goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, mall edition (38:03)!  Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! . Read his eulogy for Brunswick Square here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How long can we take this chance not to celebrate... the most important New Jersey band of the 21st century? This week Jersey’s Best Podcast is leaving the podcast studio and headed for a New Brunswick basement show, to talk about one of the most influential bands in Garden State history — Thursday. The emo/screamo/post-hardcore/post-whatever band from Central Jersey helped shape the scene in the early 2000s, and influenced countless other groups. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com music writer (and Jersey’s Best Podcast producer) Bobby Olivier to discuss anything and everything about Thursday — from Jeremy’s memories of seeing them live for the first time at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville (5:50) and what makes Thursday timeless and iconic (8:20) to which of their albums reigns supreme (20:28). Bobby and Jeremy then draft their favorite Thursday song (26:40) before Bobby goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Thursday edition (49:26)!   Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Bobby Olivier at @bobbyolivier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knows the Taylor Provisions Company as the biggest name in Taylor ham and pork roll — they literally invented it all the way back in 1856, and their cherry red packaging is as synonymous with the stuff as eggs, cheese and kaiser rolls.  What you don’t know is the family behind the company is rife with enough scandal, infighting and legal drama to make the Taylor ham/pork roll name controversy look like a footnote. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com enterprise writer Brianna Kudisch, who wrote "The untold story of Taylor ham: Inside a N.J. family legacy tainted by scandal, cruelty and a tawdry affair," the story that details the drama that surrounds the company. Jeremy and Brianna break down the history of the company and how it invented Taylor ham as we know it and why the government made them change the product's name (5:51), the woman who has taken over the company and ushered in an era of scandal (9:45) and multiple harassment lawsuits (15:00). Then Brianna goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Taylor Provisions edition (38:40)! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Brianna at @BriannaKudisch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Years from Jersey’s Best Podcast! While 2025 may have been the year this podcast launched, we’re just as excited for 2026! And as New Jersey prepares for the New Year, we have some New Year’s resolutions for the Garden State. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by comedian Jourdan McKinley to prepare for the New Year with pledges related to the 2026 World Cup coming to MetLife Stadium, some of New Jersey’s best movie theaters and the food trends we want to see (and not see) in 2026. Jourdan also explains the biggest issue facing New Jersey in 2026. Then Jeremy puts Jourdan through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Years edition! Happy New Year! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Jourdan McKinley at @jourdanmckinley  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas Eve, fellow Jerseyans! Jeremy is off throwing bagels at elves so we are re-running one of our favorite episodes of the year! We'll be back with a new episode next week — happy listening! Our, uh, colorful New Jersey language unites us, even if it separates us from the rest of the country. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by comedian and noted Bennie dissenter Allie Mae to break down all their favorite Jersey slang, from saltpepperketchup (7:34) and 20regularcash (14:42) to the more obscure Jersey Slide (16:29) and Goosey Night (22:38). They also bond over which New Jersey highway has not yet been lost to corporate America (13:36). Then Allie takes on our trickiest Garden State Gauntlet yet, identifying Jersey town nicknames (41:38).  Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Allie Mae at @defaultprogrammer  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is going out to eat! Because of all the myriad things New Jerseyans adore about the Garden State, there’s one thing we love above it all — food. We’ve done a delicious job of documenting New Jersey’s culinary obsession on Jersey’s Best Podcast. And this week is no different — we’re breaking down the best things we ate in New Jersey in 2025. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Michael Barreto aka Mikey Mortadella, the manager at Judy & Harry’s in Asbury Park, as they go down the list of the best meals of the year. From pop-up smash burgers down the Shore (16:26) and Vietnamese egg coffee in Bergen County (21:51) to a final meal at a legendary New Jersey diner (24:42), an Iberian pasta dish that showcases why anchovies are so overlooked in cuisine (31:23) and why the dining scene is a pillar of humanity in New Jersey (40:37), Jeremy and Mikey break down a very tasty year in Garden State eats. Then Jeremy puts Mike through the Garden State Gauntlet, 2025 food edition (49:45)!  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Michael Barreto at @Mike_Barreto  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Holidays from Jersey’s Best Podcast! The holiday season is in full swing, and what better place to be for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Years than New Jersey. But we know the holidays can be stressful as you look for things to do with your family — and fine, thing to do to get away from your family. So we’re here to help! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com data reporter Katie Kausch to discuss all the funnest things to do in New Jersey during the holiday season. Jeremy and Katie draft the ultimate New Jersey holiday experience, ranging from snowshoeing in one of New Jersey’s most scenic state parks (6:25) and visiting holiday-themed aquariums (9:30) to building menorahs while eating latkes (12:38) and hitting the mall to meet Santa, even if it’s the worst time of year to be there (15:11). Then Jeremy puts Katie through the Garden State Gauntlet, holiday edition (35:16)!     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ.com’s intrepid food team just released its biggest story ever, the 99 best restaurants in New Jersey! The list covers every county in the state, every type of cuisine you can think of and runs the gamut from fine dining to divey greasy spoons. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined once again by NJ.com food writers Pete Genovese, Lauren Musni and Chris Burch to break down everything that went into the story and some of their favorite spots that made the rankings, everything from a food truck in Morristown (6:29), a sandwich shop in a shipping container (15:21) and one of the state’s elite diners (16:49) to elite Korean barbecue (24:33), soothing ramen (22:44) and the best Iberian restaurant in the state (27:15). Then Jeremy and the team break down the top 10 of the NJ.com 99 best restaurants list (30:55), including crowning the No. 1 restaurant in the great state of New Jersey (50:30)! ⁠Read the full list of Jersey's 99 best restaurants here! ⁠ Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Pete Genovese at @petegenovese on X and @peteknowsjersey on Instagram. Subscribe to Pete’s newsletter, Jersey’s Secret Sauce, here.  Follow Lauren at @laurengisellemusni Follow Chris Burch at @swishburch  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Thanksgiving from Jersey’s Best Podcast! We have a lot to be thankful for in New Jersey this year… but plenty to be embarrassed of, as well. Jeremy is joined once again by Jersey City comedian Nick Fierro to give thanks for some of our favorite things in the Garden State in 2025, and also to crown some Garden State turkeys — the people that made New Jersey look so bad we want to disown them. Listen in as Jeremy and Nick break down why they’re thankful for old men doing karaoke in Secaucus (5:17) and a very specific Thanksgiving sandwich (10:09), plus the New Jersey turkeys who got a little too excited at a Korn concert (33:51) and cursed out their own restaurant’s customers (38:53). Then Nick goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Thanksgiving edition (43:11)!  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Nick Fierro at @schtickfierro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re the DEVILS! Yes, the Garden State is home to plenty of professional sports teams. But only one of them puts New Jersey and New Jersey alone in their team name — the Devils of the National Hockey League! With the NHL season in full swing and the Devils playing well, it was time to talk puck. Jeremy is joined by NJ.com Devils beat writer Ryan Novizinsky as they break down what the Devils mean to New Jersey (2:52), the way the Devils have embraced the Garden State in ways other New Jersey sports teams don’t (6:59), what the franchise lost when it left the Meadowlands (10:22), what it gained when it came to Newark (13:11) and if Devils fans are crazy (17:52). Then Ryan gives us the outlook on the season for the Devils (24:35) before going through the Garden State Gauntlet, Devils edition (35:27)!   Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Ryan Novozinsky @RyanNovoNHL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey highways are a fact of life in New Jersey — a necessary evil. If you want to hit the Jersey Shore, go shopping at Garden State Plaza, or head down south to Atlantic City, you’re not just taking a highway — chances are you’re taking several. You probably have a preferred route, you know which roads to skip and when to skip them. So this week, we’re handing out our second edition of the Roadie Awards to best and worst New Jersey highways! Jeremy is joined by New Jersey musician/coffeemaker/skateboarder John Cozz to break down why New Jersey is so obsessed with our highways (2:40), if New Jerseyans are actually the bad drivers in this state (7:30) and how highways shape New Jersey life in many ways (9:56). Then Jeremy and John give awards (12:13) to the state’s ugliest highways, best highways for food and the highways we will defend for the rest of our lives. Finally, Jeremy runs John through the Garden State Gauntlet, John Cozz edition (42:30)!  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow John Cozz at @john.cozz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the Garden State’s culinary riches are diverse and delicious, there is no type of cuisine New Jersey does better — or loves more — than Italian food. There are more than a million Italian-Americans in New Jersey, and it feels like there are more than a million Italian restaurants in this red sauce-obsessed state. Old school spots serving up chicken savoy, and pillowy ravioli. New school sports specializing in spicy rigatoni, paper thin chicken parm and bolognese with garlic bread crumbs, and everything in between. So NJ.com’s illustrious food team did what it does best — ranked them! Jeremy is joined by NJ.com food writer Pete Genovese to break down why we’re so obsessed with Italian food (2:06), why it’s sauce and NOT gravy (5:33) and how Italian-American food differs from what is served in Italy (6:45). Then Jeremy and Pete break down some of their favorite restaurants from NJ.com’s list of the 51 best Italian restaurants in New Jersey (10:28) — including crowning a New No. 1 in the state (38:11). Finally, Pete eats his way through the Garden State Gauntlet, Italian food edition (40:11).  Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Pete Genovese at @petegenovese on X and @peteknowsjersey on Instagram. Subscribe to Pete’s newsletter, Jersey’s Secret Sauce, here. Or read him on NJ.com!    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey is obsessed with haunted, creepy and scary stuff all year long — but even more so during Halloween! So what better time to talk about the state’s most famous cryptid, the Jersey Devil! Jeremy is joined by comedian and New Jersey legend Chris Gethard to break down why New Jersey loves the Jersey Devil so much (2:35), the creature’s disputed origins (8:59) and what he symbolizes about the Garden State (16:59). Chris explains why the state is intrigued by the devil in general (18:23), the importance of Weird N.J., the magazine that shaped childhoods across the state (31:59) and then schools Jeremy on more of New Jersey’s legendary cryptids (36:51). Finally, Jeremy puts Chris through the Garden State Gauntlet, Halloween edition (41:27)!  Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Chis Gethard at @ChrisGeth, and read him at WeirdNJ.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tramps like us, baby we were born to podcast! “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” rocks its way into theaters this week, and Jersey’s Best Podcast was lucky enough to attend a press screening of the movie. Jeremy Allen White plays The Boss as he writes “Nebraska,” the seminal 1982 album that he recorded… in his Colts Neck bedroom. Jeremy is joined by Bobby Olivier,  NJ.com’s resident Bruce Springsteen expert, to break down if the movie was any good (4:11), if Jeremy Allen White was better as Bruce than Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan (7:25), how good his singing is (12:06), Jersey’s presence in the movie (14:14) and who will appreciate this movie most (21:30). Then Bobby flips the script on Jeremy and runs him through the Garden State Gauntlet, Springsteen edition (37:25)! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Bobby Olivier at @bobbyolivier Check out Bobby’s podcast, Springsteen x 70 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Look, here on Jersey’s Best Podcast we make it our mission to fight against the inaccurate and offensive stereotypes that plague our great state. We aren’t the armpit of America, nobody says “joisey” and we act like the cast of “Jersey Shore.” But that whole thing about New Jersey politicians being completely crooked? We admit it, that one is kind of true. New Jersey’s politicians are so corrupt they’ve inspired Emmy-winning television shows, Oscar-nominated movies and countless embarrassing headlines. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com senior reporter Sean Sullivan to induct the inaugural class of the New Jersey Corrupt Politician Hall of Fame/Shame! Listen in as Jeremy and Sean discuss why New Jersey is so corrupt (3:38), a very corrupt but popular mayor from New York (18:30), a politician who faked his own death via scuba accident (23:30) and whether Chris Christie deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame (26:30). Then Sean is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, corruption edition (37:15)! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are mere weeks away from election day, when New Jerseyans will go to the polls and elect a new governor! Jersey’s Best Podcast is ready to take part in the democratic process in the only way we know how — with a game show testing how Jersey the candidates are! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor, for the first-ever edition of How Jersey Are You? The ultimate Jersey gameshow from the ultimate Jersey podcast! Listen on as Jeremy grills Jack on what he’s going to do about Connecticut calling itself the pizza state (1:51), whether New Jersey’s favorite breakfast meat is called Taylor ham or pork roll (12:59), the geography of Central Jersey (13:37) and Jersey tomatoes (16:08). Note: Both candidates were given equal opportunity to appear on the podcast, we hope to have Mikie Sherrill on soon. Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, Philadelphia gets all the attention for cheesesteaks. No, it shouldn’t. Because New Jersey has an incredible cheesesteak scene all its own! And we’re not just talking about the shop in Camden slinging what Anthony Bourdain called the best cheesesteak in Philly. We’re talking about old-school and new-school spots, and even a Jersey-style cheesesteak. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter and cheesesteak expert Chris Burch to break down what exactly a New Jersey-style cheesesteak is (7:57), how the Cooper Sharp cheese trend started in New Jersey (10:12), partake in a taste test pitting the most famous cheesesteak in the state against a newcomer (26:53) and then build their New Jersey cheesesteak Mount Rushmores! Then Chris competes in the Garden State Gauntlet (35:09), cheesesteak edition!  Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Chris Burch at @swishburch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices