Jersey's Best Podcast

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

Let’s! Get! Biblical! Or let’s not, and instead count down the 10 pillars of truth and decency, by which all New Jerseyans should abide. Comedian Nick Fierro is back to join host Jeremy Schneider in their quest for Garden State virtue — and whether slapping an air tag on a goose would better define the boundaries of Central Jersey. Listen as the guys run through commandments about NOT claiming you’re from the “NYC area” (4:00), how to respect The Boss (17:00), the devout desire to never pump their own gas (26:50) and more! Then Nick completes the Garden State Gauntlet (41:09), commandment edition!  Email us! [email protected]  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

For all of the Garden State’s culinary wonders, pizza might be our pound-for-pound best dish. New Jersey has pizzerias that have been open for more than a century, and new pizzerias opening every year challenging for the title of the state’s best. The Garden State has thin-crust bar pies, thick and saucy grandma pies, pillowly Neapolitan pies and tart Trenton tomato pies. And NJ.com just ranked the 101 best pies in the state! Jeremy is joined by veteran NJ.com food writer Pete Genovese to break down the list, beg New Jersey pizzerias to stop saying they serve “New York-style pizza” (4:45), why New Jersey pizza is better than New York’s (7:25), a life-changing white pie down the Shore (30:00) and which pie took home the top spot on the list (45:08). Then Pete takes on the Garden State Gauntlet, pizza edition (49:00)!  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

It is once again football season, and that means it’s time to have our hopes mercilessly crushed by both of our football teams — the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Both teams are too embarrassed to admit they play in New Jersey, but we’re the ones that should be embarrassed. They stink! It isn’t just that the Jets haven’t won a Super Bowl since coming to the Meadowlands in 1984 and the Giants have sandwiched plenty of soul-crushing losses in between their Super Bowl wins. It’s that both teams have had some of the most debilitatingly embarrassing moments in sports history happen to them. And thus to us, the fans. But which team is more embarrassing? Jeremy (a Giants fan) is joined by Jersey’s Best Podcast producer and long-suffering Jets supporter Bobby Olivier to discuss why he regrets picking his team (2:57), why Eli Manning was embarrassing even when he was great (9:24), the meltdown at the Meadowlands (29:36) and the infamous butt fumble (39:10). Then Jeremy and Bobby both run through the Garden State Gauntlet, Giants and Jets edition (42:59)! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready for some high school football? New Jersey is one of the best states for high school football in the country, so it’s no surprise that we have countless great rivalries. With high schools around the state returning to the gridiron, New Jersey’s top pigskin rivalries will soon be renewed. But which ones are best? Jeremy is joined by NJ.com and Star-Ledger sports columnist Steve Politi to break down why rivalries are different in New Jersey (5:43), the significance of Thanksgiving football (12:43), how parents fuel the rivalries (18:45) and which rivalry is indeed the state’s best (34:40). Then Steve runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, high school football edition (38:56)! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jersey City was once squarely in the shadow of Hoboken, its mile square neighbor to the northeast. In the past decade-plus, Chilltown has gone from afterthought to cultural epicenter. But not all the change has been good. The resurgence has also brought soaring rents — at one point, the city had the highest rent in the country — which has threatened to dilute one of America’s most diverse cities. Yes, the 2010s put Jersey City back on the map. But it’s no secret the city’s vibe and feel have shifted distinctly. Has this ruined what made the city great in the first place? Jeremy is joined by Jersey City native John Erbach to discuss what it was like growing up in the city in the ‘90s (3:23), how the city has changed (10:18), why Jersey City isn’t New York’s “sixth borough” (19:02) and what has remained the same in town (21:22). Then John runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, Jersey City edition (38:36)! 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

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 (1:23), invented the most popular tomato in the world (2:13), the joys of Tomato Girl Summer (3:49), the characteristics of a good tomato (7:55), the dirty little secret about tomato sandwiches (18:49) and how heirloom tomatoes represent New Jersey immigrants (22:35). Then, Laura flips the script on Jeremy and administers a blind tomato taste test (32:13)!  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

I scream, you scream, we all scream for New Jersey ice cream! We’re in the middle of the dog days of summer, and nothing beats this insanely oppressive heat better than a scoop or a swirl of some Garden State ice cream. The only thing hotter than the weather is the debate about which spot in New Jersey has the best ice cream. This is the ultimate New Jersey Ice Cream Draft! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food writer Lauren Musni, as the two built their ultimate New Jersey ice cream lineups. Listen as Jeremy and Lauren discuss how Holsten’s was iconic long before “Sopranos” filmed there (9:37), why working at an ice cream shop is one of the hardest jobs in New Jersey (25:48), the ice cream in one of the state’s most underrated food towns (41:13) and if New Jersey was an ice cream flavor (46:45). Then Lauren takes part in the Garden State Gauntlet, ice cream edition (43:49)! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Lauren at @laurengisellemusni Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend, MetLife Stadium will host two massive New Jersey bands playing their largest home-state shows ever: My Chemical Romance (Belleville and Kearny) and The Jonas Brothers (Wyckoff). But which band is bigger? Which band is better? Most importantly, which band is more Jersey? Welcome to Jersey Battle of the Bands — Jonas Brothers vs. My Chemical Romance — to determine which is the greatest Jersey band of the 21st Century! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined this week by TWO guests: JoBros super-fan and NJ.com data reporter Katie Kausch, and My Chem stan and friend of the pod Katie Burke. Listen as the Katies each defend their bands’ concert experience (6:50), musical influence (10:35), star power (19:57) and Jersey credentials (25:03). Then the Katies duel one last time in the Garden State Gauntlet, My Chem/JoBros edition (31:35)!  Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Katie Kausch at @katiekausch Follow Katie Burke at @katiefay3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get in loser, we’re going to Paramus. This week’s episode of Jersey’s Best Podcast is all about the greatest thing to ever be invented in New Jersey. The mall. That’s right, shopping malls aren’t just a major component of New Jersey culture. They were technically invented here! New Jersey might as well be the mall state. We have more malls per square mile than any other state — so many that one section of New Jersey even earned the nickname “Mallville USA.” Host Jeremy Schneider is once again joined by Jersey comedian and former mall employee Nick Fierro to discuss why New Jerseyans love the mall so much (7:21), the charming horror of growing up at Willowbrook Mall (21:01) and why the mall is so much more about shopping (41:28). Then Nick completes the Garden State Gauntlet, mall edition (42:31)! Email us! [email protected]  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

Welcome to the Jersey Olympics, a series of events that recognizes the Garden State’s unique set of passions, interests and um, talents — even if the real Olympics will never actually come here. We have organized a set of very Jersey-centric events, and we’re going to give out some gold medals. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey comedian, musician and filmmaker Pat Byrne as the guys decide who wins the Taylor ham toss (8:43) and the quarter-mile Jersey slide (12:30), plus medals for Jersey town that shouldn’t exist (36:40) and town that everyone claims to be from, even if they aren’t (41:03). Then Pat completes the Garden State Gauntlet, Olympics edition (49:35)! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Pat Byrne at @Pat_Byrne.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey is the diner capital of the world. You’ll find around 500 diners here, more than any other state. But why? How did we get all these timeless Jersey staples, what about them draws our unconditional love, and is diner culture changing here in the Garden State? Only one man is up for this ultimate Jersey diner deep dive, and that’s Pete Genovese, NJ.com food writer extraordinaire. Pete has literally written the book on Jersey diners, so naturally he’s back to join host Jeremy Schneider as they revisit Jersey diner history (4:29), what makes a good diner (16:49), the iconic food (20:53) and where diners go from here (27:53). Then Pete completes the Garden State Gauntlet, diner Mount Rushmore edition (35:26)! 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

For so many New Jerseyans, cultural lines are drawn by imperfect measures: the nebulous dividers between North, Central and South Jersey, the very inexact food science of pork roll vs. Taylor ham. But how about judging each other based on something a little more concrete, like your telephone area code? This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is taking a closer look at what your New Jersey area code says about you! Host Jeremy Schneider is once again joined by Bobby Olivier to discuss why 201 is the snobbiest area code in the state (5:20), a famous New Jersey musician who has an 848 area code (16:30), what kind of texter Bruce Springsteen is (16:58) and if 973 is the best food area code in the state (20:26). Then Bobby once again endures the Garden State Gauntlet, area code trivia edition (35:51)!   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

Welcome to a new occasional series dedicated to New Jersey’s cities and towns — taking a closer look at the culture and history of these beloved places and analyzing why they matter so much to the Garden State at large. First up: Asbury Park, an iconic shore town with a checkered past, a conflicting present and an unclear future. In the 2000s, Asbury Park became the epicenter of a cultural revival. Twenty years later, gentrification and corporate influences have led to constant construction, an overabundance of high-rise apartments and absolute chaos on beach days. Yes, Asbury Park was reborn. But is its cultural renaissance already over? Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Phil Fazio, a longtime city resident and veteran of Asbury Park’s dining industry. Listen as the guys dive into the city’s history (4:23), whether it has already peaked (10:26), the evolution of an iconic music club (17:10) and which Jersey Shore town will be the next Asbury Park (41:00).  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

Even the staunchest Jersey supporter can admit there have been times when the Garden State has been embarrassing. Comically over the top political scandals. Cringy pop culture moments. Animals escaping from Six Flags Great Adventure. This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is embracing the imperfections and ranking the 10 most embarrassing moments in New Jersey history. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com senior reporter Sean Sullivan to dive deep on an iconic duel that could only happen in N.J. (4:11), that time a baboon was roaming free in Jackson (7:53), that other time Bob Dylan got picked up by the cops at the Jersey Shore (18:44), how our infamous Bridgegate really went down (31:53) and more. Then Sean endures the Garden State Gauntlet, embarrassing edition!  Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Sean Sullivan at @spsulliv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The glory of the Jersey Shore is not up for debate. From the northern tip of Sandy Hook all the way to the southern shores of Cape May, every Garden State beach has its perks and virtues.  What is up for discussion, however, is which beach is best — and worst! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey’s Best Podcast producer and Jersey Shore lifer Bobby Olivier as they rank all 45 beaches in New Jersey from worst to best. Listen as the guys reveal the Shore’s most overrated beach (6:08), the beloved spot that’s now just a hassle (25:03), their secret slices of paradise (33:13) and crown the No. 1 beach at the Jersey Shore (43:16)! Then Bobby flips the script and makes Jeremy take on the Garden State Gauntlet, Shore trivia style (45:18)!  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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know New Jersey has the best bagels. But why is our bagel culture so prodigious? And what exactly makes those doughy rounds so good? Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Bagels by Jarrett owner Jarrett Seltzer to discuss how he went from rock band bassist to bagel-maker (2:17), the keys to great (albeit unconventional) bagel-making (8:51), why New Jersey bagels are indeed better than New York bagels (25:18) and why it’s a crime to toast (38:38) or scoop (44:46) your bagels. Then Jarrett runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, bagel edition (47:47)! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Jarrett Seltzer @BagelsByJarrett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen, we love the Jersey Shore — just not everyone who goes there. As summer takes hold of our beloved beaches, let’s count down all the worst people you’ll meet Down the Shore this year, and trust us, they’re not all Bennies. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey’s Best Podcast producer and Jersey Shore lifer Bobby Olivier as they knock over a few KanJams (16:54), smash a few boom boxes (23:10) and explain what a (checks notes) Mermaid Girl is (32:22). Then Bobby must endure the Garden State Gauntlet, Shore edition (41:04)! God bless us, it’s friggin’ summer! 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 the beach etiquette video Jeremy and Bobby did years ago here!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode is going to hell! No, not Connecticut. We’re breaking down the 9 absolute worst places and situations a New Jerseyan may find themselves — and each one gets worse! Take the fiery journey with host Jeremy Schneider and comedian Emily Paige as they try to survive a true culinary nightmare (3:18), a day of Meadowlands mayhem (10:25) and the deeply evil fate that can only be spurred by NJ Transit (39:07). Then Emily completes the Garden State Gauntlet (44:02)! Email us! [email protected]  Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you!  Follow Emily Paige at @emilypaigecomedy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices