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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com  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