Understanding Upstate

Come along with us as we delve into the opulent splendor of one of the crown jewels of Binghamton's now long gone Mansion Row, the Phelps Mansion. We'll take a look at the the man who financed this mansion, and the architect behind the designs, both of which who provide a treasure trove of upstate history. Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton feat...

Glide on over to Elmira, New York with us to unpack the history of a town that has gone by many names, from "Queen of the Souther Tier" to "Hellmira", there's a lot to get into. Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton featuring none other than Jim Search: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠March 27th at 6:30 PM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Up...

Lace up your sneakers because we are hitting the court once more to examine another former pro NBA team that once called Upstate New York home. Come along as we look at the founding of Syracuse's own NBA team: the Syracuse Nationals. Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton featuring none other than Jim Search: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠March 27th at 6:30 PM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get your...

This week we're learning all about the quadruple threat, Grace Jones. Though she was born in Jamaica, Grace Jones spent her teens in Upstate New York before she was launched to stardom in the 70's and 80's. There's LOTS to cover on her quadruple threat career, so lets get to it! Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton featuring none other tha...

This week we're learning about the Elmira Express, Ernie Davis, one of the greatest athletic talents to ever come out of Upstate NY. We'll learn about his domination on the court and field, and the tragic end to his short life. Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton featuring none other than Jim Search: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠March 27th at 6:30 PM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please conside...

This week we are heading to Petersburg, New York to learn all about the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum! We'll learn about the building that houses the museum and its own connection to the abolitionist movement, and dive into some of the inductees who have ties to Upstate, NY. Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton featuring none other than J...

This week we are touring some of the finest breweries that Upstate NY has to offer. We're touring across the whole state so buckle up because we've got a lot of ground to cover as we explore the finest ales of the Adirondacks, the premiere pilsners of western New York , and the best beers in the Mohawk River Valley. Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Bingh...

This week we slip into the muddy waters of the serene Susquehanna to learn all about this riveting river. There's plenty of twists and turns in the tale of this 400+ mile long river, so there's no time to waste, dive in! Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in Binghamton featuring none other than Jim Search: ⁠⁠March 27th at 6:30 PM⁠⁠ Please consider donating if...

This week we return to Broome County, NY to look at what has become a bit of an oddity floating in the middle of the serene Susquehanna: Murphy's Island. This private island would become the home to a local family, replete with 60's splendor (and its own cable car), and has since fallen into disrepair. So come along as we take a look at the story of the eccentric island (and a couple more...

Batten down the hatches and bundle up because this week we are tackling the one of the most infamous storms to ever hit Upstate New York: the blizzard of 1977. This icy storm dumped colossal amounts of snow onto Buffalo, NY, shutting the whole city down for days, and trapping people in their homes with snow up to to their ROOFS! Grab tickets for Stellar Human Presents: A Stand-Up Comedy Banger in...

Jim and Rob head back to Upstate NY's Capital Region to learn a little bit about the history of Schenectady, NY. Where else can you find a place that the likes of General Electric, Mickey Rourke, and Andrew Yang call home? So tag along as we take a look at the city that lights up the world! Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://understandingupstate.printful.me⁠⁠⁠...

Grab a bushel and barrel on over to Endicott to learn all about the Triple City institution that is The Cider Mill. We'll learn all about the origins of this 100 year old mill, its fiery demise, and its glorious rise from ashes. Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://understandingupstate.printful.me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cyber Punish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Happy holidays to all the Spiedie Freaks and Rattle Snake Petes out there! We're rewinding the tape back to our 2023 Holiday Episode where we experienced the delights of smashing open a peppermint pig. As an extra treat, you can WATCH this full episode and delight in us smashing a weird little candy pig on ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you've ever left a holiday celebration wanting to smash someth...

This week we're taking a look at a whole host of Upstate Holiday traditions. And chief among them were kicking things off with the Genesse Keg Tree in Rochester, NY. But don't worry, thats not the only giant metal object you can gather around this winter, we've got plenty to dig into, so let's get to it! Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://understandi...

Whisk yourself away to to a cozy tavern and pour yourself a beverage so dense, thick, and chock full of alcohol, that it could only call Buffalo, NY home. That's right, we're taking a look at the origins and history of Buffalo's beloved holiday beverage, the Tom and Jerry! Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠⁠https://understandingupstate.printful.me⁠⁠⁠ Check out Rob's brand ne...

It's a holly jolly episode this week as we hitch up our one horse open sleigh and head for North Pole, NY to learn about one of the first theme parks in the U.S., and discover the history behind the Walt Disney of the Adirondack's: Arto Monaco! Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠https://understandingupstate.printful.me⁠⁠ Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cyber...

Portage on over because today we are getting into another listener requested topic, the thrilling canoe race that takes off from Cooperstown and glides its way down the Susquehanna River to Bainbridge. We'll tackle the complicated history of the race's namesake, learn about the origins of the event in 1963, and talk about what it has become today. All the while eating fists full of chocola...

This week we return for another listener requested topic and dive into the history of North America's oldest organized team sport: Lacrosse! We'll learn about the sport's origins with the Haudenosaunee people, and how they sport has evolved over the years, all the while Jim relives his glory days as a middle school lacrosse player. Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March:...

This week we head to the county seat, to TAKE a seat at the Broome County Forum Theatre in none other than, Binghamton, NY. We'll learn all about the faces behind this venerable institution and talk all about the local, national, and international stars who have trodded across its boards! Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Cyber Punish⁠⁠⁠⁠ Grab Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Get in loser, we're heading to Upstate NY's Capital District to learn a little bit more about the oldest city in the entire state: Albany, NY. You might not be able to still get a 25 cent slice of pizza there, but there's still plenty to learn about, so join us as we crack open The Egg that is Albany! Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠⁠⁠Cyber Punish⁠⁠⁠ Grab Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠...

To bring another month of all things Upstate and spooky, we're taking a look the influence Upstate NY has had on horror films over the decades. It's often used as a location in movies (horror and otherwise), but we wanted to dig into how Upstate NY has been used as a source. What major film studio got its start Upstate with a slasher flick? Who is the Horror Laureate of Upstate NY? (It ain...

Our spooky marathon of episodes continues as we take a look at some of the Urban (and rural) legends of Upstate NY, and in one particular case, we examine a legend's origins and the ramifications it has on a small town. We'll also learn that much like their corporal counterparts, not even Binghamton ghosts are to be trifled with! Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠Cyber Punish⁠ Grab Jim&#3...

This week we are serving up five different true tales from Upstate New York that will have you quaking in your boots, shaking in your shoes, shivering in your slippers, cowering in your clogs, shrieking in your sneakers... I think you get the idea. From unsanctioned (and VERY unethical) medical experiments, to cursed manors, and more, there's more than enough real horror in this week's epi...

On this week's episode Jim and Rob take a look at the skeletons in the closet (and basement) of the clairvoyant, toe tapping, and knee cracking, Fox Sisters, and learn about the Upstate origins of modern day Spiritualism. We dive into the Fox Sister's history of being some of the first clairvoyants to give public performances, and look into the MANY failed performances by their piers from...

Pull up a chair and pop a squat as Jim regales us with his experience covering SerlingFest 2025 in Binghamton, NY. Sit back, relax, and smoke if you got 'em, cause Rod certainly would of. Enjoy! Grab Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...