New Jersey Is The World

In this very passionate episode of JDRJF, we ask a simple question: Who's out there leaving these one star Yelp reviews on some of our most beloved New Jersey small businesses? Instead of reviewing food this episode, Don reviews some Yelp reviews left for NJ restaurants. Not surprisingly, this leads to a lot of Don and Chris venting anger at the pithiness of Yelp, shouting support for working peop...

This week, Alt Press put out a pretty great article tracing the history and impact of New Brunswick's basement music scene. We figured this was a perfect opportunity to pull our episode on the NJ music scene out from behind the Patreon paywall where it's lived for over a year. If you're not a Patron, enjoy for the very first time this look into Jersey's legendary music scene, featuring quotes from...

How does one go from hitting up garage sales looking for cassette tapes and Mr. T lunch boxes to running a thriving furniture resale business on the Jersey Shore? We talk to Drew from Flux Modern to find out! Hear about dealing with furniture obsessives, staking one's business on an unexpected $7,000 worth of chairs in a random garage, and tracing the recent history of Asbury Park based on who's b...

Hello all! First things first, don't forget our upcoming show at the House of Independents on December 11th! It would truly be an honor to see you all there. SECONDLY, THIS DUDE KYLE FROM TOMS RIVER IS ON A QUEST TO EAT EVERY PORK ROLL, EGG, AND CHEESE SANDWICH IN THE ENTIRE STATE. It's true madness, and some might say an insurmountable goal. In our interview, we speak on the endless nature of thi...

Happy holiday, everyone! In New Jersey, land of malls, Black Friday has always meant a lot. In this special episode, we break down a brief history of Black Friday in general (no one in Jersey will be shocked to hear this insanity started in Philly). Then we break down a history of some of Jersey's most notable Black Friday moments of mayhem. Patrons! Listen on the Patreon site/app and you'll be lu...

This episode is simple, sweet, and quite dumb. Just like we like it! In it we pre-suppose a simple question: "If you could assemble the ultimate Thanksgiving guest list consisting of New Jersey notables living or dead, who would they be and what would you ask each person to bring?" On a schmaltzy note - we are thankful for everyone who listens to and supports this show. We started it as a fun way...

You would think this episode would be exactly this long: "Kohr's frozen custard is good." What else is there to say about frozen custard? Well, little did we know that the history of this company is hilariously old-timey. AND their current corporate structure is indecipherable, to the degree that we couldn't quite figure it out while reading a NY Times article aimed at explaining it. THEN PATRICIA...

New Jersey and true crime... they seem very much linked. I mean, between The Watcher and The Good Nurse it seems like Netflix is making all its money this month solely by focusing on true crime in the Garden State. But did you know there was a murder that went down a hundred years ago that many say was the birth of the modern true crime obsession? It's the Hall-Mills case, a Somerset County murder...

Happy Halloween, New Jersey! This holiday is a sacred one in this state, since it's not just about dressing up and collecting candy. It's also a big step in the New Jersey tradition of kids testing their mettle and getting in over their heads. We share stories of the traumatic side of Halloween in this episode, from dosed candy to bag snatchers to power hungry mayors. This episode is sponsored by...

Hello NJITW listeners! You've heard us plug our Patreon over the years. I promise you, we post a lot of good stuff back there. Here's a teaser of this month's South Jersey Is Also The World, in which we talk to director Tommy Avallone about Kevin Smith, the South Jersey influence on his creativity, and a LOT of references to people who worked at one specific movie theater. If you want to know more...

Everyone's talking about The Watcher - the new Netflix show based on the infamous Watcher House of Westfield. We watched The Watcher. What did they get right? What did they get wrong? Why was the main character's outfit so tan? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month we reviewed Secret Pizza, an LA based establishment claiming to serve North Jersey style pizza out in California. Don gave us his honest thoughts, Chris questioned the topping choices, we were confused as to how Jersey pizza was being made 3,000 miles away. Well it turns out, I have a ton of mutual friends with the man behind the madness. So we set up an interview and were able to ask S...

In this uncharacteristically negative episode, each of the WOTown mainstays votes for what they think is the most garbage town in the entire state.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike D has designed a game where he tells us things about New Jersey and we have to guess whether they're true or not. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well nothing in this state is ever as simple as it seems. So while, yes, we learn some new things about New Jersey along the way... and sure, we marvel at some things the gang knows and laugh at some of the easy ones they messed up... we ALSO spend an...

Don Fanelli spent some time at the shore this summer, and made a habit of hitting up Colonial Bakery every morning. Hear Don's description of their donuts, coffee, tea buns, and yes - CRUMB CAKE - but also Don's borderline erotic descriptions of jogging to the sea every morning. ENJOY! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are certain fall traditions in New Jersey, and one of them is upon us - the great Steve Politi is at the Ledger writing about Rutgers Football, as well as everything else in the world of sports in New Jersey. Chris was able to talk with this longstanding Jersey journalistic icon about some of the greatest moments in New Jersey sports history, about Arturo Gatti, what it was like meeting Nick...

Chris recently returned to New Jersey from a month spent overseas, and immediately brought his young son to two classic New Jersey dessert spots: Italian ice legend DiCosmos in Elizabeth and the number one ice cream spot in New Jersey AND iconic Sopranos shooting location, Holsten's in Bloomfield. He gets together with the WOTown crew to describe both experiences as in depth as possible so that th...

This week we're lucky to speak to one of the primary chroniclers of things that are fascinating about New Jersey: Brian Donohue, a longtime Jersey journalist currently known for his Positively New Jersey segments on News 12. We speak about how he finds his stories, how his dedication to journalism separates what he does from the pack, surfboards in the Meadowlands, Space Farms, the state of the Ne...

In this short but sweet episode, we cover two things: the ongoing saga of Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise and the New Jersey State Constitution. We never really think about the state constitution - it's superseded, obviously, by the big dawg, the federal Constitution. In reading it, there's a lot to like - and I break down my favorite thing of all in this episode. But there's also one big thin...

When Mike D and Geth met up in Scotland, they figured it only made sense to do a report from the streets of Edinburgh comparing it and contrasting it with New Jersey while gauging its Jersey-ness. They didn't anticipate a surprise drop in from noted Irish comedian David O'Doherty, who was able to step in and break down the matter better than they ever imagined. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Don Fanelli is back with a review of a Jersey food item NOT in Jersey? Secret Pizza in Los Angeles is making waves for serving Jersey pizza made by a Jersey native. Don tests out to see if it matches the hype, and if it's as Jersey as promised. Do you know any other Jersey food ambassadors out there spreading Jersey food? Let us know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gethard's voice is shredded, so Mike D leads the gang in talking to Dr. Brian, a supporter of our show who happens to be an expert in many fields. One thing he's researched is the story of Emilio Carranza, the famed Mexican aviator who has a monument built to him deep in the Pine Barrens... and there's way more to the story than most of us know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

A new book just came out. It's a celebration of Jersey culture, and it's not a stretch to say that if you dig our podcast you will enjoy said book! (I even have an essay in it but full disclosure I'm not getting any kickbacks for this. It's a genuinely great book!) You can find info on said book HERE. Today I'm lucky to interview the author/curator of said book, Kerri Sullivan. We talk about the b...

Mike D has tracked down dozens of New Jersey town seals. We discuss them. Which ones are bringing the heat design wise? Messaging wise? More importantly, which ones are hot garbage? And as always, the rest of the state is left to ask: what is Manville thinking? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is our second ever small business spotlight interview. This time around, we talk to Tom from Mutiny BBQ in Asbury Park. We hear about things like meeting the bar that's set by Asbury Park's food scene, how help from other businesses was vital to his restaurant's beginning, what it's like boxing out space in a culinary style Jersey's not known for, and SO much for. Tom's a great guy and we hop...