New Jersey Is The World

This month instead of a traditional food review, Don and I interview NJ.com food writer Jeremy Schneider. Initially what we focus on is that this crazy motherfucker attempted to eat a one pound mozzarella stick by himself at a restaurant in Bloomfield. But as you can imagine, we broaden the conversation to include topics as diverse as: "How food tells the story of class divide in New Jersey" and "...

Chris, Mike, and Nick compete in a cutthroat fantasy draft to see who can assemble the greatest mall food court known to humankind. Thanks to the listener who suggested this AWESOME idea! In this episode we draft our ultimate mall food court and it's a heated battle. As you'll see, Patrons can vote on whose is best - and whomever comes in last will face dire consequences at our Asbury Park show on...

Our interview series revolving around Newark continues. My quest to figure out the complicated feelings any Essex county raised suburbanite has towards our state's largest city resumes with activist, rapper, Newark native, and in general thoughtful and smart person Daniel Joseph. I first knew Daniel's output as an artist - but was fascinated to speak to him from his perspective as someone working...

We've decided that New Jersey needs a new slogan. Something as good as NEW JERSEY AND YOU PERFECT TOGETHER, but with a modern twist. Luckily, Mike D has access to some artificial intelligence programs and he asked them to auto-generate options. We debate what this machine came up with and offer up the top five choices to you! Sign up at www.patreon.com/newjerseyistheworld to vote on what you think...

Today's episode ends the year with something simple and sweet: New Jersey themed New Year's resolutions. Things we haven't seen we vow to see. Things we haven't done we vow to do. And because this is Jersey, things we haven't eaten that we vow to eat. Thanks to everyone who's supported the project in its first year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the show we start off with a very important voicemail about bagels. So that's huge. THEN we continue a conversation that's been unfolding over time on the show that's probably even more important than bagels - one about how the political gears of New Jersey turn and how strange and fascinating and rigged the game can be in this state. I spend an hour talking with Imani Oakley, who's runni...

This month Don makes his way down the shore to check out PORTA, one of the most buzzed about restaurants in recent Jersey history and one whose rise goes hand in hand with the resurgence of Asbury Park. We talk about what we had, what we liked, and then get into a more philosophical discussion regarding New Jersey's relationship with fine dining and fanciness in general. Listen, enjoy, and order s...

A recent national study has decided that New Jersey has the worst roads in the nation. As you can imagine, we both vehemently agree but are not into anyone talking bad about us. This study leads to a lot of convo about Jersey infrastructure, and a whoooooooole lot of stories of insane things we've seen and done ourselves out there on the highways of the Garden State. For a cavalcade of more, don't...

We are lucky to be joined by Amol Sinha, the head of the New Jersey ACLU. Topics covered include: what civil liberties issues are the prime focus in Jersey these days, prison reform, the inequality between Jersey's cities and suburbs, how people aiming to change and improve laws navigate the machine politics of New Jersey, and a WHOLE LOT MORE. As you can imagine, our esteemed guest has seen how J...

From weeknight trips to Atlantic City to food items where you definitely know better to Danzig's solo output, there are a *lot* of guilty pleasures to be found within the borders of the Garden State. The WOTown gang discuss the moments where they've realized they've crossed into guilty pleasure territory. Don't forget: NJITW is back LIVE at House of Independents in Asbury Park on 12/26. Get your t...

In this episode, we bust open the voicemails so Don Fanelli can visit FOUR different spots suggested by listeners just like you! We speak on the Brownstone Pancake Factory in Englewood Cliffs, Toast in Montclair, Godfather Pizza in East Hanover, and The Green Papaya in River Edge. A few things become evident: 1) There's a lot of great food in New Jersey 2) Don doesn't like this trend where things...

Growing up in West Orange in my era, Newark was this looming presence that most families (including mine) had deep roots in. But we were conditioned to fear Newark, to not go there. The stolen car capitol. America's most dangerous city. But now I'm older and wiser and realize that any statistics aside, the relationship between Newark and its suburbs is strange. Very strange, and distant, and dehum...

We all know Jersey is the state with the biggest chip on its shoulder. Outsiders say it's the dirtiest state. But did you know it's the nerdiest state, too? In this episode we break down all the ways that Jersey is nerdy, as we pitch our home as the ultimate nerd haven with ultimate nerd credibility.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I hope you are hungry. Because Don Fanelli is back, and he's finally tackling a food that means a LOT to Jersey people: bagels. Rather than take on one bagel place, Don is reviewing THREE of North Jersey's finest. From Bagels by Jarret's mad scientist unpredictability, to the neighborhood mainstay Hot Bagels Abroad, to the nationally renowned Teaneck Hot Bagels, Don examines Jersey's favorite carb...

Just in time for Halloween comes an episode laying out a very NJ mystery. This episode is different for us, as Mike D dives into an adventure that starts in sleepy little Bordentown but spans the globe and centuries in the process. We've gone down a real rabbit hole here and none of us are sure how this might end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Jersey has had its fair share of sports moments and sports heroes. In this episode we discuss it all, from "what it's like playing high school football" in Jersey to "an unexpectedly heartfelt explanation of why Arturo Gatti was as much myth as man" to "whoa that baseball camp sounds like a nightmare" to "why is NCAA wrestling champion Nick Suriano the most intense human being on planet earth"...

HBO has released the first Sopranos content in 14 years. Obviously this is of outsized importance to your favorite New Jersey obsessed podcast. We break down what we liked, what we thought could be fixed, have some unexpectedly thoughtful exchanges about the city of Newark itself, and also go down a strange tangent involving a letter sent home to the parents of West Orange High School students in...

I wanted to do an episode getting to the complicated, sometimes shady world of NJ politics, but realized even my own knowledge is so surface level that I needed to call in an expert. So today I interview Matt Friedman, who writes the NJ Playbook over at Politico, so he can answer my questions and let me know what's swirling around in the political underbelly of this often severely flawed state I l...

For months, people have been wondering, "How you gonna do Jersey food reviews and not do Taylor Ham?" Other people have been wondering, "How you gonna do Jersey food reviews and not do pork roll?" Today, the day has come. Rather than do a traditional review of Jersey's most talked about food, we decided to put Don Fanelli to the test by sending him piles of Taylor Ham and challenging him to come u...

YOUR voicemails. YOUR words. YOUR time to shine. If you have anything you want to say about Jersey places, people, things, or experiences - even if you want to hate on the Garden State - call 973-780-4660. The one and only Colonel Carson Kopp is standing by to curate your words into a hypnotic hallucinogenic audio trip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Genovese has long been a features and food writer for NJ.com and he recently published the most ambitious piece of his career - a list of the best thing in every NJ town. Last week, we went through some of his choices, applauding some and critiquing others. He heard it. Now, he's here to let us know how the list came to be, what he's learned about New Jersey via its food, why Central Jersey...

Peter Genovese has been the Star Ledger's food writer for many moons now and he is an unquestioned New Jersey treasure. He recently put together a list of the best thing about every town in New Jersey - it's a heroic feat and kind of insane. You have to go read it. Once you do, come back here for our analysis of said list. We go county by county to see which things we agree with, disagree with, an...

Malls. In Jersey, everyone's got theirs. It says a lot about who you are and where you come from. Formative stories unfold within their walls. First jobs are had. Class conflict permeates. Jersey and malls are forever linked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Much has been written about the psychological effect of being a "Cold War Kid" - but being in between New York and Philly gave Jersey a special place in the anxiety riddled hopelessness of a Cold War childhood. What's it like growing up being told that you will be the collateral damage when cities are attacked? How does it contribute to the legendary screw loose nature of being a Jersey native? An...

We were lucky to have Don Fanelli back in his native land for a while, which meant a whole lot of food got reviewed. Not via the mail. Via he drove to the food and ate it with his mouth. This gave us the opportunity to review not one, not two, but THREE places all within the borders of legendary North Jersey food haven, Clifton. Rutt's Hut. Hot Grill. Sharkey's Wings. All in one episode. We're luc...