Understanding Upstate

We're headed back to Buffalo this week for a feature length episode all on Buffalo's Film Row and the Buffalo's Film Exchange. Barrel roll your way on over the Eerie Canal because we'll also get into some of Buffalo's other contributions to film since the very inception of motion pictures. For the real Spiedie Freaks and Rattlesnake Petes: Corbett and Courtney fisticuffs Check out Jim's comedy alb...

Going UP? This week we look at the buildings, past and present, that have claimed the title of tallest building in Upstate New York. It isn't a straight shot to the top either, there's plenty of twists and turns as we work our way to today's title holder. Also, move over Harvard because Forbes recently stated the SUNY-Binghamton is regarded as part of the new Ivy League, so you better...

Hashes to hashes, crust to crust. Today we memorialize the greatest Denny's to ever grace Vestal Parkway, just outside of SUNY Binghamton. Jim and Rob hear from those who knew this vital late night Binghamton hub best, as we pull in memories from listeners, reddit, and google. Never been to this incredibly specific Denny's? Don't worry, we'll paint a picture so vivid you'll swe...

This week we take a look at one of the largest companies to come out of Upstate New York: Xerox. We'll fall down the rabbit hole of copiers, fax machines, and toner cartridges and see where we come out at the end, but whatever you do, just don't use "Xerox" as a verb, the company is REAL serious about that. Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upsta...

This week Jim and Rob dig into what makes Dinosaur BBQ such a beloved Syracuse, NY institution. It's the Upstate BBQ that's so good that bikers and billionaires alike can not deny its deliciousness. So crack open a Genny Cream Ale and sit back as we learn all about Dino BBQ! Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Happy holidays to all the Spiedie Freaks and Rattle Snake Petes out there! This is a special rerelease/regifting of our 2023 holiday episode where we experienced the delights of smashing open a peppermint pig. Enjoy, and we'll see you next week for a new episode in the new year! Oh and don't forget, this is one of the few episodes we filmed, so go WATCH us smash a weird little candy pig on ⁠ ⁠⁠You...

Today we've got a wonderful episode ready for you. Jim and Rob take a trip to Seneca Falls, which may or may not have been the inspiration for the fictional Bedford Falls in It's A Wonderful Life. Was it actually the inspiration? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out. Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week we're back in Syracuse to talk about one of the biggest sports institutions in all of Upstate New York: the Syracuse Orange. We go through their history making legacy that stretches back over 150 years, so there's no time to waste, lets get into it! Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week we're wheeling the Understanding Upstate shopping cart back around to another beloved grocery store chain that calls Upstate home: Tops Friendly Markets. Rob and Jim get to the bottom of why Tops is tops when it comes to giving you more. And don't worry, Rob has yet another overly convoluted game for Jim at the end of the episode. Also, as an added bonus: find out if your baby is too fat...

This week we are headed back to the West Side of Buffalo to talk about one of the city's most beloved institutions: Jim's Steakout. Jim and Rob get to the bottom of what make these sandwiches the top in Upstate New York. These sandwiches have even inspired a musical, what more could you ask for?! (Coincidentally, if you're asking for more sweet peppers and mushrooms, you should ask for a Hoagie De...

This week we're swinging back around to Binghamton to talk all about the hallowed halls of the Veteran Memorial Arena. We'll get into the origins of the Arena, its impact on Binghamton and Broome County, and recap all of the marque events the Arena has played host to over the years. From high school fights, to the Ice Capades and professional wrestling, the Arena has been an upstate cultural hub f...

You (probably) heard it here first folks: Philadelphia Cream Cheese is from none other than Upstate New York and we're diving into all the details about how this spreadable treat came to be. And it's not just the Philadelphia brand that calls Upstate home, but also cream cheese as we know it today was invented Upstate. So slather a bagel with your favorite schmear and hit play! Check out Jim's com...

This week we are taking at the life and work of the incredible Stephen Myers. Stephen was a fixture of the Upstate Abolitionist movement, he also was an important Underground Railroad Conductor working in Albany, and that's only naming a couple of the things he did! Join us to learn more about one of Upstate NY's greatest heroes. Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week Jim and Rob are joined by comedian, Stephen Brown, to talk about his career in comedy and the work he's doing to help create and foster the Triple Cities comedy community. Plus, Stephen drops some devastating spiedie news that Rob may never recover from. Make sure to follow Stephen to keep up on his upcoming shows: ⁠@steveisjewish⁠ . Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

On today's episode we get into a brutal bevy of killers from Upstate NY. Jim serves up three different tales of some of the most infamous murderers to roam New York's countryside. Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also check out Rob's album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This episode we're celebrating a full year of Understanding Upstate, and today's topic is going to blow you out of the water! Upstate NY may have more mythical aquatic monsters per capita than any other region in the United States. We're practically bursting at the gills with lake monsters, river serpents, and canal creatures, and Rob and Jim are going to talk about every single one. Check out Jim...

Our month long dedication to all the Upstate things that go bump in the night continues as we return with a bevy of ghost stories that will have you quaking in your boots! Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also check out Rob's album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NY Sticky⁠...

It's a monster episode covering the festival all about the man that brought actual monsters to life for millions throughout his illustrious career. It's Jim's much anticipated recap of his three day experience at the 2024 SerlingFest in none other than Binghamton, NY. Special shoutout to the #1 Spiedie Freak and Rattlesnake Pete, Adam Rodkey, for making this episode happen! Check out Jim's comedy...

This week Jim and Rob give it all they got to cover both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics that were held in the tiny Upstate mountain village of Lake Placid, NY. In true Upstate fashion, not even a lack of snow, transportation, or hotels could keep Lake Placid from holding down the winter games not once but twice! Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate U...

This week Jim and Rob tackle the World's Fair that was briefly held in Buffalo. Why was it so short? Between a major political event (to put it lightly) and the world's worst exhibits, this fair was destined to flop. Jim is headlining the Crooked Mouth Comedy Festival in Endicott, NY on September 21st, get your tickets  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Who knew that Western New York was a hotbed for smooth jazz in the 80's? Rob and Jim certainly didn't, but that's not all, Rob may have unearthed the earliest recorded rap from Upstate NY. They chart the unlikely course of fusion jazz through Upstate New York and dig into Spyro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, and Cabo Frio. Jim is headlining the Crooked Mouth Comedy Festival in Endicott, NY on S...

This week Rob and Jim look at one of the companies and industries that helped put Binghamton, NY on the map. Sit back and light one up as we get into a tale of industry, innovation and spite statues. Jim is headlining the Crooked Mouth Comedy Festival in Endicott, NY on September 21st, get your tickets  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠U...

We're getting salty this week as we look at the perennial potato dish from Syracuse, NY: salted potatoes. From the old Syracuse salt vats to the dinner plates of many an upstater, Jim and Rob get to the bottom of what makes these taters so tasty. Jim is headlining the Crooked Mouth Comedy Festival in Endicott, NY on September 21st, get your tickets  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Check out Jim's comedy...

This week Jim and Rob survey a variety of utopian societies that cropped up across Upstate New York in the 1800's and quickly find that these communities were anything but perfect.  Jim is headlining the Crooked Mouth Comedy Festival in Endicott, NY on September 21st, get your tickets  ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandin...

This week Jim and Rob give an overview of what makes the Finger Lakes region such a beautiful and unique part of Upstate, NY. What are you waiting for, the slim watery digits of the Finger Lakes beckon you forth to listen to this episode!  Jim is headlining the Crooked Mouth Comedy Festival in Endicott, NY on September 21st, get your tickets  ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ . Check out Jim's comedy album:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...