New Jersey Is The World

Latest Episodes:

An Interview with Peter Genovese! Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

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 is real, and much much more. This is an insanely fun conversation with a true Jersey icon, a culture defining writer who's driven the Munchmobile all over this God damn state showing us its best parts.

Please support all of Peter's work at NJ.com and don't forget to check out his books like NJ Diners, The Great American Road Trip: US 1 Maine to Florida, and New Jersey State of Mind.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Analyzing The List: Part One Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

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, and marvel at from his crazy ass list. If you're on the Patreon and want to volunteer to help us analyze future counties we cover, let us know in the comments section over there!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MALLS Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

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.

Jersey And the Cold War Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

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? And how did the Cold War alter the physical infrastructure of the state in ways kept secret, even though it was happening in our very backyards?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jersey Dude Reviews Jersey Food: Clifton Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

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 lucky Don's still alive to tell these tales.

(Also sorry we were late this week. I've had a crazy busy week and Carson moved and between those two things we fell behind!)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great Outdoors Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

The world likes to laugh at New Jersey being an industrial wasteland, but those in the know understand that actually it has endless opportunities for outdoor activity. Continuing our loosely themed summer episodes, we break down a bunch of our favorite places Garden Staters explore when they want to step away from the hustle and bustle. Featuring a standout Mike D tale that makes a state park sound like the setting of a Soderbergh movie.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NJ Summer Reading List Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

Here is a very useful summer reading list! Books about New Jersey, books by New Jersey authors, books that capture the Jersey experience to its core. Get reading and expand your mind! Join the patreon at www.patreon.com/newjerseyistheworld to discuss this episode and for a ton of exclusive content!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Interview with Governor Phil Murphy Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

The title of this episode is not a lie. It is an interview with the one and only New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy. That's right. Not an actor pretending. The real Governor is on this show. The same show where we usually share stories of how insane the bathrooms at Penn Station are or "remember that time one of the cowboys at Wild West City got shot for real?" We interviewed the current sitting governor.

He had a fantastic sense of humor, and also let us ask him some serious stuff along the way. We feel honored that the governor learned of our show and sees it for what it is: a loving exploration of the fascinating and at times confounding state we live in, that celebrates its underrated joys but doesn't sweep its complicated aspects under the rug. Governor Murphy was an amazing sport in laughing at the state's weirdness with us while also telling us where things are at for real. From where he thinks they might find Perfy's body buried to how he hopes our cities revitalize without falling into the traps of gentrification, this one has it all. Huge thanks to Daniel Bryan for his assistance in making this episode happen.

If you want more content looking at every aspect of New Jersey, please join us at www.patreon.com/newjerseyistheworld

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WOTown: Jersey-Ish (with special guest Sara Benincasa) Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

Fellow comedian/writer/Jersey die hard Sara J. Benincasa joins the show to discuss things that are JERSEYISH - from other places that remind us of Jersey, to people with a Jersey spirit, to anything else that encapsulates the hard to define chip on the shoulder that makes Jersey so great.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jersey Dude Reviews Jersey Food: Maruca's Pizza Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

Don Fanelli is back, reviewing Maruca's, one of the most famous purveyors of pizza on the Jersey Shore. Jersey Shore pizza is a reflection of the Jersey Shore itself - larger than life and not necessarily good for you but man does it fill you up. Don breaks down one of the most famous slices/pies on the whole coast, and we answer a question that will create endless debate amongst Jerseyans: can you send pizza in the mail?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.