Episodes

  • All 21 New Jersey Counties, Ranked By Vibe (and Other Stuff)!

    All 21 New Jersey Counties, Ranked By Vibe (and Other Stuff)!
    Feb 18 2026
    There is nothing this painfully opinionated state loves more than a geographical debate! While the discussion is less philosophical and border-centric than the Central Jersey debate — the map of New Jersey counties is pretty cut and dry — the discussion is just as passionate. Each of New Jersey’s 21 counties has its special quirks and characteristics that capture just how vast and diverse the Garden State is — there’s a reason to love every one. But which county is best? Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com data reporter Katie Kausch to break rank all 21 counties, from the rural counties in the south and west to the beach counties of the Jersey Shore, bustling Hudson County and everything in between. After a heated debate, Jeremy and Katie crowned the No. 1 county in the state! Then Jeremy runs Katie through the Garden State Gauntlet, county edition! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Katie Kausch at @katiekausch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Jersey's Most Romantic Places! (Well, Sort Of)

    Jersey's Most Romantic Places! (Well, Sort Of)
    Feb 11 2026
    Happy Valentine’s Day from Jersey’s Best Podcast. Some might cynically call Valentine’s Day a made-up holiday pushed by Hallmark and chocolate companies to sell cards and candies. We’re not here to argue with that, we’re here to talk about how romantic New Jersey is! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by comedian Nick Fierro to discuss what romance means in New Jersey, New Jersey’s love language, and then break down the 10 most romantic places in the Garden State! Everything from a famous fast food joint and a beloved Italian restaurant to a revered Essex County overlook and some of the Jersey Shore’s best beach towns make the list. Then Nick is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, Valentine’s Day edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Nick Fierro at @schtickfierro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • New Jersey’s Best Black-Owned Restaurants

    New Jersey’s Best Black-Owned Restaurants
    Feb 4 2026
    Here on Jersey’s Best Podcast we are devoted year-round to highlighting New Jersey's exceedingly diverse food and dining scene. But as February is recognized as Black History Month, we wanted to spend an episode specifically on Black-owned restaurants, which are one of many pillars of our culinary landscape. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Chris Burch to discuss how Black-owned restaurants in New Jersey go far beyond soul food, the definition of soul food, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant in Camden, the history of New Jersey’s barbecue scene and more. Then Jeremy puts Chris through the Garden State Gauntlet, Black-owned restaurant edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Chris Burch at @swishburch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • The 51 Best Jersey Albums of All Time! (DOUBLE EPISODE)

    The 51 Best Jersey Albums of All Time! (DOUBLE EPISODE)
    Jan 28 2026
    The Grammy Awards are coming up! And while Jersey’s Best Podcast was somehow snubbed for any nominations, New Jersey has a rich history of winning the biggest awards in music! SZA and Jack Antonoff are both up for Grammys this year, but the Garden State's musical history goes far beyond trophies. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com music writer (and Jersey’s Best Podcast producer) Bobby Olivier to break down why New Jersey has such an amazing music scene, the 51 best albums in New Jersey history and crown the best record from every decade. Everything from Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston and Fugees come up in the musical discussion. There was so much to cover we had to do a double episode. Like a double album! Then Bobby goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Grammy edition! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! Follow Bobby Olivier at @bobbyolivier Listen to the Spotify playlist of NJ.com’s 51 best New Jersey albums here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Jersey Malls Are Dying and We Just Lost Another. What Are We Really Losing?

    Jersey Malls Are Dying and We Just Lost Another. What Are We Really Losing?
    Jan 21 2026
    Jersey’s Best Podcast is paying its respects — because it’s the end of an era in Central Jersey. Brunswick Square, the East Brunswick mall that was a Middlesex County staple for more than 50 years, officially closed on January 10. While New Jersey’s mall culture is well-established, technology is changing shopping habits, and that means less malls. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com senior political reporter (and Brunswick Square’s biggest fan) Brent Johnson to discuss what he loved so much about Brunswick Square (3:33), some of his best memories from growing up going to the mall (4:50), the mall’s slow decline (12:42) and why New Jersey malls are fading in general (25:19). Then Brent goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, mall edition (38:03)! Follow us! ⁠@jerseysbestpodcast⁠ on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky ⁠Subscribe to NJ.com⁠, our journalists need you! . Read his eulogy for Brunswick Square here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • SPECIAL REPORT: The Untold Story of Taylor Ham! Scandal, Cruelty and an Affair!

    SPECIAL REPORT: The Untold Story of Taylor Ham! Scandal, Cruelty and an Affair!
    Jan 7 2026
    Everyone knows the Taylor Provisions Company as the biggest name in Taylor ham and pork roll — they literally invented it all the way back in 1856, and their cherry red packaging is as synonymous with the stuff as eggs, cheese and kaiser rolls. What you don’t know is the family behind the company is rife with enough scandal, infighting and legal drama to make the Taylor ham/pork roll name controversy look like a footnote. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com enterprise writer Brianna Kudisch, who wrote "The untold story of Taylor ham: Inside a N.J. family legacy tainted by scandal, cruelty and a tawdry affair," the story that details the drama that surrounds the company. Jeremy and Brianna break down the history of the company and how it invented Taylor ham as we know it and why the government made them change the product's name (5:51), the woman who has taken over the company and ushered in an era of scandal (9:45) and multiple harassment lawsuits (15:00). Then Brianna goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, Taylor Provisions edition (38:40)! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Brianna at @BriannaKudisch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Jersey’s Best New Years! New Jersey New Year's Resolutions for 2026

    Jersey’s Best New Years! New Jersey New Year's Resolutions for 2026
    Dec 31 2025
    Happy New Years from Jersey’s Best Podcast! While 2025 may have been the year this podcast launched, we’re just as excited for 2026! And as New Jersey prepares for the New Year, we have some New Year’s resolutions for the Garden State. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by comedian Jourdan McKinley to prepare for the New Year with pledges related to the 2026 World Cup coming to MetLife Stadium, some of New Jersey’s best movie theaters and the food trends we want to see (and not see) in 2026. Jourdan also explains the biggest issue facing New Jersey in 2026. Then Jeremy puts Jourdan through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Years edition! Happy New Year! Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Jourdan McKinley at @jourdanmckinley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Jersey’s Best Slang — Why Do We Talk Like This? (RE-RUN!)

    Jersey’s Best Slang — Why Do We Talk Like This? (RE-RUN!)
    Dec 24 2025
    Merry Christmas Eve, fellow Jerseyans! Jeremy is off throwing bagels at elves so we are re-running one of our favorite episodes of the year! We'll be back with a new episode next week — happy listening! Our, uh, colorful New Jersey language unites us, even if it separates us from the rest of the country. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by comedian and noted Bennie dissenter Allie Mae to break down all their favorite Jersey slang, from saltpepperketchup (7:34) and 20regularcash (14:42) to the more obscure Jersey Slide (16:29) and Goosey Night (22:38). They also bond over which New Jersey highway has not yet been lost to corporate America (13:36). Then Allie takes on our trickiest Garden State Gauntlet yet, identifying Jersey town nicknames (41:38). Email us! Jerseysbestpodcast@gmail.com Follow us! @jerseysbestpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Blue Sky Subscribe to NJ.com, our journalists need you! Follow Allie Mae at @defaultprogrammer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins