School is almost out for summer but that doesn’t mean it's the offseason for kids across the Garden State. There is no offseason anymore. Many of New Jersey’s young athletes are now expected to train year-round now, playing with elite club teams and working with private trainers.  All those club teams, all that travel, all those coaching sessions, all that equipment? Just like everything in 2026, it is expensive. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com sports columnist Steve Politi, who recently reported on the rising costs of youth sports in New Jersey. Jeremy and Steve breakdown what exactly costs so much, why there's more pressure than ever for New Jersey parents to spend on their kids' athletic endeavors, and if Sen. Corey Booker's efforts will do anything to stem the rising costs.

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“Jeopardy” just had a player go on an all-time heater, one of the best performances the 60-year-old program has ever seen. Jamie Ding won 31 straight games — the fifth-longest winning streak in show history! He won more than $880,000 along the way. But more importantly… Jamie is from New Jersey! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jamie Ding himself to talk about how he got on Jeopardy, his record-setting strategy and how fast even a month-long run on the show can feel. Jamie also breaks down how he ended up in New Jersey, how his perception of the state has changed and why it’s better than neighboring states. Then Jeremy and Jamie play some Jersey-themed Jeopardy before running through the Garden State Gauntlet!  

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Long before Adam Sandler, Timothee Chalamet and Sydney Sweeney were filming movies all over New Jersey and long before Netflix was setting up shop in Monmouth County, the Garden State was already home base for an iconic film studio — Troma Entertainment. Troma is the longest-running independent movie studio in the world, one of the biggest names in horror and B movies. The studio is best known for the 1984 cult classic "The Toxic Avenger," which was set and filmed in New Jersey! Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Lloyd Kaufman, the head of Troma Studios to talk about why Troma filmed so many movies in New Jersey, the inspiration for "The Toxic Avenger," Lloyd's love of New Jersey diners and more.

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A trip to the Jersey Shore is basically a choose your own adventure of beautiful beach options — there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a beach bum, a foodie, a concert-lover, a pinball wizard or a dive-bar aficionado or all of the above, it’s almost impossible to have a bad time down the Shore. In fact, there are so many things to do at the Jersey Shore that it’s almost overwhelming!  That’s where we come in. On this week’s episode of Jersey’s Best Podcast, host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com data reporter Katie Kausch to draft the ultimate Jersey Shore beach day! Jeremy and Katie drafted in categories including beach, breakfast restaurant, on-beach lunch, off-beach activity, dinner restaurant and more! Then Katie runs through the Garden State Gauntlet, beach day edition!

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Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Jersey's Best Podcast loves celebrating New Jersey's diversity and culture all year long. But with May being AAPI Heritage Month, we wanted to take a closer look at New Jersey's AAPI dining scene. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Lauren Musni to discuss what AAPI Heritage Month means to New Jersey. Then they discuss the best towns for AAPI eats across the Garden State (with a special look at Bradley Beach) and some of New Jersey's top Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Bangladeshi and Taiwanese restaurants and more. Finally, Lauren is put through the Garden State Gauntlet, AAPI edition!

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Diners are famous for long hours and vast menus that cover countless cultures and multiple meals — in a way, they defy time and space. There is no wrong order at a New Jersey diner, per se, but there are some questionable decisions to be made while seated in a cozy — fine, sticky — vinyl booth. And you order can be very telling. That’s where we come in. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Jersey City-based comedian Nick Fierro to analyze what your diner order says about you. From classics like turkey clubs, omelettes and coffee to more adventurous orders like seafood and eggs Benedict, Jersey's Best Podcast has a breakdown for it all. Then Nick is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, diner order edition.

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This week, Jersey’s Best Podcast is paying homage to one of New Jersey’s greatest actresses.  A Golden Globe winner. An Emmy winner. An Oscar winner. Most importantly, a native of Millburn, New Jersey — that’s right people, this is the Anne Hathaway episode! There's really no bad time to talk about Mrs. Hathaway. But this is the perfect time, because 2026 is shaping up to be a hell of a year for the pride of Millburn High School. She has five movies coming out this year, including "The Devil Wears Prada 2" which hits theaters on Friday. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by New Jersey pop culture obsessive and Anne Hathaway expert Tom Gawronski to break down Anne Hathaway's career, what makes her such a star, watching "The Devil Wears Prada" in 2026 and finally erecting the Anne Hathaway Mount Rushmore. Then Tom is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey movie edition!

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Episode artwork: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images | Canva illustration

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It’s always been hard to operate a restaurant in New Jersey. But in 2026? It's damn near impossible. The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the industry to the core — and in many ways it never recovered. With everything becoming more expensive in 2026 as inflation spikes prices, dining habits are changing across the board. NJ.com food and culture reporter Lauren Musni just documented this in her story on how middle-class dining is disappearing in New Jersey. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Laura Brahn, owner of Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park and Mabel in Holmdel, who was quoted in the story. Jeremy and Laura break down the post-COVID dining landscape, why middle-class restaurants are taking the brunt of the crisis, why chain restaurants are thriving and why owning a restaurant is so hard in general. Then Laura is run through the Garden State Gauntlet, restaurant-owner edition!

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This week Jersey’s Best Podcast is getting on my NERVES. Because while we spend most episodes detailing the spectacular, bizarre and beautiful aspects of life in the Garden State, this week we’re breaking down the sometimes annoying components of being a New Jerseyan. That’s right, I’m talking about Garden State pet peeves.  For all this state’s beauty and wonder, living in the most densely populated does have its drawbacks. Stressful and frustrating moments are simply part of everyday life in New Jersey, engrained in our daily routine — ironically, they often happen in the places we love the most! Restaurants. Beaches. Highways. Okay, we don’t always love highways, but you get the point. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by NJ.com food and culture reporter Chris Burch to break down what really grinds their gears in the Garden State. From drivers obeying the speed limit on the Garden State Parkway and Central Jersey drivers to restaurants that pretend they're in New York and Bruce Springsteen fans who don't pay attention to his lyrics, the complaints run the gamut. Then Jeremy and Chris update NJ.com's best cheesesteak list, including yet another steak taste test.

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Jersey’s Best Podcast is taking you out to the ballgame! Baseball season is here — and even though New Jersey doesn’t have any Major League Baseball teams, the state is deeply connected to our nation’s pastime. The first officially recorded baseball game in United States history took place in Hoboken. New Jersey was also a major hub for the Negro Leagues, with iconic teams like the Newark Eagles and historic venues like Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson calling the Garden State home. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Dave Kaplan, the founding director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and lead consultant for the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium to discuss if baseball was technically invented in New Jersey, how multiple trailblazing baseball moments happened in the Garden State and longtime New Jersey resident Yogi Berra’s Yankee legacy. Then Dave goes through the Garden State Gauntlet, New Jersey baseball edition!

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