This week our friend John Ross Cocozza stops by to discuss one of our favorite topics, beer! John tells us stories of how he started on his path of starting his own craft brewery, what the challenges are of doing so in NJ, and what lies ahead for Ross Brewing. We also play two brew themed games, including one partially borrowed from John’s Point Blank Podcast!

What Exit Jersey Stories

What Exit - Episode 28 What's Brewing in NJ with John Ross Cocozza

Our friend Criss Madd joins us for our one-year retrospect, where we talk about how the pod came to be during a pandemic, dealing with remote podcasting, favorite episodes, best guests, and top moments of the past year. Pete then leads us into a game of (I kid you not) NJ Desserts or Johnny Cash Hurt!

What Exit - Episode 30 One Year Retrospect

This week we discuss everyone's favorite NJ open-system toll road, The Garden State Parkway! How did it come to be, what is its secret number, how many states does it actually cover? These questions and more are answered, along with a new game from Pete!

What Exit - Episode 31 The Garden State Parkway

This week we are joined by our friend, engineer, and musician extraordinaire, Criss Madd. We discuss NJ's lifting of regulations regarding the pandemic and what's next. Join us for another of Pete's new games, where we must figure out the real NJ restaurant!

What Exit - Episode 32 NJ Emerging from the Pandemic

This week we welcome Sensei David Senak and Sensei Mason Senak of Maywood Karate to discuss what makes this dojo stand out among others. They tell us of how each of them got into karate, how the dojo came to be, and what they have done to keep the school thriving in the face of many challenges, including the pandemic. We finish things off with a game of Jersey/Not Jersey. Finally, if you would like more information on Maywood Karate or would like to start a 12-week trial, go to MaywoodKarate.com

What Exit - Episode 33 Maywood Karate

On this episode we discuss NJ Independence Day celebrations and the five guys we chose to declare independence for NJ.

What Exit - Episode 34 NJ Independence Day and Those 5 Guys

Join us as we welcome the great Chris Campana, NJ artist and comic creator! Listen as we hear his origin story, the early rejections, becoming a RINGO nominated indie creator, dealing with copyrights, his friendship with Ming and Mike, MOTU, and more! Hang in and play a NJ Marvel Comics game too! Note: sorry for the sound issues, mostly at the start of this episode.

What Exit - Episode 35 NJ Comic Creator Chris Campana

Given the intensely hot summer we have been having, this week we go over some of the great ways to keep cool in NJ!

What Exit - Episode 36 Keeping Cool in the Hot NJ Summer

This week we are super excited as welcome Emmy award winning writer of The Daily Show with John Stewart, Elliot Kalan! Elliot discusses growing up in Millburn, the ever-lasting Spidey meme, working on The Daily Show, writing for comedy, meeting his Flophouse friends, podcasting versus live shows, “cold emailing” Joel for his MST3K position, Maniac of NY, and more!

What Exit - Episode 37 Emmy Award Winning Writer Elliot Kalan

This week we welcome Tony DeMarco of A & S Comics in Teaneck and North Bergen, NJ. Tony talks about his first comics, starting A & S, some of the classic comics he's owned, and more!

What Exit - Episode 38 Tony DeMarco of A & S Comics

We welcome MLB star Todd Frazier to the podcast this episode! Todd discusses growing up in Toms River, the Little League World Series, Rutgers baseball, and his many MLB highlights.

What Exit - Episode 39 MLB Star Todd Frazier

This episode we discuss Halloween in NJ, what the night before is called, some scary films made in NJ, and some actual scary history in the Garden State.

What Exit - Episode 40 Scary Jersey

We welcome the great Steve Brown of Trixter, Tokyo Motor Fist, and The Wizards of Winter! Steve talks about his days of handing out fliers at the Paramus Malls, cutting their teeth at the China Club, the NJ Brotherhood, what is new, and what is next! Come rock, Jersey Style!

What Exit - Episode 41 Rockin with Steve Brown of Trixter

This episode, Pete and Nick discuss radio stations reaching NJ with round the clock Christmas tunes. We also go over Jersey artists that have created some memorable Christmas tunes and albums!!!

What Exit - Episode 42 NJ Chirstmas Music

This episode Pete and Nick talk about the recent Passaic fire that came with many additional challenges as well as some of the worst fires in state history.

What Exit - Episode 43 NJ on Fire

This week we discuss General Order Number 4 and the Desegregation of the National Guard.

What Exit - Episode 44 General Order Number 4 and Desegregation

On this inaugural episode, recorded remotely thanks to A Shared Universe Podcast Studio, we welcome guests Ming Chen and Mike Zapcic. We discuss Lincroft, Long Branch, Red Bank, and Highlands. Also, play along with Jersey/Not Jersey.

What Exit - Episode 1 Welcome to the Pod

Nick, Pete, and their guest, Ming Chen discuss the first intercollegiate football game, the Princeton Offense, and Seton Hall versus Michigan in 1989. Then onto another round of Jersey/Not Jersey.

What Exit - Episode 2 Jersey College Sports

Nick and Pete welcome guests Ming Chen of A Shared Universe and KP Burke, comedian and host of the American Loser Podcast. We discuss New Jersey's role in baseball history regarding the breaking of the color barrier and some of the greatest players you may not even know about. This is followed by another round of the game Jersey/Not Jersey.

What Exit - Episode 3 Breaking the Color Barrier in NJ Baseball

This week Nick and Pete welcome Ming Chen and Franklin Ramsey as they discuss the history of malls in NJ, the dominance of Paramus, closed stores of yesterday, and the birth of the food court. Afterwards, another game of Jersey/Not Jersey and Which Mall is Bigger.

What Exit - Episode 4 Malled in NJ

Pete is off this week but we welcome guests Ming Chen and Gerry Porto. This week we discuss the NJ Pine Barrens, what they are, their history, and some of the legends that surround them! We end up with a legendary game of Jersey/Not Jersey!

What Exit - Episode 5 Legends of the NJ Pine Barrens

On this episode we welcome our friend Stand Myles as we discuss the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Stadium Names, renumbered highways, football, concerts, dead teamsters, and even the pope come up as we cover the history of The Swamp.

What Exit - Episode 6 The Meadowlands Sports Complex

Nick and Pete welcome Ming Chen as they talk about the history of NJ in Film. We discuss the first movie camera, the first Hollywood, the movie drought, the return of film, and the state of film today. The top 3 films made in or set in NJ are then followed by a game of Jersey/Not Jersey

What Exit - Episode 7 NJ in Film

Pete and Nick welcome guest Mike Donnelly and start the discussion of Jersey music, the Jersey sound, and  discuss the first of the "Jersey Trinity", Bruce Springsteen. As always, this is followed by a game of Jersey/Not Jersey.

What Exit - Episode 8 NJ Music Part 1 - Bruce

On this episode, we are joined by guest Frank Ramsey as we talk about the Long Hot Summer of 1967, particularly the riots of Newark and Plainfield. We analyze what led up to these events and take a look at the state of things today. Let us hope that we can learn from history and that real change is made moving forward! We apologize for the audio issues on this episode.

What Exit - Episode 9 The Long Hot Summer of 1967 - The Newark and Plainfield Riots

We are joined by guest Stu Greenberg, fellow A Shared Universe alumnus, as we discuss NJ diners. What is the origin of the diner and how did it come to be synonymous with NJ? Find out the answers to these and other pieces of diner trivia then join us for a game of Jersey/Not Jersey as we are joined by a supervillain!!!

What Exit - Episode 10 - The Diner State

On this episode we welcome returning guest and the glue that keeps the podcast universe together, Ming Chen. We discuss NJ's role in the drive in movie, the history of drive ins, and spotlight some a couple of odd ones. Also discussed is the return of the drive in experience. Afterwards, we play a couple of games to see how we stand on NJ counties and we guess the movie by quote.

What Exit - Episode 11 SUmmer and the NJ Drive In Movie

This week we are joined by podcast engineer extraordinaire and member of the band Serious Matters, Criss Madd! We take a bite out of the story of the 1916 NJ shark attacks, our understanding of sharks, and their possible influence on a certain author! Afterwards, we play a special edition of Jersey/Not Jersey!

What Exit - Episode 13 The Matawan Man-Eater

This episode we discuss Great Adventure, in Jackson, which has an interesting geographical advantage. We discuss the original plans, its various records, and the Warner loop. We also discuss how its misfortunes helped the theme park industry. Come along, pull down the safety bar, and listen in!

What Exit - Episode 16 Great Adventure

This week Pete and Nick welcome Ming Chen as we discuss random Jersey facts. How did the state get its name? Why are we called the Garden state? What does a dinosaur have to do with NJ? Listen to learn the answers to these questions and more!

What Exit - Episode 17 Random Jersey Facts

This week Pete and Nick discuss companies that were founded in NJ. How did people start getting a piece of the rock? Just how many products are Mmm Mmm Good?

What Exit - Episode 18 Companies Founded in NJ

NJ Stories with Nick Franco and Pete Riario.

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