Understanding Upstate
Understanding Upstate is a podcast dedicated to exploring what makes Upstate New York such a unique and special place. Each week hosts Jim Search and Rob Adler dive into a new Upstate topic from local monuments like the world's largest Prozac pill, to famous Upstate New Yorkers like Rod Serling, and delicacies only found Upstate like Garbage Plates, Spiedies, and Michigan Red Hots, to better understand what's up... Upstate.
Episodes
Sit back, relax, and uncork a fine bottle of wine as we travel the Seneca Lake Wine Trail this week! We'll give you a taste of the region's history and development as New York's premier destination for all things wine (that's right Long Island, your wine can take a HIKE).
Grab Jim's comedy album: Upstate Understandings...
This week we take a look at one of the greatest to ever call Buffalo home, the Grammy winning Jazz legend, Grover Washington, Jr. Join us as we take a look at his long career and learn about his lasting impact on not just Jazz but pop music and hip-hop.
Grab Jim's comedy album: Upstate Understandings...
Our month of music continues as we turn back to the crown jewel of the Triple Cities: Binghamton, NY, and chat with hip-hop artist, Blizz The Illest. Blizz chops it up about his music career and what it's been like to represent Binghamton as a rapper and how the music and arts scene has grown there in the last few years.
Check out Blizz's videos on YouTube.
Follow Blizz on IG: @blizztheiiiest
Today we're back in Buffalo to talk about one of the city's most important cultural institutions: The Colored Musicians Club. Not only was The Colored Musicians Club a hub for the black musicians of Buffalo, but it also provided a venue for buffalo musicians to regularly mingle and jam with the likes of Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole. Tune up and tune in cause we've got a great one for you today!
Today we're headed to Eden, NY, home of THE ONLY METAL KAZOO FACTORY IN THE UNITED STATES, and let us tell you, they are incredibly proud of that fact. Want to find out what all the buzz is? What are you waiting for, get on in there and start humming along with our latest episode!
Check out Jim's comedy album: Upstate Understandings...
This week Jim and Rob are joined by Syracuse's own, Abdul Hadi, who breaks down the Syracuse comedy scene and chats about his path to Upstate comedic glory.
Grab tickets to Stellar Presents on 3/28, featuring Jim: tickets here
Abdul is performing on 4/12: grab tickets
Follow Abudl on instagram: @oscarwinnerseanpean
Check out Jim's comedy album: Upsta...
Today's episode is pure MADNESS as we look at the Jim Boeheim's illustrious 47 year career as head coach of the Syracuse Men's Basketball team. If there's anything this guy likes more than basketball, it's Syracuse.
Grab tickets to Stellar Presents on 3/28, featuring Jim: tickets here
Check out Jim's comedy album: Upstate Understandings...
We're back at it with another hot dog centric episode, as we take a look at Alfred, New York's Hot Dog Day. And let me tell you, today's episode is a real wiener! It has such a twist that you would think M. Night Shyamalan himself dreamt it up!
Grab tickets to Stellar Presents on 3/28, featuring Jim: tickets here
Check out Jim's comedy album: Ups...
Not since the 1980 Winter Olympics has such a significant competition been held in Upstate New York. That's right, Rochester, NY will play host for the 2024-25 North American Pinball Championship. We'll learn about a Buffalo pinball scandal that ricocheted through local government, like a pinball bouncing off a drop target and slamming into a pop bumper, and go through the history of pinball in Upstate NY up to the present ...
For those about to parade, we salute you! This week Jim and Rob are returning to Binghamton to explore the infamous Parade Day. Each March, for over 50 years, Binghamton's streets has been taken over by a parade of debauchery and celebration, and we're pretty sure this year will be no exception. So pour yourself a drink, strap on some walking shoes, and get ready for a long one, because it's Parade Day baybeeee.
Grab a plate and start scoopin', cause today we've got a heaping helping of one of the greatest Upstate creations to ever exist: the almighty garbage plate. We couldn't think of a more delightful assemblage to be presented on a plate if our lives depended on it, and thankfully it doesn't, but this podcast does depend on you listening to it, so get going!
Check out Jim's comedy album: ...
You may be saying to yourself, "HEY, this was supposed to be a Wegmans Part 2 Episode?!" and you would be correct. The best laid plans of Rattlesnake Petes and Spiedie Freaks often go awry, and we had to push back the Wegmans ep, but don't fret, because we've got an episode for you today just for the DICK of it. Not only will you learn about DICK'S humble beginnings in Binghamton, but we may even learn why Tiger Woods (allegedly) h...
Lace up those skates and roll on over because we are talking about one of Broome County's most beloved (and affordable) institutions: Skate Estate. It's a giant episode today so boogie on in and get into it!
Check out Jim's comedy album: Upstate Understandings
Also check out Rob's album: ...
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 album: ...
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 believe Rob and Jim talk about it.
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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 swear you can taste the pancakes.
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: Upstate Understandings...
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 YouTube.
If you've ever left a holi...
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...
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