We’re off to the American Royal World Series of BBQ, but before departure we visited with some folks who are going to be a big part of the weekend. First up is Danielle Bennett, better known in the BBQ world as Diva Q. A championship competition pitmaster before launching a career as a television personality, cookbook author and brand ambassador, Diva Q will be honored on Saturday at The Royal as part of the 2024 BBQ Hall of Fame Class. She talks about her career and if she’s offended by the term “female pitmaster.” As usual, she’s a great interview. The next time we complain about the weather or wind or whatever when it comes to cooking outdoors, it’ll be time to think of Shane Howard and Brenda Harrison. The Colorado pitmasters are blind - but return to cook their second American Royal this weekend as Blind Butt Limitless BBQ. How do they do it? It’s far from a novelty act. Shane and Brenda finished 106th among 487 teams at last year’s Royal and hope to do even better this time. Either way, they invited you to stop by and see them at space No. 347 and talk some Q.  We also check in with Breana Via of Smoke ’n Magic BBQ about their Royal preparation, and Skyler Spartan has the latest from The Grill Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, if you’re at The Royal this weekend, stop by and see the Tailgate Guys team at spot No. 168.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We bring you double star power on Episode 282 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. First up is Jess Pryles, the Hardcore Carnivore. She’s not only an expert on all things meat and open-fire cooking, Jess now has her own television show. We visit with the native of Australia and transplanted Texan about her show “Hardcore Carnivore” now airing Season 1 on Outdoor Channel (check your local listings). Season 2 already has been recorded and will air sometime in 2025.  We also catch up with “Big Poppa” himself, Sterling Ball, one of the all-star lineup of inductees selected for the KCBS Hall of Fame coming up in January ceremonies. Sterling, with 46 career KCBS Grand Championships including the 2012 American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational, talks about his frustrations with the withering of competitions on the west coast and beyond, why he isn’t going to The Royal in 2024 and what’s new with his Big Poppa Smokers business. We also visit with Breana Via of Smoke N Magic BBQ about this week’s Boo-B-Que in Oak Grove, Mo., and Charlie Wallace for what’s happening at The Grill Guys of Missouri. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Scuffletown Smokers has been a successful competition team for several years, but because the family team from Boonville, Indiana, cooks a limited amount of events perhaps many aren’t familiar with them. Well, that all changed last weekend when head cook Alby Ransom and Scuffletown Smokers became the sports newest “major” champ by winning the Jack Daniels World Invitational. On Episode 281 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Alby about the big win and his team’s steady journey to success on the competition scene. Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ and Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions Kansas City also previews a busy upcoming stretch for him and the store. We also visit with Brad Colter for the latest from Smoke N Magic BBQ and Skyler Spartan for what’s happening at The Grill Guys of Missouri. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The world’s largest BBQ competition is coming up in a few weeks. The American Royal World Series of BBQ at Kansas Speedway brings together more than 400 teams, from all over the world, and on Episode 280 we have a roundtable discussion with three first-time Royal teams - Nicholas Owensby of Sailor Nick’s BBQ from Wadsworth, Ohio; Jamie Mintz from Casual Smokers in Spartanburg, S.C.; and Jim St. Gemme of The Burnt Crow out of St. Louis. We get some background from each about their BBQ journeys and find out their expectations about the first experience at the American Royal. We also check in with Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest news from the Republic, Mo., BBQ supply store and their recent road trip to the headquarters of Big Green Egg in Atlanta.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Episode 279 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features “Fast Eddy” Ed Maurin, a member of the BBQ Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Ed is one of seven inductees joining the Hall on Nov. 2 during ceremonies held at the American Royal World Series of BBQ at Kansas Speedway. One of the heavy hitters on the competition circuit back in the late 1980s and 1990s, “Fast Eddy” made an even bigger impact on the BBQ world as an innovator and builder of pellet smokers. He tells stories of how it all came to be and how cooking pizza on high-temp pellet-fired cookers is his new frontier. We also check in with Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest news from the Republic, Mo., BBQ supply store and Brad Colter of Smoke n Magic BBQ with the latest tips and tricks for your backyard BBQ game.   Find the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Tailgate Guys BBQ Facebook page - link in IG bio. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 278 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with one of the all-time greats of competition cooking about his latest business venture. Travis Clark recently opened a new Clark Crew BBQ restaurant in Tulsa to go with his flagship location in Oklahoma City. Travis discusses the myriad of issues that crop up when opening a new venue and how his intense quest for winning in his competition days translate to the restaurant world. Travis also confirms that he is finished with competition BBQ after a successful 11-year run that saw him win 60 KCBS Grand Championships in 258 career events, an astonishing 23-percent winning percentage. Included were wins at the American Royal World Series of BBQ, the Jack Daniels World Invitational and two KCBS Team of the Year titles.  We also check in with Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest news from the Republic, Mo., BBQ supply store and Brad Colter of Smoke n Magic BBQ with the latest tips and tricks for your backyard BBQ game. It’s also good to have Steve Koehler back in the co-host chair after a recent stint on the injured list. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Long-time competition cook Joel Fleetwood never dreamed of having his Meat Rushmore BBQ team’s name on a BBQ restaurant. But after winning last weekend’s Made for KC event, that’s exactly what will happen in the fall of 2025. On Episode 277 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Joel talks about what the opportunity to have naming rights, with menu construction and a new line of Meat Rushmore BBQ products means. Also the president of the KCBS Board of Directors, Joel also gives us a couple of newsy nuggets about the organization. We also check in with Richard Fergola for the latest happenings at Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions Kansas City, where you can pre-order top-quality meat and supplies for the American Royal World Series of BBQ. On our Smoke ’n Magic Minute, Breana Via tells us how the Smoke ’n Magic rib rub can be used on more than ribs. And we take a trip to Republic, Mo., where Skyler Spartan has a rundown of the news from The Grill Guys of Missouri.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

“The Doctor” is in on Episode 276 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe, one of the all-time greats of open-fire cooking, joins us this week and we begin by talking about his time on the Food Network Show BBQ Brawl, Season 5, which aired over the summer. Ray talks about what it was like being “the old guy” on a show with a lineup of young chefs who brought an amazing culinary background to the table. It just didn’t seem right at “Dr. BBQ” was eliminated for being tasked with cooking a meatless steak. He gives his take. We also discuss some upcoming adventures, his line of rubs and what else he’s doing to avoid “retirement” these days.  As a sidenote, we want to publicly thank Ray for being a friend of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show since its inception on low-powered local radio back in 2016. We also check in Breana Via of Smoke N Magic BBQ as she previews this weekend’s Made for KC event and take a trip to Republic where Charlie Wallace gives us the latest from The Grill Guys of Missouri. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 275 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we shine the light on a recent first-time KCBS Grand Championship winner. Chris Leikam and Devin Schwartz from the Kansas competition team Finger Leikam Good were college friends at Kansas State and enjoyed cooking before Wildcats football games at Snyder Family Stadium. They eventually took their love for open-fire cooking to the KCBS backyard and eventually Master’s competition and now are enjoying the best season of their career. Chris and Devin talk about the journey and why comp Q appeals to them so much. We also head into the big Labor Day Weekend with Brad Colter from Smoke N Magic BBQ with a tip or two and we head to Republic, Mo., to check in with Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, co-hosts Steve and Lyndal talk about their upcoming holiday weekend cooking plans and take a quick tour of the sports world. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

He’s lived the American Dream, a United States Navy veteran who worked the overnight  shift at the Des Moines, Iowa, water treatment plant. During his spare time, Moe Cason fired up the smoker and dabbled in competition BBQ. On a suggestion from the legendary Johnny Trigg, “Big Moe” sent in an audition video for the groundbreaking BBQ television program BBQ Pitmasters. Now, Moe is a full-blown BBQ celebrity who travels the world spreading his love for open-fire cooking. On Episode 274 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, he joins us to talk about his first cookbook, “Big Moe’s Big Book of BBQ.” It’s an epic 28-minute conversation with one of our favorite pitmasters. We’re also joined by Richard Fergola for our monthly visit with the latest from Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions Kansas City. Breana Via has a tip of how to up the flavor of veggies on the grill in our Smoke N Magic Minute and Skyler Spartan checks in from The Grill Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and talk a little sports before dousing this week’s fire.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 273 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we learn about a new competition and festival in mid-Missouri that will include three sanctioning bodies. It’s the Buds, Blues & BBQ in Columbia, Sept. 13-14, with opportunities to enter the KCBS Master’s Series regular comp plus one-meat chicken cook, a Steak Cookoff Association comp and the new Ribs Cookoff Association event. Event organizer John Borland tells us about what’s happening and other activities that include a music festival on the grounds.  We take our weekly trip for the latest from the Grill Guys of Missouri and Smoke N Magic BBQ. Also this week, we’re bringing a portion of a tremendous conversation with Harry Soo of Slap Yo Daddy BBQ back for an encore presentation.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Whether it’s cooking in the backyard or the highest level of competition, Christie Vanover is someone who has been instrumental in helping open-fire cooks worldwide up their games since she launched her GirlsCanGrill.com website in 2015. With recipes, tips, product reviews and much more, it’s a one of the top resources available. Christie joins us on Episode 272 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast and we touch on a variety of topics, including her experience on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl Season 4 and a KCBS competition she’s organizing in her home city of Las Vegas in December. Christie’s segment begins at the 11:48 mark of the episode. On our weekly segments, Breana Via of Smoke N Magic BBQ has some tips for kicking up chicken on the grill at 39:28 and at 44:28 Skyler Spartan has the latest happenings from Grills Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their cooking weeks and take a quick tour of the sports world.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Episode 271 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast has arrived and it has a variety of guests as we welcome the month of August. At the 7:58 mark, Emmy-award-winning television news producer turned author and now podcast host David Page returns to discuss his latest project. Page’s new podcast “Culinary Characters Unlocked” debuts Aug. 27 as he goes in-depth some of the world’s top chefs and up-and-coming cooks - including some from the open-fire world. One of the fast-rising pitmasters in competition cooking joins us at the 40:30 mark. Jonathon Indermuehle of Colorado’s Heifers, Butts & Clucks has won back-to-back KCBS Grand Championships and has six top-10 finishes in just six 2024 events. Jonathon and his family team is showing that there’s no substitute for dedication and determination. On our recurring segments, Charlie Wallace has the latest from Grill Guys of Missouri at 56:07 and Brad Colter of Smoke N Magic has a tasty technique for chicken thighs at the 60:50 mark. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve start and finish with their weekly cooking recaps and some thoughts on the sports world.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It’s become one of the jewels on the late-season KCBS calendar, a doubleheader to cap the points season. But only a few days ago, the 4th annual Boo-B-Que was on the verge of cancellation. No worries. The Oct. 25-27 event in Oak Grove, Mo., will go on after Greg Hastie, who began the event three years ago but had too much on his plate to run it again, turned to contest organizer extraordinaire Corey Linton. We’ll hear from both Greg and Corey about plans for Boo-B-Que on Episode 270. We also catch up with the O.G. Bandits, Josh Farley and Ashton Smith. They won naming rights for the BBQ restaurant in the new KCI Airport at last year’s Made for KC competition and now, six months into the year-long restaurant tenure, are launching their new O.G. Bandits food truck business. They join us with some details. Meanwhile, co-host Lyndal reviews the Tailgate Guys BBQ team’s failure at last weekend’s Smokin’ on the Osage while Steve breaks down his backyard cooking plans for the weekend ahead. That’s after our weekly visits with The Grill Guys of Missouri and the Smoke ’n Magic Minute with Breana Via.   Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

After running hard in 2023, cooking 44 contests as he successfully chased KCBS Team of the Year honors, Jordan Kirkpatrick and Janky Leg BBQ has slowed the pace a bit this season. But after an addition to the family and a home remodel project, Janky Leg is back and ready for a big second half, evidenced by the team’s first GC of the year last weekend in Cameron, Mo. On Episode 269 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Jordan Kirkpatrick tells us about his mind-set looking ahead as he also reflects on last season. Our “Under the Radar” segment, where we visit with up-and-coming competition teams, returns. Matt Fisher of Matty Macks BBQ out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, discusses how he got started as a member of the Iowa BBQ Store-inspired “Corn Cookers” and how he captured his first Reserve Grand Championship earlier this year. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their cooking weeks and a few items form the sports world. That’s after our weekly visits with The Grill Guys of Missouri and the Smoke ’n Magic Minute with Brad Colter.   Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 268 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with one of the top teams on the West Coast - and one of the best in the USA. Dave and Shirin Mara from Meat Candy Q out of El Cajon, Calif., is enjoying a terrific 2024 season with one KCBS Grand Championship and and three RGCs in just 10 competitions. Meat Candy is sixth in the Team of the Year race and we catch up with Dave and Shirin to inquire about what’s working and why they’ve decided to make an upcoming three-week, five-competition swing through the hot and humid central part of the country.  Then it’s time to check in with Richard Fergola for the latest news from Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions and Fergolicious BBQ. Meanwhile, we take our weekly trip to The Grill Guys of Missouri to talk it over with Skyler Spartan and Breana Via checks in with this week’s Smoke N Magic BBQ Minute.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Happy 4th of July to all! To celebrate, Episode 267 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features two great guests. Leading off is one of the best to ever light a pit, BBQ Hall of Famer Darren Warth from Iowa Smokey D’s. While he’s won more than 100 grand championships during his career, including multiple majors, Darren accomplished a first last weekend in Idaho as he won a KCBS competition by cooking all four meats on one Gateway Drum Smoker. We visit with “The GOAT” about how he did it, what still drives him to compete and about his latest BBQ adventure in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. It’s then time to catch up with Norris “Syd” Sydnor from Good Googly Goo BBQ out of Baltimore. Syd captured the recent Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle on historic Pennsylvania Ave., in Washington, D.C. He breaks down how he overcame some obstacles to pull off career GC No. 5 and previews the rest of his season, which will include a trip back to the Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational this fall where he was Reserve Grand Champion in 2022.  Meanwhile, we take our weekly trip to The Grill Guys of Missouri and co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their latest cooking adventures. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Mike and Nichole Mulkey of Mulkey’s BBQ from St. Louis are one of the many successful husband-wife competition BBQ teams in the country. On Episode 266 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we learn how they work together after Mulkey’s won the Grand Championship at the 172-team Great Lenexa BBQ Battle. The back-to-back St. Louis BBQ Society Team of the Year has a shared passion for BBQ and the competition it provides since they began just a few years ago.  We also hear from Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest from the Republic, Missouri, BBQ store. Look for The Grill Guys serving up tasty treats from their “Vegan Recovery Center” food truck on June 28 at the Hav-A-Blast 4th of July celebration in Republic. Also on the show, Brad Colter has news of a Ribs class coming up on June 29 in our Smoke ’n Magic BBQ Minute. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and take a quick tour of the sports world. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We asked for nominations for up-and-coming competition BBQ pitmasters or teams and our listeners delivered with lots of great suggestions. This week on Episode 265 of the Tailgate Guys BBGQ Podcast, we bring you an extended “Under the Radar” segment with Joe Wilson and B.J. Searcy from the northern California team Cherry Anchor BBQ. Despite only doing a handful of KCBS Master’s Series events, Joe and B.J. have been quick studies in success, with two Grand Championships to their credit so far this year.  We also talk it over with Skyler Spartan about the latest news from The Grill Guys of Missouri and Breana Via from Smoke ’n Magic BBQ discusses a couple of event coming up this weekend in the Kansas City area.   Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and take a quick tour of the sports world, including some thoughts on the passing of baseball icon Willie Mays. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 264 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, our “Under the Radar” segment returns by popular demand. This week, our look at an up-and-coming pitmaster focuses on Kansas City’s Lane York of Aww Shucks BBQ. York’s primary focus has been on KCBS Backyard competition so far, but he’s done well in limited Masters’ Series attempts and does so without all the bells and whistles.  We also check in with Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ for the latest happenings at Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions. “Fergie” also reviews his memorable week at Smoke Slam in Memphis and previews his summer cooking plans and the re-branding of his line of BBQ rubs. Our Smoke ’n Magic Minute is back and Brad Colter has a recipe for a tasty, grill-inspired drink just in time for Father’s Day weekend. If you want pizza on the grill, Charlie Wallace from Grill Guys of Missouri has a deal or two for you from the Republic, Missouri store.  Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and take a quick tour of the sports world.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It’s an action packed Episode 263 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with an assortment of guests with good info and stories to tell. First up at the 9:26 mark is Charles Simpson, with a preview of the National High School BBQ Championships coming up this weekend (June 7-9) in Branson, Missouri. As director of the Missouri High School BBQ Association and coach of Osceola High School’s teams in west-central Missouri, Simpson runs down the format in Branson and talks about the growth of high school BBQ and the life skills to the youngsters that will extend beyond their teen years. We love it when Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast “Under the Radar” teams go on to find big success. Another example is Kyle Johnson and T-Rex BBQ out of Newton, Iowa. Kyle rolled up to Owatonna, Minnesota in a last-minute decision to compete and took home Grand Championship honors at the Smokin’ in Steele competition for GC No. 2. Starting at the 26:49 mark, Kyle tells his BBQ story and why the latest was so meaningful to him. After a couple of weeks traveling, our Smoke ’n Magic Minute is back at the 46:27 mark and Breana Via gives us the latest happenings with the Kansas City-area competition team and brand ambassadors. We also take a trip at 50:25 to Republic, Missouri for news from The Grill Guys of Missouri from store co-owner Charlie Wallace.  Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and take a quick tour of the sports world.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The 6th annual KCBS World Invitational was held over Memorial Day Weekend in Lebanon, Tenn., and on Episode 262 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we talk it over with both of the big winners. Drew Davis of Razorracks BBQ out of Pleasant Plains, Ark., has won 28 KCBS Grand Championships during his career. But Drew and wife Chelsey picked up their biggest title when Razorracks scored a 708.548 to top the 81-team World Invitational. Razorracks also was a solid third in the Open the day before and Drew discusses the weekend, what it’s like being a “canopy cooker” dealing with the elements and how he chooses whether to use his Jambo or Gateway Drum Smokers (he wins on both) on a given weekend. We also talk it over with the Grand Champion from the World Open, Brad Cox of Local Yokels BBQ from Crossville, Ill. Like Razorracks, Local Yokels is a family team with Brad’s wife, Jocelyn, and their two daughters. Local Yokels had a near-flawless cook, scoring 709.72 to lead a 118-team field in the Open. It was the seventh GC in just 65 career KCBS comps and Brad gives a rundown of how they got started in competition BBQ and some keys to his success. Co-host Steve Koehler kicks off the show with a review a recent trip he and wife Donna took to Texas, where they made a tour of some popular BBQ joints - including the world-famous Franklin’s in Austin. Steve said it did not disappoint. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024  The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We’re all about celebrating the iconic BBQ teams on the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, but we also love to shine the spotlight on those up-and-coming teams who achieve big things. This week on Episode 261, we focus on Barking Dog BBQ out of Kansas City, a team of childhood friends Dave Lillis, Kevin Bunting and Brian Tuttle. Barking Dog BBQ (we explore the origin and meaning of that unique team name) just won its first career KCBS Grand Championship and we talk the guys about their love of BBQ and how they’ve been able to take it to a championship level. We also talk Memorial Day Weekend cooking plans with Charlie Wallace from the Grill Guys of Missouri, where Charlie and his long-time friend and co-store-owner Skyler Spartan have opened a food truck. On our weekly BBQ news and notes, we recap results from Memphis in May and SmokeSlam and run through the roll call of Grand Champions from the past week. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and team review their cooking weeks, which included a seventh-place finish for the Tailgate Guys BBQ team in West Plains, Missouri, and Steve reports from Texas where he’s on a BBQ expedition. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024  The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Episode 260 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast takes us to the Phoenix area to visit with Kyle Matuszewski, owner-operator of Your Behind BBQ restaurant in Florence. Kyle is a long-time competitor on the Steak Cookoff Association and KCBS trails and he’s parlayed that success into a red-hot start in the restaurant business. Kyle breaks down his story which includes how a restaurant owner deals with his first 1-star Yelp review.  Brad Colter and Breana Via from Smoke N Magic BBQ stop by for their weekly segment, reviewing their recent trip down under to participate in Meatstock Sydney. They also preview their appearance at Memphis in May this weekend, where they’ll be doing demos for Home Depot. On the Grill Guys of Missouri segment, Skyler Spartan gives the latest from the Republic, Mo., BBQ store. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their latest cooking adventures and plans, and they have some quick thoughts on a host of sports topics.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024  The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

When we’re asked about BBQ restaurant recommendations in the St. Louis area, Heavy Smoke BBQ always is at the top of our list. On Episode 259 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with Chris Schafer, the owner-operator of Heavy Smoke BBQ about the constantly overlapping thrills and challenges of the restaurant industry. Chris also is one of the world’s top competition pitmasters, a past Grand Champion at both the Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational and KCBS Invitational World Championship. Heavy Smoke is No. 2 in the KCBS Team of the Year standings in 2024 and we ask Chris about a possible Team of the Year. It’s also time for our monthly chat with Richard Fergola, pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ and marketing director for Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions. “Fergie” is gearing up for a trip to the new Smoke Slam, next week in Memphis.  We also have our weekly segments with Breana Via of Smoke n Magic and Charlie Wallace from Grill Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their latest cooking adventures and plans, and they give some brutally honest opinions on the downfall of the St. Louis Cardinals on the sports segment. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024  The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

One of the greatest to light a pit - and a great friend of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show since the beginning on local, low-powered radio - joins us for an extended conversation on Episode 258. Brad Leighninger just passed the 11-year anniversary of his first BBQ Grand Championship. Now, 70 GCs later, Gettin’ Basted is a three-time KCBS Team of the Year, a Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational Grand Champion, Brad is a part of the Blues Hog 2022 Memphis in May World Champion. He’s also co-owner of four restaurants in the southwest Missouri area including a couple of new ones in the tourist-mecca of Branson. We visit with Brad on a variety of topics, including the upcoming Memphis in May. “We’re coming in motivated,” Brad said of Team Blues Hog. “I wouldn’t bet against us.” We also have our weekly segments with Brad Colter from Smoke n Magic and Skyler Spartan from Grill Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their latest cooking adventures and plans and preview their open-fire plans for the week ahead.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024  The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 257 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with one of world’s hottest pitmasters. Eric Coley from Alabama’s Poppa Pig BBQ is leading the KCBS Team of the Year standings with three Grand Championships and seven top-10 finishes in eight 2024 competitions. It’s a start that’s signaled a breakthrough after Eric went through a two-year stretch of top-10 finishes without nailing the GC. What has changed? Eric talks about that, plus his career in competition BBQ and how a DQ after missing turn-in with some of the best brisket he ever cooked was a big turning point. In our weekly segments, we find out the latest from Smoke’n Magic BBQ from Breana Via and head to the Grill Guys of Missouri to chat with Charlie Wallace. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their latest cooking adventures and plans and preview their open-fire plans for the week ahead.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024  The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm #bbq #bbqpodcast #competitionbbq #tailgateguysbbq 

Jon and Jason Wade of Optimus Swine BBQ out of Williamsburg, Virginia have one of the hottest competition BBQ teams around. Since moving into the KCBS Master’s division a couple of years ago, the Wades have seven Grand Championships and seven RGCs in 63 competitions. They also own and operate two BBQ restaurants in the Williamsburg area, Two Drummers Smokehouse and 2 Drummers Butchery and BBQ Provisions. On Episode 256 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with Jon Wade about the team’s success in both aspects of BBQ and about the crossover of restaurants and competition cooking. We’ve seen far too many good BBQ competition disappear in recent years. It’s always great to see new ones come along and we find out more from organizer Vanessa Williams about the inaugural Give Local First Charity BBQ Festival, coming up May 17-18 in West Plains, Missouri. Vanessa gives us the rundown of what teams can expect (aside from a nice prize fund of $10,000) and how the public can attend and get a taste of the fun.   In our weekly Smoke N Magic Minute, Breana Via tells about heading to Meatstock in Sydney, Australia where Smoke N Magic will see how their American style competition BBQ stacks up against the native Aussies.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Based in north central North Dakota, Burnt Trees BBQ has a long haul no matter where it goes for a competition. But the husband-wife team of Nick and Shannon Holman is almost always a contender when it arrives, with its 2024 debut proving the point. Burnt Trees BBQ captured the 97-team Smoke in the Spring in Osage City, Kansas, topping the 700-point mark for the first time. On Episode 255 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Nick and Shannon about their shared BBQ passion and the challenges of being a northern-based competition team. We also check in with Richard Fergola from Fergolicious BBQ and Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions. Fergie has been all over the map over the last month and he recounts some of the highlights of cooking in Costa Rica and New Orleans, while also previewing the Daniel Vogt Memorial Backyard Rib Contest and all-star pro demo day on Sunday, April 14 at Proud Souls Denver. Weekly regulars Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri and Breana Via of Smoke N Magic BBQ also offer some tips and knowledge to up your cooking game. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also review the men’s and women’s NCAA Final Fours and take a glance at a tradition like no other, the Master’s. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

There are dozens of options available these days for BBQ-themed podcasts, unlike just a few years ago when the options were relatively limited. One of the longest-running shows is Baseball and BBQ, with co-hosts Leonard Aberman and Jeff Cohen. Combining two of America’s favorite past times, Leonard and Jeff have found a sweet spot with engaging guests who speak with knowledge to baseball, BBQ or both. Now in season seven, we caught up with Len and Jeff as the Major League Baseball season gets underway and, even as their beloved New York Mets struggle, it’s always a good time when we talk Baseball and BBQ. Also checking in with us are weekly regulars Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri and Brad Colter of Smoke N Magic BBQ. Co-hosts Lyndal also discuss their cooking weeks and preview the Final Four for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.   Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Welcome to Episode 253 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, where we’re joined by the founders of America’s foremost weekly digital news authority on live-fire cooking. It’s been a while since we visited with Ryan Cooper and Sean Ludwig from The Smoke Sheet. Their weekly newsletter that arrives in subscribers’ in-boxes each Wednesday and Friday with a variety of content including BBQ trends, restaurant features, product news and recipes. On our extended conversation, Ryan and Sean tell us about a recent excursion to the Carolinas where they experienced old-school and new-school BBQ restaurants. Later, they tell us storylines in the BBQ world they’re watching in 2024. Subscribe to The Smoke Sheet at bbqnewsletter.substack.com  Also checking in with us are weekly regulars Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri with a feature product, and Breana Via from Smoke N Magic BBQ has a great tip for how to put an open-fire spin on Easter dinner. Co-host Lyndal breaks down the Tailgate Guys BBQ competition team’s season opener and Steve reviews his backyard cooking week. The guys also talk NCAA Tournament and the opening of baseball season with their World Series picks.   Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Spring has officially arrived, which means there are BBQ competitions across the land each weekend from now through early November - not to mention hundreds of thousands of backyard cooks are firing up backyard smokers and grills. On Episode 252 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk to one of American’s most-colorful pitmasters and brand ambassadors, plus a Kansas City-area team that took home a big championship last weekend. Starting us off at the 7:05 mark of the show is a conversation with Craig Verhage, marketing director of Royal Oak Charcoal. Craig tells us about the latest products on the market from Royal Oak and, in his role as “The BBQ Ninja,” takes us through a busy schedule of appearances at BBQ competitions and festivals across the land. It’s always fun to chop it up with The Ninja!  Also on the show: 26:21 - Skyler Spartan with the latest from The Grills Guys of Missouri. 29:15 - Brothers Mike and Tanner McGee from Pirates of BBQ Bay gives us a rundown of their Grand Championship at the Qlathe BBQ Championship in Olathe, Kansas and a look at the team’s history in the comp world. 50:50 - The Smoke ’n Magic minute with Brad Colter gives some advice to aspiring competition teams about the importance of practice cooking to a real-life timeline. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also begin and end the show with their latest BBQ adventures and take a stab at predicting the Final Four as March Madness gets underway. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm  

It’s another guest-filled show on Episode 251 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Leading off is Joel Fleetwood of Meat Rushmore BBQ, which won three Grand Championships in 2023 on its way to an 11th-place finish in the KCBS Team of the Year standings. Joel also was recently voted president of the KCBS Board of Directors. We visit with Joel about his competition cooking and his role on the KCBS board. The segment begins at the 8:23 mark. Also on the show: 31:51 - Nick Davis of Double Barrel BBQ tells us about one he’s co-hosting with Wes Patterson from American Royal Pork Champion Wood Hook BBQ  next month in Moodys, Okla.  39:00 - The Iowa State BBQ Championship has made a strong comeback and this year’s edition, March 29-30 in Altoona, looks like another good one. Joe Osbrink gives us some details. 45:57 - The Smoke ’n Magic minute with Breana Via offers some tasty ideas for St. Patrick’s weekend. 48;28 - Charlie Wallace tells us about some breaking news in our weekly Grill Guys of Missouri segment. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 250 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with two of competition BBQ’s top pitmasters - and most-colorful characters. First up is Richard Fergola from Fergolicious BBQ and marketing director of Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions. “Fergie” and the Proud Souls team is ready to throw a big first anniversary bash this Saturday, March 9th, at Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City. A full day of cooking demos and great food will be available. Then it’s time to talk it over with Sterling Smith of Loot ’n Booty BBQ, a recent inductee into the California BBQ Association Hall of Fame. “Smitty” is always a great guest and this time he talks about the Hall of Fame honor plus his Loot ’n Booty Apple Cherry Sauce which recently earned first-place honors in the National BBQ Association awards. Fergie and Smitty also are going to be teaching classes together, later this month in Costa Rica and suburban Chicago. What happens when they get together for a class? “It’s like riding a unicorn through a mystic land, full of meat and clowns. And there’s knives involved. And maybe we might talk about aliens or pyramids at some point,” Smith says.  We also hear from Gene Newkirk with the Kickin’ it on Route 66 BBQ Festival, Skyler Spartan with The Grill Guys weekly report and the Smoke ’n Magic BBQ Minute with Breana Via. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their weekly cooking adventures, plus take a quick spin through news and notes from the competition BBQ world. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It’s been more than a decade since we first saw Harry Soo on the groundbreaking television show BBQ Pitmasters. People still come up to Harry to talk about his experiences, especially after re-runs of the show air on the cable channel Destination American most weekends. On Episode 249 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Harry recounts the beginning of his BBQ journey, the unscripted beginnings of BBQ Pitmasters and where’s it’s all led - to a full-time open-fire career as one of the world’s most-popular pitmasters. Harry and Slap Yo Daddy BBQ has a busy 2024 ahead with a new grill he helped design, classes, products and an always-expanding library of how-to videos on his Youtube channel. It’s always a blast to chat with Harry and this is no exception. We also hear from Charlie Wallace with The Grill Guys weekly report, plus the Smoke ’n Magic BBQ Minute with Breana Via. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their weekly cooking adventures, plus take a quick spin through news and notes from the competition BBQ world. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 248 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a virtual trip to New England and talk it over with one of America’s most-accomplished competition pitmasters for nearly two decades. Bill Gillespie of Smokin’ Hoggz BBQ has Grand Championships at the Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational and American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational to his credit. Also author of four BBQ cookbooks and with his own line of rubs and sauces, Bill talks about his early days in competition, some of the keys to his evolution into a champion and some of the changes (good and bad) to the competition scene over the years. While some competitions have been held in Florida and Arizona, it’s also nearly go-time for competition BBQ in the Midwest. The first KCBS comp in Missouri is coming up March 22-24. We intended to visit with Gene Newkirk from the Kickin’ It on Route 66 Barbecue Challenge but had a scheduling issue. Learn more about the contest at its Facebook page. We do hear from Skyler Spartan with the Grill Guys of Missouri weekly report and Brad Colter with the Smoke ’n Magic BBQ minute. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The Kansas City Chiefs are the world champions of football, again! We’ll talk about that, plus championship BBQ on Episode 247 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Leading off our guest lineup is Phillip Breeden of LC BBQ out of Bandera, Texas. We visit with Phillip about his Champions BBQ Alliance Rio World Championship Cookoff last weekend and preview the upcoming Houston Livestock Rodeo and BBQ Cookoff. Phillip has been on the road competing in BBQ nearly every week for the last six years and he discusses why he embraces the grind and how he deals with the ups and downs that are involved. Checking in from the heart of Chiefs Kingdom is Richard Fergola of Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions Kansas City. “Fergie” tells us how a winning sports team lifts an entire community - Kansas City-area residents certainly can identify - and he also gives a rundown of all the happenings at Proud Souls locations in Kansas City, Denver and Littleton, Colorado and Orlando, Florida. Breana Via stops by with the Smoke ’n Magic Minute and Charlie Wallace brings us a report from The Grill Guys of Missouri. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their Super Sunday cooking and give some final thoughts on the big game.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Word is there’s a big football game coming up. On Episode 246 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show Podcast, we do our best to bring you both football and food perspective from both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers sides as we countdown to Super Bowl Sunday. First up is Megan Day, pitmaster of Kansas City’s Burnt Finger BBQ. Megan again is headed for a Friday appearance on NBC’s Today Show and she offers some BBQ food ideas ahead of the big day. She also catches us up on the latest happenings for Burnt Finger in the year ahead. From the other perspective, California native and lifetime 49ers fan Jonathon Indermuehle of Heifers, Butts & Clucks BBQ breaks down the food and football from the opposing point of view. Jonathon also tells us how the Chiefs are viewed by fans around the country and offers his pick on the game. In our weekly segments, Brad Colter from Smoke ' Magic BBQ offers up a tip of the week that applies to new competition pitmasters and Skyler Spartan returns with product news from The Grill Guys of Missouri. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve make their game picks and talk about the best way to watch the big game.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

There’s a lot of championship talk on Episode 245 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, beginning with pitmaster Paul Keltner of Rooters ’n Tooters BBQ out of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee. Paul knocked off a Grand Championship at the 61-team KCBS Lakeland Pit Festival to start his season in style. It’s a continuation of a remarkable last few seasons of consistent for Rooters ’n Tooters, which had 29 top-10 overall finishes in 2023. Paul tells us about the year ahead and what it’s like to chase KCBS Team of the Year honors (Rooters ’n Tooters was 4th in 2022, 5th in 2021 and 4th in 2020). Speaking of championships, we talk top-level BBQ and Kansas City Chiefs football with Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ and Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City. “Fergie” discusses Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis and the player’s love for Q and the videos he shot for Proud Souls in Kansas City. We also get the latest about all the happenings at Proud Souls locations in KC, Denver and Littleton, Colo., and Tampa, Florida.  In new segments, Brad and Bre from Smoke'n Magic BBQ offer up a tip of the week that applies for both the backyard and competition cook, and Charlie from Grill Guys of Missouri tells us some big doings at the Republic, Mo., BBQ store in regards to the upcoming Super Bowl. Lastly, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve offer their takes on the Chiefs-49ers and suggest two words to all the Taylor Swift bashers out there: Shut Up. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

After a few weeks off, we are back to fire up Season 6 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast! We want to thank our listeners and sponsors from the beginning, way back in 2016 when we started the show on local radio.  Our first guest of the new year is the busiest man in BBQ, our friend Tim Scheer who’s the boss man for Blues Hog, Gateway Drum Smokers, Shake ’n Bake BBQ, Marble Ridge Farms and The BBQ League. It’s no surprise that Tim has big things in the words for 2024 with the Blues Hog brand continuing to expand and his competition teams looking forward to some of the biggest contests on the planet, including Memphis in May where Blues Hog won the 2022 World Championship. Tim also talks about his hog and cattle breeding operation and specifically raising the hogs he will take to Memphis in May.  We also welcome a new sponsor to the show, Smoke ’n Magic BBQ with Brad Colter and Breana Via. We visit with them about their year-long run in the BBQ restaurant world at the Kansas City International Airport, the Smoke ’n Magic line of rubs and sauces and their cooking plans for the year ahead, which include a trip to Australia for Meatstock in April. We’ll hear from Brad and Breana - Pork champs at the 2023 Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational - weekly throughout the year with a Smoke ’n Magic Minute with a tip or insight on one of their products.  Skyler Spartan of The Grill Guys of Missouri also stops by with the latest happenings from their BBQ store in Republic, Mo., including news of a special promotion that leads up to the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks. We’ll hear from Skyler or co-owner-operator Charlie Wallace each week on the show. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss what's on their upcoming BBQ menus and preview the NFL's Final 4. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! We hope it’s a great holiday season and a celebration of family, friends and great food! Episode 243 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is our finale of Season 5 and it’s a good one with a pair of open-fire stars to help us conclude the year on a winning note. First up is Bill Purvis from Chicken Fried BBQ out of Magnolia, Texas. Bill is one of the best in the competition game and he does it cooking in various sanctioning bodies. Chicken Fried earned a Grand Championship at an IBCA-sanctioned event last weekend in Houston and Bill already is looking ahead to a banner 2024. We visit with him about chicken (thighs or half-chickens, legs or wings?) and his talent in front of the camera on the Food Network show BBQ USA with host Michael Symon or on his rapidly growing Chicken Fried BBQ Youtube channel where his latest video showing how to trim a competition brisket is a fun watch.  We also check in with Richard Fergola from Fergolicious BBQ and Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions. It’s been a busy December of teaching BBQ classes and things get only busier in the new year and Richard gives a rundown of his classes and why someone should consider upping their competition game with a little education. The one-year anniversary of Proud Souls KC is approaching and Fergie fills us in on some party plans. Charlie Wallace of The Grill Guys of Missouri also stops by with some great last-minute BBQ shopping ideas. If you’re in or near southwest Missouri, keep The Grill Guys in mind if you’re shopping for yourself or others.  Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview their holiday cooking plans and look ahead to the new year and Season 6 of the show.   Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ holiday season and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

It’s always an entertaining and opinionated conversation when we get together with Travis Clark, whose Clark Crew BBQ is a former American Royal World Series of BBQ and Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational Grand Champion, along with a two-time KCBS Team of the Year. On Episode 242 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Travis about the restaurant business as his flagship Clark Crew BBQ place in Oklahoma City just celebrated its fourth anniversary. Travis also has some thoughts on the current state of the competition BBQ world and what is the first thing he would do if named Commissioner of BBQ for a day.  Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri also checks with details of a 12 Day of Christmas special that will make you want to check out his store in Republic, Missouri, for some great deals … then listen closely, as Skyler details a gift certificate that’s sitting out somewhere in the store for the first person to find it.  Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview their cooking plans leading up to Christmas and discuss the Kansas City Chiefs in the aftermath of their latest mistake-plagued defeat. We have one more show to close out 2023 and Season 5 before a holiday break.   Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week and weekend, and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm 

On Episode 241 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with two of the candidates for the upcoming Kansas City Barbeque Society Board of Directors election. Paul Buob from Smokin’ Ghost BBQ and Thomas Gearhart of Mudville BBQ tell us why they want to join the board in what some consider a time of choppy waters and expand on some ideas they have to help steer KCBS into the next few years. We also review the 2023 competition season for Team Royal Oak - and what a season it’s been - with Craig Verhage, the marketing director and a brand ambassador for Royal Oak. The BBQ Ninja also gives us some insight into what’s going on in Memphis where a new contest appears on its way to the riverfront to directly compete with the historic and tradition Memphis in May competition that is headed to Liberty Park in 2024. Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri checks in with a December sale that’s one to consider if you’re looking for a new grill as we enter the Christmas shopping season. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview their upcoming cooking plans and discuss the college football playoffs and if the four best teams were selected for the playoffs. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great Thanksgiving week and weekend, and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

After we not only survived, but thrived with our Thanksgiving Weekend cooking adventures we now turn our attention to the stretch run for the final month of 2024. In one of the final big BBQ competitions of this year, Bill Heyen and Triple H BBQ out of Gillespie, Illinois, came away with the Grand Championship at the Atlanta BBQ Store Classic. On Episode 240 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Bill about the big win and how it was unique because everyone had to wait two days to final out the results on livestream after another KCBS scoring issue. Bill tells us about the wait and if the teams were bothered by it, his thoughts on KCBS and its two high-profile scoring mishaps this fall and what’s coming up for Triple H in the new year.  We then take a short trip from home to talk it over with Skyler Spartan and Charlie Wallace, co-owners of the Grill Guys of Missouri BBQ store in Republic, Missouri. The open-fire cooking enthusiasts and long-time friends recap how they came to get into the BBQ business and give us a rundown on what customers can find at their soon-to-be two-year-old shop.  Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their tasty Thanksgiving cooking outcomes and take a tour of the sports world where college football and Hot Stove League baseball talk is heating up. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great week, and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Happy Thanksgiving Week! It’s Episode 239 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast and we visit with two of the best cooks in the country for lots of last-minute Turkey Day tips. John Lindsey of All Qued Up BBQ and Ronald Burns of Hotty Totty BBQ are the head coaches of the #arkassippicombo line of outstanding rubs and sauces. They tell us about how to make the most out of your Thanksgiving meal, both for the turkey and your favorite sides, and discuss their experiences as finalists on the television program BBQ Country which aired earlier this year on The Country Network. Ronald and his backyard teammate on the show, Brytt Bojczak came away as the big winner and he talks about that and how BBQ Country rightfully put the spotlight on backyard cooks everywhere.  Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview their Thanksgiving Day cooking plans and discuss the latest from the competition BBQ world where KCBS is dealing with more negative fallout from another scoring failure at last weekend’s Atlanta BBQ Store Classic. Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great Thanksgiving week and weekend, and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

You might know Robby Royal of Rescue Smokers from his days on the groundbreaking television show BBQ Pitmasters, or perhaps the Michael Simon program BBQ USA on Food Network. Whatever the case, Robby is still winning big on the circuit and on Episode 238 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with the Georgian about his recent Grand Championship at the Big Pig Jig in his home state. Robby tells us about defeating his friend and rival Myron Mixon at the Pig Jig plus other stories from his career. We also welcome first-time guest John Shirey of Chunky BBQ to the show. John and wife Stephanie comprise Chunky BBQ, based in Hershey, Pa., and they had a memorable season with six Grand Championships en route to a third-place finish behind Janky Leg BBQ and Gettin’ Basted in the KCBS Team of the Year race. John tells us about his rapid rise in a relatively brief competition career and what’s ahead for Chunky BBQ in 2024. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve talk about their cooking weeks and look ahead to the big Thanksgiving meals ahead, plus other tidbits of food and sports.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

When he first tested the competition BBQ waters in 2018, Norris “Syd” Sydnor of Good Googly Good never envisioned being a points chaser or contending for any Team of the Year honors. But when he began having big-time success in chicken a couple of years ago and got off to a great start in the bird category in 2023, Syd and wife Li took an early lead that he never relinquished. On Episode 237 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Syd about Good Googly Goo’s KCBS Chicken Team of the Year honors and what went into becoming prolific in the category. We also recap a busy year that saw Good Googly Goo cook in 15 states and Canada and what’s ahead for the Maryland-based team in 2024. Meanwhile, it’s a one-guest show this week as we were unable to make connections with Robby Royal of Rescue Smokers after his Grand Championship at the Big Pig Jig. Robby’s out in the deer woods, where phone service is scare, so we’ll plan on having him on the show next week. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve talk about their cooking weeks and how to start planning preparing for that Thanksgiving meal, plus other tidbits of food and sports.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

In a down-to-the-wire KCBS Team of the Year battle, Jordan Kirkpatrick and Janky Leg BBQ came through in clutch fashion. Needing a Grand Championship on the season’s final weekend to leapfrog Brad Leighninger and Gettin’ Basted, that’s exactly what Janky Leg accomplished on Day 1 of Boo-B-Que in Oak Grove, Missouri. Adding an RGC on Day 2, Jordan came away with his first Team of the Year and denied Gettin’ Basted an unprecedented fourth. We talk it over with Jordan on Episode 236 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast and find out his thoughts on the stress of a title chase, future BBQ plans and who exactly is “Teen Wolf” and his role in Janky Leg’s success. We also welcome Chase Willard, a former Tailgate Guys BBQ Show “Under the Radar” subject to discuss his first career KCBS Grand Championship, which came on Day 2 of Boo-B-Que. Chase breaks down his winning cook in the cold and windy conditions and recaps his road to a GC in a relatively short time period since jumping into competition BBQ.  Meanwhile, Lyndal touches on the Tailgate Guys BBQ team’s clunker at Boo-B-Que and co-host Steve tells us what’s been cooking on his backyard deck.  Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023 The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri Allquedup #arkassippicombo Vietti Marketing Group #marketing  Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm