kcbs

There’s a new No. 1 team in the KCBS Team of the Year standings this week and we learn more about Colorado Bulldawg BBQ from pitmaster Levi Stoakes on Episode 209 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Levi, wife Jessica and their mascot bulldog named Brisket have traveled the country, cooking 13 competition so far in 2023 and have been a top-five scoring machine with seven overall top-five finishes cooking primarily on their Jambo. Levi tells us about achieving consistency and recounts how he got into competition BBQ.  

We also have another Under the Radar segment, learning about an up-and-coming team. This week, we go to Mayetta, Kansas, for a visit with Bo Wheless of Bocephus BBQ. In just 13 career competitions, Bocephus BBQ - yes, it’s named after Hank Jr. - also has scored four overall top-10 finishes and a first place in Ribs. Bo tells us about his inspiration to get into competition cooking and what’s next for his team. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and talk a little sports, including memories of Mike Shannon, who spent 50 years in the St. Louis Cardinals’ broadcast booth. The "Moon Man" passed away last weekend at the age of 83. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Buckle up because Episode 208 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is one of the longest we’ve done, checking in at 72 minutes … but it’s packed full of big names with good and fun info. First up is Mark Lambert, a seven-time world BBQ champion who’s won the overall title at Memphis in May twice and is reigning world pork shoulder champion. Mark and his Sweet Swine O’ Mine team is ready for another title run in a few weeks on the banks of the Mississippi and he tells us about preparations for Memphis in May and what he envisions as the BBQ Major returns to Tom Lee Park. 

Next up is a brief-but-fun segment with St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Adam Wainwright. During an injury rehab assignment recently in Springfield, Missouri, “Waino” talked about his love for BBQ, what he likes to cook in his backyard and what kinds of smokers and grills he has. 

Then it’s one of the best to ever light a pit as Rod Gray, CEO of the Kansas City Barbeque Society joins us. Rod, by the way, is not officially retired from competition cooking, it’s just that his job can be a handful. The timing of Rod’s appearance coincides with the recent announcement that the 2023 KCBS World Invitational will be held Aug. 11-13 in Mayetta, Kansas. Rod takes us through how the decision was made to put the $60,000 event in August and why in Kansas. He also talks about his view of where KCBS is headed eight months after taking the job as CEO. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and offer some sports opinions before turning this week’s show in to the judges. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The open-fire cooking season officially is launching into high gear as we hit mid-April. For those backyard cooks wondering what type of charcoal - hardwood lump, briquette or pellets - are best for them, check out our conversation with Craig Verhage. Known as “The BBQ Ninja,” Craig offers some advice and also tells us what’s new in the world of Royal Oak Charcoal, where he is marketing director and lead brand ambassador. It looks like another strong year for Team Royal Oak, whose roster of pitmasters captured Team of the Year honors in seven sanctioning bodies in 2023. Craig also previews some big events on his calendar, including Memphis in May which is closing fast. It’s always a pleasure to talk BBQ with Craig, one of the most-knowledgeable and enthusiastic folks in cooking.

While Memphis is May is nearing, so is Minnesota in May. Sixty Masters' Series teams plus a good crop of Backyard teams are expected to fire it up in the premier KCBS competition in the northern United States next month and David Ellis, from one of Minnesota’s top pro teams, gives us a preview. Machete Boys BBQ out of Minneapolis has become a force on the KCBS circuit, winning its first two career Grand Championships in a span of three weeks last fall. David says Machete Boys BBQ is shooting for bigger and better in 2023 and he gives us a rundown.

Meanwhile, it was a busy week of cooking for co-hosts Lyndal and Steve and they recap what was on the menu and what might be next on the smoker while also recapping the competition news of the last week.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

What goes into organizing a great barbecue competition? If there’s a template for a KCBS event, Smoke in the Spring in Osage, Kansas, could be it. The 20th annual edition was held last weekend with 103 teams on hand and on Episode 206 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Smoke in the Spring organizer Corey Linton. He’s been in charge of the comp the last 17 years and, while other good competitions have gone by the wayside, Corey talks about some keys in how Smoke in the Spring keeps thriving. What would he tell a new contest organizer? Corey tells us. Also a member of the KCBS Board of Directors, we also visit with Corey about that state of competition BBQ in general and if he plans to seek another term in 2024.

It’s also time for our monthly segment featuring Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions Kansas City as marketing director Richard Fergola joins us. We run down what’s coming up at Proud Souls KC, which has been open for three months. Richard also talks about a whirlwind month of competition for his Fergolicious BBQ team, which has risen to No. 4 in the KCBS Team of the Year standings, plus what it’s like when flights are canceled and five top pitmasters hop in a rental car and drive nine hours to Kansas City. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their BBQ weeks and take a spin around the sports world, reviewing the Masters and the start of baseball season.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Everyone loves a great slider. Mitche Graf wants to find out who can cook the world’s best compact burger. Graf is putting together the first World’s Best Slider Championship, coming to Las Vegas in March of 2024. Modeled a bit after the Steak Cookoff Association model, Graf hopes that about 100 Best Slider qualifying competitions will be held this year - as ancillary events to KCBS or SCA competitions - with two “Golden Tickets” earned at each for a trip to the championships. Graf is quite the entrepreneur with a BBQ background, with his own syndicated BBQ Radio Show and BBQ Nation BBQnation.net company of spice rubs and sauces. 

We also head to West Virginia for another edition of “Under the Radar” where we learn about an aspiring pitmaster. Retired Navy veteran Shawn McColligan and his wife Tracy comprise T&S BBQ Competition Team and found immediate success in the Backyard division last year with plans to dive in a bit deeper in 2023. Shawn tells us about his BBQ journey and how it’s been an important part of his life post-military. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their BBQ weeks and take a spin around the sports world where college basketball is over, the Masters is here and baseball gets cranked 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 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

One of the iconic figures in BBQ joins us on Episode 204 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Ed Maurin was a member of the KCBS Board of Directors in the organization’s early days, when he battled the likes of Johnny Trigg, Ray Lampe and Jeff Stehney on the competition circuit. Honing his skills as a Kansas City firefighter, “Fast Eddy” would modify Traeger cookers to his liking, often raising eyebrows - and interest - from fellow competitors. By 1997, Maurin had developed his own line of FEC (Fast Eddy Cookers) that would revolutionize the pellet-cooking industry for restaurants and food trucks worldwide. 

Ed is still teamed up with Oklahoma-based Cookshack to bring new smokers to the market, with pizza cooking a primary focus these days. He talks his career, plus his passion for Off Road racing in the desert, in an extended conversation before catching a flight for a marathon off road race in Mexico this weekend.  

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their BBQ weeks, review March Madness and the Final Four field and preview the new baseball season. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Chris Webb of Colorado’s Bushmaster BBQ had a weekend to remember at the Kansas City Barbeque Society's BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest, in Yuma, Arizona. Chris scored not one, not two but THREE perfect 180s en route to the Grand Championship and we visit with him about the rare trifecta on Episode 202 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Chris, who’s also a managing partners in Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions, has been one of the nation’s hottest competition cooks since the middle of 2022 and shows little sign of cooling off - though he does tell us about a break to teach a BBQ class in Costa Rica.

One of our most-popular recurring segments over the last couple of season has been “Under the Radar.” It’s where we take a look at some up-and-coming teams in competition BBQ. Out first “Under the Radar” visit in 2023 is with Jason Harris of Cities Edge BBQ in Topeka, Kansas. Jason tells us about some of his early success, including a walk in brisket at last year’s American Royal Open, and how he got started in competition Q with an assist from the great Travis Clark.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their BBQ weeks and tell you their bracket picks for March Madness, including some upset specials to look for in the first round. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

They were a breakout competition BBQ team in 2022, winning their first KCBS Grand Championship and the Made for KC Grand Championship. The latter included putting their own menu creation and recipes in the new Made for KC BBQ Experience restaurant in a new terminal at Kansas City International Airport. Brad Colter and Breana Via of Smoke N Magic BBQ are living an open-fire dream these days - while dealing with a whirlwind schedule for the just-opened restaurant. On Episode 201 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Brad and Breana about life and what’s ahead for the talented and personable couple.

Also joining us is a two-time World Champion at the Houston Livestock Rodeo & BBQ Cookoff. You might not know Craig Sharry right off the bat, but his products might be in your BBQ pantry. Craig owns and operates Texas Pepper Jelly and Rib Candy, game-changing additions whether you’re cooking competition or in the backyard. Craig discusses his BBQ journey and the growth of his company, which has now expanded into BBQ sauce and spice rubs.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their BBQ weeks and what’s ahead with March Madness only days away. BBQ and basketball? What a combo. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We celebrate a milestone of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast this week, with Episode 200. After three seasons and 154 shows on low-powered, local radio the move to podcast form in 2019 has been a good one as our audience has expanded to worldwide. A big thanks to all our guests and sponsors who made the content possible. Most of all, a big “thank you” to our listeners!

Leading off the guest lineup this week are the leaders of the #ArkassippiCombo line of rubs and seasonings. John Lindsey from All Qued Up and Ronald Burns of Hotty Totty BBQ not only are two of the top steak cooks in the world, they are traveling the country in 2023 bringing knowledge with classes and “Arkassippi Roadshow” appearances. They also are part of the upcoming BBQ Country show on The Country Network, serving as mentors for backyard cooks. It’s always a good time when John and Ronald stop by.

We also welcome first-time show guest Kathy Trainor, a female pitmaster turned contest organizer. Kathy’s Inclusive BBQ Events is her way of giving back to the sport by creating more contests, specifically in the northeastern USA. That includes the Hogs 4 Heroes, May 5-7 in Jamestown, Rhode Island. The event is the lone KCBS comp in Rhode Island this year, making it an auto qualifier for the Jack Daniels Invitational, American Royal Invitational and KCBS Invitational.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: 
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked 
Iowa BBQ Store #iowacornercookers
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
Affordable Financial Services
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing 
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Welcome to Episode 199 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, where we’re joined by one of the giants of competition BBQ and the guitar business. We stick mostly to open-fire-cooking talk during a wide-ranging conversation with Sterling “Big Poppa” Ball of Big Poppa Smokers. With 46 career KCBS Grand Championships and 40 Reserve Grands in 254 lifetime competitions, plus his own line of seasons, smokers and accessories, Sterling touches on the tough environment for competition these days, the glory days of his career, his remaining goals in BBQ and compares the creative process in cooking to the music world. Remember to check out BigPoppaSmokers.com to see the latest products along with a section for recipes and tips to up your BBQ game.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve talk about their cooking weeks as the sunlight hours continue to lengthen and look ahead to March, when spring arrives along with a bonanza of college basketball, baseball and competition cooking. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Proud Souls Barbecue Kansas City, Clark Crew BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather.

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We’re back!!! Season 5 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast debuts with a powerhouse conversation with one of the great ambassadors. He’s a United States Navy veteran who worked more than two decades on the night shift at the Des Moines, Iowa water treatment plant cooking BBQ in his spare time and bursting onto the scene as a contestant and judge on the groundbreaking television show BBQ Pitmasters. After retiring a few years ago, Big Moe Cason is now a full-time BBQ man, traveling the USA and the world spreading the good word of Q. Moe joins us to preview a busy 2023 and unveils plans to team up with his buddy Bob Trudnak for a BBQ restaurant in Texas. Thanks to Moe for his time, just before he heads to New Zealand for a BBQ outing.

One of our new marketing partners in 2023 is Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City and General Manager Kim Groneman fills us in on the new superstore in the Northlands portion of Kansas City. Kim is well known in the BBQ world as she and husband Andy formed the Smoke On Wheels team for many years and she fills us in on some of their competition highlights. Along with Proud Souls BBQ Kansas, it’s great to welcome Clark Crew BBQ as another new show sponsor for Season 5.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Proud Souls Barbecue Kansas City, Clark Crew BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather.

Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We wrap a bow on Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with a bonus edition, featuring Rod Gray, CEO of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Rod is one of the all-time great competition cooks with his Pellet Envy team, winning more than 50 KCBS Grand Championships and he was KCBS Team of the Year in 2009. Rod became known to BBQ enthusiasts worldwide in 2013 when he was crowned Season 4 champion of the groundbreaking television show BBQ Pitmasters.

On Episode 194 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Rod discusses his first four months on the job as CEO of the KCBS, assesses the biggest challenges ahead in 2023 and answers some listener-submitted questions. We also touch on his great cooking career and what he misses - or doesn’t miss - about the competition circuit. A big thanks to Rod for making time to come on the show for an extended conversation.

This wraps up 2022 for the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. A big thanks to our listeners - and to our great sponsor/marketing partners who made Season 4 possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather.

We’ll return Jan. 24 to kick off Season 5 and our eighth season overall of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show. If you’re interested in joining us as a show sponsor/marketing partner in 2023, shoot me an email at lscranton755@gmail.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Have a great BBQ holiday season and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Travis Clark is arguably the greatest ever to fire up a competition BBQ pit and the statistics back that up. As a two-time KCBS Team of the Year, Grand Champion at both the American Royal World Series of BBQ and The Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational, Clark Crew BBQ has 58 KCBS Grand Championships in 245 career events (an amazing 24-percent win percentage). On Episode 193 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, the always straight-talking Travis Clark visits with us about the state of competition BBQ, where he ranks among the greats and his award-winning Clark Crew BBQ restaurant in Oklahoma City. It’s an extended conversation that we hope you will enjoy.

Meanwhile, on our final regularly scheduled show of Season 4, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve talk about smoking holiday treats - meat or otherwise - and offer some gift ideas for the BBQ enthusiast in your life.

As we wrap up another year, a big thanks goes out to our great sponsor/marketing partners who made Season 4 possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather.

We may have a special edition next week. Watch our Facebook page for news about that. Otherwise, we’ll return in January to kick off Season 5 and our ninth season overall of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show. If you’re interested in joining us as a show partner in 2023, shoot me an email at lscranton755@gmail.com

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 192 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we have an extended conversation with one of biggest names - and one of the nicest people - in BBQ. It’s always a pleasure to welcome Tuffy Stone, a six-time world champion and BBQ Hall of Famer Class of 2018, back to the show and we have a wide-ranging visit about Tuffy’s 2022 and what’s ahead in 2023.

Tuffy re-tooled a new line of rubs and sauces that hit the market this year and unveiled plans for a couple of more rubs that will roll out shortly after the new year. We talked about how to become creative with your grilling and about where Tuffy’s attention to detail - earning him the nickname “The Professor” - came from.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discussed their cooking adventures over the past week and plans for the two weeks leading into Christmas. They also took a quick spin of the sports world, with takes on the college football playoffs, whether the Bengals have the Chiefs’ number and speculated on the St. Louis Cardinals’ next catcher.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather.

We have just one episode remaining in Season 4. If you’re interested in joining us as a show partner for Season 5 in 2023, shoot me an email at lscranton755@gmail.com

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Phillip Breeden is one of America’s busiest competition pitmasters. His LC BBQ team, based in Bandera, Texas, can be found cooking nearly every weekend on one circuit or another, with his name more often than not called at or near the top of the standings. LC BBQ recently was crowned Team of the Year on the Champions Barbecue Alliance and on Episode 191 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Phillip joins us to discuss his season and his line of LC BBQ products.

We also catch up with Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ for the final “Fergie Time” segment of the season. Richard recaps his season, which found Fergolicious 10th in the KCBS Team of the Year standings, previews some upcoming BBQ classes and gives an update on the soon-to-open new Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City store.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also recap their Thanksgiving cooking adventures and talk a little college and pro football.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

We have just three episodes remaining in Season 4. If you’re interested in joining us as a show partner for Season 5 in 2023, shoot me an email at lscranton755@gmail.com

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 190 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we catch up with one of the busiest people in BBQ a day after the launch of not one, not two, not three … but SIX new Blues Hog spice rubs. Tim Scheer of Blues Hog, Gateway Drum Smokers and Marble Ridge Farms joins me with a description of each of the new rubs, plus a breakdown of a 2022 season that included a Memphis in May World BBQ Championship. The planning for a title defense next May on the riverfront is underway.

We also welcome a former show “Under the Radar” guest who’s now blazing quite a trail in the competition world. It’s Brian Peyton of Meat Me in St. Louis, fresh off his first KCBS Grand Championship against a star-studded field at the Atlanta BBQ Store Classic. Brian discusses that cook, plus other career highlights including a world baked beans championship at this year’s American Royal World Series of BBQ.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview their Thanksgiving cooking plans, touch on the merits of tofu turkey (not that anyone who eats tofu listens to this show) and take a quick tour of the sports world.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

We have just three episodes remaining in Season 4. If you’re interested in joining us as a show partner for Season 5 in 2023, shoot me an email at lscranton755@gmail.com

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Long-time BBQ competitor and United States Navy veteran Sterling Smith of Loot ’N Booty BBQ has won numerous grand championships over the years, but his latest ranks at or near the top. Sterling and his team captured the BBQ division at the World Food Championships last weekend in Dallas, earning $10,000 and a berth in the WFC finals next spring. On Episode 189 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we hear from Sterling about his winning dish (an awesome and unique take on smoked brisket), his reflections on 2022 and his must-have side and dessert for Thanksgiving.

It’s also time for the November segment of “Arkassippi Alley” with John Lindsey from All Qued Up. Since our last visit with John, he earned two more Steak Cookoff Association victories and discusses a couple of his new rubs - which are now headed to market - that impacted his wins. John also gives some tips on how to get that perfect Thanksgiving turkey off your smoker for the biggest family food day of the year.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening!

#SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The Kansas City Barbeque Society Team of the Year race is a combination of outstanding cooking, determination and endurance to pull down the highways and byways of American week after week and an overall thirst to win. In 2022, the championship goes to Ercole Chila and Uncle Pig’s Barbecue Pit from Paulsboro, N.J.

Uncle Pig’s earned nine grand championships, including three in a row in early October, and had 27 top-10 finishes in 33 competitions in more than a dozen states. On Episode 188 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Ercole about what the championship means and some of the keys along the way to make it happen, as he edged out Joe Pearce and Kansas City’s SLAPS BBQ by a 57-point margin.

We also get the lowdown on the turkey shortage that threatens Thanksgiving meals nationwide - plus other facts on the meat situation as we approach the holiday season - from Kevin Green of The Butcher Shoppe. The good news? The Butcher Shoppe has a decent supply of fresh turkeys and is able to ship, but you have to get your order in by the end of this week. Want a frozen turkey? You’re going to pay dearly, if you can find one at all.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 187 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, it’s a conversation with our KCBS Breakout Team of the Year. Breana Via and Bradley Colter of Black Magic BBQ were good in their first full cooking season in 2021, but took it to a life-changing level in 2022. Not only did Black Magic win its first KCBS Masters Series Grand Championship, it captured the “Made for KC” Competitors Series GC in June, winning $25,000 and one-year licensing rights to have their own menu items in the a new BBQ restaurant inside the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport. Bre and Brad tell us about their incredible BBQ ride - plus a new team name - in an extended visit.

We also recap the final weekend of the KCBS season, which saw recent show guest Jordan Kirkpatrick and Janky Leg BBQ continued its hot streak with a sweep of the loaded Boo-B-Que doubleheader in Oak Grove, Missouri. The Tailgate Guys BBQ team managed a ninth-place Chicken call on Day 2 of Boo-B-Que and we recap our season, which was highlighted by a strong performance on the chicken train.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The KCBS points season is nearing the finish line and it’s been a great one for Jordan Kirkpatrick from the southern Illinois team Janky Leg BBQ. Following his fourth Grand Championship of the season - one week after winning Chicken at The Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational with a perfect score - we visit with Jordan on Episode 186 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Jordan discusses how he got started in competition BBQ and a unique, late-night first meeting with the tallest man in BBQ who gave him immediate critique on trimming pork butts during the late hour.

It’s also time for an end-of-season Competition BBQ 101 segment with Randy Vanslyke of High I Que BBQ. It’s great timing as Randy is fresh off his first GC of 2022 at the Border Battle in Osawatomie, Kansas. The veteran pitmaster offers some great advice new or relatively inexperienced competition cooks about how to evaluate your season, how to improve during the winter and some tips that everyone can use on winterizing those smokers before putting them away.

Meanwhile, the Tailgate Guys competition team prepares for its final comp of the year, the Boo-B-Que doubleheader loaded with powerhouse teams in Oak Grove, Missouri. We’ll fire it up and give a full report on the outcome next week.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening!

#SmokeEmIfYouGotEm