Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast

Phillip Dell wanted to be a chef since the age of 4 and grew up helping his grandfather and uncle cook whole hogs. He's gone on to blend those passions together with culinary training, cooking at some world-class restaurants and winning his episode (Season 15, Episode 9) of Food Network's "Chopped," among several television competitions. On Episode 379 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit wi...

Janice Smella and family celebrated their Grand Championship at the 37th annual Jack Daniels World BBQ Championship by spending the following weekend in Ottumwa, Iowa, checking off another box on their KCBS reps in training schedule. It was a unique feeling, indeed, as the high of winning The Jack had hardly begun to fade. On Episode 378 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we have a fun conversation...

What a ride it's been for Brian Kennish and the family team B's Que Crew based in Richmond, Virginia. On Episode 377 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Brian recaps back-to-back trips that found B's Que celebrate the American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational Grand Championship and then Reserve Grand Championship honors at The Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational. Along with recounting the thri...

There might not be more of a Rocky Balboa story in the history of competition BBQ than Charles Winslow-Bey. From adversity with vehicles six months ago that left his season in doubt to winning the world's largest BBQ contest last weekend, the 46th annual American Royal World Series of BBQ Open, Charles and his wife April are an inspiration to all who dare to dream big. On Episode 376 of the Tailga...

Episode 375 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is focused of the 46th annual American Royal World Series of BBQ, where we're headed later this week to judge after five years of on the competition side. We visit with not only a first-time American Royal team, but a foursome that has barely cooked competition at all. That's Sasquatch Smoke N Que out of Kansas City, a group of military veterans who met...

Kelly Wertz is one of the legends of competition BBQ, winning more than 40 KCBS Grand Championships during a 20-year career - including the American Royal World Series of BBQ and the Jack Daniel World BBQ Invitational. On Episode 374 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we catch up with Kelly about why he chose to call it a career. He's staying plenty busy, with steady catering gigs and a growing 4 L...

Episode 373 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is a preview of the 46th American Royal World Series of BBQ. It's a new venue after a decade at Kansas Speedway and Kayci Vincent, BBQ Manager of the American Royal, tells us that while it's a scaled-down version as construction continues on the new site, teams will probably think it's more like a regular BBQ event. Spectator access will be limited to F...

We enjoy talking to the biggest names in BBQ - and also shine some light on the up-and-comers. This week we go "Under the Radar" on Episode 372 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to visit with a fast learner from Ohio, Chris Reed of Team Cookie BBQ. Along with having a unique team name, Chris knows his stuff on the smoker. In just 16 career KCBS Masters Series attempts, he's had seven overall top 10...

On Episode 371 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, hear the story of Charles Winslow-Bey and Smokey Bey's Barbecue. It's been a rocket ride for a team that was introduced to competition cooking just 3 1/2 years ago, going from a free class offered by Josh and Ashton of OG Bandits to multiple 700s and top-10 KCBS finishes in a short time. The biggest of all came a couple of weeks ago when Smokey Bey'...

Dirk Mullins and Jody Harris had been involved in competition cooking in various organizations for more than 20 years, walking the stage at The American Royal World Series of BBQ and Memphis in May among other big events. But looking to fill a void in December of 2023, they announced plans to launch the Rib Cookoff Association via social media. Just a couple of hours later, Dirk had received so ma...

Tina Cannon is one of the most-respected names in open-fire cooking, with numerous competition awards to her credit along with an array of television shows on various outlets. The classically trained chef joins us on Episode 369 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to discuss her career, a website TinaCannonCooks.com full of helpful cooking info and a preview of her appearance at The Grill Guys of Mis...

We dive into the world of steak cooking on Episode 368 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with a couple of big winner at last weekend's Hornersville Watermelon Festival in southeast Missouri. First up is Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ from St. Louis. While he's won big in KCBS and the Rib Cookoff Association, Dan came up big in SCA entry by earning a rare triple golden ticket (steak, ribs and beans)...

The current KCBS Team of the Year leader is not as well known as those giving close chase. On Episode 367 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Brian Kennish of B's Que Crew from Richmond, Va., via Philadelphia, tells us about his family team's long-time love of cooking and competition and why it's picked up the pace the last couple of years to become a national contender.  We also take a trip to Repu...

One of our favorite BBQ people returns to the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to make Episode 366 a dandy. It's Bill Purvis from Chicken Fried BBQ out of Magnolia, Texas. Bill highlights his exciting weekend in Rhode Island where he pulled off BBQ's version of a buzzer-beater by winning the Grand Championship along with Rhode Island's auto bid into the Jack Daniel World BBQ Invitational. Along with beco...

On Episode 365 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with two of last weekend's big winners on the competition circuit. First up is Brad Bess of Rowdy Pig BBQ, who enjoyed a spectacular doubleheader at Smokin' on the Osage in Osceola, Missouri. He scored 707.3944 both days - a remarkable feat that earned him Grand Championship honors on Day 1 and RGC on Day 2 to Bad Dog BBQ. Brad, from Bonne...

We've seen countless top-notch competition BBQ teams leave the sport over the last several years, but on Episode 364 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we tell you about one who's coming back after an extended break. Sanj Kirubakaran of Thump and Strum BBQ blazed to four Grand Championships and five RGCs from 2013-19 and, after feeling burned out, Sanj took time away. Now he is back with a renewed e...

Episode 363 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ podcast takes us to Las Vegas where we go "Under the Radar" with the up-and-coming competition team Big Juicy BBQ. Thomas and Michelle Bolling have found a passion for open-fire cooking and, less than two years after their first contest, they've been hitting their marks and taking consistent top-10 walks.  With a scheduling conflict leaving an open segment, we...

We're always looking for up-and-coming BBQ teams and this week on our "Under the Radar" segment we go to Kansas City. Episode 362 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast tells the story of Bald Beauties BBQ. Teammates Michael Bridges and Brian Studdard are making big strides on the circuit while also representing one of Kansas City's oldest BBQ restaurants, Sneads. Bridges does the comp cooking while als...

There's no question that team participation in BBQ competitions has been trending downward in recent years. There are no magical solutions as various factor come into play, with economics probably No. 1. On Episode 361 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a stab at examining - from a contest organizer's point of view - what makes for a good comp, a not-so-good comp and all points in between w...

Episode 360 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast takes us to northeast Arkansas for a visit with one of the USA's most-respected, across-the-board pit masters. John Lindsey spent time on the KCBS circuit as All Q'ued Up BBQ before becoming a champion on the Steak Cookout Association for several years. He's opened a catering business in recent years that has been a hit and now is venturing more into co...

Mat Bonville hasn't been doing competition BBQ for long, but the pitmaster of Phantom Smoke & BBQ from Kipling, Saskatchewan had a memorable cook at one of the world's foremost contests a couple of weeks ago. Bonville scored a whopping 707.97 at the KCBS World Invitational in Lebanon, Tennessee - roughly a 24-drive from home - to earn Reserve Grand honors and qualify for next spring's BBQ World Cu...

Living six hours apart as competition teammates can be a challenge. But brothers Joe and Jeff Rouse have been able to overcome the geographic challenge to become one of the nation's top KCBS Backyard teams in recent years and, this year, are making waves in the four-meat Masters series as well. On Episode 358 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we go "Under the Radar" to find out more about Joe (from...

Episode 357 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast brings back our popular "Under the Radar" segment where we find out more about up-and-coming competition teams. Jordan Williams and Richard Smith comprise BBQ Pit Bros out of Des Moines, Iowa. They began cooking KCBS backyard comps in 2021 and, after multiple Grand Championships and Reserves, the team has taken the plunge into the KCBS 4-Meat Masters Se...

A few days after making history at one of the world's biggest BBQ competitions, Heath Riles joins us on Episode 356 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to discuss his repeat Grand Championship at Memphis in May. It was the first time in 42 years that anyone has repeated their World Championship at Memphis in May and Heath breaks down what the accomplishment means to him and his Heath Riles BBQ brand...

North Dakota is not the warmest open-fire cooking climate in the country, but Nick and Shannon Holman are doing their best to put the Minot, N.D. team Burnt Trees BBQ on the competition map. The husband-wife duo last week came away from the 77-team Minnesota in May with a Grand Championship, their fourth in 50 career KCBS competitions. Consistency is a key for the couple, who have turned countless...