The Pitmaster's Podcast

Matt Scott, a passionate co-founder of The True Board, brings his vision of enhancing dining experiences from his Montana roots to the sunny climes of Southern California. With a notable 26-year career in the medical device field and as a proud father, Matt infuses his life's work with a commitment to community and sustainability. His entrepreneurial spirit doesn't stop there; as co-owner of Kingd...

Chris Marks is a renowned pitmaster and the driving force behind Three Little Pigs BBQ Rubs & Sauces. Hailing from Kansas City, he has established himself as a leading figure in the barbecue world. Marks boasts an impressive competitive record, having secured over 50 national barbecue championships and more than 600 individual awards. Notably, he is an eight-time Grand Champion of the American Roy...

Mom of three, Kara, has been busy this year! From reaching over 60,000 followers, getting television spots with Food Network Canada, and continuing to work with some of the biggest names in the BBQ business. She is reaching new heights and bigger goals than ever! Join us to catch up and find out what's next for Kara, "that" BBQ mom from Canada.

What started as a passion for cooking over fire quickly turned into a full-blown mission for me. My journey into BBQ began the way many great stories do—backyard cooks for family and friends, experimenting with rubs, sauces, and different pits until I found the flavors that truly spoke to me. I wasn't just cooking food—I was creating an experience. Over time, the spark grew into something bigger....

LB's BBQ was born in 2015, forged from a lifelong obsession with fire, flavor, and feeding people like family. But let's be real — LB's been cheffing it up since he was just four years old. This isn't just a hobby. It's in his DNA. Cooking isn't what he does — it's who he is. There's nothing LB loves more than seeing that first bite turn into a big-ass smile. That's the fuel behind every flame. Th...

Jordan Davis, known to most as The Smoking Pastor, is the founder of The Smoking Pastor Project — a (501 (c) (3) nonprofit that shows up with fire and flavor to feed communities in need. Whether it's a street corner pop-up or a full-scale relief event, Jordan's mission is simple: craft smiles one bite at a time. He's built a loyal following by combining real BBQ with real impact, proudly partnerin...

Chris and Christina Dunyon of SinBin BBQ are a Utah-based husband-and-wife team who have spent the last 4 years chasing their passion for competition barbecue in SCA, the World Food Championships, BBQ Backyard, and KCBS. What started as a backyard hobby quickly grew into a shared adventure. In the SCA, Chris has earned Golden Tickets in steak and Christina in ancillaries, and together they've been...

Sarah Penrod is a former private chef to Texas' biggest names, a recurring Food Network personality, and the one-time Texas Ambassador to the White House's Chefs Move to Schools program—where she heroically tried (and sometimes failed) to convince kids to swap Cheetos for carrots. She's the creator of Urban Cowgirl, one of the largest Texas recipe blogs in the world, a bestselling cookbook of the...

Ryan Skjerdal of Q Cartel BBQ, a Saskatchewan, Canada–based team that's quickly making an impact on the KCBS circuit, has turned just 11 contests alongside cooking partner Ryan Bachmire into 3 Grand Championships, 1 Reserve Grand Championship and nine top-ten finishes. Their breakout 2024 season capped off with Rookie Team of the Year for Canada and Team of the Year in Saskatchewan honors. Off the...

Aly Romero is a private chef and cookbook author based in Southlake, TX, with over 25 years of culinary experience. She has showcased her skills in televised culinary competitions on Good Morning and the Food Network. As a private chef, Aly prepares gourmet meals for celebratory dinners, milestone birthdays, and small company events, including government officials and professional athletes. Passio...

Tuffy's BBQ team is celebrating their recent Grand Champion win from the Best Dam Barbecue Challenge, which earned them an invite to the Jack! We are so excited for this Utah Team!!

Evie and Eli are a dynamic duo with a deep love for food, adventure, and building unforgettable experiences. Based in Las Vegas, they're both certified SCA judges, and passionate foodies. Eli is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, global traveler, and expert builder of custom off-road vehicles. In 2023, he introduced the Military Class to King of the Hammers—his own creation, inspired by converting a 201...

A long time ago on a planet called earth in the same galaxy we live in, there was a boy who in his teens got a job at a bbq restaurant and fell in love with bbq. His name is Bryan Odom. This is my adventure. While i was 19 and managing the kitchen at a bbq restaurant i decided on the crazy idea to join the U.S. Marines. While traveling around I ate at a lit of bbq restaurants and wanted to define...

Pitmaster at Smokin X | Founder of Smokin Swag Apparel | Creator of Award-Winning Seasonings John Reeves has been the dedicated Pitmaster at Smokin X since 2010, earning a reputation for excellence in barbecue. As the winner of The Grill of Victory "Lone Star Smokers" on the Travel Channel, John has showcased his skill and passion for the craft on a national stage. In addition to his work at Smoki...

Andy Allen is a seasoned competition pitmaster, instructor, and restaurant consultant with a deep passion for barbecue. He serves as a cooking consultant, ambassador, and instructor for Green Mountain Grills, helping others elevate their outdoor cooking skills. Over the years, Andy has been fortunate to earn 14 Grand Championships, 8 Reserve Grands, and perfect scores (180s) in all four KCBS categ...

I am Freddy, founder of Tri-City Pitmasters from Southern California. I am currently employed by Firebull Charcoal and Primetime Spices. In the past, I worked for FOGO Charcoal, Prime 6 Charcoal, and Papas Grilling Products. I also used to host and compete in SCA Events. Additionally, my girlfriend and I have founded the California Tri Tip Association. We have started hosting competitions, but hav...

Join us with Rooster and Graybeard: where fire meets flavor, to salute the troops and talk about Texas made Charles Goodnight Texas Whiskey Bourbon. 

  We welcome Rusty Monson back to the show for an update on Salt City Barbecue. For 2025 he has won the Best In State vote for Best Barbecue Restaurant. It has officially been one year since he stepped away from the show, so we will see what he has been doing.

7 SINS BBQ is a BBQ Catering Company & Award Winning BBQ Competition Team who competes in the KCBS / CBBQA circuits as well as a producer of Award Winning BBQ Rubs & Sauces in the United States and Australia.

Thyron Mathews is an award-winning American BBQ Chef and Pitmaster, known for his bold flavors, Southern roots, and viral presence both online and on screen. Originally from Royal, Florida—a historic Black farming town where families were once granted their 40 acres—Thyron now calls Iowa home, where he's built one of the most recognized BBQ brands in the Midwest.     Thyron rose to national fame a...

My name is Cory Jones owner of Hearth Heroes BBQ. Our passion for BBQ is evident in every bite. We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy great food without compromising their dietary needs, which is why we take pride in our gluten-free and low-salt offerings. We carefully select our ingredients to ensure that each seasoning blend is not only flavorful but also healthy. Whether you are host...

It all began in his childhood home where Bob Trudnak was the oldest of four children. His mother was a homemaker, and his father worked three jobs to support the family. Most Sundays were spent barbecuing at the local state park, near their home in the hills of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania – population 5,100. Sundays were his father's only day off, and he would spend it barbecuing at the park's cha...

Karen Wright Wright on QAKA mom to the Steak Princess Russell and I started competing in BBQ in the early 2000's. He did his first steak competition in June of 2017 with me just there for support. I started cooking ancillaries not long after and then moved to steak.

Sterling Smith, 2022 World Barbecue Champion, US Navy Veteran, barbecue teacher, cookbook author, and owner/Pitmaster of Loot N' Booty BBQ, has been competing on the professional barbeque circuit since 2009. In that time, Sterling and his family have traveled nationally and internationally to compete in major competitions including the Jack Daniel's World BBQ Invitational, where they won the title...

Beer's Blackdog BBQ is a family owned business in the heart of northern Minnesota's lake country. Born from the good old days of weekly gatherings of good people and good BBQ. Blackdog has grown to be a favorite sauce all over the globe. It is a sauce that appeals to a wide variety of tastes, a sweet tangy sauce with a hint of smokiness and just enough heat to keep you coming back for more. For yo...