BBQ Therapy

The Barbecue World Cup is planning to bring 100 teams to Las Vegas with a $1 million prize on the line. That's a big vision for competition barbecue, and it has the potential to make a major impact on the BBQ world. But there are questions that need to be asked. In this episode, Tavis Bryant of BBQ Therapy Podcast steps behind the microphone to talk openly about the upcoming Barbecue World Cup...

What do you learn when your first competition barbecue contest ends with you near the bottom of the results? For Aaron Huentelman, you come back and get better. On this episode of BBQ Therapy, Tavis Bryant sits down with Aaron Huentelman, a competition pitmaster, founder of Go Big or Go BBQ , Competition Meat Director for Mister Brisket , and Great Lakes BBQ Association board member. Aaron's b...

What happens when the uniform comes off—but the mission doesn’t? On this episode of BBQ Therapy, Tavis Bryant sits down with Ty Cobb, Matt Johnson, and Al Herro , the three veterans behind the Triple Threat Vets Podcast , for a conversation about military transition, purpose, service, resilience, and the power of listening to other people's stories. Triple Threat Vets has built a platform arou...

How much do you really know about the history of American barbecue? Most of us know the regions. Texas. Kansas City. Memphis. The Carolinas. We know the meats, the sauces, the smokers, and the traditions. But how many of us actually know the people and cultures that shaped the barbecue we know today? On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast , I sit down with Jim Auchmutey , award-winning journal...

Todd Johns didn’t just win the American Royal. He built a legacy. In 2009, Todd Johns and Pork Pullin’ Plowboys won the American Royal Open Grand Championship —one of the defining moments of his competition BBQ career. But winning the trophy was only part of the story. Todd went on to build Plowboys BBQ , create some of the most recognized rubs in barbecue, enter the restaurant business, cook at A...

What happens when barbecue becomes bigger than the pit? On this episode of BBQ Therapy, Tavis Bryant sits down with Famous Dave Anderson , founder of Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, for a conversation about barbecue, entrepreneurship, branding, success, loss, and finding your way back to the thing that started it all. Dave’s barbecue journey began with a childhood love of ribs in Chicago. That passion ev...

**sorry for the Audio Issues outside event** What does it take to turn a family recipe into one of the most recognizable names in barbecue? On this episode of BBQ Therapy, Tavis Bryant sits down with Dave “Sweet Baby Ray” Raymond at NBBQA’s Nashville Fire & Flavor for the story behind the name, the sauce, and the business. Before Sweet Baby Ray’s became a nationally recognized barbecue brand,...

Most Americans think they're pretty good at barbecue. But what if the data says otherwise? On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast , I sit down with David Eaheart , Senior Director of Communications & Brand Marketing at Seaboard Foods and one of the driving forces behind the Prairie Fresh® State of BBQ Report . David's journey into the food world is anything but ordinary. He studied...

Welcome to BBQ Therapy! BBQ Therapy is the show where pitmasters open up about their craft, their journey, and the power of barbecue to bring people together. Hosted by Tavis Bryant.

What happens behind every BBQ trophy? The late nights. The travel. The missed family events. The pressure. The losses. The celebrations. And the people who stand beside the pitmaster through all of it. On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast , I sit down with Allie Kirkpatrick of Janky Leg BBQ for a conversation about the side of competition barbecue that rarely gets discussed. When people talk...

Most people experience competition barbecue from one side of the table. Michael McDearman has experienced almost all of them. He's been a competitor chasing calls. A restaurant owner serving customers. A television personality on BBQ Pitmasters . A brand representative working with companies and barbecue teams. A KCBS Certified Barbecue Judge Instructor teaching the people who evaluate competition...

🔥 This week on the BBQ Therapy Podcast, we're joined by Jess and Joe Semack—the husband-and-wife team behind Motley Que, one of the most recognizable brands in competition barbecue. Before the championship titles, award-winning products, packed cooking classes, and the honor of creating the "Best Sauce on the Planet," there were two people chasing a dream with nothing more than hard...

Alex Fei joins BBQ Therapy to discuss the innovative Roto Q 360 and how new technology is changing the way people cook barbecue. We explore product development, innovation in outdoor cooking, rotisserie techniques, grilling, smoking, entrepreneurship, and what inspired the creation of the Roto Q 360. Whether you’re a backyard griller or a BBQ enthusiast looking for new cooking methods, you’ll enjo...

🔥 BEHIND THE SCENES OF MAIN STREET SMOK’IN ON THE RAILS 🔥 What does it really take to build a BBQ competition and community event from the ground up? Most people see the finished product. They see the BBQ teams. They see the crowds. They see the music. They see everyone having a great time. But they don't see the phone calls, planning, problems, pressure, long days and countless decisions th...

What does it mean to carry a legacy that's more than 160 years in the making? In this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast , host Tavis Bryant sits down with Eudell Watts IV , founder of Old Arthur's Barbecue Sauce , to explore one of the most remarkable stories in American barbecue. Long before barbecue became a booming industry, Arthur Watts was building a reputation as an extraordinary pi...

Greg Hastie and Devin Holt join BBQ Therapy to discuss everything fire management, BBQ equipment, charcoal, smokers, grills, and helping barbecue enthusiasts become better cooks. We talk about choosing the right equipment, maintaining consistent temperatures, common mistakes backyard cooks make, competition barbecue, and how American Fire and the Kansas City BBQ Store has become a destination for...

David Bouska of Butcher BBQ joins BBQ Therapy to discuss the products and techniques that have influenced competition barbecue around the world. David shares his BBQ journey, developing the famous Butcher BBQ injections, cooking championship brisket, judging competitions, and helping cooks improve their barbecue. If you’ve ever wondered how the pros prepare brisket, pork, ribs, and chicken, this e...

🔥 This week on the BBQ Therapy Podcast, we're joined by Kathy "BBQ MOM" Trainor—a passionate advocate, educator, competition BBQ enthusiast, and the Executive Director of Inclusive BBQ Events. Known throughout the barbecue community as BBQ MOM , Kathy has spent years proving that barbecue is about much more than great food. It's about family, friendship, community, and creating opportunities for...

Selling great BBQ is only half the battle—getting customers to come back is where marketing makes the difference. In this masterclass episode of BBQ Therapy, Annella Kelso, Head of Email & BBQ Marketing at Snake River Farms, breaks down how email marketing, storytelling, and brand strategy help build customer loyalty and drive business growth. Whether you own a BBQ restaurant, food truck, cate...

What does it take to win one of the biggest championships in barbecue? In this episode of BBQ Therapy, we’re joined by Ryan King of Kings BBQ, the 2025 Grand Champion of the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Ryan shares his journey through competition BBQ, the hard work behind earning one of the sport’s most prestigious titles, and how he’s grown Kings...

Rob McMurtrie of LifeSpace US joins BBQ Therapy to share an incredible story of leaving South Africa, starting over in Texas, and building a successful business in the barbecue industry. We discuss entrepreneurship, family, risk, resilience, outdoor living, premium grills, South African braai culture, and how barbecue brings people together across cultures. Rob shares the challenges of starting fr...

What does it take to become a World Barbecue Champion? In this episode of BBQ Therapy, we’re joined by Sterling Smith of Loot N’ Booty BBQ. Sterling is a U.S. Navy veteran, 5-time World Champion, 2022 World Barbecue Champion, cookbook author, BBQ instructor, and one of the most accomplished pitmasters in competition barbecue. We discuss his journey into BBQ, building the Loot N’ Booty brand, winni...

🔥 What does it take to go from a kid growing up in Mississippi to becoming one of the most recognizable names in barbecue? In this episode of BBQ Therapy , host Tavis Bryant travels to Columbus, Mississippi , to sit down inside Hank's Championship BBQ with legendary pitmaster Hank Vaiden , known by many as the "Bad Boy of BBQ." Hank shares the incredible story behind his barbecue journey—from lea...

On this episode of BBQ Therapy , host Tavis Bryant sits down with Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ — one of the most accomplished and respected pitmasters in competition barbecue. Known for consistency, flavor, and championship-level execution, Richard has built a reputation as one of the elite cooks in the game. We talk about the mindset required to compete at the highest level, the sacrifices...

Some barbecue traditions are passed down through generations. Others are created by people willing to challenge everything we thought we knew. In this special double-feature episode of BBQ Therapy, host Tavis Bryant sits down with two guests who are shaping the future of barbecue in very different ways. 🔥 Interview One: Kiplon Taylor – Slap Someone Sauce Before there was a business, there was a f...