Not The Best Podcast

This one's been a long time coming. My buddy Mel Chmilar Jr. (Dark Side of the Grill) finally sat down with me, and somehow we managed to balance absolute chaos with one of the most real conversations we've had. If you know Mel, you know he's the guy screaming "FIRE IN THE HOLE!", cooking all over the world, and somehow turning every event into a party. But this episode isn't just about barbecue....

Episode 6 is live, and this one was a blast. I sat down with my buddy Randy Pauly, the head pitmaster for Buc-ee's. If you've ever been to a Buc-ee's, you know the barbecue is no joke... every location is cranking out hundreds of whole briskets every single day. Randy was in Arizona helping open the state's first Buc-ee's, so we took the opportunity to sit down and talk. And honestly, this isn't t...

This week on Not The Best Podcast, I sat down with my buddy Dave Williamson. Dave's a comedian, restaurant owner, festival organizer, husband, competitive bbqer, coach, mentor, dad, and somehow still finds time to do it all. We talked about everything from Vegas adventures and barbecue to building businesses, creating community, and balancing life when your schedule is packed. What I like about Da...

A conversation w my guy Al Frugoni, aka the king of open fire. Coming from Argentina, Al’s been a huge mentor and friend to me for years, so getting to sit down and really talk through his journey was special. We got into everything… how he made the jump from Argentina to the US, building businesses from the ground up, getting punched in the face by COVID, and still finding ways to adapt and keep...

In a world flooded with quick-and-easy meals, Uncle Chico reminds us of the power of slow-cooked tradition, good storytelling, and community. Most barbecue lovers and food adventurers are missing out if they haven’t heard Uncle Chico’s secret to turning simple bites into unforgettable experiences. In this episode, Rico, AKA Uncle Chico, spills the beans on everything from his secret barbecue tips...

Episode 2 kicks off with a recap of FatOxfest 2026, highlighting the community spirit, teamwork, and absolutley banger of a time we had. We cover a range of topics, including cultural food experiences, travel, time travel analogies, childhood cartoons, and cultural influences. Juan shares his culinary experiences from different cultures, we discuss the implications of time travel, and explore the...

Episode 1 is LIVE and we wasted ZERO time getting unhinged 😤🔥 Ty helps me kick it off with a Louisiana weekend recap... great food, bad decisions, and somehow we end up deep in the trenches of neighborhood beef. HOA smoke?? Oh yeah… we’re talking about it. Then I bring on my FIRST EVER guest, my guy Jared Babb. We go back to when we met at Memphis in May 3 years ago cooking with Al Frugoni. With...

Ty and unofficially kick things off by recapping our trip to the Houston Rodeo, sharing some laughs, and hanging out over some pizza. Just a laid-back conversation about the experience, a few good stories, and the kind of moments that turn into great memories.