Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast

It’s Fergolicious time!  Richard Fergola is the pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ out of Kansas City.  He’s been on multiple TV shows, won many contests and has recently opened a BBQ store called the KC Grilling Company If you know Fergie, he’s high energy, as is this podcast.  Enjoy the show.

Luke and the OVS Crew bringing the heat to the BBQ world. 

This man really needs no introduction.  He’s won everything in competition BBQ, been featured on BBQ pitmasters, and is widely considered one of the best people to meet, not just in BBQ.  This week it is our esteemed pleasure to have Tuffy Stone, the professor, pitmaster of Cool Smoke, on the podcast. I think you’ll enjoy this interview, getting to know one of the legends of BBQ and hear his story...

A special Friday episode for you this week, as we talk with KCBS CEO, Emily Detwiler, and KCBS Board President, Rick Wagner. We discussed many exciting developments for KCBS in 2021 and beyond. Please enjoy! 

This week we have Scott Johnson with Cancer Sucks Chicago.  Scott has a tremendous story about how he got involved in competition BBQ and how he used BBQ to fund cancer research and do a lot of good. I think you’ll enjoy this interview, getting to know one of the legends of BBQ and hear his story.

This week we have Jared Huizenga with Insane Swine.  Jared cooks out of Massachusetts, and has an absolutely ridiculous batting average, finishing in the top 10 in 68 percent of the contests that he’s cooked. I think you’ll enjoy this interview, getting to know one of the best pitmasters in the northeast.

This week we have Andrew Cloer with Bald Hawg, the current number one team in KCBS.  Andrew and I have been friends for a long time, and he’s had a remarkable story as a pitmaster and as a person.   He hails out of South Carolina, is a rabid Clemson fan and cooks an absolute fantastic low country boil.

This week we bring back Kim and Leigh Anne for our Teammate series, and this week’s episode features Roxanne Manley with Redneck Scientific.  Roxanne is Jerry’s sister, and a fantastic cook and a lot of fun to be around. 

This week’s guest really needs no introduction.  He’s won KCBS Team of the Year, The American Royal, The King of the Smoker, and just about everything else.  In 2019 he opened Porky Butts BBQ in Omaha. Mr. Porky Butts himself, Blane Hunter. 

This week we have a special episode.  Two of our North Carolina friends are getting into it on March 9 in a whole hog competition on the Discovery plus show Mooshiners Smoke Ring.  Mat Griner of Southern Que and Brian Corbett of Smokin’ Skullies team up to show who can cook the best Eastern Carolina Hog. This is a fun interview, and should be a fun watch. 

This week, we get into it with the one and only Tim Scheer with Shake n Bake BBQ, also the proprietor of Blues Hog BBQ and Gateway Drums.  Tim is one of the best cooks in the world, and is known as a world class finisher and just an overall great fella. There’s some great tips in here.  And its a pretty fun listen.

This week on Pitmaster, we switch it up a little. This is the first interview in our Team series.  Kim, the Lil General, and Leigh Anne interview teammates from some of the best pitmasters in the world.  This week, they go deep inside Smokin Hoggz with Shaune Gillespie.  Fantastic interview coming up!

This week on Pitmaster, we have Justin McGlaun with Lucky’s Q.  Winner of Sam’s Club, King of the Smokers , and countless other awards, Lucky is one of the best guys you’ll meet in BBQ.   A great podcast here and a great purchase for under 100$ that will save you tons..   Fantastic interview coming up!

This week on Pitmaster, we have the Goat.  The big guy.  Darren Warth from Smokey D’s.  He’s cooked everything.  He’s won everything.  A great podcast here with a lot of good info and advice on the mental game.   Great tips and great stories.  This is a great one to give a whirl.

This week on Pitmaster, we have Walt Moulton from Rocky Top Barbecue! To say Walt is a character would be an understatement.  He’s a fantastic cook, winner of the Jack and just a great time to be around.  He cooks with his wife Rebekah and daughter Mia.   I try to get him to give up the goods, but he’s a tough cookie.  This is a great conversation that I think you’ll enjoy.

This week on Pitmaster, we have Sterling Ball from Big Poppa Smokers! Sterling has been a major influence in BBQ for a long time now, with much success as a pitmaster but also as the founder of Big Poppa Smoker’s BBQ rubs, creator of the Guinea Pig BBQ Contests, the King of Smoker, and Big Poppa Smoker’s Cooking for Kids charity program.   This is a wide ranging conversation about BBQ, cooking, mu...

This week on Pitmaster, we have one of my great friends Jerry Stephenson from Redneck Scientific. Jerry is one of the more interesting people you’ll find on the barbecue trail.  He has a boatload of experience both inside and outside of BBQ, which has led him to many awards and also a successful restaurant called The Redneck BBQ Lab in North Carolina. There are a lot of great tidbits, tips and tho...

This week has been particularly rough in terms of loss in the BBQ community.  We lost my friend Chris Mumaw this week.  Jeff Cole also passed away this week.  And then Mike Mills, BBQ legend and mentor to this week’s guest.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families during these terrible circumstances.  Been a rough time on the BBQ family. This week we have Steve Hayden on the podcast from...

This week we have Jason Hardee with Elite BBQ Smokers on the podcast.  Not only is Jason a candidate for KCBS Board of Directors, he’s also a damn fine cook and an even better person. I think you’ll like this episode, and will get a bunch of great information out of it.

This week, as promised, is Jim Elser of Sweet Smoke Q. He competes, he vends, he makes smokers and he makes bbq sauces rubs and injections.  There is much this fella hasn’t done in BBQ. I know I say it every week...but this week’s episode is killer, with a lot of great info.  We’ll definitely have Jim on again, as we only got through half the questions.  

Due to an error on my part, we won’t have Jim Elser this week.  He’ll be next week.  This week, we have all time great Donny Teel from Buffalo’s BBQ. Donny has been in this game for many years, and has cooked just about everything under the sun. Donny is a great human and this is a great conversation with one of the living legends of Competition BBQ.

Our guest this week really needs no introduction.  Winner of countless grand championships and now 2 time KCBS Team of the Year winner Brad Leighninger of Gettin’ Basted. There aren’t really enough superlatives to describe this fella.  He’s been everywhere...he’s cooked everything and he’s just a great dude.

One of the best things about BBQ, as we’ve said time and time again, is meeting people from all over the world who share the same passion.  KCBS is becoming quite the thing over in Europe, and we’ve been blessed enough to have become good friends with some of Europe’s best, including today’s guest, Tom Raes of Southern Dutch BBQ. Southern Dutch BBQ has been at the top of KCBS Europe for a couple o...

There are lots of people that have taken their success in competition BBQ and turned it into a commercial success.  These people have a passion for barbecue and cooking that goes to a different level.  And you’ll find no two better than Megan and Jason Day with Burnt Finger BBQ. Megan and Jason have been extremely successful in the competition world, particularly at the American Royal and Memphis...

I’ve been blessed to go around the country and have gotten to meet some of the best BBQ pitmasters of all time, and this episode’s guest is definitely that. Our guest today is Rod Gray from Pellet Envy.  Rod has been a fixture in BBQ for a long time, and continues to have a heavy influence both through teaching, and his EAT Barbecue rubs and sauces.  Very few people have done it so well and for so...