The BBQ Nerds Podcast

Direct heat cooking is often misunderstood because people try to explain it using airflow logic borrowed from offset smokers. In this episode of The BBQ Nerds Podcast , Frank Cox — The BBQ Pit Engineer — breaks down how enclosed, radiant-dominant direct heat cookers actually behave , and why successful direct heat cooking depends on understanding how radiant and convective heat work together , not...

If your offset smoker feels harder to run than it should, this episode explains why — and it has nothing to do with recipes or target temperatures. In this episode of The BBQ Nerds Podcast , Frank Cox — The BBQ Pit Engineer — breaks down how offset smokers actually behave , starting where most problems begin: the fire structure inside the firebox . This is not an episode about chasing flames or di...

If chasing thermometer readings stresses you out, this episode is for you. In this episode of The BBQ Nerds Podcast , Frank Cox — The BBQ Pit Engineer — breaks down one of the biggest sources of frustration in barbecue: obsessing over temperature readings instead of understanding what’s actually happening in the cook . Building on the previous two episodes about fire behavior and draw (volume &amp...

If your pit has hot spots, uneven temperatures, or smoke that never seems to behave, this episode explains why . In this episode, Frank Cox — The BBQ Pit Engineer — dives deep into one of the most misunderstood concepts in barbecue: draw . This isn’t theory for theory’s sake. It’s a practical breakdown of how air actually moves through an offset smoker, why common airflow myths don’t hold up, and...

Welcome back to Season 2 of The BBQ Nerds Podcast . If you’ve ever struggled to control your smoker temperature or felt like your fire has a mind of its own, this episode is going to change the way you cook. In this episode, Frank Cox — The BBQ Pit Engineer — breaks down fire behavior inside a smoker in a way that finally makes sense. No fluff, no rambling, no interviews. Just real BBQ education f...

Welcome to Season 2 of The BBQ Nerds Podcast — and if you’re here, you already know this isn’t just another BBQ podcast. This season is for the folks who don’t just cook barbecue… they nerd out on it. The ones who obsess over airflow, study coal beds, debate radiant heat vs convection, and want to actually understand why barbecue works instead of guessing their way through a cook. In this Season 2...

Turn up the heat with Part 4 of the BBQ Nerds Podcast, carved from our 1.5-hour YouTube livestream ! Hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) explore Middle Eastern twists on barbecue—breaking the mold with smoky pork and lamb shoulder slathered in olive oil, lemon juice, and pasty rubs like za’atar or harissa.  Think kabobs over charcoal, roasted eggplant for baba ganou...

Get ready for the another slice of our 1.5-hour YouTube livestream on the BBQ Nerds Podcast! In Part 3, hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) answer listener Daniel Perez’s question about barbecue injections—secret weapons of competition Pitmasters. From the OG FAB powder with phosphates to Tony Chachere’s Cajun butter for pulled pork and deep-fried turkeys, we break...

Fire up your pits and join Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) for Part 2 of the BBQ Nerds Podcast, sliced from our 1.5-hour YouTube livestream!  This 15-minute episode digs into the juicy debate of mopping versus saucing—did basting with natural juices predate today’s BBQ sauces? We journey from medieval roasting to modern Pitmaster tricks, spotlighting regional barbecue...

Welcome to the BBQ Nerds Podcast, where smoked meats meet science and flavor innovation! In this 15-minute episode (Part 1 of our 1.5-hour YouTube livestream ), hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( https://www.youtube.com/@SmokerBuilder ) unpack the rich history and modern twists of regional barbecue.  From Texas offset smokers pumping out post oak-smoked brisket to Kansas City’s swe...

Polish your pit’s exterior with BBQ Nerds Podcast Part 6! Hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) dive into outdoor BBQ maintenance. From battling rust under tarps to reviving pits left in winter weather, they reveal why oiling beats painting—think boiled linseed oil for a showpiece patina. Frank shares his ‘Bingo’ pit story, turning surface rust into a storytelling fin...

Elevate your BBQ pit care with BBQ Nerds Podcast Part 5! Hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) tackle chimney and rust challenges. Wondering how to clean your smoker’s smokestack? They explore frequent brushing with chimney sweep tools or a drill-powered dryer vent brush to clear creosote buildup—no fireplace logs needed for offsets. On rust, they debunk myths: surfac...

Level up your BBQ pit game with BBQ Nerds Podcast Part 4! Hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) spill the beans on steam cleaning and wet wood woes. Master steam cleaning round bar grates with a hot pit (300°F+) and a pump sprayer—watching grease vanish like magic. Frank tackles the chaos of wet wood, from creosote clogging your pit to sap boiling out of logs, while D...

Level up your BBQ pit cleaning game with BBQ Nerds Podcast Part 3! Hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) reveal pro hacks to keep your grill spotless. Discover how odorless kitty litter or oil dry soaks up grease like magic—perfect for competition cooks with dripping injections. Dave shares his Smokeslinger drain pan trick, while Frank dives into degreasers like Zep o...

Unlock the secrets of seasoning and cleaning BBQ pits in BBQ Nerds Podcast Part 2! Hosts Dave Fier (@realmeatstick) and Frank Cox (@smokerbuilder) break down the difference between a seasoned pit and a dirty one—think cast iron skillet vibes for your grill. From Frank’s favorite Boyer Brush for round bar grates to Dave’s hot-water power washer hack, this episode delivers BBQ maintenance gold. Disc...

Dive into BBQ pit cleaning with BBQ Nerds Podcast Part 1! Hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) share expert tips on keeping your barbecue pit safe and flavorful. Discover why cleaning prevents grease fires, creosote buildup, and toxic mold—dangers that ruin your grill and food. From Dave’s firefighter insights on flare-ups (3000 grill fires yearly!) to Frank’s ‘hawg...

In this episode, hosts Dave Fier ( @realmeatstick ) and Frank Cox ( @smokerbuilder ) discuss "Pork Perfection: From Butcher To Smoker," as we dive deep into the world of BBQ pork! Perfect for BBQ lovers of all levels, we explore essential cuts like pork shoulder, baby back ribs, and pork loin, and more discussing their best uses for delicious results. Learn about cooking methods and techniques—unc...

Welcome to this exciting episode of The BBQ Nerds Podcast, where we bring the heat straight from the BBQ Nerd studios! Join hosts Dave Fier and Frank Cox as they dive into the art of searing steaks using wood and charcoal. Perfect your grilling game with expert tips and tricks to achieve the mouthwatering Maillard reaction every time! Episode Highlights: Direct grilling methods for the perfect ste...

Welcome to the very first episode of The BBQ Nerds Podcast, where pitmasters unite to explore all things BBQ!  Join hosts Dave Fier (@realmeatstick) and Frank Cox (@smokerbuilder) as they kick off this exciting journey into the world of barbecue, sharing their expert insights, tips, and techniques for perfecting your grilling skills.  In this episode, we dive deep into the art of cooking brisket. ...