The Pitmaster's Podcast

Music Industry Legend • 2x BBQ Hall of Famer • World Champion Pitmaster Sterling "Big Poppa" Ball has spent a lifetime proving that greatness is not a single destination it is a way of moving through the world. As a founding force behind Ernie Ball, the most iconic independent guitar string and instrument company on earth, Ball helped shape the soundtrack of modern music. Ernie Ball's legendary Sl...

Jess Pryles is an Australian-born, Austin-based live fire cook, author, and TV personality. She is the creator of the Hardcore Carnivore brand, author of Prime Cuts, host of Hardcore Carnivore and Feast by Fire, and a judge on Food Network's Pitmasters. With a Graduate Certificate in Meat Science from Iowa State University, Jess blends academic knowledge with hands-on expertise in butchery, barbec...

Rooster and Graybeard are back! They've been exploring different bbq dishes that each state is known for, and putting their own twist on them.

The origin story of Meat Rushmore could be that of many competition barbecue teams — a group of friends bonding over a beloved hobby. In this case, spouses Joel and Katie Fleetwood, along with longtime friends Eric Alfrey and Josh Wunner make up Meat Rushmore, the rare team that has stuck together as the number of competitions, and the stakes, have ramped up. This has led to opportunities such as...

CJ Frazier is a producer, creator, and community leader with a passion for bringing people together through food and storytelling. He has played a key role in building and leading Blackstone's Griddle Crew, growing it into a nationwide community of creators who have helped shape the culture and personality behind the brand. From producing digital content and television to developing creator progra...

A born and raised New Yorker, Ruben Santana is the founder and pitmaster behind Bark Barbecue, one of New York City's most talked-about emerging barbecue concepts. Entirely self-taught, Santana developed his craft through years of experimentation, research, and conversations with respected pitmasters across the country, teaching himself the fundamentals of live fire cooking and Central Texas-style...

I got involved in competition BBQ back in the late 90', cooking with several teams. As a result, I became very interested in building competition smokers. Hence Pit O' Heaven was born. We built trailer mounted smokers from 2000-2004. My oilfield career became so busy that the competition BBQ and smoker building came to a halt. My desire to for competitive cooking was still burning inside. A good f...

Kettle Krew was born from a simple, stubborn belief. Jimmy of Bearded Boar BBQ, Rick of 304 Smokehouse, and Brandon The Meat Alchemist had all grown tired of the notion that great barbecue demands expensive smokers and elaborate rigs. They set out to prove otherwise — that anyone, armed with nothing more than a basic Weber Kettle and real technique, could turn out barbecue worthy of the pitmasters...

All right, BBQ family, fire up those smokers because we've got an awesome guest joining us today! If you've spent any time in the barbecue world, chances are you already know today's guest. Rusty Monson is the owner of Salt City BBQ in Utah, a championship pitmaster, and one of the most respected voices in the BBQ community. Whether he's cooking on the competition circuit, serving incredible barbe...

The Pitmaster Podcast Hall of Fame Selection Show is going LIVE on YouTube! Join us June 30 at 7PM MST as we reveal the next class of Hall of Fame inductees. Don't miss the action, the stories, and the celebration of BBQ greatness! Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss it! #ThePitmasterPodcast #HallOfFame #BBQ #LiveOnYouTube #PitmasterFamily

In 2016, I jumped into the world of competition BBQ. My very first sanctioned contest was the legendary American Royal, and I've been hooked ever since. As a solo cook, I compete in about 4–8 contests each year, chasing great food, great people, and the challenge of getting better every cook. Along the way, I've been fortunate to have some memorable moments: 🏆 2021 American Royal Open – 1st Place...

Brad Leighninger is the pitmaster, co-owner, and founder behind the award-winning barbecue brand Gettin' Basted, based in southwest Missouri. He launched the team in 2012, originally as a competition barbecue outfit, and quickly built it into one of the most successful teams on the professional BBQ circuit before expanding into full-scale restaurants in Branson and Nixa, Missouri. Leighninger is w...

This week on The Pitmasters Podcast, we're sitting down with one of the most accomplished names in the world of live-fire cooking — John Lindsey. From championship steaks and award-winning BBQ to television appearances, catering, product development, and BBQ education, John has built a reputation as one of the most respected ambassadors in the barbecue industry. 🏆 What You'll Hear About: Building...

The LFCA officially launched at the Open Fire World Championship at Memphis in May in 2026. The Live Fire Cooking Association (LFCA) is a food sport sanctioning body created to give live fire cooking its own identity, structure, and future. Built to honor the oldest culinary traditions in human history, the LFCA accelerates the growth of live fire cooking through fair competition, consistent judgi...

The gloves are on and the opinions are HOT! This week on The Pitmasters Podcast, Scott and Robert square off in an epic battle of barbecue knowledge, grilling opinions, competition stories, and controversial hot takes from the world of live-fire cooking. Who has the better take? Who's bringing the heat? And who will win over the audience? Join us LIVE and be part of the discussion! 📅 Tuesday⏰ 6:...

Clayton Dixon, known as " All Fired Up with Clayton" is 15 yrs old and started his BBQ journey around age 14. He has competed and won the following- National Live fire pork Champion, 3rd in Beef and 5th overall and also 3rd in steak @NBBQA. Memphis in May-2nd dessert. WJBL- 1st chicken, 3rd pork, 5th-ribs. Smokeslam- 3rd chicken and 5th pork He has his own garden Triple G's(Granddaddy's Giving Gar...

At 36, Cameron Edwards is a Texas pitmaster, entrepreneur, and lifelong student of barbecue, having grown up cooking alongside his grandfather from an early age. His passion for service has shaped much of his life, with 10 years as a first responder—including 9 years in EMS—and 8 years serving in youth ministry, all centered around caring for people and building community. Since 2020, Cameron has...

This company began by accident. As someone who puts on concerts for some of the biggest stars in the world, I wanted to give those I worked with something special, something made with love. After all, what do you give someone who can afford anything? It all started to change with the first order request. Flattered, I shipped a free bottle. But as more requests started pouring in, what began as a h...

Welcome back Shannon and Scott with The BBQ World Cup & Expo to give us the updates on competitors, qualifying events, and all the other questions you have!

We will talk about the event that was canceled 3 days before it was going to happening.

Hey, I'm Sarah, a south Louisiana native with a passion for good food and laid-back living. I spend my time smoking my meal prep and experimenting with bold flavors that reflect my roots. My setup includes a teal blue smoker, a Workhorse pit, and a Blackstone griddle, so there's always something cooking. I create content for fun, sharing my process and love for barbecue along the way. Whether it's...

Join us to recap the SCA World Championships with Brennan Nielson, Johnny Cobia, Miriam Benson, Scott Nardi, and Steve Conaway!

Andy Allen and Keith Henson have been cooking together since 2010, back when they were competing under the name Rooftop BBQ. What started as a shared passion turned into years on the road—chasing contests, learning from other pitmasters, and putting in long nights behind the smoker. Over the last 15+ years, they've cooked some of the biggest stages in BBQ, including the American Royal and the Jack...

I'm a wife, mom of 3, professional recipe developer, and crazy BBQ lady. I probably have more grills than you have pairs of shoes (last count was over 20). My love language is food and BBQ is my most favorite medium! There is nothing better than setting down a platter of lovingly smoked meats to serve friends and family. If you feel the same way (even if you're brand new to the BBQ world), then yo...

We will be discussing the news of the SCA running test competition where you bring your own steak.