Tailgate Guys BBQ Show, Episode 36: Heath Riles, Fred Robles
Release Date: 09/23/2019
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 336: Janice Smella; Carl Davis
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We wrap up Season 7 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with champion guests from from far north and south of the competition spectrum. First up at the 8:30 mark on Episode 336 of the show is Janice Smella, head cook of SmellaQue out of Calgary, Alberta. Smellaque recently was crowned Team of the Year in the Canadian BBQ Society for the fifth time. Janice reviews her 11-year history in competition BBQ and some of the travels that have taken her family team tens of thousands of miles over the years to enjoy the BBQ lifestyle. Then it’s a trip to south Texas to learn about Carl Davis of Cast Iron...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 335: Dan Wright of Take It Easy BBQ
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Not to toot our own horn, but the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast has a pretty good track record when spotting upcoming talent in our “Under the Radar” segment. This week’s featured guest, Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ, is the latest example. Since appearing on the show in March, Dan posted his first two KCBS Grand Championships, 11 top 10 overall finishes and a sixth-place in the KCBS Chicken Team of the Year standings. Dan rejoins the show to discuss his BBQ journey this week on Episode 335. We also talk it over with Charlie Wallace from the Grill Guys of Missouri about the latest...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 334: Dave and Shirin Mara of Meat Candy Q
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On , we visit with the husband-wife due of Dave and Shirin Mara of Meat Candy Q out of San Diego. It was a banner 2025 season as Meat Candy Q won California BBQ Association Team of the Year honors for the third time in four years and also wound up seventh in the KCBS Team of the Year standings. They had a remarkable stretch of 15 consecutive top-10 finishes during the season and talk about the keys to consistency and how they deal with extensive travel that competition BBQ often requires. We also have the latest news from The Grill Guys of Missouri in Republic, Missouri and co-hosts...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 333: Chase Willard; Charlie Wallace
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Before getting to the preview of , we send wishes for a “Happy Thanksgiving” to all. May your feast be plentiful and your family time blessed, not only on Turkey Day but every day as we head down the home stretch of 2025. Leading off the guest lineup this week is Chase Willard, pitmaster of Squealin’ N Dealin’ BBQ out of Independence, Missouri. Chase and team had a breakout season, with three Grand Championships and three RGCs in 19 KCBS events, finishing 21st in the Team of the Year standings. Chase - a Tailgate Guys ‘Under the Radar’ guest in 2021 - reviews some of the...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 332: Bill Heyen
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
The 2025 competition BBQ season was another great one for Bill Heyen and wife Andrea of Triple H BBQ from Gillespie, Illinois. But beyond three grand championships and four RGCs, with a scoring average a fraction under 700, Bill uses the word “blessed” to describe a season that concluded with a Grand Championship at last weekend’s Atlanta BBQ Store Classic. Bill battled back from a tumor near his liver that led to several rounds of chemotherapy during the summer and fall and is feeling great headed into the offseason - a victory bigger than any achieved on his Gateway Drum Smokers. On...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Epsiode 331: Jason Wagner, American Royal review
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We came, we cooked, we survived. On Episode 331 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, it’s a review of the 45th American Royal World Series of BBQ where conditions were challenging for Sunday’s 401-team Open. The Tailgate Guys team didn’t come away with any coveted ribbons, as we had done in three of our four previous visits to the world’s largest BBQ competition, but we had a respectable showing in our fifth and final Royal with a 98th place, putting us in the top 25 percent overall. Our food was good. Memories were made. While we’ll never win The Royal, we bring you the big winner....
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 330: Christie Vanover; Skyler Spartan
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
With Thanksgiving knocking on the door, it’s time to plan a menu and possibly incorporate the grill or smoker to make the big feast even better. On Episode 330 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, award-winning pitmaster, judge and BBQ promoter Christie Vanover of Girls Can Grill offers some ideas from her book: “Holiday Grilling: 111 Recipes to Celebrate the Season.” Christie also reviews her BBQ year, which has inducted some top-10 competition finishes and judging at the Jack Daniels World Invitational. Check out her tremendous website for all sorts of info. Skyler Spartan from Grill...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 329: American Royal preview
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Episode 329 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is our 45th American Royal World Series of BBQ preview. First up is a conversation, beginning at the 6:30 mark, with American Royal BBQ Manager Kayci Vincent and director of communications Allyssa King about what teams and spectators can expect from the world’s largest BBQ competition. The fun is set for Nov. 6-9 at Kansas Speedway. Then we bring back our roundtable of first-time American Royal competitors with a trio of pit masters - Kurt Brauner from Rack City BBQ out of Las Vegas; Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ from St. Louis and Bradley...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 328: Paul Keltner; Skyler Spartan
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
When you talk about consistent excellence in competition BBQ, few teams stand out over the last decade more than Rooters-N-Tooters from Tennessee. On Episode 328 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with Paul Keltner about Rooters-N-Tooters sustained success, which includes three KCBS Grand Championships in 2025 - including last weekend’s Royal Oak Invitational - plus overall top-10s in 23 of 25 competitions this season. Paul touches on what he thinks has contributed to the consistency and previews a busy home stretch of the season ahead. We also check in with Skyler Spartan...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 327: Ryan King; Aaron Huentelman
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Since the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast began a decade ago, one of our mantras has been “we talk to champions.” Episode 327 features the latest BBQ world champion. It’s Ryan King of Kings BBQ out of Jacksonville, Florida, the Grand Champion at last weekend’s Jack Daniels World Invitational in Lynchburg, Tenn. Beginning at the 10:22 mark, Ryan tells us about a cook that placed him among the legends - and how it wasn’t exactly without challenges along the way. We also explore Ryan’s background in BBQ and how Kings BBQ has emerged as one of the top teams in the country, even before making...
info_outlineTwo of the biggest winners in competition BBQ join us for Episode 36 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show Podcast.
Mississippi’s Heath Riles has a long list of championships and a tremendous line of rubs and sauces. This past weekend, Heath pulled off an incredible feat, winning both the KCBS and MBN portions at the prestigious Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff. How did Heath and his team do it? He tells us.
Ever heard of the Texas Brisket Cartel? One of its founding members, Fred Robles, explains what it takes to earn one of those Cartel hats. He also fills us in on what life’s been like since his Rio Valley Meats team took down 467 others to win the 40th American Royal World Series of BBQ Open at Kansas Speedway.
And even the co-hosts get to talk about what winning feels like! Lyndal reflects on the Tailgate Guys’ first-ever KCBS category win, in Pork, at Table Rock Bikes Boats & Bones a day after Steve grabbed Bacon honors in a Steak Cook-Off Association ancillary on the shores of Table Rock Lake.
Thanks to our sponsors Smithfield, Blues Hog, Affordable Income Tax & Payroll and Colaw RV. Until next week …
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