Tailgate Guys BBQ Show, Episode 100: Diva Q, Josh Farley, Travis Duffy
Release Date: 02/10/2021
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 364: Sanj Kirubakaran; new Butcher Shoppe owners
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We’ve seen countless top-notch competition BBQ teams leave the sport over the last several years, but on Episode 364 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we tell you about one who’s coming back after an extended break. Sanj Kirubakaran of Thump and Strum BBQ blazed to four Grand Championships and five RGCs from 2013-19 and, after feeling burned out, Sanj took time away. Now he is back with a renewed enthusiasm. We get the details from Sanj with his thoughts on the state of today’s comp world. We also welcome the new owners of long-time show supporter The Butcher Shoppe in Pensacola, Stelio...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 363: Big Juicy BBQ; Steven Raichlen encore
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Episode 363 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ podcast takes us to Las Vegas where we go “Under the Radar” with the up-and-coming competition team Big Juicy BBQ. Thomas and Michelle Bolling have found a passion for open-fire cooking and, less than two years after their first contest, they’ve been hitting their marks and taking consistent top-10 walks. With a scheduling conflict leaving an open segment, we have an encore presentation of one of our top guests of 2025. Steven Raichlen, a BBQ Hall of Famer who’s a renowned award-winning author and television host, was one Episode 303 as his...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 362: Bald Beauties BBQ; Grill Guys of Missouri
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We’re always looking for up-and-coming BBQ teams and this week on our “Under the Radar” segment we go to Kansas City. Episode 362 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast tells the story of Bald Beauties BBQ. Teammates Michael Bridges and Brian Studdard are making big strides on the circuit while also representing one of Kansas City’s oldest BBQ restaurants, Sneads. Bridges does the comp cooking while also helping with some flavor profiles for Sneads, where long-time restaurant owner Studdard leads the way. It’s also ticket for our monthly check-in with the Grill Guys of Missouri, who...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 361: Talking contests with Carl McBee
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
There’s no question that team participation in BBQ competitions has been trending downward in recent years. There are no magical solutions as various factor come into play, with economics probably No. 1. On Episode 361 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a stab at examining - from a contest organizer’s point of view - what makes for a good comp, a not-so-good comp and all points in between with long-time organizer Carl McBee. We hope our listeners will add to the conversation in the comments section, though transparent and frequent communication along with bang-for-your-buck prize...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 360: John Lindsey; Richard Fergola
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Episode 360 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast takes us to northeast Arkansas for a visit with one of the USA’s most-respected, across-the-board pit masters. John Lindsey spent time on the KCBS circuit as All Q’ued Up BBQ before becoming a champion on the Steak Cookout Association for several years. He’s opened a catering business in recent years that has been a hit and now is venturing more into content creation on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram as John Lindsey Delta Pitmaster with his twist on southern cooking. It’s great to catch up with John, who has some interesting thoughts on his...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 359: Mat Bonville, Joel Fleetwood
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Mat Bonville hasn’t been doing competition BBQ for long, but the pitmaster of Phantom Smoke & BBQ from Kipling, Saskatchewan had a memorable cook at one of the world’s foremost contests a couple of weeks ago. Bonville scored a whopping 707.97 at the KCBS World Invitational in Lebanon, Tennessee - roughly a 24-drive from home - to earn Reserve Grand honors and qualify for next spring’s BBQ World Cup. On Episode 359 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Bonville tells us about his journey, what it was like hearing his name alongside some of the world’s best and what’s ahead for his...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 358: Rough Cut Q and Grill Guys of Missouri
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Living six hours apart as competition teammates can be a challenge. But brothers Joe and Jeff Rouse have been able to overcome the geographic challenge to become one of the nation’s top KCBS Backyard teams in recent years and, this year, are making waves in the four-meat Masters series as well. On Episode 358 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we go “Under the Radar” to find out more about Joe (from New Jersey) and Jeff (Massachusetts) and how they’re consistently bringing home trophies as Rough Cut Q - including a recent Reserve Grand Championship to a KCBS Hall of Famer. It’s...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 357: Chuck Simpson, HS BBQ coach; BBQ Pit Bros 'Under the Radar'
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Episode 357 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast brings back our popular “Under the Radar” segment where we find out more about up-and-coming competition teams. Jordan Williams and Richard Smith comprise BBQ Pit Bros out of Des Moines, Iowa. They began cooking KCBS backyard comps in 2021 and, after multiple Grand Championships and Reserves, the team has taken the plunge into the KCBS 4-Meat Masters Series in 2026. Jordan and Richard talk about the journey and how their contrasting personalities keep the team in balance. We also talk about the growing popularity of high school BBQ with Chuck...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 356: Heath Riles, Kevin Green
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
A few days after making history at one of the world’s biggest BBQ competitions, Heath Riles joins us on Episode 356 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to discuss his repeat Grand Championship at Memphis in May. It was the first time in 42 years that anyone has repeated their World Championship at Memphis in May and Heath breaks down what the accomplishment means to him and his Heath Riles BBQ brand and describes the work ethic that went into preparing for his favorite competition. We also welcome back our friend Kevin Green of The Butcher Shoppe in Pensacola, supplier of A9 wagyu...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 355: Nick & Shannon Holman of Burnt Trees BBQ; Grill Guys of Missouri
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
North Dakota is not the warmest open-fire cooking climate in the country, but Nick and Shannon Holman are doing their best to put the Minot, N.D. team Burnt Trees BBQ on the competition map. The husband-wife duo last week came away from the 77-team Minnesota in May with a Grand Championship, their fourth in 50 career KCBS competitions. Consistency is a key for the couple, who have turned countless highway miles on the BBQ trail into quality time. The Holmans talk about they’ve been able to achieve success on Episode 355 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ podcast, also telling the story behind their...
info_outlineHelping us commemorate Episode 100 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show Podcast is one of our favorite people in BBQ, the great Danielle Bennett - better known to millions of BBQ fans worldwide as Diva Q. Always generous with her time, Diva Q discusses life during pandemic times, when her next book might be coming and she gives some inspiring - and straight talk - to those who need to get in shape.
We also talk it over with a pair of top-notch competition pitmasters who are doing a unique tell-all class in March. If bettering your chicken and rib-cooking game is a goal, Josh Farley of Piggin’ Whiskey OG and Travis Duffy from Last Call Heroes BBQ might be the guys you’re looking for. Learn about the class - Josh is an expert on chicken legs while Travis excels at thighs - and their upcoming competition seasons.
Meanwhile, Lyndal and Steve wrap up the Super Bowl - or Super Dud as we prefer to call it - and long for warmer days ahead by talking baseball and Daytona 500.
Thanks to our sponsor/marketing partners: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Affordable Income Tax & Payroll, DDR Fabrication and Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo. ADVISORY: We have room for two more sponsors. Email lscranton755@gmail.com for details.
Have a great BBQ Week!