Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 154: Sterling Smith, Josh Schluterman
Release Date: 03/22/2022
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
They have more than just a cool team name. We’re talking about the guys from Burnt Skull BBQ. Joe Ricklefs, Adam Burch and Brandon Rose are friends from the Kansas City area who began their competition BBQ journey in 2023 and have had their walking shoes on ever since. Recently at the 44th American Royal World Series of Barbecue, in just its 15th KCBS competition, Burnt Skull finished an impressive sixth place overall in the 444-team Open. On Episode 286 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with the guys from Burnt Skull about the outstanding result and how they’ve been able...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 285: Kyle Kuhn, Richard FergolaTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 285 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with the newest major champion of the BBQ world. Kyle Kuhn of Hot Daddy’s BBQ out of Grasston, Minn., reviews the competition BBQ journey of he and wife Amy from humble beginnings on a home-built offset smoker to winning the American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational. It was the sixth Grand Championship of 2024 and 12th over the last three seasons and Kyle talks about the key to how Hot Daddy’s went from simply good to consistently great as they learned to cook on Hunsaker Drum Smokers. It’s also time for our monthly...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 284: John Shirey IITailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Swing and a long drive, deep left field … back, back, back … GONE! To borrow a baseball analogy, John Shirey II of Chunky BBQ hit the ultimate open-fire walk-off over the weekend at Kansas Speedway. Shirey and wife Stephanie won the 44th annual American Royal World Series of BBQ Open Grand Championship - a field of 444 teams from around the globe. Not only was it a major championship, it vaulted the Hershey, Pennsylvania team to KCBS Team of the Year honors by one point over 2023 champ Janky Leg BBQ. What a feat it was and on Episode 284 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 283: Diva Q; Blind Butt Limitless BBQTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We’re off to the American Royal World Series of BBQ, but before departure we visited with some folks who are going to be a big part of the weekend. First up is Danielle Bennett, better known in the BBQ world as Diva Q. A championship competition pitmaster before launching a career as a television personality, cookbook author and brand ambassador, Diva Q will be honored on Saturday at The Royal as part of the 2024 BBQ Hall of Fame Class. She talks about her career and if she’s offended by the term “female pitmaster.” As usual, she’s a great interview. The next time we complain about...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 282: Jess Pryles, Sterling BallTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We bring you double star power on Episode 282 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. First up is Jess Pryles, the Hardcore Carnivore. She’s not only an expert on all things meat and open-fire cooking, Jess now has her own television show. We visit with the native of Australia and transplanted Texan about her show “Hardcore Carnivore” now airing Season 1 on Outdoor Channel (check your local listings). Season 2 already has been recorded and will air sometime in 2025. We also catch up with “Big Poppa” himself, Sterling Ball, one of the all-star lineup of inductees selected for the KCBS...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 281: Alby Ransom, Richard FergolaTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Scuffletown Smokers has been a successful competition team for several years, but because the family team from Boonville, Indiana, cooks a limited amount of events perhaps many aren’t familiar with them. Well, that all changed last weekend when head cook Alby Ransom and Scuffletown Smokers became the sports newest “major” champ by winning the Jack Daniels World Invitational. On Episode 281 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Alby about the big win and his team’s steady journey to success on the competition scene. Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ and Proud Souls BBQ &...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 280: 1st-time American Royal teamsTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
The world’s largest BBQ competition is coming up in a few weeks. The American Royal World Series of BBQ at Kansas Speedway brings together more than 400 teams, from all over the world, and on Episode 280 we have a roundtable discussion with three first-time Royal teams - Nicholas Owensby of Sailor Nick’s BBQ from Wadsworth, Ohio; Jamie Mintz from Casual Smokers in Spartanburg, S.C.; and Jim St. Gemme of The Burnt Crow out of St. Louis. We get some background from each about their BBQ journeys and find out their expectations about the first experience at the American Royal. We also check in...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 279: "Fast Eddy" Ed MaurinTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Episode 279 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features “Fast Eddy” Ed Maurin, a member of the BBQ Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Ed is one of seven inductees joining the Hall on Nov. 2 during ceremonies held at the American Royal World Series of BBQ at Kansas Speedway. One of the heavy hitters on the competition circuit back in the late 1980s and 1990s, “Fast Eddy” made an even bigger impact on the BBQ world as an innovator and builder of pellet smokers. He tells stories of how it all came to be and how cooking pizza on high-temp pellet-fired cookers is his new frontier. We also check in...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 278: Travis ClarkTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 278 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with one of the all-time greats of competition cooking about his latest business venture. Travis Clark recently opened a new Clark Crew BBQ restaurant in Tulsa to go with his flagship location in Oklahoma City. Travis discusses the myriad of issues that crop up when opening a new venue and how his intense quest for winning in his competition days translate to the restaurant world. Travis also confirms that he is finished with competition BBQ after a successful 11-year run that saw him win 60 KCBS Grand Championships in 258 career...
info_outline Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 277: Joel Fleetwood, Richard FergolaTailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Long-time competition cook Joel Fleetwood never dreamed of having his Meat Rushmore BBQ team’s name on a BBQ restaurant. But after winning last weekend’s Made for KC event, that’s exactly what will happen in the fall of 2025. On Episode 277 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Joel talks about what the opportunity to have naming rights, with menu construction and a new line of Meat Rushmore BBQ products means. Also the president of the KCBS Board of Directors, Joel also gives us a couple of newsy nuggets about the organization. We also check in with Richard Fergola for the latest happenings...
info_outlineFew we’ve met can match Sterling Smith’s enthusiasm and passion for BBQ. The pitmaster of Loot N Booty BBQ out of Scottsdale, Arizona, not only is internationally known as a championship cook with a great line of rubs and sauces, he’s an author! On Episode 154 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Smith discusses his second book, “The Ultimate Guide to BBQ Sauces, American Classics and International Favorites.” It’s always fun to chat with “Smitty.”
Also on the show, if you’re talking a tailgating combination of BBQ and Sports, then Josh Schlterman fits the bill. Josh and his Baum BQ Squad competition team recently cooked at the SCA World Finals in Forth Worth. The SCA competition mainstays also are well known for cooking Q outside of Baum Stadium, college baseball’s best atmosphere at the home ballpark of the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.
A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the show possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.
We still have room for a couple of more sponsors. Contact me at [email protected] for more info. Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening!
#SmokeEmIfYouGotEm