Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 160: Brad Leighninger, Derek Johnson
Release Date: 05/04/2022
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 284: John Shirey II
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 283: Diva Q; Blind Butt Limitless BBQ
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 282: Jess Pryles, Sterling Ball
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 281: Alby Ransom, Richard Fergola
Tailgate 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 &...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 280: 1st-time American Royal teams
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 279: "Fast Eddy" Ed Maurin
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 278: Travis Clark
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 277: Joel Fleetwood, Richard Fergola
Tailgate 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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 276: Ray "Dr. BBQ" Lampe
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
“The Doctor” is in on Episode 276 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe, one of the all-time greats of open-fire cooking, joins us this week and we begin by talking about his time on the Food Network Show BBQ Brawl, Season 5, which aired over the summer. Ray talks about what it was like being “the old guy” on a show with a lineup of young chefs who brought an amazing culinary background to the table. It just didn’t seem right at “Dr. BBQ” was eliminated for being tasked with cooking a meatless steak. He gives his take. We also discuss some upcoming adventures,...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 275: Finger Leikam Good BBQ
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 275 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we shine the light on a recent first-time KCBS Grand Championship winner. Chris Leikam and Devin Schwartz from the Kansas competition team Finger Leikam Good were college friends at Kansas State and enjoyed cooking before Wildcats football games at Snyder Family Stadium. They eventually took their love for open-fire cooking to the KCBS backyard and eventually Master’s competition and now are enjoying the best season of their career. Chris and Devin talk about the journey and why comp Q appeals to them so much. We also head into the big Labor...
info_outlineOn Episode 160 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with a pitmaster who’s carving his name as one of the all-time greats and another who’s just getting started in a big way.
Brad Leighninger of Gettin’ Basted, three-time KCBS Team of the Year, is leading the standings again in 2022. But next week, his focus will be on Memphis in May as he returns with Tim Scheer to the legendary contest as Team Blues Hog. The duo took home the Pork Shoulder world title a year ago and now they’re taking on Whole Hog in their Hot and Fast style on Gateway “Mega Drums.” Brad tells us about the latest challenge, while also discussing his non-desire to chase a fourth KCBS Team of the Year ring.
We also welcome first-time guest Derek Johnson of Sweet Dixie BBQ out of southeast Georgia. Derek is only in his second year as a KCBS Master Series competitor, but he’s proven a quick achiever, recently earning his first Grand Championship at the BBQ Boogie & Blues in Calhoun, Georgia. Derek tells a great story about missing his flight to the Hot and Fast class in Missouri taught by Brad and Tim, then driving 13 hours overnight to get there.
Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve also discuss their cooking plans for the weekend and offer some Kentucky Derby food ideas and race picks.
A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast 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