Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 222: Richard Fergola, JP Parran
Release Date: 08/01/2023
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 304: Heath Riles, Brad Vollmer
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 304 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, one of the world’s open-fire cooking experts joins us. It’s Heath Riles, who’s headed to Memphis in May next week looking to bring home his first overall MIM Grand Championship after winning the Ribs championship two of the last 3 years. Heath will tell us how he’s been prepping for the world’s most-prestigious competition and his busy world, in which he has little down time with his cooking, shooting Youtube channel videos, promoting his product brand and recording his weekly Shootin’ the Que podcast. We discuss it all with one of...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Mini-Episode 303: The Grill Guys of Missouri
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We've been without power going on 36 hours following severe thunderstorms in our neck of the woods and were unable to complete recording for this week's show. But we do have an abbreviated Episode 303 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with Charlie Wallace of The Grill Guys of Missouri, previewing a backyard Ribs and Brisket class coming to the store taught by none other than "Fergie" Richard Fergola. Look for a new, full-edition show next week. Thanks for listening and thanks to our sponsors and marketing partners: Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 302: Jeff Fitter
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Operating a successful BBQ restaurant in 2025 can be a difficult endeavor with rising food costs and fielding a dependable work force, not to mention producing consistently, quality food. To overcome the many challenges, Jeff Fitter has transformed one of the long-time BBQ institutions of the St. Louis area into a new model with a combination of offerings. So far, it’s been a hit with customers and on Episode 302 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Jeff about Papa’s Diner/Super Smokers BBQ where patrons can order breakfast all day, grab traditional diner food or enjoy some of...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 301: Steve Smith of Mad Dog BBQ
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 301 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we learn the background of Steve Smith, a Florida pitmaster who’s had two portions of a competition career. Smith’s current team, Mad Dog BBQ, is ranked second in the 2025 KCBS Team of the Year standings behind the runaway freight train that is Brad Leighninger and Gettin’ Basted. Steve tells us about the season to this point and about his backstory, going back to the Days he was Blazin’ 7s BBQ and a teammate of Lynnae Oxley on the All-Star season of BBQ Pitmasters, when they advanced to the finals of the popular Destination American...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 300: Tim Scheer, Richard Fergola
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Helping us celebrate Episode 300 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is one of busiest and move-innovative people in the open-fire cooking world. Tim Scheer, owner of Blues Hog and Marble Ridge Farms joins us to discuss Blues Hogs’ sponsorship of a NASCAR team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., plus five new sauces unveiled this week to bring the lineup to a dozen. How does he come up with sauce ideas and take them to brain to palate? He discusses the process. Tim also tells us about a new partnership with Smokin Brothers, which will manufacture Gateway Drum Smokers. And finally, Memphis is May is a...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 299: The Baseball and BBQ duo
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
As we kick off the month of April, we discuss two of our favorite past times with the guys from the Baseball & BBQ Podcast. Jeff Cohen and Leonard Aberman have channeled a love for two of their favorite passions into a show that’s mirrored our time in the podcast world and on Episode 299 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we have a fun conversation with the two New Yorkers. Meanwhile, Lyndal recaps the debut of the Tailgate Guys competition team’s cooking season and Steve reviews his latest open-fire cooking adventure in his backyard. We also take our weekly trip to Republic where...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 298: Rod Gray, Kevin Green
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Episode 298 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features a conversation with Rod Gray, CEO of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. During his nearly three years in leading the world’s largest competition BBQ organization, there have been ups and downs and we cover some of those with Rod after he gives us a preview of the 7th annual KCBS World Championships coming up in May in Lebanon, Tenn. We also welcome back Kevin Green from show sponsor The Butcher Shoppe with a rundown on the meat industry and what trends he’s seeing in 2025, plus a review of his business for those who aren’t...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 297: Dan Wright, Aaron Huentelman
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
One of the most-popular and enjoyable recurring segments of the show the last couple of years have been the “Under the Radar” looks at up-and-coming competition teams. This week on Episode 297 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we go Under the Radar with Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ from the St. Louis area. Take it Easy BBQ is making big strides after winning St. Louis BBQ Society Rookie Team of the Year in 2023 and is ready for a big run at a busy KCBS schedule this season. We also welcome a new show sponsor, Mr. Brisket out of Ohio. Competition meat director Aaron Huentelman serves up...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 296: Josh DeWitt
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We talk spice rubs on Episode 296 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with one of the best in the business. Josh DeWitt began experimenting with spice combinations in his kitchen several years ago to begin a path that led to winning one of the industry’s biggest awards when his JDQ Spicy was named Best Rub on the Planet in 2023 by the American Royal World Series of BBQ. Josh recently added a new JDQ Sweet Garlic rub to his lineup of JDQ Sweet and JDQ Spicy and he talks about the evolution of his still-one-man business - and touches on his competition cooking with teammate Jeremy Williams in a...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 295: Josh Hale, Ken Seales
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 295 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with BBQ’s new world champions. That’s Josh Hale from Sure Shot BBQ out of Leander, Texas, who teamed up with wife Stacy and Reagan “No Shoes” Broesche - cooking on behalf of Always Able But Confused Cookers - to win Grand Championship honors at the 248-team Houston Livestock Rodeo and BBQ last weekend. Cooking at the massive event for just the second time, Sure Shot was Pure Shot in taking home overall honors in one of competition BBQ’s majors. Josh tells us how it went down and about his team’s background in the...
info_outlineRichard Fergola has been on the competition BBQ grind, cooking three KCBS doubleheaders over the last three weekends. We discuss that mental aspect of that, plus much more with the pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ and Marketing/PR director of Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions on Episode 222 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. “Fergie” says even seasoned veterans like himself can be puzzled by scoring at times and says sometimes you just have to shake your head and move on. He gives us a rundown on the rebranding of his line of seasonings, an upcoming class this weekend he and Sterling Smith are teaching, a recent win for his pupil on The Country Network program BBQ Country and the latest news from Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions Kansas City.
We also check in with the Team of the Year leader in the KCBS Backyard Team of the Year points race. JP Parran and wife Colleen comprise Bourbon and Blues BBQ out of Wilmington, N.C. This summer, JP and Colleen are on a memorable competition journey, setting up in a west-central Missouri campground and commuting from there to competitions around the region. JP tells us the story behind Bourbon and Blues BBQ and their goals for the rest of 2023, starting with this weekend’s competition at Que for a Cause in Tahlequah, Okla. (Note: We had some audio issues and I apologize that the sound of JP’s segment is a bit rough in some spots).
Meanwhile, the Tailgate Guys BBQ team gets ready to compete again this weekend. We are very fortunate to get a spot in Que for a Cause after cancellation of an event closer to home.
Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #teamroyaloak2023
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrew
Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq #proudsoulsbarbecueandprovisions
Randy Vanslyke and Pro Technology Solutions
The Grill Guys of Missouri
Allquedup #arkassippicombo
Vietti Marketing Group #marketing
In the Garden of Eden
Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza
Have a great BBQ week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm