Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 289: Brad Leighninger
Release Date: 01/22/2025
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...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 294: Stevo Nieto, Jacob Watt
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 294 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we learn the story of Stephen Nieto - or “Stevo” as he’s known on the competition trail. Stephen and his Stevo’s BBQ Team out of Henderson, Nevada is coming off his third career Grand Championship as the Best in the Southwest in Yuma, Ariz., beating out a star-studded lineup. Stevo is a military veteran who not only has become a champion in the BBQ world, he’s used competition BBQ as a springboard to successfully combat his post-military PTSD. We also go back Under the Radar with Jacob Watt from Kansas City team Smoke This Drink That...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 293: Tommy Blackmon, Josh Lenhart
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We’ve had the honor of talking to numerous BBQ champions on a regular basis over the years. Sometimes, we also have brought you champions before they emerged. On Episode 293 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we offer up a double-dose of “Under the Radar” with the stories of a pair of up-and-coming competition pitmasters - Tommy Blackmon of Blue Smoke Q out of Georgia and Josh Lenhart of Ohio’s Buckeye Flavor BBQ. We also check in with Charlie Wallace for the latest news from The Grill Guys of Missouri in Republic, where they want to see what you’ve been cooking in the Midwest...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 292: Nicholas Owensby
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
On Episode 292 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, the guys review the big football game (which turned into a Super Dud) and how the food was the definite star of the day. We also talk it over with Nicholas Owensby from Sailor Nick’s BBQ about happenings in the Great Lakes BBQ Association, with a big Competition BBQ 101 class coming up soon. We check in with Skyler Spartan for the latest news from The Grill Guys of Missouri in Republic, where a couple of big classes have been scheduled that you will want to sign up early for. Learn more on the segment or check out grillguys417.com for more...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 291: Breana Via & Brad Colter
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
The biggest football game of the season is this week and with it comes the biggest food day of the year for many. On Episode 291 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we try to help make Super Bowl Sunday a Super Food Sunday by bringing in the powerhouse duo from Smoke ’n Magic BBQ, Breana Via and Brad Colter, with some suggestions on how to plan for - and then execute - a game-day menu. Make sure to check out their YouTube channel. Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve take a look at the match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles and also make their fearless picks for Super...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 290: Buddy Hammett
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Nebraska in January to cook BBQ? It doesn’t sound like a dream scenario - especially after blowing out a trailer tire early during a projected 11-hour drive. But everything came up paradise for Buddy Hammett of Shiggin’ Ain’t Easy BBQ from Westland, Mich., who captured Grand Championship honors at the SVJ Winter Rub in Omaha. On Episode 290 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Buddy about his sixth career Grand Championship, what he overcame to achieve it and his BBQ journey since it began six years ago. We also take a trip to The Grill Guys of Missouri where Skyler Spartan...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 289: Brad Leighninger
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We kick off Season 7 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with a friend of the show going back to our early days on local radio in 2016. Not only is he a hometown hero, but Brad Leighninger is arguably the best to light a pit - and he’s never been better than currently. Brad and Gettin’ Basted already has three Grand Championships since the KCBS points season began in November and is off and running toward a fourth Team of the Year honor. The new KCBS Hall of Famer from the organization’s inaugural 2025 induction class touches on a variety of subjects, including the possibility of cooking...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Epsiode 288: Mike Wozniak, Richard Fergola
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
First of all, the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast wishes all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are grateful to all our listeners, sponsors and marketing partners who dialed up the show in 2024 and we finish off Season 6 with a Hall of Fame featured guest. Mike Wozniak and Quau BBQ out of Brimfield, Ill., is one of the many great inductees in the inaugural KCBS Hall of Fame class coming up in January. On Episode 288 of the show, we talk it over with Mike about his competition career, which ran from 2001-2021 and included 76 Grand Championships. Mike discusses what competition cooking was like...
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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 287: Craig Verhage, The Grill Guys of Missouri
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
We’re back from a break - some of it by choice for Thanksgiving, some not due to some personal issues that needed attention - for Episode 287 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. One of our favorites, “The BBQ Ninja” Craig Verhage, joins us for an always-fun conversation. Craig, who’s been involved heavily in BBQ competition and marketing for more than two decades, discusses how he’s able to be every-day-Craig along with his alter-ego of The BBQ Ninja. As marketing director for Royal Oak Charcoal since 2020, Craig discusses another strong season in various sanctioning bodies for...
info_outlineWe kick off Season 7 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with a friend of the show going back to our early days on local radio in 2016. Not only is he a hometown hero, but Brad Leighninger is arguably the best to light a pit - and he’s never been better than currently. Brad and Gettin’ Basted already has three Grand Championships since the KCBS points season began in November and is off and running toward a fourth Team of the Year honor. The new KCBS Hall of Famer from the organization’s inaugural 2025 induction class touches on a variety of subjects, including the possibility of cooking Memphis in May under the Gettin’ Basted banner for the first time, tweaking competition flavors and his various restaurant endeavors.
Meanwhile, Skyler Spartan from show sponsor The Grill Guys of Missouri stops in to tell us about some new products at the southwest Missouri store. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve catch up on their winter cooking adventures and make their NFL predictions for the respective AFC and NFC championship games.
As a new season begins, a big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners:
Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked
The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417
Marty "Sign Man" Prather Domino’s #pizza
Remember, you can find us on your favorite #podcast platform by searching Tailgate Guys BBQ - where all 289 editions are archived.
Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm