Talking with Drew Davis of Razorracks BBQ about how teams without big rigs, toy haulers, or trailers can still win big on the competition BBQ trail! Topics discussed include the importance of having the right mindset, tips for making the most out of your team’s competition dollars, and much more. More on Drew Davis and Razorracks BBQ: Razorracks BBQ Website Razorracks BBQ on Instagram Razorracks BBQ on Facebook

In this episode, I talk with Duce Raymond of Sweet Baby Ray’s about the origins of the world’s most popular barbecue sauce. But we go way deeper than that. Duce shares the origins of the iconic Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce, but he also details how one very important lesson from his uncle, Dave Raymond, continues to drive the family’s successful restaurants and catering business forward. For more information, check out the following: BBQ Beat Podcast Website BBQ Beat Podcast - Instagram

Winner of the 2022 James Beard Award for Research!!! Wow... It was my great pleasure to sit down for a chat with James Beard Book Award Author Adrian Miller to discuss his latest book, Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. A true scholar, historian, and lover of smoked meats, Adrian and I talk about the contents of this text, along with the reasons he felt it needed to be written. It is my opinion that this is one of the most well-researched books on BBQ in the United States to date.

No one embodies the spirit of crafting amazing food with live fire better than Canada's Chef Ted Reader. I can't thank Teddy enough for sitting down and allowing me to record this EPIC chat! Connect with Ted! Web: https://www.tedreader.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tedgrills/

When it comes to BBQ pellets, you can't do any better than CookinPellets.com. Their Perfect Mix and 100 Percent Hickory pellets are my go-to pellets and have been since before the company signed on as a sponsor of the show years ago. In this episode, I sit down with CookinPellets founder and head honcho Chris Becker, who started the company back in 2006 after finding the quality of pellets available on the market at that point lacking. Give this episode a listen. Whether you're on the road, at work, or spending time at the smoker or the grill. I promise you'll be glad you did.

Talking with Amy Mills of 17th Street BBQ is always such a pleasure. In this episode, we cover the history of one of the most iconic BBQ brands... and families... in the world. We had a blast talking about the journey she and her Dad, Mr. Mike Mills, traveled together as well as what lies ahead for both the restaurant and their BBQ hospitality consulting business, Oncue Consulting.

In this episode, I talk with John Lindsey of All Q'ued Up BBQ about his recent Grand Champion win at the 2021 Hog Drop held at the Jack's Old South compound in Unadilla, GA. John is part of the BBQ Champs Academy family, and aside from being a championship SCA steak cookoff professional, he's won his fair share on the professional barbecue circuit also. It was a great pleasure to talk with John.

Rusty Monson and Anthony Lujan host the Pitmasters Podcast... and they are on a mission to ignite the passion of cooks everywhere-from amateur to pro-to continue to exceed their own expectations on their journey to Master the Pit! Anyone who loves cooking with live fire and the fun and fellowship of BBQ should make the Pitmasters Podcast a must listen!

Montana Max (Max Nelson) joins us to discuss his food sport exploits. It's always a pleasure talking with people like Max who are passionate about what they do. Max comes to competing in food after a career as a professional musician. This transition makes a lot of sense as both ventures have him squarely in the spotlight in what others might see as high-pressure situations. Max has a brand new series of classes on offer over at BBQ Champs Academy featuring a wide range of backyard favorites proven to delight competition judges of the highest caliber. Just imagine what these dishes would do for your at-home BBQ and Grilling reputation! Find Montana Max Here: Montana Max Website Montana Max on Instagram Montana Max on Facebook Montana Max on Twitch

In this episode, I talk with Mick "Maka" Kerkham from Maka Leathergoods in Tasmania. His custom leather knife rolls are sought after by top chefs and BBQ pitmasters all over the world. Minutes into my interview with Maka, and you'll be locked to his way of storytelling... and boy, does he have a great story! Maka didn't learn to sew until he was 39. Now, at 51, the self-taught designer can't get enough of it: he spends his days in his back-garden shed in Sorell, 30 kilometers north-east of Hobart, sewing classic leather knife rolls and sheaths as well as toolbelts for some of the country's best chefs and makers. All of the hides used for the products created by Maka Leathergoods are sources from Australia. Branding marks or imperfections are left to give the leather character, and customers can choose from among a nice selection of colors, hide types, and finishing touches. Be sure to follow up with Maka via the social media links below and let him know what you thought about the interview! Maka Leathergoods Website Maka Leathergoods on Instagram Maka Leathergoods on Facebook

Fire and wine make for amazing food pairings, a fact that's confirmed and celebrated in this conversation with Mary Cressler and Sean Martin of Vindulge.com. Mary's sommelier-level training and Sean's passion for cooking with live fire are evident in their recently released book, Fire + Wine: 75 Smoke-Infused Recipes from the Grill with Perfect Wine Pairings. I've known these two for some time, and you won't find a more gracious pair of hosts anywhere. Follow the adventures of Sean and Mary over on their website and on their Instagram channel @vindulge.

Few people speak to family traditions, hard work, loyalty, and taking care of your community like John Scharbauer of Scharbauer Cattle Ranch and Midland Meat Company. I put the phrase "Riding for the Brand" in this episode title because that's exactly what John, his family, and his staff do each and every day. Their Number 5 brand is more than an identifier of ownership. The brand stands for the 138 years of hard work and effort poured into the Midland, Amarillo, and surrounding areas of Texas. It also stands for the progress being made with the Scharbauer Cattle Company's ranching efforts in terms of land management, genetics, and overall meat quality. Together with their retail shop, Midland Meat Company, and their new restaurant in Midland, the MMC Half Acre, the Scharbauers, and their loyal staff members continue to put God, Family, and Community front and center in all they do. In this episode, you'll get a fantastic history lesson on the Scharbauer family as well as a behind-the-scenes look at their storied cattle business. You'll also be treated to some bonafide American truisms and a few stories I guarantee will stay with you long after listening to my conversation with John. To learn more about what John and his staff have going on, visit them online: Midland Meat Website https://midlandmeatco.com/ Midland Meat on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/midlandmeatco/ Scharbauer Ranch on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scharbauerranch/

Celebrating 35 years of sanctioning World Class competition BBQ events across the globe is a big deal, and the Kansas City Barbeque Society wants you to join in the fun! KCBS CEO Emily Detweiler and Rick Wagner, KCBS Board President sit down with me for an information-packed discussion you do not want to miss! Topics covered include the organization's reaction to the pandemic, a renewed sense of fellowship and camaraderie among competitors, new developments regarding CBJ training, and the plans that are in store for the 35th Anniversary Awards Banquet and World Invitational BBQ competition to be held Nov. 12 – 14, 2021 at the Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

In this episode, I talk with 9-time World BBQ Champion Chris Marks of Three Little Pigs Rubs and Sauces. With a wealth of competition BBQ experience and knowledge dating back to the mid-1980s, Chris dishes out some great information here. Chris has won more than 50 national barbeque championships, and over 600 individual awards including the Jack Daniel’s World Championship BBQ Sauce Championship, and the Grand Daddy of them all the American Royal in Kansas City Grand Championship 8 times. Topics Covered Include: Awesome facts about KCBS History and The American Royal Rub and Sauce Marketing Tips (Chris Leaks Some Oil Here!) The Value of Catering to the Backyard Griller Market Choosing the Right Cooker for the Right BBQ Results Stepping Away from the Gadgets and Just Cooking Connect with Chris Marks and Three Little Pigs Website: https://three-little-pigs-bbq.com/ Connect with Kevin at the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ BBQ Beat YouTube Channel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews

Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of The BBQ Beat Podcast, I’m your faithful host, Kevin Sandridge – bringing you great stories from the world of BBQ, grilling, and live-fire cooking as told by the people who live them. Today’s show features a great conversation I had with Jason Hardee of Elite BBQ Smokers out of Conway, SC. Jason shares some of his early BBQ memories, some life lessons, and his mission to share the love of Jesus Christ through his work hosting and attending Cook’s Church meetings hosted at various BBQ competitions. We’ll also get into the details behind the KCBS-sanctioned Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown Series as well as the regional BBQ Shoot Outs that Jason and organizer Bob Johanns put together. These events have been a real lifeline to BBQ competitors and judges during the past year who have been able to continue doing what they love in the face of the many pandemic-related contest cancellations. I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation with Jason. He’s a guy that’s super humble, letting his actions speak for themselves. And trust me, by the time you’ve listened to this episode through to the end, your love of BBQ competitions and all the communal goodwill they bring about will be stoked to the max. Connect with Jason Hardee and Rufus Teague: Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown Main Site Search for Rufus Teage Events Find Jason on Facebook Connect with Kevin at the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ BBQ Beat YouTube Channel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews

We’re delving just a little bit into the world of BBQ and Grilling influencers – in this case as the topic pertains to a company called Meat District. Understanding the word influencer can sometimes be interchanged with ambassadors, people who companies ask or sometimes contract and pay to promote products or services. I’m sure I don’t need to go into any more detail about what influencers are, but it might be worth considering who they are. I talk with Zack Phillips, BBQ and Grilling Enthusiast and social media influencer for Meat District. It's a great audio ride through Zack's journey with live-fire cooking, providing some lessons along the way! Connect with Zack and Meat District Zack Phillips on Instagram Meat District Website Connect with Kevin at the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ BBQ Beat YouTube Channel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews

How much do you know about the business of BBQ? When I started out judging BBQ back in the early 2000s, it was pretty easy to get a handle on what companies made different grills and smokers. Today, it’s a bit more confusing, with mergers and buyouts clouding the ownership picture a bit for those who don’t do a little digging. And… I get it. You may care very little about the ownership structure or corporate-level decisions made by these companies. But sometimes, the stories that play out at the higher levels of the BBQ Business can prove to be interesting. Today, I’m talking with Derrick Riches, a long time author of BBQ and Grilling related media. Some of you know him from the many years he served as the BBQ and Grilling Expert for the About.com network. As a true industry insider, Derrick now heads up his own website, DerrickRiches.com. If you navigate there today, you’ll see a very extensive write up he did about Traeger Grills and the pending litigation surrounding two utility patents they own. While you may understand that parts and components are commonly patented, these utility patents are a bit different in that they provide Traeger with control not over hardware, or even software, per se. These patents provide control over the cloud-based communication, storage, and Wi-Fi features used by nearly every major BBQ or Grill manufacturer today. We'll discuss all of this and more! LINKS: Connect with Derrick Riches: DerrickRiches.com Derrick Riches on Instagram Derrick Riches on YouTube Connect with Kevin at the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ BBQ Beat YouTube Channel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews

Grillmaster Randy Watson of BBQGuys.com is on FIRE!!! In this podcast episode, Randy talks about his early days in the Baton Rouge, LA bartending and fine dining hospitality industry and how he landed his dream job with BBQGuys.com. Randy shares some insider tips on his favorite grills, including the very cool Nuke Hand-crafted Argentinian Grill line. I even get him to lay out his ultimate "blank check" outdoor kitchen design and share some of his favorite beef, poultry, and pork dishes! With recent yearly revenues of $130 million, BBQGuys.com is winning hearts and minds by helping people realize their live-fire cooking dreams! Randy talks about why the company's early days, its pathway to success, and the focus BBQGuys.com maintains on providing customer service excellence. Connect with BBQGuys.com Website: https://bbqguys.com Instagram: @bbqguys BBQGuys YouTube Channel Connect with Kevin at the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ BBQ Beat YouTube Channel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews

With 20 years in the food business and a work ethic founded on the lessons learned on his Grandfather's farm, New Jersey native Ray Sheehan of BBQ Buddha knows what it takes to craft creative BBQ Flavors and promote a BBQ brand. The Secret Ingredient(s) to Ray's Success... Ray's story here covers lessons and key issues anyone serious about flavor creation and hard-won brand promotion needs to understand. I'd go so far as to say that you'd be flirting with disaster by not doing so. Connect with Ray Sheehan: Website: https://bbqbuddha.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awardwinningbbqsauce/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbq_buddha/ Buy Ray's Book Here: https://amzn.to/34LNufG Connect with Kevin at the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ Join the BBQ Beat Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbqbeat/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews

Talking with Robert F. Moss, BBQ Editor for Southern Living Magazine on the tenth anniversary of his book Barbecue: The History of an American Institution. Now in its second edition, the 2020 version provides expanded information and gives us an even deeper understanding and appreciation for this uniquely American way of cooking. In addition to this book, Robert posts monthly editions of The 'Cue Sheet, which you can find here: http://robertfmoss.com/. More On This Episode: Further show notes on this episode can be found here: https://bbqbeat.com/robert-moss/. Watch the video of this conversation over on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/sarnpr91OBQ Follow the BBQ Beat: Website: https://bbqbeat.com/ Join the BBQ Beat Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbqbeat/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbqbeat/ Get the Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bbqbeatnews