Operation BBQ was born out of tragedy and now, 11 million meals later, cofounder and CEO Stan Hays has some great ideas for what is next for the organization. We talk the genesis of Operation BBQ, his own cooking journey and their plans for the brand new Camp Operation BBQ Relief. Operation BBQ is always looking for volunteers and if you want to know how to help download their app. Follow Operation BBQ Relief on Instagram Follow Stan on Instagram Follow Operation BBQ Relief on Facebook Go to Operation BBQ Website

If you ever want to be motivated to start your own journey you need to look no further than this conversation with Arnis Robbins from Evie Mae's BBQ in Wolfforth TX. From a backyard pitmaster to a Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ joint. We talk his BBQ journey, how he met his wife and their new location that will be opening soon in Florida. We are, once again, live from the BBQ Love Fest in Tampa Florida...enjoy this epic episode! Follow Evie Mae's on Instagram Follow Evie Mae's on Facebook Evie Mae's Website

To say I enjoyed my time with Anthony is an understatement...in our short conversation I saw his love not only for food, BBQ and his family but for the team he leads at all of his Swig And Swine locations. Born and raised in Mantua, New Jersey, Anthony DiBernardo has always had a passion for cooking. He entered the culinary world when he was 14 as a banquet cook. Later, the US Navy brought Anthony to the Lowcountry, where he has lived for nearly 25 years. After serving as a cook on the USS Batfish submarine for four years, Anthony began working in the kitchen at Blossom Café. His résumé includes roles as the Executive Chef at Kiawah Island Resort, Corporate Executive Chef at Mustard Seed, and Operating Partner and Head Chef at Rita’s. After incorporating barbecue menu items during each culinary venture, Anthony started his own barbecue catering business, where his passion started to set fire. He opened Swig & Swine BBQ in collaboration with Queen Street Hospitality Group in 2013 and became sole proprietor of Swig & Swine in 2019. This episode was recorded live at Brisket Love Fest in Tampa. Shortly after Antony's son, Asher, was in a skateboard accident that left Anthony fighting for his life. Anthony has shared Asher's journey on their social channels. In addition there is a GoFundMe to help cover some of the medical bills for Asher's recovery. Asher's GoFundMe Click HERE Follow Swig and Swine on Instagram Follow Swig and Swine on Facebook

Its not every day you can sit across the table from a true legend. I traveled to Decatur Alabama to have that chance when I sat down with BBQ Hall Fame Member, 17 time World Champion and iconic pitmaster Chris Lilly. Chris talks about his early years in BBQ, the pressure of running a legendary BBQ establishment and what its like to be working side by side with his sons now. I got a sneak peak behind the scenes of their flagship location and was sent away with food for the whole family. It was an incredible time and I won't forget this conversation for a very long time. Cannot wait for the next chance i get to spend time with this legend. Follow Chris on Instagram HERE Follow Chris on Facebook HERE Visit Big Bob Gibson website HERE For more information on Tent Craft go HERE. Mention May The Smoke Be With You and receive 15% off your custom tent.

On the 40th episode of May The Smoke Be With You BBQ podcast we went BIG as we sit down with the one and only Mel Chmilar, renowned pitmaster and creator of Dark Side of The Grill. With his trademark blend of charisma and expertise, Mel shares tantalizing tales from behind the smoker, offering insights into his personal story and what gets him excited about putting that "fire in the hole." Hailing from the great white north of Edmonton Alberta caught up with Mel at the BBQ Love Fest in Tampa Florida. You quickly see how this self taught pitmaster has quickly become one of the leading BBQ influencers with his "full send" philosophy! A true BBQ Jedi he is!

We are live from The BBQ LOve Fest in Tampa Florida again sitting down with another amazing pitmaster. On this exciting episode of May The Smoke Be With You BBQ podcast, we're thrilled to have the fiery force behind Fire and Smoke BBQ, none other than the legendary pitmaster Mikey Kay. With a passion for all things smoky and delicious, Mikey shares his journey from backyard griller to barbecue aficionado, offering invaluable insights into the art of low-and-slow cooking and the magic of flavor infusion. From his mouthwatering rubs to his expertly crafted sauces, Mikey's expertise promises to ignite your taste buds and elevate your grilling game. Join us as we dive into the world of Fire and Smoke BBQ with the one and only Mikey Kay. Prepare to be inspired and hungry for more! Follow Fire and Smoke on Instagram Follow Mikey on Instagram

In this special episode of May The Smoke Be With You BBQ podcast ( live from BBQ Love Fest in Tampa), we're thrilled to welcome the culinary genius behind Butter Knife Shawty BBQ, Antonio Harris. Known for his innovative approach to barbecue and his infectious passion for flavor, Antonio takes us on a journey through his culinary adventures, sharing stories of his humble beginnings and the evolution of his signature style. From his mouthwatering marinades to his expert grilling techniques, Antonio's insights promise to ignite your taste buds and inspire your next backyard cookout. Join us as we uncover the secrets of Butter Knife Shawty BBQ and delve into the delicious world of Antonio Harris. Don't miss out on this flavorful conversation and hear what Dirty Fries are! For more information on Butter Knife Shawty BBQ go to https://www.butterknifeshawtybbq.com/ Follow Antonio on Instagram Follow Antonio on Facebook

We are LIVE from the BBQ Love Fest in Tampa Florida where we caught up with Primo Grill Category Manager Mike Radosevich. Mike is the man when it comes to all things Primo and any chance we have to sit down with him and talk about what is new with Primo we do it. Follow Mike on Instagram For more information on Primo follow them on Instagram or go to their website. Look for Primo's new XXL model this spring at a Primo Dealers near you. To find a Primo dealer go HERE.

Do you get energy when you are around someone who just loves what they do? After sitting down with Jack Daniel's Brand Ambassador Jed Lirette I had energy for days. Jed Lirette is Senior Homeplace Ambassador at the Jack Daniel Distillery. Every day looks a little different for Jed, whether he’s conducting VIP tastings and barrel selections, leading press tours or participating in a Jack Daniel’s commercial. When he’s not making friends for the brand in Lynchburg, Jed represents the distillery at events in Nashville and beyond. Jed was hired as a tour guide for the distillery in 2015. Soon after, he became an official whiskey taster, heading to the quality control lab every Friday morning to sample freshly mellowed new whiskey. In 2019, he was named senior ambassador tour guide. Before his time at Jack, Jed was enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served 15 years in numerous IT roles, notably as a senior network engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense. Jed was deployed to the UK, Dubai, Germany, Qatar and Afghanistan during his service. Jed may no longer have top-secret security clearance, but at Jack Daniel’s, he’s charged with upholding the values and traditions of a 156-year-old brand he’s long admired. Jed’s experience as a tour guide – and his curiosity about whiskey making and local lore – has ignited a passion for the brand and the place that he shares with visitors from around the world each day. A native of Houma, Louisiana, Jed has called the Lynchburg area home since 1985. Jed and his wife Maribeth live in Petersburg, Tennessee and have three children.

What an honor to sit down with Lexie Phillips! Lexie Phillips was hired as assistant distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery in 2020. In this role, she uses her full knowledge of distillery history and the whiskey-making process to serve as a collaborator to Master Distiller Chris Fletcher on whiskey innovation. She travels as a brand ambassador to conduct tasting events and brand education, and also conducts in-depth distillery tours for visitors to Lynchburg. We talk Jack Daniels history, how she got started, how Jack is, at its roots, a family business and HER story too! Hearing Lexie's passion first hand made me want to run home, grab a glass and crack a bottle of Gentleman Jack and taste Lynchburg. Follow Lexie on Instagram HERE

Summary Dan Chapman, the founder of Redd Remedies, shares his journey of growing up with a health-conscious mother and how it inspired him to start his own company. He explains the causes and symptoms of gout and the importance of nourishing the kidneys to maintain healthy uric acid levels. Dan emphasizes the holistic approach to health and the unique formulation process of Redd Remedies products. He also discusses the expertise and purity promise of the company. The conversation concludes with a lighthearted discussion about Star Wars and barbecue. Use our unique discount code "SMOKE20" for 20% off all Redd Remedies' products. Plus, get free shipping on orders $49+. reddremedies.com Takeaways Growing up with a health-conscious parent can have a significant impact on one's perspective on food and health. Gout is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. Diet and kidney function play a crucial role in managing uric acid levels and preventing gout. Red Remedies offers a range of herbal formulas that nourish the body and address various health challenges. Todays episode is sponsored by TentCraft. Need a custom tent reach out at www.tentcraft.com for a free quote. Mention May The Smoke Be With You and get 15% off your custom tent. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:03 Growing Up with a Health-Conscious Mother 03:10 The Pioneers in Health and Nutrition 04:40 Starting Red Remedies 06:14 Understanding Gout 07:15 Causes of High Uric Acid Levels 09:33 Nourishing the Kidneys 10:53 Identifying Gout Symptoms 11:47 Importance of Uric Acid Level Testing 12:50 Using Gout Formula with Medications 14:05 Holistic Approach to Health 15:22 Differentiating Red Remedies from Other Products 17:15 Frequency of Using Gout Formula 19:29 Other Red Remedies Products 21:16 Expertise and Purity Promise 24:31 Contacting Red Remedies 26:00 Star Wars and Barbecue 27:05 Favorite Star Wars Characters 27:29 Learning Barbecue Skills 28:15 Conclusion

Lee Ann Whippen is a BBQ legend. She is a 2022 inductee in the BBQ Hall of Fame, 25 year champion pitmaster, certified BBQ judge, restauranteur, TV personality, BBQ Nation Radio Co-Host, PIt Boss Brand Ambassador, Recipe Developer and owner of Pig Powder...and there's more. Hear this sit down with legend herself as we shared some time at The Jack. Follow Lee Ann on Instagram Follow Lee Ann on Facebook

There are few places in the BBQ like The Shed in Ocean Springs Mississippi and there are few people like Brooke Lewis who, along with her brother, co-founded The Shed 23 years ago. We talked a bit about the origin story, working with family and what it takes to lead the team day to day at the restaurant. Follow Brooke on Instagram Follow The Shed on Instagram Follow The Shed on Facebook

Wherever they go The Shed is always the life of the party and this podcast is no different. Shed owner and co-founder Brad Orrison and his dad, Daddy-O, join me live at The Jack Daniel's World Championship BBQ Invitational where we talk about the origins of The Shed, how they found lighting in a bottle and what the secret sauce is in Ocean Springs Mississippi. Follow Brad on Instagram Follow The Shed on Instagram Follow The Shed on Facebook

Amy Dopp and her husband Rob are the creators of the Rum Runners BBQ team. They not only know their way around the BBQ competition circuit but are producing a world class line of rubs that home cooks everywhere love. We had the chance to sit down and hear her story at the Jack Daniel's World Championship BBQ Invitational. Follow Rum Runners on Instagram Follow Rum Runners on Facebook

On the eve of the 2023 Jack Daniel's World Championship BBQ Invitational we sat down with the 2022 Champion, Chris Schafer from Heavy Smoke. Chris is no strager to the winners cirlce with over 40 Grand Championships to his name and nearly as many Grand Reserve awards. He is one of the winningest men in BBQ and he sat down to share his journey, why it takes some luck to win and what he thinks it will take to go back to back at The Jack! Follow Chris on: Facebook Instagram Visit Heavy Smoke's website HERE

Ever had one of those moments when you sit down and you realize you are in the presence of someone special Thats what happened when I met Amy Mills at the Jack Daniels World Championship BBQ Invitational in Lynchburg Tennessee. Amy not only knows her BBQ she knows what it takes to continue to build the legacy of a legendary establishment like 17th Street BBQ in Murphysboro Illinois. This is part one of a two part series with Amy...we haven't recorded the second part but that will happen when i visit 17th Street in person! Follow Amy and 17th Street BBQ on Instagram Follow Amy and 17th Street BBQ on Facebook

What does it take to become a ninja? Lots of training...bevoming a mster in oyur disciplene and being one that other look to. Craig Verhage is the BBQ Ninja. A seasoned BBQ competition veteran and now a working with the folks at Royal Oak Craig is all about BBQ. We sat down while at The Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational BBQ and talked all things BBQ. Follow BBQ Ninja on Instagram Follow BBQ Ninja on Faccebook

Eamon Rockey is the creator and owner of Rockey's Botanical liqueur. This liqueur may just be the best thing you have never hear of and Eamon may be the one of the brightest stars in all of hospitality. Having worked at some of the countrys best restaurants Eamon felt the calling to share his unique liqueur with the world...enter Rockey's Botanical liqueur. In this episode we talk about growing up with chefs as parents, his early career and what makes a great cocktail. I truly enjoyed my time with Eamon and i hope you enjoy our conversation as well. To find Rockey's Botanical liqueur in your area click HERE. Follow Rockey's on Instagram Follow Eamon on Instagram

BBQ has been around as long as fire but American style BBQ is influencing backyard pitmasters around the world. Each year teams from around the globe descend on the hamlet of Lynchburg Tennessee to find out if they have what it takes to be crowned World Champion. The May The Smoke Be With You podcast went on the road to The Jack and had the chance to talk to competitio teams from around the world as well as some of the biggest names in BBQ. Our Jack Daniel's Diaries start with Steve Allen aka Smoking Steve's BBQ from Perth Australia. We talk Outbak, Crocidile Dundee and cooking in big time competitions. Follow Steve on Instagram Follow Steve on Facebook