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 in the early days and the ways it differs from today.

Also stopping by as we close out the year is Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ. “Fergie” is sure to be one of the hottest free agents in BBQ with the recent announcement that Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions is closing at the end of the month. He’s been marketing director at Proud Souls the last two years and has a wealth of knowledge about the industry. We talk to him about what’s next, including his tell-all competition classes. 

We also take a trip just down the road from our home base to check in with Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri. The specialty BBQ store in Republic, Mo., has some dandy holiday specials going on and Skyler fills us in. Stop in and see The Grill Guys for all your open-fire shopping needs whether it’s grills, smokers, seasonings, sauces or accessories. 

Remember, you can find us on your favorite #podcast platform by searching Tailgate Guys BBQ - where all 288 editions are archived. We’ll return in a few weeks to kick off Season 7. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making Season 6 of the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ holiday season! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 Team Royal Oak. He also gives us a few hints about some new products coming down the line in 2025.

We also take a trip just down the road from our home base to check in with Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri. The specialty BBQ store in Republic, Mo., has some dandy holiday specials going on and Charlie fills us in. Stop in and see The Grill Guys for all your open-fire shopping needs whether it’s grills, smokers, seasonings, sauces or accessories. 

Remember, you can find us on your favorite #podcast platform by searching Tailgate Guys BBQ. We’ll return next week for the final show of 2025. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making Season 6 of the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

They have more than just a cool team name.

We’re talking about the guys from Burnt Skull BBQ. Joe Ricklefs, Adam Burch and Brandon Rose are friends from the Kansas City area who began their competition BBQ journey in 2023 and have had their walking shoes on ever since. Recently at the 44th American Royal World Series of Barbecue, in just its 15th KCBS competition, Burnt Skull finished an impressive sixth place overall in the 444-team Open. On Episode 286 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with the guys from Burnt Skull about the outstanding result and how they’ve been able to achieve outstanding results so quickly.

It’s Thanksgiving week and Breana Via has some tips for the big day in our Smoke ’n Magic Minute. Need some supplies before Turkey Day? Then you’ll want to listen to Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri who has some ideas.

Co-hosts Steve and Lyndal review their cooking weeks and look ahead to their Thanksgiving cooking plans and take a quick tour of the sports world, touching on the Kansas City Chiefs’ first defeat of the season. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 285 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with the newest major champion of the BBQ world. Kyle Kuhn of Hot Daddy’s BBQ out of Grasston, Minn., reviews the competition BBQ journey of he and wife Amy from humble beginnings on a home-built offset smoker to winning the American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational. It was the sixth Grand Championship of 2024 and 12th over the last three seasons and Kyle talks about the key to how Hot Daddy’s went from simply good to consistently great as they learned to cook on Hunsaker Drum Smokers.

It’s also time for our monthly check-in with Richard Fergola from Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions Kansas City. “Fergie” reviews his American Royal and the strong showing by several Proud Souls-backed teams. He also offers some tips on how to smoke that Thanksgiving turkey like a seasoned pro. Brad Colter stops by for our weekly Smoke ’n Magic Minute, reviewing their busy American Royal and with some news of an upcoming brisket class. 

Skyler Spartan of The Grill Guys of Missouri also stops by to talk about outdoor ovens and how this might be a great time to think about getting one, as prices have come down on some great models. 

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking adventures of the past week and take a tour of the sports world, including a look at the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs’ most-recent triumph.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 with John about the thrill, the nerves, the aftermath, the exhaustion and what’s next for Chunky BBQ in 2025.

We also review our American Royal weekend where the Tailgate Guys competition team got to take a treasured walk for the third time in four years, this time with an 8th-place in baked beans. Some of our other scores also were pretty darned respectable as well (and some weren’t) to cap a trip that had its challenges from a blown trailer tire en route to heavy rain on cook morning. A special shout-out to our friend Marty "Sign Man" Prather for supporting our Royal journey.

Charlie Wallace of The Grill Guys of Missouri stops by for a rundown of their venture into competition at Wingapalooza in downtown Springfield, where they took home some hardware. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 the weather or wind or whatever when it comes to cooking outdoors, it’ll be time to think of Shane Howard and Brenda Harrison. The Colorado pitmasters are blind - but return to cook their second American Royal this weekend as Blind Butt Limitless BBQ. How do they do it? It’s far from a novelty act. Shane and Brenda finished 106th among 487 teams at last year’s Royal and hope to do even better this time. Either way, they invited you to stop by and see them at space No. 347 and talk some Q. 

We also check in with Breana Via of Smoke ’n Magic BBQ about their Royal preparation, and Skyler Spartan has the latest from The Grill Guys of Missouri.

Meanwhile, if you’re at The Royal this weekend, stop by and see the Tailgate Guys team at spot No. 168. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 Hall of Fame coming up in January ceremonies. Sterling, with 46 career KCBS Grand Championships including the 2012 American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational, talks about his frustrations with the withering of competitions on the west coast and beyond, why he isn’t going to The Royal in 2024 and what’s new with his Big Poppa Smokers business.

We also visit with Breana Via of Smoke N Magic BBQ about this week’s Boo-B-Que in Oak Grove, Mo., and Charlie Wallace for what’s happening at The Grill Guys of Missouri.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 & Provisions Kansas City also previews a busy upcoming stretch for him and the store. We also visit with Brad Colter for the latest from Smoke N Magic BBQ and Skyler Spartan for what’s happening at The Grill Guys of Missouri.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 with Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest news from the Republic, Mo., BBQ supply store and their recent road trip to the headquarters of Big Green Egg in Atlanta. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 with Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest news from the Republic, Mo., BBQ supply store and Brad Colter of Smoke n Magic BBQ with the latest tips and tricks for your backyard BBQ game.  

Find the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Tailgate Guys BBQ Facebook page - link in IG bio.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

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 events, an astonishing 23-percent winning percentage. Included were wins at the American Royal World Series of BBQ, the Jack Daniels World Invitational and two KCBS Team of the Year titles. 

We also check in with Charlie Wallace from The Grill Guys of Missouri with the latest news from the Republic, Mo., BBQ supply store and Brad Colter of Smoke n Magic BBQ with the latest tips and tricks for your backyard BBQ game. It’s also good to have Steve Koehler back in the co-host chair after a recent stint on the injured list.

Thanks to all our sponsors and marketing partners for making the show possible:  Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #TeamRoyalOak2024 #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked  Proud Souls BBQ Kansas City #proudsoulsbbqkc #kingdomofq  The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Smoke ’n Magic BBQ #SmokenMagic Vietti Marketing Group   Marty "Real Sign Man" Prather #pizza

Have a great BBQ week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm