BBQ Therapy

Most Americans think they're pretty good at barbecue. But what if the data says otherwise?

On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, I sit down with David Eaheart, Senior Director of Communications & Brand Marketing at Seaboard Foods and one of the driving forces behind the Prairie Fresh® State of BBQ Report.

David's journey into the food world is anything but ordinary.

He studied agricultural journalism and agribusiness, earned a culinary arts degree, became an award-winning pie competitor, won Best of Show at the American Pie Council National Pie Championships, created The Chestnut Pig, and built a career around helping people better understand food.

We start with David's personal journey and the experiences that shaped his approach to food, storytelling, communications, and leadership.

Then we get into the really interesting stuff.

The 2026 Prairie Fresh State of BBQ Report surveyed more than 1,500 American grillers and uncovered a fascinating disconnect between how confident people feel about their barbecue skills and what they actually know about cooking.

Americans are confident.

But confidence doesn't always equal competence.

We break down the BBQ Confidence Gap and explore why so many backyard cooks believe they're better at barbecue than their actual knowledge suggests.

Can you properly light charcoal?

Do you know your pork cuts?

Do you know the correct temperature for cooking pork?

And how much of what you think you know about barbecue is actually based on fact versus something you simply heard along the way?

David and I also discuss some of the biggest misconceptions Americans have about pork, why people continue to avoid cooking it, and what the barbecue industry can do to make cooking pork easier and less intimidating.

But this conversation isn't just about statistics.

David explains why storytelling matters in the food industry, how his experience with award-winning pies influenced his career, and what he has learned from working behind the scenes at Seaboard Foods and Prairie Fresh.

We also talk about BBQ personality types, the future of backyard barbecue, and what everyday cooks can do to become better pitmasters.

Whether you're a competition pitmaster, backyard griller, weekend smoker, or someone who simply loves barbecue, this conversation will challenge some of the things you think you know about BBQ.

Because there's a big difference between thinking you're good at barbecue and actually understanding barbecue.

And the data is fascinating.

🔥 This is BBQ Therapy.

Everything BBQ. The smoke. The stories. The people. And the lessons behind the pit.

Subscribe to BBQ Therapy Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping barbecue, competition BBQ, backyard cooking, and the future of the industry.

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💬 What's one BBQ myth you believed when you first started cooking?

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Welcome to BBQ Therapy!BBQ Therapy is the show where pitmasters open up about their craft, their journey, and the power of barbecue to bring people together. Hosted by Tavis Bryant.

What happens behind every BBQ trophy?

The late nights.

The travel.

The missed family events.

The pressure.

The losses.

The celebrations.

And the people who stand beside the pitmaster through all of it.

On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, I sit down with Allie Kirkpatrick of Janky Leg BBQ for a conversation about the side of competition barbecue that rarely gets discussed.

When people talk about successful competition BBQ teams, they usually talk about the pitmaster, the trophies, the recipes, and the calls.

But Allie has experienced the journey from a completely different perspective.

She's been there for the early competition weekends, the long drives, the pressure, the heartbreaks, the victories—and one of the most unforgettable moments in Janky Leg BBQ history: the 2023 American Royal Open Grand Championship.

What makes that story even more remarkable is that Janky Leg initially believed they had finished fifth overall.

Days later, they discovered they were actually the Grand Champions.

We go behind that incredible moment and talk about what it felt like to experience it, what people still don't understand about what happened, and how the experience changed their perspective on competition barbecue.

But this conversation goes much deeper than the American Royal.

Allie opens up about what it's really like to build a life around competition BBQ while being married to someone who is intensely competitive.

We talk about partnership, communication, pressure, burnout, family, sacrifice, success, and the reality of supporting someone who is chasing a dream.

Because competition BBQ isn't just a competitor's commitment.

It's a family commitment.

Allie also shares her perspective on what most fans never see when they arrive at a competition and see the finished product.

The trophies are visible.

The work behind them isn't.

We talk about how barbecue has affected their marriage, what they've learned about communicating under pressure, how Allie helps Jordan process a bad weekend, and how she keeps him grounded after a great one.

And importantly, we get to know Allie herself.

Who is she outside of Janky Leg BBQ?

What brings her joy away from the competition trail?

What accomplishments is she proud of that have nothing to do with barbecue?

And after everything they've experienced, what does she believe makes all the sacrifices worthwhile?

This isn't just a conversation about competition barbecue.

It's about the people standing beside the dream.

Because sometimes the most important person at the pit isn't the person holding the tongs.

It's the person who stayed beside them through everything.

🔥 This is BBQ Therapy.

Everything BBQ. The smoke. The stories. The people. And the lessons behind the pit.

Subscribe to BBQ Therapy Podcast for more conversations with the people behind the barbecue.

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Most people experience competition barbecue from one side of the table. Michael McDearman has experienced almost all of them.

He's been a competitor chasing calls.

A restaurant owner serving customers.

A television personality on BBQ Pitmasters.

A brand representative working with companies and barbecue teams.

A KCBS Certified Barbecue Judge Instructor teaching the people who evaluate competition BBQ.

And he served as Series Director of the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour, giving him a behind-the-scenes view of some of the best competition barbecue teams in the country.

After more than 300 contests and decades inside the barbecue world, Michael has a perspective that very few people can match.

On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, we go far beyond how to cook a brisket.

We talk about what competition barbecue really looks like from the inside—and what Michael has learned from being a competitor, judge, teacher, television personality, restaurant owner, industry representative, and leader.

Michael takes us back to the beginning of his barbecue journey and the experiences that shaped the way he approaches food, leadership, teaching, and community.

We talk about his years as a competitor, the lessons he learned from losing, and what eventually separated great teams from teams that simply had talent.

We also go behind the scenes of BBQ Pitmasters and discuss what television got right—and what it couldn't possibly show viewers about the reality of competition barbecue.

Then we take a deep dive into the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour.

What was it actually like managing a national competition series?

What did competitors never see happening behind the scenes?

And what separated the consistently great teams from everyone else?

Michael also explains how becoming a judge and judge instructor changed the way he evaluates barbecue, the biggest misconceptions competitors have about judges, and what makes someone an exceptional BBQ judge.

But perhaps the most important part of the conversation is where Michael is going next.

After spending decades accumulating knowledge from every corner of the barbecue world, he created Stoking The Coalsto share that knowledge with the next generation of cooks.

We discuss why great barbecue doesn't have to be complicated, why backyard cooks often need better information rather than more information, the barbecue myths Michael has watched people believe for years, and what competition cooks can teach everyday backyard grillers.

This is a conversation about competition BBQ, leadership, education, evolution, and perspective.

Because when you've stood on nearly every side of the barbecue world, you start seeing the sport differently.

And Michael McDearman has seen a lot.

🔥 This is BBQ Therapy.

Everything BBQ. The smoke. The stories. The people. And the lessons behind the pit.

Subscribe to BBQ Therapy Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the world of barbecue.

🔥 This week on the BBQ Therapy Podcast, we're joined by Jess and Joe Semack—the husband-and-wife team behind Motley Que, one of the most recognizable brands in competition barbecue.

Before the championship titles, award-winning products, packed cooking classes, and the honor of creating the "Best Sauce on the Planet," there were two people chasing a dream with nothing more than hard work, determination, and an obsession with great barbecue.

In this episode, Jess and Joe open up about what it really took to build Motley Que—from the long nights, financial risks, and sacrifices to creating a brand that's become synonymous with bold flavors and championship barbecue.

We also dive into the mindset behind "Feed Your Obsession," the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, balancing marriage with business, earning respect in the competition BBQ world, and why authenticity has always been at the center of everything they do.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔥 The origin story of Motley Que
🔥 Building a business as husband and wife
🔥 Competition BBQ and the lessons learned from failure
🔥 Winning "Best Sauce on the Planet" at the American Royal
🔥 Developing championship rubs and sauces
🔥 The philosophy behind "Feed Your Obsession"
🔥 Entrepreneurship, branding, and staying authentic
🔥 The future of Motley Que and the legacy they hope to leave

Whether you're a competition pitmaster, backyard BBQ enthusiast, entrepreneur, or someone building a dream alongside your partner, this conversation is packed with honest insights, practical lessons, and incredible stories from one of barbecue's most respected teams.

👇 Tell us in the comments:
If you could create your own signature BBQ product, what would it be?

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#BBQTherapy #MotleyQue #CompetitionBBQ #BBQPodcast #Pitmaster #AmericanRoyal #BBQBusiness #Entrepreneurship #FeedYourObsession #BBQLife

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Jess Semack, Joe Semack, Motley Que, BBQ Therapy, BBQ Therapy Podcast, Competition BBQ, BBQ Podcast, American Royal, Best Sauce on the Planet, BBQ Rubs, BBQ Sauce, Championship BBQ, Pitmaster, KCBS, Canadian BBQ Society, Backyard BBQ, BBQ Business, Entrepreneurship, Feed Your Obsession, Smoked Meat, Grilling, Barbecue, BBQ Competition, Tavis Bryant

Alex Fei joins BBQ Therapy to discuss the innovative Roto Q 360 and how new technology is changing the way people cook barbecue.

We explore product development, innovation in outdoor cooking, rotisserie techniques, grilling, smoking, entrepreneurship, and what inspired the creation of the Roto Q 360.

Whether you’re a backyard griller or a BBQ enthusiast looking for new cooking methods, you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Subscribe for more interviews featuring innovators across the barbecue industry.

#RotoQ360 #BBQInnovation #BBQTherapy

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🔥 BEHIND THE SCENES OF MAIN STREET SMOK’IN ON THE RAILS 🔥

What does it really take to build a BBQ competition and community event from the ground up?

Most people see the finished product.

They see the BBQ teams.
They see the crowds.
They see the music.
They see everyone having a great time.

But they don't see the phone calls, planning, problems, pressure, long days and countless decisions that happen behind the scenes.

In this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, host Tavis Bryant sits down with Taylor Johnson, who works in events and marketing for Smokin Brothers and Gateway Drum Smokers, to talk about the vision, execution and lessons behind Main Street Smok’in on the Rails.

Taylor stepped into the competition BBQ world without decades of experience running BBQ contests—and helped take the event beyond the competition itself by creating a larger community experience.

We talk about what it was like stepping into unfamiliar territory, learning as she went, dealing with problems in real time, leading a team, working with volunteers and sponsors, and watching the community finally come together.

But this conversation goes deeper than BBQ.

It's about leadership, taking risks, believing in an idea and figuring things out when you don't have all the answers.

In this episode:

🔥 Where the idea for Main Street Smok’in on the Rails came from
🔥 The vision behind making it more than a BBQ competition
🔥 Stepping into the competition BBQ world without years of experience
🔥 The challenges nobody sees behind the scenes
🔥 Handling pressure when everything starts happening at once
🔥 Leadership and solving problems in real time
🔥 The people who helped bring the event together
🔥 The moment Taylor realized, “We did it”
🔥 What the experience taught her
🔥 What she would do differently
🔥 And the big question: Would she do it again?

This is the story behind the event—the part most people never get to see.

This is BBQ Therapy.

Everything BBQ. The smoke, the stories and the people behind it.

🎙️ Host: Tavis Bryant
🎤 Guest: Taylor Johnson
🔥 Event: Main Street Smok’in on the Rails
🏆 Podcast: BBQ Therapy

Subscribe to BBQ Therapy for conversations with pitmasters, BBQ competitors, content creators, industry leaders and the people helping shape the world of barbecue.

#BBQTherapy #BBQPodcast #MainStreetSmokinOnTheRails #BBQ #Barbecue #SmokinBrothers

What does it mean to carry a legacy that's more than 160 years in the making?

In this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, host Tavis Bryant sits down with Eudell Watts IV, founder of Old Arthur's Barbecue Sauce, to explore one of the most remarkable stories in American barbecue.

Long before barbecue became a booming industry, Arthur Watts was building a reputation as an extraordinary pitmaster. Born into slavery in 1837, his skill, determination, and craftsmanship created a legacy that has been preserved by generations of the Watts family. Today, Eudell Watts IV is honoring that history while introducing Old Arthur's Barbecue Sauce to a new generation.

This conversation goes far beyond barbecue.

We discuss the responsibility of carrying a family legacy, the emotional weight of preserving history, building a business without sacrificing authenticity, the true origins of American barbecue, entrepreneurship, leadership, and why storytelling is just as important as the food itself.

Whether you're a backyard griller, competition pitmaster, entrepreneur, historian, or someone who simply loves hearing incredible stories, this episode offers a powerful perspective on resilience, purpose, and legacy.

In this episode:

• The incredible story of Arthur Watts and the origins of Old Arthur's Barbecue
• Growing up with one of barbecue's oldest family legacies
• The pressure of preserving history while building a modern business
• Turning family tradition into a nationally recognized barbecue brand
• Entrepreneurship, branding, and protecting authenticity
• Why the history of American barbecue matters
• Leadership, family, purpose, and generational stewardship
• The future of Old Arthur's Barbecue Sauce

If you enjoy authentic conversations about barbecue, food culture, business, and the people shaping the industry, be sure to subscribe to the BBQ Therapy Podcast.

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Greg Hastie and Devin Holt join BBQ Therapy to discuss everything fire management, BBQ equipment, charcoal, smokers, grills, and helping barbecue enthusiasts become better cooks.

We talk about choosing the right equipment, maintaining consistent temperatures, common mistakes backyard cooks make, competition barbecue, and how American Fire and the Kansas City BBQ Store has become a destination for BBQ enthusiasts.

Whether you’re buying your first smoker or looking to improve your cooks, this conversation is full of practical advice.

Subscribe for more BBQ conversations every week.

#KansasCityBBQStore #AmericanFire #BBQTherapy

Tags

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David Bouska of Butcher BBQ joins BBQ Therapy to discuss the products and techniques that have influenced competition barbecue around the world.

David shares his BBQ journey, developing the famous Butcher BBQ injections, cooking championship brisket, judging competitions, and helping cooks improve their barbecue.

If you’ve ever wondered how the pros prepare brisket, pork, ribs, and chicken, this episode is full of practical advice and insider knowledge.

Subscribe for more interviews with championship pitmasters.

#ButcherBBQ #CompetitionBBQ #BBQTherapy

Tags

David Bouska,Butcher BBQ,brisket injection,competition BBQ,BBQ podcast,brisket tips,KCBS,BBQ rubs,BBQ injections,BBQ secrets,smoked brisket,pitmaster,BBQ Therapy,barbecue,BBQ competition,Texas BBQ,BBQ education,Tavis Bryant