Biscuits & Jam

Cedric the Entertainer first rose to national fame as one of The Original Kings of Comedy before starring in films like Barbershop and the hit sitcom The Neighborhood, which he also produced. Anthony Anderson is best known for his Emmy-nominated role on Black-ish, along with films including Hustle & Flow and The Departed. The two met through acting more than 30 years ago and have remained close friends ever since, partly through a shared love of cooking and entertaining. Together, they've built AC Barbecue, a brand dedicated to showing that barbecue is about more than just great food—it’s a centerpiece of African American culture and community. Now they have a new cookbook called AC Barbecue: The Husky and Handsome Guide to Grilling, and they're shining a light on the pitmasters, the history, and the storytelling that has helped define barbecue in America.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Cedric the Entertainer by Jeff Kats / Anthony Anderson by Tommy Garcia Courtesy of FOX Entertainment

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Willow Avalon was born and raised in a part of rural Georgia that she says “felt like the Wild West.” She got her start performing in the Baptist church choir, where she played piano and got her first guitar. Later, she joined her father, the acclaimed musician Jim White, onstage in dive bars. After dropping out of high school, she moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles to New York. She even lived in her car for a while, but eventually her songwriting skills helped land her a record deal—and a shot at a better life. In 2024, Willow released her debut EP, Stranger, and followed it the next year with her first full-length album, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell. Now she's back with her sophomore album, Pink Pocket Pistol. Sid talks to Willow about the story behind the mugshot on the cover of her debut album, her song about Dolly Parton, and how a blackberry honey cobbler made from her grandmother's recipe helped make a lasting first impression at Atlantic Records.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Silken Weinberg

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clint Black spent years honing his craft in Texas clubs and honky-tonks before breaking through with his landmark 1989 album, Killin' Time, which became one of the biggest debut country albums ever. Over the course of a career spanning nearly four decades, Clint has sold more than 20 million records and earned countless awards and honors. These days, Clint is as active and creative as ever, writing, performing, touring, and even helping create a Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit celebrating his career. His latest project is his first memoir, Killin' Time: My Life and Music, which offers an intimate look at his journey from working-class Texas musician to country music superstar - with plenty of dramatic stories along the way.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Clint Black

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Earle is a Grammy-winning songwriter, performer, author, actor, activist, and storyteller whose career has been defined by honesty, grit, and fearless songwriting. Born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, Steve spent most of his childhood in South Texas around San Antonio. After a move to Nashville and years of writing songs for other artists, he released his breakthrough album, Guitar Town, in 1986. With its blend of traditional roots influences and rock-and-roll energy, the record became an instant classic that helped redefine country music for a new era. From there, Steve went on to write and perform songs that have become part of the modern American songbook, celebrated for their vivid characters and masterful storytelling. Now, Steve is celebrating more than five decades as a songwriter with his Fifty-One Years of Songs and Stories tour. Sid talks to Steve about his childhood in South Texas; the tribute album he made for his late son Justin Townes Earle; how he’s shaped his life to better care for his younger son, John Henry, who is autistic; and what it meant to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Chinaza Ajuonuma

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chef Shuai Wang was the runner-up on the 22nd season of Bravo’s Top Chef and is the force behind two standout restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina—Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ—where he brings together the flavors of his childhood in Beijing and the spirit of the South in some pretty unforgettable ways. He grew up just a short walk from Tiananmen Square, in a tiny home with no electricity or running water, where his grandmother often cooked over charcoal. Later, in Queens, New York, his mom taught herself to cook—her first dishes were a little salty, but they were always made with love. And somewhere along the way, Shuai learned that cooking wasn’t just about food—it was about taking care of people.

After years working in New York kitchens, he made his way to Charleston and started building something that feels entirely his own. Today, we’re talking about how all those experiences come together on the plate, the family stories behind his cooking, and what it’s been like to share that journey on national TV.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daniel Gerard Breland, better known simply as BRELAND, grew up as the son of ordained ministers in a household deeply rooted in music and faith. As a student at the prestigious Peddie School and then at Georgetown University, he began exploring a wide range of musical genres including country, hip-hop, and R&B. He gained widespread attention in 2019 with the viral hit “My Truck,” and continued to push musical boundaries with his 2022 debut album, Cross Country. Sid talks to Breland about his recent reimagining of 50 Cent’s “In Da Club,” his commitment to supporting at-risk youth, his high-profile collaborations with country stars like Thomas Rhett and Shania Twain, and how his music career has taken him from one adopted Southern hometown to another.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Marvin Joseph

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Carla Hall is a chef, restaurateur, author, and television host you may recognize from Bravo’s Top Chef, ABC’s Emmy Award-winning daytime show The Chew, or her many appearances on Food Network. These days, Carla is channeling her creativity into all kinds of new projects, including Bumblebirds, a Southern-inspired fried chicken restaurant in Washington, D.C. Carla is also preparing for the debut of her one-woman show, Please Underestimate Me, at the Olney Theatre in Maryland. The production is a deeply personal look at her life and career, inspired by her beloved grandmother, Freddie Mae Glover, and her lifelong dream of becoming a comedic performer like her idol, Carol Burnett. Sid also talks to Carla about her upcoming cookbook, Carla Bakes: Sweet, Savory, and from the Heart; her YouTube series, Chewed Up; and why the universe told her it was time to open another restaurant.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Marvin Joseph

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Evan LeRoy and his partners at LeRoy and Lewis are making what they call “New School Barbecue,” blending traditional smoking techniques with inventive dishes and locally sourced ingredients. The good news is that Evan isn’t keeping all his barbecue secrets to himself—he’s sharing them in a new book called New School Barbecue: Recipes for Next-Level Smoking and Grilling. Not only is it full of great recipes, it’s also full of characters and stories from Evan’s incredible barbecue journey. Sid talks to Evans about how LeRoy and Lewis went from an Austin food truck to one of the most talked-about barbecue spots in the country.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Jessica Attie

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Rector grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a place he says has its own brand of Southern. He first picked up guitar after watching counselors play at summer camp, but it was a praise and worship class in high school, led by a teacher who encouraged students to really run with their talent, that set him on his path. After studying at the University of Arkansas, Ben built a career on his own terms, going from playing college shows to selling out amphitheaters and releasing chart-topping albums like Brand New, Magic and The Joy of Music. His songs often celebrate what he calls “the other 99,” finding beauty in everyday life. On today’s episode, Sid talks to Ben about his hometown of Tulsa, life in Nashville, his family, and what it’s been like to play with a symphony.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Katie Kauss

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fred Minnick is one of the most knowledgeable people in America when it comes to whiskey. Born and raised in the small town of Jones, Oklahoma, he developed an early interest in shooting, fishing, and messing around in the great outdoors. Inspired by his grandfather’s military service, he enlisted in the National Guard while attending Oklahoma State University, eventually serving as an Army photojournalist in Iraq in 2004. The constant danger and random violence of being in a war zone, as well as the experience of losing friends and comrades, caused him to struggle with PTSD and depression after returning home. Now, in his new book, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man's Life, Fred tells the very personal story about how he clawed his way back from the brink of self-destruction. He chronicles his discovery of a hidden talent for tasting the complex flavors of wine and whiskey, and he shares how his obsession with the story of Old Crow bourbon—and its mysterious founder—gave him a new sense of purpose. Sid also talks to Fred about the crucial role his wife played in his recovery, the best bourbon he’s ever tasted, and his top recommendations for a Kentucky bourbon tour.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices