James BBQ Grubbs comes by the pit to chat. You’ve seen him in season one of the hit Netflix show, American BBQ Showdown. He’s a big personality that I’m glad to call a buddy of mine. We chat the process of getting bbq shows and what kind of doors it and BBQ have opened for him on this week’s episode. A fellow no binder brother, he doesn’t think it’s a flavor profile but more of a time saver. We may agree that in SOME instances It would be a quicker way to get your meat to cooking, purely from a time commitment of a show, or poor planning. Col. Mustard isn’t getting my money anytime soon. You can be sure of that. James has been busy since his time on the show opening doors and growing the Grubbaque community, and making loads of sausage, guest judging and so much more. We did make a good commitment on the next episode being in person so I could test some of the recipes he’s been making.

Scratching the BBQ itch!! BBQ is the type of hobby that creates community and breeds creativity. We chat with STEVE RAY, the owner of the OWLS NEST BBQ supply store in beautiful Ootawah, Tennessee. All about creating the BBQ pro shop and his choice of what to carry and why and how to grow the business. It’s a side hustle full on business now, and a way to scratch his barbecue Itch. Right next to his service station Steve raise midnight oil and tire which he is on for more than 30 years. Which is pretty impressive considering he’s only 25 lol. STEVE and I go back a few years, with BBQ interviews, and such. We reconnect and chat bbq like we always do! Please don’t forget to share this episode and all episodes. If you find any value in it, that’s all we ask for, This will help us grow from 13 to 14 listeners in the very near future! —-Smoke Ring Syndicate, and The Peoples Pitmaster

I’m down-shifting and heading up a mountain. Then I might be willing to die on, bbq prices. You’ve heard me ramble on and complain with some of my guests, but I think BBQ should be a high-end food. Or that it shouldn’t be considered the cheap option when it comes to having an event. I’m headed headfirst into this thought and I feel like most people in the BBQ world at least will agree. Stop calling your BBQ man or woman to get “” cheap food. And another thing don’t invite me to a barbecue and give me a ballpark. Period. Do I enjoy a good hotdog with mustard absolutely I do, but don’t call it a BBQ you’re grilling out that’s it. I will not be swayed on this smoke ring. Syndicate is brought to you by anchor! And coming soon, Trapper Keeper!

We were fortunate to carve out a few minutes with Heath during his busy day to chop it up when it comes to the marketing side of the business with a brief overview of his bbq history that started at just 18 years old. Heath Riles BBQ. A name synonymous with high quality bbq rubs and a bbq team with some heavy clout! Heath is an industry leading expert in both competition BBQ rub & sauce empire with the creation of his award-winning line of BBQ rubs, sauces, marinades and injections. Additionally he’s got the marketing know how to get it into the homes and cook trailers of bbq fans all over the US! He is the definition of a BBQ legend, over 70 championships, multiple perfect scores, and other outstanding awards in MBN, SCA, GBA, KCBS & whatever the next competition that arises I’m very certain he’ll be on the stage there too! HeathRilesBBQ.com is where you can get your hands on his products and find him on all social channels at Heath Riles BBQ.

Doug Maxon is The Digital Chef!! A restauranteur who sells food! From American StrEatz to White Bus Media and all the ground in between. The Digital Chef Podcast is off the ground to teach you more about the digital footprint of your bbq business. But before that, this week we chop it up with regards to building a digital foundation for your bbq business through social media SMS marketing as well as email. Did you know one of the top reasons someone doesn’t visit your restaurant more than one time??? Hint: it’s not what you think! You’ll find out on this episode of TheSmokeRingSyndicate.com Are you itching to ask Doug a question about your social media or just want him to help you establish one? Hit him up at WhiteBusMedia.com -tell him The People’s Pitmaster sent you!!! Check his podcast @ https://open.spotify.com/show/4nuU3gWU8wtdzyUVH5TyS6?si=vGEqVyvjR2SU6cdJcGag6Q on Spotify or wherever you go for your podcasts!! Don’t forget to review, download, subscribe, and rate our podcast. It helps us grow and makes BBQ better in more people’s lives!

Kunchi Lattore is a Jack of many trades, a TikTok star, sales & marketing professional for Reggae Spice Company and growing social media presence…. Kunchi stops by the pit to chat about his sales and marketing adventures as well as the current cross country ground pounding marketing you do when you’re newer in the market. With the curiosity for spice levels with this flavor profile, you have to feed faces to make fans! We connected a few years back when Kunchi was learning more on BBQ from one of my BBQ groups. He taught me what a fresh jerk chicken marinade was supposed to be like. We chat about the different jerk seasonings as well as the possibility of me May or May not had my sister mule jerk seasonings from Jamaica…. Now fast forward he’s a TikTok star in his own right, creating brand partnerships, in addition to putting Reggae Spice Co. on shelves & making raving fans! Get yours here: https://www.reggaespicecompany.com/ https://m.youtube.com/c/CookinWidKunchi/videos https://www.tiktok.com/@cookinwidkunchi https://www.instagram.com/reggaespiceco/?hl=en

Going through your local grocery store I’d bet you’ve seen at least one of the Sweet Baby Rays products on the shelves. Founded on the bbq trail at a Chicago Ribfest in the 1980s Duces Father and Uncle cemented the family name in BBQ sauce. Duce continues the namesake with his culinary innovations with his restaurant and catering business. All the while bottling and selling his own new sauce too! Think that’s enough for one person!? No says Duce, he’s a Tiktok Star too! With 24 hours in a day he squeezed an hour in to hang at the pit with the Peoples Pitmaster for this episode of TheSmokeRingSyndicate.com ! Find his catering service and new Duces wild sauce at these links: www.sbrcatering.com , www.duceswild-bbq.com

Ed Reilly is the sales guy responsible for so many BBQ products in your home, Bc he’s the reason you see the BBQ products on shelves. If you’re going into the industry, He’s the sales rep you need to help get your BBQ product in stores. With the experience he has, the knowledge and right stuff help the products come off the shelves and into the homes of your adoring fans! Ed represents a variety of products in the BBQ world like:

Grill Grates

Burch Barrel

Amazing Ribs

Hellrazr Grills

Meatrix

BBQ Nation

Looft Lighters

Xaprons

Otto Wilde Grills

Clementi

Rossofuoso

Carolina Cookwood

And other fireplace & outdoor furniture lines!

Salt and Pepper! And not the late 80s early 90s hip hop group, the 1st cookbook released by Chef Shawn Cooley! Find your copy here: www.coolenk.com/cookbook for your copy! From working his way through country club kitchens, hospital kitchen head chef, hanging out with Junior Urias, Harry Soo and myself cooking BBQ in Midland Tx. All this experience needed to be in a book. It’s a cookbook you can actually read, not just a few recipes!

Smoke Ring Syndicate presents: our guest Chris Marks; who has over 600 completion wins, including 50 national championships and 8 American Royal Grand championships! Chris Marks owner of Three-Little-Pigs-BBQ.com. A Rubs and Sauces empire! We spoke about the consumable BBQ: rubs and seasonings business. What’s the process to bring your personal rub or sauce to market. From one of the best in the game of BBQ. This is insider information about the rubs and sauces business from Chris Marks himself! Find out what made Chris Marks the BBQ legend he is today!