Episode 360 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast takes us to northeast Arkansas for a visit with one of the USA's most-respected, across-the-board pit masters. John Lindsey spent time on the KCBS circuit as All Q'ued Up BBQ before becoming a champion on the Steak Cookout Association for several years. He's opened a catering business in recent years that has been a hit and now is venturing more into content creation on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram as John Lindsey Delta Pitmaster with his twist on southern cooking. It's great to catch up with John, who has some interesting thoughts on his days in competition cooking along with the SCA, where there seems to be a groundswell for bring-your-own ribeyes - something he was an advocate of years ago.

Recurring guest Richard Fergola also checks in with the latest happenings from his BBQ travels as Fergolicious BBQ and the Richard Fergola BBQ line of rubs and sauces. Fergie has a busy summer ahead and you never know where he might pop up, teaching a class or competing.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their latest cooking adventures and preview Father's Day weekend on the grill and in the sports world.

Thanks as always to our sponsors/marketing partners:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #MeatRushmoreBBQ LovelyJubblyBBQ #LovelyJubblyBBQ Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Mat Bonville hasn't been doing competition BBQ for long, but the pitmaster of Phantom Smoke & BBQ from Kipling, Saskatchewan had a memorable cook at one of the world's foremost contests a couple of weeks ago. Bonville scored a whopping 707.97 at the KCBS World Invitational in Lebanon, Tennessee - roughly a 24-drive from home - to earn Reserve Grand honors and qualify for next spring's BBQ World Cup. On Episode 359 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Bonville tells us about his journey, what it was like hearing his name alongside some of the world's best and what's ahead for his one-man team.

We also welcome Joel Fleetwood back to the show to discuss Meat Rushmore BBQ's latest release in its product lineup, the Midwest Heat Sauce. Joel also shares his thoughts on the World Cup, which is coming to Kansas City for Group matches beginning next week, and the enthusiasm that international visitors are bringing to mid-America.

Co-host Lyndal and Steve recap their BBQ weekend and give opinions on some sports headlines. We hope everyone has a chance to fire up the grill or smoker this weekend!

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Living six hours apart as competition teammates can be a challenge. But brothers Joe and Jeff Rouse have been able to overcome the geographic challenge to become one of the nation's top KCBS Backyard teams in recent years and, this year, are making waves in the four-meat Masters series as well. On Episode 358 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we go "Under the Radar" to find out more about Joe (from New Jersey) and Jeff (Massachusetts) and how they're consistently bringing home trophies as Rough Cut Q - including a recent Reserve Grand Championship to a KCBS Hall of Famer.

It's also time to get the latest news from The Grill Guys of Missouri, who have a big June planned at the BBQ store in Republic, Mo., from big grill discounts to a BBQ class from two of the nation's best (Richard Fergola and Sterling Smith). The co-hoists review their cooking weeks and go through "news and notes" from the BBQ world in the opening segment, with sports segment to close things out.

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Episode 357 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast brings back our popular "Under the Radar" segment where we find out more about up-and-coming competition teams. Jordan Williams and Richard Smith comprise BBQ Pit Bros out of Des Moines, Iowa. They began cooking KCBS backyard comps in 2021 and, after multiple Grand Championships and Reserves, the team has taken the plunge into the KCBS 4-Meat Masters Series in 2026. Jordan and Richard talk about the journey and how their contrasting personalities keep the team in balance.

We also talk about the growing popularity of high school BBQ with Chuck Simpson, head coach of the Missouri champion Osceola High School "Serial Grillers," an all-girl team comprised of three freshmen and a senior. Chuck and wife Jessica also organized the mid-July KCBS Masters and Backyard doubleheader "Smokin' on the Osage" in their hometown. This will be the 8th annual and Chuck is pleading with teams to avoid waiting until the last minute to enter, so he and Jessica can plan with less stress. The entry form and info can be found at smokinontheosage.com.

The co-hoists review their Memorial Day cooking plans and go through "news and notes" from the BBQ world in the opening segment, with a quick look at sports to close things out.

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

A few days after making history at one of the world's biggest BBQ competitions, Heath Riles joins us on Episode 356 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to discuss his repeat Grand Championship at Memphis in May. It was the first time in 42 years that anyone has repeated their World Championship at Memphis in May and Heath breaks down what the accomplishment means to him and his Heath Riles BBQ brand and describes the work ethic that went into preparing for his favorite competition.

We also welcome back our friend Kevin Green of The Butcher Shoppe in Pensacola, supplier of A9 wagyu briskets to some of the nation's best BBQ teams. It came as a surprise earlier this week when Kevin announced that he had sold The Butcher Shoppe to a local couple after 19 years of building his business into a local and national powerhouse. Kevin said the shipping business will continue to those loyal customers who prefer A9s for competition.

On a personal note, a big "thank you" to Kevin for supporting our show for the last six years. We hope to continue the great relationship with the new owners of The Butcher Shoppe and wish Kevin much happiness in retirement or whatever adventure await.

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

North Dakota is not the warmest open-fire cooking climate in the country, but Nick and Shannon Holman are doing their best to put the Minot, N.D. team Burnt Trees BBQ on the competition map. The husband-wife duo last week came away from the 77-team Minnesota in May with a Grand Championship, their fourth in 50 career KCBS competitions. Consistency is a key for the couple, who have turned countless highway miles on the BBQ trail into quality time. The Holmans talk about they've been able to achieve success on Episode 355 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ podcast, also telling the story behind their converted horse trailer that serves as a weatherproof BBQ wagon.

We also take a trip to Republic, Mo., to visit with Skyler Spartan and Charlie Wallace about what's coming up at The Grill Guys of Missouri, a go-to spot for all things BBQ.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and preview what's ahead on their smokers this weekend. Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page. Also find all 355 episodes at tailgateguysbbq.com

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Memphis in May is just one week away and on Episode 354 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with one of the top contenders to take home the big trophy. Tim Scheer, whose Blues Hog team captured Whole Hog and overall Grand Championship honors in 2022, gives us a preview of the preparations. Those include the final days of feeding the three hogs that he raised on his east-central Missouri Marble Ridge Farm ahead of processing and and prepping the three 250-pound porkers for a date with one of his three Gateway mega-drums. Tim's segment begins at the 12:05 mark and he also talks about the ever-expanding Blues Hog line of products in addition to the company's NASCAR Truck Series sponsorship with Niece Motorsports - including the Talladega race with social media sensation Cleetus McFarland behind the wheel - later this season.

Then it's a visit with Ryan Eftink of Smokin' Brothers BBQ out of southeast Missouri, a company that has expanded its own line of all made-in-America smokers and grills with Myron Mixon Smokers and how the deal with Tim Scheer to take ownership of Gateway Drum Smokers came about last season. Smokin' Brothers and Blues Hog will be partnering at Memphis in May to sponsor the Kids' Q and both companies will have displays and demos at the Tiger Lane location in Memphis next week.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and preview what's ahead on their smokers this weekend. Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page. Also find all 354 episodes at tailgateguysbbq.com

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

After lots of anticipation and patience, it's official. The American Royal World Series of BBQ has new dates (Oct. 1-4) and a new home (the under construction American Royal Association complex in Kansas City, Kansas). On Episode 353 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with American Royal Association CEO Pat Macy about the move and what went into bringing the event to its new complex which is not far from the old one, at Kansas Speedway.

We also talk high school BBQ's growing popularity as a team sport with Doug Kerr, a teacher at Iola High School in Kansas and the head coach of the Iola Underhogs team that has a roster of about 50 students learning the craft of open-fire cooking. Doug talks about how it came together in Iola and some of the supporters from across the professional landscape who have helped his kids on the journey, either with financial support or pure cooking knowledge.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks and preview what's ahead on the grill this weekend. Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page. Also find all 353 episodes at tailgateguysbbq.com

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

On Episode 352 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with two big winners from last weekend. First up is the story of fast-rising High on the Hog BBQ out of St. Louis, which won its first KCBS GC in Edina, Missouri, in just its sixth KCBS competition. Shawn Campbell and Rich Alexander reveal how they've been able to achieve big-tie success in just their second full-time season. The segment beings at the 9:02 mark.

We then take a trip to central Texas to hear from Matthew Frazier and Justin Payne of Smokin' Aces BBQ after their $5,000 GC at the Rib Cookoff Association World Championships. Justin and Matthew talk about the subtle differences in cooking Baby Backs and St. Louis spares and how the RCOA comps compare to other sanctioning bodies, in both taste and tenderness, plus presentation.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks, including the Tailgate Guys' first competition of the year, and give a quick rundown of the sports scene.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page. Also find all 352 episodes at tailgateguysbbq.com

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

The guys from Blind Fox BBQ haven't been doing competition cooking for long, but it's clear they rise to the occasion in big contests. Two years after finishing sixth at their first American Royal World Series of BBQ Open (444 teams) Joe Rickfels and Adam Burch won their first Grand Championship at last weekend's 103-team Smoke in the Spring in Osage City, Kansas. Not only was it the first GC, it gave the guys a ticket into the American Royal Invitational and an auto bid into the inaugural BBQ World Cup next spring in Las Vegas. On Episode 351 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Joe and Adam about their BBQ journey and their expectations for the rest of 2026.

We also check in with Aaron Huentelman, competition meat director for Mister Brisket about a chance to win some cool prizes in a new promotion. Aaron also updated us on Mister Brisket's plans for the competition game in 2026 and an overview of the market and prices as a whole.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks, talk about the Tailgate Guys' upcoming competition season opener in Iola, Kansas, and talk a little sports.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page (link in IG bio). Also find all 351 episodes at tailgateguysbbq.com

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417 Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm