On Episode 344 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a trip to Texas to learn about up-and-coming team Smokin' Aces BBQ. Led by friends Matthew Frazier and Justin Payne, Smokin' Aces is fresh off a Champions BBQ Alliance Grand Championship in Giddings, Texas, boosting the team to second in the early season CBA points chase. Matthew and Justin break down how they got started competing and how they've meshed into one to be reckoned with.

We also welcome Joel Fleetwood back to the show for his monthly Meat Rushmore BBQ appearance. With the World Cup coming to Kansas City for six games this summer, Joel touches on some ideas for tweaking the menu at the Meat Rushmore BBQ restaurant in Kansas City International airport Terminal B with tens of thousands of international visitors coming to town.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss the transition of seasons that is nearing, putting BBQ back in the forefront of backyard cooking. Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page. Also, find all 344 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

As the 2026 competition season gets rolling, a team to watch is Can Country Outlaw led by Jason Halterman. After a breakthrough 2025 season, which saw Can Country Outlaw win three KCBS Grand Championships plus a first-place 180 brisket at the American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational, Jason is looking for even bigger things in 2026. On episode 343 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Jason about his BBQ career and the key elements in making huge strides last season with 20 top-10 overall finishes in 30 events. Jason also reveals a lofty goal that he would like to become the first to achieve.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page (link in IG bio). Also find all 343 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

Call this one the bonus show! Unplanned, but here we are! Episode 341 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is our annual Super Bowl preview edition, from both football and foot angles. Representing the Seattle Seahawks out of the Pacific Northwest is Seattle Food Truck owner Jason Hester, Rolling Smoke BBQ & Co. Jason gives his game breakdown and offers up some Seattle-themed food ideas for game day in your backyard, along with a breakdown of his BBQ background. Then we're off to Boston to chat with 2026 KCBS Hall of Fame Bill Gillespie of Smokin' Hoggz BBQ after another banner 2025 season for the former American Royal Invitational and Jack Daniels Invitational Grand Champion.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve give them takes on the big game as well. Additionally, I want to give a big "thank you" to all who have sent warm wishes and prayers during my recovery from surgery. Doing this show is a great way to have a realm of normalcy and that is what this week - with a weak voice - has provided. Thanks to the guests and listeners to putting up with the struggling and tired-sounding voice. I hope to do better next week, and beyond.

Check out Episode 341 - or any of the previous shows - on your favorite #podcast platform in find out Facebook link (in IG bio).

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

Episode 340 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features Chris Salsberry, whose Fred Vegas Smokers captured the Grand Championship at last weekend's 63-team Lakeland Pig Festival. That earned Chris an auto bid into the inaugural BBQ World Cup in 2027, an event that he says is getting people excited in the competition world. We learn about the origin of the name Fred Vegas Smokers while Chris takes us through his background in the competition world, ranging back to the early days in 2012.

It's also time for our monthly trip to the Grill Guys of Missouri for the latest from Charlie Wallace and Skyler Spartan, co-owners of one of the region's hottest stores for all things BBQ. And co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their weeks, with news and notes from the BBQ world and a breakdown from the AFC and NFC championship games - with some early thoughts on Patriots vs. Seahawks for the big game on Feb. 8.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform and find all 340 episodes since 2019 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 339 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we welcome our friend Richard Fergola back to the show. The pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ already has had an eventful 2026 with a vacation to Kenya before teaching a full-on competition BBQ class in Louisville. Now "Fergie" is off for a 10-day BBQ excursion to Costa Rica and Panama. There's never a dull moment when Fergie is around and he also breaks some news of two new Richard Fergola BBQ sauces that are nearing release.

Joining the show for the first time is Mitch Heath of new show partner Lovely Jubbly BBQ out of Wisconsin. Along with competition cooking, Mitch has a lineup of Lovely Jubbly rubs and gives us a rundown, plus an overview of his BBQ background - and how in the world he came up with his team name.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks, news and notes from the BBQ world and breakdown the busy weekend in pro and college football.

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

Season 8 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast begins and we're thrilled to be back, looking to bring open-fire cooking knowledge to our listeners. That's best done by having great guests and we kick off the new year with two of the best. Leading off Episode 338 is Bill Purvis of Chicken Fried BBQ, who's not only a world champion but one of the best content producers around. We visit with Bill about his 2025 season, the year ahead and his line of rubs and sauces, which continue to grow.

We also talk it over with Joel Fleetwood of Meat Rushmore BBQ, one of our new partners for the show. Meat Rushmore is well into its 18-month run as the brand-name at the BBQ Experience restaurant inside Terminal B at Kansas City International airport. Meat Rushmore also had a popular line of rubs and sauces - the same stuff they use in competition and in the restaurant recipes - that is available for backyard cooks worldwide. Joel tells us about developing those products.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve recap their cooking experiences during the holiday break and catch up with happenings in the sports world.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform. Also find all 338 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

While we're on a holiday break before starting Season 8 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, it's a special edition with two of our most-listened-to guests from 2025. First up is Brad Leighninger of Gettin' Basted with a recap of his runner-up finish on the Food Network show BBQ Brawl. The July conversation also touches on Brad's in-progress run to an unprecedented 4th KCBS Team of the Year title …

A few weeks later, the #GOAT of Q joined us. Darren Warth from Iowa Smokey D's showed in 2025 that he was reinvigorated about competition BBQ and we talked to him shortly after his 80th career KCBS Grand Championship, a $15,000 prize from the Grand American World Championship in Port Jarvis, N.Y.

Check out the show in the link below or on your favorite #podcast platform.

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 Mister Brisket #thighlife

We'll be back soon to start Season 8 of the show. Until then you can check out all 337 episodes of the show on your favorite #podcast platform. For now, have a happy new year and as always - #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

We wrap up Season 7 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with champion guests from from far north and south of the competition spectrum. First up at the 8:30 mark on Episode 336 of the show is Janice Smella, head cook of SmellaQue out of Calgary, Alberta. Smellaque recently was crowned Team of the Year in the Canadian BBQ Society for the fifth time. Janice reviews her 11-year history in competition BBQ and some of the travels that have taken her family team tens of thousands of miles over the years to enjoy the BBQ lifestyle.

Then it's a trip to south Texas to learn about Carl Davis of Cast Iron Cookers, Team of the Year in the Texas-based Champions BBQ Alliance. Beginning at 35:48, Carl talks about his love for cast iron skillets - hence the team name - and his quick rise in the competition ranks since starting just two years ago.

Skyler Spartan of The Grill Guys of Missouri also stops by and co-hosts Lyndal and Steve preview Christmas cooking plans and talk about the Kansas City Chiefs demise.

We'll return in mid-January to start a new season. It's been another great ride and thanks to our listeners and all-start lineup of show partners to making it possible:

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

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Not to toot our own horn, but the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast has a pretty good track record when spotting upcoming talent in our "Under the Radar" segment. This week's featured guest, Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ, is the latest example. Since appearing on the show in March, Dan posted his first two KCBS Grand Championships, 11 top 10 overall finishes and a sixth-place in the KCBS Chicken Team of the Year standings. Dan rejoins the show to discuss his BBQ journey this week on Episode 335.

We also talk it over with Charlie Wallace from the Grill Guys of Missouri about the latest happenings from the BBQ store in Republic, which should be appointment-shopping for those seeking to please their grilling friends. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve recap their latest cooking ventures and talk about the Kansas City Chiefs' demise.

Check out the show in the link below or on your favorite #podcast platform.

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 Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm