Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast

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

There are many tremendous cooks in the Backyard Division of the KCBS who often are overlooked in a competition world in which the Masters division gets most of the attention for master all four meats. On Episode 350 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we talk it over with one of the best in the two-meat (chicken and ribs) division and that's Bill Toth whose Dawg's BBQ out of Minneapolis, Minn., is coming off a rare 180/180 for a perfect 360 total at the Iowa State BBQ Championships in Altoona. Bill gives the backstory on how he and wife Shelly got started in competition cooking and touches on how thick the level of competition is in Backyard, while addressing the question of if he's considering turning to the four-meat side any time soon.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve review their cooking weeks, talk about how your smoker doesn't have to be limited to cooking meat, but can add a smokey twist to just about anything be it sides or desserts The guys also review the finish of March Madness and big-league baseball.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page (link in IG bio). Also find all 350 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

Everywhere Paul Russell goes in competition BBQ from his home base in Conway, Arkansas, he consistently gets the question about his team's unique name. But Kermit's Ex BBQ is more than a neat name and logo, it's also a consistent contender on the KCBS circuit. On Episode 349 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Paul about his latest success, a Grand Championship at the Kickin' It On Route 66 BBQ Challenge in St. Robert, Mo., plus his upward trend to become a serious contender anywhere he competes.

We also check in with Skyler Spartan from The Grill Guys of Missouri, who are cooking up several hundred pounds of BBQ to serve at this weekend's Man Show Expo in Springfield, Missouri, and what's coming up in April at their BBQ shop in Republic. Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their recent cooking adventures and talk a little sports headed into Final Four weekend.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page (link in IG bio). Also find all 349 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

Think you need a fancy toy hauler or trailer to succeed in competition BBQ? To that, we present Drew Davis, the king of canopy cooking. On Episode 348 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Davis and his simple approach with Razorracks BBQ proved again last weekend - winning the 125-team KCBS Smoke on the Shores in Lebanon, Tenn., that less can be more. Drew, one of the nation's best comp cooks for more than a decade, talks about his approach to success and why Smoke on the Shores was a special win to him.

We also talk it over with Craig Verhage, the Chief BBQ Officer of Royal Oak Charcoal. Craig, with an extensive competition BBQ background, reveals how he got the monicker "The BBQ Ninja" and gives us a rundown of what's new in the Royal Oak lineup of products for 2026.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their recent cooking adventures, plus talk March Madness and opening day in Major League Baseball.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page (link in IG bio). Also find all 348 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

It's fun to talk it over with one of America's top up-and-coming competition pit masters on Episode 347 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Chase Muninger of Munny's Stove BBQ in Wichita, Kansas, has won five KCBS Grand Championships since 2024 with his latest in a stacked 37-team field at Boots, Brews & BBQ in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Chase talks about his background in barbecue and how the competitive nature of it appeals to him. A member of the Kansas Air National Guard, Chase said he uses a "hybrid" cooking style with different kinds of smokers to achieve his success and explains how that works.

We also visit with Richard Fergola just ahead of a new product launch in his growing Richard Fergola Barbecue lineup as his first two sauces join six spice rubs already popular in the backyard and competition circuit. He also previewed an upcoming pairing with Sterling Smith of Loot n Booty for a KCBS comp in Fargo, N.D. next month.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their recent cooking adventures, plus give a their March Madness picks as the NCAA Tournament tips off.

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform or on our Facebook page (link in IG bio). Also find all 347 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

It's fitting that on Episode 346 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast - our 500th show when combined with three years on local radio - that our long-time friend Brad Leighninger joins us. Brad came on the show often in 2016 when we started the show and those who follow competition BBQ will enjoy the various topics that he touches on, including thoughts on the current state of KCBS and its leadership, plus what drives him to seed a fifth Team of the Year championship. We also get Brad's thoughts on his upcoming induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

We also talk it over with the man who made the origins of our show possible. Ryan McCoy was the owner of the original Countryside BBQ Pro Shop, our title sponsor in the early days. Once a BBQ competitor himself, we find out what Ryan is doing these days and if he still has the itch to compete. We owe a lot to Ryan for his support in helping launch the Tailgate Guys Show a decade ago.

Co-hosts Lyndal and Steve discuss their recent cooking adventures, plus run down some news and notes from the sports world.

Thanks to all our listeners - past and present and those who have stuck around from the beginning!

Check out the show on your favorite #podcast platform and also find all 346 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