The Pitmaster's Podcast

My name is Cory Jones owner of Hearth Heroes BBQ. Our passion for BBQ is evident in every bite. We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy great food without compromising their dietary needs, which is why we take pride in our gluten-free and low-salt offerings. We carefully select our ingredients to ensure that each seasoning blend is not only flavorful but also healthy. Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue, planning a special event, or simply looking to spice up your weeknight dinners, Hearth Heroes BBQ has something for everyone. From our signature rubs, we invite you to taste the difference that dedication and passion can make. Join us on this flavorful journey and discover why we are the go-to choice for BBQ lovers everywhere. Thank you for choosing Hearth Heroes BBQ, where every meal is a celebration of bold flavors and wholesome ingredients!

Karen Wright Wright on QAKA mom to the Steak Princess Russell and I started competing in BBQ in the early 2000's. He did his first steak competition in June of 2017 with me just there for support. I started cooking ancillaries not long after and then moved to steak.

Sterling Smith, 2022 World Barbecue Champion, US Navy Veteran, barbecue teacher, cookbook author, and owner/Pitmaster of Loot N' Booty BBQ, has been competing on the professional barbeque circuit since 2009. In that time, Sterling and his family have traveled nationally and internationally to compete in major competitions including the Jack Daniel's World BBQ Invitational, where they won the title of World Pork Champion, the American Royal World Series of BBQ, where they won Reserve Grand Champion in 2014 and 2022 out of more than 500 professional BBQ teams and won the title of Chicken World Champion and The Kingsford Australian World BBQ Invitational where they won the title of Brisket World Champion. Sterling has won over 55 Grand and Reserve Grand Championship Awards, more than 800 top ten awards and is the two-time Australian Invitational Lamb Champion. Loot N' Booty BBQ is a 5-time Arizona BBQ Team of the Year and was featured on an episode of Destination America Channel's Smoked, where Sterling and his wife Molly won the title of "Smoked BBQ Boss." Loot N' Booty BBQ Rubs and Sauces are sold nationally and internationally at hundreds of retailers world-wide, and Sterling teaches competition and backyard style BBQ classes at locations across the world. For more information visit: www.lootnbootybbq.com Accolades:  5 X World Champion  2023 CA BBQ Hall of Fame Inductee  55 Grand and Reserve Grand Championships  800 plus Top 10 awards  17 perfect 180 scores  11 – 700 plus scores  2 X Australian Invitational Lamb Champion  2014 American Royal Open Reserve Grand Champion  2022 American Royal Open Reserve Grand Champion  5 X Arizona BBQ Team of the Year  2022 World Barbecue Champion  2021 World Barbecue Reserve Grand Champion  2023 World Barbecue Reserve Grand Champion  Received title of "Smoked BBQ Boss" from Destination America's Channel Smoked

Beer's Blackdog BBQ is a family owned business in the heart of northern Minnesota's lake country. Born from the good old days of weekly gatherings of good people and good BBQ. Blackdog has grown to be a favorite sauce all over the globe. It is a sauce that appeals to a wide variety of tastes, a sweet tangy sauce with a hint of smokiness and just enough heat to keep you coming back for more. For your next gathering around the smoker or the grill, Que with the Big Dog, Beer's Blackdog BBQ!

Self-sufficiency and discipline are hallmarks of Johnson's persona, ingrained early in his life by his hard-working and devoted parents. Growing up a "latchkey kid" while his parents worked, Johnson learned to cook and take care of himself, while navigating the streets of Manhattan on his own. His parents' hard work paid off, and they moved their family to Wyandach, a suburb on Long Island, known equally for its less-than-stellar public schools and the exceptional artists and athletes it turned out. At times tempted to rebel, Johnson was set straight both by his parents, and his elders in the neighborhood, who took it upon themselves to keep an eye on the neighborhood kids. ​After graduating high school, Johnson embarked on a college career at the University of Connecticut. He soon began to see his college classmates graduating and returning home to their parents. For Johnson, this was an unacceptable and unfathomable future, and during his second year of college, he altered course. It was a pivotal decision for the young man, and one that would shape the rest of his adult life. Relocating to New Jersey, Johnson began working in the custom furniture business, a trade he'd learned in his teen years from an uncle. Over the next few years, Johnson honed his craft and at 27, began his own custom furniture business, living in New Jersey and working in Manhattan. It was during this time that he began to cultivate a passion for cooking. He began to consider a future in the catering industry.

BBQ Pit Bros was established in 2021 by head Pit Master Jordan Williams with Co-Pitmaster Richard Smith. Jordan is an Air Force Veteran with passion for competition BBQ. We are a backyard competition team that travels around the Midwest to compete in Iowa Barbecue Society, Minnesota Barbecue Society, and Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned events. We have placed and competed in multiple competitions throughout the 3, going on 4 years we have been competing. Last year we won Iowa Barbecue Society Backyard Team of the Year. We took 1st place Chicken and 1st place Ribs. We also placed 18th overall in the KCBS Backyard Team of the Year and 14th place Turkey smoke team of the year.

SCA Worlds Recap with Brennon Nielson

Kyle and his dad began watching a series called BBQ Pitmasters. They were immediately captivated and the show "lit a fire" under the duo, propelling them to learn to cook competition-style BBQ and eventually compete. That year for Christmas, Kyle bought Jerry a little offset smoker and the two got to work cooking almost every weekend, determined to teach themselves how to smoke meat on a competitive level. Competing in KCBS contests, Kyle has earned four grand championships (two in partnership with another team), 19 first place awards, 40 Top Ten calls, five KCBS ancillary 180 pins (with a perfect-perfect score, another rare feat in the competitive BBQ game!), and 14th place in the rib category at the prestigious 2021 American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational. He also earned seventh place in the dessert category at the 2021 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational BBQ competition in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Kyle has participated in more than food competitions in 11 states since he and his father started Your Behind BBQ. While Kyle enjoys the ride that Your Behind BBQ is taking, he's in the driver's seat — steering his fate and pursuing his next challenge. Continuing to compete in any type of food contest he can, he wants to see Your Behind BBQ become a household name. He wants to help teach moms and dads — the weekend backyard BBQ warriors — how to create outstanding meals to feed their family and friends, and perhaps open up a small restaurant one day. Meanwhile, he's happy chasing his dreams with no limits and having fun doing it… with father by his side.

Lee Coronado, raised in Perryton, Texas, has always had a passion for experimenting with flavors. As a child, he would mix different sauces and condiments from the fridge together to create unique taste combinations, showcasing his natural curiosity in the kitchen. Lee's journey into the world of barbecue began when his good friend Matt Yara built an Ugly Drum Smoker. After trying the BBQ Matt cooked on it, Lee was hooked. Inspired by the flavors, he decided to build his own smoker and dive deeper into the art of grilling. That decision sparked his love for barbecue, eventually leading him to compete in SCA, CBA,KCBS, IBCA events. In his very first BBQ competition, he walked away with the Grand Champion title, and from that moment, he was fully committed to the craft! Today, Lee is the creator of Meat Hammer Rubs, offering a line of award-winning seasonings, including Meat Hammer All Purpose (1st place winner in the NBBQA poultry category in 2024), designed to elevate the flavor of any dish. His rubs are made with high-quality ingredients, never cutting corners when it comes to flavor, ensuring each product delivers the perfect balance of spice and taste. His products have become a favorite among grilling enthusiasts, backyard cooks, restaurateurs, and chefs alike. Lee continues to share his passion for barbecue, from his home base in Amarillo to pitmasters, cooks and food lovers across the country.