This week on This Week in Barbecue, we’re talking ribeye truck fires, branding fiascos, ticks that turn meat lovers vegan, and why booze and barbecue are soulmates. Rasheed and James dig into the quirks, fails, and flat-out strange stories shaping the food world right now, from Uncle Herschel’s controversial Cracker Barrel exit to superstition at the smoker. Plus, we ask the real questions: can BBQ truly be the ultimate peacemaker, and is putting ketchup on ribs grounds for excommunication from the cookout? Tune in for laughs, lessons, and just the right amount of smoke.

This week on This Week in Barbecue, we’re diving into patience, pride, and the price of good barbecue. From whether tipping culture has gotten out of control, to the psychology of pitmaster patience, we’re talking about what it really takes to keep the smoke rolling. Plus, we tackle whether Las Vegas is really stealing the BBQ crown, the rise of chicken as beef prices soar, and why the famous 3-2-1 rib method might be more myth than magic. Along the way, we reflect on the role of community, tradition, and even data privacy in the barbecue world today. Tune in for laughs, hot takes, and the kind of conversation you only get when barbecue is the centerpiece.

From barbecue school with Tuffy Stone to Bizarro Superman, we’re covering the full smoke ring this week. Rasheed’s asking the real questions: should you be allowed to critique barbecue if you can’t actually cook it? We’re also diving into big news from Peg Leg Poker in Nashville, and who we’d draft as the ultimate pitmaster play-by-play team. Plus, we break down rising meat prices, tariffs threatening your holiday feast, and a hot debate about when your brisket actually stops taking on smoke. Oh, and someone wants Rasheed to join ICE for $50K.

This week, we’re asking the real questions: If your neighborhood says “no” to diversity, does that extend to the dinner table too? Rasheed and Bryan serve up hot takes on cultural food acceptance, the value of showing up as a business owner, and why brisket still doesn’t get the respect it deserves compared to steak. Plus, the cancellation of Bludso’s Smoking Out the Hub tour, a big welcome to the new Dinner with Delilah streaming series, and the ongoing battle to sell wings the way nature intended, whole. Fueled by Melinda’s Hot Sauce, this one brings the heat.

Lab-grown bacon is coming to San Francisco, beef prices are through the roof, and somewhere out there, a legendary smoker has gone missing. In this episode, Rasheed and James dig into the soul of barbecue, what’s passed down, what’s trained up, and whether a culinary degree can ever replace porch wisdom. Plus: BBQ in the UK

This week’s episode fires on all cylinders—birthday shoutouts, Windy City recap, brisket-fueled hotel plans, and a BBQ restaurant on a British airfield. But it’s not all fun and burnt ends, Sheed and James get serious about food safety in summer heat.

From why coleslaw is a silent killer at the cookout to BBQ-inspired junk food you’re too ashamed to admit you love, we’ve got tips, hot takes, and hard truths for every backyard hero and plate-piling guest.

We also tackle one of the hardest questions for anyone starting in the food business: “Where do you even begin?”

This one’s equal parts laugh-out-loud and eye-opening. Tap in, take notes, and clean that grill.

Running a top-tier BBQ spot isn’t just about smoke and flavor—it’s about pivoting daily to keep the doors open. From cost breakdowns to menu hacks, Bryan and Rasheed get real about the business behind the brisket.

Catch the latest episode of This Week in Barbecue.

Welcome back to This Week In Barbecue, the podcast where we’re bringing more heat than plantation fires — and this week, we’re smokin’ on all cylinders.

We kick things off with a full recap of Memphis in May: who took home the trophies, what it felt like to be the event’s first-ever ambassador (hint: surreal), and how the food, nightlife, and fellowship made this year unforgettable. Plus, we’re already scheming for 2026.

Then we shift gears and get real: Sheed and James drop a hot take on why some trees you plant won’t give you shade — and why that’s okay. This one’s for the builders, the dreamers, and the slow-cookers grinding toward greatness.

From there, it’s all flavor:

• Why that BBQ tub and heat blanket combo might just change your life

• What forks, Devil’s Food Cake, and smoked desserts have in common

• How to find your BBQ tribe — and why community builds confidence better than solo grind ever could

• A listener-submitted question that sparks a powerful convo about support, growth, and accountability

And for dessert? Juneteenth BBQ stories, your cousin’s unsolicited brisket advice, DJ grill-side commentary, and the “Gingers Are Black” trend that has TikTok both confused and cracking up.

Whether you’re tending a fire, dodging Auntie’s third plate, or just looking for your tribe — this one’s for you.

Hit play, pull up a plate, and let’s build together.
#ThisWeekInBBQ #MemphisinMay #BBQTribe #JuneteenthFeast #PitmasterPride #BBQPodcast

New episode just dropped and it’s meatier than a double-stack brisket burger.

We’re talkin’:
BBQ Hall of Fame finalists
Kareem of @kgbbq featured on The Today Show
Yelp’s real questionable Top 10 BBQ Cities
Bill Miller’s BBQ sauce so hot it’s got legal heat
And yeah… Tom Cruise might need beef ribs when he hits Texas

Listener questions? Answered. Wild takes? Delivered. Samoan friends? Still needed.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. And remember, we don’t care when you get your 'que—as long as it’s not from a drive-thru.

In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Perry, Director of Marketing for Memphis in May, to talk about how the iconic barbecue festival is evolving into something even bigger. From cultural storytelling to community uplift, Tiffany shares what it means to reimagine a legacy—one smoky plate at a time.