Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast

44:25

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 376: American...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/10/08

There might not be more of a Rocky Balboa story in the history of competition BBQ than Charles Winslow-Bey. From adversity with vehicles six months ago that left his season in doubt to winning the world's largest BBQ contest last weekend, the 46th annual American Royal World Series of BBQ Open, Charles and his wife April are an inspiration to all who dare to dream big. On Episode 376 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, the story of Smokey Bey's BBQ is one of the best we've told in seven seasons of

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48:42

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 375: 'Under the...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/09/30

Episode 375 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is focused of the 46th annual American Royal World Series of BBQ, where we're headed later this week to judge after five years of on the competition side. We visit with not only a first-time American Royal team, but a foursome that has barely cooked competition at all. That's Sasquatch Smoke N Que out of Kansas City, a group of military veterans who met while playing hockey for disabled vets and have taken that friendship to BBQ. Johnny Neal and Jeff

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01:00:18

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 374: Kelly Wertz;...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/09/23

Kelly Wertz is one of the legends of competition BBQ, winning more than 40 KCBS Grand Championships during a 20-year career - including the American Royal World Series of BBQ and the Jack Daniel World BBQ Invitational. On Episode 374 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we catch up with Kelly about why he chose to call it a career. He's staying plenty busy, with steady catering gigs and a growing 4 Legs Up product line of spice rubs and injections. Kelly has some good info to share and we appreciate

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45:59

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 373: American...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/09/16

Episode 373 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is a preview of the 46th American Royal World Series of BBQ. It's a new venue after a decade at Kansas Speedway and Kayci Vincent, BBQ Manager of the American Royal, tells us that while it's a scaled-down version as construction continues on the new site, teams will probably think it's more like a regular BBQ event. Spectator access will be limited to Friday-night parties with none of the usual events on Saturday such as bands and public wandering the

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48:30

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 372: Under the...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/09/09

We enjoy talking to the biggest names in BBQ - and also shine some light on the up-and-comers. This week we go "Under the Radar" on Episode 372 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to visit with a fast learner from Ohio, Chris Reed of Team Cookie BBQ. Along with having a unique team name, Chris knows his stuff on the smoker. In just 16 career KCBS Masters Series attempts, he's had seven overall top 10s, including his first Grand Championship last month at the Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout in Saxonburg,

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48:29

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 371: Charles...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/09/03

On Episode 371 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, hear the story of Charles Winslow-Bey and Smokey Bey's Barbecue. It's been a rocket ride for a team that was introduced to competition cooking just 3 1/2 years ago, going from a free class offered by Josh and Ashton of OG Bandits to multiple 700s and top-10 KCBS finishes in a short time. The biggest of all came a couple of weeks ago when Smokey Bey's earned Grand Championship honors at the Made for KC BBQ Championship, earning $10,000 and naming

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50:59

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 370: RCOA founders...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/08/27

Dirk Mullins and Jody Harris had been involved in competition cooking in various organizations for more than 20 years, walking the stage at The American Royal World Series of BBQ and Memphis in May among other big events. But looking to fill a void in December of 2023, they announced plans to launch the Rib Cookoff Association via social media. Just a couple of hours later, Dirk had received so many calls he had to turn his phone off. On Episode 370 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Dirk and Jody

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01:01:53

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 369: Tina Cannon;...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/08/19

Tina Cannon is one of the most-respected names in open-fire cooking, with numerous competition awards to her credit along with an array of television shows on various outlets. The classically trained chef joins us on Episode 369 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to discuss her career, a website TinaCannonCooks.com full of helpful cooking info and a preview of her appearance at The Grill Guys of Missouri on Aug. 29. Tina's first appearance on how our show is a fun conversation that we hope you enjoy.

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01:02:28

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 368: Talking...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/08/12

We dive into the world of steak cooking on Episode 368 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with a couple of big winner at last weekend's Hornersville Watermelon Festival in southeast Missouri. First up is Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ from St. Louis. While he's won big in KCBS and the Rib Cookoff Association, Dan came up big in SCA entry by earning a rare triple golden ticket (steak, ribs and beans) into next spring's SCA Worlds in Pensacola, Fla. John Lindsey is one of the top SCA cooks in the

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47:26

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 367: B's Que Crew;...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/08/05

The current KCBS Team of the Year leader is not as well known as those giving close chase. On Episode 367 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Brian Kennish of B's Que Crew from Richmond, Va., via Philadelphia, tells us about his family team's long-time love of cooking and competition and why it's picked up the pace the last couple of years to become a national contender. We also take a trip to Republic, Mo., for our August check-in with Charlie Wallace and Skyler Spartan of The Grill Guys of

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52:55

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 366: Bill Purvis;...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/07/29

One of our favorite BBQ people returns to the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast to make Episode 366 a dandy. It's Bill Purvis from Chicken Fried BBQ out of Magnolia, Texas. Bill highlights his exciting weekend in Rhode Island where he pulled off BBQ's version of a buzzer-beater by winning the Grand Championship along with Rhode Island's auto bid into the Jack Daniel World BBQ Invitational. Along with becoming a competition force, Chicken Fried also has become one of the powerhouse lineup of products on the

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49:09

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 365: Rowdy Pig...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/07/23

On Episode 365 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with two of last weekend's big winners on the competition circuit. First up is Brad Bess of Rowdy Pig BBQ, who enjoyed a spectacular doubleheader at Smokin' on the Osage in Osceola, Missouri. He scored 707.3944 both days - a remarkable feat that earned him Grand Championship honors on Day 1 and RGC on Day 2 to Bad Dog BBQ. Brad, from Bonne Terre, Mo., tells us a bit about his start in competition cooking and who's helped him along the way

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54:45

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 364: Sanj...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/07/15

We've seen countless top-notch competition BBQ teams leave the sport over the last several years, but on Episode 364 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we tell you about one who's coming back after an extended break. Sanj Kirubakaran of Thump and Strum BBQ blazed to four Grand Championships and five RGCs from 2013-19 and, after feeling burned out, Sanj took time away. Now he is back with a renewed enthusiasm. We get the details from Sanj with his thoughts on the state of today's comp world. We also

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51:45

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 363: Big Juicy...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/07/08

Episode 363 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ podcast takes us to Las Vegas where we go "Under the Radar" with the up-and-coming competition team Big Juicy BBQ. Thomas and Michelle Bolling have found a passion for open-fire cooking and, less than two years after their first contest, they've been hitting their marks and taking consistent top-10 walks. With a scheduling conflict leaving an open segment, we have an encore presentation of one of our top guests of 2025. Steven Raichlen, a BBQ Hall of Famer who's

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54:27

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 362: Bald Beauties...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/07/01

We're always looking for up-and-coming BBQ teams and this week on our "Under the Radar" segment we go to Kansas City. Episode 362 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast tells the story of Bald Beauties BBQ. Teammates Michael Bridges and Brian Studdard are making big strides on the circuit while also representing one of Kansas City's oldest BBQ restaurants, Sneads. Bridges does the comp cooking while also helping with some flavor profiles for Sneads, where long-time restaurant owner Studdard leads the

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53:56

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 361: Talking...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/06/24

There's no question that team participation in BBQ competitions has been trending downward in recent years. There are no magical solutions as various factor come into play, with economics probably No. 1. On Episode 361 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a stab at examining - from a contest organizer's point of view - what makes for a good comp, a not-so-good comp and all points in between with long-time organizer Carl McBee. We hope our listeners will add to the conversation in the comments

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01:04:54

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 360: John Lindsey;...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/06/17

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

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47:13

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 359: Mat Bonville,...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/06/10

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

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48:44

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 358: Rough Cut Q...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/06/03

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

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53:11

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 357: Chuck...

Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast ·

2026/05/27

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

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