On this special episode of Pitmaster, an Old. Virginia Smoke podcast, we sit with some Pitmasters at Smoke on the Rails in New Freedom, PA, to remember our friend Ercole Chila from Uncle Pigs BBQ Pit.  This episode was very special, as we were joined by Ercole’s wife Sara, his three daughters and other family members. 

This week on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we catch up with Guest 1...Bill Gillespie with Smokin Hoggz BBQ, recent winner of "Best Rub on the Planet" award from the American Royal.  Always a good time, enjoy this conversation with Billy.

OVS caught up with other cooks at the Americamps BBQ Throwdown in Ashland, Virginia, back in early August. Enjoy the fun, and don't forget to follow OVS on YouTube. 

This week's guest is an absolute legend in BBQ. Multiple time world champion, successful restaurateur and all-around great guy. He's also the best guest to get everyone ready for American Royal Week. 

 

Enjoy this episode with Chris Lilly. 

This week we are joined by a pitmaster who has tearing up the east coast. Dan Jacobellis, from Top Gun BBQ, came on to talk about his recent success and the teams competition bbq direction. Enjoy! 

This week we have we start our American Royal prep with Loren Hill with the Smokin Hills. Loren and Cheryl are some of the best people in BBQ, and they sure can cook! Winners of the American Royal and the World Food Championships, there's a lot of good tid bits in this podcast from Loren.

This week's guest is Jeff Vanderlinde from the highly successful Shiggin' and Grinnin' BBQ Team. They have won and cooked all over the world. This episode will make you laugh, think and get more confident in your cooking. Please enjoy! 

Paul Keltner of Rooters-n-Tooters BBQ joins Luke this week. Paul and his wife Lynn have had a wonderfully successful career that shows no signs of slowing down. A lot of tips and great stories this week! 

This week we have Ryan Murphy with Dirt Road BBQ.  Ryan is an original member of the BBQ League, a World BBQ Champion at the World Food Championships, and winner of 22 grand championships.  He’s a hell of a guy who’s very particular about his pits and is great to talk to.

One of the most accomplished cooks joins us this week, with tremendous stories and tips. David Bouska from Butcher BBQ is a two-time world champion, has an incredible product line and is just an all-around awesome guy. Please enjoy this wonderful conversation with David. 

This is a great episode, one that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.  This week we sit down with one of the greatest of all time, Travis Clark from Clark Crew BBQ.  This guy has won literally everything in BBQ, and in a very short time frame.  If you want a masterclass in the mindset needed to be a championship pitmaster, you won’t want to miss this episode.

 

This week's guest is not only a good friend, but an outstanding cook and entrepreneur. Matt Barber from Hot Wachula's BBQ has been making outstanding sauces and competing all over the US and Europe. This episode is loaded with fun banter and great tips. Enjoy these two friends talking 'cue and much more!  

This week we have our good friend Corey Mikes from Fat Boys BBQ out of Temple, Texas. Corey cooks with his dad Danny, and both have been stalwarts of Texas BBQ for a long time.  This interview has a lot of practical advice, a lot of real thought and a ton of great stories.

It was quite the party, as it always is, at the Chillin' & Grillin' at the Glades. The event, which saw OVS take home the RGC, included a happy hour with Luke, Kim, and plenty of friends. Please enjoy! 

 

This week, we continue with our run of Texas pitmasters with Lee Hickel from Redmule’s Bad Ass BBQ.  Lee has had a ton of success in Texas as a part of IBCA, and has recently been travelling the country and cooking BBQ all up and down the east coast in KCBS.  One of the genuinely nicest guys in BBQ.  He’s fantastic to talk to and is a great cook.

It’s definitely barbecue season!   The world is opening back up, people are getting together, and the smokers and grills are fired up.  Nothing though is hotter than Bill Purvis with Chicken Fried BBQ out of Texas.  He’s tearing up the competition BBQ circuit in both KCBS and CBA.  Bill is a great guy who I got to meet earlier this year, and I really think you’ll enjoy this conversation with him. Please welcome Bill Purvis.

June is here and its BBQ season for everyone!  That being said, some of the best pitmasters in the world have been cooking all year so far.  Not very many people are having as good as of a year as Phil Breeden from LC Barbecue.  Out of Texas, he has cooked all of the country with great success. Enjoy this podcast with Phil Breeden.

We wrap up National BBQ Month with one of my favorite people in Barbecue, Melissa Cookston.  She’s an amazing lady--author of two cookbooks, multiple time World Champion, and has recently created the World Junior BBQ League. She is so nice, funny and just a great time to be around. This is a fun time with Melissa Cookston.  Enjoy.

I thought National BBQ Month would be a great time to interview one of my mentors, the great Chris Hart from iQue.  Dominant in the BBQ scene for a long time and winner of the Jack Daniels World Championship, Chris has written several cookbooks and continues to be an influence on cooks all across the country.  Just a great guy, extremely smart and talented, and a lot of fun to talk to. Enjoy this fun talk with the legend Chris Hart.

National BBQ Month continues today with The Genie, Steph Franklin of Simply Marvelous BBQ. Steph has done it all in the sport, including numerous GC's and  having a wildly successful line of rubs. Oh, and he just happens to be one of the best guys in BBQ, too. 

This episode is full of tips, laughs and great stories. Enjoy! 

 

 

We’re kicking off National BBQ Month with none other than Mark Lambert with Sweet Swine O Mine.  Mark had done just about everything in BBQ, winning world championships, creating amazing products and now has his own BBQ store. This is a great look at one of the best pitmasters in the country, with a lot of great information and tips.

It’s Fergolicious time!  Richard Fergola is the pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ out of Kansas City.  He’s been on multiple TV shows, won many contests and has recently opened a BBQ store called the KC Grilling Company If you know Fergie, he’s high energy, as is this podcast.  Enjoy the show.

Luke and the OVS Crew bringing the heat to the BBQ world. 

This man really needs no introduction.  He’s won everything in competition BBQ, been featured on BBQ pitmasters, and is widely considered one of the best people to meet, not just in BBQ.  This week it is our esteemed pleasure to have Tuffy Stone, the professor, pitmaster of Cool Smoke, on the podcast. I think you’ll enjoy this interview, getting to know one of the legends of BBQ and hear his story.

This week we preview the DC BBQ Battle with organizer Andrew Schaffer and OVS teammate Sir William Stilwell, aka The Goat! 

A special Friday episode for you this week, as we talk with KCBS CEO, Emily Detwiler, and KCBS Board President, Rick Wagner.

We discussed many exciting developments for KCBS in 2021 and beyond. Please enjoy! 

This week we have Scott Johnson with Cancer Sucks Chicago.  Scott has a tremendous story about how he got involved in competition BBQ and how he used BBQ to fund cancer research and do a lot of good. I think you’ll enjoy this interview, getting to know one of the legends of BBQ and hear his story.

This week we have Jared Huizenga with Insane Swine.  Jared cooks out of Massachusetts, and has an absolutely ridiculous batting average, finishing in the top 10 in 68 percent of the contests that he’s cooked. I think you’ll enjoy this interview, getting to know one of the best pitmasters in the northeast.

This week we have Andrew Cloer with Bald Hawg, the current number one team in KCBS.  Andrew and I have been friends for a long time, and he’s had a remarkable story as a pitmaster and as a person.   He hails out of South Carolina, is a rabid Clemson fan and cooks an absolute fantastic low country boil.

This week we bring back Kim and Leigh Anne for our Teammate series, and this week’s episode features Roxanne Manley with Redneck Scientific.  Roxanne is Jerry’s sister, and a fantastic cook and a lot of fun to be around. 

This week’s guest really needs no introduction.  He’s won KCBS Team of the Year, The American Royal, The King of the Smoker, and just about everything else.  In 2019 he opened Porky Butts BBQ in Omaha. Mr. Porky Butts himself, Blane Hunter. 

This week we have a special episode.  Two of our North Carolina friends are getting into it on March 9 in a whole hog competition on the Discovery plus show Mooshiners Smoke Ring.  Mat Griner of Southern Que and Brian Corbett of Smokin’ Skullies team up to show who can cook the best Eastern Carolina Hog. This is a fun interview, and should be a fun watch. 

This week, we get into it with the one and only Tim Scheer with Shake n Bake BBQ, also the proprietor of Blues Hog BBQ and Gateway Drums.  Tim is one of the best cooks in the world, and is known as a world class finisher and just an overall great fella. There’s some great tips in here.  And its a pretty fun listen.

This week on Pitmaster, we switch it up a little. This is the first interview in our Team series.  Kim, the Lil General, and Leigh Anne interview teammates from some of the best pitmasters in the world.  This week, they go deep inside Smokin Hoggz with Shaune Gillespie.  Fantastic interview coming up!

This week on Pitmaster, we have Justin McGlaun with Lucky’s Q.  Winner of Sam’s Club, King of the Smokers , and countless other awards, Lucky is one of the best guys you’ll meet in BBQ.   A great podcast here and a great purchase for under 100$ that will save you tons..   Fantastic interview coming up!

This week on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we welcome Brad Cox of Local Yokels BBQ out of Illinois, recent winner of the KCBS World Invitational Open Contest.  If there's a better person in BBQ, I'd be interested in finding them!  This is a fun, feel good episode that I think you will enjoy!

This week on Pitmaster, we have the Goat.  The big guy.  Darren Warth from Smokey D’s.  He’s cooked everything.  He’s won everything.  A great podcast here with a lot of good info and advice on the mental game.   Great tips and great stories.  This is a great one to give a whirl.

This week on Pitmaster, we have Walt Moulton from Rocky Top Barbecue! To say Walt is a character would be an understatement.  He’s a fantastic cook, winner of the Jack and just a great time to be around.  He cooks with his wife Rebekah and daughter Mia.   I try to get him to give up the goods, but he’s a tough cookie.  This is a great conversation that I think you’ll enjoy.

This week on Pitmaster, we have Sterling Ball from Big Poppa Smokers! Sterling has been a major influence in BBQ for a long time now, with much success as a pitmaster but also as the founder of Big Poppa Smoker’s BBQ rubs, creator of the Guinea Pig BBQ Contests, the King of Smoker, and Big Poppa Smoker’s Cooking for Kids charity program.   This is a wide ranging conversation about BBQ, cooking, music, and a whole range of topics that I think you’ll enjoy.

This week on Pitmaster, we have one of my great friends Jerry Stephenson from Redneck Scientific. Jerry is one of the more interesting people you’ll find on the barbecue trail.  He has a boatload of experience both inside and outside of BBQ, which has led him to many awards and also a successful restaurant called The Redneck BBQ Lab in North Carolina. There are a lot of great tidbits, tips and thought processes in this conversation. A great way to start the new year as we get moving in 2021.

This week has been particularly rough in terms of loss in the BBQ community.  We lost my friend Chris Mumaw this week.  Jeff Cole also passed away this week.  And then Mike Mills, BBQ legend and mentor to this week’s guest.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families during these terrible circumstances.  Been a rough time on the BBQ family. This week we have Steve Hayden on the podcast from One Two BBQ.  Steve is one of the best guys on the circuit, and has a lot of great ideas about BBQ and how it should move forward.  Steve also talks extensively about his relationship with Mike Mills, and his importance to him not only personally, but to BBQ as a whole. I think you’ll like this episode, and will get a bunch of great information out of it.

This week we have Jason Hardee with Elite BBQ Smokers on the podcast.  Not only is Jason a candidate for KCBS Board of Directors, he’s also a damn fine cook and an even better person. I think you’ll like this episode, and will get a bunch of great information out of it.

This week, as promised, is Jim Elser of Sweet Smoke Q. He competes, he vends, he makes smokers and he makes bbq sauces rubs and injections.  There is much this fella hasn’t done in BBQ. I know I say it every week...but this week’s episode is killer, with a lot of great info.  We’ll definitely have Jim on again, as we only got through half the questions.  

Due to an error on my part, we won’t have Jim Elser this week.  He’ll be next week.  This week, we have all time great Donny Teel from Buffalo’s BBQ. Donny has been in this game for many years, and has cooked just about everything under the sun. Donny is a great human and this is a great conversation with one of the living legends of Competition BBQ.

Our guest this week really needs no introduction.  Winner of countless grand championships and now 2 time KCBS Team of the Year winner Brad Leighninger of Gettin’ Basted. There aren’t really enough superlatives to describe this fella.  He’s been everywhere...he’s cooked everything and he’s just a great dude.

One of the best things about BBQ, as we’ve said time and time again, is meeting people from all over the world who share the same passion.  KCBS is becoming quite the thing over in Europe, and we’ve been blessed enough to have become good friends with some of Europe’s best, including today’s guest, Tom Raes of Southern Dutch BBQ. Southern Dutch BBQ has been at the top of KCBS Europe for a couple of years now, and they continue to set a high bar.   The frequently come over to the US, and have great success here as well at high caliber events such as the American Royal and the World Food Championships.

On this episode of Pitmaster, we talk to Dennis Bowman of Bowman's Butts & BBQ, a great young man who just won his first Masters GC in Kannapolis. 

There are lots of people that have taken their success in competition BBQ and turned it into a commercial success.  These people have a passion for barbecue and cooking that goes to a different level.  And you’ll find no two better than Megan and Jason Day with Burnt Finger BBQ. Megan and Jason have been extremely successful in the competition world, particularly at the American Royal and Memphis in May, and have translated that success into a fantastic brand and career around Burnt Finger BBQ.

I’ve been blessed to go around the country and have gotten to meet some of the best BBQ pitmasters of all time, and this episode’s guest is definitely that. Our guest today is Rod Gray from Pellet Envy.  Rod has been a fixture in BBQ for a long time, and continues to have a heavy influence both through teaching, and his EAT Barbecue rubs and sauces.  Very few people have done it so well and for so long as Rod.  He’s also a fantastic human with a lot of great stories and words of wisdom for today’s BBQ cooks. 

This is a podcast that I’ve been excited about for a long time, as I super respect this dude and he’s an amazing cook that travels the country for his passion. Our guest this week is Bobby Stanfiel from BS Barbecue Outlaws.  Bobby cooks out of Hill City South Dakota has been a major player atop the KCBS standings for years.