7 awesome BBQ podcasts you should know (plus top news & events)

In the world of barbecue, there are a ton of great podcasts that cover every aspect of the industry. There are shows that interview pitmasters, shows that provide weekly commentary on big news stories, shows that tell you what joints to try, and everything in-between.

The fact that there are so many podcasts is great, as they can keep you company on long road trips, work commutes, and even as a distracting tool for those working the pits late at night. But if you’re wanting to get into barbecue podcasts, where to start?

Here are seven essential podcasts to you get started, followed by a list of additional podcasts that we love that dive into every aspect of barbecue.

We were honored to be interviewed on the Kevin’s BBQ Joints podcast a few months ago.

Barbecue Nation with JT
Barbecue Nation with JT is actually a syndicated radio show hosted by Jeff Tracy, or JT (also known as the Cowboy Cook). It is also distributed as a podcast. Guests on the show have included Aaron Franklin, Steven Raichlen, Wayne Mueller, Ardie Davis, Tuffy Stone and more. This show is perfect for listeners who are looking for a more traditional radio approach with big names.

The BBQ Beat
Florida’s Kevin Sandridge covers the entire breadth of the barbecue industry with his in-depth interviews with pitmasters, competition cooks, historians, industry insiders, restaurateurs and more on The BBQ Beat podcast. Recent guests have included Jason Ganahl of GQue BBQ, Craig Verage (BBQ Ninja), Susie Bulloch of Hey Grill Hey, and Malcolm Reed from How to BBQ Right. This show is perfect for those who want to take a deep dive into all areas of the world of barbecue.

The BBQ Central Show
As Sean mentioned in on host Greg Rempe from Cleveland, The BBQ Central Show is a weekly, two-hour program that was launched in 2007. The show features regular guests Meathead Goldwyn, Steven Raichlen, and “Grill Girl” Robyn Lindars along with some of the biggest names throughout the industry. The BBQ Central Show streams live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday night and is released as an audio-only podcast shortly thereafter. A shorter “best of” show in 10 minutes or less featuring highlights from the archive of past programs is also released each week. This show is perfect for listeners who enjoy morning radio shows and are interested in a lineup of heavy hitters.

I Crush BBQ Show
Barbecue superfan Abe Delgado recently launched the I Crush BBQ Show. He covers the burgeoning barbecue scene in California as well as in his home state of Texas. This show is perfect for those who want a relaxed podcast focusing on up-and-coming pitmasters in the world of craft barbecue.

Kevin’s BBQ Joints
Host Kevin Kelly’s BBQ Interview Series Kevin’s BBQ Joints is released in video form on YouTube as well as in audio-only podcast format. As the name implies, his show focuses on barbecue restaurants, featuring interviews with some of the barbecue world’s biggest pitmasters, restaurateurs, and industry insiders from across the country. He also includes shorter format discussions as well as barbecue city guides from experts. His show is perfect for those who are looking for interviews with the biggest names from the world of barbecue restaurants.

Man Meat BBQ
Chicago’s Mikey Kay chats with anyone and everyone about barbecue on his Man Meat BBQ podcast. He covers all topics with backyard enthusiasts, competitive cooks, restaurant owners, and more. Recent guests have included Myron Mixon, Burt Bachman, ZZQ Craft Barbeque, JD from Primitive Pits, and the Barbecue Mafia team from Australia. Man Meat BBQ is perfect if you are looking to hear from a wide range of guests from the world of barbecue and don’t mind hearing a bit of cursing.

Tales from the Pits
Though hosts Bryan Norton and Andrew Martinez describe their show as a Texas Barbecue Podcast, they manage to find time to travel on epic barbecue road trips outside the Lone Star State. Bryan and Andrew share their insights as they travel extensively to restaurants, frequently hold pop-ups, cook in competitions, and attend festivals as journalists, cooks, and even event organizers. Tales from the Pits is the perfect show for people who want a better understanding of Texas barbecue and those who like to take barbecue road trips.

If you want to explore even more barbecue podcasts, here are a few more recommendations:

• The BBQ State of Mind podcast from the Houston Chronicle dives into the best of Houston and Texas barbecue culture with hosts J.C. Reid, Alison Cook, and Greg Morago.

• Ben Arnot from Gold Coast, Australia hosts Smoking Hot Confessions, focusing on the Australian barbecue scene as well as large cooking events around the globe.

• The Eat More Barbecue podcast hosted by Ryan Sanderson out of Alberta, Canada mostly explores the Canadian barbecue scene.

• Cost of Goods Told is a relatively new podcast by Conor Moran and Darren Lafferty focused on telling the stories of pitmasters and others in the food and beverage industry, primarily in the Houston area.

• The Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, hosted by Lyndal Scranton and Steve Koehler, focuses on the competition barbecue scene and includes top notch interviews with champion pitmasters.

• The Winnow is hosted by Southern Living contributing barbecue editor Robert Moss and Post and Courier food editor Hanna Raskin. It covers dining and food in the south with a healthy amount of barbecue coverage.

• The Best Barbecue Show, a Texas-based podcast from host Yoni Levin. He has frequently recorded from Snow’s BBQ each Saturday and records at events around the country. Also, fans of this show will be happy to know that former Best Barbecue Show producer Meatman Stover is coming back to start a fire in the BBQ podcast world with a new show as well.

• Shortly after winning Best Podcast at the NBBQA Awards of Excellence this year, Shawn Walchef and Derek Marso of the Behind The Smoke podcast announced they were ending the show. However, Walchef is launching a new show called Digital Hospitality, which will provide restaurant professionals with educational resources for marketing in an increasingly digital world.

Did we miss any barbecue podcasts you love? Let us know.

Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) and Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet

Thanksgiving isn’t the only time for turkey. Brined, sauced or rubbed – turkey’s ability to soak up flavor makes it the perfect addition to any barbecue lineup. Give turkey a try on the grill with Moroccan Turkey Pita Sandwiches for a dish that combines perfectly spiced turkey tenderloin and fresh ingredients for a flavorful punch. Get more turkey recipes that’ll have you gobbling at EatTurkey.org.

Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:

The new BBQ Brawl TV show will feature a crazy good lineup of barbecue pitmasters.

• The new Food Network show BBQ Brawl: Flay v. Symon (which premieres this week) will center on a competition by star chef Bobby Flay and meat master Michael Symon. They’ll be joined by a great list of pitmasters, grillers, and barbecue experts including Cool Smoke’s Tuffy Stone, Peg Leg Porker’s Carey Bringle, Slap’s BBQ’s Joe Pearce, Bludso's Bar & Que’s Kevin Bludso, and Deviled Pig’s Lee Ann Whippen.

• 435 Mag took note of Daniel Vaughn’s recent write-up of Harp Barbecue in Kansas City, with the hilarious headline “Texas Monthly’s barbecue critic finally found KC brisket he liked.”

• In a new profile, Austin Monthly talks to la Barbecue owners Leann Mueller and Ali Clem about how they are changing the “bro-y face of Central Texas barbecue.”

• Hotshot Oakland pitmaster Matt Horn will soon be heading to Lockhart, Texas to cook barbecue for an outdoor smoked meats party. The event will be held at the forthcoming restaurant 1898, helmed by chef Mike Torres, who also runs catering company Gold Epicure.

• Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn interviewed Bill Karau, designer of the KBQ smoker, on how the smoker can “ensure cleaner, sweeter smoke.”

• There are a ton of great barbecue restaurants in Kansas City, but how to track down all of them? The Kansas City Star has released a new A-to-Z list of all the barbecue joints in KC.

• The popular Austin barbecue trailer LeRoy & Lewis have been planning to open a physical location, and Eater Austin has outlined what to expect as the trailer moves into a new space.

• The PBS show The Daytripper recently filmed at Bodacious Bar-B-Q in Longview, with the episode scheduled to air October 26.

• With beef prices on the rise, barbecue joints in Texas are learning how to redesign their menus and change how they charge, writes J.C. Reid of the Houston Chronicle.

Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:

Grill Girl Robyn Lindars recently released a series of nine short videos as part of her “Grill School” series aimed at beginner backyard cooks.

Watch: Grill School - Grill Girl Robyn Lindars
This week, we are sharing not one but nine short videos that were recently released by Robyn Lindars (AKA Grill Girl). Robyn’s new series entitled “Grill School” includes short introductory video clips that cover the basics for beginners. She first starts with safety essentials for new backyard cooks. She then shares her “must have” grilling tools and her tips for starting gas and charcoal grills. These great clips will take the intimidation out of getting started with backyard grilling for first-time cooks. Watch here.

Listen: Mary and Deborah Jones of Jones Bar-B-Q - Chew Diligence
In this episode of Chew Diligence, hosts Lindsay Shivley and Jill Silva chat with Mary and Deborah Jones, two Kansas City barbecue queens who have become stars since their episode of Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye premiered. They talk about their upbringing, learning barbecue and other trades from their father, their years of hard work, and how their recent success has been an incredible blessing. Listen to the episode here.

Read: Why BBQ? A Visit to Snow’s BBQ in Lexington - The Meaning of Pie
This week, rather than suggest a barbecue cookbook, we decided to highlight a recent blog post about barbecue. Kelly Yandell, author of the blog The Meaning of Pie and Advisory Board President for Foodways Texas, takes a nostalgic look at what Texas barbecue has meant to her throughout life after her recent pilgrimage to Snow’s BBQ in Lexington with her teenage daughter. Read it here.

The 16th Annual Up In Smoke BBQ Bash takes place next weekend in Mason City, Iowa.

August 9: 16th Annual Up In Smoke BBQ Bash - Mason City, Iowa
The Up In Smoke BBQ Bash will feature a KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition, an SCA steak cookoff, public food vendors, live music, an open darts tournament, and much more. More info here.

August 11: Meat Fight 1K - McKinney, Texas
Strike a pose, stuff your face, and shine bright like a meaty diamond. Do all this and more at this year’s Meat Fight 1K, a jam-packed event with more than 30 booths of barbecue, booze, beer, and sweets from Dallas’s most undeniably delicious restaurants. Buy tickets here.

August 17: Stumptown Beer Revival and BBQ Cook Off 2019 - Monte Rio, California
This event, which is also called the “Russian River Beer Revival & BBQ Cookoff,” features copious amounts of beer and barbecue. An entry fee includes beer, cider, and barbecue tastings for the duration of the day, along with live music and activities. More than 40 breweries and 30 barbecue teams will participate. More info here.

August 18: Turf & Surf BBQ State Championship 2019 - Del Mar, California
Enjoy unlimited BBQ, seafood, and desserts made by top chefs and BBQ competition teams during the annual #BETonBBQ championship on Aug. 18 in Del Mar, California. The Turf and Surf BBQ State Championship is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event, and it will showcase some of the biggest names in the West Coast BBQ movement. Participating restaurants include Grande Ole BBQ y Asado, Cali Comfort BBQ, and International Smoke, a collaboration between culinary entrepreneur Ayesha Curry and Michelin Star Chef Michael Mina. More info here.

August 29-30: Sister Cities Smokeout - Moorhead, Minnesota
The Sister Cities Smokeout festival takes place on August 29-30 at Bluestem Meadow in Moorehead, Minnesota. This two day festival will include music from a variety of national and local artists, and award-winning pitmasters from Sugarfire Smokehouse, Ubon’s Barbeque, and Pappy’s Smokehouse will serve delicious mouth-watering barbecue. More info here.

September 6-8: Kentucky BBQ Festival - Danville, Kentucky
The Kentucky BBQ Festival will feature great food, live music, and a backyard barbecue competition. Top pitmasters that will be serving barbecue there include Leslie Roark, Amy and Mike Mills, Moe Cason, Carey Bringle, and Shelly Hunt. More info here.

September 7: Pig Island NYC - Brooklyn, New York
For those that love all things pork, the 10th annual Pig Island NYC in Brooklyn will be a can’t-miss affair. Held outdoors at beautiful Erie Basin Park in Red Hook, this all-inclusive event will feature great food from top Northeastern pitmasters, plus a ton of beer, cider, and liquor. More info here.

September 12-15: American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Kansas City, Missouri
The American Royal is celebrating 40 years of competition barbecue in 2019. On top of a huge KCBS competition with teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including incredible live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full line up of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. More info here.

September 19-21: 2019 Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off - Murphysboro, Illinois
The Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off is a unique dual cook contest sanctioned by the Memphis Barbecue Network and the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The event will also include a steak cookoff and a bloody mary contest as well as a kids Que competition. More info here.

September 21: Smoked Dallas - Dallas, Texas
Join us for a Texas-sized food fest and backyard BBQ party in the heart of downtown Dallas at this event. Enjoy tastings from 20 of the most celebrated BBQ joints from all across Texas at the event, along with live music from Dale Watson, Straight Tequila Night, and The 40 Acre Mule. More info here.

September 27-29: Q In The Lou - St. Louis, Missouri
Get ready to go hog wild and get your BBQ fix at another great year of Q in the Lou. Many of the country’s biggest names in BBQ are back once again, including Peg Leg Porker, Ubons BBQ, The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint, Sugarfire Smokehouse, and more. There will also be live music all three days. More info here.

October 5: Brew N’ Que - Perth, Western Australia
On Saturday, October 5th, the Brew N’ Que Festival will take place in Perth, Australia at the Ascot Racecourse. Experience the best in craft brew and barbecue. The event includes barbecue food vendors, craft beer, live music, cooking demos, competitions with national and international teams, Kids Q competition, classes from “BBQ Pitmasters” television celebrity Harry Soo, and the headline event with pitmaster Bill Dumas of The Switch in Dripping Springs, Texas. More info here.

October 6: Southern Smoke - Houston, Texas
An impressive lineup of pitmasters and chefs have been announced for the fifth annual Southern Smoke festival, which takes place on October 6 in Houston, Texas. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund and the National MS Society. Tickets go on sale on August 6 at noon CT. More info here.

See the full Smoke Sheet events calendar online here.

Maple-Cured Smoked Salmon
For this week’s Recipe of the Week, we chose this recipe for Maple-cured Smoked Salmon from Season Three of Steven Raichlen’s Project Smoke. He takes a wild Alaskan salmon filet and cures it for eight hours using maple sugar, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon zest. This helps preserve the fish and adds flavor. He then drizzles pure maple sugar on top. Finally, after the fish is dried, he smokes the salmon in an offset smoker at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes (or until it reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees). Raichlen likes to serve the salmon on toasted rye bread with creme fraiche, pickled onions, dill, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. View the recipe here.

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