We Love These Great BBQ Podcasts

Here are several great podcasts that all barbecue and grilling enthusiasts should check out.

Podcasts are a great way to take a deep dive into the BBQ world, whether you are interested in learning cooking tips from pitmasters or staying up-to-date on the latest industry news. We love to listen to podcasts while we are commuting to work, taking road trips, or watching the fire out by the smoker.

Nearly five years ago, we wrote about seven awesome BBQ podcasts we thought all enthusiasts should know about. Since that time, the world has changed dramatically. Many new podcasts have debuted, and several shows we previously highlighted are no longer in existence. For these reasons, we think an update is long overdue.

Here are several great podcasts that all barbecue and grilling enthusiasts should check out.

Baseball & BBQ
Leonard Aberman and Jeff Cohen, the co-hosts of the Baseball & BBQ Podcast, met 20 years ago when the two of them had young boys in Cub Scouts. The two dads became fast friends who bonded over their loves and baseball and backyard barbecue. In December 2017, New York-based Aberman and Cohen decided to dive into the deep end of podcasting despite (admittedly) not knowing exactly what they were doing. They decided to explore their passions for baseball and barbecue. Eventually, they started landing incredible guests from both worlds and gained a mentor in Greg Rempe of The BBQ Central Show. The show is one of the most niche of the BBQ podcasts because it thrives while exploring two subjects. Guests from the baseball sphere include players and historians, and guests from the barbecue world include pitmasters and industry pros.

The BBQ Central Show
The BBQ Central Show is a weekly, two-hour program that was launched in 2007. The show features regular guests Meathead Goldwyn, Sam the Cooking Guy, Robert Moss, and Daniel Vaughn, along with the biggest names throughout multiple facets of the industry. The long-running 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 radio shows and are interested in a lineup of heavy hitters from various parts of the live-fire world. Greg is also regularly joined by a roundtable of embedded correspondents from around the country who share insights.

BBQ Radio Network
The BBQ Radio Network is a nationally syndicated one-hour radio show focusing on preparing, cooking, and eating BBQ. The show is hosted by champion pitmaster Andy Groneman of Smoke On Wheels and is broadcast each week in over 1,000 cities and towns across the nation. The show also features a revolving lineup of co-hosts that currently consists of Todd Johns (from Plowboys BBQ) and Richard Fergola (of Fergolicious BBQ), who are both world-champion pitmasters themselves and complement Groneman with their extensive knowledge of the BBQ industry.

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. His show features interviews with some of the barbecue world’s biggest pitmasters, restaurateurs, and industry insiders. He also regularly includes behind-the-scenes video tours of BBQ joints on his YouTube channel, as well as shorter format “10-minute” discussions and barbecue city guides from experts. His show is perfect for those who are looking for in-depth insights from the biggest names in the barbecue restaurant world and beyond. Be sure also to check out blog posts on his site.

Tailgate Guys
The Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, hosted by Lyndal Scranton and Steve Koehler, two regular guys who have a passion for all things BBQ. The long-time friends, co-workers and neighbors loved it so much, they started their own BBQ-themed show on local radio in 2016. They visited with the biggest names in barbecue to get tips, techniques, and recipes, eventually venturing out onto the KCBS competition circuit in 2018. The show, now shared in podcast form, focuses on the competition barbecue scene and includes top-notch interviews with champion pitmasters. Lyndal continues to improve his competition skills, regularly earning top 10 calls in contests.

Tales from the Pits
Even though hosts Bryan Norton and Andrew Martinez of Tales from the Pits describe their show as a Texas Barbecue Podcast, they somehow manage to find the time to take epic barbecue road trips outside the Lone Star State. Bryan and Andrew share their insights into the barbecue world as they travel extensively to restaurants. In the past, they have held pop-up events, cooked in competitions, and attended festivals as journalists, cooks, and even event organizers. Tales from the Pits is the perfect show for people who want a deep dive into Texas barbecue and for anyone interested in taking barbecue road trips. Recently, Bryan and Andrew have decided to expand their podcast to include different aspects of the world of live-fire cooking.

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

Each week on Barbecue Nation, hosts “The Cowboy Cook” Jeff Tracy and Barbecue Hall of Famer Lee Ann Whippen bring you the best from the world of BBQ and cooking with guests such as Meathead Goldwyn, Tuffy Stone, and Aaron Franklin.

On the new BBQ Tips podcast, Champion pitmaster Christie Vanover from Girls Can Grill shares quick BBQ tips you can squeeze into your day to help you improve your BBQ game.

Don't Drop The Tongs is a real and incredibly honest look at the barbecue world from two of the top barbecue pitmasters in the world today, Kyle Matuszewski from Your Behind BBQ & Phil The Grill Johnson from Trap House BBQ.

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

The Grab’em in the Brisket podcast is a fun show hosted by a crew of BBQ fanatics from Texas, featuring tips and tricks, epic fails, beer reviews, and much more.

On the How to BBQ Right Podcast, YouTube sensation Malcom Reed and his wife Rachelle talk about their YouTube recipes, what they are grilling at home, tips and tricks, and more.

The Low and Slow Barbecue Show, hosted by Michael “Chigger” Willard, is based out of North Carolina and mostly spotlights Carolina BBQ stories, advice, recipes, and more.

Gather around the pit each week for The Pit Life BBQ Podcast, a show based in New England hosted by Johnny Mags featuring pitmasters and industry insiders.

On Pitmaster: An Old Virginia Smoke Podcast, acclaimed pitmaster Luke Darnell of Old Virginia Smoke shares the tactics, tools, and routines you can use at home in your backyard and in the competition BBQ world, including morning routines, habits, tricks, and much more.

The Pitmaster’s Podcast, hosted by Utah-based BBQ competitors Rusty Monson and Anthony Lujan, who share information, advice, tips, and tall tales from the top names in the barbecue industry as well as legends of the backyard, restauranteurs, and more.

Que the Mic is a podcast about BBQ, Business, and more with Barbecue Hall of Famer and restaurateur Darren Warth of Iowa Smokey D’s and The Reverend Randy Twyford.

The Shootin’ the Que Podcast with Heath Riles is the ultimate show for BBQ and cooking enthusiasts, where champion pitmaster Heath Riles shares invaluable insights, expert tips, and captivating stories from the world of competitive BBQ, home cooking, and everything in between.

The So Smokin’ Gooder Show is a fun and informative live show centering around the world of BBQ smoking and grilling hosted by Rob from Bullhorn BBQ, a competition BBQ, tailgate, and catering team from the Cypress, TX area.

This Week in Barbecue is a popular weekly BBQ podcast hosted by barbecue pitmasters Rasheed Philips and Bryan Hull that includes discussions on the latest BBQ trends, recipes, and grilling techniques and features interviews with notable barbecue pitmasters, chefs, and other industry professionals.

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Did we miss any barbecue podcasts you love? Let us know at bbqnewsletter@gmail.com.

Ryan Cooper and Sean Ludwig
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet