The Pitmaster's Podcast

Scott is a competition steak cook and occasional KCBS chicken cook from Shiocton, WI. He started participating in SCA competitions in 2019 and has since collected 22 1st-place wins and a World Championship. When he's not out on the competition trail he enjoys cooking backyard BBQ at home with his wife Jessica and their 4 dogs & 3 cats.

You can often find John tailgating at home and away Jacksonville Jaguars games. He lives and breathes tailgating; it's definitely a passion of his. Everything from planning the season's cooks based on opponents to loading the Traegers up in the truck at 6 am. He enjoys those fall Saturdays/Sundays bonding with friends and family over a delicious meal. More recently, he has dipped his toe into the competition scene here in Jax, where he has taken home 1st place in ribs, brisket, and sides. Learning the lay of the land from steak cook-offs to ancillaries holds me over until it's time for football season

Kara, Is that BBQ Mom from Toronto, Canada. You can find her dancing around the kitchen and firing up her grills on the daily. She is a BBQ recipe developer and content creator for some of BBQs biggest names. Sharing her life as a mother of three with energy and a zest for life (pun intended) and BBQ.

Leigh Brandon has lived in Houston for 45 years. She works in Commercial Banking but when she's not banking, you can find her cooking, gardening, or fishing on the weekends. Living in Texas and being close to the Louisiana state line, her dishes are a mix of Southern and Tex-Mex to Cajun inspired. If you were to sit down at her dinner table on a Sunday afternoon, you would be met with Texas smoked brisket, fried Southern catfish, venison smoked sausage, or frog legs, Cajun crawfish dirty rice, fried green tomatoes & okra, or maybe a bowl of Tex-Mex charro beans with cilantro & onions. She loves working on her tamales orders during the Fall and Winter, and when she has help, she has catered a few BBQ events. Leigh is a "Plater" and enjoys showing her work, but the real excitement comes when she has filled someone's belly, and they give a smile.

Troy is a father of 2 young kids, Back to back steak and ancillary champion of NZ 2022 and 2023, two time NZ BBQ Alliance Grand Champion, competes in Australia and the USA, runs a legendary bbq joint, 2 burger joints, a couple of food trucks, a catering business and a micro brewery.

Smokin' Hoggz BBQ is a competition BBQ team from Abington, MA, formed in 2008. What started out as a hobby has turned into a small family business. We have created a line of rubs, sauces, and cookbooks for you to enjoy and share with your friends and family.

Jeremy Yoder is a barbecue enthusiast from Kentucky who loves to spend time smoking meat and enjoying the rewards of a long cook.

Shaan, He is passionate about creating dishes that combine the warmth and flavor of home with the vibrant influences of Caribbean, Latin, and BBQ traditions. Being raised in Sangre Grande, Trinidad, and Toronto, Canada, food was not only a means of sustenance but also a joyous celebration. I developed a deep appreciation for the rich and diverse flavors of my heritage. For instance, Sunday lunches typically consisted of BBQ chicken, fried rice, potato salad, and sliced cucumber with a dash of salt and pepper. My recipes are a fusion of family traditions and personal creativity. From stewed chicken to savory empanadas and slow-cooked barbecue, I invite you to join me on a mouth-watering journey through my YouTube channel. Whether you want to recreate nostalgic dishes from your childhood or explore new flavors, my videos offer step-by-step guidance, helpful tips, and a whole lot of flavor-packed inspiration. Cooking is not only about nourishing the body, but also about nourishing the soul. Let's cook up something special together and enjoy a delightful fusion of Caribbean zest, Latin flair, and BBQ goodness.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Logan Chestnut, the talented pitmaster of Small Batch BBQ and the charismatic host of the Right On Que Podcast. Our conversation delved into the intricate world of competitive BBQ, exploring the triumphs and challenges of his competition days and the journey that led him to where he is today.

Mike Star a 21-year US Air Force Veteran, whose global travels ignited a passion for diverse cultures and flavors. Now, those worldly experiences are infused into every bottle of sauce and seasoning, promising to elevate your backyard gatherings to new heights. Prepare for a culinary adventure where every dish bursts with high-quality ingredients and bold, perfectly balanced flavors. Say goodbye to bland dinners and lackluster barbecue parties – Blazing Star BBQ guarantees an unforgettable dining experience.

SCA roundtable with Jonny Cobia, Brennon Nielson, and Steve Conaway. This is Rusty's Last show. Thank you for all the support and memories. It all has meant more than you will ever know!

We chatted with Keith Wineinger of the Burn Shop. He makes custom grills for all types of smokers, grills, and other appliances. We had a blast chatting with him, and you'll love what he offers. Head over to the Burn Shops Website and check them out.

We chat with Chris Ayres of Zia Smoke BBQ. We chat about why chopped brisket is better and why you should never say you cook better than a restaurant pitmaster.... and of course a whole lot more.

We talk with Caray Ann Sharp of Hot Mess Express. She won a few big steak comps, and her method is, well, different. Join us to discuss more the philosophy of comps than the methods.

We talk to Mike Erickson Founder of National High School BBQ Association about what he is doing to keep the bbq flame going in our youth through high school bbq comps, Tune in and check out The National High School BBQ Association

We catch up with Brett Galloway co-founder of the SCA. We talk about his new book, the world championship and more.

This week we tried to get a guest but they had other plans. Instead, you get the first episode of Rusty's new food truck podcast. We hope you enjoy. We will back to 100% this next week

We explore the interworkings of a BBQ Association. Bobbi chats with us about the association, its work, and how to get involved.

We catch up with Ronald Burns of Hotty Totty Rubs and sauces. A legendary rub maker and a hell of a competition cook as well.

We chat with Dan Phelps and Christie Vanover about the new GE indoor pellet smoker. They have had a few serious cooks on it and we break it down.

We have John Lindsey of All Q'ued Up joins us again. We catch up but mostly we talk about the side of sponserships nobody wants to hear or talk about.

We talk to Joe Wilson and BJ Searcy of Chaery Anchor BBQ. They are a new BBQ team that is already out winning big contests. We chat with them about winning Bullhead and some of their processes.

Steve Johnson, owner of BBQ Pitstop, a BBQ supply chain in Utah. Steve talks rub selection and if you want to bring your rubs or suces to market. He also reveals the dates for the BBQ Pitstop Steak Championship Series in Utah.

Miriam Benson, SCA champ, and her husband, Nate Benson SCA champ as well, break down their whole cook. Nothing was left un answered. If you're looking to get into SCA or need some great tips this one is you you

We chat with Evan Wiederspohn a young talent killing it in BBQ, Steak and the WFC.

We chat with Henry LaFollette, a SCA promotor who keeps his buy-ins low and the purse high. Wanna know how he does it? Download this episode to find out!

Fresh off their RGC at the Jack, Brett and Benny run us through their method and share some great tips on improving your comp cook.

We have Ty Higgins on the show. He just took down the American Royal SCA comp and he is here to run down his process. So if you are new to the sport of SCA or like Rusty and haven't been around the game for a while, this episode is for you.

Ben Holder stops by to chat about BBQ and steak cooking. Ben has proven to be an amazing food competitor and an over all cool dude.

Kyle Halvorson of Thermoworks stops by to chat about putting on an SCA event and talks about sponsorship. If you are interested in getting sponsored this is the episode fo you.

Kate is a health conscience Pitmaster. She recently showed off her skills on BBQ Brawl in Food Network. However, most impressive is she is the pwner/pitmaster of HI-BBQ a very success BBQ joint in Hawaii, Voted Hawaii's best bbq by Eater and is a KCBS BBQ judge.

Shawn Rapier recently teamed up with Alacruz Argentine Grills, and fell in love with them. We had to have him on and tell us all about it. This is definatly a grill you should look into, especially if you're looking for a back-to-primal cooker. Check them out at ALACRUZ

Chad and his Dad run probably the best SCA contest in Utah. Situated in central UT, this quad is the biggest comp in Utah and the way it is going probably the west. Chad talks about the contest from his perspective and what he hopes the future will be and he has BIG plans.

Kris Hollis (Booties BBQ, Knuckle Draggers BBQ) joins us to discuss all 4 comp meats. Kris has been in the comp game for a long time and has had tons of success. Join us as we try and get all the info we can to help you just cook better.

We welcome Christie Vanover back again to talk about her competition pork recipe. She also has some exciting news! Christie breaks down every step she takes making her over 170 average pork. Yet another one you don't want to miss.

We talk to world champ Doug Scheiding of Rogue Cookers about tips and tricks of pellet grills. There is a lot of excellent info in this one for those new to pellet cookers and those who have used pellet cookers for years. This is one you don't want to miss. Let us know your favorite pellet cooker technique.

Roger Donohoe has become a great steak cook, but it wasn't the easiest of journeys. Now he has bagged a perfect score and is one of the top steak cooks in the SCA. We chat with him about his process and his journey.

Dan Phelps of Learning to Smoke joins us to chat about BBQ, Social media, and of course, shoes. Dan has a huge presence on social media and a wealth of knowledge. If you are ever short of ideas on what to cook, make sure and follow his page. We learn a lot and hope you do as well.

Christie Vanover runs us through her rib recipe step by step and lays all her techniques out there. There are some severe nuggets in this episode! Christie Vanover is a well-known pitmaster, grill master, and founder of the popular website Girls Can Grill. Christie is known for her creative and flavorful recipes and expertise in grilling and smoking. She is a self-taught grilling expert who has honed her craft for over a decade. In addition to running Girls Can Grill, Christie is a sought-after speaker and educator on all things grilling. She has appeared on numerous television shows and has been featured in many publications, including Food & Wine, Southern Living, and USA Today. She is also a regular contributor to barbecue and grilling publications and has won several awards for her recipes and techniques.

Legend of BBQ Sterling Ball stops by to chat about the hall of fame, brisket, music, and his life in semi-retirement. We also talk about what he is working on and should be working on (cough, book, Cough) Sterling is on of our favorite guests and we hope you love listening as much as we did.

Matt Messer is the man behind Cotton Gin Smokers. These made-in-America drum smokers are easy on the eyes but can cook a mean piece of meat. Anthony and Guest host, Jesse Johnson of The Pitmaster BBQ Supply, talks with Matt about how to efficiently cook on these drums, how they are built, and everything you need to know about Cotton Gin Smokers.

Travis Padderson owns one of the fastest-growing rub companies in Flaps 20. Besides their rubs, their marinade Moo Magic is a staple on the circuit. He walks us through how to marinade and a little bit about the science of it. He also revels what his process of sponsoring teams and what he looks for.

We chat with Ken Perkins, who just won the SCA world championship. We talk with him about the moment his number was called, and about his process living in the cold north, we even learn what rubs he used on his $10,000 steak.

Tim Sheer owns Gateway Drum Smokers, Blues Hog BBQ, Marble Ridge, and the head cook of the famed Shake and Bake BBQ team. We chat with Tim about all his ventures and get some tips on how to start and run your Gateway drum properly. We talk about the impact of Drums in the bbq world and much more.

Lady Jaye is not your average "BBQ" place. They use high-quality meat with downhome recipes with a fine dining flair. It is hard to define, to say the least. We talk about cuts of meat and how to cook some fancy meat that most of us don't think about. Seriously when you eat here let us know what you think!

Flip Flop is a long-forgotten technique, but Andy Moeckel is bringing it back in a big way. Traveling all over the planet sharing his family tradition with everyone and anyone wanting to cook venison the right way. Trust me when I say you won't eat deer meat the same way again after you have tried the Flip Flop.

Katelyn is the Steak cook of Trump My Rump BBQ & Steak Crew. She has been a top SCA cook for a few years and is just off a win at a recent BAMA-Q event. We chat with her about steak contests, cooking steak, and much more.