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🔥🎙️ LIVE UPDATES FROM THE JACK! 🏆🔥 The Pitmasters Podcast is bringing you the inside scoop from one of the most prestigious BBQ competitions in the world — The Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue! 🥩🍖 We're joined by Derrick Walz, who will be giving us live updates straight from The Jack! 🔥 What's happening on the competition grounds? 🏆 Who's bringing their A-game? 🍖 Behind-the-scenes stories, competition buzz, and all the BBQ action! Whether you're a seasoned competition pitmaster or just love great BBQ, you won't want to miss this one! 🎙️ The Pitmasters Podcast 📺 LIVE on YouTube 👉 Tune in, join the conversation, and get your BBQ fix!

Fresh from competing at the American Royal, Tuffy Harmon and Chris Dunyan tell us all about it!!

I've been eating barbecue all my life, but my first time on the grill was actually born out of a lie. During my first Army assignment in 2006, I was bragging about how great I was on the pit. I'm from South Carolina, so naturally, I made it sound like I knew exactly what I was doing. The problem? I'd never grilled a day in my life. Then we had an organizational day with hundreds of pounds of free meat, and my First Sergeant said, "We're going to barbecue today, and we're putting Private Brown on the grill." This was before social media and before you could pull out a phone and instantly find an answer. So I had to run to this foreign institution called the library, do the best research I could, and figure it out. Somehow, I pulled it off—and some of the guys actually complimented me on how good the food was. That experience traumatized me enough that I didn't light another coal until 2020, when the shutdown happened. I tried to build something around barbecue and social media back then, but honestly, I fizzled out and failed. When I came back to barbecue, I came back with a different purpose. I wasn't trying to pretend I knew everything. I decided to be me, ask questions, experiment, and become a student of barbecue. The name The Pit Specialist comes from my Army days—Specialist was my rank when I retired, and I'm proud of my service. The "Pit" represents the barbecue journey that started during that same chapter of my life. It's not a claim about my skill level; I'm still learning and striving to get better every opportunity I get. And more importantly, I wanted to build something bigger than myself. I want to create a legacy and, if my kids ever want it, a place where they can work and build something of their own. I want to create something that I haven't felt enough of in my own life: freedom. And I believe barbecue can be the vehicle that gets me there. That journey has led me to where I am today: approaching 50,000 followers and community members across platforms, going from not understanding the competition BBQ world at all to competing once and becoming a Grand Champion and People's Choice winner, and discovering that what I really crave is a live environment where I can teach, learn, talk barbecue, and build community. And through all of it, I've found the greatest following in the world. Shout out to the Pit Crew.

Music Industry Legend • 2x BBQ Hall of Famer • World Champion Pitmaster Sterling "Big Poppa" Ball has spent a lifetime proving that greatness is not a single destination it is a way of moving through the world. As a founding force behind Ernie Ball, the most iconic independent guitar string and instrument company on earth, Ball helped shape the soundtrack of modern music. Ernie Ball's legendary Slinky strings have been the choice of Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, and Slash, while the company's Music Man guitars have become instruments of choice for a generation of world-class artists. What his father Ernie founded grew into a global powerhouse fiercely independent, passionately creative, and entirely on its own terms. Away from the music world, Ball channeled that same fire into championship barbecue. As head cook of the Big Poppa Smokers Competition BBQ Team, he has amassed over 150 first-place trophies and 90 Grand and Reserve Grand Championships across 12 states. He became the first team west of Oklahoma to win the American Royal Invitational and the first Western team to claim a World Championship — earning induction into the BBQ Hall of Fame not once, but twice. His Big Poppa Smokers rubs and seasonings have since been used to win every major BBQ competition in America. For Ball, achievement has always carried a responsibility to give back — and nowhere is that more evident than in his deep history of charitable work on behalf of children. Within the BBQ community, he created the Big Poppa's BBQ Family ambassador program, uniting competition teams across the country to raise funds for local children's charities through the sport they love. That generosity has never been confined to the competition circuit; Ball has consistently supported children's causes across the broader community with the same championship-level commitment he brings to everything he does. It is, by his own account, the work he is most proud of. Whether developing menus for national restaurant groups, producing premier competition events, building a content library of 300-plus recipes, or appearing on TLC's BBQ Pitmasters, Ball brings the same conviction to every room he enters: that passion pursued without compromise is its own competitive advantage. His is a story of mastery without limits, generosity without agenda, and the rare courage to be fully, unapologetically extraordinary at more than one thing. "When I realized that cooking could become a creative outlet for me… that's when I was hooked. " — Sterling "Big Poppa" Ball

Jess Pryles is an Australian-born, Austin-based live fire cook, author, and TV personality. She is the creator of the Hardcore Carnivore brand, author of Prime Cuts, host of Hardcore Carnivore and Feast by Fire, and a judge on Food Network's Pitmasters. With a Graduate Certificate in Meat Science from Iowa State University, Jess blends academic knowledge with hands-on expertise in butchery, barbecue, and live fire cooking, making the science and craft of great cooking accessible to everyone from backyard beginners to seasoned pros.

Rooster and Graybeard are back! They've been exploring different bbq dishes that each state is known for, and putting their own twist on them.

The origin story of Meat Rushmore could be that of many competition barbecue teams — a group of friends bonding over a beloved hobby. In this case, spouses Joel and Katie Fleetwood, along with longtime friends Eric Alfrey and Josh Wunner make up Meat Rushmore, the rare team that has stuck together as the number of competitions, and the stakes, have ramped up. This has led to opportunities such as being featured on the series premier of BBQ USA with Michael Symon, cooking in Tampa at a Super Bowl watch party for Chiefs fans, and at the FIFA Fanfest during the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City. Starting in 2012, they have been honing their skills on the BBQ circuit, and in 2024 won the Made for KC BBQ Championship, winning a contract for a restaurant at the Kansas City Airport for 18 months, which opened in September of 2025. This led to the release of their rub and sauce line, which is winning awards both in rub and sauce competitions, as well as on the KCBS trail with many teams using their products to please both the judges and their friends and family. BBQ just isn't a hobby for Joel. It's his passion. He spent 3 years on the Board of Directors for KCBS, including 1 year as it's President. He believes that if you love something enough, you will do everything you can to promote it and make it better than you left it, and that's what he wants to do with BBQ. Banker by day, BBQ guy by night, he's always figuring out ways to help, whether it's small business clients, his own small business, or the BBQ community as a whole, Joel is always looking to promote, teach, and help take people to new levels.

CJ Frazier is a producer, creator, and community leader with a passion for bringing people together through food and storytelling. He has played a key role in building and leading Blackstone's Griddle Crew, growing it into a nationwide community of creators who have helped shape the culture and personality behind the brand. From producing digital content and television to developing creator programs, live events, and brand experiences, CJ has built his career around the idea that the best content creates connection. For him, it's never just about what happens on the screen—it's about the people and community that form around it.

A born and raised New Yorker, Ruben Santana is the founder and pitmaster behind Bark Barbecue, one of New York City's most talked-about emerging barbecue concepts. Entirely self-taught, Santana developed his craft through years of experimentation, research, and conversations with respected pitmasters across the country, teaching himself the fundamentals of live fire cooking and Central Texas-style barbecue from the ground up. What began in 2020 as a backyard passion project in Ozone Park – smoking brisket from a makeshift rig in his garage and serving food curbside to neighborhood crowds – quickly evolved through grassroots pop-ups across Queens, appearances at Smorgasburg, and a breakout residency at Time Out Market New York. Today, Santana is recognized for bringing a distinctly personal perspective to American barbecue, combining the discipline and technique of Central Texas barbecue with the flavors and culinary traditions of his Dominican heritage. Bark Barbecue has become known for smoked meats infused with Dominican flavors and family recipe-inspired sides, from longaniza and chicharrón to arroz congrí and maduros. His approach expands the conversation around what American barbecue can look and taste like today, while remaining rooted in the craft and traditions that define great barbecue. In July 2026, Santana opened Bark Barbecue's first standalone flagship in Bushwick, Brooklyn – an ambitious 8,000-square-foot restaurant marking the next major evolution of the brand. The new space brings Bark beyond its pop-up and market roots into a fully realized dining destination centered around live fire cooking, hospitality, and the Dominican-American flavors and traditions that have defined Santana's journey from the beginning. Santana's work has earned growing national attention, with Food & Wine and Bon Appetit recognizing Bark Barbecue and Santana among a new generation of restaurants and pitmasters shaping the future of American barbecue. Santana is also featured on the debut season of Food Network's Pitmasters, bringing his approach to barbecue and live fire cooking to a national audience.

I got involved in competition BBQ back in the late 90', cooking with several teams. As a result, I became very interested in building competition smokers. Hence Pit O' Heaven was born. We built trailer mounted smokers from 2000-2004. My oilfield career became so busy that the competition BBQ and smoker building came to a halt. My desire to for competitive cooking was still burning inside. A good friend of mine got me involved in the SCA. Pam and I absolutely fell in love with it. We have traveled to Australia to compete and competed right on the beach in the Bahamas. Pam and I decided to create our own seasoning recipes for competition. As a result of these efforts we debuted of our PitGrit Seasonings Line to the public in March of 2021. The brand has been very successful on the SCA and BBQ competition trails around the world. Our seasonings have been included in the recipes of 4 European SCA Points Championships and 1 Australian SCA Points Championship. And also, SCA, Nationally and Internationally, with 100's of wins and 100's of top 10's and numerous BBQ Grand/Reserve Grand Championships and growing....AND that's just numbers that we are aware of. Also, The national and worldwide success has been way beyond our wildest expectations. Our seasonings have also won awards among the best most successful brands on the market today winning (6) NBBQA Awards of Excellence and with the (5) National Barbecue News Rubs of Honor. Our PitGrit Seasonings may not have a long bbq royalty pedigree behind them, but, our Seasonings are second to none. Our Pitgrit Seasonings record of success and winning absolutely verifies, it's one of the best seasoning lines on the market today, worldwide! Personally, Pam and I have won and walked dozens of SCA Steak Competitions in the USA, Bahamas and in Australia. Just to mention a few, I have personally finished 6th and 12th at the SCA World Championships, won the 2021 Arkansas State Championship and Pam won the 2022 Alabama State Ancillary Championship among other prime events on the SCA Competition Trail. ALL of our seasonings are Original Recipes! We use the finest ingredients to blend our recipes with no fillers and are low in sodium with the exception of the Ribeye Ranch PitGrit - All Purpose. It was designed with higher salt content to be a SPG base for any dish. The reasoning for lower salt content in our other recipes is to allow for the maximum addition of FLAVOR without adding saltiness. Each of our recipes are created to blend well with our other seasonings or some other outstanding brands. Most of all we are extremely blessed to a part of the SCA Family and the Worldwide Competitive Cooking Family. It has been a real blessing to Pam and I! Our story has just begun, GOD BLESS, Stay Tuned, Stay safe and always .........."STAY GRITTY MY FREINDS"

Kettle Krew was born from a simple, stubborn belief. Jimmy of Bearded Boar BBQ, Rick of 304 Smokehouse, and Brandon The Meat Alchemist had all grown tired of the notion that great barbecue demands expensive smokers and elaborate rigs. They set out to prove otherwise — that anyone, armed with nothing more than a basic Weber Kettle and real technique, could turn out barbecue worthy of the pitmasters. What started as a shared conviction quickly grew into a tight-knit community, and eventually into their flagship event: "Running of the Snakes," where they gather to smoke proteins low and slow using the snake method. No gimmicks, no shortcuts — just solid technique, great food, and good people.

All right, BBQ family, fire up those smokers because we've got an awesome guest joining us today! If you've spent any time in the barbecue world, chances are you already know today's guest. Rusty Monson is the owner of Salt City BBQ in Utah, a championship pitmaster, and one of the most respected voices in the BBQ community. Whether he's cooking on the competition circuit, serving incredible barbecue, or helping backyard pitmasters take their game to the next level, Rusty brings passion, knowledge, and a whole lot of flavor to everything he does. And here's something worth celebrating—Rusty was recently inducted into The Pitmaster's Podcast Guest Hall of Fame, recognizing the impact he's made on the barbecue community and the countless conversations he's shared with BBQ fans across the country. Today we're talking all things barbecue—from competition cooking and running Salt City BBQ to the latest trends, favorite cooks, lessons learned, and maybe even a few stories from behind the smoker that you've never heard before. So grab your favorite BBQ, settle in, and get ready for a great conversation. Please welcome to the show, Hall of Fame pitmaster and owner of Salt City BBQ… Rusty Monson!

The Pitmaster Podcast Hall of Fame Selection Show is going LIVE on YouTube! Join us June 30 at 7PM MST as we reveal the next class of Hall of Fame inductees. Don't miss the action, the stories, and the celebration of BBQ greatness! Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss it! #ThePitmasterPodcast #HallOfFame #BBQ #LiveOnYouTube #PitmasterFamily

In 2016, I jumped into the world of competition BBQ. My very first sanctioned contest was the legendary American Royal, and I've been hooked ever since. As a solo cook, I compete in about 4–8 contests each year, chasing great food, great people, and the challenge of getting better every cook. Along the way, I've been fortunate to have some memorable moments: 🏆 2021 American Royal Open – 1st Place Pork🥉 2026 American Royal – 7th Place Chicken🥉 2026 American Royal – 3rd Place Sauce on Your (SOY) After that Royal pork win, I decided it was time to create something of my own. In 2022, Perfect Perfect BBQ was born—named appropriately after years of chasing that perfect bite. Since then, the lineup has grown with:🔥 Perfect Perfect BBQ Rub🔥 Hot Bum🔥 O.G. Bum One of the things I enjoy most is teaching BBQ classes throughout the year. Whether it's backyard BBQ for family and friends or competition-style cooking, I love helping others build confidence, improve their skills, and grow their passion for outdoor cooking. BBQ has given me opportunities, friendships, and memories I never expected. If you're just getting started or looking to take your cooking to the next level, I'm glad to be part of the journey. Thanks for following along and supporting Perfect Perfect BBQ. 🔥 Keep cooking. Keep learning. Keep chasing Perfect Perfect.

Brad Leighninger is the pitmaster, co-owner, and founder behind the award-winning barbecue brand Gettin' Basted, based in southwest Missouri. He launched the team in 2012, originally as a competition barbecue outfit, and quickly built it into one of the most successful teams on the professional BBQ circuit before expanding into full-scale restaurants in Branson and Nixa, Missouri. Leighninger is widely known in the BBQ world for helping popularize the "hot and fast" cooking style, using direct heat and drum smokers rather than traditional low-and-slow methods. This approach became a signature of both his competition strategy and restaurant menu. As a competitor, he has accumulated an elite résumé, including multiple world-class titles such as a Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue Grand Champion, King of the Smoker Grand Champion, and multiple Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Team of the Year honors. He has also earned over 100 major competition wins and numerous grand championships across the United States. Beyond competition, Leighninger co-owns several Gettin' Basted restaurant locations and is active in the broader barbecue industry as a pitmaster, educator, and public figure in BBQ media and events. In short, he's considered one of the most decorated and influential modern competitive pitmasters, known for both his innovation in technique and his dominance on the competition circuit.