Best Steve Koehler Podcasts (2025)

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 323: Brett McKinney, Richard Fergola 58:19

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7d ago58:19

58:19

A few days after B’Mackin BBQ set a KCBS record with a near-perfect cook at the Burnt Offering BBQ Contest in Riverside, California, we talk it over on Episode 323 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with San Diego’s Brett McKinney about how he and teammate Benny Watsman pulled it off. B’Mackin scored an amazing 718.8572 and just missed a quadruple 18…

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323 | Nuclear Energy In Action: Inside TVA's Sequoyah Nuclear Plant with Chief Nuclear Officer Tim Rausch 1:05:20

9d ago1:05:20

1:05:20

Tim Rausch is the soon-to-be-retired Chief Nuclear Officer for the Tennessee Valley Authority - the utility responsible for providing power to homes and businesses across the Tennessee Valley. In this episode, we sit down with Tim to explore the future of nuclear energy, TVA’s role in advancing next-generation reactor technologies, and what it look…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 322: Hugh Munro, Steven Raichlen 1:00:59

14d ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Hugh Munro of Ambition Que might be the oldest man in competition BBQ. But the 73-year-old former drag racer doesn’t mind the title one bit - particularly after likely becoming the oldest KCBS Grand Champion at last weekend’s Bud’s, Brews & BBQ in Columbia, Missouri. On Episode 322 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Hugh about his late…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 321: Gabe Trevino 45:23

20d ago45:23

45:23

On Episode 321 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with one of the nation’s hottest competition pit masters. Gabe Trevino and Smokin’ Volts BBQ of Fontana, California is coming off a Grand Championship over Labor Day Weekend at the star-studded Meat & Tater BBQ Fest in Boise, Idaho. Gabe scored a 707.9 total, edging out Gettin’ Basted…

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322 | Parasight Systems: Eric Hauck on Building Biotech Hardware to Fight Parasites in Pets & Livestock 1:13:36

22d ago1:13:36

1:13:36

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Hauck, founder and CEO of Parasight Systems, to explore how a biotech hardware startup based in Lexington is solving one of veterinary medicine’s most overlooked problems: parasite resistance caused by overmedication. From pasture animals to household pets, Parasight is building AI-powered diagnostic machines …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 320: Jacob Watt, Joshua Brock 58:14

28d ago58:14

58:14

We’re also thrilled when one of our past “Under the Radar” guests go on and accomplish big things in the competition world. Jacob Watt of the Kansas City-area team Smoke This Drink That told us back in February that winning a KCBS Masters Division Grand Championship was a goal in 2025. It was mission accomplished Aug. 16 when he and wife Paige cele…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 319: Sterling Smith 56:36

1M ago56:36

56:36

From his home base in Arizona, Sterling Smith has been all over the world cooking, teaching and promoting his BBQ and Loot ’n Booty product line. On Episode 319 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Sterling reviews the journey that included competition cooking since 2009 and recaps 2025 visits to Hawaii, New Zealand and Croatia among other stops and a…

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321 | Invest Blue: How Raechele Smalls and Eric Hartman are Building a Mission-Driven Angel Community for Kentucky Startups 49:34

1M ago49:34

49:34

In this episode, we sit down with Raechele Smalls, Director of Invest Blue, and Eric Hartman, Senior Associate Director at UK Innovate, to explore how Invest Blue is building a mission-driven community of angel investors dedicated to backing Kentucky startups. Through a founder-friendly syndicate model, Invest Blue is making early-stage investing m…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 318: Jordan Kirkpatrick 48:08

1M ago48:08

48:08

Jordan Kirkpatrick and Janky Leg BBQ recently passed the seven-year anniversary of their first KCBS competition, a 27th-place out of 30 teams in Effingham, Illinois. Jordan recalled being “lost, confused and disappointed" with the results. On Episode 318 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Jordan reflected on the humbling start and the road to becomi…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 317: Darren Warth 56:21

2M ago56:21

56:21

The OG #GOATOFBBQ can still get it done. On Episode 317 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with BBQ Hall of Famer Darren Warth about his latest KCBS Grand Championship, this one bigger than most. It came last weekend at the Grand American Barbecue World Championship in Port Jervis, New York. The $15,000 prize was one of the bigger non-major…

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320 | TVA’s Nuclear Milestone: Justin Maierhofer on Advancing the Nation’s First SMR Construction Permit 45:03

2M ago45:03

45:03

Justin Maierhofer is the Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the Tennessee Valley Authority and serves as TVA’s representative on the newly formed Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. With more than two decades of experience in public power and federal energy policy, he’s helping lead TVA through a landmark moment: becoming t…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 316: Brad Leighninger 37:50

2M ago37:50

37:50

When selected as one of 12 contestants for the Food Network program BBQ Brawl, Brad Leighninger of Nixa, Mo., said he just wanted to have fun and represent the competition BBQ world as best he could. Chalk it up as mission accomplished on both parts, plus a whole lot more. The pitmaster behind three-time (working on four-time) KCBS Team of the Year…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 315: Ercole Chila tribute 43:05

2M ago43:05

43:05

The competition BBQ world was rocked late last week by the tragic news that Ercole Chila from Uncle Pigs Barbecue Pit from Paulsboro, N.J., had been killed in an automobile accident. Two of Ercole’s shining accomplishments on the competition trail was Uncle Pig’s 2022 KCBS Team of the Year award and the 2023 Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational cham…

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319 | Lexington AI Meetup Live: The Story of AlphaFold with Founding Member Steve Crossan 57:28

2M ago57:28

57:28

In this special live recording from our Lexington AI Meetup, we sit down with Steve Crossan, a founding member of Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold team and former Google product leader. Steve helped launch groundbreaking AI research as part of the team that built AlphaFold, the model that cracked one of biology’s grand challenges. AlphaFold can predict …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Epsiode 314: Ashton Smith with O.G. Bandits 43:58

2M ago43:58

43:58

For Ashton Smith and Josh Farley, the idea of a BBQ restaurant and food truck seemed unlikely a couple of years ago. But after winning the Made for KC competition in 2023, earning naming rights to the BBQ restaurant in Kansas City International Airport for what turned out to be 18 months, the O.G. Bandits are more than a championship KCBS competiti…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 313: Brant Champoux, Chuck Simpson 50:59

3M ago50:59

50:59

Episode 313 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast takes us back “Under the Rader” to learn the story of an up-and-coming competition team. This time it’s Brant Champoux from Second Hand Smoke out of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Brant discusses his journey from the backyard division to taking on all four meats in 2025, with a terrific showing in his first KCBS compe…

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318 | Content Credits: Adam Koehler on How Dotloop’s $108M Exit Led to Content Credits Taking on Paywalls 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

What happens when Cincinnati’s first nine-figure startup exit gets reinvested into the region’s next big opportunity? In this episode, we’re joined by Adam Koehler, the Covington-based entrepreneur behind Content Credits. After being part of the Dotloop exit to Zillow for $108 million in 2015, Adam didn’t head for the coast. Instead, he reinvested …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 312: Joe Pearce, Skyler Spartan 47:07

3M ago47:07

47:07

We catch up with one of America’s elite competition pitmasters and proprietor of Kansas City’s top BBQ restaurant on Episode 312 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Joe Pearce of Slaps BBQ is fresh off a Grand Championship at the 159-team Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, his 47th career KCBS Grand Championship. A three-time runner-up in KCBS Team of the Year…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 311: Travis Clark, Charlie Wallace 42:43

3M ago42:43

42:43

When you think of Oklahoma sports, you think of college with the Sooners or Cowboys and even Golden Hurricane. But these days, the Oklahoma City Thunder have turned the state into a pro basketball-frenzied state and to measure the enthusiasm we check in with Hall of Fame pit master Travis Clark of Clark Crew BBQ. Along with basketball, we visit wit…

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317 | Gun Interactive: Wes Keltner on Creating Viral Multiplayer Horror Hits from KY 1:03:09

3M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In this episode, we sit down with Wes Keltner, founder & CEO of Gun Interactive, to unpack how his Lexington-grown studio turned cult-classic horror IPs like Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre into viral, multiplayer blockbusters. Wes walks us through his “make fear fun” philosophy, his jouney from Second Life storefronts to server-me…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 310: Under the Radar with Three Stooges BBQ 51:49

3M ago51:49

51:49

Episode 310 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features a trio of guys from the St. Louis area who are having fun while learning the ropes of competition BBQ. Chris Flanders, Jason Adams and Rodney Adams are Three Stooges BBQ and they’re determined to make an impact against the big teams after learning the ropes in the backyard division. Go go “Under…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 309: Josh Schluterman, Lawson Parker 50:50

3M ago50:50

50:50

On Episode 309 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk tailgating with one of the best in college sports. Josh Schluterman and Ben Crozier are Baum BQ Squad out of Fayetteville, Ark. The duo are top-notch Steak Cookoff Association and Rib Cookout Association contestants, but the avid, long-time Arkansas Razorbacks fans throw some of the best tail…

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316. Valent: Evan Knowles and Ryan Rudd on Enabling Human-AI Collaboration to Win More RFPs, Faster 1:26:41

4M ago1:26:41

1:26:41

In this episode, we sit down with Valent co-founders Evan Knowles and Ryan Rudd to explore how their Lexington-based startup is transforming how teams respond to RFPs. Through a concept they call Decision Rooms, Valent empowers human teams to collaborate directly with AI agents - streamlining proposal workflows, unlocking collective intelligence, a…

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GAME Change Mini Series | Part 3: From Vision to Action 7:45

4M ago7:45

7:45

This episode marks Part 3 of a special mini-series - produced by Middle Tech in collaboration with the GAME Change coalition. Over the course of three episodes, we’ll explore how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to become a national hub for circular economy innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is part of a regional effort to …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 308: Alby Ranson, Thomas Gearhart 1:01:10

4M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Alby Ranson and Scuffletown Smokers don’t cook every weekend, like many championship-level BBQ teams. But the southern Indiana team makes the most of its opportunities, notching another World Championship recently at the KCBS World Invitational. On Episode 308 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Alby reviews the winning cook and talks about how the t…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 307: Brian Peyton, Aaron Huentelman 47:43

4M ago47:43

47:43

One of the new world champions from last week’s KCBS World Invitational joins us on Episode 307 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Brian Peyton from Meat Me In St. Louis earned the Grand Championship in the Open portion of the weekend and also had a solid coon in the Invitational. Brian breaks down his weekend and reviews his competition career with…

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GAME Change Mini Series | Part 2: Circularity in Action Across Kentucky and Tennessee 5:05

4M ago5:05

5:05

This episode marks Part 2 of a special mini-series - produced by Middle Tech in collaboration with the GAME Change coalition. Over the course of three episodes, we’ll explore how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to become a national hub for circular economy innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is part of a regional effort to …

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315. Lepidext: Dr. Bruce Webb and Dr. Mary Wallace on Solving a $2B Pest Problem Without Chemicals 50:08

4M ago50:08

50:08

Lepidext is a Lexington-based biotech company developing a natural, non-chemical solution to control one of agriculture’s most damaging pests - the corn earworm. Founded by Dr. Bruce Webb, a University of Kentucky professor emeritus and virus researcher, Lepidext uses a modified virus to sterilize pest populations without harming the environment.Th…

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GAME Change Mini Series | Part 1: Redefining Manufacturing in Kentucky and Tennessee 8:10

4M ago8:10

8:10

This episode marks Part 1 of a special mini-series - produced by Middle Tech in collaboration with the GAME Change coalition. Over the course of three episodes, we’ll explore how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to become a national hub for circular economy innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is part of a regional effort to …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 306: Bo Wheless, Heath Riles encore 49:39

4M ago49:39

49:39

One of our favorite segments on the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast over the last couple of years has been “Under the Radar” where we visit with up-and-coming pit masters. Many of them have gone on to achieve success and we visit with one on Episode 306 this week. Bo Wheless of Bocephus BBQ out of Mayetta, Kansas, was on the show two years ago. He’s sinc…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 305: Steven Raichlen, Tim Scheer 56:17

4M ago56:17

56:17

One of the world’s foremast authorities joins us on Episode 305 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Steven Raichlen is a multi-award winning writer and television host and we visit with Steven about his latest book, Project Griddle. It’s filled all you need to know about cooking on a flat-top, from expertly cooking meat, veggies and even desserts. We…

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314. How a UK Grad Bootstrapped a Startup to an $84M Exit: The Story of Silas Deane & VendEngine 44:03

4M ago44:03

44:03

Silas Deane is a founder, serial entrepreneur, and University of Kentucky graduate who bootstrapped his company, VendEngine, from a back-of-the-napkin idea to an $84 million exit. VendEngine serves correctional facilities, providing a solution that transforms how families support incarcerated loved ones. With no outside funding, Silas grew the comp…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 304: Heath Riles, Brad Vollmer 1:04:36

5M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

On Episode 304 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, one of the world’s open-fire cooking experts joins us. It’s Heath Riles, who’s headed to Memphis in May next week looking to bring home his first overall MIM Grand Championship after winning the Ribs championship two of the last 3 years. Heath will tell us how he’s been prepping for the world’s most-…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Mini-Episode 303: The Grill Guys of Missouri 5:45

5M ago5:45

5:45

We've been without power going on 36 hours following severe thunderstorms in our neck of the woods and were unable to complete recording for this week's show. But we do have an abbreviated Episode 303 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with Charlie Wallace of The Grill Guys of Missouri, previewing a backyard Ribs and Brisket class coming to the store…

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313. Why America Needs a Nuclear Renaissance: a Conversation with Nuclear Engineer & Advocate Dr. Nick Touran 1:19:23

5M ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Nick Touran is a nuclear engineer, educator, and advocate who spent nearly 16 years designing advanced reactors at TerraPower and building one of the most trusted resources in nuclear education, WhatIsNuclear.com. Now, he’s on a mission to help America rethink its relationship with nuclear energy - and its future.What would it take for nuclear to f…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 302: Jeff Fitter 1:03:25

5M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Operating a successful BBQ restaurant in 2025 can be a difficult endeavor with rising food costs and fielding a dependable work force, not to mention producing consistently, quality food. To overcome the many challenges, Jeff Fitter has transformed one of the long-time BBQ institutions of the St. Louis area into a new model with a combination of of…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 301: Steve Smith of Mad Dog BBQ 56:17

5M ago56:17

56:17

On Episode 301 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we learn the background of Steve Smith, a Florida pitmaster who’s had two portions of a competition career. Smith’s current team, Mad Dog BBQ, is ranked second in the 2025 KCBS Team of the Year standings behind the runaway freight train that is Brad Leighninger and Gettin’ Basted. Steve tells us abou…

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312. What if AI Actually Knew You? Plastic Labs & Courtland Leer Just Raised $5.35M to Make it Possible 56:00

5M ago56:00

56:00

In this episode, we’re joined by Courtland Leer, co-founder of Plastic Labs, to explore how AI can be made more personal, contextual, and aligned to individual users. Courtland walks us through his team’s mission to “decentralize alignment” and build agents that don’t just process inputs - they understand who you are. We dive into: - The philosophy…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 300: Tim Scheer, Richard Fergola 47:03

6M ago47:03

47:03

Helping us celebrate Episode 300 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast is one of busiest and move-innovative people in the open-fire cooking world. Tim Scheer, owner of Blues Hog and Marble Ridge Farms joins us to discuss Blues Hogs’ sponsorship of a NASCAR team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., plus five new sauces unveiled this week to bring the lineup to …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 299: The Baseball and BBQ duo 52:41

6M ago52:41

52:41

As we kick off the month of April, we discuss two of our favorite past times with the guys from the Baseball & BBQ Podcast. Jeff Cohen and Leonard Aberman have channeled a love for two of their favorite passions into a show that’s mirrored our time in the podcast world and on Episode 299 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we have a fun conversation …

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311. Prologue: Brad Luttrell on Learnings from Shutting Down GoWild and Starting Again 1:19:23

6M ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Brad Luttrell is a founder and storyteller who recently made the difficult decision to shut down his company, GoWild. Now, he’s building again—with more focus and experience behind his new company, Prologue. What actually happens when a startup fails? How do founders know when it’s time to pull the plug—and what comes next? Expect to learn how Brad…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 298: Rod Gray, Kevin Green 58:38

6M ago58:38

58:38

Episode 298 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast features a conversation with Rod Gray, CEO of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. During his nearly three years in leading the world’s largest competition BBQ organization, there have been ups and downs and we cover some of those with Rod after he gives us a preview of the 7th annual KCBS World Championshi…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 297: Dan Wright, Aaron Huentelman 56:47

6M ago56:47

56:47

One of the most-popular and enjoyable recurring segments of the show the last couple of years have been the “Under the Radar” looks at up-and-coming competition teams. This week on Episode 297 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we go Under the Radar with Dan Wright of Take it Easy BBQ from the St. Louis area. Take it Easy BBQ is making big strides a…

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310. Valvoline: Cooling the Hottest Tech - Valvoline’s Move into AI Infrastructure w/ George Zhang & Michael Morrison 25:17

6M ago25:17

25:17

Valvoline is known for its long history in automotive lubricants, but today, the company is pushing into a new frontier: data centers. As the demand for artificial intelligence grows and more data centers come online, the energy-intensive chips that power AI models are facing an overheating crisis. Enter Valvoline. In this episode, we sit down with…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 296: Josh DeWitt 48:53

7M ago48:53

48:53

We talk spice rubs on Episode 296 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast with one of the best in the business. Josh DeWitt began experimenting with spice combinations in his kitchen several years ago to begin a path that led to winning one of the industry’s biggest awards when his JDQ Spicy was named Best Rub on the Planet in 2023 by the American Royal W…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 295: Josh Hale, Ken Seales 1:06:50

7M ago1:06:50

1:06:50

On Episode 295 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with BBQ’s new world champions. That’s Josh Hale from Sure Shot BBQ out of Leander, Texas, who teamed up with wife Stacy and Reagan “No Shoes” Broesche - cooking on behalf of Always Able But Confused Cookers - to win Grand Championship honors at the 248-team Houston Livestock Rodeo an…

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309. Bringing Billions to Kentucky: Governor Andy Beshear on KY's Economic Development Successes 30:34

7M ago30:34

30:34

Logan and Evan sit down with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to discuss Kentucky’s economic development successes, private sector investment, and the role of innovation in shaping Kentucky's future. Under Governor Beshear’s administration, Kentucky has seen over $35 billion in private sector investment - more than any governor in Kentucky history - …

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 294: Stevo Nieto, Jacob Watt 57:59

7M ago57:59

57:59

On Episode 294 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we learn the story of Stephen Nieto - or “Stevo” as he’s known on the competition trail. Stephen and his Stevo’s BBQ Team out of Henderson, Nevada is coming off his third career Grand Championship as the Best in the Southwest in Yuma, Ariz., beating out a star-studded lineup. Stevo is a military vete…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 293: Tommy Blackmon, Josh Lenhart 59:43

7M ago59:43

59:43

We’ve had the honor of talking to numerous BBQ champions on a regular basis over the years. Sometimes, we also have brought you champions before they emerged. On Episode 293 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we offer up a double-dose of “Under the Radar” with the stories of a pair of up-and-coming competition pitmasters - Tommy Blackmon of Blue Smo…

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Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 292: Nicholas Owensby 47:25

7M ago47:25

47:25

On Episode 292 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, the guys review the big football game (which turned into a Super Dud) and how the food was the definite star of the day. We also talk it over with Nicholas Owensby from Sailor Nick’s BBQ about happenings in the Great Lakes BBQ Association, with a big Competition BBQ 101 class coming up soon. We check…