The Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast (Ben Arnot)
Explore every episode of The Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Sep 2021 | Creating a BBQ Icon | Haydn Graham | BlackBear BBQ | 00:59:51 | |
If you’re in the mood for American BBQ in Sydney, you absolutely have to check out BlackBear BBQ. The Texas BBQ inspired restaurant has become a Sydney food destination thanks to its delicious, mouth watering low and slow smoked meat including brisket, beef short ribs, pulled pork and even picanha. There are many that argue that BlackBear BBQ is one of, if not the best Sydney barbecue spot. Joining us for this episode is Haydn Graham, Managing Director and co-founder of BlackBear BBQ. What started out as an experiment with friends has grown up to become one of the most iconic American barbecue joints in the country. Not just that, but it’s expanded into a multisite venture, serving up some of the best BBQ all over Sydney. In this full episode of The Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Haydn and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, OzPig. If you love the outdoors, camping, and food, be sure to check out the OzPig range. With three different models and countless accessories, the OzPig is your perfect outdoor camp cooker! Check out: https://ozpig.com.au/ If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 19 Sep 2019 | 072 Craig 'The BBQ Ninja' Verhage - Smoking Alligators! | 01:01:44 | |
This is Episode Six of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. In this episode I get to have a good yarn with my old mate the BBQ Ninja. You know the guy. Bushy beard. Wears a bandana. Has a real thing for flame throwers. The plan was originally to record this session on site at Hogs for the Cause, but he arrived into New Orleans a little late and I had to leave New Orleans a little early. However being the kind of guy he is, we found another time to record over the phone and we had a great chat about the incredible ways in which BBQ can be utilised for philanthropy before getting into the finer details of hunting, cleaning and smoking alligator! Before we get into it, I’d like to let you know about our awesome merch shop. We’ve got our incredible Smoking Hot Confessions Tumbler as well as hoodies, hats, t-shirts and stickers. There’s also two amazing ebooks - 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ and the delicious Bacon Manifesto. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a fan boat and a shotgun, and join me as I learn all about smoking alligator with The BBQ Ninja. Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: JAGRD Woodfired - One of Australia's biggest smoker manufacturers: Smokers, Asado Grills, and Custom Builds! Dragon's Breath Charcoal - made from native Australian Gidgee, Dragon's Breath launches in October! Barbeques & More - The smoker shop with the lot! | |||
| 29 Aug 2019 | 068 Dan Robert - A History of Meat | 00:55:24 | |
This is Episode Three of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. In this episode I head down to the National Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans. There I chat with Dan Robert, the curator of Meat Science Programming. Dan was born into a family-owned meat processing and smokehouse business in Louisiana and after earning a degree in Food Science, had a 25 year career with the USFDA, travelling the US and the world inspecting thousands of meat packing plants. In this fascinating interview, I get a lesson in the history of meat in the US and we also get into different meat processing methods from around the world. Before we get into it, I’d like to let you know about our awesome merch shop. We’ve got our incredible Smoking Hot Confessions Tumbler as well as hats, t-shirts and stickers. There’s also two amazing ebooks - 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ and the delicious Bacon Manifesto. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a cup of thick black coffee and a big ole lamb loin chop, and join me as I take a journey through the history of meat in the USA. Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: Barbeques & More - The smoker shop with the lot! Clean Heat Charcoal - Burns Hot, and Burns long. Available nationally! JAGRD Woodfired - Smokers, Asado Grills, and custom builds! | |||
| 29 Jul 2021 | Pivoting a BBQ Business | Kell Phelps | Barbecue News Magazine | 00:59:08 | |
In the world of competition barbecue, Kell Phelps of the Barbecue News Magazine is a man who’s seen it all. Since 1990, Kell and his family have been documenting the competition BBQ scene in their magazine. From their HQ in Georgia, there is nary a BBQ contest that they haven’t been to, including Memphis in May and the American Royal BBQ Competition. They not only report on the barbecue competition, they also have articles on who’s who in the BBQ scene, trends in the BBQ industry, product reviews and of course many a delicious recipe to satisfy any meat eater. There is even a regular column which features a different BBQ podcast every month! In the 31 years that the magazine has been in print, Kell and his staff have seen every rise and fall in competition BBQ and and every trend come and go in the wider BBQ business industry. He’s also seen many things that he’s had to overcome in his own BBQ business, such as the so-called ‘death’ of print media, and the rise of digital media. But Kell is not the kind of man to shrink from facing adversity. Rather, he sees opportunity in every challenge, pivoting his business to ensure he stays up to date, current and relevant in the BBQ industry, despite the print media vs digital media battle. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Kell and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 26 Sep 2019 | 073 Saffron Hodgson on BBQ Conferences | 01:05:15 | |
This is Episode Seven of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. In this episode, Saffron Hodgson, the woman behind Bush Cooking steps into The Confessional. Saffron is an Aussie expat, living in Seattle, Washington who is taking the US by storm. It was actually Saffron who kicked off this year’s trip to America when she invited Smoking Hot Confessions to be part of the official media team covering the National BBQ and Grilling Association’s annual conference. Here, we get an insight into what it takes to get a profitable website off the ground and then we go even deeper into what it takes to run a successful professional conference within the world of BBQ. Before we get into it, I’d like to let you know about our awesome merch shop. We’ve got our incredible Smoking Hot Confessions Tumbler as well as hoodies, hats, t-shirts and stickers. There’s also two amazing ebooks - 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ and the delicious Bacon Manifesto. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a hearty cyber-brisket burger, and join me as I go behind the scenes at a professional conference with Saffron from Bush Cooking! Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: Dragon's Breath Charcoal - made from native Australian Gidgee, Dragon's Breath launches in October! JAGRD Woodfired - One of Australia's biggest smoker manufacturers: Smokers, Asado Grills, and Custom Builds! Fired Up BBQ - For all your catering needs, AND a BBQ school! | |||
| 23 Jul 2020 | 114 Dean Schumann from Schuey's BBQ | 00:59:49 | |
How many, and what’s the rarest Weber Kettle you own? I bet it doesn’t matter what you have, Dean ‘Schuey’ Schumann has you beat! Schuey’s BBQ has come a long way in a short time, but that’s exactly the way ‘Schuey’ had planned it. A photographer by profession, Schuey has combined his love photography with his passion for BBQ and created a very successful YouTube channel Schuey’s BBQ, where you can learn to ‘Master Your Grill’. And when we say grill, we don’t mean just any BBQ - we’re talking about the granddaddy of BBQs - the Weber Kettle. This project has come about after Schuey’s time as a founding member of popular TV show ‘Dipper’s Backyard BBQ Wars’. We talk more about this in the episode but the short story is that it is the only BBQ show in Australian history to make it to a second season - so you know they’re doing something right! But back to the Weber Kettles, Schuey is a self-confessed Weber addict and has one of the biggest and widest range of Webers I’ve ever heard of. I don’t want to tell you exactly what he’s got here - you’ll have to watch the episode. But he’s got quite the range of models, sizes, shapes, colours and ages. All he needs is one more bump in Weber prices, and Schuey will be able to retire! In this episode we get into how Dean got hooked on meat and fire, what it was like to be a part of Australian BBQ TV history, and we’re going to get the story on the creation of his YouTube channel. And, Schuey being the generous guy that he is, doesn’t give us one lesson, but two! In the third segment of the episode, Schuey shares some great advice about how to take better food photos, and how to shoot a great YouTube video. Check it out! This episode is sponsored by Meat N Fire Media Services. They help your business put the meat on the table. If you need help with digital or social media for your marketing campaigns the Meat N Fire is here for you. They offer photography, videography, podcasting, voiceovers and graphic design. They even offer online courses for those of you looking to up your skill set and give yourself an edge. Right now they’re offering $100 off their online course ‘Brand Building through Strategic Social Media Marketing’. To enrol, head to https://meatnfiremediaservices.com/product/brand-building-through-strategic-social-media-marketing and use the codeword ‘podcast’ at checkout. | |||
| 09 Jul 2020 | 112 Nawaf Refai from 2 Smokin Arabs | 00:59:03 | |
Nawaf Refai, owner and head pitmaster of 2 Smokin Arabs would have to be one of the most gentlemanly fellows in the Australian BBQ scene. Known as Raf by his friends, he was bitten by the BBQ bug several years ago, and what started out as a casual toe-dip into the competitive BBQ scene has evolved into so much more. But it’s not just his track record on the competition circuit and the food truck scene that sets him apart. He is a man who understands that his business owes its success to the support of the community that he services. And so he does everything he can to give back. In last year's bushfires he and his team hit the road and not only served the first responders, but also put on fundraising dinners, with the proceeds paid directly to said first responders to help them make sure they had everything they needed. And this is just the tip of the iceberg that is this man’s generosity. Check out 2 Smokin Arabs at: https://www.instagram.com/2smokinarabs_/ Grab the hottest BBQ merch in the world: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/shop/ | |||
| 26 Mar 2020 | 097 Dan Ryan from Gryphon Smokehouse | 01:20:28 | |
They say it's not what you know, but who you know. And that's certainly been the case for Dan Ryan of Gryphon Smokehouse. Dan is one of the originals of the Australian BBQ scene with his career in the smokey arts starting over a decade ago. Starting with one Weber Smokey Mountain, Dan has dedicated himself to studying the art of barbecue and has built Gryphon Smokehouse from the ground up. He now owns and runs one of the most popular smokehouses in Perth. I've been there personally and can vouch that it is definitely the business! In this episode, Dan takes us behind the scenes of the development of his fantastic smokehouse, reveals his mentors and shares a lot of wisdom from his years of experience as a professional BBQ'er, competitor, and international student of BBQ! If you'd like to support the show, please head on over to the SHC Online Shop and check out the killer merch we have available - t-shirts, hoodies, tumblers, caps, and of course, stickers! | |||
| 03 Jun 2021 | Ghost Kitchens - The Future of BBQ | Shawn P. Walchef | Cali Comfort BBQ | 00:58:45 | |
Ghost Kitchens - it sounds like a great name for a horror movie, but they could just be the future of BBQ. Shawn P. Walchef, founder of iconic California BBQ joint Cali Comfort BBQ is our guest on this incredible episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast. A serial entrepreneur, Shawn also happens to be one of the best BBQ Pitmasters not just in San Diego, but on the West Coast, and his barbecue smoked meat, including brisket burnt ends are the stuff of barbeque legend. But that’s not it. He also loves digital media and fully believes that investing in digital technologies is essential to the longevity of barbeque businesses. His first foray into digital media was the award winning Behind the Smoke Podcast with friend and colleague Derek Marso. That show won Best Audio Series at the NBBQA Conference in 2019. At that point, Shawn founded Cali BBQ Media and the Behind the Smoke BBQ Podcast became the Digital Hospitality podcast. Then the world changed, and Shawn doubled down on the power of digital technology and has literally transformed Cali Comfort BBQ into something new and ready for the new world. In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Shawn and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming soon - stay tuned for the confirmation of the date in July. New to BBQ? Grab your free copy of our eBook 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ' at our website now: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 18 Feb 2021 | Time, Temp & Feel | Booma | Booma's BBQ | 00:53:52 | |
Time, Temp & Feel are the three tenets of real low'n'slow barbecue. If you can master these three things, there's no stopping you. Booma, from Booma's BBQ has mastered these three things and his results speak for themselves. Booma has been team captain of the hugely successful Full Metal Kettle competition BBQ team. He's created a few hybrid teams for special events which have also been successful. He's created a wildly popular video series with famous BBQ filmmaker Jay Beaumont of Meatstock fame. And now he's working on a digital magazine in a partnership with Heat Beads. With all this experience, as you'd expect, there's nothing he can't cook. Burgers are a favourite at the moment, with beef, cheese and bacon jam. Smoked brisket is a breeze for him, as well as pork collar butts for pulled pork, pork ribs, and he also loves to do some barbeque lamb too. His videos of steaks are amazing and he's had great success in Steak Cookoff Association Competitions, cooking the perfect steak - his tomahawk steaks are just incredible. In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into:
This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, Heat Beads®. Heat Beads® have been a part of the BBQ family in Australia for over 50 years, fuelling fires and have a wide range of BBQ charcoal, briquettes, and other products. Learn more at: https://heatbeads.com.au/ New to the world of smoked meat? Grab your free copy of our ebook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ' at our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ | |||
| 25 Jan 2018 | 030 Brad fr Pure Meats Robina | 00:47:57 | |
A quality butcher is vital to success in BBQ and one of the best butchers around is Brad from Pure Meats Robina. He’s a classically trained butcher who’s become a low’n’slow specialist butcher. He has a tonne of knowledge and his shop is known as the only place to go for low’n’slow cuts on the Gold Coast. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode.
As a young kid in rural Victoria, he grew up running around his grandfather’s farm learning the trade from the old man, himself a traditional butcher. As soon as he could he started his apprenticeship and quickly developed a passion for ‘the old way’ of doing things. The low’n’slow movement affords Brad the opportunity to explore his passion for organic, all natural meat products and saves so many cuts from the mincer! If meat is your passion, you’ve got to catch this episode!
Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors
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| 17 Dec 2016 | 003 Dan Midgely - Offset Smokers | 00:57:01 | |
In Episode Three of the Comp Ready series of The Smoking Hot Confessions Podcast, I chat with Dan Midgely, owner and Master Pit Builder at BSG Smokers. Dan is a straight shooter who answered every question I could think to ask about buying, building and using an offset smoker. Thanks and appreciation go to Coastline Barbeques and Heating for sponsoring the first series of the Smoking Hot Confessions podcast. Check out their page http://www.coastlinebbq.com.au/ for more! Want more? Be sure to pick up your free ebook: 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ at http://smokinghotconfessions.com/comp-ready/ | |||
| 21 May 2020 | 105 Jim Fuller from FABLE | 00:57:28 | |
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is something very different to anything we’ve done before. In this Episode, I interview Jim Fuller, the founder of FABLE. FABLE is a mushroom-based meat substitute, backed by Heston Blumenthal and is set to take the world by storm. I’m not gonna lie - I was super skeptical. But I was also intrigued. It’s not every day that a BBQ podcast is contacted about a meat substitute so I had to admire the guys cahones. He essentially threw his gauntlet at my feet in a challenge. So we emailed back and forth for a while and it turns out, Jim is a BBQ-lovin’ good ole boy from Texas who just happens to be a mushroom scientist. So a guy with this background is bringing me a meat substitute? I knew it was going to be a good story. And you will too! Find out more about FABLE at: https://fablefood.co/ | |||
| 09 Jun 2022 | Creativity in Barbecue | Cassie Strohmeyer | Smoke on the Water | 00:56:10 | |
Barbecue can be as conformative or as creative as you want to make it. One BBQ pitmaster who refuses to relegate her food to the banality of conformity is Cassie Strohmeyer, head cook and team captain of Smoke on the Water competition BBQ team. Hailing from Gladstone, Queensland, Cassie spends her time traveling the east coast of Australia, competing in low and slow BBQ competitions with the Australasian Barbecue Alliance and hot and fast BBQ competitions with the Steak Cookoff Association. And it’s in these SCA competitions that Cassie truly shines with her creative culinary skills firmly at the forefront. Indeed, her dishes are so creative that she’s captured the attention of the World Food Championships, and at the time of writing, she’s on the final list of potential candidates for their Le Cordon Bleu Academy. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Cassie and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! | |||
| 01 Feb 2018 | 031 Ricki fr Bully BBQ | 01:19:52 | |
Ricki from Bully BBQ is my special guest in Ep 12 of Season 2 ‘Living the Dream’. Ricki embodies the very concept of living the dream. Unhappy in his job, he designed the lifestyle he wanted and then built a BBQ business to fit that lifestyle. The result was Bully BBQ - a travelling BBQ school. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode.
Having spent a year living in the States as an exchange student and married to an American, BBQ is now well and truly in Ricki’s blood. He’s had countless trips back and forth to the States and studied under the greats such as World Champion Chris Marks. He is a competitive BBQer, caterer, and BBQ teacher who mastered the art of living his dream. If you’re thinking of starting up some classes of your own, this Ep is for you!
Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors:
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| 10 Jun 2021 | A Lesson in Texas BBQ | Bill Dumas | Brotherton's Black Iron BBQ | 00:56:53 | |
Bill Dumas is a living legend of Texas BBQ. Currently with Brotherton’s Black Iron BBQ in Austin Texas, known for having some of the best bbq in the world, Bill is an old-school pitmaster who isn’t afraid of hard work. And what he’s working on at the moment isn’t just creating perfect American barbecue: he’s working on creating the perfect Texas Sausage. In fact, he’s more obsessed with his sausages than he is any other kind of barbecue, be it smoked brisket or otherwise! In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Bill and I talk all things BBQ including:
Barbe Con is coming soon - stay tuned for the confirmation of the date in July. New to BBQ? Grab your free copy of our eBook 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ' at our website now https://smokinghotconfessions.com P.S. If you’re looking for some of the best barbecue in the USA, you need to put Brothertons Black Iron BBQ on your BBQ roadtrip plan ASAP! | |||
| 15 Feb 2018 | 033 Julie-ann fr JAGRD Woodfired | 01:35:42 | |
Julie-ann swings by the Confessional for Ep 14 of Season 2 ‘Living the Dream’ to take us behind the scenes of successful Western Australian smoker manufacturer JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. In this episode, Julie-ann walks us step-by-step what you need to do to start your own smoker manufacturing company. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode.
Julie-ann and Glenn are a husband and wife team whose skills really compliment each other perfectly. They’ve been working together for several years and have all their systems down. The result is the stunning range of smoker ovens known as the JAGRD Black Beauty series. If you have a design and the desire, you gotta catch this Ep!
Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors:
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| 06 Jul 2017 | 014 Live @ Clean Heat Rib-Off 2017 | 01:14:50 | |
Not too long ago I was very privileged to have the opportunity to MC the Clean Heat Charcoal BBQ Rib-Off for Underground BBQ. It was the first competition of its kind in Australia and it was a hell of a great day out. It was essentially a down-and-dirty grudge match to work out who cooks the best pork ribs in Australia once and for all, earning themselves the title of Rib King or Queen. Oh, and a cool $1,000. In cash! The contestants were a veritable who’s who of Australian BBQ: the top three scoring teams for pork ribs from the 2016 season, and two wild card teams teams who are famous for their smack talk about their ribs. However, Rohan wanted a level playing field so supplied nearly identical smokers, charcoal and smoking woods and even ribs from the same supplier too. As soon as he filled me in on this plan, I knew I had to be involved. Still want more? Be sure to pick up your free ebook: 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ at http://smokinghotconfessions.com/ebooks/ | |||
| 31 Oct 2019 | 079 Andy Groneman - Kansas City Style BBQ | 01:12:35 | |
This is Episode Twelve of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. There is one world champion BBQ’er who has done so much to grow the BBQ scene in Australia that we should just make him an honorary Australian. And that man is Andy Groneman, Pitmaster of Smoke On Wheels Competition Team. Born and bred in Kansas City, Andy preaches KC Style BBQ around the US and indeed the world. And so he was the perfect person for us to get a lesson in what makes KC BBQ so unique. With summer coming up, it’s time for a new favourite t-shirt, and I’ve got just the thing. Drawing inspiration from the iconic BBQ pop culture art by Gil Elvgren, the Hail Mary T is black, like all good BBQ shirts should be, comes in both men’s and women’s cuts in a variety of sizes and of course feature Mary, who likes her BBQ smokey, spicy and just a little bit naughty. Check her out now! I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQCommunity is a great place to continue the conversation. So without further ado, grab yourself some Kansas City Style Ribs and some Bourbon, and join me as I learn about what makes Kansas City Style BBQ so unique! Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: Dragon's Breath Charcoal - made from native Australian Gidgee, Dragon's Breath launches in November! Harvey's Kitchen - Rubs, Sauces and Signature Dusts, Harvey's got what you need! JAGRD Woodfired - One of Australia's biggest smoker manufacturers: Smokers, Asado Grills, and Custom Builds! | |||
| 19 Aug 2021 | Beating Aussies at Lamb | Sterling Smith | Loot'n'Booty BBQ | 00:58:39 | |
If there is one thing that separates Aussie BBQ from American BBQ, it’s got to be lamb. In fact, we love lamb so much that it’s a standard category at almost every BBQ competition we have. There are many that even believe they have perfected this iconic Aussie protein. However, there is one man that keeps coming here and beating Aussies at lamb. That man is Sterling Smith from Loot’n’Booty BBQ. And boy does he know how to cook a rack of lamb! If you’ve heard of Loot’n’Booty before, that’s because Sterling Smith is one of the leading BBQ Pitmasters in the United States. He’s a regular winner at the American Royal, Memphis in May, Hogs for the Cause and more. He’s leveraged his success into a lucrative business too, with his range of Loot’n’Booty BBQ rubs, BBQ sauces and even BBQ pretzels! In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Sterling and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, OzPig. If you love the outdoors, camping, and food, be sure to check out the OzPig range. With three different models and countless accessories, the OzPig is your perfect outdoor camp cooker! Check out: https://ozpig.com.au/ If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 26 May 2022 | Women of Low 'n Slow BBQ | Ceri Ford | 00:57:14 | |
We continue our podcast series featuring the most influential women in BBQ with Ceri Ford, one of the most prolific BBQ judges on the circuit and founder of the Women of Low ‘n Slow Australia Facebook group. She’s a registered judge with the Australasian Barbecue Alliance, Kansas City Barbeque Society and the Steak Cookoff Association. I would challenge any pitmaster to know as much about BBQ as Ceri, or travel as many miles for competitions as she has. She’s also the founder of Healthy Party Girl, a business where Ceri dedicates herself to helping her clients achieve balance and improve their health. In short, Ceri is the very definition of goal setting, hard work, and a dedication to the smokey art of BBQ!
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! | |||
| 26 Jun 2019 | 063 Live @ Townsville BBQ Battle | 01:32:35 | |
This is Episode Eight of Season Five. In this episode I’m on the road again and this time heading to far north Queensland for the inaugural Townsville BBQ Battle. It’s the dead of winter in Australia right now, so a trip north was exactly what the doctor ordered. I had left my hoodie in my truck at the airport, but it didn’t matter. Situated right on the beach, the sun was hot, the skies were clear, and the fresh ocean breeze was only heightened by the delicious smell of meat, fire and smoke. Before we get into it, I’d like to let you know about our awesome online shop. New to the shop is our Hail Mary T-shirt. Drawing inspiration from the iconic BBQ pop culture art by Gil Elvgren, the Hail Mary T is black, like all good BBQ shirts should be, come in both men’s and women’s cuts in a variety of sizes and of course feature Mary, who likes her BBQ smokey, spicy and just a little bit naughty. Check her out now at smokinghotconfessions.com/shop/ I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, and join me in beautiful, sunny Townsville for their first ever BBQ Battle! | |||
| 17 Sep 2020 | 122 Anthony Shepherd from OzPig | 00:55:04 | |
There aren’t many people that can claim their family as Royalty in the Aussie outdoor lifestyle, but Anthony Shepherd is one of them. His parents were the founders of OzPig - the outdoor BBQ / camp kitchen / wood stove that has become an integral part of quality family time for so many Australian families. Now Anthony is running the family business and the OzPig has gone from strength to strength, with a whole host of new products and distribution in several countries around the world. In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into the early days of OzPig, the development process, and the transition of the business from one generation to the next. We learn about the growth that’s happened now the company is in the hands of the second generation, the wide range of new products now available, and we get a sneak peek into what’s next for this family-owned Australian business. We close out the interview with a lesson on how to put together the Ultimate Camp Dinner - an easy topic for Anthony given his family legacy of camp cooking. Check it out now! This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is brought to you by Meat N Fire Media Services. If you need photography, videography, podcasting or social media help, Meat N Fire is here for you. Learn more at: https://meatnfiremediaservices.com Also, we are currently calling for businesses to partner with for the show. We have experienced massive growth in the last few months and are now looking for passionate enthusiastic businesses who are keen to get their message seen and heard by raving mad BBQ fans. To find out more, shoot Ben an email at | |||
| 28 Jul 2017 | 016 Live @ BBQ & Beats 2017 | 00:49:58 | |
This episode was recorded live at the BBQ & Beats Competition at the NightQuarter on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. It’s a very interesting episode as it documents a BBQ competition that was the first of its kind in Australia – a day competition. It was a small comp teams-wise – there were only 8 of us. Yes, I said us. I threw my hat in the ring and decided to take a swing. I was up against some big names though – Smokin’ Sappers, Smokin’ Hot Bros, Country Boys BBQ, Smoke Kings, Meat Sweats, Flamin Mongrels and Grillin’ in the Name of. These were all trophy winning teams and in the case of the Meat Sweats, a multiple Grand Champion team. I definitely had my work cut out for me. Still want more? Be sure to pick up your free ebook: 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ at http://smokinghotconfessions.com/ebooks/ | |||
| 04 Feb 2021 | Building a New BBQ Life | Cam House | Cams Q | 00:58:14 | |
If you had a catastrophic, life-changing accident involving a BBQ, I'd wager that you'd never want to go near a barbecue ever again. But not Cam. Cam House, from Cam's Q suffered a huge accident in 2019 when a fully loaded Weber Kettle grill fell on him, resulting in 3rd degree burns to his arm and hand. The resulting surgeries, skin grafts and complications have taken their toll on his and his partner's lives and finances, but Cam is not to be deterred. His love of low and slow BBQ food, smoked brisket, pulled pork, BBQ chicken and BBQ ribs as well as all things wood and charcoal just couldn't be denied. Despite his horrific burns, he's now rebuilding himself a brand new BBQ life, centred around barbeque and is forging a new path, creating an industry for himself that didn't exist before. In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into:
This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, Heat Beads®. Heat Beads® have been a part of the BBQ family in Australia for over 50 years, fuelling fires and have a wide range of BBQ charcoal, briquettes, and other products. Learn more at: https://heatbeads.com.au/ New to the world of smoked meat? Grab your free copy of our ebook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ' at our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ Support the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast on Patreon: | |||
| 17 Mar 2022 | How to Grow on TikTok | John Austin | AussieQ Backyard BBQ | 00:59:07 | |
John Austin is many things. A husband. A Father. A serviceman. A backyard BBQ lover. And now a TikTok superstar!
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to the Smoking Hot Confessions website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 01 Dec 2018 | 044 Daniel fr Fort Smith BBQ Society | 00:53:39 | |
Okay, so the final stop on our tour of the US was Fort Smith, Arkansas, the home of WalMart. My wife’s family is from that town so were there to visit the Aunts and Uncles. Not that that stopped me tracking down some very interesting people to talk Q with. The first was Daniel from the Fort Smith BBQ Society. This is a very passionate group of local people looking to make a difference in their local area. They get out there, get dirty, and help some of the most needy in their community. But if I tell you any more, I’ll spoil it. Much thanks and appreciation go to this episode's sponsors: Smokey Q - Delicious spice rubs proudly made in WA Shire Smokers - Teaching 'Q 1-on-1 and in small groups Wyld Smoke - Outstanding QLD made BBQ rubs | |||
| 16 Jul 2020 | 113 Jason Linto from Barbecue Events Australia | 00:53:07 | |
BBQ Events Australia like to do things differently to everybody else. Right from the start they’ve looked beyond the traditional business models within the BBQ industry and have sought to innovate at every opportunity. Jason Linto and his team are responsible for bringing several big name BBQ celebrities from the US to Australia, to share their wisdom with us. Two of those names include Harry Soo and Big Moe Cason. I was privileged to meet Moe and hang out with him at Smokin’ on the Water in 2018. But that competition was just one of the things that the BEA boys had him doing! Perhaps the biggest thing that BEA is known for is bringing Brew’n’Que to Australia. The lads have set this up as a sister competition with the original in NorCo, California. The winner of each event wins an all-expenses paid trip to compete at their sister event. So the Australian winner goes to compete in California and vice versa. This is a truly incredible experience and opportunity for Australian BBQ competitors. In this episode Jason and I chat about the formation of BEA, the challenges and successes they’ve had, as well as their brand new Backyard Barbecue Series and the exciting opportunities there. And finally, we close out the interview with some tips and advice for people wanting to get into competition BBQ for the first time. | |||
| 25 Aug 2022 | Turning Competition wins into Cash | David Bouska | Butcher BBQ | 00:55:20 | |
If you’re serious about BBQ, and let’s be honest, you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t, then you’ll know about Butcher BBQ. Their BBQ rubs and injections are staples of competition BBQ kitchens around the world and have been credited with more trophy wins than any other product out there. The founder is David Bouska - world championship winning Pitmaster, BBQ Pitmasters competitor and champion archer. A butcher by trade, David fell in love with competition BBQ and it wasn’t long before his knowledge of meat gave him an edge over his fellow BBQ competitors. And the rest, as they say, is history. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, David and I get into:
Looking to get more from your BBQ? Check out Barbe Con. The library is now open. Learn how to cook better BBQ and become the envy of family and friends. And if you have a BBQ business, learn how to sharpen your game to make those fat stacks of brisket cash! | |||
| 01 Jul 2021 | BBQ Marketing Guru | Joey Machado | Blues Hog BBQ & Gateway Drum Smokers | 00:59:02 | |
Joey Machado is something of a legend in the BBQ industry in the United States, a marketing guru, if you will. He’s known as the man who built B&B Charcoal into the powerhouse that it is today, and is now working with Blues Hog BBQ and Gateway Drum Smokers, legends in their own right! I first met Joey at the World’s BBQ Championships in Houston, and really got to know him at the 2019 NBBQA Annual Conference in Kansas City. I can say without a doubt that Joey is one of the most skilled, knowledgeable and generous people in the business today.
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 02 Dec 2017 | 022 Hillbilly Wes fr Bovine & Swine | 01:08:11 | |
In Episode 3 of ‘Living the Dream’, Hillbilly Wes from Bovine & Swine takes me through all the steps involved in opening a bricks’n’mortar BBQ joint. Bovine & Swine is based in Enmore, Sydney and is one of, if not the, most popular BBQ joint in Australia. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode. Wes covers just about every topic you can think of in this interview. He discusses the pros and cons of going into bricks’n’mortar, the advantages and disadvantages versus catering, and what it takes to be successful. He also gives us all the details of his background and how this has helped him get to where he is. This is an episode not to be missed! Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors:
Get your free ebook now! | |||
| 28 Feb 2019 | 058 Live @ Hobart Blues, Brews and Barbecues 2019 | 01:26:29 | |
This is episode three of Season Five. This season covers the 2019 Australian Competitive BBQ Circuit and includes recordings from some of the biggest and best festivals from all over this beautiful wide brown land of ours. In short, I’m going to be spending the year flying, driving, eating, walking and talking my way around Australia and I’m bringing you along for the ride! In this episode I jump in a car, then a plane, then another plane and then another car to get down to Hobart Brewing Company for the Hobart Blues, Brews and Barbecues Festival. It was my first time on the Apple Isle and I fell in love with the beauty of the land and warmness of the people. And what a spot for a BBQ Festival! Folks, it was literally a waterfront brewery! Add some smoked meats, icy cold beers, warm summer sunshine and beautiful blue skies and well, that’s my kind of heaven! The Tassie BBQ scene is obviously alive and well and it was great to see such camaraderie and mateship between competitors. I can’t wait to get back down there again next year! Now, this will be the last episode for a little while. Season Five is the 2019 Australian Festival Series and it’s going to be a little while before I head to another competition in Australia. However, in three weeks time I’m heading to the States for a month. I’m going to the Hammond BBQ Challenge, which you would have heard about when I interviewed the promoter Eric Phares in Episode 7 of Season 3. It’s been the biggest competition in the state of Louisiana for the last 18 years so that’s going to be awesome. I’m then going to be interviewing several Louisianan pitmasters over the following week before partnering up with The BBQ Ninja at Hogs for the Cause, a huge charity BBQ Festival in New Orleans. You’ll remember Craig from Episode 6 of Season 3. We’re then road tripping up through Memphis and St Louis before hitting up Kansas City for the National BBQ & Grilling Association’s Annual Conference and Festival. There’s four days of BBQ Nirvana going on there including a tour of the most famous BBQ joint in KC, the Conference, the Awards night, a live recording of TV cooking show ‘Culinary Food Fight’, and a Festival which includes an SCA competition. From there, we’re having a few days R&R, white-water rafting in the Ozark Mountains and then I’m competing in an SCA competition in Conway, Arkansas and checking out the headquarters of PK Grills in their hometown of Little Rock. Then it’s back to Australia and back to my day job for a rest! Naturally, I’m taking my recording gear with me and will be sharing the entire trip with you. So Season 6 will be my U.S. Road Trip Part 2! Before we get started, I’d like to let you know that my new ebooks are now available on the website. There is the second edition of my well-loved ‘27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ’ and also the deliciously new ‘Bacon Manifesto’. The ‘Bacon Manifesto’ includes what you need to know about making bacon at home and then some incredible recipes to give you an idea of what to do with it. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a brisket pie, some microbrewed beer, and join me as I soak up the sunshine and good vibes of the Hobart Blues, Brews and Barbecues Festival 2019! | |||
| 22 Jul 2021 | How to Build a BBQ Empire | Mark Lambert | Sweet Swine 'o Mine | 00:59:40 | |
I’m not going to lie - this is a total fanboy episode for me. Mark Lambert is a goliath in the BBQ world. Firstly, he’s a ridiculously successful competition BBQ pitmaster. He’s a 6 time World Champion, 4 time Memphis in May World Champion, and 2017 American Royal World Champion in Ribs. He’s also the founder of the powerhouse rub, sauce and distributing brand Sweet Swine O’ Mine. You know who I’m talking about - we’ve literally all had a bottle of his rub in our cupboard. I think I have three in there right now actually. But Mark is so much more than just a champion competition BBQ Pitmaster. He’s an entrepreneur, a visionary, and in short, an inspiration. His work extends beyond his BBQ competition successes and his business that have grown from that. He’s also a philanthropist - he’s a cornerstone member of the one and only Operation BBQ Relief and most recently Steaks 4 Sheepdogs. He’s always looking for ways to give back to the communities that have supported him so much. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Mark and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 28 Jan 2021 | Beginner BBQ Myths | Gus Gallagher | Perth BBQ School | 00:54:04 | |
Gus Gallagher from Perth BBQ School is a man who has discovered his true passion and is now living his dream. Imagine this. You love BBQ. You love hanging out with your mates. How good would it be if your job could be hanging out with your mates and teaching them how to cook barbecue? And what if you could actually pull it off? This is exactly what Gus has done with Perth BBQ School. He teaches people how to use a Weber kettle, how to smoke a brisket, how to make pulled pork and so much more. This is in addition to operating a BBQ Food Truck, and catering events. If it can be cooked with fire, Gus is all over it, and teaching his students how to do it too! In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into:
This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, Heat Beads®. Heat Beads® have been a part of the BBQ family in Australia for over 50 years, fuelling fires and have a wide range of BBQ charcoal, briquettes, and other products. Learn more at: https://heatbeads.com.au/ New to the world of smoked meat? Grab your free copy of our ebook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ' at our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ | |||
| 31 Mar 2022 | BBQ Catering, Pit Building and Competition BBQ | Blair Tomkinson | Bears BBQ | 00:54:03 | |
Slinging brisket for cash is no easy feat, but Mackay pitmaster Blair Tomkinson sure makes it look that way. His BBQ catering business, Bears BBQ Low and Slow Catering, has been recently nominated for ‘Catering Operation of the Year’ in the annual Australasian Barbecue Alliance Awards. His brisket and beef ribs are the stuff of legend, and his prowess in Texas BBQ brought him to the attention of competition BBQ royalty ‘Country Boys BBQ’. Blair was quickly recruited to the team and is now in charge of cooking all the beef at the Country Boys’ BBQ competition events. So, not only is he an award winning BBQ pitmaster and an award nominated BBQ business operator, he is also a renowned barbecue pit builder. Yes, he builds all the pits that he cooks on! In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Blair and I get into:
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to the Smoking Hot Confessions website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 08 Feb 2018 | 032 Cameron fr BBQ Spit Rotisseries | 01:16:51 | |
Cameron from BBQ Spit Rotisseries takes a knee in Ep 13 of Season 2 ‘Living the Dream’. Cameron runs the Sydney branch of one of Australia’s most successful independent BBQ retail stores. In this episode, Cameron takes us behind the scenes of what must be a dream for so many of us - he gets to hang out and play with BBQs and talk ‘Q with people all day long. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode
With a strong background in retail, Cameron has brought his well-honed skills to the world of BBQ. For him, Customer Service is the key to success and in this episode, not only does he tell us what it takes to run a BBQ business, he gives away a fair few of his secrets to help you with your business. If you’ve ever dreamed of running your own BBQ shop, this is your episode!
Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors:
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| 02 Jun 2022 | Native Spices in Low and Slow | Amanda Trapnell | Native Harvest | 00:54:54 | |
What do kangaroos, emu and crocodile have in common? They are all delicious on the grill. Jokes aside, despite a reputation of being a barren land, Australia actually has an incredibly large and diverse range of foods - enough to support countless generations of Indigenous Australians for approximately 50,000 years. Sadly, much of this knowledge has been lost. However, one woman is determined to restore and share this knowledge. Amanda Trapnell is cofounder of Native Harvest. She works with Indigenous Australians to harvest Indigenous ingredients and uses them in BBQ products such as rubs and sauces. Her work ensures that Indigenous Australians are equitably compensated for their products and knowledge, and non-Indigenous Australians learn about and gain respect for said products and knowledge. It’s important work and another example of how BBQ can bring people together. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Amanda and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! | |||
| 08 Oct 2020 | 125 Michael Coates from Mexican Street Food | 00:58:46 | |
BBQ and Mexican food is a match made in heaven. Michael and his partner Miroslawa definitely agree and have created an incredible fusion restaurant, named Mexican Street Food by Little Flock, in Melbourne, a city known for its new and exciting restaurants. However, I don't need to explain how 2020 has been difficult for restaurants. In this Ep, Michael and I talk about restaurant life under COVID restrictions. We talk about forced evolution, the coming together of the industry, including finding new ways of supporting each other, and of course we get right into some of those delicious fusion flavours of traditional Mexican and low'n'slow BBQ. This is a much watch for anyone working in the industry! This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is brought to you by Meat N Fire Media Services. If you need photography, videography, podcasting or social media help, Meat N Fire is here for you. Learn more at: https://meatnfiremediaservices.com Also, we are currently calling for businesses to partner with for the show. We have experienced massive growth in the last few months and are now looking for passionate enthusiastic businesses who are keen to get their message seen and heard by raving mad BBQ fans. To find out more, shoot Ben an email at | |||
| 17 Jan 2019 | 052 Live @ BBQ Wars 2018 | 01:23:12 | |
In this episode my buddy Anthony from Black Bark Barbecue and I jump in the faithful Smoking Hot Confessions Mobile and make the annual pilgrimage to BBQ Mecca - the annual BBQ Wars in Port Macquarie, the biggest competition on the Australian calendar with over 100 BBQ teams fighting it out for BBQ glory. Before we get started, there’s just a week left to get my ebook ‘27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ’ available for free on the website. I’ve recently put together a second edition of that book, working with a professional graphic designer and I’ll be releasing that soon. Which means that the free, 1st edition is only going to be available for another week. After that, the second edition will be available for purchase, and there is even going to be a second book available, but I’m keeping the details under wraps for now. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a pulled pork sammich and a frosty and join me as I hit the pavement at BBQ Wars 2018. Head to the Smoking Hot Confessions website for full show notes. | |||
| 14 Nov 2019 | 081 Kathy Pullin - Pullin Premium BBQ | 00:59:10 | |
This is Episode Fourteen of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. Kathy Pullin is a dynamo in the world of BBQ. She’s the owner and founder of renowned BBQ catering setup ‘Pullin’s Premium BBQ’. She’s got a regular TV spot as ‘Grillin’ with Kathy’ and she’s a successful Brand Ambassador for not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR separate brands. All this is in addition to her work raising awareness of domestic violence issues of which she herself is a survivor. With summer coming up, it’s time for a new favourite t-shirt, and I’ve got just the thing. Drawing inspiration from the iconic BBQ pop culture art by Gil Elvgren, the Hail Mary T is black, like all good BBQ shirts should be, comes in both men’s and women’s cuts in a variety of sizes and of course feature Mary, who likes her BBQ smokey, spicy and just a little bit naughty. Check her out now! I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a slab of un-sauced pork ribs and something sudsy and join me as I learn about the world of brand ambassadorship. Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: Harvey's Kitchen - Rubs, Sauces and Signature Dusts, Harvey's got what you need! Dragon's Breath Charcoal - made from native Australian Gidgee, Dragon's Breath launches in October! JAGRD Woodfired - One of Australia's biggest smoker manufacturers: Smokers, Asado Grills, and Custom Builds! | |||
| 11 Jun 2020 | 108 Dan Wilschefski from Townsville BBQ Battle | 00:57:46 | |
The Townsville BBQ Battle was a highlight of the 2019 BBQ Competition Circuit - and I’m not the only one to say so. It was the perfect combination of sunny Queensland weather, a beachside location, and an incredibly warm and welcoming public. In fact, on a per capita basis, the Townsville BBQ Battle had a better turnout than any Festival I’ve been to before. Quite the feat for a debut event. But all that has changed for 2020. In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, I chat with Dan Wilschefski, a co-founder of the Townsville BBQ Battle. We get into the ins and outs of the competition, learning how they managed to pull off such an incredible BBQ festival on their first run out of the gate. We also talk about the monumental changes they’ve had to put in place for 2020. Like so many other events, the Townsville BBQ Battle is unable to go ahead in 2020 due to Covid. So, the 2020 Townsville BBQ Battle is going Virtual! https://www.facebook.com/events/874201009724033/ Winter is here! Check out our range of winter merch in our online shop: | |||
| 24 Dec 2020 | The BBQ Professor | David Ong | Pitmaster University | 00:59:15 | |
There are many who believe that there is an overreliance on gadgets and technology in BBQ. One of the Pitmasters pushing for a return to traditional ways of preparing barbecue is David Ong, from Pitmaster University. As well known as he is for his long Facebook posts, David has been a part of the Australian Barbeque scene since Day 1, and was even awarded the first ever Australasian Barbecue Alliance Personality of the Year Award. Since then, he’s started a YouTube channel that’s garnered millions of views (if you haven't seen his Crispy Pork Belly Recipe you haven't lived), and now heads up Pitmaster University, a BBQ school based in Perth, Western Australia, teaching traditional Texas BBQ to those who want to learn how to make barbeque at home. In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into:
This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, Meat N Fire Media Services. To save 50% off their 'Brand Building through Strategic Social Media Marketing' course, use the codeword 'Santa' at checkout! https://meatnfiremediaservices.com/ New to the world of smoked meat? Grab your free copy of our ebook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ' at our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ | |||
| 12 Nov 2020 | What is Butcher Wars? | Shannon Walker | 00:55:55 | |
Shannon Walker from Butcher Wars and Black Bear BBQ is our guest on the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast this week. A man who is often behind the scenes, Shannon steps out on to the centre stage here and let's us know what really goes on at so many of the BBQ icons we know and love. In this Episode we get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next BBQ, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Shoot Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 09 Sep 2021 | Low and Slow Master Butcher | Luke Nagel | Kelly's Meats | 00:56:13 | |
Luke Nagel is a man who knows meat. Luke is a career butcher and the manager of Kelly’s Meats. One of the most well known low and slow butcheries in Melbourne, Kelly’s Meats is responsible for sponsoring many of the best competition BBQ teams in the country, supplying them with only the best steak, beef, lamb, pork, brisket, chicken, and whatever else the promoters might throw at them. However, not only is Luke one of the best butchers in the country, his love of food has taken him much further into the meat industry. He is a competition BBQ pitmaster, having represented Australia at The American Royal BBQ Competition in Kansas City, after competing locally. He’s also been on the other side of a BBQ competition, having hosted his own series competitions here in Australia, with both the Australasian Barbecue Alliance and the Kansas City Barbeque Society. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Luke & I get into:
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 26 Aug 2021 | Competition BBQ and Beyond | Sonia Cattell | Signature Smoke | 00:59:23 | |
Sonia Cattell is one of the top BBQ pitmasters in Australia at this time. She and her competition BBQ team Signature Smoke have risen from Beginner to Pro level in just two short years, racking up a number of trophies and two back to back Grand Champion wins. Whether it’s an ABA, KCBS or SCA BBQ competition, they always bring out their best competition BBQ recipes, producing outstanding pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken thighs and more delicious food. I can personally vouch for their incredible creations. With her partner Stix, they’ve leveraged their championship BBQ success and have since opened a BBQ popup with their competition BBQ trailer and have even had a wonderful residency at a popular club in Brisbane. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Sonia and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, OzPig. If you love the outdoors, camping, and food, be sure to check out the OzPig range. With three different models and countless accessories, the OzPig is your perfect outdoor camp cooker! Check out: https://ozpig.com.au/ If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 10 Sep 2020 | 121 Rusty Dellit - Rusty's Food and Barbecue | 00:59:36 | |
Rusty's Food and Barbecue hasn't been open long, having launched during, yes during, the COVID lockdowns. However, in these brief few months, Rusty has managed to create something very special. Every night, their venue is filled to the COVID capacity, the crowds are ecstatic with the food and, most importantly are loyal, with the majority of the crowd being repeat customers. So how has Rusty managed to put such a successful BBQ business together in such a short, difficult time? This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is brought to you by Meat N Fire Media Services. If you need photography, videography, podcasting or social media help, Meat N Fire is here for you. Learn more at: Also, we are currently calling for businesses to partner with for the show. We have experienced massive growth in the last few months and are now looking for passionate enthusiastic businesses who are keen to get their message seen and heard by raving mad BBQ fans. To find out more, shoot Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 14 Oct 2021 | The Best BBQ joint in QLD | Bluebird Kitchen and Smokehouse | 00:59:52 | |
There are BBQ restaurants, there are BBQ joints, and then there’s Bluebird Kitchen and Smokehouse. Inspired by American barbecue, Jim and Katie Osborn have brought authentic Texas BBQ to Warwick, Queensland. Armed with a love of food, a do it yourself attitude and plenty of brisket, pork ribs, sausage and chicken, this husband and wife barbeque foodie team have created what is, in my opinion, one of the best restaurants you’re ever going to find. All of the food is done in traditional Texas style. All the smoked meat is done on site in an offset smoker, using nothing but the best woods available. Combining outdoor cooking with indoor dining, everything in this restaurant is simply delicious. Mentioned above, not only is the smoked meat incredible, but all of the side dishes are first rate as well. I can personally vouch for Bluebird - I’ve been there once, and I’ll get there again soon. Seriously, it’s some of the best BBQ I’ve ever eaten. You should do yourself a favour and eat at this restaurant: it’s first rate. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Jim, Katie and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 28 Nov 2019 | 085 SHC After Dark at Kangaroo Valley | 01:06:02 | |
This is Episode Fifteen of Season Five. And this episode is very different from anything you’ve heard from Smoking Hot Confessions before. Typically, SHC podcast eps are quite structured and have a clear purpose and outcomes. For this episode, I was chatting with Nick from Scotch n Smoke and Matt from Shire Smokers when we decided to flick on the audio recorder. Shark Island Brewing saw what we were up to and made sure we had all the hydration that we’d need. The result is a kind of ‘relaxed fit’ episode, which when I think about it, is probably perfect for BBQ! Make sure you let me know in the socials if you like this style of episode and if enough of you are into it, I’ll add it to the roster for 2020! Oh, and there are a couple of bad words in this episode, so if you’re listening with kids you might want to warn them. With summer coming up, it’s time for a new favourite t-shirt, and I’ve got just the thing. Drawing inspiration from the iconic BBQ pop culture art by Gil Elvgren, the Hail Mary T is black, like all good BBQ shirts should be, comes in both men’s and women’s cuts in a variety of sizes and of course feature Mary, who likes her BBQ smokey, spicy and just a little bit naughty. Check her out now! | |||
| 03 Feb 2022 | Brazilian BBQ Fusion | Adriano Andrade | BRZ Foods | 00:54:50 | |
If you've been with our channel for a while, you'll know that here at Smoking Hot Confessions, we're all about low'n'slow BBQ. You'll also know that we love to mix things up. And so when I met Adriano Andrade for the first time, I knew I had to have him on the show. You see, Adriano Andrade is from Brazil and now calls Australia home. His passion is Brazilian BBQ Fusion. Yep, you read that right. He's bringing traditional Brazilian flavours to the world of low'n'slow barbecue. And he's got some killer flavours. His picanha rub is a favourite here at Smoking Hot Confessions and is on high rotation! In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Adriano and I get into:
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 05 Mar 2020 | 094 Dan Barret - Big Smoke BBQ | 00:58:12 | |
Dan Barret is about as close to BBQ Royalty as it gets in Australia. As the one man team ‘Big Smoke BBQ’, Dan has risen through the ranks on the competition BBQ scene and now travels around the country, and the world, absolutely dominating on all fronts. In 2019, Big Smoke BBQ finished 4th on the KCBS Australia ladder, which is already very commendable, but when you find out how many KCBS competitions Dan had to do to get there, you’ll be surprised! We round out the interview talking about some very interesting topics. We learn about different business opportunities that his success in competition BBQ has led him to, as well as a complete career change. More interesting though, is the closing segment where we discuss pellet grills. As a brand ambassador for Green Mountain Grills, Dan was the perfect person to explain all about how they work and why he’s so in love with them. In fact, Dan was cooking on pellet grills years before they were trendy on the Australian competition BBQ scene. He even shares some secret tips and tricks to make sure that you can get the most out of your pellet grill! If you’d like to get some of the best looking merch around, check out our line up in our online shop. We have our sensational Hail Mary T-Shirts and Hoodies, Kettle Caps, Tumblers and some large, high quality stickers. They are hands down the best looking gear around! | |||
| 30 Jun 2022 | Remembering the Missing History of Barbecue | Dr Howard Conyers | 00:59:54 | |
When asked for their best piece of advice, many BBQ pitmasters will pause, reflect, and say ‘Relax, it’s not rocket science.’ Except, sometimes it is. Such is the case for Dr Howard Conyers, a pitmaster from South Carolina, currently living in Louisiana. Why Louisiana? Because by day, Dr Conyers is a rocket scientist for NASA. Yep, during the week he sends rockets worth countless millions of dollars hurtling through space, and on the weekends, cooks whole hog in the most traditional of ways and teaching the missing history of barbecue on his family farm as part of The 100 Acres Project. Dr Conyers is truly a Guardian of BBQ and The 100 Acres Project is an initiative of his BBQ operation, Conyers Family BBQ. Cooking under his own name is a right that was denied his ancestors and this is the driving motivation behind everything Dr Conyers does. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Dr Conyers and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! https://smokinghotconfessions.com/barbeconprereg/
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| 03 Jan 2019 | 050 Live @ Burleigh BBQ Championships 2018 | 00:40:05 | |
This is a very, very important episode for three, very very important reasons. Firstly, it’s Episode 5 of Season 4, which means we’re halfway through. Secondly, this episode was recorded at the Fabulous Burleigh BBQ Championships, the jewel in the crown of competition BBQ in Queensland and my personal favourite. Smoking Hot Confessions also kicked some serious butt at this comp, but more on that later. And finally, with this episode, the Smoking Hot Confessions Podcast turns 50. That’s right folks, the big 5-0. So I want to just take a minute and say a big thanks to all of you for your support of the show. If you weren’t listening, I would be doing this, and I love doing this, so thanks. For full show notes, head on over to the Smoking Hot Confessions website. | |||
| 01 Dec 2018 | 041 Craig 'The BBQ Ninja' Verhage | 00:57:30 | |
One of the things I love about BBQ comps is the networking that happens when you’re not even aware of it. One of the fantastic connections I made at the Houston World’s BBQ Championships was Craig Verhage, the BBQ Ninja. He was there helping out one of the British teams and was working with another team as well, doing whole hogs for their evening soirees. He’s been competing for four times longer than our whole scene has been operating, has a wealth of knowledge, he’s a TV celebrity and in this episode he’s going to be giving us a lesson in whole hog cooking. Much thanks and appreciation go to this episode's sponsors: Clean Heat Charcoal - burns hot, long, and is eco-friendly Smarfire BBQ - making you BBQ life easier Hogpit Smokers - Custom Aussie made smokers | |||
| 14 Jun 2019 | 062 Winners from Smoke in Broke 2019 | 01:01:28 | |
This is Episode Seven of Season Five. In this episode I get in the ears of the Reserve Grand Champion and Grand Champion winners from Smoke in Broke last weekend. So I kick things off with Richard from Beer-B-Q who reveals some very interesting things about the smoker that they cooked most of their hand-ins on. After that, I chat once again with Jye from Smokeface Grillahs - the team that just can’t stop winning. We get into what it’s like living with a Myron Mixon H2O, and how the point end of the national ladder works under the 2019 ABA rule changes. Before we get into it, I’d like to let you know about our awesome new shop on the website. If you love bacon, you’re going to want to check out ‘The Bacon Manifesto’. It’s an ebook we’ve put together with everything you need to know about making bacon at home, and then some delicious recipes about what to do with it, including our iconic Maple Bacon Pecan Pie. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. | |||
| 10 Feb 2022 | BBQ in the Arctic Circle | Olav Skogaas | Traeger Grills Norway | 00:55:50 | |
The Arctic Circle is a low way from Australia. Almost the exact opposite end of the Earth. But there is one thing that unites us - BBQ! Olav Skogaas is one Norwegian who is seriously into his barbecue. Not only does he run the biggest BBQ blog in the Arctic Circle, he's also on the Traeger Pro Team, using his Traeger Pro 34 to compete and create incredibly delicious smoked meat. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Olav and I get into:
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to the Smoking Hot Confessions website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com #norway #traeger #traegerproteam #meat #smokedmeat #bbq #barbecue #barbeque #brisket #beefchuck #beef #pelletgrill | |||
| 21 Jan 2021 | Oz's Biggest Mongrel | Brett Connell | Flamin' Mongrels BBQ | 00:54:49 | |
Brett Connell, Bretto to his mates, is captain of one of Australia's oldest competition barbecue teams, Flamin' Mongrels BBQ. They've competed as far south as Melbourne and north as Rockhampton and have amassed a wide range of trophies for smoked brisket, beef ribs, bbq chicken, and even Brahman Hump! But that's not all - they also have a reputation for being the most friendly, enthusiastic and welcoming guys on the circuit. Oh, and throwing some of the wildest and best parties on the circuit! An entrepreneur through and through, Bretto has long been a friend of the show, and is one of these people that seems to pop up with sage words of wisdom whenever we've been needing some direction. They've recently changed direction themselves too, with COVID-19 forcing Bretto to make the move into BBQ catering to help him take care of his family. His love to Texas Barbecue shines through everything he does, and his catering ventures have been very successful. This is Bretto's second appearance on the show. You can get Bretto's BBQ back story all the way back in Episode 10. In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into:
This Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, Heat Beads®. Heat Beads® have been a part of the BBQ family in Australia for over 50 years, fuelling fires and have a wide range of BBQ charcoal, briquettes, and other products. Learn more at: https://heatbeads.com.au/ New to the world of smoked meat? Grab your free copy of our ebook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ' at our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ | |||
| 30 Jul 2020 | 115 Drue Be from Dru-B-Q | 00:58:50 | |
In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, I chat with Drue Be of Dru-B-Q. He’s a man who’s taken his love of all things BBQ and combined it with his skills with a welder to create some truly world-quality drum smokers. Inspired by the imported ones, Drue has set about developing not just some great quality drum smokers, but also a wide range of really unique and ingenious accessories to maximise the flexibility of the drum smokers. Also, not only are they great quality, but they look amazing, with Drue calling on his network of classic car enthusiasts to do some incredible custom paint jobs. His drums are clearly getting a good recipe as we are seeing more and more of them appearing in the competition BBQ circuit and his brand, Dru-B-Q is developing a cult following in the BBQ scene. Here, Drue shares his stories about how he got into BBQ, and how he fell in love with competition BBQ. We learn how the drum smoker business started, and what makes his drums so unique. Then we get into the range of custom accessories he’s developed, before finishing up with a lesson on best practice for using a drum smoker.
Head to https://meatnfiremediaservices.com/product/brand-building-through-strategic-social-media-marketing and use the codeword ‘podcast’ at checkout for $100 off. | |||
| 10 Jan 2019 | 051 Live @ Bangalow 2018 | 00:44:29 | |
This is episode six of season four of the Smoking Hot Confessions Podcast. In this episode I get to stay pretty close to home, heading down to the Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival. It’s a competition and festival whose sole purpose is to raise money for local schools, so I always make sure I’m there, doing what I can to help out. Before we get started, I do have a couple of announcements. For some time now, I’ve had my ebook ‘27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ’ available for free on the website. I’ve recently put together a second edition of that book, working with a professional graphic designer and I’ll be releasing that soon. Which means that the free, 1st edition is only going to be available for another two weeks. After that, the second edition will be available for purchase, and there is even going to be a second book available, but I’m keeping the details under wraps for now. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. So without further ado, grab yourself a Kettle-Koned Buffalo Wing and something cold and bubbly to wash it down, and join me at the always incredible Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival. Head to the Smoking Hot Confessions website for full show notes. | |||
| 08 Jul 2021 | How Low & Slow Changed Butchery | Glenn Dumbrell | Char Char Char | 00:56:30 | |
There isn’t a butcher in Australia who knows more about the butchery industry than Glenn Dumbrell from Char Char Char in Melbourne. He has several decades experience in butchering meat, and for the last ten years has been running a butcher shop of his own, Char Char Char. He’s seen all the market shifts and changes, has been a huge part of Butcher Wars at Meatstock, and was a part of the Meatstock pilgrimage to the Churrascada Festival in Brazil! Of most interest to us here at Smoking Hot Confessions is how low & slow changed butchery in Australia. And if anyone can fill us in on how it all went down, it will be Glenn. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Glenn and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 07 Oct 2022 | Kangaroo Valley After Dark Part One | 01:09:21 | |
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is Part 1 of a 2 part ‘After Dark’ series recorded at the always amazing Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer and BBQ Festival. In Pt 1, we’re chatting with Matt Harris from Shire Smokers BBQ and James Wilson from Smokeface Grillahs, two of the most seasoned BBQ competitors in Australia. Get your pens and papers ready, as these guys share some seriously tasty tips and tricks! Keep the conversation going in The Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community on Facebook: | |||
| 26 Aug 2017 | 017 Live @ Burleigh BBQ Championships 2017 | 01:10:15 | |
I hit the pavement at the fabulous Burleigh BBQ Championships 2017 to chat to as many people as possible. I got to meet up with a range of new and experienced teams and event got some one-on-one time with BBQ great, Andy Groneman, which I of course recorded and am sharing in this episode. Did I mention I was also competing? It was a busy weekend for sure! Tune in to catch up on all the action! Still want more? Be sure to pick up your free ebook: 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ! | |||
| 29 Aug 2019 | 067 James Cruse - Central City BBQ | 00:42:20 | |
This is Episode Two of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. In this episode I head downtown to the #1 voted BBQ joint in New Orleans - Central City BBQ. There I met James Cruse Jr, the head Pitmaster of Central City and also team captain of the all-conquering Aporkalypse Now Competition BBQ team. After a tour of the very impressive facilities, we grabbed a couple of local microbrews and a plate of pulled pork egg rolls and chatted at length about what goes into running the #1 BBQ joint in a city voted #1 for food in the world, and I even managed to get James to give me a step-by-step run through of how he does his competition-winning pork ribs. And for those of you wondering, those egg rolls were to die for! Before we get into it, I’d like to let you know about our awesome merch shop. We’ve got our incredible Smoking Hot Confessions Tumbler as well as hats, t-shirts and stickers. There’s also two amazing ebooks - 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ and the delicious Bacon Manifesto. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself a local microbrew and a pulled pork egg roll, and join me as I rap all things BBQ with James Cruse. Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: JAGRD Woodfired - Smokers, Asado Grills, and custom builds! Barbeques & More - The smoker shop with the lot! | |||
| 04 Jan 2018 | 027 Joy fr Homestead Lovers | 01:02:58 | |
Joy from Homestead Lovers drops in to the Confessional for Ep 8 of Season 2 ‘Living the Dream’. She helps us explore the world of food dehydration and rub manufacturing. Making rubs is something that all BBQ enthusiasts enjoy doing and take great pride in. Joy is here to help you take it to the next level. She also drops some very helpful hints and tips for people wanting to get into manufacturing their own spice rubs. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode. Homestead Lovers is based in South Australia and utilizes only all-natural organic products in their creations. They’ve been involved in the Australian BBQ scene since its inception and are regular sponsors of the always fantastic Up In Smoke festival. If you’re in to making your own rubs, this is the episode for you! Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors: Get your free ebook now! | |||
| 24 Feb 2022 | Meatstock is coming to Queensland | Jay Beaumont | 00:56:25 | |
There are big changes afoot for both the Meatstock food festival and BBQ competition, and the Australasian Barbecue Alliance itself. Jay Beaumont is a co-founder of the Australasian Barbecue Alliance, the founder of Meatstock and man oh man does he know how to put on an event! Meatstock is foodie heaven! It is without a doubt the biggest and best BBQ festival Australia has ever seen. But there’s not just one, there’s three! There’s Meatstock Sydney, Meatstock Melbourne and Meatstock Auckland, in New Zealand. That’s right, the love of smoked meat and low and slow barbecue has spread across the Tasman. In fact, the Meatstock barbecue competitions have become so popular that they regularly attract famous, special guest pitmasters such as Tuffy Stone, and Big Moe Cason. But never one to rest while his brisket is resting, Jay is switching things up for both Meatstock, and the Australasian Barbecue Alliance, and I gotta tell you, it’s pretty exciting! In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Jay and I get into:
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to the Smoking Hot Confessions website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 25 Nov 2021 | Bringing Texas BBQ to Melbourne | Chris Terlikar | Blue Bonnet Barbecue | 00:53:55 | |
There are those of us that love BBQ, and then there’s Chris Terlikar. What makes Chris different? Not many of us have, or would, go and live in Austin, Texas for three months and work for free in an internship under Tom Micklethwait from legendary Texas BBQ joint Micklethwait Craft Meats, known for having some of the best barbecue in Texas. Chris brought this passion for American barbecue back to Australia and set about creating Bluebonnet Barbecue, an iconic BBQ joint and one of the most famous restaurants in Melbourne. So if you’re wondering where to eat in Melbourne, you can head to Bluebonnet BBQ for some deliciously good food including smoked brisket, barbecue ribs, pulled pork, beef ribs and a delicious blend of American and Australian food. But you can’t build an icon and not expect a few bumps and bruises along the way. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podast, Chris and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 20 May 2021 | Live at the Meat in the Dilly BBQ Festival | SHC BBQ Podcast | 00:59:20 | |
This is the second part of our two episode special from the incredible Meat in the Dilly BBQ Festival. In our previous BBQ Podcast episode we brought you our fantastic 'After Dark Special'. Here, we take you through the Festival, minute by minute over both days, so you can experience the festival as if you were there. We've got a tonne of great information here for you from competitors, promoters and more. Grabbing my video camera and microphone, I headed around the Festival, striking up conversations with some of the most interesting people on the competition BBQ circuit. With a keen eye for new and interesting conversations, I chatted with many of the best and brightest. Guests on this week's episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast include:
Barbe Con is coming soon - stay tuned for the confirmation of the date in July. New to BBQ? Grab your free copy of our eBook 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ' at our website now: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 25 Jun 2020 | 110 Daniel Tate from Heavy Kettle Smokers | 00:55:59 | |
Heavy Kettle Smokers hail from New Zealand, and considering how much they love BBQ over there, the nickname of ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’ seems fitting. Daniel Tate is the team captain of the competition BBQ team ‘Heavy Kettle Cookers’. His passion for BBQ is overwhelming, and he’s competed at almost every competition ever held in New Zealand. His passion has been recognised by some big name sponsors such as Kingsford charcoal and Matangi Angus Beef. His real passion however, is for Weber BBQs. In fact, Daniel and his team cook exclusively on Webers - kettle and Smokey Mountains. Daniel is very proud of his collection of both new and rescued Webers and clearly knows how to use them! In this episode we find out about how Daniel got into BBQ, and his life growing up in rural New Zealand cooking BBQ with his grandfather. We get into the BBQ scene in New Zealand - we learn about BBQ in NZ culture before the explosion of low’n’slow, including a quick lesson on the iconic ‘Hangi’. Then we explore the boom of low’n’slow and competitive BBQ in NZ. Finally, we close out the episode with a lesson from Daniel on how to restore rescued Webers to life and make them look brand new again. To learn more about Heavy Kettle Smokers, check out: https://www.facebook.com/HeavyKettleSmokers/ Stay warm this winter with some killer hoodies and beanies from SHC:https://smokinghotconfessions.com/shop/ | |||
| 14 Jul 2017 | 015 Live @ Brisbane BBQ Festival 2017 | 01:16:56 | |
This episode is coming to you hot off the mic. Just this weekend past I jumped in the car and headed up to Brisbane for the annual Brisbane BBQ Festival. It was the third year in a row that I’d been. The first year was my first ever BBQ judging experience and the second year I covered the event for the Smoking Hot Confessions website and got one of my most popular photo galleries. This year, Dom asked me to be a part of the team – I got to be MC for the event! On top of all this, I grabbed my camera and more importantly for a podcast, my field recorder and had some great conversations with teams, retailers, suppliers and sponsors. I was so busy running around that by the end of the festival, I’d walked 10.3kms on Saturday 9.1kms on Sunday. That’s almost 20 kilometres of festival awesomeness. Here’s how it went down… Still want more? Be sure to pick up your free ebook: 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ at http://smokinghotconfessions.com/ebooks/ | |||
| 07 Feb 2019 | 055 Live @ KV Craft Beer & BBQ Festival 2018 | 01:14:47 | |
This is episode ten, the final episode of season four of the Smoking Hot Confessions Podcast. In this season, I’ve been flying, driving, walking, eating and talking my way around Australia, going to BBQ festivals all over this wide brown land and having some fascinating conversations with some of the biggest names in the game, and some up-and-comers too. In this episode I’m back on a plane and this time flying to Sydney then driving out to the luscious Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer and BBQ Festival. This one had been on my list for the last couple of years but I’d never been able to get there, so I was super pumped to have been part of the team for the 2018 competition. Before we get started, I’d like to let you know that my new ebooks are now available on the website. There is the second edition of my well-loved ‘27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ’ and also the deliciously new ‘Bacon Manifesto’. The ‘Bacon Manifesto’ includes what you need to know about making bacon at home and then some incredible recipes to give you an idea of what to do with it. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, grab yourself some sticky pork ribs and an adult beverage, and join me as I fly, drive, eat, walk and talk my way around the 2018 Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer and BBQ Festival. | |||
| 21 Nov 2019 | 083 Brett Gallaway - Steak Cookoff Associations | 01:16:16 | |
This is Episode Fifteen of Season Six, my U.S. Road Trip Part II. If you haven’t heard of the Steak Cookoff Association, you might well be living under a rock. It is the fastest growing competitive cooking association in the world and is borne completely from the work of Brett Gallaway and Ken Phillips. In this interview we’re going to get into the nitty gritty of the SCA and learn some shortcuts from their experience to help us start our own competition bodies! With summer coming up, it’s time for a new favourite t-shirt, and I’ve got just the thing. Drawing inspiration from the iconic BBQ pop culture art by Gil Elvgren, the Hail Mary T is black, like all good BBQ shirts should be, comes in both men’s and women’s cuts in a variety of sizes and of course feature Mary, who likes her BBQ smokey, spicy and just a little bit naughty. Check her out now! I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQCommunity is a great place to continue the conversation. This episode is the end of this Season. But don’t worry - I’ll get plenty of Smoking Hot Confessions into your earbuds again real soon. Til next time, take care of each other, and keep on Q’ing. Please show your support for the people that supported this episode including: Smartfire - An Australian designed pit temperature controller, to make your BBQ life easier JAGRD Woodfired - One of Australia's biggest smoker manufacturers: Smokers, Asado Grills, and Custom Builds! Dragon's Breath Charcoal - made from native Australian Gidgee, Dragon's Breath launches in November! | |||
| 20 Dec 2024 | Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ Festival AFTER DARK 2024 | 00:52:18 | |
It's that time of year again, where I head down south of Sydney, Australia, to a tiny town called Kangaroo Valley. KV is famous for having one of, if not THE best Craft Beer and BBQ Festivals in the country. And 2024 did not disappoint. Join me for another of our 'AFTER DARK' specials where I settle in for a beer and a chat with some of the best competitors out there. #bbq #bbqfestival #podcast #bbqpodcast | |||
| 12 May 2022 | Cocktails, 'Q and KCBS | Karina Rumens | Women of BBQ | 00:55:18 | |
Karina Rumens is a woman on a mission - to ensure that competition BBQ in Australia is held to the highest standards and maintains a reputation equal to anywhere else in the world. Karina is one of the highest Kansas City Barbeque Society Representatives in the country and when you meet her, it’s easy to see why. A consummate professional, Karina is passionate about three things - BBQ, KCBS and Cocktails - though it’s difficult to put them in order! She is a driving force behind the competition BBQ circuit in Western Australia and although most of what she does is behind the scenes, is one of the chief reasons that WA has such a thriving competition BBQ scene. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Karina and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! https://smokinghotconfessions.com/barbeconprereg/ #kcbs #kansascitybarbequesociety #bbqjudging #bbqjudge #bbq #barbecue #barbeque #meat #smokedmeat #westernaustralia #wa #perth #competitionbbq #bbqcompetition | |||
| 28 May 2020 | 106 Saffron Hodgson from Bush Cooking | 01:12:57 | |
Bush Cooking has won the National Barbecue and Grilling Association’s award for Best Website for the last three years, which is an extraordinary achievement. Saffron’s passion for cooking with fire and her technical prowess earned her the recognition of the NBBQA, resulting in her being appointed as Executive Director. Well, her time there has recently finished and in this interview we discuss what she learned from that experience, before getting into what social media platform BBQers should be focussing their attention on, and finally we get a lesson in SEO - essential for every BBQ business with a website. Oh, and we also talk Doomsday Prepping! Learn more about Bush Cooking here: https://bushcooking.com/ Grab your SHC Beanies before they run out! https://smokinghotconfessions.com/product/shc-beanie/ | |||
| 02 Dec 2017 | 020 Mikey fr Man Meat BBQ | 01:18:28 | |
In Episode One of the ‘Living the Dream’ series, I was very privileged to have the opportunity to interview Mikey from Man Meat BBQ, based out of Chicago in the USA. Man Meat BBQ is one of the most popular BBQ podcasts out there and Mikey has leveraged the success of this, along with a cult-like following on Instagram into a very tidy business. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode.
With some 150 podcast episodes and 80-odd thousand Instagram fans, Mikey has built a very commanding platform from which to leverage a business. Through the course of this interview, Mikey takes us not only into how he built these platforms, but also the different business models he’s developed from them. If you’re into your social media, you don’t want to miss this!
Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors:
Get your free ebook now! | |||
| 20 Dec 2024 | Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ Festival LIVE! | 00:36:03 | |
It's that time of year again, where I head down south of Sydney, Australia, to a tiny town called Kangaroo Valley. KV is famous for having one of, if not THE best Craft Beer and BBQ Festivals in the country. And 2024 did not disappoint. Join me as I spend the weekend at the festival, chatting with competitors, vendors, suppliers and more! #bbq #bbqfestival #podcast #bbqpodcast | |||
| 30 Apr 2020 | 102 BBQ Beat SWAPCAST | 01:26:23 | |
Another podcast that was also recently recognised by the National Barbecue and Grilling Association’s Annual Excellence Awards was the BBQ Beat Podcast. Kevin Sandridge is the host and does a fantastic job covering the BBQ scene in the United States. Similar to the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, the BBQ Beat podcast has episodes that are deep dives with industry experts as well as LIVE episodes that are recorded on site at BBQ festivals and competitions. Make sure you subscribe to the BBQ Beat podcast for more delicious goodness in your earbuds. In this episode, Kevin and I chat about the BBQ scenes in our respective countries and Kevin gets the full backstory on Smoking Hot Confessions - where we came from, how we grew, and where we’re going from here. Enjoy! Check out the BBQ Beat Podcast on Spotify: | |||
| 05 May 2022 | LIVE at Meatstock Toowoomba | 00:56:20 | |
Meatstock is not just a BBQ festival - it’s an experience. It’s a BBQ competition, an expo, a rock concert, a car show and much much more. And so it was that I was very excited when it was announced that Meatstock was coming to Queensland. And boy, was it a show. In partnership with Toowoomba Regional Council, Meatstock Toowoomba set the standard for a BBQ event this side of the border. Never one to rest on his heels, founder Jay Beaumont decided that he was going to reinvent his signature event. Meatstock Toowoomba had the signature round of the Australasian Barbecue Alliance BBQ competition, a BBQ expo, a championship rodeo round, live country music on stage from 2pm til late every day, a strongman and strongwoman competition, cooking demonstrations, children's activities and of course only the best food trucks and drinks wagons on the East Coast. There was also this year’s Australasian Barbecue Alliance Awards - an industry event recognising the best of the best from within the BBQ industry. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, I grab my camera and mics and chat with:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! | |||
| 11 Nov 2021 | How to Grow a Huge BBQ Business | Rob Thraves | Smokin Hot N Saucy | 00:57:30 | |
Texas BBQ, often regarded as the best BBQ in the world, has inspired many, many pitmasters around the world. One of those pitmasters is Rob Thraves, from Smokin Hot N Saucy. Together with his wife Randi, herself a native of Texas, Rob took a tour of Austin, Houston, and all the best BBQ joints in between. They came home inspired with a vision cemented firmly in their smoked brisket fueled minds. It all started with a BBQ trailer. From the food trailer, they moved into a bus. That’s where we left Rob when he was last on the show way back in Episode 21 of the podcast. He’s now created something of a BBQ empire, known for having the best BBQ brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, BBQ chicken and sausage… hell, let’s just call it the best barbecue in the country. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Rob and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 18 Mar 2021 | Building a Strong BBQ Brand | Alex Lawson | Barbecue Base Podcast | 00:56:10 | |
A change is as good as a holiday, and in this episode, we head over to New Zealand to talk all thing bbq with Alex Lawson, cohost of the Barbecue Base Podcast. Not only is Alex a BBQ guru and host of a great BBQ podcast, he is also the Pit Boss of the competition bbq team Burnt Beginnings BBQ. With a solid twenty year career in marketing and advertising under his belt, he's now focussing his attention on building a strong BBQ brand. He's doing this on two fronts, with content creation (the podcast) and dominating in low n slow bbq competitions. As a result, he's built a reputation as being a one of New Zealand's top BBQ Pitmasters. In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Alex and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming, June 26th and 27th. Follow us on all the socials for more info soon! New to the world of low and slow barbeque? Grab your free copy of our ebook 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ' over on our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 06 May 2021 | How to build a YouTube Channel | Aaron Palmer | Low n Slow Basics | 00:57:57 | |
There are two questions that many of us in the BBQ want to know the answers to: 1. How to Build a YouTube Channel and 2. How to Make Money on YouTube. Fortunately for all of us at home, Aaron Palmer from Low n Slow Basics has got us covered. This is essential viewing for anybody with a BBQ business who is looking to attract more customers via social media. Aaron has been in the meat industry his whole life, beginning his career as a butcher. This is where he learned everything he knows about meat and what inspired him to start his family friendly YouTube channel, Low and Slow Basics. From there he got involved in competition BBQ, winning himself a Golden Ticket in a Steak Cookoff Association for cooking a perfect steak. His channel now covers all things barbecue including how to smoke brisket and many more BBQ tips and BBQ techniques. In this Ep of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com Check out our award winning eBooks, 'The Bacon Manifesto' and '27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ' on our website: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ebooks/ | |||
| 14 May 2020 | 104 Scott Evans from East Blaxland Butchery | 00:59:44 | |
In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, we dive into the deeply complex world of butchery. That’s right, we’re chatting with Scott Evans, owner of East Blaxland Butchery in western Sydney, Australia. Scott and his team sponsor many of the hottest teams on the competitive BBQ circuit, in NSW and beyond. But we’ll get into that later. In fact, not only has his passions for low’n’slow BBQ taken him all the way to ‘The Royal’ in Kansas City, Scott and the team at East Blaxland Butchery are the most recent winners of the highly coveted ‘Butchery of the Year’ Award at the annual Australasian Barbecue Alliance Awards. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the #1 butchery in the country, we find out about their extensive involvement in the competitive BBQ scene, Scott’s wild ride to The Royal, and we close out the episode with Scott giving us some advice for how BBQ teams can initiate and build a working relationship with their butcher. It really is ‘What Women Want’ for BBQers!
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| 21 May 2019 | 059 Winners from Sydney Meatstock 2019 | 00:37:10 | |
This is a bonus episode for Season Five. It's the first of a new format that will be trialed here at Smoking Hot Confessions whereby after each BBQ competition, winners will contacted by phone for a quick round up. These episodes are going to be more raw, and unpolished than usual, but will be more timely and authentic because of it. In this Episode I have a chat with Brandon and then Adam from the Wizards of Q. Not only did Brandon win his Golden Tickets in the Steak Cookoff Association competition at Meatstock Sydney, but the entire team won Reserve Grand Champion in the Australasian Barbecue Alliance main event! Before we get started, I’d like to let you know that my new ebooks are now available on the website. There is the second edition of my well-loved ‘27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ’ and also the deliciously new ‘Bacon Manifesto’. The ‘Bacon Manifesto’ includes what you need to know about making bacon at home and then some incredible recipes to give you an idea of what to do with it. I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. So without further ado, let's find out what's happening with the lads from Wizards of Q! | |||
| 06 Feb 2020 | 090 Nathan Armstrong - Smoke N Daggers BBQ | 00:53:13 | |
In this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, I chat with Nathan Armstrong, captain of the Smoke N Daggers BBQ team. Smoke N Daggers BBQ are still comparatively young in the world of competition BBQ. They have completed a grand total of ten competitions, yet in 2019 managed to finish number 2 on the KCBS Australia ladder! Here, we chat about how they got into competition BBQ, where they want to go with it, and of course, how their 2019 season went. In a show-first, Nathan sent me a spreadsheet of all their results from every BBQ competition they've been in. We go over these results, examining both the highs and the lows. We also chat about how winning the stunning Burleigh BBQ Championships has changed their lives. Finally, we close out the episode with a deep dive into the contentious 'Open Beef' category, discussing why it's such a big deal and if all the concern is warranted.
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| 23 Jun 2022 | KCBS Competitions in the West | Julie-ann Tindall-Davies | 00:59:11 | |
Julie-ann Tindall-Davies returns in this very special episode of our BBQ Podcast. If you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you’ll know that she’s one half of the dynamic duo behind JAGRD Woodfired, one of the most successful smoker manufacturers in the country. Their competition team was also awarded the KCBS International Brisket Team of the Year in 2020. Recently, she’s taken over the running of the Smokin’ Charity BBQ Competitions, which holds the majority of the BBQ competitions in Western Australia. Combine all that with being a wife, mother, grandmother and business owner and you’ve got a woman who’s earned her title of ‘The First Lady of BBQ’. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Julie-ann and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! | |||
| 25 Mar 2021 | Aussie BBQ Royalty | Paul Reitmier | Silver Creek Smokers | 00:59:14 | |
Paul Reitmier of Silver Creek Smokers is about as close to Aussie BBQ Royalty as it gets. He built his first standard flow smoker, an offset smoker of course, in 2005, almost a full decade before the Australasian Barbecue Alliance was created, and we have the scene we have today. Inspired by traditional Texas style offset smokers, his style of bbq smoker trailer is considered by many BBQ pitmasters on the competition BBQ circuit to be the best offset smoker for the money. In particular, his BBQ trailer and food trailer designs are extremely highly regarded. And the best part? They're all Australian made! In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Paul and I get into all things BBQ, including:
Don't forget that Barbe Con is coming! June 26 & 27. Keep on the Smoking Hot Confessions socials for more details coming out soon! New to BBQ? Make sure you head on over to our website and pick your free copy of our eBook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ'. https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 16 Jan 2020 | 087 Butchers Axe BBQ - 2019 ABA Team of the Year | 01:09:07 | |
Butchers Axe BBQ have had an absolutely incredible 2019 on the Australasian Barbecue Alliance and Kansas City Barbecue Society (Australia) circuits. They had a seemingly endless run of back to back Grand Champion wins and were heads and shoulders above the competition. In this episode Michael and I break down the 2019 that the Axe boys had - the good, the bad, and the... oh who are we kidding, 2019 was great for them! I find out what their success has lead to, what's coming up in the future, and very excitingly, a step-by-step walk through of EXACTLY how they do their multi-trophy winning pork ribs! Caution - don't listen hungry! Grab the hottest BBQ merch now! https://smokinghotconfessions.com/shop/ | |||
| 04 Nov 2021 | From Comedy to Barbecue | Vic Clevenger | The Chimney Cartel | 00:59:26 | |
Stand-up comedy is not an easy game. You have to be very, very brave to get up on stage and try to make a room full of people laugh. And yet this is the career that southern gentleman Vic Clevenger pursued, working for over two decades as ‘The Cooking Comedian.’ The big world changes in 2020 saw Vic’s business model brought to its knees, and so he had to pivot and explore an entirely new career. Deciding to pursue his other major passion, refining how to cook the perfect steak and participating in Steak Cookoff Association competition cooking events, he created ‘The Chimney Cartel’. It’s an incredibly unique type of charcoal grill, designed with the sole goal of being the best cooking competition grill and becoming an integral part of the collective knowledge of how to cook the perfect steak. But of course, given that it’s come from the mind of Vic Clevenger, it’s also at home at a tailgate party! In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Vic and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com #chimneycartel #steak #steakcookoffassociation #competitionbbq #bbqcompetition #podcast #bbqpodcast #meat #smokedmeat #lamb #bbqlamb #wagyu #wagyusteak #christmasdinner #christmaslunch #barbecue #barbeque | |||
| 02 Feb 2017 | 010 Brett Connell - Sponsorship | 01:14:55 | |
In Episode Ten of the Comp Ready series of The Smoking Hot Confessions Podcast, I chat with Brett Connell from Flamin’ Mongrels BBQ on one of the hottest topics in competition BBQ: Sponsorship. Please be sure to Subscribe to the Podcast and leave a Review to spread the love. The Mongrels have had a ripper of a last twelve months, competing in TV’s Aussie BBQ Heroes, performed very well throughout the 2016 competitive BBQ circuit, picking up a Grand Champion prize and spent most of the season in the top ten. They are also very well-sponsored and so Team Captain Bretto was the perfect person to tell me all his secrets on where to find and how to secure sponsorship. Still want more? Be sure to pick up your free ebook: 27 Lessons Learned from Competition BBQ at http://smokinghotconfessions.com/comp-ready/ Thanks and appreciation go to Coastline Barbeques and Heating for sponsoring the first series of the Smoking Hot Confessions podcast. Check out their page http://www.coastlinebbq.com.au/ for more! | |||
| 27 Jan 2022 | World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off & Steaks for Sheepdogs | Joe Wilson | 00:55:43 | |
Joe Wilson is a man who can see the future. And what does he see from his front porch in Bentonville, Arkansas? Squirrels, that's what. And so the World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off was born. Now, many of us outside of the USA have grown up with Disney squirrels and can't imagine a cooking competition where squirrel is the main dish. However, for a large portion of the American population, especially those that have lived through economic depressions, the humble squirrel has been a staple dish for generations. But this isn't the only project that Joe is part of. He's also the founder of Steaks for Sheepdogs, an organisation that provides BBQ steak meals for LEOs (law enforcement officers) during times of crisis. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Joe and I get into:
If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 16 Jun 2022 | World Steak Champion | Sunny Moody | Mood Swing BBQ | 00:59:07 | |
There are few people that you will meet in your life that deserve the moniker, ‘a force of nature’. However Sunny Moody is exactly that. Sunny was awarded, and is the current reigning World Steak Champion, taking out the annual Steak Cookoff Association Championships in 2021. Now winning that prestigious BBQ competition is no mean feat, but there’s more to Sunny than ‘just’ being a legend on a grill. She’s a mother to two teenagers, volunteers taking groups of even more teenagers out into the bush and teaching them how to cook, is a certified nutritionist and physical trainer, and if that wasn’t enough is also a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer. Though in truth, it looks more like she’s kicking MS’s butt rather than suffering from it. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Sunny and I get into:
Barbe Con is coming! We’re bringing the best BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Business Owners from around the country live into your living room. We’re going to help you save time, save money and become the envy of friends and family. PreRegistrations are open now. So to be the first to know when tickets become available, Early Bird deals, specials, presenter announcements and more, head on over to the website below and register your interest. See you soon! | |||
| 02 Jun 2019 | 061 Angus Reserve, Que Club & Gloucester | 01:15:35 | |
In a huge week for competition BBQ in Australia, we've had 4 competitions in just 7 days. We've had a sneaky mid-week ABA Lite competition hosted by Angus Reserve in Albury. Then, on the same weekend, we've had a Steak Cookoff Association competition at the Que Club in Melbourne, the Booval Barbecue Festival in Ipswich and Just Smokin' in Gloucester. In this episode, of the podcast I get a hold of the winners of three of the four competitions and pick their brains on a huge range of topics, from steaks, to cookers, to the position of the Australian beef industry in the wider global market. I'd also like to let you know that our killer new line up of merch is now available in our online store. We've got our super cool Kettle caps, the sexy Hail Mary t-shirts, our very versatile SHC Tumblers and some of the largest BBQ stickers on the circuit! Check out them all out on our online store! I’d also like to invite you to join us at the Smoking Hot Confessions Community on Facebook. If you’re looking for a BBQ group full of open-minded people who just love to help each other out, the Smoking Hot Confessions Community is a great place to continue the conversation. Finally, however you’re listening to this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It really helps me spread that BBQ love. | |||
| 11 Mar 2021 | How to Create a Low n Slow BBQ Masterclass | Big Willy | Bad Ass BBQ | 00:59:03 | |
How to Create a Low n Slow BBQ Masterclass is a common question that many BBQers are asking themselves these days. It's one of the ways that a competition BBQ team can raise funds to help them get to big events such as the Jack Daniels' World Championship and the American Royal World Series of Barbecue at the Kansas Speedway. Fortunately for us, Big Willy from Badass BBQ has pioneered the way and is sharing his experiences with us. Badass BBQ are a staple of the Aussie BBQ scene. Not only are they low and slow Australian BBQ Pitmasters who have conquered the competition BBQ scene, but they have also harnessed their BBQing skills to create a business that has a line up including BBQ rubs, a beef injection, a pork injection and a lamb injection. In fact, their Voodoo Beef Dry Rub is a firm favourite in our household. The lads are equally well known for their ridiculously run Low n Slow BBQ Masterclasses which they have delivered all around the country. And that's what we spend most of our time discussing here. In this Episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Big Willy and I get into:
Keep the weekend of the 26th and 27th of June free for Barbe-Con, where you'll get more from your BBQ. It will be the world's first virtual BBQ Conference. We'll be showcasing leaders of the BBQ industry with the Saturday being dedicated to smoking BBQ food including brisket and pulled pork. Sunday will be all about BBQ businesses. More details coming soon. New to barbeque? Get yourself a free copy of our ebook 'The Beginner's Guide to Real BBQ' on our website: https://www.smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 17 Jun 2021 | Life on the Competition BBQ Circuit | Lukas Armstrong | Jacks Creek BBQ Team | 00:56:43 | |
Lukas Armstrong is back! And he’s better than ever. Now sporting the new competition bbq team moniker of The Jacks Creek BBQ Team, Lukas is wasting no time in 2021, taking full advantage of all border openings and lockdown restrictions to get to as many competitions as possible to make a play for the top position in this year's competition BBQ circuit in Australia. Just in case there are some of you who don’t know Lukas, he is one of Australia’s best BBQ Pitmasters, having travelled all over this great country competing in every low and slow barbecue competition he can find and wowing judges with his smoked brisket and bbq ribs. Now he’s adding Steak Cookoff Association competitions to his repertoire, mastering the SCA Steak and serving up many an incredible ribeye steak. In this Ep of the show we get in to:
Barbe Con is coming soon - stay tuned for the confirmation of the date in July. New to BBQ? Grab your free copy of our eBook 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ' at our website now: | |||
| 28 Oct 2021 | What is the New Zealand Barbecue Alliance? | Luke Seeney | 00:55:32 | |
Low and slow BBQ is a growing food movement all around the world. It now has a solid competition scene not just in Australia, but also in New Zealand. In fact, the scene is growing so quickly in NZ that there are now several BBQ rub and BBQ sauce companies as well as BBQ joints and restaurants that rival the best in the world. One man leading the charge is Luke Seeney, the head of the New Zealand Barbecue Alliance. He is at the forefront of the competition BBQ scene in NZ and is responsible for putting on the biggest and best BBQ festivals in the country. His passionate work in introducing and growing this popular food sport has led to the birth of an entire industry in the land of the long white cloud. His work is both tireless and inspirational. And he’s pretty creative on the BBQ himself! In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Luke and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, JAGRD Woodfired Smoker Ovens. If you’re looking for your next Barbeque, smoker or grill, be sure to check them out. They have a wide range of well-performing units available, and love doing custom work and commercial kit outs as well. Check out: https://jagrdwoodfired.com.au If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 22 Feb 2018 | 034 Jess Pryles fr Hardcore Carnivore | 01:13:36 | |
To close out Season Two ‘Living the Dream’ I sit and talk ‘Q with the one and only Jess Pryles. Jess is an Aussie who’s now taking it to the Americans, living in Texas and teaching them their own game. In this interview Jess takes us through what it takes to become an internationally published author after the launch of her BBQ cookbook ‘Hardcore Carnivore’. Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of this episode. Jess is the quintessential carnivore. She has a passion for meat and has built a business around it. That includes her aforementioned book, her line of spice rubs, her blog, demonstrations, lessons and public appearances. Such is her profile in the BBQ scene that she is now a brand ambassador for several brands. If you think you’ve got a book in you, this Ep is for you! Much thanks and appreciation go to this episodes sponsors:
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| 06 Aug 2020 | 116 Scott Bothe from Stagg and Co | 00:52:11 | |
Stagg and Co founder, Scott Bothe is our guest in this episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast. An Australian first, Stagg & Co are a BBQ dedicated co-packer that is committed to helping Australian BBQ brands make a name for themselves and get their products out into the world. Scott himself is no stranger to the BBQ world and has already conquered the scene in Australia, being one half of the 2017 Australasian Barbecue Alliance Grand Champion winning team. He’s even represented Australia at The Royal, in Kansas City - the most famous BBQ competition in the world. Now he has a new team, Bison BBQ, and managed to GC their very first competition straight out of the gate. In this interview, we find out about Scott’s experiences with competition BBQ, his proudest achievements in the world of meat and fire as well some hilarious things that have been less than an ‘achievement’! We then move into the story behind Stagg & Co, learning about how it was formed and what they do. This is fascinating for anybody looking to take their spice rubs to market. Scott also drops some great tips for people developing recipes right now. Finally, we move into the third segment where Scott shares some tips and advice not only for competing solo, but also for competing FIFO. That is, ‘Fly In Fly Out’. He draws on his extensive experience doing this around Australia and the United States and shares some surprising information about his record doing so. This is a great episode and is a real insight into the booming business of BBQ in Australia. For the best looking BBQ t-shirts, hoodies, caps and more, check out: | |||
| 12 Aug 2021 | BBQ Mythbusting | Meathead | AmazingRibs.com | 00:59:59 | |
AmazingRibs.com is without a doubt one of the most highly used BBQ resources in the world. In fact, Forbes Magazine recently announced that it was the #1 BBQ website in the world. Furthermore, it’s founder and chief content writer Meathead Goldwyn was very recently welcomed into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame. This is an honour that is reserved for those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of barbecue. And so it is our privilege to have Meathead on the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast. In this full episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, Meathead and I get into:
This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast is proudly brought to you by our Podcast Partner, OzPig. If you love the outdoors, camping, and food, be sure to check out the OzPig range. With three different models and countless accessories, the OzPig is your perfect outdoor camp cooker! Check out: https://ozpig.com.au/ If you would like to become a Podcast Partner we’d love to hear from you. Send Ben an email at ben@smokinghotconfessions.com and let’s get that conversation started! To get your free copy of 'The Beginners Guide to Real BBQ', including some smoked meat recipes, head to: https://smokinghotconfessions.com | |||
| 29 Dec 2023 | Emerald BBQ and Beer Festival LIVE | 01:01:36 | |
Hello, hello. It's been a minute, hasn't it! Some of you may have thought the show was over, but it is not. But don't read this, press play and get the down low there. This episode of the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast was recorded LIVE at the Emerald BBQ and Beer Festival, in beautiful outback Queensland. Enjoy! Wanna continue the conversation? Come join us over on Facebook at the Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Community: | |||
| 29 Dec 2018 | 049 Live @ Cue For A Cause 2018 | 00:38:12 | |
This is the fourth episode of Season 4, the 2018 Festival Season. Throughout the year I’ve been travelling around the country to various BBQ festivals and in this episode I’m on a jet plane again and heading down to the always beautiful Forster in New South Wales. I was super proud to have been invited to be a part of the first ever Cue For A Cause competition, raising money for the Great Lakes Women Shelter. It was a fantastic cause to get behind, and a ripper of a weekend away. For full show notes, head on over to the Smoking Hot Confessions website. | |||
| 13 Feb 2020 | 091 Jye Healey - Smokeface Grillahs | 00:55:47 | |
In this episode of The Smoking Hot Confessions BBQ Podcast, I pick the brains of Jye Healey, the captain / not captain of the multi-championship winning BBQ team Smokeface Grillahs. These lads are absolutely at the pointy end of the ladder, finishing 3rd on the Australasian Barbecue Alliance ladder in 2019 and 2nd in 2018. They have competed around Australia, New Zealand, and the United States and have found success everywhere they go. Here we chat about their story so far in competition BBQ, and what they have lined up in 2020. Most interestingly though, Jye has a background in science and a nose for statistics and identifying patterns. So in this episode we have a very interesting chat about patterns he’s identified in competition BBQ in different states around Australia. And we round out the episode with a look at how he’s taken a buzzword from the business world and applied it to his BBQ team and the results he’s found. For more BBQ goodness, check out: https://smokinghotconfessions.com/ | |||