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Episodes

Jan. 11, 2024

Overcoming Life's Struggles to Finding Purpose and Creativity With BB…

On this episode of The Barbeque Life Kurt talks with Jason Hernandez of Big J’s So Cal BBQ out of Bloomington, CA about his journey getting into BBQ, including spending six months in county jail, doing pop ups out of …

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Dec. 28, 2023

On A Mission to Help Animal Shelters Through BBQ w/ Josh Hall of ResQ…

On this episode of The Barbeque Life Kurt talks with Josh Hall out of Cumming, GA and is the Co-Owner of ResQue Rubs, a BBQ rub business that donates 10% of their proceeds to Fur Kids, a no kill shelter …

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Dec. 14, 2023

Making BBQ a Side Hustle with a Full-Time Job w/ Conner & Kris of Hoo…

Kurt talks with Conner Morris and Kris Aebischer Hooked on Que out of Tampa, FL about how they both got into BBQ at different times in their lives, how their business came to be out of a rehearsal dinner and …

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Nov. 30, 2023

He Sold EVERYTHING to Go ALL IN on BBQ w/ Kyle Matuszewski of Your Be…

Kurt talks with Kyle Matuszewski, Owner of Your Behind BBQ out of Waddell, Arizona, about his journey getting into cooking and BBQ after tearing his ACL in the last play of the last game of his high school football career …

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Nov. 16, 2023

Quitting His Corporate Job and Committing to the BBQ Lifestyle w/ Ken…

Kurt talks with Kenny Bottom, owner and operator of Pig Feathers Farm and What's Smokin'?, out of Hephzibah, GA, about his journey into BBQ after working in the railroad industry as a locomotive engineer for over 19 years to ...

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Nov. 2, 2023

Starting Small and Making Friends w/ Mike Robertson (BBQ Mike)

Kurt talks with Mike Robertson, who goes by BBQ Mike, about how he got started in BBQ with the help of a friend, how he balances his full time job, competitions, and building his catering business, his plans moving forward …

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Oct. 19, 2023

Why You NEED to Brand Yourself Even If You're Just Starting Out w/ Gr…

Kurt talks with Greg Bleich of Bay Bridge BBQ out of North Jersey, about his journey getting in BBQ, roadblocks and disappointment when he was getting started, instantly falling in love and getting addicted to smoking meat, b...

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Oct. 5, 2023

Listen to THIS If You Want to GROW Your BBQ Business

We're back! After a bit of hiatus, Kurt is back and back with a fire under him! On today's episode of The Barbeque Life, Kurt talks about the jump he has recently taken from his 13 year career in financial …

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Aug. 17, 2023

Failing Miserably, Trying New Things, and Coming Out on Top w/ Kurt M…

We’re flipping the script on today’s episode! Kurt has his friend and Pitmaster of Blinky’s Offset BBQ, Matt Osman, on The Barbeque Life to interview Kurt about his journey to getting a GC at the Famous Dave’s BBQ World Food …

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Aug. 10, 2023

Making a Local and Worldwide Impact with Charcoal w/ Janet Silverman …

Kurt talks with Janet Silverman, Chief Impact Officer of The Good Charcoal about how they got started in 2020, the impact they made to communities during Covid and beyond with their give back program, the unique type of wood ...

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Aug. 3, 2023

From Taking Time Off to Grand Champion Status w/ Chad Urbonovic of Qu…

Kurt talks with Chad Urbonovic with QueFellas BBQ out of Lapierre, MI about a recent contest at Famous Dave’s, competing using the EAT method, starting his BBQ journey, taking a class, missing a turn in box, taking a class ag...

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July 27, 2023

Making BBQ A Necessity and Not Looking Back w/ Bert McClain of PB&J’s…

Kurt talks with Bert McClain, Pitmaster and Owner of PB&J’s BBQ out of Jackson, MI about the difference between competition BBQ and catering, his mindset when he decided to go all in with catering, the importance of knowing y...

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July 19, 2023

Turning Passion of BBQ into a Profitable and Sustainable Business w/ …

The Barbeque Life is Powered by Hound Hogs BBQ Supply! Follow and connect with them here: https://houndhogsbbqsupply.com/ Use code BBQLIFE to save 10% on your next order! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Faceb...

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July 13, 2023

Finding Family and Mentorship in BBQ w/ Nick Owensby of Sailor Nick's…

Kurt talks with Nick Owensby, Pitmaster and Owner of Sailor Nick’s BBQ out of Wadsworth, OH about being new to the competition scene after smoking BBQ for about 5 years, team name coming from him being in the Navy, what …

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July 6, 2023

Continuing a Multi-Legacy BBQ Business w/ Jake Fincher of Fincher's B…

Kurt talks with Jake Fincher of Finchers BBQ & Catering out of Macon, GA about his grandpa, Douglas “Dude” Fincher starting the business in 1935, starting to help at a young age, their claim to fame pulled pork, their cooking...

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June 29, 2023

How Hard Work and Doing Something You Love Pays Off w/ Big Perm of Zi…

Kurt talks with Big Perm, Pitmaster of Zilla’s Pit BBQ out of Nashville, TN, about how he got his start in BBQ, why he got into catering, what happened when he realized he was making just as much in catering …

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June 22, 2023

Dedicating Yourself to Learning and Having a Beginner's Mindset w/ Lo…

Kurt talks with Logan Chesnut, Pitmaster of Small Batch Barbecue out of Clarksville, TN, as he records the podcast at the very competition where he got his start in 2019, about being inspired by BBQ Pitmasters, being approach...

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June 15, 2023

Seeing BBQ Competitions from All Perspectives w/ Jason Hardee of Elit…

Kurt talks with Jason Hardee, Pitmaster and Owner of Elite BBQ Smokers out of Conway, SC about how he got started in competition BBQ by finding a milk vat cleaning out his dairy farm barn, getting into making smokers, why …

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June 8, 2023

Budgeting, Getting Crafty and Going All In w/ Erik Mengel of Trash Pa…

Kurt talks with Erik Mengel, Pitmaster of Trash Panda BBQ out of Roland, IA about how he got started from a cookbook his mom gave him, where the name Trash Panda comes from, what Iowa BBQ means, Erik’s specialty bacon …

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June 1, 2023

Part 5 of 6: KCBS Judge Seating Program Series w/ George DeMartz of T…

On the fifth episode of the KCBS Judge Seating Program Series, Kurt talks with George DeMartz, Pitmaster of Twisted Pair BBQ out of Raleigh, NC, who is also a part of the CBJ & the Rules Committee, about how his …

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May 25, 2023

Part 4 of 6: KCBS Judge Seating Program Series w/ Mark Gantt, KCBS Ma…

On the fourth episode of the KCBS Judge Seating Program Series, Kurt talks with Mark Gantt, Master Judge in KCBS, judging for about eight years, out of Conover, NC, about how he got started in BBQ, what he thinks BBQ …

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May 18, 2023

Part 3 of 6: KCBS Judge Seating Program Series w/ Ercole Chila of Unc…

On the third episode of the KCBS Judge Seating Program Series, Kurt talks with Ercole Chila, Pitmaster of Uncle Pig’s Barbeque Pit about how he got started 12 years ago during a friendly competition with his brothers, getting...

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May 11, 2023

Part 2 of 6: KCBS Judge Seating Program Series w/ Mark Gibbs of Check…

On the second episode of the KCBS Judge Seating Program Series, Kurt talks with Mark Gibbs, Pitmaster of Checkered Flag 500 out of Fawn Grove, PA about starting BBQ at the height of BBQ Pitmasters in 2012 thinking “I can …

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May 4, 2023

Part 1 of 6: KCBS Judge Seating Program Series w/ Chiles Cridlin of W…

On the first episode of the KCBS Judge Seating Program Series, Kurt talks with Chiles Cridlin, Pitmaster of Wolf’s Revenge BBQ out of Henrico, VA and KCBS Board Member about how he got started in BBQ, being surrounded by lege...

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