Hey y’all, it’s John—pitmaster of Big Boyz BBQ and your host for another bite-sized BBQ story session. This week’s episode is a little different.

With no competition on the schedule for a while, I’m taking a deep breath—and a long look back—at the road so far. I talk about what keeps me coming back to the pit (even when the scores don’t), how I plan to stay sharp during this competition break, and what barbecue really means to me when there’s no turn-in table in sight. I’ll also share a little about what’s next—some fun stories I’ve been saving, things I’m experimenting with, and why the BBQ community means more than just brisket and chicken.

Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or just BBQ-curious, this episode is for anyone who knows that barbecue is as much about the journey as it is about the meat. Tune in, subscribe, and stay saucy until the next comp!

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Recap of both the Montana BBQ Cookoff results and the most recent competition in Blackfoot ID. We will also talk about memories of Washington DC on July 4 - fitting - and friends - where are they now? Making Wine Babbler Podcast - Hear about Roger and Erik's PodCast Wine Babblers - which takes a unique approach to talking about a fun hobby and not taking anything too serious. We will also discuss plans for a Santa Maria Grill and Northern Cali Dreams of Oysters, Wine and trying just the Tip. Happy 4th of July

We are headed to Blackfoot, Idaho for Smoke N Wings BBQ Competition. While it's heating up this weekend, it wasn't long ago that Montana saw snow - last weekend June 20.

That unexpected cold snap took me back to Copper Mountain, Colorado, where in June of 2023 I found myself cooking brisket in the snow - and made one of the most frustrating mistakes of my BBQ Career.

In this episode of Big Boyz BBQ Bytes, I'm sharing the brutal lessons from that cook: What went wrong, how a tiny overlooked detail detailed my entire brisket and the one conversation that planted the seed for a major change in my chicken game.

There are stories that stick with you - especially if you are a budget savvy pitmaster trying to get better with every comp. So grab a seat by the smoker and join me for this week's edition of Lessons from the Pit.