The Bite Meat Podcast

One of the most decorated pitmasters alive, Fred Robles, with tips and insight for everyone

* How a love for South Texas barbecue took over the world* Melding the love of the outdoors and barbecue* Gaining confidence for every cook* Is Fred a brother from another mother? Finding your passions and turning them into a lifestyle
* Don't ever underestimate weather, elements and positioning your pit

"If you're not saucing, you're not winning" -- champion pitmaster Bill Purvis

* What to look for when shopping for a brisket
* Wrapping made easy
* The biggest challenges backyard pitmasters face
* Are there "magic numbers" for internal temps
* Appearance matters, even for your family and friends
 

From complete novice to walking the stage at the Houston Rodeo Cookoff

*Four-time Canadian BBQ Team of the Year pitmaster Janice Smella became the first Canadian to walk the stage at the Cookoff in 2025.
* She shares her story, techniques and approach, her affinity to Texas BBQ and becoming a champion.

Great barbecue and great health without compromise? Yup.

Moodswing BBQ's Sunny Moody has won world championships and wowed judges on Food Network ... without compromise.
Misconceptions about how "unhealthy" barbecue can be
Pork shoulders for dummies. 
Different steaks ... different cooking styles?
Everything you should know on spritzing, water pans, wrapping, wet brine vs. dry brine

Inside the Houston Rodeo Cookoff competition, with some of the world's greatest pitmasters

* World champs Ronnie Killen, Doug Scheiding, Abel Nuncio and others take us behind the scenes of what the Cookoff really is all about
* The massive and unique details of making it on one of the biggest stages in the game.

The experts weigh-in: Tips every backyard pitmaster should know.

* How different spices affect different proteins
* The essence of "Louisiana" barbecue
* Essentials for chicken and pork
* When and how to spritz and sauce
* Open-flame tips

Texas Monthly's Daniel Vaughn on all things BBQ ... and eating at 2,500-plus joints

* Coming up with the revered Top 50 and how he whittles it down
* All the flavors and regions and what stands out
* Oh, the stories ... from influencing the market, to quality bites around the state, the travels and dealing with bad barbecue
* Smokin' Hot Tip: Easiest meats to try for entry-level backyard pitmasters

Hey Grill Hey's Susie Bulloch on advancing your barbecue game quickly

* How much the grilling game has changed
* Best introductory pits for newbies
* Detailed insight on fitting your recipes to your palette and staying on-budget
* Taking advantage of a wide variety of flavor profiles
* Smokin' hot tip: Keeping temperature and best cooks on Weber- and barrel-type pits 

They call him the Sausage Sensei for a reason

* One of the world's most influential and in-demand sausage makers, Bill Dumas, on his incredible story.
* Step-by-step keys to making the best artisanal sausage.
* From basic Texas-influenced sausages to those that have the barbecue world buzzing: Fried catfish sausage? Christmas tamale sausage? Girl Scout Cookie sausage? Yes, yes and yes.
* How backyard pitmasters can learn the craft.

What it really takes to compete at the HLSR Cookoff

* Champion pitmaster Tyler Gurney with detailed information on everything it takes to compete at one of the three biggest barbecue cookoffs in the world.
* From months of testing, to sourcing meats, preparing pits and spices, to living on one-hour of sleep and the ever-important cooking and presenting, Gurney offers unique insight.