Wise Guys BBQ

Vincent Porcaro
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Wise Guys BBQ is a podcast dedicated to exploring and sharing barbecue tips and insights. Join our cohosts weekly for episodes filled with valuable information and entertaining anecdotes from our talented hosts.

  1. 6d ago

    Great BBQ Isn’t Enough: How to Market and Grow Your Business | Brandon Hurtado

    Brandon Hurtado joins Vin and Tommy the Butcher to share how he turned a backyard barbecue obsession into Hurtado Barbecue—one of Texas’s fastest-growing independent barbecue brands.Brandon’s journey began with food photography, an old offset smoker, and a small brewery pop-up selling barbecue tacos. Today, Hurtado Hospitality operates multiple locations, employs more than 250 people, and continues to expand beyond traditional barbecue with Tex-Mex concepts, catering, nationwide shipping, retail seasonings, and major partnerships with organizations like the Texas Rangers.Brandon opens up about the challenges behind that growth, including closing an unsuccessful location, making the risky decision to expand into dinner service, building consistent systems across multiple restaurants, and hiring experienced people who could help take the company to the next level.The conversation also explores:• How digital marketing helped launch Hurtado Barbecue• Why hospitality matters just as much as great food• The Tex-Mex influences behind Hurtado’s menu• How Mexican cornbread became a signature barbecue side• The creation of Loma, Brandon’s full-service Tex-Mex restaurant• Selling barbecue nationwide through live-shopping platforms• Building successful catering and sports partnerships• Brandon’s advice for creating a loyal audience and lasting brandThis is more than a barbecue success story—it’s an honest conversation about persistence, smart business decisions, creativity, and making every customer feel valued.Subscribe for more conversations with the pitmasters, restaurant owners, competitors, and personalities shaping today’s barbecue world.#HurtadoBarbecue #TexasBBQ #WiseGuysBBQ #digitalmarketing #bbqpodcast #business #businessadvice

    Great BBQ Isn’t Enough: How to Market and Grow Your Business | Brandon Hurtado

  2. Jul 17

    Inside the Rise of Whiskey Bent BBQ | Chad Ward

    Chad Ward’s competition BBQ journey started with a seventh-place finish and a loss to a troop of Boy Scouts. It eventually led him to Food Network’s *Chopped Grill Masters*, a major role in building the Traeger community, and cooking for celebrities like Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Ken Griffey Jr., Jason Aldean, Drew Brees, and Zac Brown. In this episode of the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin and Tommy the Butcher sit down with Chad Ward of Whiskey Bent BBQ to discuss his rise through the barbecue world. Chad shares how he went from competing across 27 states to growing a 900-square-foot barbecue shop into a 17,000-square-foot retail and manufacturing operation. Chad also breaks down what modern competition cooks are getting wrong, why rigid timelines cannot replace real cooking experience, and how learning to cook on unfamiliar smokers made him a better pitmaster. He takes us behind the scenes of *Chopped Grill Masters*, tells the story of the cold email that launched his relationship with Traeger, and reveals what it is really like cooking backstage for Jelly Roll and Post Malone. Plus, hear how Whiskey Bent BBQ got its name, why Jack Daniel’s sent Chad a cease-and-desist letter, what is next for the brand, and the unforgettable story of his surprise trip to compete against some of New England’s best barbecue teams. This episode is packed with competition BBQ knowledge, brand-building lessons, celebrity cooking stories, and plenty of laughs. Subscribe to Wise Guys BBQ for more pitmaster interviews, barbecue stories, recipes, competition coverage, and behind-the-scenes conversations from the world of BBQ. #bbqpodcast #podcast #foodpodcast #celebritychef #foodnetwork #bbq

    Inside the Rise of Whiskey Bent BBQ | Chad Ward

  3. Jul 10

    From Teacher to World-Class Pitmaster: Richard Fergola’s Winning BBQ Mindset

    What does it take to compete in more than 250 BBQ contests and build a respected name in the barbecue world? This week, the Wise Guys sit down with Richard Fergola, founder of Fergalicious BBQ, world-class pitmaster, educator, competition barbecue veteran, and creator of the Fergalicious line of BBQ rubs and sauces. Richard shares how he went from teaching special education and coaching championship-level wrestling to pursuing barbecue full-time. He breaks down the confidence, discipline, repetition, and mental toughness required to succeed on the competition BBQ circuit while sharing valuable barbecue tips for cooks at every level. The conversation covers his first competition, the hard lessons behind developing a winning BBQ program, chasing Team of the Year points, adapting to different judges, teaching backyard and competition barbecue classes, and even the painful story of missing a turn-in by just two seconds. Whether you are a competition cook, backyard pitmaster, or barbecue entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest stories, practical barbecue tips, and valuable lessons from a pitmaster who has spent years mastering his craft. 🔥 In this episode: • Richard’s journey from educator and wrestling coach to professional pitmaster • The mindset required to compete at a high level • Lessons learned from more than 250 BBQ competitions • Barbecue tips for improving consistency and confidence • How he developed and refined his competition BBQ program • Backyard BBQ classes versus competition cooking classes • Building the Fergalicious BBQ rub and sauce brand • Why confidence, consistency, and failure are all part of winning Subscribe to Wise Guys BBQ for more pitmaster interviews, barbecue tips, recipes, competition adventures, and behind-the-scenes conversations from the BBQ world. If you would like to learn more about Richard or try his sauces and rubs, visit: https://www.fergoliciousbbq.com/ #bbqpodcast #pitmaster #outdoorcooking #foodpodcast #bbqtips #podcast

    From Teacher to World-Class Pitmaster: Richard Fergola’s Winning BBQ Mindset

  4. Jul 3

    We Tried Store-Bought Wing Sauces… One Stole the Show

    This week on the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin and Charlie are putting store-bought BBQ wing sauces to the test to find out which one belongs at your next backyard cookout. The guys taste and rate a lineup of sauces on chicken wings, including Sweet Baby Ray’s Garlic Parmesan, Kinder’s Gold BBQ Sauce, Sticky Fingers Honey BBQ, Japanese BBQ Sauce, and Nashville Heat. Some sauces bring the smoke, some bring the sweetness, and one sauce steals the show. Before the wing sauce showdown, the guys talk Fourth of July BBQ plans, brisket, beef ribs, fireworks, cookout chaos, Bob’s BBQ business, competition updates, Tommy’s smoked New England clam chowder, and the Wise Guys BBQ channel hitting over 2,000 subscribers. If you love BBQ podcasts, chicken wings, barbecue sauce reviews, Fourth of July cookout ideas, brisket talk, and classic Wise Guys BBQ laughs, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more BBQ recipes, barbecue podcasts, food reviews, BBQ road trips, grilling tips, smoker recipes, and behind-the-scenes stories from Wise Guys BBQ. #foodpodcast #bbqpodcast #bbqsauce #tastetest #wings #food

    We Tried Store-Bought Wing Sauces… One Stole the Show

  5. Jun 26

    How Sweet Baby Ray’s Became a BBQ Icon | Duce Raymond Tells the Story

    This week on the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, we’re joined by Duce Raymond of Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurants for an inside look at one of the most recognizable names in barbecue. Duce takes us behind the scenes of the Sweet Baby Ray’s story, from the family roots and legendary sauce name to the restaurant world, catering business, and what it takes to keep a BBQ brand growing. We talk about the early days of Sweet Baby Ray’s, the role of Uncle Dave and Larry Raymond, how the sauce became a household name, and how that legacy continues through restaurants, events, and backyard BBQ education. This episode goes way beyond sauce. Duce shares stories from the restaurant business, the challenges of catering everything from small backyard parties to major events, the future of Sweet Baby Ray’s restaurants, and his take on where barbecue is headed. The guys also dive into competition BBQ, live fire cooking, BBQ classes, social media, and what it really means to give people the “whole nine” when they show up to eat. If you love BBQ history, restaurant stories, barbecue sauce, live fire cooking, competition BBQ, or just hearing from people who helped shape the barbecue world, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Featuring Vin, Charlie, and special guest Duce Raymond of Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurants. Subscribe for more BBQ podcasts, recipes, road trips, pitmaster interviews, and barbecue stories from the Wise Guys BBQ crew. #sweetbabyrays #bbq #bbqpodcast #podcast #bbqsauce #duceraymond #bbqsauce

    How Sweet Baby Ray’s Became a BBQ Icon | Duce Raymond Tells the Story

  6. Jun 19

    Live Fire BBQ Is Changing the Game | 100th Episode with Al Frugoni

    100 episodes in, and we brought in the perfect guest: Al Frugoni, one of the biggest names in open fire cooking, Argentinian asado, and live fire BBQ. In this milestone episode of the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin and Charlie sit down with Al to talk about his journey from Argentina to Texas, how asado shaped the way he cooks, and why live fire cooking is becoming one of the most exciting movements in barbecue today. Al breaks down the difference between open fire cooking, Santa Maria grilling, asado, and traditional smoking. He also explains why live fire cooking can actually be more forgiving than smoking, how Memphis in May helped bring open fire BBQ to a bigger stage, and why the Texas Open Fire Meat Up has become a must-see event for BBQ creators, pitmasters, competitors, and fans. The guys also get into the future of BBQ competitions, the Live Fire Cooking Association, cooking beef ribs over open flame, cabrito, Bistecca Fiorentina, and why barbecue is really about community, culture, and bringing people together. Thank you to everyone who has watched, commented, shared, cooked along, and helped Wise Guys BBQ reach 100 episodes. The train keeps rolling. In this episode: Al Frugoni’s Argentina-to-Texas story What asado really means Open fire cooking vs smoking Why live fire BBQ is changing competitions Memphis in May and Texas Open Fire Meat Up Santa Maria grill tips for thick steaks BBQ creators, pitmasters, culture, and community Subscribe to Wise Guys BBQ for more BBQ podcasts, cooking videos, recipes, Destination Q episodes, BBQ news, live fire cooking, and backyard barbecue conversations. #livefire #podcast #bbqpodcast #alfrugoni #outdoorcooking

    Live Fire BBQ Is Changing the Game | 100th Episode with Al Frugoni

  7. Jun 12

    Chunky BBQ: From Turn-In Chaos to Championship Wins

    This week on the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, we sit down with Chunky BBQ after their huge Grand Am Invitational win and talk about what it really takes to compete at the highest level in barbecue. We get into the road to the 2027 BBQ World Cup, the pressure of cooking for a shot at $1,000,000, and why consistency is the difference between having a good cook and hearing your name called at awards. Chunky BBQ breaks down competition BBQ strategy, KCBS judging, table luck, brisket, ribs, pork, chicken, flavor profiles, sauces, injections, and the mental side of trying to hit across all four categories. We also talk about Wildwood, Almost Heaven Barbecue Bash, public-facing BBQ events, and the chaos that comes with turn-ins when everything is on the line. Plus, there are some hilarious competition stories, including dropped ribs, dropped chicken, last-minute saves, and those moments where BBQ contests feel like complete barbecue bingo. If you love competition barbecue, KCBS BBQ, brisket talk, rib techniques, BBQ tips, or behind-the-scenes stories from the competition circuit, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and real BBQ knowledge from one of the most recognizable teams in the game. #competitionbbq #bbqpodcast #podcast #barbecue #bbq #smokegrill

    Chunky BBQ: From Turn-In Chaos to Championship Wins

  8. Jun 5

    Wise Guys BBQ Enters Competition BBQ | Bristol BBQ Bash, Live Fire Cooking & BBQ Safari Plans

    This week on the Wise Guys BBQ Podcast, Vin and Charlie catch up on everything happening in the Wise Guys BBQ world — and there is a lot going on. The guys talk about Wise Guys BBQ officially stepping into the competition BBQ scene at the upcoming Bristol BBQ Bash at Lake Compounce, where Tommy the Butcher, Tim Zettergren, and Bob Baumann will be representing the crew. They break down the nerves, the excitement, the meat assignments, and what it means for Wise Guys to finally jump into the world of competition barbecue. The conversation also dives into Bob’s busy food truck schedule, brisket problems before competition week, Tommy’s latest butcher projects, smoked beef jerky, family cooks, and backyard barbecue. Charlie also shares his experience cooking on a Santa Maria-style grill, including live fire chicken, lamb, steak, ribs, vegetables, and more. Plus, the guys talk about the growing world of live fire and open fire cooking competitions, why that style of barbecue is so exciting to watch, and where the next Wise Guys BBQ Safari might take them — Chicago, New York, Atlanta, or maybe even another Texas run. If you love BBQ competitions, live fire cooking, smoked meat, BBQ road trips, backyard grilling, and the chaos of the Wise Guys BBQ crew, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more BBQ podcasts, recipes, Destination Q episodes, competition BBQ content, and behind-the-scenes barbecue stories from Wise Guys BBQ. #podcast #bbqpodcast #barbecue #competitionbbq

    Wise Guys BBQ Enters Competition BBQ | Bristol BBQ Bash, Live Fire Cooking & BBQ Safari Plans
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Wise Guys BBQ is a podcast dedicated to exploring and sharing barbecue tips and insights. Join our cohosts weekly for episodes filled with valuable information and entertaining anecdotes from our talented hosts.

Information

  • Creator
    Vincent Porcaro
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Wise Guys BBQ