What happens behind every BBQ trophy? The late nights. The travel. The missed family events. The pressure. The losses. The celebrations. And the people who stand beside the pitmaster through all of it. On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, I sit down with Allie Kirkpatrick of Janky Leg BBQ for a conversation about the side of competition barbecue that rarely gets discussed. When people talk about successful competition BBQ teams, they usually talk about the pitmaster, the trophies, the recipes, and the calls. But Allie has experienced the journey from a completely different perspective. She's been there for the early competition weekends, the long drives, the pressure, the heartbreaks, the victories—and one of the most unforgettable moments in Janky Leg BBQ history: the 2023 American Royal Open Grand Championship. What makes that story even more remarkable is that Janky Leg initially believed they had finished fifth overall. Days later, they discovered they were actually the Grand Champions. We go behind that incredible moment and talk about what it felt like to experience it, what people still don't understand about what happened, and how the experience changed their perspective on competition barbecue. But this conversation goes much deeper than the American Royal. Allie opens up about what it's really like to build a life around competition BBQ while being married to someone who is intensely competitive. We talk about partnership, communication, pressure, burnout, family, sacrifice, success, and the reality of supporting someone who is chasing a dream. Because competition BBQ isn't just a competitor's commitment. It's a family commitment. Allie also shares her perspective on what most fans never see when they arrive at a competition and see the finished product. The trophies are visible. The work behind them isn't. We talk about how barbecue has affected their marriage, what they've learned about communicating under pressure, how Allie helps Jordan process a bad weekend, and how she keeps him grounded after a great one. And importantly, we get to know Allie herself. Who is she outside of Janky Leg BBQ? What brings her joy away from the competition trail? What accomplishments is she proud of that have nothing to do with barbecue? And after everything they've experienced, what does she believe makes all the sacrifices worthwhile? This isn't just a conversation about competition barbecue. It's about the people standing beside the dream. Because sometimes the most important person at the pit isn't the person holding the tongs. It's the person who stayed beside them through everything. 🔥 This is BBQ Therapy. Everything BBQ. The smoke. The stories. The people. And the lessons behind the pit. Subscribe to BBQ Therapy Podcast for more conversations with the people behind the barbecue. Allie Kirkpatrick, Allie Kirkpatrick BBQ, Janky Leg BBQ, Janky Leg BBQ interview, Janky Leg BBQ Allie, Jordan Kirkpatrick, Janky Leg, American Royal BBQ, American Royal 2023, 2023 American Royal, American Royal Open, American Royal Grand Champion, competition BBQ, competitive barbecue, competition barbecue, BBQ competition, BBQ pitmaster, barbecue pitmaster, BBQ wife, pitmaster wife, BBQ spouse, competition BBQ wife, life of a pitmaster, behind the scenes BBQ, behind the pit, BBQ family, BBQ marriage, barbecue marriage, BBQ relationships, BBQ lifestyle, BBQ community, BBQ stories, BBQ Therapy, BBQ Therapy Podcast, barbecue podcast, BBQ podcast, pitmaster interview, barbecue interview, Janky Leg interview, competition BBQ stories, American Royal story, BBQ sacrifices, BBQ burnout, BBQ travel, BBQ family life, BBQ advice, backyard BBQ, backyard barbecue, BBQ journey, BBQ legacy, women in BBQ, women in barbecue, Allie Kirkpatrick interview
