Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast - podcast cover

Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast

Chris Sedenkapitmasterpod.podbean.com
Welcome to Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast. Each episode, OVS Pitmaster Luke Darnell will deconstruct world-class pitmasters to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use at home in your backyard and in the competition BBQ world. This includes morning routines, habits, tricks, and much more. Find out what’s challenged the world’s best pitmasters, how they handle adversity, and where they turn to for advice and counsel. You won’t want to miss this very entertaining, educational and totally different BBQ podcast.
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Episodes

05/30/25 - The Best Rub on the Planet - Bill Gillespie

This week on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we catch up with Guest 1...Bill Gillespie with Smokin Hoggz BBQ, recent winner of "Best Rub on the Planet" award from the American Royal. Always a good time, enjoy this conversation with Billy.

May 30, 202532 minEp. 153

05/21/25 - How to Take a BBQ Class

It's KCBS World Championship week! On this edition of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, Luke dives in to how to take classes, and lessons learned, with David Moore from Hot Mess BBQ and Brian Corbett with Smokin' Skullies. Lots of great tidbits here, and learning about...learning.

May 21, 202551 minEp. 152

05/07/25 - Partner Shopping - Josh Yagel

On this episode of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we introduce you to Josh Yagel of Leaning Jowler BBQ, our BBQ team that we'll follow this year. Josh is a great guy with a great family and story. I hope you look forward to following him as much as I do.

May 07, 202520 minEp. 151

03/14/25 - "Shiggin" & the "9:22 Shot" - Darren Warth

On this episode of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast, we get into a couple of awesome stories with Darren Warth of Smokey D's, recapping some tales that he told at the KCBS Roundtable, at the KCBS Awards Banquet in January. Learn where the 9:22 shot and the term "shiggin" came from.

Mar 14, 202537 minEp. 150

1/31/25 - The Champ - Kyle Kuhn

Welcome to another season of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast. We kickoff 2025 by checking in with our friend and "awards chiropractor" Kyle Kuhn with Hot Daddy's BBQ, winner of the American Royal Invitational in 2024.

Jan 31, 202535 minEp. 149

11/15/24 - The End of Year Pod

In this episode of Pitmaster, Luke and Brian from Smokin Skullies break down the end of the year and talk about the offseason.

Nov 15, 202444 minEp. 148

09/24/24 - BBQ Positivity - Dave & Shirin Mara

Dave and Shirin Mara of Meat Candy Q have been on.an absolute tear this this year! On this episode of Pitmaster, we get to meet them and find out some of their tips, tricks, habits and routines that have them on track to win KCBS Rib Team of the Year.

Sep 24, 202430 minEp. 145

09/17/24 - Ashland Contest Happy Hour

OVS caught up with other cooks at the Americamps BBQ Throwdown in Ashland, Virginia, back in early August. Enjoy the fun, and don't forget to follow OVS on YouTube .

Sep 17, 202431 minEp. 144

09/16/24 - Wise Virginia Live Happy Hour

It was quite the party, as it always is, at the Chillin' & Grillin' at the Glades. The event, which saw OVS take home the RGC, included a happy hour with Luke, Kim, and plenty of friends. Please enjoy!

Sep 16, 20241 hr 39 minEp. 143

06/07/24 - The Butt Whisperer - Brad Cox

This week on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we welcome Brad Cox of Local Yokels BBQ out of Illinois, recent winner of the KCBS World Invitational Open Contest. If there's a better person in BBQ, I'd be interested in finding them! This is a fun, feel good episode that I think you will enjoy!

Jun 07, 202436 minEp. 141

05/20/24 - A New Champ - Dennis Bowman

On this episode of Pitmaster, we talk to Dennis Bowman of Bowman's Butts & BBQ, a great young man who just won his first Masters GC in Kannapolis.

May 20, 202440 minEp. 140

05/09/24 - The LEGO Pitmaster - Harry Soo

On this week's edition of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast, we go for a ride with Harry Soo from Slap Yo' Daddy BBQ, a legend in the BBQ world. Harry has great info on mindset, thought processes, and a lot of life lessons. This is one of the most fun and insightful podcasts I've ever done. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

May 09, 202454 minEp. 139

04/23/24 - Chasing Bourbon & Friends - Chris Salsberry

Chris Salsberry from Fred Vegas Smokers has been cooking all over the country this early season. He's chasing "Bourbon and Friends" and having a blast with competition BBQ. This is a great podcast with a lot of tips on cooking in different parts of the country, and for making sure BBQ is fun. You don't want to miss this one.

Apr 23, 20241 hrEp. 138

03/01/24 - The Pork Shanks - Brian Corbett

The Pork Shanks - On this episode of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, Luke talks with Brian Corbett about their weekend together at the King of the Farm contest in Iron Station, NC, and how sometimes one meat can go completely haywire - and how to fix it.

Mar 01, 202435 minEp. 136

02/02/24 - Our Friend, Dmitry Feld

In this episode of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, Luke is joined by Bill Gillespie from Smokin Hoggz and Jared Huizenga from Insane Swine to remember Dmitry Feld. Dmitry was the organizer of the Lake Placid I Love BBQ festival, member of the 1980 Soviet Union Olympic Team, integral part of USA Luge, huge participant with the Shipman Youth Center, and generally one of the best human beings we've ever met. The world recently lost Dmitry to leukemia.

Feb 02, 202430 minEp. 135

01/08 - The East Coast OG - Dan Hixon

Happy New Year from Old Virginia Smoke! This week we feature one of the greats, Dan Hixon from 3Eyz BBQ. A lot of great stuff in here about controlling your environment and mindset.

Jan 08, 202435 minEp. 134

12/21/23 - Cooking Atmosphere - Jon Wade

This week on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we have Jon Wade with Optimus Swine from Toano, VA, one of the hottest cooks of 2023 and a really good friend of the show.

Dec 21, 202347 minEp. 133

12/12/34 -Super Hot & Fast - Levi Stoakes

This week on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, our guest is Levi Stoakes, pitmaster of Colorado Bulldawg BBQ. 7th overall in KCBS in 2023, top 25 in all categories, and winner of the Jealous Devil BBQ Challenge. Great insight here into mindset, tactics, and BBQ.

Dec 12, 202346 minEp. 132

12/04/23 - The Farmer - Bill Heyen

After a holiday break, Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, returns with Bill Heyen from Triple H BBQ. He's been one of the most consistent competitors of the past few years and has some great fun facts and tips in this episode.

Dec 04, 202338 minEp. 131

10/25/23 - American Royal Report & Reaction - Rod Gray

On this week's special edition of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we talk to Rod Gray, CEO of KCBS, about the new report released on what happened at the American Royal Open Contest.

Oct 25, 202328 minEp. 129

10/20/23 - The New Champ - Mark & Christine Masztal

On this episode of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we visit with Mark and Christine Masztal with Fire at the End of the Day, FATED. Great friends and winners of the American Royal Invitational. A great look into winning a major and the reaction that generates!

Oct 20, 202322 minEp. 128

10/11/23 - What Happened at the Royal - Jordan Kirkpatrick & David Ellis

On this special edition of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we have David Ellis of Machete Boys and Jordan Kirkpatrick of Janky Leg BBQ to talk all things revolving around the American Royal Open and the scoring errors. Two class acts, great pitmasters, and even better people.

Oct 11, 202342 minEp. 127

10/06/23 - The Announcement - 10/06/23

Mike Steele is the Pitmaster of Pigs and Cows Gone Wild, and the creator of BBQChamps.com , an online collection of BBQ classes. We talk Royal, Jack, and an exciting announcement and offer from BBQChamps.com ”

Oct 06, 202340 minEp. 126

09/25/23 - 2023 American Ryal Week - Curt Wallaceo

It’s American Royal week! We’ve battled through some technical issues, but we’re back this week with a vengeance! To start us off this week we have Curt Wallace with Smoked and Furious, KCBS Invitational winner with the highest score ever! Great interview and perfect to get you in that Royal mood.

Sep 25, 202334 minEp. 124
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