We are chatting with the SCA World Champion Karen Wright, Wright on Q

I am Freddy, founder of Tri-City Pitmasters from Southern California. I am currently employed by Firebull Charcoal and Primetime Spices. In the past, I worked for FOGO Charcoal, Prime 6 Charcoal, and Papas Grilling Products. I also used to host and compete in SCA Events. Additionally, my girlfriend and I have founded the California Tri Tip Association. We have started hosting competitions, but have run into a few speed bumps.

Join us with Rooster and Graybeard: where fire meets flavor, to salute the troops and talk about Texas made Charles Goodnight Texas Whiskey Bourbon. 

  We welcome Rusty Monson back to the show for an update on Salt City Barbecue. For 2025 he has won the Best In State vote for Best Barbecue Restaurant. It has officially been one year since he stepped away from the show, so we will see what he has been doing.

7 SINS BBQ is a BBQ Catering Company & Award Winning BBQ Competition Team who competes in the KCBS / CBBQA circuits as well as a producer of Award Winning BBQ Rubs & Sauces in the United States and Australia.

Thyron Mathews is an award-winning American BBQ Chef and Pitmaster, known for his bold flavors, Southern roots, and viral presence both online and on screen. Originally from Royal, Florida—a historic Black farming town where families were once granted their 40 acres—Thyron now calls Iowa home, where he’s built one of the most recognized BBQ brands in the Midwest.     Thyron rose to national fame after winning Netflix’s hit competition series Barbecue Showdown, which drew over 40 million viewers globally. Prior to that, he had already earned 16 Grand Championships and was crowned “Best in Show” at the Iowa State Fair two years in a row.     What began as a small catering business with his wife, Terrishane Mathews, has since evolved into a full-scale BBQ operation—now rebranded as Thyron Mathews BBQ. From his popular food trailer to his viral how-to videos on YouTube, Thyron has built a loyal fanbase that spans backyard grillers to competition veterans.     Thyron is also a trusted partner of top industry names, including Kingsford Charcoal and the Iowa Pork Producers, and continues to lead the charge in BBQ culture nationwide. He has hosted some of the country’s biggest live-fire events, including Smoke Slam in Memphis and the upcoming NBBQA Festivalin Long Island, New York.     With his deep roots, undeniable talent, and larger-than-life personality, Thyron Mathews is one of BBQ’s most exciting and influential voices today.

My name is Cory Jones owner of Hearth Heroes BBQ. Our passion for BBQ is evident in every bite. We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy great food without compromising their dietary needs, which is why we take pride in our gluten-free and low-salt offerings. We carefully select our ingredients to ensure that each seasoning blend is not only flavorful but also healthy. Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue, planning a special event, or simply looking to spice up your weeknight dinners, Hearth Heroes BBQ has something for everyone. From our signature rubs, we invite you to taste the difference that dedication and passion can make. Join us on this flavorful journey and discover why we are the go-to choice for BBQ lovers everywhere. Thank you for choosing Hearth Heroes BBQ, where every meal is a celebration of bold flavors and wholesome ingredients!

It all began in his childhood home where Bob Trudnak was the oldest of four children. His mother was a homemaker, and his father worked three jobs to support the family. Most Sundays were spent barbecuing at the local state park, near their home in the hills of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania – population 5,100. Sundays were his father’s only day off, and he would spend it barbecuing at the park's charcoal grills. Bob says watching his father's unselfish sacrifice taught him how important selfless contribution is to a family's well-being. When Bob was seven, his dad placed him "in charge" of putting charcoal in the grill. "From that day forward,” he says. “I was hooked on barbecue." And so it began. Fast forward twenty some years to find a celebrity grillmaster who’s become an icon in the world of barbecue, earning the nickname BBQ Bob, and The Time and Temperature Guru. Bob would go on to revolutionize the world of grilling and become a recognized leader in his industry, leaving his influence on the craft around the world.

Karen Wright Wright on QAKA mom to the Steak Princess Russell and I started competing in BBQ in the early 2000’s. He did his first steak competition in June of 2017 with me just there for support. I started cooking ancillaries not long after and then moved to steak.

Sterling Smith, 2022 World Barbecue Champion, US Navy Veteran, barbecue teacher, cookbook author, and owner/Pitmaster of Loot N’ Booty BBQ, has been competing on the professional barbeque circuit since 2009. In that time, Sterling and his family have traveled nationally and internationally to compete in major competitions including the Jack Daniel’s World BBQ Invitational, where they won the title of World Pork Champion, the American Royal World Series of BBQ, where they won Reserve Grand Champion in 2014 and 2022 out of more than 500 professional BBQ teams and won the title of Chicken World Champion and The Kingsford Australian World BBQ Invitational where they won the title of Brisket World Champion. Sterling has won over 55 Grand and Reserve Grand Championship Awards, more than 800 top ten awards and is the two-time Australian Invitational Lamb Champion. Loot N’ Booty BBQ is a 5-time Arizona BBQ Team of the Year and was featured on an episode of Destination America Channel’s Smoked, where Sterling and his wife Molly won the title of “Smoked BBQ Boss.” Loot N’ Booty BBQ Rubs and Sauces are sold nationally and internationally at hundreds of retailers world-wide, and Sterling teaches competition and backyard style BBQ classes at locations across the world. For more information visit: www.lootnbootybbq.com Accolades:  5 X World Champion  2023 CA BBQ Hall of Fame Inductee  55 Grand and Reserve Grand Championships  800 plus Top 10 awards  17 perfect 180 scores  11 – 700 plus scores  2 X Australian Invitational Lamb Champion  2014 American Royal Open Reserve Grand Champion  2022 American Royal Open Reserve Grand Champion  5 X Arizona BBQ Team of the Year  2022 World Barbecue Champion  2021 World Barbecue Reserve Grand Champion  2023 World Barbecue Reserve Grand Champion  Received title of “Smoked BBQ Boss” from Destination America’s Channel Smoked

Beer's Blackdog BBQ is a family owned business in the heart of northern Minnesota's lake country. Born from the good old days of weekly gatherings of good people and good BBQ. Blackdog has grown to be a favorite sauce all over the globe. It is a sauce that appeals to a wide variety of tastes, a sweet tangy sauce with a hint of smokiness and just enough heat to keep you coming back for more. For your next gathering around the smoker or the grill, Que with the Big Dog, Beer's Blackdog BBQ!