Baseball and BBQ

Michael Letchworth is from North Carolina, where his barbecue journey began at the age of 15 when he started working at the legendary Skylight Inn BBQ.  Michael worked his way through high school and college, learning the art of Eastern North Carolina whole-hog barbecue while becoming part of one of the most respected barbecue traditions in the country. A lifelong friend of Sam Jones, Michael eventually partnered with him to create Sam Jones BBQ, opening their first restaurant in Winterville, North Carolina, in 2015, followed by a second location in Raleigh. Together, they have continued to celebrate the traditions of Eastern North Carolina barbecue, specializing in whole hog cooked over wood-fired pits while bringing their own vision to the business. Today, Michael is not only a restaurateur and barbecue ambassador but also someone who enjoys sharing the history and craft of North Carolina barbecue with people across the country. We are joined by Doug Scheiding of Rogue Cookers as our special guest co-host.  Doug is an award-winning BBQ champion known for his expertise in competition barbecue, innovative cooking techniques, and passion for great food.  Check out Doug’s website at www.roguecookers.com Adam Darowski is a designer, developer, and baseball historian who serves as Senior Design Director at Sports Reference, the company behind Baseball-Reference.com, Stathead, and the popular Immaculate Grid. Adam joined Sports Reference full-time in 2020 after previously working with the company as a design consultant, contributing to its website redesign and the launch of Stathead. He has also been involved in the development of Immaculate Grid, the daily baseball trivia game that challenges fans to demonstrate their knowledge of players, teams, and baseball history. Away from his work at Sports Reference, Adam is a dedicated baseball historian and researcher whose interests include the Negro Leagues and Latin American baseball. A member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) since 2013, he created the Hall of Stats, an alternative approach to evaluating baseball's greatest players, and has written several biographies for SABR's Baseball Biography Project. One of his particularly fascinating research projects involves the 25th Infantry Wreckers, an all-Black U.S. Army baseball team that featured several future Negro League stars. Adam researched the team's history and compiled statistics that helped bring the accomplishments of these often-overlooked players to a wider audience. His work combines a love of baseball statistics with a commitment to preserving the stories of the people who helped shape the game. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael Loeffler is a former Little League coach whose writing draws on his firsthand experiences in youth baseball. He discusses his book, Dying to Play Little League: A Father, A Son, and One Final Season which explores the world of Little League baseball and the special relationship between a father and son.  Per a description from the internet, "He’s forty. He’s dying. And he just joined Little League.  Estranged from his twelve-year-old son and burning through borrowed time, Australian expat Micah Collins discovers a loophole in the custody agreement: nothing says he can’t play on his son’s team.  Armed with a dubious age-discrimination claim, zero shame, and no baseball ability, “Mikey” signs up and forges an unlikely bond with his young teammates.  What begins as a desperate attempt to reconnect with his son spirals into humiliation, controversy, and consequences far bigger than his disastrous batting average.  Darkly funny and unexpectedly devastating, Dying to Play Little League is a story about flawed fatherhood, mortality, and the spectacular irrationality of love." Kirk Malzer is the CEO of Fat Boy Hickman's BBQ, a Nebraska-based company specializing in all-natural barbecue rubs, sauces, and seasonings.  Kirk brings extensive business experience to the barbecue industry. His passion for barbecue, combined with his entrepreneurial background, has helped grow Fat Boy Hickman's BBQ into a nationally distributed brand.  The company offers a variety of rubs and sauces designed to bring bold flavor to grilling, smoking, and everyday cooking.  For more information on Kirk and Fat Boy Hickman's BBQ go to https://bestnaturalbbq.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brian Kennish is from B's Que Crew, a family competition barbecue team with roots in Philadelphia and based in the Richmond, Virginia, area. What began in 2012 as a way to enjoy cooking and competition while raising a family has grown into a nationally recognized team competing among the best in the barbecue world. B's Que Crew recently reached the pinnacle of competitive BBQ with incredible back-to-back performances at two of the sport’s most prestigious events. They captured Grand Champion at the 2026 American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational, prevailing over a field of 158 teams, before following it up with Reserve Grand Champion honors at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. These remarkable finishes reflect years of dedication, countless hours of preparation, a passion for great barbecue, and the consistency required to compete at the highest level.  Please join us in congratulating Brian and the entire B’s Que Crew family on an outstanding season and these incredible accomplishments. We are joined by Doug Scheiding of Rogue Cookers as our special guest co-host.  Doug is an award-winning BBQ champion known for his expertise in competition barbecue, innovative cooking techniques, and passion for great food.  Check out Doug’s website at www.roguecookers.com Jay Jackson is a former professional baseball pitcher whose career took him from Greenville, South Carolina, to Major League Baseball and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.  In 2008 he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the ninth round of the MLB Draft, beginning a professional journey that would span multiple teams, organizations, and countries. Jackson made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres in 2015 and went on to pitch for several MLB organizations, including the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. He also spent several seasons in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Chiba Lotte Marines. Following his playing career, Jackson transitioned into coaching and mentoring, bringing his experience and knowledge of the game to the next generation of athletes. His journey offers a unique perspective on the realities of professional sports, the importance of mental toughness, and the ability to adapt when the path to success takes unexpected turns. His story is one of persistence, growth, and finding new ways to make an impact in the game of baseball. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jerry Rosen is a respected baseball coach and educator whose impact extends far beyond the baseball diamond. Recognized for his knowledge of the game, his experience as a player, and his dedication to coaching, Rosen has made a lasting impression on the athletes and students he has mentored throughout his career. His work in the Schenectady, New York community reflects the important role a coach can play in shaping young people's lives. Beyond teaching the fundamentals of baseball, Coach Rosen has helped develop character, confidence, discipline, and leadership in the individuals he has coached. In recognition of his contributions to baseball, Jerry Rosen is being inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame, Class of 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thomas W. Gilbert is an acclaimed baseball historian and author whose books explore the origins, personalities, and cultural history of America’s national pastime. His previous works include How Baseball Happened, winner of the Casey Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year, as well as Baseball and the Color Line, Roberto Clemente, and Playing First. This time, Tom returns with a remarkable baseball mystery: Death in the Strike Zone: The Mystery of America’s First Baseball Hero.  His latest book uncovers the extraordinary story of James Creighton, the young Brooklyn pitcher who became baseball’s first national superstar in the years before the Civil War. Widely credited with revolutionizing pitching, Creighton was so dominant that he helped transform the way baseball was played. His influence was so profound that his story is connected to the development of the strike zone itself.  But Creighton’s story took a tragic turn. At just 21 years old, he collapsed after a game and died four days later in 1862. What happened to this pioneering pitcher? Was his death the result of a freak injury, the physical demands of his revolutionary pitching style, or something more mysterious? And why has a player who helped shape the game remained largely forgotten by generations of baseball fans? In Death in the Strike Zone, Tom combines meticulous historical research, baseball detective work, and the colorful world of 19th-century America to bring Creighton’s story back to life. Along the way, he explores the origins of modern pitching, the early business of baseball, and the myths and mysteries surrounding the birth of America’s national pastime.  Go to https://howbaseballhappened.com/ for more information on Thomas and his books. Malcom Reed is a barbecue expert, competition pitmaster, and creator of HowToBBQRight. Alongside his wife, Rachelle Reed, he shares recipes, cooking tips, and barbecue adventures with a dedicated audience of BBQ fans. We are revisiting our conversation with Malcom, a competition pitmaster who knows what it takes to turn out championship-quality barbecue. From ribs and pulled pork to brisket and all the techniques that make outdoor cooking special, he brings plenty of experience, enthusiasm, and personality to everything he does. He also shares his knowledge through his HowToBBQRight podcast and the Killer Hogs line of BBQ products. On this replay, we’re bringing back our conversation with Malcom to celebrate the food, traditions, and passion that bring people together around the grill.  Whether you're an experienced pitmaster or someone just getting started with a smoker, Malcom's passion for barbecue makes this a conversation worth revisiting.  For more information on Malcom and How To BBQ Right, go to https://howtobbqright.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Frye is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played eight seasons in the big leagues from 1992 to 2001. Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round of the 1988 MLB Draft, he made his major league debut with Texas in 1992 and went on to play for the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Toronto Blue Jays. A versatile player known for his hitting ability and speed, Frye finished his MLB career with a .290 batting average, 626 hits, 16 home runs, 194 RBIs, and 56 stolen bases. His standout season came in 1997 with the Red Sox, when he batted .312 in 127 games. One of the defining moments of his career came on August 17, 2001, when he hit for the cycle as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming just the second player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. Following his playing career, Frye became a certified Major League Baseball player agent in 2002, representing professional players and remaining connected to the game from a different perspective. He has also participated in speaking engagements, baseball camps, and charitable events. Garett Hemstock aka Uncle Hemmy, is the founder and pitmaster behind Uncle Hemmy BBQ, an Alberta-based barbecue brand.  What started as a backyard passion grew into a business after Garett began smoking meat in 2016. Cooking for friends and family sparked a deeper interest in developing distinctive flavors, experimenting with seasonings, and creating food that brings people together. That passion eventually evolved into Uncle Hemmy BBQ, a brand specializing in handcrafted barbecue rubs and seasoning blends designed to make every cook more memorable. Garett has also built a presence in the barbecue community through social media, sharing his cooking, flavor experiments, and enthusiasm for the craft.  With a hands-on approach to product development and a commitment to bold, distinctive flavor, Garett continues to grow the Uncle Hemmy BBQ brand while connecting with barbecue fans, home cooks, and fellow pitmasters. From backyard beginnings to building a recognizable name in the barbecue world, Garett Hemstock's story is about following a passion, trusting your creativity, and making great food that people remember.  Learn more about Garett and his seasonings at https://unclehemmybbq.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ken Singleton was selected by the New York Mets with the third overall pick in the 1967 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut in 1970 and went on to enjoy a 15-year career with the Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles. Singleton was a switch-hitting outfielder and designated hitter.  A three-time All-Star, Singleton enjoyed some of his finest seasons with Baltimore, including 1977, when he hit .328 with 24 home runs and finished third in American League MVP voting, and 1979, when he hit a career-high 35 home runs with 111 RBI and finished second in MVP voting. He was a key member of the Orioles' American League championship teams in 1979 and 1983, winning a World Series championship in 1983. In 1982, Singleton was also honored with the Roberto Clemente Award for his contributions both on and off the field. Following his playing career, Singleton embarked on an equally distinguished career in broadcasting. He began working in television with the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos and became a longtime broadcaster for the Expos through The Sports Network in Canada. He began working in television with the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos and became a longtime broadcaster for the Expos through The Sports Network in Canada. After that, and for more than two decades, he called Yankees games and numerous memorable moments before retiring from broadcasting in 2021. Singleton was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1986, and his career stands out for the unique perspective he brought to the game—having experienced Major League Baseball as a player, World Series champion, and longtime broadcaster. From his days as a highly regarded prospect with the Mets to his years as an All-Star in Montreal and Baltimore and his decades behind the microphone, Ken Singleton has spent virtually his entire professional life around the game he loves. Jason Cottingham is the founder and pitmaster behind Trauma Hogs BBQ, based in Brookland, Arkansas. Jason’s background in emergency services has played an important role in shaping his approach to barbecue and the identity of Trauma Hogs. The experience he gained as a first responder—preparation, teamwork, staying calm under pressure, and being ready to perform when it matters—has translated naturally into the demanding world of competition barbecue and running a food business. Over the years, Jason has developed Trauma Hogs into a barbecue brand that has included competition cooking, a food-truck operation, restaurant ventures, and a line of BBQ rubs. Jason’s story is one of passion, hard work, and a willingness to continually learn and adapt. From competing in barbecue to serving customers, he has experienced many different sides of the BBQ business and has built Trauma Hogs around his love of great food and the lessons learned throughout his journey. His combination of first-responder experience and barbecue expertise gives him a unique perspective on leadership, preparation, and performing under pressure. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 362 of Baseball and BBQ features author Kevin Keating, who joins us to talk about his novel Waiting for a Sign and the stories, inspiration, and baseball connections behind the book. We also sit down with Jennifer and Richard Stansbury of TexMo BBQ to hear about their journey as a barbecue competition team, the world of competitive BBQ, and what it takes to cook for the win. Kevin Keating is a lifelong baseball autograph collector, author, and one of the most experienced experts in the sports-autograph world. He began collecting baseball autographs in 1969 at age 10, and by the time he graduated from high school, his collection had grown to more than 10,000 signatures. His passion for collecting eventually became a career: Keating founded Quality Autographs in 1992 and later became a principal autograph authenticator for PSA/DNA. Over the decades, Kevin has met and developed friendships with many of baseball’s legendary figures, turning his remarkable experiences into stories that capture not only the pursuit of an autograph, but the personalities behind the signatures. He is the author of Waiting for a Sign, a two-volume collection of stories from his lifetime of collecting, authenticating, and interacting with baseball and sports personalities. Volume 2 features stories involving figures including Roberto Clemente, Casey Stengel, Warren Spahn, George Brett, Bob Feller, Buck O’Neil, George Sisler, Mark McGwire, and others. Kevin’s expertise extends beyond collecting. He has written extensively about autographs, co-authored The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide, and has been featured as an expert on baseball autographs and authentication. His books offer a unique perspective on baseball history—one built not just from watching the game, but from meeting the people who made it. Jennifer Stansbury and Richard Stansbury join us as they discuss their barbecue team and the successes they have enjoyed.  The following is taken from the team's Facebook page, "My style is built on the foundation of Missouri barbecue—balanced flavors, layered seasoning, and a respect for technique—blended with the bold, no-nonsense approach of Texas barbecue, where quality meat and clean execution take center stage." Our show was their first podcast appearance, but based on our discussion and their love and passion for cooking barbecue, it may end up becoming one of many. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tom Abruscato has spent more than two decades coaching baseball at W.T. Clarke High School on Long Island, developing players, building championship teams, and helping young athletes continue their careers at the collegiate level. His career includes 500+ wins, multiple New York State, Long Island and Nassau County championships, and more than 100 players going on to play college baseball. Tom is also the founder of Central Meadow Baseball Academy, which began in 1999 with the goal of providing affordable, professional baseball instruction to local players and giving back to the Long Island baseball community. The academy reports having donated more than $170,000 to local Little Leagues and former campers through scholarships. Tom is a member of the Class of 2026 New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 361 features Nick Elam and Steve Brown AKA Uncle Steve. Nick discusses the innovative Elam Ending, his passion for basketball, and his love of baseball, while Uncle Steve returns for another entertaining conversation about BBQ, his signature seasonings, and the Houston Astros. It’s an episode filled with sports, barbecue, creativity, and great stories. Nick Elam is the creator of the Elam Ending, the innovative basketball format that has changed the way fans think about the final minutes of a game. What began as an idea in 2007 eventually made its way to The Basketball Tournament and the NBA All-Star Game. But Nick's interests go well beyond basketball. His background includes education, leadership, athletics, mathematics and sports innovation. Today, he is a professor of educational leadership at Ball State University and continues to explore ways that sports can evolve. Nick is also the host of Sports Rule Pod, a podcast dedicated to sports innovation, rule changes, big ideas and the people shaping the future of sports. On the show, Nick talks with athletes, coaches, broadcasters, executives and other innovators about how sports can evolve while remaining true to what makes them great. Steve Brown AKA Uncle Steve is the creative force behind Uncle Steve’s Shake, featuring a premier lineup of barbecue rubs. Uncle Steve is a true artist, and spices are his palette. He wants BBQ to be fun, and with his artwork, creative names, and colorful labels, he is definitely having fun. Steve returns for his third appearance, and once again, the conversation is highly entertaining. In addition to his devotion to providing quality barbecue products, Steve is also a huge fan of the Houston Astros. As the barbecue and baseball seasons roll along, we’re excited to have Uncle Steve back to discuss both. For Steve, BBQ isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the people you meet, the friendships you make, the lessons you learn, and the stories that come from gathering around a grill or smoker.  For more information and to order Uncle Steve’s products, go to https://unclestevesshake.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  [email protected] Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.