Rephonic
Artwork for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast

Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast

Chris Sedenka
Barbecue
Competition Barbecue
Giant DC BBQ Battle
Cooking Techniques
Old Virginia Smoke
Barbecue Competition
Barbecue Coaching
Community In Barbecue
Barbecue Equipment
Shigging
922 Shot
Barbecue Competitions
Barbecue Cooking Techniques
BBQ Positivity
Barbecue Recipes
Gratitude and Passion
KCBS
Meat Candy Q
Bbqdata.com
Washington, DC

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 w... more

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes160Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsFoodBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast

Latest Episodes

Tillman's BBQ has been a force for years. Join Luke and Tillman as they talk about BBQ, staying relevant amidst being a long ways away and how to get your mind ready for success.

YouTube

"On this week's edition of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we catch up with Jeremy Garrett, the organizer of the Grand Am Barbecue World Championship. We talk about venue, the vibe and some cool things planned for May!"

YouTube

This week's Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we kick of 2026 with what has been making all the noise in the BBQ world this offseason, the co-founders of the BBQ World Cup Shannon Pruitt and Scott Erdmann.  We talk all things BBQ World Cup!

YouTube

On this episode of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke podcast, we reminisce with Jason Wagner, aka Wags from Wag's Backwoods BBQ, who won the American Royal Open Championship a few days ago in Kansas City.  Luke and Wags chat about sharing the stage to... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Que The Mic
Que The MicDarren Warth and Randy Twyford
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
Tailgate Guys BBQ PodcastSteve Koehler and Lyndal Scranton
HowToBBQRight
HowToBBQRightMalcom Reed

Recent Guests

Tillman Nelson
Pitmaster and owner of Tillman's BBQ
Tillman's BBQ
Episode: 06/12/26 - Taste is King - Tillman Nelson
Jeremy Garrett
Founder/Presenter of the Campground BBQ Series
Campground BBQ Series
Episode: 03/04/26 - The Organizer - Jeremy Garrett
Shannon Pruitt
Co-founder of BBQ United and Barbecue World Cup
BBQ United / BBQ World Cup
Episode: 02/10/26 - The BBQ World Cup - Shannon Pruitt & Scott Erdmann
Scott Erdmann
Co-founder of BBQ United and Barbecue World Cup
BBQ United / BBQ World Cup
Episode: 02/10/26 - The BBQ World Cup - Shannon Pruitt & Scott Erdmann
Jason Wagner
Wags from Wag's Backwoods BBQ
Wag's Backwoods BBQ
Episode: 11/24/25 - A Royal Winner - Jason Wagner
Ryan King
Recent Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational Champion, owner of Kings BBQ Jacksonville
Kings BBQ Jacksonville
Episode: 11/04/25 - King of the Jack - Ryan King
Christie Vanover
Founder of Girls Can Grill, competitive pitmaster, entrepreneur
Girls Can Grill
Episode: 10/28/25 - The Girl Can Grill - Christie Vanover
Janice Smella Que
Pitmaster, Smella Que
Smella Que
Episode: 09/23/25 - Canada's Finest - Janice Smella
Gabe Trevino
One of the hottest cooks in the country, from Smokin Volts
Smokin Volts
Episode: 09/10/25 - The Brisket King - Gabe Trevino

Host

Luke Darnell
Pitmaster of Old Virginia Smoke Barbecue and host of the show, Luke Darnell shares his expertise, experiences, and enthusiasm for competitive barbecue.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 37 ratings
  • The Best Competition BBQ Podcast - Bar None

    This is by far the best competition bbq podcast. I have binged and re-binged it. I listen to it while driving to work, while cooking…really there’s no bad time to listen. Luke Darnell has the perfect personality for this. His curiosity, self-deprecating humor, and genuine interest in his guests and the topics makes for such an interesting and engaging listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DanDierdorf
    United States4 years ago
  • Love the podcast!

    So it’s great to hear from iconic Pitmasters. I hear comments about judges and scores. Have you considered interviewing experiences judges ?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Donr6718
    United States5 years ago
  • Good Show

    Easy listening and great content!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crazy Luke Graham
    United States6 years ago
  • Great

    Fun with great fun with good tidbits of knowledge sprinkled in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ktremel
    United States6 years ago
  • Very excited to offer this!

    Looking forward to it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DookieStyle
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the engaging and entertaining format, highlighting the valuable insights from expert guests.
The host's humor and personality receive recognition for making the content enjoyable and easy to digest.
Many appreciate the personal storytelling aspect of the episodes, which adds depth to the technical barbecue discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#68
New Zealand/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

02/10/26 - The BBQ World Cup - Shannon Pruitt & Scott Erdmann
Q: What makes this different from other competitions or events in BBQ?
It blends competition with a massive storytelling and connection platform, integrates community-driven growth, and uses a global sponsorship and media approach to turn BBQ into a pathway for life-changing opportunities while keeping the sport accessible to backyard cooks.
02/10/26 - The BBQ World Cup - Shannon Pruitt & Scott Erdmann
Q: What can people do at barbecueworldcup.com right now?
They can view the list of qualifying events, sign up for those events, join as a BBQ World Cup member at a low fee, and get access to early entry pricing, discounts, and future updates as the road to the World Cup unfolds.
02/10/26 - The BBQ World Cup - Shannon Pruitt & Scott Erdmann
Q: How did you come up with this idea for the BBQ World Cup?
We came from outside the barbecue world with strong background in sports and entertainment, saw a blue ocean opportunity to combine community, data, and storytelling, and built a pathway that starts with qualifying events and grows into a global storytelling and opportunity platform.
10/28/25 - The Girl Can Grill - Christie Vanover
Q: Who has impacted your life the most in competition barbecue?
Christie cites her family as the personal influence and Brad and Tim's classes as professional catalysts, highlighting how shared knowledge and community support elevate performance even across different pit setups.
09/10/25 - The Brisket King - Gabe Trevino
Q: What was the turning point for Gabe Trevino in his competition journey?
Gabe explains that after a rough patch, he embraced coaching from Brad and others, recalibrated his drum setup and cooking strategy, and decided to invest in high-quality equipment and meat to regain consistency and success.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast

What is Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides an insightful look into the world of competitive barbecue, featuring engaging conversations with renowned pitmasters. Episodes explore not only the techniques and tips used by these experts but also their personal journeys, struggles, and triumphs in the barbecue scene. A unique aspect of the content is its focus on the relationships within the barbecue community, emphasizing camaraderie and support among competitors. Listeners can expect to gain practical advice for both backyard cooking and competitive barbecue, making it a valuable resource for enthusiasts of all levels.

Where can I find podcast stats for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast:

1. Que The Mic
2. Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
3. Shootin’ The Que Podcast with Heath Riles
4. HowToBBQRight

How many episodes of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast are there?

Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 160 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast?

Recent guests on Pitmaster, an Old Virginia Smoke Podcast include:

1. Tillman Nelson
2. Jeremy Garrett
3. Shannon Pruitt
4. Scott Erdmann
5. Jason Wagner
6. Ryan King
7. Christie Vanover
8. Janice Smella Que

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days