#85 Jim Auchmutey: The True History of American BBQ | Author of Smokelore

How much do you really know about the history of American barbecue?

Most of us know the regions.

Texas.

Kansas City.

Memphis.

The Carolinas.

We know the meats, the sauces, the smokers, and the traditions.

But how many of us actually know the people and cultures that shaped the barbecue we know today?

On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, I sit down with Jim Auchmutey, award-winning journalist and author of Smokelore, for a deep conversation about the history, culture, people, and stories behind American barbecue.

Jim has spent years researching barbecue and talking with pitmasters, historians, families, and communities across the country.

And what he discovered is that barbecue history is about much more than food.

It's about America.

We begin with Jim's career as a journalist and explore what first drew him toward barbecue history. We talk about his grandfather's influence, the questions that led him into this research, and the moment he realized that he wasn't simply researching a food tradition—he was uncovering stories about people, identity, culture, and American history.

We also explore the stories that almost disappeared.

Why do we remember barbecue regions so well but often forget the people who built those traditions?

How does a journalist separate family stories and barbecue folklore from documented history?

And what happens when the story you've been told for generations doesn't quite match the historical record?

Then we get into some of barbecue's biggest debates.

Who invented barbecue?

Does barbecue actually belong to one region?

Which cultures and communities deserve more recognition?

And why is trying to identify a single person or place as the "inventor" of barbecue probably the wrong way to understand its history?

Jim also explains why barbecue has such a unique ability to bring people together.

From family reunions and church events to neighborhood gatherings and competition BBQ, barbecue has always seemed to create an environment where people sit down, talk, share stories, and connect.

We discuss why that happens—and why people may remember who they shared the barbecue with long after they forget exactly what they ate.

The conversation then moves into modern barbecue.

YouTube.

Instagram.

TikTok.

Television.

Celebrity pitmasters.

Competition BBQ.

Has technology helped preserve barbecue traditions, or has it changed the culture in ways we don't fully recognize?

Jim also shares his experience as a historical consultant for The American Barbecue Showdown and what television can—and cannot—capture about barbecue culture.

This is not simply a conversation about how barbecue is cooked.

It's a conversation about where barbecue came from, who shaped it, why those stories matter, and what we risk losing if we forget them.

Because behind every smokehouse, family recipe, competition pit, and backyard cookout is a story.

And Jim Auchmutey has spent years finding those stories.

🔥 This is BBQ Therapy.

Everything BBQ. The smoke. The stories. The people. And the history behind the pit.

Subscribe to BBQ Therapy Podcast for more conversations with the people preserving, shaping, and evolving the world of barbecue.

Join the conversation:

💬 What's one thing you thought you knew about BBQ history that turned out to be wrong?

👍 Like the video
🔔 Subscribe to BBQ Therapy
📲 Share this episode with someone who loves barbecue history