#79 Michael McDearman - Stoking The Coals | The Man Who's Seen Every Side of BBQ

Most people experience competition barbecue from one side of the table. Michael McDearman has experienced almost all of them.

He's been a competitor chasing calls.

A restaurant owner serving customers.

A television personality on BBQ Pitmasters.

A brand representative working with companies and barbecue teams.

A KCBS Certified Barbecue Judge Instructor teaching the people who evaluate competition BBQ.

And he served as Series Director of the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour, giving him a behind-the-scenes view of some of the best competition barbecue teams in the country.

After more than 300 contests and decades inside the barbecue world, Michael has a perspective that very few people can match.

On this episode of the BBQ Therapy Podcast, we go far beyond how to cook a brisket.

We talk about what competition barbecue really looks like from the inside—and what Michael has learned from being a competitor, judge, teacher, television personality, restaurant owner, industry representative, and leader.

Michael takes us back to the beginning of his barbecue journey and the experiences that shaped the way he approaches food, leadership, teaching, and community.

We talk about his years as a competitor, the lessons he learned from losing, and what eventually separated great teams from teams that simply had talent.

We also go behind the scenes of BBQ Pitmasters and discuss what television got right—and what it couldn't possibly show viewers about the reality of competition barbecue.

Then we take a deep dive into the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour.

What was it actually like managing a national competition series?

What did competitors never see happening behind the scenes?

And what separated the consistently great teams from everyone else?

Michael also explains how becoming a judge and judge instructor changed the way he evaluates barbecue, the biggest misconceptions competitors have about judges, and what makes someone an exceptional BBQ judge.

But perhaps the most important part of the conversation is where Michael is going next.

After spending decades accumulating knowledge from every corner of the barbecue world, he created Stoking The Coalsto share that knowledge with the next generation of cooks.

We discuss why great barbecue doesn't have to be complicated, why backyard cooks often need better information rather than more information, the barbecue myths Michael has watched people believe for years, and what competition cooks can teach everyday backyard grillers.

This is a conversation about competition BBQ, leadership, education, evolution, and perspective.

Because when you've stood on nearly every side of the barbecue world, you start seeing the sport differently.

And Michael McDearman has seen a lot.

🔥 This is BBQ Therapy.

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

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