A World Steak Champ, a Hacker, and a BBQ Pit — What's Cookin' with The McLemore Boys

A World Steak Champ, a Hacker, and a BBQ Pit — What's Cookin' with The McLemore Boys

From What’s Cookin’? — The McLemore Boys Podcast by John & John II McLemore

June 30, 2026 · 28 min · Season 1 · Episode 21

About this episode

The McLemore Boys interview a World Steak Champion and an ethical hacker about barbecue traditions and a unique smoker project.

Episode 21 of What's Cookin' with The McLemore Boys. The night before the Freedom 250 bus unveiling at Talladega, the boys sit down trackside with the pit crew that's been hauling 500 pounds of beef and running the smoker all week. The build started as a dare: turn a 16ft shipping container into a working commercial smoker. They actually pulled it off. Guests: Tim Van Doren ("Bama Grill Master") — 2019 5th Place World Steak Champion, Food Network's BBQ Brawl https://www.instagram.com/bamagrillmaster/ Nick Ray ("Biscuits & Briskets") — IT security engineer and certified ethical hacking instructor at Purdue, full-time pitmaster on the side https://www.instagram.com/biscuits_n_briskets/ In this episode: How a challenge from 1-800-Pack-Rat turned into a 16ft container smoker, fully designed and built in-house Tim and Nick's barbecue origin stories — from a COVID hobby and a Memphis in May friendship to a five-years-running Talladega tradition A rundown of the truckload of Piedmontese beef rolling in for the week — tomahawks, briskets, tenderloin, and more Hero of the Week: Nick honors his father, Terry Van Doren, a National Guard veteran Faith, family, food, fun, and freedom —…

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