The Pitmaster's Podcast

Self-sufficiency and discipline are hallmarks of Johnson’s persona, ingrained early in his life by his hard-working and devoted parents. Growing up a “latchkey kid” while his parents worked, Johnson learned to cook and take care of himself, while navigating the streets of Manhattan on his own. His parents’ hard work paid off, and they moved their family to Wyandach, a suburb on Long Island, known equally for its less-than-stellar public schools and the exceptional artists and athletes it turned out. At times tempted to rebel, Johnson was set straight both by his parents, and his elders in the neighborhood, who took it upon themselves to keep an eye on the neighborhood kids. ​After graduating high school, Johnson embarked on a college career at the University of Connecticut. He soon began to see his college classmates graduating and returning home to their parents. For Johnson, this was an unacceptable and unfathomable future, and during his second year of college, he altered course. It was a pivotal decision for the young man, and one that would shape the rest of his adult life. Relocating to New Jersey, Johnson began working in the custom furniture business, a trade he’d learned in his teen years from an uncle. Over the next few years, Johnson honed his craft and at 27, began his own custom furniture business, living in New Jersey and working in Manhattan. It was during this time that he began to cultivate a passion for cooking. He began to consider a future in the catering industry.

We talk to Christie Vanover and Greg Rempe join us to discuss the newest wireless probe technology.

Jacqueline Wise, a Cordon Bleu trained professional chef, event designer, forager, and avid gardener, is passionate about hosting epic parties and creating delicious meals, especially those involving fire! With experience at The Ritz London, two Michelin Star restaurants, and Buckingham Palace, Jacqueline now runs several food businesses, including @Positivelydeliciousfood for Nomadic Fire-Cookery and Foraging School, @Kelmsleycatering for weddings, and 'Jacqueline Wise Chefs' for luxury fine-dining at home. She is known for her expertise in cooking game, seafood, hyper-seasonal and organic produce, and her focus on soil health and nutrition. Jacqueline has appeared on TV and BBC Radio, winning the Channel 4 show 'Win it cook it.' She is a member of Pasture for Life and The Sussex Wildlife Trust, and is passionate about educating people on sourcing and cooking meals, reducing food waste, and promoting mental and physical health, as well as the health of the planet, through good food. When not cooking, Jacqueline enjoys surfing, sailing, foraging, and gardening with her family near Chichester in West Sussex, England. She is known for her great sense of humor and loves to share food puns, jokes, and her contagious passion and energy as she aims to make a difference, one stomach at a time. We are excited to have Jacqueline join us; with over a decade of experience in BBQing for large gatherings, she will also share her insights on working in hospitality and balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Chef Jacqueline has a wealth of tips, tricks, and stories to ignite your passion for cooking!

Christie is the owner of Girls Can Grill® and an award-winning competitive pitmaster. I have cooked on dozens of grills and have at least 30 in my backyard at any given time. I have developed recipes for several companies within the grilling and BBQ industry. I also competed in BBQ Brawl on Food Network and am the host of the BBQ Tips Podcast.

Janice Smella is the pitmaster for the SmellaQue Competition BBQ Team. Competing on the bbq circuit since 2014, this three time Canadian National BBQ Champion has travelled and cooked across North America. The SmellaQue consists of her husband and two kids. Occasionally the team has changed, as Janice's teenage daughter has recently begun to cook as a solo team challenging Janice and other teams at BBQ contests. Janice's specialties is that she's versatile and not afraid to try things out. Whether it's baking on a smoker, cooking fish, smoking beef tongue, she's fascinated by it all