Page 20 - March2022 Barbecue News Magazine

Baseball
and BBQ
Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/69nypJDcKaYiBUTqHWpYea?si=c37e3812558f4952
Ben Arnot
BBQ Podcast Guru
https://smokinghotconfes- sions.com/
Okay, I want you to close your eyes for a minute and think about America. Do it now. I’ll wait.
Are you back? What did you see in your mind’s eye when you thought about BBQ? As an Aussie, I think of a few things when I think about America - BBQ, baseball, fire- works, and of course, freedom!
So now that you’re pumped up and throw- ing your fist in the air, let me introduce you to the Baseball and BBQ Podcast. Can you guess what they talk about? Yep, base- ball and BBQ. What more would you want?
Now if you’re thinking that that is a strange combi- nation of topics for one podcast, let me tell you a story.
I last visited my wife’s family in 2019, before the world shut down. We spent almost two weeks out by Sugarloaf Lake near Fort Smith. My wife’s uncle, Jimmy, is a huge Hogs fan (Goooooo Hogs!) and he insisted that as it was baseball season and we were there, we should go to a baseball game. Now, being Australian and loving all things sports and a huge fan of American culture I was all for it, despite the bitter Arkansas cold (we live on The Gold Coast, Australia’s answer to the Florida Keys). So, I was super pumped to be heading to my first baseball game. However, once I was actually there, the game was relegated to second place.
Why? Because the car park was full of BBQ’s and smokers. Yep, I’d
discovered tailgating. Now, you’re probably quite surprised at this point. But here in Australia, we
aren’t allowed to tailgate. The idea of a live fire in a parking lot just doesn’t fly over
here. Much to my disappointment. I really feel like I found my true calling in life
when I discovered tailgating and sports games.
Anyway, my point is that there are few things more American than Baseball and
BBQ. And so if you’re American and you love Baseball, and you love BBQ, you’re going
to love this podcast. Hosts Len and Jeff con- stantly seek to speak with guests who are out-
standing in their fields. In their most recent episode, they chat with Barbecue Hall of Fame inductee Ardie
Davis, Denny Mike of the famous BBQ sauce company, and Perry Barber, a Baseball Umpire since 1981 and professional singer songwriter who has opened for the likes of Hall & Oates, Billy Joel and The Boss. Yep. Bruce Springsteen. See? There’s nothing more American than this podcast.
Episodes are published every fortnight and average 90 minutes in length so you definitely get your money’s worth. Just kidding - podcasts are free to listen to! So load up an episode, grab a Bud- weiser and tune your Harley while you listen to Len and Jeff as they celebrate two of the most American things of all: Baseball and BBQ!
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