This week on Big Boyz BBQ Bytes, I recap my trip to Absarokee, Montana, where Big Boyz BBQ brought home a 2nd Place Brisket finish, missing first place by just 0.6 points. More importantly, I share one of the biggest lessons I've been learning this season: sometimes the answer isn't doing more—it's simplifying.

That lesson takes me back to Ottawa, Canada, where seven summers of rugby, camping, friendships, and one final "last hurrah" taught me that the best experiences often come when we stop trying to control every detail and simply enjoy the people around us.

I wrap up the episode with a Father's Day tribute to my dad, whose legendary steaks, burgers, and backyard cooking helped inspire my lifelong love of food and barbecue.

Whether it's rugby, barbecue, or life, the lesson remains the same: trust the process, keep it simple, and enjoy the journey.

#BBQ #CompetitionBBQ #KCBS #BigBoyzBBQ #MontanaBBQ #Rugby #Podcast

Chapter 2 of the Idiot Odyssey takes us to Huron, South Dakota.

This week I recap a wild contest weekend that included storms, a broken smoker, a lost microphone, and an Australian rugby mate who somehow turned into MacGyver with a drill and some scrap metal. Despite all the chaos, Big Boyz BBQ managed a 3rd-place rib finish against nearly 50 teams.

In the rugby segment, I introduce one of my oldest friends, Kevin "Bad Boy Bubby" McHugh, and explain how a decades-long friendship, a trip to Australia, and an old idea called Prop Talk helped shape the stories behind this podcast.

Finally, I look ahead to Absarokee, Montana and Contest Number 30. It may not sound like much to some teams, but after twelve years, a few long breaks, and a lot of lessons learned, it's a milestone worth reflecting on.

Sometimes a contest teaches you what went wrong.

Sometimes it reminds you what's possible.

This one did both.

Season 2 begins with the first stop on the Big Boyz BBQ "Idiot Odyssey" in Ogden, Utah. John reflects on the opening contest of the season, why he compares it to a rugby trial match, and what a career-best 3rd-place brisket finish revealed about the progress of his barbecue program. It wasn't a perfect weekend, but sometimes one result is enough to show you're heading in the right direction.

• Launching the 2026 "Idiot Odyssey" competition season
• Why Ogden felt like a rugby trial match
• Testing off season changes and seeing what worked
• Looking ahead to Huron, South Dakota

In rugby, trial matches aren't about championships—they're about finding out where you stand before the season begins. Ogden served the same purpose for Big Boyz BBQ: a chance to shake off the rust, test new ideas, and gain confidence before the long season ahead.

"Sometimes one good score doesn't mean you've figured everything out. It just means you've finally seen what's possible."

The Idiot Odyssey rolls east to Huron, South Dakota, where storms, equipment failures, and a few hard lessons are waiting.

This was recorded in the truck while driving to Huron.