Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Episode 378: Janice Smella on winning ‘The Jack’ & more

Team SmellaQue with Janice Smella, winning of the 2026 Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational.

Janice Smella and family celebrated their Grand Championship at the 37th annual Jack Daniels World BBQ Championship by spending the following weekend in Ottumwa, Iowa, checking off another box on their KCBS reps in training schedule. It was a unique feeling, indeed, as the high of winning The Jack had hardly begun to fade. On Episode 378 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast we have a fun conversation with Janice about what winning one of the BBQ’s “majors” – and being the first Canadian team to do so – means. The story of Smellaque is one of perseverance and love of cooking for Janice and husband Russell, who don’t cook as often as many world-class teams but have enjoyed tremendous success – especially over the last two seasons. And now, just as she’s won The Jack, Janice plans to cut back her competition and help bring more comps to her native Canada.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Lyndal Scranton and Steve Koehler review their latest weekend cooking adventures and preview what’s coming up. For Steve, that means seafood on the grill and for Lyndal it’s a busy competition stretch.

Check out the show on the link below or on your favorite #podcast platform.

A big thanks to our show sponsors and marketing partners. Please support them:

Blues Hog #blueshognation
Royal Oak Charcoal #charcoalofchampions
The Butcher Shoppe #alwayshandpicked
The Grill Guys of Missouri #grillguys417
Clark Crew BBQ #clarkcrewbbq
Meat Rushmore BBQ #meatrushmorebbq
Lovely Jubbly BBQ #lovelyjubblybbq
Mister Brisket #thighlife

Have a great rest of your BBQ week and, as always … #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm

Episode 378: https://tailgateguysbbq.libsyn.com/tailgate-guys-bbq-podcast-episode-378-janice-smella-of-smellaque-on-winning-the-jack-more

search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close