The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast · September 25, 2026 · 27 min
The Black BBQ History That Was Almost Forgotten | Stories From the Smoke at Country Style #BBQ
🔥 This episode is sponsored by Harder Charcoal & Exhibit Supply! 🔥 Stories From the Smoke returns to the Country Style Cook-Off in Blenheim, South Carolina. In Episode 5, “Keeping the Fire,” we sit down with Cordin Wood of Wood Family Q and Dr. Howard Conyers for two conversations connected by family, community, history and the traditions that continue to shape barbecue. Cordin Wood takes us inside his first year competing at Country Style—from the preparation required to compete to developing new flavors and building Wood Family Q alongside his family. He also explains why the fellowship surrounding Country Style keeps bringing him back and why growth should never come at the expense of what makes the event special. Then Dr. Howard Conyers takes the conversation back generations. Conyers discusses the role Black communities played in preserving whole-animal and whole-hog barbecue traditions, historic trench cooking across the South, the people whose contributions have been overlooked, and why documenting that history matters—especially in an era when misinformation can spread quickly. For Conyers, Country Style represents something bigger than barbecue: fellowship, culture and community—a Southern family reunion built around the smoke. Stories From the Smoke | Episode 5: Keeping the Fire Subscribe to Black Smoke Barbecue for more stories exploring the people, history and culture behind the smoke. #BlackSmokeBarbecue #StoriesFromTheSmoke #BlackBBQ #BBQHistory #CountryStyleCookOff 00:00 Stories From the Smoke: Keeping the Fire 01:14 Cordin Wood: First Time at Country Style 02:18 Preparation Is Everything 03:10 Creating New BBQ Flavors 05:19 Building Wood Family Q as a Family 07:01 Why Country Style Keeps Him Coming Back 08:39 Growing Without Losing the Culture 09:10 What’s Next for Wood Family Q 12:01 Introducing Dr. Howard Conyers 13:14 Dr. Howard Conyers 14:30 The Black History of American Barbecue 15:15 Trench Barbecue Across the South 16:35 Preserving the Whole-Hog Tradition 18:49 The Gentrification of Barbecue 19:54 Country Style: Our Own Memphis in May 20:49 BBQ History in the Age of AI 21:45 Barbecue, Moonshine & the Stories Still Untold 23:25 Community, Ownership & Working Together 24:48 Country Style Is a Family Reunion 26:25 The Importance of Doing Your Due Diligence Harder Charcoal – The premium fuel for serious pitmasters. Whether you’re smoking low and slow or grilling hot and fast, Harder XL Briquets and Lump Charcoal deliver clean, consistent heat with that authentic wood-fired flavor. 👉 Use code BLACKSMOKE at checkout for a discount on your order! 🌐 https://www.hardercharcoal.com Exhibit Supply – Trusted by food vendors, BBQ teams, and event pros nationwide. From heavy-duty canopies to custom food tents, Exhibit Supply keeps your setup looking sharp and built to last. 🌐 https://www.exhibitsupply.com 👉🏽 Before you do anything else — check out the site below!🎙️ The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackSmokeBarbecue 📲 Connect With Us Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/blacksmokebarbecue/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@blacksmokebarbecue Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/blacksmokebarbecue