Que The Mic

In this week's episode we get in Darren's recent issues with all things technology. From getting a new phone, to his TV falling down to his wifi not working it's surprising we even recorded this episode. We also talked about Randy's catering challenges, cooking more whole-hogs, and managing the busy season like the boss he is. And of course we had to shout-out the recent Que The Mic milestone - 50,000 downloads! We appreciate all the love and support you guys give our little hobby project. We couldn't do it without you guys! 

In this week's episode you'll get a little bit of Darren in a cramped Boise bedroom, a broken phone, a cooler on the fritz, and a summer heatwave that has everybody (Emma) short-tempered - this episode turns a simple catch-up into a fast, funny, brutally honest hangout. If you like barbecue, vending war stories, and unfiltered banter between people who actually know each other well, you’re in the right place.

In this week's episode Darren explains how a last-minute menu problem turned into an AI-generated fix for new chocolate chip cookies and Benny Bites at It's My Jam, while Emma pushes back hard on what "authentic" really looks like when AI starts designing your brand. Randy adds the kind of on-the-fly business perspective only a barbecue operator can bring, including why some shortcuts make sense and where the line is between efficient and just plain lazy. As always, there's a lot of good laughs and other fun things in there too. 

This episode is a lively, funny mix of restaurant talk, state fair complaints, and a deep dive into how AI is helping the guys run their businesses more efficiently. We riff on pork rinds, barbecue seasonings, and fair food trends while also debating pricing, vendor costs, and what people actually pay for at events. A big chunk of the conversation focuses on Darren’s AI agent “Timmy,” which he uses to pull data, automate tasks, and make smarter business decisions. Overall, it feels like a casual behind-the-scenes hangout where food, business, and technology all collide.

In this week's episode, Darren joins us from a truck stop in Massachusetts while on the road after a major barbecue week. The episode covers competition barbecue, a memorable charity auction, travel mishaps, Emma’s married life, and a practical farm and food-service update from Randy.