In this flavorful and heartfelt episode of The Cool Fireman Podcast, the crew sits down with Ben Hooper, firefighter-turned-pitmaster and owner of Ben’s Backdraft BBQ in Waynesville, NC.
Ben shares his journey from firehouse kitchens to launching two food trailers and a thriving brick-and-mortar restaurant—all while staying rooted in faith, community, and first responder culture. He opens up about Hurricane Helene, how his business helped feed the community during the aftermath, and why consistency of greatness matters more than chasing perfection.
From whole hog mop sauce to Dave Ramsey discipline and the power of saying “no,” Ben drops serious knowledge (and makes us very hungry along the way).
Ben’s fire service journey from Cherokee to Asheville
How Texas-style BBQ changed his life (yes, Franklin BBQ is worth the hype)
Starting Ben’s Backdraft BBQ with $10K and a dream
Serving during and after Hurricane Helene
Lessons in leadership, boundaries, and staying true to your values
Why “being consistently good” matters more than being the best
Dave Ramsey's influence on business & debt-free goals
The BBQ rub recipe: simple, classic, no sugar
Turnout Drill: favorite skills, vacation dreams & cornbread revelations 🍗
“Don’t let anyone dictate how you should or shouldn’t run your business—or your life.” – Ben Hooper
Unkie’s Seasoning – Two years strong. Fire Marshall is still the fan favorite.
The Burn Box – Firefighter-curated gear, tools & parody shirts. Use code COOLFIRE for your discount 🔥
Sauce or No Sauce?
Drop a comment below or on our socials—how do you like your BBQ? 🍖👇
FB & TikTok: Ben’s Backdraft BBQ
🎧 Listen & Watch on:
Spotify (video), YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
📬 Got feedback or snail mail? DM us or comment below!
🧢 Merch & updates: thecoolfiremanpodcast.com
💥 Topics Covered:🚒 Firehouse Wisdom:🛠️ Sponsors:🧯 Call to Action:📍Follow Ben: