Leonard Botello and the Mirage of Perfection

This episode is sponsored by BBQ Distro. Go to and predict who you think will be named the top ten BBQ joints on the upcoming BIG BARBECUE LIST being published by a well known lone star state focused magazine that’s being released in May! Submissions are accepted April 14 - May 14, 2025. Submit your prediction for a chance to win $2,500 in cash in the BBQ Distro sweepstakes! Must be at least 18 years of age and a Texas resident to enter, go to for full rules and eligibility requirements. Also, for a limited time enter "tales10" at checkout for a 10% discount on your order of rubs, sauces, apparel and more from BBQ Distro! Leonard Botello came from humble beginnings cooking barbecue in a small town to a decade later being one of the most respected pitmasters in barbecue with three restaurants serving massive volumes of great barbecue. But all of that hasn’t come without a price. Join us for a special conversation with Leonard reflecting on his career in barbecue, the cost of greatness, and the impossible pursuit of perfection that continues to drive him.

You can listen to Leonard Botello and the Mirage of Perfection online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Leonard Botello and the Mirage of Perfection is an episode from Tales from the pits, a Texas BBQ podcast featuring trendsetters, leaders, and icons from the barbecue industry by Andrew and Bryan.

This episode is 66:06 long.

This episode was published on Apr 14, 2025.

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