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Podcast Episode

Nick Elam and Uncle Steve: From the Elam Ending to Open Flames

Baseball and BBQ·Len & Jeff·25 September 2026·2h 8m

About this episode

Episode 361 features Nick Elam and Steve Brown AKA Uncle Steve. Nick discusses the innovative Elam Ending, his passion for basketball, and his love of baseball, while Uncle Steve returns for another entertaining conversation about BBQ, his signature seasonings, and the Houston Astros. It’s an episode filled with sports, barbecue, creativity, and great stories. Nick Elam is the creator of the Elam Ending, the innovative basketball format that has changed the way fans think about the final minutes of a game. What began as an idea in 2007 eventually made its way to The Basketball Tournament and the NBA All-Star Game. But Nick's interests go well beyond basketball. His background includes education, leadership, athletics, mathematics and sports innovation. Today, he is a professor of educational leadership at Ball State University and continues to explore ways that sports can evolve. Nick is also the host of Sports Rule Pod, a podcast dedicated to sports innovation, rule changes, big ideas and the people shaping the future of sports. On the show, Nick talks with athletes, coaches, broadcasters, executives and other innovators about how sports can evolve while remaining true to what makes them great. Steve Brown AKA Uncle Steve is the creative force behind Uncle Steve’s Shake, featuring a premier lineup of barbecue rubs. Uncle Steve is a true artist, and spices are his palette. He wants BBQ to be fun, and with his artwork, creative names, and colorful labels, he is definitely having fun. Steve returns for his third appearance, and once again, the conversation is highly entertaining. In addition to his devotion to providing quality barbecue products, Steve is also a huge fan of the Houston Astros. As the barbecue and baseball seasons roll along, we’re excited to have Uncle Steve back to discuss both. For Steve, BBQ isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the people you meet, the friendships you make, the lessons you learn, and the stories that come from gathering around a grill or smoker.  For more information and to order Uncle Steve’s products, go to https://unclestevesshake.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan’s website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.