Mr. Tendernism Breaks Silence On Going Independent, No Equity & Fight For The “Tendernism” Trademark
Earn Your Leisure
iHeartPodcasts
4.9 • 7.9K Ratings
🗓️ 12 March 2026
⏱️ 53 minutes
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Summary
Mr. Tendernism sits down wMrTendernism #BBQ #Entrepreneurship #FoodCulture #BlackEntrepreneurs #Pitmaster #Tendernisments on the internet. With over 50 years dedicated to mastering barbecue, Walter Johnson explains how his passion for the culinary arts turned him into a world-renowned pitmaster and the face of “Tendernism.”
In this conversation, Mr. Tendernism breaks down his journey traveling to all 50 states to perfect his craft, the origin of the word “Tendernism,” and how he developed the signature seasoning and technique that made his food legendary. He also discusses going viral on social media, learning the internet in real time, and how the unexpected visit from Keith Lee changed everything for his career.
Mr. Tendernism also speaks candidly about leaving Destination BBQ after being denied equity, the lessons he learned from the situation, and his plans to build his own business moving forward. From building relationships with icons like Ronald Isley to receiving global support — including fans flying in from Hong Kong just to taste his food — this episode is a powerful story about perseverance, ownership, and what it really takes to become an “overnight success” after decades of dedication.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:02.6 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:04.3 | Anything I cook, I don't care. |
| 0:05.9 | It could have been some cake. |
| 0:06.9 | I was going to terrorize the cake. |
| 0:08.2 | Because you're not just a cook. |
| 0:09.5 | You're a pit master. |
| 0:10.5 | How do you feel as this thing is now going viral? |
| 0:13.6 | The viral. |
| 0:14.5 | Shoot, I felt I was trying to sell an oxtail, everyone that went viral. |
| 0:17.8 | How easy is it for you to shoot a video? |
| 0:19.3 | The first ingredient is low. Are you seeing people trying to pop up in a way that you went viral and trying to represent me? You invent something and then people will steal it. What's some of the things that you've learned? You don't need no teeth for the meat. Let's shake the internet up. What's the top five food cities in America? The number one state, Tendanism. I hear Mr. Tenderism, I think something much bigger. If you don't replicate yourself, I can be scared. If you wake up in the moment, see, you can't say what's going to happen because we don't know. If I can teach something to these kids out here in the world, if they learn this trade, there's cooking things, two things go together. Him upstaff and food, that brings love. |
| 0:56.4 | At the end of that love, tenderness. |
| 1:00.0 | When I did the podcast with you all, I was telling you, |
| 1:03.6 | probably the most impactful interview I've done in my career. |
| 1:08.8 | Heroes now. |
| 1:10.3 | I've real heroes. |
| 1:11.6 | I heard Rashad and Troy talk about the tags letters. |
| 1:13.6 | It's about finance. |
| 1:15.6 | But we talk in a language that is common to the people that's from the community that we grew up with. |
| 1:20.6 | You are the bright spot of real estate and entrepreneurship for black Americans. |
| 1:25.6 | This is the knowledge that actually matters. I applaud both of you for this. Thank you. Thank you....an entrepreneurship for black Americans. This is the knowledge that actually matters. |
... |
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