In this thrilling episode of Sports & Forks, host Kelly Senyei sits down with the legendary competitive eater, Eric "Badlands" Booker. Eric's journey to stardom in Major League Eating (MLE) began with a local hot dog eating contest, where he devoured 17 hot dogs in minutes, earning him a seat at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

By day, Eric works as a subway worker and pursues a career in rap music, but his path took a fascinating turn toward competitive eating. Now, he is also a YouTube sensation, boasting more than 3 million subscribers, thanks to his unique blend of competitive eating and musical talents.

Eric delves into his rigorous training regimen, which includes strategic stomach stretching with foods like cabbage, along with maintaining mental and physical stamina. He discusses his transition from solid food to liquid challenges, highlighting his incredible achievements in chugging competitions, including setting Guinness World Records for soda and tomato juice. He shares a glimpse into his preparation for upcoming contests, including his predictions for his new world record time in the 2024 Nathan's Lemonade Chugging Contest. Pull up a chair and get ready to feast on this supersized episode of Sports & Forks!

Timestamped Overview:

00:00 Intro

05:01 Nostalgia for hot dog contest in 1997.

09:25 Subway worker, competitive eater, rapper, multifaceted skills.

11:17 Competitive eating requires strategy and physical stamina.

15:20 Pre-game nerves, hydrate, prepare for event.

18:56 Competitive eater describes himself as a sportsman.

21:18 Initially didn't take YouTube seriously, but started posting more consistently.

25:22 Chugging carbonated drinks expands stomach, requires compensation.

26:59 Competitive eating and chugging contest experiences.

31:23 Competitive eating requires top physical shape.

34:15 Sports & Forks Quick Fire Challenge with Eric “Badlands” Booker