Mike Jack Eats Heat is a vegan speed eater, YouTuber, world record holder, and television personality from Canada.
Welcome back to another interview with Mike Jack Eats Heat! If you missed it, check out our previous interview with Mike here.
In this follow-up, we'll catch up with Mike on some of the incredible challenges he has tackled since then, including achieving more world records, devouring over 100 Carolina Reaper peppers, and even defeating the daunting 2023 Paqui One Chip Challenge by consuming a staggering 71 chips in one sitting.
Mike recently reached a major milestone in his spicy food journey - 30,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and 4,000 followers on Facebook. He shows no signs of slowing down as his victories and recognition in the world of spicy food continue to rise.
It's been almost one year since we spoke to Mr. Jack, and we wanted to know more about his recent achievements, world records, Jack up the Heat, and more. It's going to get spicy!
Let's Jack up the Heat! (Part Two)
FCN: Thank you for chatting with us again, Mike! What have you been up to recently?
Mike: I’ve been really busy the last couple of months breaking records and winning competitions at festivals. I’ve recently set the Guinness World Record for the "Fastest Time to Eat 100 Carolina Reaper Peppers" and the League of Fire record for the "Most Paqui One Chip Challenge Chips Ever Eaten."
Then I travelled to Prague, Czechia, to successfully defend the LoF (League of Fire) World Belt of Chilli Pepper-Eating against the European champ, Giancarlo Gasparotto.
FCN: What do you consider to be the greatest achievement in your career, and what are some of the challenges you've faced along the way?
Mike: Getting half a page in the Guinness World Records 2022 book dedicated to my pepper-eating records has to be the greatest honour I’ve received.
Becoming the world champion of chilli pepper-eating and then successfully defending the belt has to be my greatest achievement, though. Before that, I never thought I’d be the world champion of anything. It feels great being able to call myself the "World Champ."
I think it’s important to understand that you can’t win all the time, and you can’t break a record with every attempt. I learn with every failed attempt. The first competition I ever did was for the Netflix series We Are the Champions, and I came in fifth. I learned a lot from that first competition though, and since then, I haven’t lost, winning nine competitions in a row, including two American Championships and two World Belt matches.
FCN: Can you talk about a particularly memorable moment while filming Jack up the Heat?
Mike: Shooting my own TV show was so much fun, and I learned so much from it. Every part of that experience was great, but my most memorable moment was the first challenge we shot, where I ate the "World’s Hottest Donuts" at V Food Spot. The first guy to try the donuts with me had the biggest reaction of the whole show. It was hilarious, but the donuts were delicious and crazy hot.
FCN: How do you balance the entertainment value of "Jack up the Heat" with the educational aspect of teaching viewers about spicy food? Will it return for a second season?
Mike: I feel that going behind the counters and seeing how the food is made in restaurant kitchens was educational and entertaining at the same time. It’s kind of magical seeing these restaurants from the other side.
I’d like to do a second season, and I’ve been looking for a production company that would like to take the show to a bigger network with me. If anyone reading this has some connections, please contact me. 😉
FCN: You have achieved multiple world records for eating spicy foods, including the record for eating 100 Carolina Reaper peppers in 36 minutes and 38.81 seconds in September.
What motivates you to push yourself to these extreme limits?
Mike: I just love pushing my limits and seeing how far I can go on this spicy adventure. I used to do a lot of distance running, and I’d challenge myself to run further and faster. I’ve taken that experience and applied it to my spicy challenges. I’m always trying to eat hotter stuff faster and in greater quantities.
FCN: How has your success in breaking world records impacted your career as a full-time YouTuber? Do you plan to tackle more world records?
Mike: I’ve just left my day job recently, and my biggest goal is to create consistent quality content for my YouTube channel, Mike Jack Eats Heat. I love breaking records, so there will be a lot more coming to my channel.
I’m very excited that Pepper X is being released as the new world's hottest pepper because that opens up a lot of new records for me to break.
FCN: What do you see for the future of the spicy food industry, and do you think it will continue to evolve?
Mike: The world of spiciness is constantly growing. Pepper X will have a huge impact on the industry. Pepper-eating competitions have become a worldwide phenomenon, and I can’t wait until sports television catches onto this exciting sport and fans can cheer on their favourites on professional broadcasts at home or at their favourite sports bar.
Kids are also interested in spicy challenges more than ever before. The next generation will have a major impact on the spicy food industry as they grow into adulthood.
FCN: Would you like to say anything to your fans following your journey as a YouTuber and spicy food enthusiast?
Mike: I just want to thank all my followers and supporters. It’s amazing to have people so interested in my journey and helping me get to the next level. I never thought I’d ever become the world champion of anything and didn’t think I could ever break a record until it happened. I feel like this is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where this journey will take me in the future.
DISCLAIMER: The content and challenges listed in this article are for informational purposes only. Do your own research and exercise caution if you are thinking about attempting a food challenge or eating contest (including spicy food challenges and eating contests). It is at your own risk.
Photo credit: Mike Jack Eats Heat
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