1
00:00:01,836 --> 00:00:04,839
PRODUCER:
Uh, quick [indistinct] in three.
2
00:00:04,839 --> 00:00:08,175
♪ blues music playing ♪
3
00:00:12,055 --> 00:00:13,974
PEPPER EATER 1: Yes.
PEPPER EATER 2: Yes, I have.
4
00:00:13,974 --> 00:00:15,475
PEPPER EATER 3:
Yes.
5
00:00:19,229 --> 00:00:20,689
♪
6
00:00:20,689 --> 00:00:22,899
[crunching]
7
00:00:23,275 --> 00:00:24,734
Mm. Mm-hmm.
8
00:00:26,736 --> 00:00:29,614
[heart beating]
9
00:00:29,614 --> 00:00:30,615
Hoo.
10
00:00:31,741 --> 00:00:33,785
[loud hissing, flame whooshes]
11
00:00:34,578 --> 00:00:35,787
[coughs]
12
00:00:35,787 --> 00:00:37,539
[coughs] What?
13
00:00:37,539 --> 00:00:39,291
NARRATOR:
These folks just ate
14
00:00:39,291 --> 00:00:42,419
their very first superhot pepper.
15
00:00:42,419 --> 00:00:44,671
[coughing]
16
00:00:44,671 --> 00:00:45,672
Sorry. [laughs]
17
00:00:45,672 --> 00:00:48,967
NARRATOR:
And if it looks like it hurts bad...
18
00:00:48,967 --> 00:00:51,887
Okay, uh--
NARRATOR: ...well, it's 'cause it does.
19
00:00:51,887 --> 00:00:53,305
[heart pounding]
[sighs]
20
00:00:53,305 --> 00:00:56,433
Sure, they've had hot peppers before,
21
00:00:56,433 --> 00:00:59,269
but nothing like this.
[sniffles, sighs]
22
00:00:59,269 --> 00:01:02,647
♪ intense music building ♪
23
00:01:03,523 --> 00:01:04,649
♪ Just imagine ♪
24
00:01:04,649 --> 00:01:07,193
NARRATOR:
No one can really prepare you for it,
25
00:01:07,193 --> 00:01:10,530
but here's competitive pepper eater,
and veteran chilihead,
26
00:01:10,530 --> 00:01:14,451
Zach Goot, to try and get 'em through it.
[bell dings]
27
00:01:14,451 --> 00:01:18,163
Congratulations.
You just ate your first superhot pepper.
28
00:01:18,163 --> 00:01:20,415
Welcome to the life of a chilihead.
29
00:01:20,415 --> 00:01:23,919
Lemme help you out with a few steps
to get you through this painful process.
30
00:01:23,919 --> 00:01:26,213
Step one, don't panic.
31
00:01:26,213 --> 00:01:29,633
Burning. Like-- [gags]
32
00:01:29,633 --> 00:01:32,052
ZACH GOOT:
It was grown on a plant just for you,
33
00:01:32,052 --> 00:01:33,428
and it was grown with love.
34
00:01:33,428 --> 00:01:35,513
[coughing] Hoo! Hoo!
35
00:01:35,513 --> 00:01:36,806
[blubbering]
36
00:01:38,058 --> 00:01:39,517
Oh, I see you fell on the floor.
37
00:01:39,517 --> 00:01:41,519
Don't worry.
I've been there before myself.
38
00:01:41,519 --> 00:01:44,606
So, step two, go to your happy place now.
39
00:01:44,606 --> 00:01:47,025
♪ soothing music playing ♪
40
00:01:47,025 --> 00:01:49,027
Think of good things.
41
00:01:49,027 --> 00:01:51,196
[heavy breathing]
Meditate.
42
00:01:51,196 --> 00:01:53,865
Breathe.
[deep sigh]
43
00:01:53,865 --> 00:01:56,785
Make sure that you don't freak out.
44
00:01:56,785 --> 00:01:59,412
[heart pounding]
- My heart's beating really fast.
45
00:01:59,412 --> 00:02:02,374
Step three, ride the wave, baby.
46
00:02:02,374 --> 00:02:04,167
♪
47
00:02:04,167 --> 00:02:07,712
And now my whole head feels like
it's floating off my shoulders. [laughs]
48
00:02:07,712 --> 00:02:09,506
[ragged sigh]
49
00:02:09,506 --> 00:02:11,258
ZACH:
There's only one thing to do now,
50
00:02:11,258 --> 00:02:13,718
and that's keep eatin' these peppers.
51
00:02:13,718 --> 00:02:16,221
Welcome to bein' a chilihead,
and have fun.
52
00:02:16,221 --> 00:02:17,430
♪
53
00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:19,558
Milk, yeah. I'll take the milk.
54
00:02:19,558 --> 00:02:21,142
[gulping] Mm!
55
00:02:21,142 --> 00:02:23,520
[swishing]
56
00:02:28,233 --> 00:02:29,859
Could do one more.
57
00:02:29,859 --> 00:02:32,862
♪ dramatic theme music playing ♪
58
00:02:35,448 --> 00:02:37,450
[fire crackling]
59
00:02:43,039 --> 00:02:45,041
[flames whooshing]
60
00:02:47,711 --> 00:02:49,796
These are the hottest chilies
in the world.
61
00:02:49,796 --> 00:02:52,674
Here you go. You eat one first,
and I just wanna see how it impacts you.
62
00:02:52,674 --> 00:02:54,217
[audience cheering]
63
00:02:54,217 --> 00:02:55,969
♪ plucky music playing ♪
64
00:02:55,969 --> 00:02:57,220
NARRATOR:
Not sure if you've noticed...
65
00:02:57,220 --> 00:03:00,390
Welcome to Shaq's edition of
Snotty Nose Wings.
66
00:03:00,390 --> 00:03:01,600
[Sean Evans laughs]
67
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,312
NARRATOR: ...but superhot spicy peppers
are on fire lately.
68
00:03:05,312 --> 00:03:07,772
Going in with the ice.
[Shaq slurping]
69
00:03:08,023 --> 00:03:10,150
Today, we eat
the world's hottest pepper,
70
00:03:10,150 --> 00:03:12,694
the Carolina Reaper.
- Let's do that.
71
00:03:13,945 --> 00:03:16,281
Ho! [panting, coughs]
72
00:03:16,281 --> 00:03:17,949
Yeah, that's-- Okay.
73
00:03:18,533 --> 00:03:20,035
[panting] Wow!
74
00:03:20,035 --> 00:03:22,370
NARRATOR:
Most experiment with superhot.
75
00:03:22,370 --> 00:03:25,248
Oh [bleep]! Gimme a sec. I'm vibrating.
76
00:03:25,248 --> 00:03:28,251
NARRATOR: But, immediately tap out.
- Oh, my God.
77
00:03:28,251 --> 00:03:29,252
Wow!
78
00:03:29,252 --> 00:03:31,504
NARRATOR: Because they listen
to the voice inside that says,
79
00:03:31,504 --> 00:03:33,506
"Nope. Let's bail. Get outta here."
[laughter]
80
00:03:33,506 --> 00:03:35,717
[screaming]
81
00:03:36,301 --> 00:03:39,221
But then, there are the others.
82
00:03:39,221 --> 00:03:40,388
♪
83
00:03:40,388 --> 00:03:43,016
[ventilator breathing]
The ones who love heat.
84
00:03:43,016 --> 00:03:45,936
The self-proclaimed chiliheads
who've taken the chili pill,
85
00:03:45,936 --> 00:03:49,898
and want to find out how deep
the rabbit hole goes.
86
00:03:49,898 --> 00:03:52,776
ANNOUNCER: Three, two, one!
FAN: Go, Mike!
87
00:03:52,776 --> 00:03:54,319
[crowd cheering]
88
00:03:54,319 --> 00:03:58,281
TROY PRIMEAUX: When I think people
have hit a roadblock with how crazy
89
00:03:58,281 --> 00:04:01,701
they can be with chilies,
they surpass it.
90
00:04:01,701 --> 00:04:04,037
I mean, they just frickin'
plow through it. [trills lips]
91
00:04:04,037 --> 00:04:07,165
SPEAKER 1: They're lethal.
SPEAKER 2: You gotta love lethal. [laughs]
92
00:04:07,165 --> 00:04:09,459
Where's it go? Where's it end?
93
00:04:09,459 --> 00:04:11,670
[vomiting]
94
00:04:11,670 --> 00:04:12,837
♪
95
00:04:12,837 --> 00:04:14,005
NARRATOR:
If they seem crazy,
96
00:04:15,131 --> 00:04:16,216
that's because they are.
97
00:04:16,216 --> 00:04:18,343
♪ intense music playing ♪
98
00:04:18,343 --> 00:04:20,554
[clangs]
[crowd cheering]
99
00:04:20,554 --> 00:04:23,848
But, as with all things,
if you look closer,
100
00:04:23,848 --> 00:04:25,308
there's a lot more to it.
101
00:04:25,308 --> 00:04:26,476
♪
102
00:04:26,476 --> 00:04:27,561
SPEAKER [echoing]:
You okay?
103
00:04:27,561 --> 00:04:29,312
[whooshing]
104
00:04:29,312 --> 00:04:32,107
♪ dramatic music playing ♪
105
00:04:35,652 --> 00:04:37,279
[sighs]
106
00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,448
My name's Johnny Scoville,
and I'm a chilihead.
107
00:04:40,448 --> 00:04:43,451
♪ electric guitar playing ♪
108
00:04:52,961 --> 00:04:54,963
♪
109
00:04:58,758 --> 00:05:00,385
[stops playing]
I need to drink coffee.
110
00:05:02,929 --> 00:05:04,848
My morning ritual is I get up,
111
00:05:04,848 --> 00:05:07,142
I play guitar until my fingers warm up,
112
00:05:07,142 --> 00:05:08,852
I have some coffee.
113
00:05:09,895 --> 00:05:12,564
NARRATOR: If you don't
know anything about peppers,
114
00:05:12,564 --> 00:05:15,525
you probably have no idea who this is.
115
00:05:15,525 --> 00:05:17,319
But, in the chili community,
116
00:05:17,319 --> 00:05:19,863
you might as well be looking
at Elvis Presley,
117
00:05:19,863 --> 00:05:21,156
or the Queen of England.
118
00:05:21,698 --> 00:05:24,534
JOHNNY SCOVILLE:
I'm gonna review a pod this morning,
119
00:05:24,534 --> 00:05:25,785
and I don't know what it is yet.
120
00:05:25,785 --> 00:05:29,164
It's either a Yellow Scorpion,
or a Lemon Scorpion,
121
00:05:29,164 --> 00:05:30,749
and I won't know until I eat it,
122
00:05:30,749 --> 00:05:32,959
because the pods
essentially look the same.
123
00:05:32,959 --> 00:05:34,920
They have the same phenotype,
124
00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,048
which is the outward appearance.
So, it looks the same,
125
00:05:38,048 --> 00:05:41,176
but the taste of the lemon
is far more citrusy than the regular.
126
00:05:41,176 --> 00:05:43,720
NARRATOR: Now, this?
This is Johnny Scoville.
127
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,432
A pepper rockstar recognized as the guy.
128
00:05:48,058 --> 00:05:49,434
The "Chilli Idol."
129
00:05:49,434 --> 00:05:52,938
The master of heat with
the top chili show on YouTube.
130
00:05:52,938 --> 00:05:53,980
JOHNNY:
There's the thumbnail.
131
00:05:54,689 --> 00:05:56,691
[shutter snaps]
It's that simple.
132
00:05:56,691 --> 00:05:59,402
I guess it really began--
I was probably 7 or 8 years old.
133
00:05:59,402 --> 00:06:02,364
I had a-- just an amazing dad,
bigger than life kind of dad,
134
00:06:02,364 --> 00:06:04,532
and whatever he was in into--
He was my hero, my idol.
135
00:06:04,532 --> 00:06:07,118
So, whatever he was into,
I wanted to be into.
136
00:06:07,118 --> 00:06:10,622
And he was eating a pepperoncini once,
and I remember sayin',
137
00:06:10,622 --> 00:06:13,083
"I want one." He's like,
"You aren't gonna like it."
138
00:06:13,083 --> 00:06:14,960
I said, "Gimme one."
He said, "You're not gonna like it."
139
00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,920
I said-- He gave me one, and I liked it,
140
00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,630
and that kinda started it.
141
00:06:18,630 --> 00:06:20,549
You know, since-- My earliest memories
142
00:06:20,549 --> 00:06:22,717
are nothing was ever really hot enough.
143
00:06:22,717 --> 00:06:23,677
Alright, here we go.
144
00:06:24,219 --> 00:06:25,220
[beeps]
145
00:06:25,845 --> 00:06:28,223
My name's Johnny Scoville, and this...
146
00:06:28,223 --> 00:06:29,975
This... This...
147
00:06:29,975 --> 00:06:31,685
This is Chase the Heat.
148
00:06:32,060 --> 00:06:35,522
NARRATOR: Johnny is hands down
the most respected chili reviewer online.
149
00:06:36,356 --> 00:06:38,024
If you grow superhots...
150
00:06:38,024 --> 00:06:40,986
I have 30 issues.
151
00:06:40,986 --> 00:06:43,822
NARRATOR: ...cook up hot sauces,
or create anything with heat...
152
00:06:44,573 --> 00:06:46,783
Anyway, five drops
153
00:06:46,783 --> 00:06:48,952
of the hottest tincture I've ever had.
154
00:06:48,952 --> 00:06:50,412
NARRATOR:
...his personal review and judgment
155
00:06:50,412 --> 00:06:52,914
could make or break your
career with one bite.
156
00:06:52,914 --> 00:06:53,915
Here we go.
157
00:06:53,915 --> 00:06:56,918
♪ ominous music playing ♪
158
00:06:57,794 --> 00:07:00,338
NARRATOR: When Johnny says it's hot,
chiliheads respond,
159
00:07:00,338 --> 00:07:03,550
"Say less. That's all I needed to know."
[wolf howling]
160
00:07:03,550 --> 00:07:06,428
JOHNNY: It's just a beautiful thing.
I love pepper pain. I like pain,
161
00:07:06,428 --> 00:07:07,929
and this is my favorite kind of pain.
162
00:07:08,430 --> 00:07:11,933
NARRATOR: And in a hot pepper industry
worth more than $4 billion annually,
163
00:07:12,601 --> 00:07:16,438
his endorsement can
translate into serious money.
164
00:07:16,438 --> 00:07:19,441
Johnny's definitely
a godfather of chili, yeah.
165
00:07:19,441 --> 00:07:21,568
He'd be embarrassed to hear me say that,
but yeah.
166
00:07:21,568 --> 00:07:23,570
He's basically a famous chilihead,
you know?
167
00:07:23,570 --> 00:07:25,530
He's like a celebrity
in the world of chilies.
168
00:07:25,530 --> 00:07:29,034
JOHNNY: The aroma is incredible.
Look at that.
169
00:07:29,034 --> 00:07:30,368
♪
170
00:07:30,368 --> 00:07:33,288
Getting, uh, an opinion
from Johnny Scoville,
171
00:07:33,288 --> 00:07:34,956
it can be life-changing.
172
00:07:34,956 --> 00:07:38,043
That could be the difference
between success and failure
173
00:07:38,043 --> 00:07:40,003
in the hot sauce industry.
174
00:07:40,003 --> 00:07:41,588
♪
175
00:07:41,588 --> 00:07:42,714
[groans]
176
00:07:42,714 --> 00:07:44,382
[clock ticking]
177
00:07:44,382 --> 00:07:47,010
The minute I'm done with the pepper,
I'm thinkin' about the next pepper.
178
00:07:47,010 --> 00:07:48,428
What peppers do is unlock
179
00:07:48,428 --> 00:07:51,139
a really beautiful pharmacy
that's in your body.
180
00:07:51,723 --> 00:07:53,225
And I think it is probably an addiction,
181
00:07:53,225 --> 00:07:54,893
to be honest with you.
I've been asked that a lot.
182
00:07:54,893 --> 00:07:58,271
I've had a lot of people say, "Did you
trade one addiction for-for another?"
183
00:07:58,271 --> 00:07:59,314
You betcha.
184
00:07:59,981 --> 00:08:01,608
It hurts.
185
00:08:01,608 --> 00:08:04,236
From the time I got to college,
I sort of felt like an addict
186
00:08:04,236 --> 00:08:05,862
who hadn't found his drug yet.
187
00:08:06,321 --> 00:08:08,406
And I basically looked for it,
188
00:08:08,406 --> 00:08:10,533
and I tried them all.
189
00:08:11,284 --> 00:08:13,286
Over a decade ago, I quit all of them.
190
00:08:14,162 --> 00:08:18,416
The only buzz I get is from peppers.
191
00:08:19,209 --> 00:08:20,710
[groaning]
192
00:08:21,670 --> 00:08:24,130
There's always gonna be somethin' hotter,
and I'm gonna find it.
193
00:08:24,881 --> 00:08:26,967
Some people chase the dragon.
I chase the heat.
194
00:08:26,967 --> 00:08:29,678
I love you guys.
I'm Johnny Scoville.
195
00:08:29,678 --> 00:08:31,555
This was Chase the Heat.
196
00:08:31,555 --> 00:08:33,306
♪ dramatic sting ♪
197
00:08:33,306 --> 00:08:34,891
And that is it.
198
00:08:34,891 --> 00:08:38,061
NARRATOR:
Obviously, Johnny's no casual.
199
00:08:38,061 --> 00:08:40,105
He knows his stuff about peppers.
200
00:08:40,105 --> 00:08:41,356
But even if you're someone
201
00:08:41,356 --> 00:08:45,527
whose only experience with spice
is in a shaker at a pizza place,
202
00:08:45,527 --> 00:08:48,488
you've probably heard
of the Carolina Reaper.
203
00:08:48,488 --> 00:08:50,448
[screams]
204
00:08:50,448 --> 00:08:53,034
[Rhett punches wall]
LINK NEAL: Oh-- No, no!
205
00:08:53,034 --> 00:08:54,953
NARRATOR: The Reaper found
its way into the mainstream
206
00:08:54,953 --> 00:08:56,288
through viral videos...
207
00:08:56,288 --> 00:08:58,415
- How do you like it?
- [sighs] Yeah.
208
00:08:58,415 --> 00:08:59,874
Yeah. Great pepp--
209
00:08:59,874 --> 00:09:01,585
NARRATOR: ...a fter the
Guinness Book of World Records
210
00:09:01,585 --> 00:09:03,753
named it the hottest on Earth.
211
00:09:03,753 --> 00:09:06,047
SPEAKER 1: Carolina Reaper!
SPEAKER 2: Go ahead, put it in your mouth.
212
00:09:06,047 --> 00:09:06,882
Go!
213
00:09:07,382 --> 00:09:09,885
NARRATOR: However,
inside the pepper community,
214
00:09:09,885 --> 00:09:11,595
some think otherwise.
215
00:09:18,602 --> 00:09:20,520
Oh no. Oh no. I--
216
00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:22,230
I-I'm... [sighs]
217
00:09:22,230 --> 00:09:24,566
Oh, my gosh.
You're gonna get me in trouble.
218
00:09:24,566 --> 00:09:28,194
♪ plucky music playing ♪
219
00:09:28,194 --> 00:09:29,237
[inhales sharply]
220
00:09:29,446 --> 00:09:30,405
[clicks tongue]
221
00:09:31,865 --> 00:09:33,617
Well, you got your
Guinness Book of Records,
222
00:09:33,617 --> 00:09:38,705
which is... a very notable...
record book. Uh...
223
00:09:39,539 --> 00:09:41,249
BOBBY MCFADDEN:
The Guinness Book of World Records
224
00:09:41,249 --> 00:09:44,961
does say that the Carolina Reaper
is the hottest pepper in the world.
225
00:09:46,129 --> 00:09:47,339
That's debatable.
226
00:09:47,339 --> 00:09:48,340
♪
227
00:09:48,340 --> 00:09:50,050
NARRATOR:
You might notice that everyone seems
228
00:09:50,050 --> 00:09:52,677
a little tight-lipped
when asked about the Reaper.
229
00:09:52,677 --> 00:09:55,931
It might have something to do
with its creator, Ed Currie,
230
00:09:55,931 --> 00:09:59,267
who they'd prefer not to upset
by talkin' any trash.
231
00:10:00,018 --> 00:10:03,021
This is subjective. This is my opinion,
232
00:10:03,021 --> 00:10:05,690
and I-I'm going to say it.
233
00:10:05,690 --> 00:10:09,236
I had the Carolina Reaper.
It's... very spicy,
234
00:10:09,236 --> 00:10:10,820
but, um,
235
00:10:10,820 --> 00:10:14,032
there are spicier peppers out there.
236
00:10:14,032 --> 00:10:15,700
♪
237
00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:17,535
JOHNNY: The hottest pepper
I've ever eaten in my life
238
00:10:17,535 --> 00:10:18,828
is a Chocolate Primotalii.
239
00:10:19,579 --> 00:10:21,039
BOBBY:
Even some of the Bubblegums,
240
00:10:21,039 --> 00:10:23,625
like, uh, one of these guys here,
some of those are very hot.
241
00:10:25,210 --> 00:10:28,463
The 7 Pot Primo was
the hottest pepper I've ever had.
242
00:10:31,675 --> 00:10:33,677
JOHNNY: The Guinness Book,
you know, they don't eat peppers.
243
00:10:33,677 --> 00:10:34,928
It's just a marketing company.
244
00:10:34,928 --> 00:10:38,265
You know, if you do-- Say I paid Guinness
to have my pepper tested,
245
00:10:38,265 --> 00:10:39,391
and it is the hottest pepper?
246
00:10:39,391 --> 00:10:42,769
I gotta stroke a huge check to be able
to legally say that that pepper
247
00:10:42,769 --> 00:10:44,896
is the hottest pepper in
the world by Guinness.
248
00:10:44,896 --> 00:10:47,399
It's a marketing company is all it is.
249
00:10:51,903 --> 00:10:55,574
You know, I am tired of hearing people
say it's the hottest pepper.
250
00:10:55,574 --> 00:10:57,576
The Carolina Reaper
wasn't the hottest pepper
251
00:10:57,576 --> 00:11:00,370
when I started my channel,
and, you know, six years ago.
252
00:11:00,370 --> 00:11:03,206
It certainly isn't the hottest
pepper today. It just isn't.
253
00:11:03,206 --> 00:11:05,500
It's not a personal thing against Ed,
254
00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:07,586
or anybody else. It isn't.
255
00:11:07,586 --> 00:11:09,754
This is my realm. This is my world.
256
00:11:09,754 --> 00:11:11,298
And it's, you know,
257
00:11:11,298 --> 00:11:14,217
to hear mistruths perpetuated,
258
00:11:14,217 --> 00:11:17,095
just constantly repeated
over and over again.
259
00:11:17,095 --> 00:11:19,389
It's just-- Just tired of hearin' it.
260
00:11:19,389 --> 00:11:22,392
♪ lively music playing ♪
261
00:11:22,392 --> 00:11:23,393
[door slams]
262
00:11:23,393 --> 00:11:26,563
NARRATOR: History books are filled
with legends of epic quests
263
00:11:26,563 --> 00:11:28,565
for the seemingly unattainable.
264
00:11:28,565 --> 00:11:31,067
But, perhaps none were as determined
265
00:11:31,067 --> 00:11:33,153
as Johnny Scoville is
266
00:11:33,153 --> 00:11:35,488
to find the hottest pepper on Earth.
267
00:11:35,488 --> 00:11:38,074
JOHNNY: Oh, I know that
we're gonna find the hottest pepper.
268
00:11:38,074 --> 00:11:39,743
I know my quest won't be in vain.
269
00:11:39,743 --> 00:11:42,954
It is. It's a quest to find
the hottest thing, and, you know,
270
00:11:42,954 --> 00:11:45,957
and I'm gonna find it.
That's what I do.
271
00:11:45,957 --> 00:11:48,793
♪
272
00:11:50,837 --> 00:11:53,340
♪
273
00:11:53,340 --> 00:11:55,634
NARRATOR: Now, some people
walk down to the corner store
274
00:11:55,634 --> 00:11:59,054
and buy a lottery ticket
with a dream to strike it rich.
275
00:12:00,847 --> 00:12:04,100
But, others pin their hopes to a pepper.
276
00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:07,854
♪ dramatic music playing ♪
277
00:12:07,854 --> 00:12:09,981
You see, if you can create a new chili
278
00:12:09,981 --> 00:12:12,400
that unlocks the hottest of hot,
279
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,363
ding, ding, ding!
You've just hit the jackpot!
280
00:12:16,363 --> 00:12:17,572
TROY:
You got the pepper,
281
00:12:18,531 --> 00:12:21,076
and then don't release the seeds.
282
00:12:21,076 --> 00:12:23,912
You know, come out with products,
283
00:12:23,912 --> 00:12:27,832
get on the frickin' latest
wing-eating challenge show,
284
00:12:27,832 --> 00:12:30,835
and you're a star.
285
00:12:30,835 --> 00:12:31,878
You're rich.
286
00:12:31,878 --> 00:12:33,547
♪
287
00:12:33,547 --> 00:12:37,384
NARRATOR: All over the world
in the places you drive by every day,
288
00:12:37,384 --> 00:12:39,469
pepper-crazed Dr. Frankensteins
289
00:12:39,469 --> 00:12:42,681
are working in the shadows,
attempting to craft
290
00:12:42,681 --> 00:12:46,393
the pepper that will change their lives.
291
00:12:48,728 --> 00:12:51,731
♪ eerie music playing ♪
292
00:13:05,579 --> 00:13:07,122
♪
293
00:13:10,083 --> 00:13:11,835
[ticking]
294
00:13:11,835 --> 00:13:14,588
It's been said that
the way you decorate your house
295
00:13:14,588 --> 00:13:17,591
says everything about you
without speaking a word.
296
00:13:18,091 --> 00:13:20,468
If that's the case, Jimmy Pickles' house
297
00:13:20,468 --> 00:13:23,346
says that his soul is 80% peppers.
298
00:13:24,139 --> 00:13:26,474
This place is a shrine to heat,
299
00:13:26,474 --> 00:13:28,226
with pepper pods everywhere,
300
00:13:28,226 --> 00:13:31,521
as though an offering to the pepper gods.
301
00:13:31,521 --> 00:13:32,647
[echoing bowl knock]
302
00:13:32,647 --> 00:13:34,107
♪
303
00:13:38,194 --> 00:13:40,196
♪
304
00:13:46,995 --> 00:13:49,039
JIMMY PICKLES:
Hi. My name's James Morrow,
305
00:13:49,039 --> 00:13:51,041
AKA Jimmy Pickles.
306
00:13:52,083 --> 00:13:53,835
[crunching]
[glugging]
307
00:13:53,835 --> 00:13:55,879
♪ tense music playing ♪
308
00:13:55,879 --> 00:13:58,048
We always joked that-that
it was kinda like
309
00:13:58,048 --> 00:14:00,175
a-a porn name or whatever.
310
00:14:00,175 --> 00:14:03,386
♪ whimsical music playing ♪
311
00:14:04,346 --> 00:14:05,889
I'm obsessed with peppers.
312
00:14:09,226 --> 00:14:11,603
The entire Jimmy Pickles house
313
00:14:11,603 --> 00:14:15,273
is dedicated to peppers.
Every single room.
314
00:14:15,273 --> 00:14:18,193
Y-Y-You got the processing room.
315
00:14:18,193 --> 00:14:21,279
You got two and a half rooms
of drying rooms.
316
00:14:21,279 --> 00:14:24,658
If you don't like peppers,
you're probably not gonna like the house.
317
00:14:24,658 --> 00:14:27,369
Every single room, besides the bathrooms.
318
00:14:27,369 --> 00:14:29,704
♪
319
00:14:29,704 --> 00:14:31,539
Look how beautiful these are.
320
00:14:31,539 --> 00:14:33,416
Like the Purple UFO.
321
00:14:33,416 --> 00:14:35,502
It gets purple,
322
00:14:35,502 --> 00:14:37,796
and I start lookin' up into the light,
323
00:14:37,796 --> 00:14:39,798
and everything about it.
324
00:14:39,798 --> 00:14:41,508
Oh, I love this one.
325
00:14:42,634 --> 00:14:45,262
It ends up being showmanship.
326
00:14:45,804 --> 00:14:47,514
Oh yeah, oh yeah, here we go.
327
00:14:48,890 --> 00:14:50,892
A lot of these will have spikes.
328
00:14:50,892 --> 00:14:53,353
I could see like spikes here,
329
00:14:53,353 --> 00:14:55,480
and it's-it's like telling you that,
330
00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,607
"Hey, very gnarly."
331
00:14:58,149 --> 00:15:00,569
It's like a future ex-wife.
[laughs]
332
00:15:01,695 --> 00:15:04,364
♪ gentle music playing ♪
333
00:15:04,364 --> 00:15:07,659
[birds chirping]
334
00:15:07,659 --> 00:15:11,288
NARRATOR: This is the center
of Jimmy Pickles' universe.
335
00:15:11,288 --> 00:15:13,623
A meticulously controlled pepper Eden
336
00:15:13,623 --> 00:15:15,667
in his suburban Pittsburgh backyard.
337
00:15:16,459 --> 00:15:19,629
And just possibly where
the next superhot phenomenon
338
00:15:19,629 --> 00:15:21,047
is hiding in plain sight.
339
00:15:22,257 --> 00:15:24,718
JIMMY: When I'm in my garden,
that's my happy place.
340
00:15:25,218 --> 00:15:29,723
I like to grow around 200
to 230 different varieties.
341
00:15:31,182 --> 00:15:32,601
This is my creation.
342
00:15:32,601 --> 00:15:34,978
It's a JP Ultraviolet.
343
00:15:34,978 --> 00:15:37,063
NARRATOR: Among these
hundreds of peppers is the one
344
00:15:37,063 --> 00:15:39,774
that just might change his life.
345
00:15:39,774 --> 00:15:43,361
A powerful superhot that attacks
taste buds without mercy.
346
00:15:43,361 --> 00:15:46,740
He's named it the JP Piranha.
347
00:15:46,740 --> 00:15:50,702
JP Piranha is a contender
of the world's hottest pepper.
348
00:15:50,702 --> 00:15:53,413
I've been working on this for five years.
349
00:15:53,413 --> 00:15:54,915
It's my cross.
350
00:15:54,915 --> 00:15:58,209
NARRATOR: A brand new superhot
he hopes will go viral,
351
00:15:58,209 --> 00:16:00,462
lighting up bags of Cheetos, and firin' up
352
00:16:00,462 --> 00:16:03,548
the kind of wing sauce
that requires a waiver.
353
00:16:03,548 --> 00:16:08,053
It is a-a Naga Bubblegum
crossed with a Primotalii.
354
00:16:08,470 --> 00:16:12,432
The JP Piranha very well
could be one-one,
355
00:16:12,432 --> 00:16:14,851
if not the hottest in the world.
356
00:16:14,851 --> 00:16:18,730
This could build my empire. The JP Empire.
357
00:16:18,730 --> 00:16:21,733
♪ tense music playing ♪
358
00:16:27,239 --> 00:16:30,992
♪ upbeat music playing ♪
359
00:16:43,004 --> 00:16:46,341
NARRATOR: Like most plants,
superhot peppers like the sunshine,
360
00:16:46,341 --> 00:16:48,301
thriving outdoors in gardens
like Jimmy Pickles'.
361
00:16:48,301 --> 00:16:50,470
[birds chirping]
362
00:16:50,470 --> 00:16:54,307
But, if you live in less hospitable
conditions, like in the Windy City,
363
00:16:54,307 --> 00:16:57,352
you can't count on many sunny days.
364
00:16:57,352 --> 00:17:01,356
Those who grow here move inside
into closets and spare rooms.
365
00:17:01,856 --> 00:17:05,193
And if you're Aurea de Guzman,
you go one step farther,
366
00:17:05,944 --> 00:17:08,321
into a custom-made subterranean,
367
00:17:08,321 --> 00:17:10,615
hydroponic pepper lair.
368
00:17:10,615 --> 00:17:12,617
♪
369
00:17:12,617 --> 00:17:15,120
[lights buzzing]
370
00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:18,290
[crinkling]
371
00:17:18,290 --> 00:17:20,041
AUREA DE GUZMAN:
It's like Christmas every day.
372
00:17:20,041 --> 00:17:22,419
It'll be like...
♪ Ah... ♪
373
00:17:22,419 --> 00:17:24,087
♪
374
00:17:24,087 --> 00:17:27,883
The bright lights are on.
The fountain is going.
375
00:17:27,883 --> 00:17:29,259
and then I look at the plants. I'm like,
376
00:17:29,259 --> 00:17:32,220
"Oh yeah. Let's go." [laughs]
377
00:17:32,220 --> 00:17:34,806
♪
378
00:17:34,806 --> 00:17:37,309
And it's just a feeling of so much joy.
379
00:17:37,309 --> 00:17:40,353
Like, "Oh, my God,
I get to play with my plants now."
380
00:17:40,353 --> 00:17:42,272
♪
381
00:17:42,272 --> 00:17:45,817
[lights buzzing]
[pump whirring, water flowing]
382
00:17:47,652 --> 00:17:49,946
[plastic crinkling]
383
00:17:49,946 --> 00:17:52,198
That's a hydroponically grown pepper.
384
00:17:52,198 --> 00:17:54,701
There's no soil.
[water dripping]
385
00:17:54,701 --> 00:17:56,286
I just have a reservoir,
386
00:17:56,286 --> 00:17:58,330
and the water I use
387
00:17:58,330 --> 00:18:02,250
is actually aquarium water
from my snail tank.
388
00:18:02,250 --> 00:18:05,879
[water burbling]
389
00:18:05,879 --> 00:18:07,923
♪
390
00:18:07,923 --> 00:18:09,507
These are golden snails.
391
00:18:11,801 --> 00:18:14,930
This seemed to be
the most foolproof method
392
00:18:14,930 --> 00:18:16,765
of getting nutrients into my plants.
393
00:18:16,765 --> 00:18:18,391
[dripping]
394
00:18:18,391 --> 00:18:21,269
I don't know if there's
other people out there
395
00:18:21,269 --> 00:18:24,064
that have a snail farm in their basement.
396
00:18:24,064 --> 00:18:26,733
I don't know why you wouldn't.
[water burbling]
397
00:18:26,733 --> 00:18:29,110
I think snail poop is magic.
398
00:18:29,694 --> 00:18:31,529
NARRATOR:
Though Aurea's a level 50 wizard
399
00:18:31,529 --> 00:18:33,823
with magical snail poop abilities,
400
00:18:33,823 --> 00:18:35,867
she's no veteran grower.
401
00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:38,328
You see, this entire setup is DIY,
402
00:18:38,328 --> 00:18:40,247
and she's a total noob to the chili scene
403
00:18:40,247 --> 00:18:43,124
who just recently decided to go all in.
404
00:18:43,124 --> 00:18:44,834
♪
405
00:18:44,834 --> 00:18:47,254
As we know, everything
starts on social media,
406
00:18:47,254 --> 00:18:50,257
where she's known as the Chilipino.
407
00:18:51,091 --> 00:18:53,927
I like chili. I'm Filipino.
408
00:18:53,927 --> 00:18:55,845
I live in Chicago.
409
00:18:55,845 --> 00:18:57,931
So, I thought it was clever to call it
410
00:18:57,931 --> 00:19:00,642
a Chilipino Pepper Co.
411
00:19:00,642 --> 00:19:03,645
♪ heavy metal music playing ♪
412
00:19:05,230 --> 00:19:07,065
[giggles]
413
00:19:07,065 --> 00:19:10,068
It's not a company by any sense.
I don't sell anything.
414
00:19:10,068 --> 00:19:12,946
I don't have a product... yet.
415
00:19:13,822 --> 00:19:17,284
The purpose of the Instagram account
that I made
416
00:19:17,284 --> 00:19:20,829
is to show other people,
who are in the same situation as I am,
417
00:19:20,829 --> 00:19:23,748
living in the city, or in a small space,
418
00:19:23,748 --> 00:19:27,711
that this is totally doable
and accessible for everyone.
419
00:19:28,044 --> 00:19:29,129
[clicking]
420
00:19:29,129 --> 00:19:31,923
This is Chewie Vuitton.
[Chewie grumbling]
421
00:19:31,923 --> 00:19:34,509
He likes to be nosy and check out things
422
00:19:34,509 --> 00:19:36,428
and what's going on.
[growling]
423
00:19:36,428 --> 00:19:39,347
He's a troublemaker, as you can see.
424
00:19:39,931 --> 00:19:42,517
NARRATOR: Aurea's passion
for peppers began as a hobby,
425
00:19:42,517 --> 00:19:45,604
but it's quickly taken
on a life of its own.
426
00:19:45,604 --> 00:19:48,523
Now, she'll push to make the Chilipino
427
00:19:48,523 --> 00:19:50,233
a household name.
428
00:19:50,233 --> 00:19:51,776
AUREA:
I want to get bigger,
429
00:19:51,776 --> 00:19:55,113
and so I'm looking forward to create
430
00:19:55,113 --> 00:19:57,782
my very own signature hot sauce.
431
00:19:57,782 --> 00:20:00,452
These hot sauce makers have
432
00:20:00,452 --> 00:20:02,245
the wildest ideas,
433
00:20:02,245 --> 00:20:05,081
and I think I have wild ideas
434
00:20:05,081 --> 00:20:08,585
that the world needs to taste as well.
435
00:20:08,585 --> 00:20:11,588
♪
436
00:20:14,716 --> 00:20:17,719
♪
437
00:20:17,719 --> 00:20:20,972
[birds chirping]
438
00:20:20,972 --> 00:20:22,849
NARRATOR:
You won't find many people on Earth
439
00:20:22,849 --> 00:20:26,353
more locked into the pepper scene
than Jimmy Pickles.
440
00:20:27,771 --> 00:20:31,233
He knows people. People who know people.
441
00:20:31,233 --> 00:20:33,610
And today, that network
will come in handy,
442
00:20:33,610 --> 00:20:36,488
as he plans to launch his new superhot,
443
00:20:36,488 --> 00:20:37,989
the JP Piranha.
444
00:20:39,115 --> 00:20:41,284
That's about all I'm doing
on these right now.
445
00:20:43,036 --> 00:20:44,663
NARRATOR:
Jimmy knows one man
446
00:20:44,663 --> 00:20:47,082
who can help him put
his pepper on the map.
447
00:20:47,082 --> 00:20:49,876
Chili kingmaker Johnny Scoville.
448
00:20:49,876 --> 00:20:51,920
♪
449
00:20:53,255 --> 00:20:55,924
[phone line ringing]
450
00:20:55,924 --> 00:20:57,842
JIMMY:
Hey, Johnny!
451
00:20:59,511 --> 00:21:02,305
Ah, there you are.
Hey, I was just-- figured I'd call ya.
452
00:21:02,305 --> 00:21:04,641
I watched you do that, uh,
Chocolate Primotalii
453
00:21:04,641 --> 00:21:07,477
that originally came from me
the other day. Great job, brother.
454
00:21:10,272 --> 00:21:12,148
But, I tell you what,
you should come down
455
00:21:12,148 --> 00:21:14,401
and have a, uh, JP Piranha.
456
00:21:16,778 --> 00:21:18,572
Oh, I know it-- [laughs], I know it is.
457
00:21:18,572 --> 00:21:21,575
I'm still burning,
and I only ate a quarter of it.
458
00:21:21,575 --> 00:21:25,120
I know your tolerance is higher.
I wanna see you eat it.
459
00:21:25,120 --> 00:21:27,414
You're not gonna beat Johnny
as a reviewer right now.
460
00:21:27,414 --> 00:21:31,126
He's the most predominant reviewer
right now in the pepper industry,
461
00:21:31,126 --> 00:21:35,005
and I've never seen a bigger
tolerance with a reviewer ever.
462
00:21:35,005 --> 00:21:36,006
[birds chirping]
463
00:21:40,051 --> 00:21:43,054
Nah, I gotta be protective of the seeds.
464
00:21:43,054 --> 00:21:45,849
It's not you. It's the seed ninjas.
465
00:21:51,354 --> 00:21:54,107
Nope. Not in this world.
466
00:21:54,107 --> 00:21:55,483
♪
467
00:21:55,483 --> 00:21:58,320
I'm being very protective
of the JP Piranha.
468
00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,281
Seeds go out to no one. No one.
469
00:22:01,281 --> 00:22:04,618
I mean, seriously, if it gets out there,
and it is the world's hottest,
470
00:22:04,618 --> 00:22:08,204
somebody will take my, my glory
and run with it,
471
00:22:08,204 --> 00:22:10,916
and then, uh, crap on me the entire time.
472
00:22:11,416 --> 00:22:13,793
JOHNNY:
I've known Jimmy for years and years,
473
00:22:13,793 --> 00:22:16,296
and you know, he's just--
he's an intense guy.
474
00:22:16,296 --> 00:22:19,716
He's worried about people, uh,
gettin' his lucky charms, man.
475
00:22:19,716 --> 00:22:21,718
That's some paranoia right there.
476
00:22:21,718 --> 00:22:22,469
[birds chirping]
477
00:22:24,763 --> 00:22:26,598
That is correct.
478
00:22:28,934 --> 00:22:30,352
I kinda developed a reputation
very quickly
479
00:22:30,352 --> 00:22:33,980
of having a very high tolerance,
and I had growers that were gunning for me
480
00:22:33,980 --> 00:22:36,316
that their goal was to hurt me.
481
00:22:36,316 --> 00:22:39,694
And the, you know, the funny thing is
my goal is for them to hurt me.
482
00:22:39,694 --> 00:22:41,905
All I want in the world
is to find a pepper
483
00:22:41,905 --> 00:22:43,531
that makes me tap out.
484
00:22:43,531 --> 00:22:46,034
And I'm-I'm afraid it's
never gonna happen.
485
00:22:56,461 --> 00:22:58,046
Awesome, Johnny.
Looking forward to it.
486
00:22:59,214 --> 00:23:01,091
♪ tense music playing ♪
487
00:23:01,091 --> 00:23:03,593
[police siren wailing]
488
00:23:03,593 --> 00:23:06,012
[ambient street noise]
489
00:23:06,012 --> 00:23:08,431
♪
490
00:23:08,431 --> 00:23:12,394
AUREA: We have to get
the hot and spicy soup base, of course.
491
00:23:13,228 --> 00:23:17,524
Whenever you see peppers in the soup base,
492
00:23:18,316 --> 00:23:19,734
that's a good sign.
493
00:23:19,734 --> 00:23:21,486
[crinkling]
494
00:23:21,486 --> 00:23:22,821
NARRATOR:
If you're a hot sauce alchemist
495
00:23:22,821 --> 00:23:25,240
looking to launch an original concoction,
496
00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,368
this is where you come to
find the needed ingredients.
497
00:23:29,369 --> 00:23:32,622
And today, Aurea de Guzman,
AKA the Chilipino,
498
00:23:32,622 --> 00:23:35,917
is hell bent on crafting a new hot sauce
499
00:23:35,917 --> 00:23:39,129
that will make hers a household name.
500
00:23:40,005 --> 00:23:42,841
This is my favorite fruit
from the Philippines.
501
00:23:42,841 --> 00:23:44,426
It's called a mangosteen.
502
00:23:44,926 --> 00:23:47,846
NARRATOR:
Aurea's life revolves around peppers,
503
00:23:47,846 --> 00:23:50,432
but, believe it or not,
she's been keeping it a secret,
504
00:23:50,432 --> 00:23:53,059
telling no one she's been
leading a double life.
505
00:23:58,899 --> 00:24:01,026
Well, I-I wasn't--
506
00:24:01,026 --> 00:24:03,987
It wasn't like, an intentional thing.
507
00:24:03,987 --> 00:24:05,864
I mean, it's an obsession of mine.
508
00:24:05,864 --> 00:24:09,075
I-It's something that I'm really, really,
really passionate about,
509
00:24:09,075 --> 00:24:11,161
and I-I get nerdy about.
510
00:24:11,161 --> 00:24:13,204
Wh-What am I gonna share?
511
00:24:13,204 --> 00:24:14,998
"Oh, by the way, I grow peppers,
512
00:24:14,998 --> 00:24:17,792
"and I have, I have an Instagram
full of pictures
513
00:24:17,792 --> 00:24:19,252
of the peppers that I'm growing."
514
00:24:19,252 --> 00:24:21,922
I just don't think that
it's interesting enough,
515
00:24:21,922 --> 00:24:24,799
or worthy enough to be shared
516
00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:27,802
to the people I work with.
517
00:24:28,678 --> 00:24:31,932
NARRATOR: Regardless of the reasons,
that's all about to change.
518
00:24:33,308 --> 00:24:35,810
I'm shopping for ingredients
for tomorrow's dinner party.
519
00:24:36,686 --> 00:24:38,980
NARRATOR: Tomorrow night,
Aurea finally has plans
520
00:24:38,980 --> 00:24:42,359
to reveal her secret chili obsession
to fellow nurses from work.
521
00:24:43,068 --> 00:24:44,444
SPEAKER: There you go.
You have a good day.
522
00:24:44,444 --> 00:24:46,321
AUREA: Thank you. You, too.
SPEAKER: Thank you much.
523
00:24:46,321 --> 00:24:48,281
NARRATOR:
And they'll be the very first to taste
524
00:24:48,281 --> 00:24:51,993
her original Chilipino hot sauce.
525
00:24:53,161 --> 00:24:55,163
Time to spice it up!
526
00:24:55,163 --> 00:24:56,456
♪
527
00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:03,755
♪ dramatic music playing ♪
528
00:25:03,755 --> 00:25:06,508
NARRATOR: The life of a chilihead
is often lived in the shadows.
529
00:25:09,010 --> 00:25:12,514
As an obsessive hobby,
or even a second life outside of work.
530
00:25:13,265 --> 00:25:14,558
For this reason,
531
00:25:14,558 --> 00:25:17,269
many pepper people find each other online
532
00:25:17,269 --> 00:25:18,520
to share their passions.
533
00:25:19,604 --> 00:25:21,898
Perhaps none is more
passionate or original
534
00:25:22,399 --> 00:25:23,650
as the man who calls himself
535
00:25:24,901 --> 00:25:26,945
the Mighty Mustache.
536
00:25:26,945 --> 00:25:29,656
♪ heavy metal music playing ♪
537
00:25:29,656 --> 00:25:30,740
Who are you?
538
00:25:30,740 --> 00:25:32,284
I'm the Mighty Mustache.
539
00:25:32,284 --> 00:25:33,493
I will destroy you.
540
00:25:33,493 --> 00:25:34,995
[singing]
♪ I'm gonna plant ♪
541
00:25:34,995 --> 00:25:36,288
♪ upbeat music playing ♪
542
00:25:36,288 --> 00:25:38,498
♪ Plant some fuckin' seeds, oh yeah ♪
543
00:25:38,498 --> 00:25:40,500
[grunting, yelling]
544
00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:42,043
♪ intense music playing ♪
545
00:25:42,043 --> 00:25:44,170
NARRATOR:
The Mighty Mustache is a bold performer,
546
00:25:44,170 --> 00:25:48,550
but his real life persona
is a tad bit more low-key.
547
00:25:51,553 --> 00:25:53,054
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I'm--
548
00:25:54,973 --> 00:25:58,393
This is just-- I'm not used
to this much attention. [laughs]
549
00:25:58,393 --> 00:25:59,394
♪
550
00:25:59,394 --> 00:26:01,354
NARRATOR:
Meet Bobby McFadden.
551
00:26:01,354 --> 00:26:03,940
BOBBY:
I grow some of the largest pepper plants
552
00:26:03,940 --> 00:26:06,902
on the planet.
Uh, I think, at least, I'm up there.
553
00:26:06,902 --> 00:26:10,196
Don't wanna get a big head, but I grow
very, very, very large pepper plants
554
00:26:10,196 --> 00:26:12,782
of superhots, primarily.
555
00:26:12,782 --> 00:26:14,326
NARRATOR:
A New Jersey-based pepper grower
556
00:26:14,326 --> 00:26:17,704
lookin' to join the upper echelon
of superhot creators.
557
00:26:18,455 --> 00:26:20,832
BOBBY: There's like a symbiotic thing
between growers
558
00:26:20,832 --> 00:26:23,752
and, um, you know,
eaters and sauce makers.
559
00:26:23,752 --> 00:26:26,213
I'm the supplier, you know,
for most people.
560
00:26:26,213 --> 00:26:27,422
They need my stuff.
561
00:26:27,422 --> 00:26:29,591
[crunching]
562
00:26:29,591 --> 00:26:32,135
♪ intense music playing ♪
563
00:26:32,135 --> 00:26:35,055
I love making stuff that melts faces.
[laughs]
564
00:26:35,055 --> 00:26:37,015
The reactions are wonderful.
565
00:26:40,477 --> 00:26:42,938
I've never had a pepper tested, no.
566
00:26:42,938 --> 00:26:45,148
I wish I could walk down
to a store and say, "Hey,
567
00:26:45,148 --> 00:26:46,816
how many Scovilles is this?" You know?
568
00:26:46,816 --> 00:26:50,779
But, it's almost unattainable
unless you have a lot of money.
569
00:26:50,779 --> 00:26:53,615
NARRATOR: Now look,
arguments as to whose pepper is hotter
570
00:26:53,615 --> 00:26:54,866
could go on forever.
571
00:26:55,784 --> 00:26:58,119
So, a unit of measure was devised
572
00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,330
called Scoville Heat Units.
[sizzling]
573
00:27:00,330 --> 00:27:02,082
No, Johnny didn't invent them,
574
00:27:02,082 --> 00:27:04,626
but it is the reason he took on the alias.
575
00:27:04,626 --> 00:27:06,586
Scoville Heat Units are calculated
576
00:27:06,586 --> 00:27:10,006
by measuring the amount of a chemical
called capsaicin in a pepper.
577
00:27:10,006 --> 00:27:11,508
♪
578
00:27:11,508 --> 00:27:12,968
Though Bobby believes his superhots
579
00:27:12,968 --> 00:27:15,262
could register record breaking Scovilles,
580
00:27:15,262 --> 00:27:18,473
he can't afford the cost
of testing each sample.
581
00:27:20,141 --> 00:27:22,602
BOBBY: The peppers are
very much like my children
582
00:27:22,602 --> 00:27:25,313
because they take so much attention.
583
00:27:25,313 --> 00:27:29,401
Um, I spend countless hours
every season in the garden,
584
00:27:29,401 --> 00:27:30,902
making sure that they survive,
585
00:27:30,902 --> 00:27:33,363
and they're healthy, and they thrive,
and they're productive.
586
00:27:33,363 --> 00:27:38,034
Uh, a lot of work goes into those,
almost as much as having a child.
587
00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,705
NARRATOR:
Each of Bobby's superhot children
588
00:27:41,705 --> 00:27:42,998
could be a lottery ticket,
589
00:27:42,998 --> 00:27:46,501
so he's decided to go another route
to prove their heat.
590
00:27:47,335 --> 00:27:49,629
After tracking down
Johnny Scoville online,
591
00:27:49,629 --> 00:27:52,340
Bobby's asked for the chance to meet up
and introduce himself.
592
00:27:53,758 --> 00:27:56,386
A risky gambit.
One that could 10X his followers
593
00:27:56,386 --> 00:27:59,139
or have him muted by the pepper community.
594
00:28:05,103 --> 00:28:08,607
Yeah, I'm introducing my children to
Johnny Scoville, and it sounds kinda weird
595
00:28:08,607 --> 00:28:11,067
that Johnny Scoville
is going to eat my children, so...
596
00:28:11,067 --> 00:28:12,569
♪
597
00:28:12,569 --> 00:28:14,529
I have basically looked up to him
598
00:28:14,529 --> 00:28:17,616
as the gold standard
for eating hot peppers.
599
00:28:17,616 --> 00:28:19,200
He is the man.
600
00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,078
This is definitely like somebody
meeting their idol, yeah.
601
00:28:22,078 --> 00:28:24,998
This is for sure meeting, uh,
some sort of superstar,
602
00:28:24,998 --> 00:28:27,626
or, um, you know, football player,
603
00:28:27,626 --> 00:28:30,545
something along those lines,
but within my own community.
604
00:28:32,797 --> 00:28:35,091
[rumbling]
605
00:28:35,091 --> 00:28:37,302
Anxiety's my worst enemy, man.
I'll tell you.
606
00:28:41,056 --> 00:28:43,558
[sighs] Fuck. Okay. [nervous laugh]
607
00:28:43,558 --> 00:28:45,268
PRODUCER: You're all good, Bobby.
It's gonna be fun.
608
00:28:45,268 --> 00:28:46,519
Alright.
609
00:28:46,519 --> 00:28:48,605
♪
610
00:28:50,607 --> 00:28:53,610
[ambient traffic noise]
611
00:28:54,945 --> 00:28:58,323
♪ tense music playing ♪
612
00:29:03,912 --> 00:29:07,332
NARRATOR: The road from here to there
has to begin somewhere,
613
00:29:07,332 --> 00:29:10,085
and for pepper newcomer Aurea de Guzman,
614
00:29:10,085 --> 00:29:14,047
somewhere is just east of O'Hare Airport
on a Friday night.
615
00:29:14,047 --> 00:29:15,632
Do you guys have any idea
why you're here?
616
00:29:15,632 --> 00:29:16,633
FRIENDS:
None! No!
617
00:29:16,633 --> 00:29:18,969
FRIEND 1: We would love to know.
FRIEND 2: I'm finna lose it, so please--
618
00:29:18,969 --> 00:29:20,637
AUREA: I feel so special
that you made it out here,
619
00:29:21,763 --> 00:29:23,598
and I'll let you know.
FRIEND 2: Yes.
620
00:29:23,598 --> 00:29:25,350
As soon as dinner's ready.
FRIEND 1: Girl!
621
00:29:25,350 --> 00:29:26,810
[Aurea laughs]
622
00:29:26,810 --> 00:29:28,812
NARRATOR:
Tonight, she plans to come clean
623
00:29:28,812 --> 00:29:32,190
about her secret chili obsession
to her fellow nurses and friends,
624
00:29:32,190 --> 00:29:34,568
and serve up the very first taste
625
00:29:34,568 --> 00:29:37,362
of her original Chilipino hot sauce.
626
00:29:37,362 --> 00:29:39,864
We have a lotta dead time. Why don't
you just tell us what it's all about?
627
00:29:39,864 --> 00:29:42,409
FRIEND 2: Right.
- Well, what do you think it's about?
628
00:29:42,409 --> 00:29:45,495
Somebody's sayin' peppers,
and I know damn well that ain't the truth.
629
00:29:45,495 --> 00:29:46,746
[laughter]
630
00:29:47,497 --> 00:29:49,457
It is about peppers.
631
00:29:49,457 --> 00:29:52,377
- What?
- You just growin' peppers and shit?
632
00:29:52,377 --> 00:29:55,672
You should've came over to my house
and got some peppers.
633
00:29:55,672 --> 00:29:59,634
So, this whole-- This one, that one,
634
00:29:59,634 --> 00:30:01,052
that guy,
635
00:30:01,052 --> 00:30:04,264
they're doing a, a docuseries
636
00:30:04,264 --> 00:30:06,766
on all things pepper-related.
637
00:30:06,766 --> 00:30:08,685
[laughter]
FRIEND 3: How did they find you?
638
00:30:08,685 --> 00:30:11,271
- I know!
- Or did you reach out?
639
00:30:11,271 --> 00:30:12,981
They found me on Instagram.
640
00:30:12,981 --> 00:30:15,901
I just put pictures
of my peppers online...
641
00:30:15,901 --> 00:30:19,362
FRIEND 3: Uh-huh.
- ...and somehow, 35,000 people follow me.
642
00:30:19,988 --> 00:30:21,531
- What?
- What the...?
643
00:30:21,740 --> 00:30:23,366
- There's a whole pepper-related world!
- Come on.
644
00:30:23,366 --> 00:30:25,076
♪
645
00:30:25,076 --> 00:30:27,996
Are you guys looking it up?
FRIENDS: You know I am. Yeah!
646
00:30:27,996 --> 00:30:30,665
What the hell is goin' on? We-- Aurea--
[overlapping chatter]
647
00:30:30,665 --> 00:30:34,085
Aurea is living a different life!
648
00:30:34,669 --> 00:30:37,756
That is crazy!
That is so cool! I love it!
649
00:30:37,756 --> 00:30:39,299
AUREA:
And I-- [laughs]
650
00:30:39,299 --> 00:30:42,052
And I wanted--
This was my coming out party.
651
00:30:42,052 --> 00:30:43,803
[all laughing]
652
00:30:43,803 --> 00:30:45,430
FRIEND 1: Oh, my goodness.
FRIEND 2: Well, damn.
653
00:30:45,430 --> 00:30:48,725
I'm a pepperhead.
I've been hiding this.
654
00:30:48,725 --> 00:30:51,102
Such a relief, huh?
Gettin' it off the chest.
655
00:30:51,102 --> 00:30:52,646
[laughter]
Wow.
656
00:30:52,646 --> 00:30:56,483
I'm gonna go help in the kitchen,
so we can start chowin' down.
657
00:30:56,483 --> 00:30:58,902
[sizzling]
658
00:30:58,902 --> 00:31:00,612
[kitchen chatter]
659
00:31:00,612 --> 00:31:02,572
♪
660
00:31:02,572 --> 00:31:05,408
Hot sauces?
[bottles rattle]
661
00:31:05,408 --> 00:31:07,244
FRIEND 2:
Chilipino-- What does that say?
662
00:31:07,244 --> 00:31:09,329
AUREA: 'Cause it's chili,
and I'm Filipino.
663
00:31:09,329 --> 00:31:11,414
[excited squealing, clapping]
FRIEND 2: Look at that. I love it,
664
00:31:11,414 --> 00:31:12,999
I love it, I love it!
665
00:31:12,999 --> 00:31:15,168
- On a scale of one to 10, how hot?
- It's a 10.
666
00:31:15,168 --> 00:31:17,295
[laughter]
FRIEND 3: Just put a little bit on.
667
00:31:17,295 --> 00:31:19,381
Mm-mm!
FRIEND 3: Smell.
668
00:31:19,381 --> 00:31:21,341
So, this is sweet chili sauce.
669
00:31:21,341 --> 00:31:23,593
This is the milder one.
670
00:31:23,593 --> 00:31:25,845
I'm scared, Nina.
I don't know what you're gonna feel
671
00:31:25,845 --> 00:31:27,722
about the flavor.
672
00:31:27,722 --> 00:31:29,766
That's good, right there.
FRIEND 1: Oh yeah.
673
00:31:29,766 --> 00:31:32,644
Really? Yeah, I made that.
NINA: You made that? That's good.
674
00:31:32,644 --> 00:31:34,896
It's hot.
- But good flavor?
675
00:31:34,896 --> 00:31:37,941
It's good, it is.
FRIEND 1: That's all I need to know. Okay.
676
00:31:37,941 --> 00:31:41,653
NINA: So really though, how close are you
to really starting a business?
677
00:31:42,654 --> 00:31:45,949
If someone just nudged me
just a little bit,
678
00:31:45,949 --> 00:31:47,325
I'm there.
679
00:31:47,325 --> 00:31:49,995
You got one investor,
and there's another one.
680
00:31:49,995 --> 00:31:51,913
[friends chattering]
681
00:31:51,913 --> 00:31:53,456
AUREA:
These are people I look up to.
682
00:31:53,456 --> 00:31:56,167
I don't care if you can hear it,
'cause I look up to them.
683
00:31:56,167 --> 00:31:57,794
[friends laughing, clapping]
684
00:31:57,794 --> 00:32:00,672
And to have them be this supportive
685
00:32:00,672 --> 00:32:02,382
towards a hobby that I think is foolish,
686
00:32:02,382 --> 00:32:04,593
that I'm so ashamed to share with people?
687
00:32:05,635 --> 00:32:07,137
It makes me feel like,
688
00:32:07,137 --> 00:32:11,016
what am I ashamed of, you know?
FRIEND 1: Alright.
689
00:32:11,016 --> 00:32:13,018
[indistinct chatter]
690
00:32:13,018 --> 00:32:15,145
I was about to cry.
691
00:32:15,145 --> 00:32:16,938
[laughter]
692
00:32:16,938 --> 00:32:19,816
♪ tense music playing ♪
693
00:32:19,816 --> 00:32:22,277
NARRATOR: The launch of
any pepper pursuit is a leap of faith,
694
00:32:22,277 --> 00:32:24,571
but it's a leap
that can be well worth it
695
00:32:24,571 --> 00:32:27,866
if your pepper or hot sauce makes it big.
696
00:32:27,866 --> 00:32:30,201
While the Chilipino is now on her way,
697
00:32:30,201 --> 00:32:32,579
the Mighty Mustache is climbing the ladder
698
00:32:32,579 --> 00:32:35,999
to the high platform
and preparing to make the jump.
699
00:32:35,999 --> 00:32:37,334
AUTOMATED VOICE [on speakers]:
Going down.
700
00:32:39,252 --> 00:32:40,545
Yeah.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Floor one.
701
00:32:40,545 --> 00:32:41,504
[elevator dings]
702
00:32:42,172 --> 00:32:44,549
NARRATOR: Up-and-coming
pepper grower Bobby McFadden
703
00:32:44,549 --> 00:32:47,761
is headed into a potentially
career-defining sit-down
704
00:32:47,761 --> 00:32:51,598
with chili kingmaker Johnny Scoville.
705
00:32:52,265 --> 00:32:54,476
[door creaks]
706
00:32:54,476 --> 00:32:56,019
♪
707
00:32:56,019 --> 00:32:57,729
BOBBY:
I walked into the room, and I'm like,
708
00:32:57,729 --> 00:33:00,106
"Oh, my God!" You know,
"There's Johnny Scoville."
709
00:33:00,106 --> 00:33:03,276
Johnny Scoville.
- He comes bearing gifts.
710
00:33:03,276 --> 00:33:05,570
- [laughs] I brought some candy, man.
- Good to see you, man.
711
00:33:05,570 --> 00:33:08,698
BOBBY: I have a lot of respect for him,
so the fact that he could like something
712
00:33:08,698 --> 00:33:10,200
that I created?
713
00:33:10,992 --> 00:33:13,161
Yeah, that really means something to me.
714
00:33:13,161 --> 00:33:16,331
♪
715
00:33:18,625 --> 00:33:22,462
I've been, uh, I've been watchin' you
eat peppers on YouTube
716
00:33:22,462 --> 00:33:25,382
for many years now,
uh, following you on Instagram.
717
00:33:25,382 --> 00:33:27,551
It's just incredible
to be here today, man. So--
718
00:33:27,551 --> 00:33:29,511
Well, man. Well, thank you.
I've been watchin' your pod show.
719
00:33:29,511 --> 00:33:31,388
I watched one this morning.
- Oh, did you really? Yeah? Yeah.
720
00:33:31,388 --> 00:33:33,640
NARRATOR: When a pepper grower
like Bobby McFadden
721
00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:36,309
earns a one-on-one with Johnny Scoville,
722
00:33:36,309 --> 00:33:39,854
it's an opportunity to earn
industry-wide cred.
723
00:33:39,854 --> 00:33:42,983
And for Johnny, every grower
with a superhot contender
724
00:33:42,983 --> 00:33:45,902
is well worth the time
on his never-ending quest
725
00:33:45,902 --> 00:33:47,821
to find the hottest.
726
00:33:47,821 --> 00:33:50,448
In my pocket right now,
I've got a tincture.
727
00:33:50,448 --> 00:33:52,784
NARRATOR:
But first, Johnny wants to see
728
00:33:52,784 --> 00:33:54,703
who exactly he's dealing with.
729
00:33:54,703 --> 00:33:56,413
JOHNNY: This is the hottest tincture
I've ever had.
730
00:33:56,413 --> 00:33:58,164
"Seriously Evil"?
JOHNNY: I'm not foolin'.
731
00:33:58,164 --> 00:33:59,583
That's the hottest tincture I've ever had.
732
00:33:59,583 --> 00:34:02,586
♪ plucky music playing ♪
733
00:34:02,586 --> 00:34:04,087
[sniffing]
734
00:34:04,087 --> 00:34:06,840
JOHNNY: You wanna try a drop of this?
[clinking]
735
00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,009
BOBBY:
I don't even think I had breakfast.
736
00:34:09,009 --> 00:34:11,344
I'm out of practice, Johnny.
- Hey, it's alright.
737
00:34:12,345 --> 00:34:13,847
Just do one drop.
738
00:34:15,265 --> 00:34:18,685
If Willie Nelson gives you
a joint, you smoke it.
739
00:34:18,685 --> 00:34:22,188
If Johnny Scoville hands you
something hot, you eat it.
740
00:34:24,149 --> 00:34:25,191
I'm scared now.
741
00:34:25,191 --> 00:34:27,027
JOHNNY: Ah, you got this.
You're a chilihead.
742
00:34:27,027 --> 00:34:29,070
♪ ominous music playing ♪
743
00:34:31,656 --> 00:34:33,825
Oh, my God. Wow!
744
00:34:35,452 --> 00:34:38,246
♪
745
00:34:38,246 --> 00:34:40,790
It's in the back of the throat.
[Johnny laughs]
746
00:34:40,790 --> 00:34:42,292
♪
747
00:34:42,292 --> 00:34:44,169
- Wow, right up the nose.
- Jus-- Right?
748
00:34:44,169 --> 00:34:46,129
It just invades your sinus cavities.
749
00:34:47,005 --> 00:34:49,883
Wow. So, um--
750
00:34:49,883 --> 00:34:51,927
[echoing]
Yeah, but back to the, uh--
751
00:34:51,927 --> 00:34:53,637
[normal]
Whole-- Um--
752
00:34:53,637 --> 00:34:55,388
Industr-- Oh, my God.
753
00:34:55,388 --> 00:34:57,807
JOHNNY: You alright?
- Yeah. Just trying to hang in there.
754
00:34:57,807 --> 00:35:00,310
That tincture was like
755
00:35:00,310 --> 00:35:02,771
nothing I've ever had before in my life.
756
00:35:02,771 --> 00:35:04,606
Yeah. Whew!
757
00:35:04,606 --> 00:35:06,691
JOHNNY: Yeah, it's warm. It's no joke.
[Bobby clears throat]
758
00:35:06,691 --> 00:35:08,860
That lit me up.
759
00:35:08,860 --> 00:35:10,237
♪ dramatic sting ♪
760
00:35:10,237 --> 00:35:12,447
My ears, my throat,
everything was on fire.
761
00:35:12,447 --> 00:35:13,865
♪
762
00:35:13,865 --> 00:35:16,368
I could barely see straight.
I'm just like,
763
00:35:16,368 --> 00:35:18,161
"Oh, my God,
don't throw up on Johnny Scoville."
764
00:35:18,161 --> 00:35:20,372
[laughs]
"Don't throw up on Johnny Scoville."
765
00:35:20,372 --> 00:35:22,165
That's all I kept saying to myself.
766
00:35:22,165 --> 00:35:23,875
JOHNNY:
Bobby, now I'm feelin' bad, dude.
767
00:35:23,875 --> 00:35:27,003
BOBBY: Why, 'cause I look wrecked?
- If I was a cop and I pulled you over,
768
00:35:27,003 --> 00:35:29,923
I'm yanking you outta your car, and
you're gonna do a roadside dexterity test
769
00:35:29,923 --> 00:35:32,592
'cause you look lit.
- I am like, "Whoa." Yeah. Hoo!
770
00:35:32,592 --> 00:35:34,427
JOHNNY:
Bobby McFadden, the Mighty Mustache.
771
00:35:34,427 --> 00:35:35,845
He's kinda young in the industry,
772
00:35:35,845 --> 00:35:37,931
hasn't been in it that long,
but he's got great heart.
773
00:35:37,931 --> 00:35:40,392
He has a true, legit passion.
774
00:35:40,392 --> 00:35:41,601
Like, here's the thing, man.
775
00:35:41,601 --> 00:35:43,895
I can smell fake passion
like a fart in a car.
776
00:35:43,895 --> 00:35:47,023
He's not putting on an act.
He's genuinely passionate about peppers.
777
00:35:47,023 --> 00:35:49,901
Woo! That wrecked me, dude.
[Johnny laughs]
778
00:35:49,901 --> 00:35:52,070
I'm sorry, man.
BOBBY: Wrecked.
779
00:35:52,070 --> 00:35:54,739
NARRATOR:
After surviving Johnny's trial by fire,
780
00:35:55,782 --> 00:35:58,910
Bobby's earned the right to share
the pepper he's created
781
00:35:58,910 --> 00:36:01,705
and receive the kingmaker's opinion.
782
00:36:01,705 --> 00:36:03,373
BOBBY: So, uh--
- Let's see what you got!
783
00:36:03,373 --> 00:36:04,874
You brought bags full of peppers.
784
00:36:04,874 --> 00:36:07,210
BOBBY: I did.
These are a Bubblegum variant
785
00:36:07,210 --> 00:36:08,712
that I came up with.
786
00:36:08,712 --> 00:36:12,299
It was a weird pheno, uh, that came
from a Chocolate Bubblegum,
787
00:36:12,299 --> 00:36:14,843
and just a cool pepper.
788
00:36:14,843 --> 00:36:16,052
What's the name of this thing?
789
00:36:16,052 --> 00:36:18,263
Um, I'm calling it the Orange Gusher.
790
00:36:18,263 --> 00:36:19,514
Good name.
[Bobby laughs]
791
00:36:19,514 --> 00:36:21,516
To your health.
BOBBY: Good luck. [laughs]
792
00:36:21,516 --> 00:36:24,519
♪ tense music playing ♪
793
00:36:30,066 --> 00:36:32,402
♪ dramatic sting ♪
794
00:36:32,402 --> 00:36:34,237
[flames crackling, rumbling]
795
00:36:34,237 --> 00:36:35,530
NARRATOR:
Like a pepper itself,
796
00:36:35,530 --> 00:36:38,116
this world of chiliheads
begins as a slow burn
797
00:36:38,116 --> 00:36:39,910
before it swallows you whole.
798
00:36:39,910 --> 00:36:42,495
[flames roaring, crackling]
799
00:36:42,495 --> 00:36:45,665
This season, Superhot will
take us deeper into the fire...
800
00:36:45,665 --> 00:36:46,666
[flame roars]
801
00:36:46,666 --> 00:36:49,502
...further down into the
mouth of madness...
802
00:36:49,502 --> 00:36:50,378
[snorts]
803
00:36:50,378 --> 00:36:52,464
...to a place inhabited by chili addicts
804
00:36:52,464 --> 00:36:54,716
who need heat like they need air.
805
00:36:54,716 --> 00:36:55,717
[crowd cheering]
806
00:36:55,717 --> 00:36:58,720
I always say
put your toilet paper in the fridge.
807
00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:02,432
Put your toilet paper in the freezer,
for Christ sake. [laughs]
808
00:37:02,432 --> 00:37:05,685
NARRATOR: We'll follow the quest
to grow that one superhot...
809
00:37:05,685 --> 00:37:06,937
JP Piranha.
810
00:37:06,937 --> 00:37:08,939
NARRATOR:
...that changes everything.
811
00:37:08,939 --> 00:37:10,857
JOHNNY: On any given day,
either one of these
812
00:37:10,857 --> 00:37:12,567
could end up being
the hottest pepper in the world.
813
00:37:13,193 --> 00:37:15,111
NARRATOR:
We'll meet the seemingly superhuman.
814
00:37:15,111 --> 00:37:17,989
The ones born with Teflon tongues
who push past
815
00:37:17,989 --> 00:37:19,783
all thresholds of pain for glory.
816
00:37:19,783 --> 00:37:21,034
[dinging]
817
00:37:21,034 --> 00:37:24,246
[whooshing]
This is a journey into the fire,
818
00:37:24,246 --> 00:37:26,957
into the world of the others.
819
00:37:26,957 --> 00:37:29,668
- That's a perfect hot sauce.
- Okay.
820
00:37:29,668 --> 00:37:31,044
CROWD:
Eat that chili!
821
00:37:31,044 --> 00:37:32,420
NARRATOR:
But be careful.
822
00:37:32,420 --> 00:37:34,047
Before you know it,
823
00:37:34,047 --> 00:37:37,217
you could be in over your head...
- Oh!
824
00:37:37,217 --> 00:37:39,219
NARRATOR:
...and no amount of milk can save you.
825
00:37:42,222 --> 00:37:46,184
[flames crackling]
826
00:37:46,184 --> 00:37:49,187
♪
827
00:38:12,794 --> 00:38:14,796
[whistling]