Competitive Eating Star James Webb Talks Documentary ‘James Can Eat’ and Rivalry With Joey Chestnut on Mario Lopez Podcast
James Webb, currently ranked the #4 competitive eater in the world and the top-ranked eater in Australia, joined On With Mario Lopez for a revealing and engaging interview where he discussed the unusual beginnings of his competitive eating career, his preparation techniques, his friendly rivalry with legend Joey Chestnut, and the upcoming release of his new documentary James Can Eat, which hits Amazon Prime on August 22nd.
From Bodybuilder to Binge-Eater: A Wild Entry Into Competitive Eating
James Webb didn’t grow up dreaming of competitive eating glory — in fact, his entrance into the sport was purely accidental. During a casual outing with his now-wife on the way to a wine tour, they stopped at a small country pub. The owner, after a few drinks, began bragging about an undefeated food challenge that no one had conquered. Intrigued, James gave it a try.
“I ate his burger in like 23 minutes — it was ten pounds!” Webb recalls, laughing. He had no idea at the time that this spontaneous food challenge would catapult him into a new life path. “People started messaging me, like ‘You’re really good at this,’ and I was like, what the hell did I just do?”
That impulsive challenge turned into a professional career, and now just four years later, Webb has cemented himself as a major force in the competitive eating world.
The Science Behind Stuffing Your Face: How James Preps for a Contest
Despite what many people assume, professional eaters aren’t large or out of shape. Mario Lopez even pointed out how lean James is, surprising listeners who may associate eating large volumes of food with excessive weight gain.
Webb broke down his pre-competition prep strategy, which he called a “balancing act.” Starting Monday through Wednesday of a competition week, he practices “stretching the stomach” by eating massive quantities to increase capacity. By Thursday and Friday, however, he transitions to high-fluid intake and fasting, essentially flipping from being “as full as humanly possible” to “as empty as humanly possible.”
This method helps ensure that on game day, Webb has the maximum possible stomach real estate for the food challenge ahead.
Taking on Joey Chestnut – And Winning in Wings
When the topic of Joey Chestnut, the undisputed king of competitive eating, came up, Webb was respectful but confident. He finished third at the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, eating an astounding 45.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, behind Chestnut who took the top prize again.
“Joey’s the GOAT,” Webb admitted. “He’s been doing this for 22 years. I’m only in my fourth year, so I’m still playing catch-up.”
But Webb hasn’t just been trailing behind. In fact, he’s beaten Chestnut in several head-to-head matchups — specifically in the chicken wing contests, where he has now taken the victory three times in a row.
“I’m actually really good at chicken wings,” Webb said. “It’s all about technique. You get a 20-pound bowl of wings, and they weigh it after. If you’re just biting and throwing it back, you’re not getting points. But I’ve got a really efficient way of stripping the meat off the bone.”
This bone-in challenge showcases a different skill set — finesse, not just speed — and Webb clearly excels at it.
A Health Scare: James Opens Up About Autoimmune Battle
In the trailer for James Can Eat, viewers see footage of Webb hospitalized — something Lopez asked him to clarify. Was it a side effect of competitive eating?
Surprisingly, it wasn’t. Webb revealed that he suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which took doctors months to diagnose.
“It’s super rare. Not many people have it. I spent nearly two years in the hospital trying to get it under control,” Webb said. “There’s no cure, so it’s something I live with.”
Despite the setback, Webb reassured fans that he’s doing much better now and is in stable condition. The documentary will highlight this period of his life, showing not just the triumphs but also the very real struggles behind the scenes.
James Can Eat Set to Stream on Amazon Prime August 22nd
The upcoming documentary James Can Eat is poised to be a fascinating deep dive into the high-stakes, calorie-stuffed world of competitive eating. According to the interview, it will not only focus on Webb’s meteoric rise in the sport, but also his personal challenges, health struggles, and the unexpected journey from average Aussie to one of the world’s most elite eaters.
“It’s properly titled,” Lopez joked, wrapping up the segment. “Looking forward to checking it out.”
James Can Eat drops on Amazon Prime on August 22nd, and based on the compelling personal story and James’s colorful personality, it’s shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of competitive eating, sports documentaries, and underdog success stories.
