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It Burns
Publisher's Summary
Winner of the Silver Narrative/Documentary Podcast Trophy at the 2020 New York Festivals Radio Awards
Nominated for the 2019 Rose D’Or award for Audio Entertainment
Please note: contains mature themes and graphic imagery.
Written and hosted by Marc Fennell, It Burns is the story of a 10-year scandal-plagued international competition that will take listeners from the Australian Coast to South Carolina (via an Indian Research Facility).
It’s a war filled with larger than life characters. There will be sledging, accusations of cheating, theft and performance enhancing drugs. And allegations that Australia was cheated out of a Guinness World Record. In the process of charting the scandal-plagued race to breed the world’s hottest chilli, the audio documentary lifts the lid on the subculture of ‘Chilli-heads’, hardcore chilli fans spread across the globe who compete in chilli eating and breeding competitions.
The internet is filled with videos of grown men being reduced to tears by a square millimetre of chilli. The docu-series asks: what motivates someone to breed and eat a demonic nugget that is so hot it no longer has flavour? At what point does this stop being cuisine and start being an endurance sport?
This humorous series shows that all this has never really been about chilli. It’s been about how people use pain to shape themselves, define themselves and make themselves feel alive.
This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 5 episodes to your Library now.
Critic Reviews
"Entertaining." (Guardian)
"A cheerful Aussie version of Louis Theroux, [Marc] roams around the globe and digs deeper and deeper into a subculture that, while merely a tad eccentric on the surface, conceals some much murkier goings-on." (Times T2)
"If Pumping Iron had been about scoffing scotch bonnets." (Esquire)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- KVS
- 13-06-20
If you are into chilies,then worth listening
Well narrated and a soothing background music. It gives an interesting view into chilies and how people are passionate about it
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- Anonymous User
- 20-11-19
better than I thought it would be
brilliant narrator, interesting interviews and funny stories. A must listen if you like hot sauce
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 09-12-19
I dare you to listen
A fascinating adventure into one of the worlds most potent ingredients. Brilliantly presented and at times too hot to hear.
3 people found this helpful
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- PETER S WARING
- 05-12-19
Great Listen
Mark Fennell is such a natural host. I'm not at all interested in peppers but this was addictive.
3 people found this helpful
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- pixie
- 26-11-19
Absolutely (& admittedly unexpectedly) fascinating...
It’s possible I would now listen to just about anything that has Marc Fennel’s name on it. I picked this title on a whim but actually it’s been extremely well put together, and Marc narrates it in a very natural, warm way that at times, made me laugh just because he clearly has a funny, warm personality. The story tiptoes carefully into unexpected and genuinely interesting territory, and then starts asking some very candid questions. Please Audible, ask him to do more stuff because I’ll be recommending this to anyone who’ll listen!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tom V
- 04-10-19
Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much!
Was recommended by an Australian colleague of mine. A really interesting look at a subculture I’d never considered! Well worth a listen!
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-10-19
Great Documentary
If you like you're chillies then this is definitely one to listen to. Very well presented with some disturbing facts about competing to grow the hottest chilli
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lukx
- 18-09-19
wow not what you are expecting
it's not what you are expecting . very well written and maid. well worth to lissen.
1 person found this helpful
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- G
- 26-08-19
Enjoyed every second of it
Once again Marc Fennell enlightens the world with his inquisitive and thought provoking nature. In almost every interview I've seen him give the interviewee will respond with a "that's a really good question". Marc has a calming way of telling stories, and this one about chilis is so unsuspecting, yet so gripping and enjoyable to follow.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Susanne Kirwan
- 22-08-19
Unexpected at every turn. an excellent piece!
Excellent blending of a good story, some facts and a truly creative narrative. I listened to it on a whim and was enthralled.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Karen Bull
- 15-08-19
Too hot to handle?
this is funny. I love spicy food so I'm finding it very interesting hearing about the hottest jalapeños .
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 29-07-19
Addictive and very entertaining!
Oh Mark how I miss your voice on Triple J!
This audible was just so incredible, clever and so informative. It also has a real heart about it also. Absolutely loved it!
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 30-07-19
Not what I was expecting!
I thought I knew what to expect from a podcast about chilli eating, but I truly had no idea how deep the rabbit hole could go! Great balance of unexpected facts, complex (and sometimes whacky) characters and Marc's personal story.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alex C
- 26-07-19
Hot hot hot!
I've always been a fan of Marc Fennell's wicked sense of humour and I like the way he becomes part of the story in an authentic way. It makes this is very entertaining and easy-to-listen podcast that I finished in one weekend.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mick
- 25-07-19
Brilliant!
This was not what I expected and I am so glad I listened. Do yourself a favour and give it a go!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 21-11-19
A great insight into the crazy world of chillies
Loved the story, but also Marc was entertaining and great interviewer, if you are interested in the chilli world, a great listen
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Garrick
- 29-10-19
Turning up the heat on chilies
I don't eat chilies but this looks at society in brand new angle. It takes s look at the society in a whole new way, metaphorical and with realism that is a surprise. ITS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE CHILIES ITS SO MUCH MORE. Highly recommended. 10/10
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sydney
- 08-10-19
Hot diggity I loved this!
I’ll freely admit to having a girl crush on Marc for years. He is an amazing storyteller. It Burns is hands down one of my favourite podcasts ever.
Do I care about chillies? Not really
Am I now fascinated by chillies? Abso -bloody-lutely!
Marc inspires me to be a better storyteller no matter what the subject matter.
Congrats to Marc and the production team.
More please!
Shelly
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 15-09-19
Marc delivers beautifully
loved this podcast! thank you Mr. Fennell. Twists and turns throughout the episodes loved it.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 28-08-19
thought provoking
unreal .. and geniune stories.. not what I thought when I first start listening. Mark your story was honest and relatable well done
1 person found this helpful
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- Kirstyn
- 21-08-19
So entertaining
I was so close to not downloading this omg I would have been missing out, have had this audible account for about 2-3 years now and this is definitely in top five listens of anything I have so far. Loved the narration and the content both, amusing light listening while still educational- highly recommend!
1 person found this helpful