The Electrics

Erik Lamkin, known online as “Erik the Electric,” graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2017. His career began six years prior to 2019 when he successfully completed a food challenge at the San Diego-based franchise Broken Yolk, setting a record at that location. This experience led him to develop a YouTube channel specializing in extreme eating challenges while he was still a student at Cal State San Marcos. His channel gained significant traction, achieving over 1 million followers within a few years after its inception. A notable milestone early in his career was consuming 100,000 calories in a single video, which accumulated 8 million views.

Lamkin maintains that his extreme eating on camera is balanced by a rigorous healthy lifestyle off-camera. He engages in cycling and powerlifting, dedicating two hours daily to gym workouts. This active regimen allows him to manage the demands of his food challenges. He emphasizes eating extremely healthy outside of his YouTube content, asserting that an active lifestyle can mitigate the impact of one large meal per week. His girlfriend, Kristie Higgs, has been an integral part of his career, assisting with filming and providing support during challenges, such as supplying water and napkins during his intense eating sessions.

In August 2018, Lamkin and Higgs collaborated to launch their joint YouTube channel, The Electrics. This channel rapidly grew, amassing over 160,000 subscribers by the time their synergy was noted. Kristie Higgs, a professional fitness model, frequently participates in their challenges, often taking part in “ultimate food challenge dates” featured on their channel. The Electrics continue to produce engaging content, building on their individual successes and aiming for future endeavors, such as developing their own television show.