Underwhelming Podcast Banned in Canada ft. The Fat Electrician | Underwhelming Podcast Ep 07
Jul 18, 2025
Erik Bartell, known as The Fat Electrician and founder of Echelon energy drink, shares his unique insights into the world of energy drinks. Discover why his product faced a ban in Canada due to its high caffeine content and spicy flavors. Erik discusses its success with military customers and hilarious marketing quirks. The conversation touches on life in the military, fitness culture, and amusing conspiracies, while also revealing quirky tales about community and regional food preferences. A fun mix of stories and insights!
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Episode notes
Intro Prank On Guest
- The hosts prank Eric by framing him out of the livestream, joking his mic wasn't plugged in during the intro.
- They riff about being on camera and Nick teases Eric about thinking he's part of the podcast.
Echelon's Military Popularity And Canadian Ban
- Erik describes Echelon energy drinks being popular with U.S. military units and occasionally shipped to Canada informally.
- Canadian military shops refused them for high caffeine content, so Erik joked he's running a Canadian Prohibition for Echelon.
Expect Regulatory Scrutiny Overseas
- If you're selling a high-caffeine product, expect military interest and regulatory pushback abroad.
- Erik had to stop informal shipments to Canada after military uptake alerted regulators.
