takeru kobayashi vs. joey chestnut & the art of the narrative

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Once a year, Joey Chestnut becomes the main character of the internet -- but it wasn't always that way. This week, we're talking about the greatest hot dog rivalry of all time, and the media ringmaster that made it possible.

Before Joey's annual stint as a main character, the hot dog eating champion of the world was one Takeru Kobayashi, a Japanese eater who turned a novelty event in the U.S. into a full-blown sensation in the early 2000s. Then, contractual issues and a huge wave of xenophobia pushed Kobi out of the professional scene in America, until Labor Day 2024 when he faced off with Chestnut for the first time in 15 years. A lot has changed since their last meeting... more than anything, the way stories are told using the internet.

Jamie speaks with documentarian Nicole Lucas-Haimes, director of the 30 for 30 about the Kobi and Chestnut rivalry: The Good, The Bad, The Hungry. She's also the executive producer of the Netflix rematch, Unfinished Beef.

This Thursday, Jamie ventures to Las Vegas to see the Kobi-Chestnut Netflix rematch in person.

Watch The Good, The Bad, The Hungry: https://www.netflix.com/title/81752194
Watch Unfinished Beef: https://www.netflix.com/title/81743617
Buy Raw Dog (now in paperback): https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250847768/rawdog
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