Thanksgiving is the one day when we’re all competitive eaters, so for the annual Thanksgiving show, Dan sits down with Tim “Eater X” Janus, the second-ranked competitive eater in the world. Eater X discusses why competitive eating is a sport, what happens to his stomach after contests, how he taught himself to love hot dogs, the problem of cheating on the circuit, the economics of competitive eating as a job, and the importance of good dental care. Finally, he offers Eaters everywhere a Thanksgiving Day pep talk.
Slate's Julia Turner joins Dan to discuss the merits of short vs. long pastas, which shapes should be eliminated, and the best ways to get different shapes into your mouth, including the controversial question of whether short pastas are better eaten with a spoon. Get more food fun when you Like The Sporkful on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.