America’s best hot dog

Jul 24, 2026 26 min

About this episode

Chef José Andrés explains what makes the winning wiener. A DC hot dog vendor respectfully disagrees. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A Seattle hot dog. Photo by Scott Suchman and food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to this episode in English to learn English

Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. America’s best hot dog from Today, Explained gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.

In the Hinto app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.

Episodes to Learn English

More podcasts in English