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The Socially Distant Sports Bar
264: Max Rushden (Pt 1)
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero return with another round of top-tier sporting nonsense, barely researched takes, and an absolutely brilliant special guest.
“Like a sports podcast, if the sport was optional.”
✨ This Week’s Special Guest – Max Rushden!
If you’ve enjoyed our guest episodes with Chesney Hawkes, Josh Widdicombe, or Sam Warburton, you’re in for a treat.
This week we welcome Max Rushden — broadcaster, podcaster, football obsessive, and all-round good guy.
Max is the long-running host of Guardian Football Weekly, where he teams up with our friend Barry Glendenning for football chat, laughs, and chaos.
He’s also recently launched a new podcast with comedian David O’Doherty called What Did You Do Yesterday?, where they interview fascinating guests about a completely ordinary day.
Max’s broadcasting career has spanned BBC Radio 5 Live, talkSPORT, Channel 4’s Jump Off, and iconic years hosting Sky’s Soccer AM.
Known for his wit, love of the underdog, and eye for the ridiculous, Max fits right in at the Distant Pod.
🎟️ We’re Going on Tour in 2026!
We’re hitting the road with a brand-new live show in 2026!
Tickets on general sale now – head to distantpod.com/live for all the details.
📍 Tour Dates:
- Fri 20 March 2026 – Cardiff, New Theatre
- Sat 21 March 2026 – Cardiff, New Theatre
- Tue 7 April 2026 – London, Hackney Empire
- Wed 8 April 2026 – London, Hackney Empire
- Fri 24 April 2026 – Carmarthen, Lyric Theatre
🎉 This Week’s Show – Don’t Miss It!
Max has brought some absolute gems to the show:
🥫 Baked Beans, Penalties – Max and Charlie Baker
🐎 Man Versus Beast
Yes, humans really raced animals on TV in 2003. No, we can’t quite believe it either.
⛸️ Steven Bradbury – Australian Speed Skating Gold, 2002
The greatest underdog gold medal of all time.
(Yes, Joe Marler wishes he picked it, but no, it wasn’t actually his choice. And yes, technically Steff picked it for a live stream, but… we’ve lost the tapes.)
📖 A Little Extra Gift from Max
Max also shared this brilliant nostalgic piece that perfectly fits the vibe of the pod:
🔗 Vonk, Zoeller, Tomba… The Joy of Sporting Names (The Guardian)
💡 Get More of the Pod Every Week
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🎉 Another week of sport, nostalgia, and nonsense — only on The Socially Distant Sports Bar!
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Live shows are coming!
🎫 Tickets available now at distantpod.com/live
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631. Dallas: PS161
19:44||Ep. 631Welcome to Pint-Sized Distant Pod. We’ve been back through our archive of episodes and picked out some of our favourite stories, anecdotes, and funny bits.If you’re new to the pod, these are a perfect way to dip your toe in and then dive back into the full episodes from our early days.This is from 227: Pampas Grass & BadmintonCheck out our brand-new merch store here: 🛒 sdsb2025.myshopify.comGrab a mug, hoodie, t-shirt (or all three!) and help keep the pod going in style.629. I Hate Your Music (Pt 2): 290
38:06||Ep. 629Episode 290: I Hate Your Music (Pt 2)Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero return with another week of classic clips, documentaries, books, and total nonsense.🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — SUPPORT THE BIG PUSH!Help us fill the London shows — grab your tickets now: distantpod.com/live🎧 Join the Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts! Subscribers get:Parts 1 & 2 early — and completely ad-freePart 3 every week as an Apple-exclusive bonus episodeAll the nonsense, none of the ads🎧 PART 2 — Docs & BooksSteff Documentary: Man On Wirehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWHZLRmu1tsMike Book: Arwyr Chwaraeon Cymru — James Staffordhttps://www.ylolfa.com/products/9781800993952/arwyr-chwaraeon-cymru🛍️ SHOP THE PODsdsb2025.myshopify.com🎟️ LIVE SHOWSdistantpod.com/live628. I Hate Your Music (Pt 1): 290
01:17:15||Ep. 628Episode 290: I Hate Your Music (Pt 1)Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero return with another week of classic clips, documentaries, books, and total nonsense.🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — TICKETS ON SALE NOW!We’re coming to London and we REALLY want to see you there — it’s our biggest push of the year.Get your seats while they’re still available: distantpod.com/live🎧 Join the Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts! Get Parts 1 & 2 early and ad-free, plus Part 3 every week as exclusive bonus content — all completely ad-free. Just hit Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.🎧 PART 1 — ClipsMike: The remarkable Syd Scroggie, 1971https://youtu.be/5WM5nVAp0cMElis: Classic Welsbyhttps://x.com/stusfootyflash/status/1995387445240860777?s=46&t=neS5hOG2rnBndx5FBpAv6gSteff: Why wouldn’t they?https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRVmhYgCfus/?igsh=NnJsaXd3bDdsY3Nz627. Joe Marler’s Tickle: PS160
11:21||Ep. 627Welcome to Pint-Sized Distant Pod. We’ve been back through our archive of episodes and picked out some of our favourite stories, anecdotes, and funny bits.If you’re new to the pod, these are a perfect way to dip your toe in and then dive back into the full episodes from our early days.Joe Marler from Celebrity Traitors was on the pod this year - Here’s Part 1 and Part 2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-socially-distant-sports-bar/id1503926981?i=1000700606694https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-socially-distant-sports-bar/id1503926981?i=1000700607056Check out our brand-new merch store here: 🛒 sdsb2025.myshopify.comGrab a mug, hoodie, t-shirt (or all three!) and help keep the pod going in style.625. Snoring (Pt 2): 289
43:18||Ep. 625🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — TICKETS ON SALE NOW! We’re coming to London and we REALLY want to see you there — it’s our biggest push of the year. Grab your seats before they're gone: distantpod.com/live🎧 THIS WEEK’S SHOW — Episode 289: Snoring (Pt 2) Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero (What Else Does He Do??) are back with another week of classic clips, documentaries, books, and total nonsense.PART 2Elis Documentary 👉 How To Win The Ashes https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002g7hlSteff Book: Touching The Void — Joe Simpson👉 Buy here https://amzn.to/48rdL2QPART 3 - Head to Apple Podcasts and join the Distant Pod Bonus Club to listenMike: Colorado State Boise State Referee 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRaCflvjgoo/?igsh=c2xoOGE1dmV6YWFsElis: 1969 Soviet gym 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ8wMyDjVdr/?igsh=aGJrZGp5bjl4eDliSteff: Up the Tics 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOgwRUHjCWL/?igsh=MTRnYmkxZzlla3lnaA==624. Snoring (Pt 1): 289
01:12:56||Ep. 624🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — TICKETS ON SALE NOW! We’re coming to London and we REALLY want to see you there — it’s our biggest push of the year. Grab your seats before they're gone: distantpod.com/live🎧 THIS WEEK’S SHOW — Episode 289: Snoring (Pt 1) Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero (What Else Does He Do??) are back with another week of classic clips, documentaries, books, and total nonsense.PART 1Mike: Reality Check 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRFLLRzjrMe/?igsh=MWc5ZDgyeG4xZWJvYw==Steff: Francesca Hennessy 👉 Clip 1 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQtw71IjD_K/?igsh=N2N5ZnlkcWZpeDQ1 👉 Clip 2 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKP1Hw2sHhY/?igsh=MWF3aTNiZGhkZmF6Mg==Elis: Scouse nurse in the making 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNqlMtNsy_I/?igsh=MWNqeXFreXVhanN1ZQ==PART 2 is out on Friday!!Elis Documentary 👉 How To Win The Ashes https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002g7hlSteff Book: Touching The Void — Joe Simpson👉 Buy here https://amzn.to/48rdL2QPART 3 - available by joining the Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple PodcastsMike: Colorado State Boise State Referee 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRaCflvjgoo/?igsh=c2xoOGE1dmV6YWFsElis: 1969 Soviet gym 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ8wMyDjVdr/?igsh=aGJrZGp5bjl4eDliSteff: Up the Tics 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOgwRUHjCWL/?igsh=MTRnYmkxZzlla3lnaA==623. F-ing: PS159
09:55||Ep. 623Welcome to Pint-Sized Distant Pod. We’ve been back through our archive of episodes and picked out some of our favourite stories, anecdotes, and funny bits.If you’re new to the pod, these are a perfect way to dip your toe in and then dive back into the full episodes from our early days.Check out our brand-new merch store here: 🛒 sdsb2025.myshopify.comGrab a mug, hoodie, t-shirt (or all three!) and help keep the pod going in style.621. Sugared Alpen: 288 (Pt 2)
30:54||Ep. 621🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — TICKETS ON SALE NOW! We’re coming to London and we REALLY want to see you there — it’s our biggest push of the year. Grab your seats before they're gone: distantpod.com/liveJOIN THE BONUS CLUB to get more from Distant Pod https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-socially-distant-sports-bar/id1503926981 (00:00:40)🎧 THIS WEEK’S SHOW — Episode 288Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero (What Else Does He Do??) are back with another week of classic clips, documentaries, books, and total nonsense.PART 2Mike Documentary: The Life of a Football Apprentice (1972)👉 Watch here https://youtu.be/kxUnTR0r5is?si=zBiwvCITf3eymM_PElis’ Book: Jonathan Wilson — The Power and The Glory 👉 Buy here https://amzn.to/3M8kt6y620. Sugared Alpen: 288 (Pt 1)
01:04:59||Ep. 620🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — TICKETS ON SALE NOW! We’re coming to London and we REALLY want to see you there — it’s our biggest push of the year. Grab your seats before they're gone: distantpod.com/live🎧 THIS WEEK’S SHOW — Episode 288Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero (What Else Does He Do??) are back with another week of classic clips, documentaries, books, and total nonsense.JOIN THE BONUS CLUB to get more from Distant Pod https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-socially-distant-sports-bar/id1503926981 (00:00:40)PART 1Elis: Scotland limbs 👉 Watch here https://x.com/colinmccredie/status/1990899976809975910?s=46&t=neS5hOG2rnBndx5FBpAv6gSteff: The Enemy 👉 Clip 1 https://www.instagram.com/p/DQq5jl6CHwh/?igsh=MW83c2M1dXAwZnV3Zw== 👉 Clip 2 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQrKN4qjaMQ/?igsh=azc4ZzV5b3l4bTQxMike: Fathers vs Sons 👉 Watch here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPKXmv5Dreg/?igsh=MXdrOGRhdTlxZXMzMw==