Share

The Socially Distant Sports Bar
253: Papering Over The Cracks (Pt 2)
🎙️ Welcome to The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Episode 253
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero are back with another round of sporting nonsense, wild tangents, and clips that will leave you questioning reality. This week, we’ve got boxing legends, rugby icons, and a brutal cricketing demolition – plus, of course, the usual barely-researched takes and questionable wisdom.
"Like a sports podcast, if the sport was optional."
✨ What’s on This Week’s Episode?
- Bernard Hopkins vs. Buncey – Elis brings us an absolute classic in boxing trash talk.
- The legend of Dennis Bree – Mike introduces us to a man who plays rugby with his grandson.
- England getting absolutely battered – Steff choses Australia dismantling their old rivals.
- Plus: Jason Robinson magic, Tom Brady’s non-involvement in the worst documentary of all time, and a look at Lauren Price vs. Natasha Jonas.
💡 Why Join Patreon?
Patreon is the best way to support the pod and get extra content every single week:
- Bonus Episodes: 30 minutes of exclusive nonsense every week – more clips, more chaos, more laughs.
- Hoffi Pod & Michael Owen’s Movie Club: Immediate access to the best bonus pods around.
- Gift Memberships: Give a mate the gift of quality nonsense.
- Support the Pod: Every penny keeps the show running (and funds Mike’s ever-growing collection of ‘70s leisurewear).
🎥 Bonus Podcasts for Patreon Members:
- Michael Owen’s Movie Club: Reviewing sports films, whether they’re classics or crimes against cinema.
- Hoffi Pod: Elis and Steff dive into their favourite non-sports clips while Mike… does his best to keep up.
👉 Join the £8 or £10 Patreon tiers today and get the full experience.
🚀 Why Wondery+?
Not into Patreon? Wondery+ gives you:
- Early access: Listen every Tuesday before anyone else.
- Ad-free episodes: Just the good stuff, no interruptions.
🎉 THIS WEEK’S SHOW – Don’t Miss It!
PART 1 (OUT WEDNESDAY):
- Elis: Bernard Hopkins vs. Buncey – Watch here
- Mike: The legend of Dennis Bree – Watch here
- Steff: Australia hammer England – Watch here
PART 2 (OUT FRIDAY):
- Mike’s Documentary Pick: Becoming the GOAT: The Tom Brady Story – Watch here
- Steff’s Book Recommendation: How To Win by Dr. Kate Hays – Get it here
PART 3 (PATREON EXCLUSIVE):
- Steff: Lauren Price vs. Natasha Jonas – Watch here
- Elis: Jason Robinson doing what Jason Robinson does – Watch here
- Mike: Conor Moore's impressions – Watch here
📺 TV from Mike and Elis:
- Mike’s latest on Scrum V Top 5 – Watch here
- Mike’s Throwback Special: Watch on BBC iPlayer
- Elis’ Derwydd Special: Watch here
✨ Another week of sporting chaos, nostalgia, and top-tier nonsense – only at The Socially Distant Sports Bar! 🎉
🛡️ Get NordVPN with Our Exclusive Deal!
Want to watch sport from anywhere in the world (or just keep your browsing private)? NordVPN has you covered.
Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
Click here for a NORD VPN deal
CLICK HERE TO SEE CRWST's SELECTION
https://crwst.cymru/collections/shop-all
We’ve launched a brand new merch store — mugs, hoodies, prints and more!
If you fancy supporting the pod that way, head here 👇
Live shows are coming!
🎫 Tickets available now at distantpod.com/live
More episodes
View all episodes

675. Gareth Bale: Pint Size
06:50||Ep. 675Welcome 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.
673. Mr Sassoon (pt 2)
38:35||Ep. 673Episode 301: Mr SassoonOver 300 episodes deep and still gloriously sidetracked, Distant Pod is where Elis, Mike and Steff explore sport’s brilliance, absurdity and nostalgia through the clips, documentaries and books that caught their attention this week.🏃♂️ CHARITY RUNSteff completed the Tokyo Marathon for Orchid Cancer on sunday👉 Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-podcast-5🎧 PART 2 – Episode 301Steff Documentary: The Little Prince and The Big Fighthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkEMVd5NjBgMike Book: The Captain Class by Sam Walkerhttps://amzn.to/3OiNPA2🔒 Upgrade to Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple for early, ad-free Parts 1 & 2 — and get Part 3 as exclusive bonus content.
672. Mr Sassoon (pt 1)
01:04:34||Ep. 672Episode 301: Mr SassoonOver 300 episodes in and still finding sporting gold in the strangest corners of the internet, Distant Pod is the weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero dive into the best (and worst) clips, documentaries, books, and sporting moments they’ve discovered that week. From iconic brilliance to complete nonsense, it’s a fast-moving, funny tour through sport and culture — with zero expertise required and strong opinions guaranteed.🏃♂️ CHARITY RUNSteff finished the Tokyo Marathon for Orchid Cancer on Sunday, raising vital funds for men’s cancer research and support.👉 Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-podcast-5🎧 PART 1 – Episode 301 (Free)Mike: Jimmy on Bill Belichickhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DUElmtCD6C6/Mike: LT on Bill Belichickhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DUCN1c9DwfA/Elis: The only Wales try of the 1995 Five Nationshttps://www.facebook.com/share/v/181HjGn2SP/Steff: Nutterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkVZm5UuXIs🔒 Want more? Join Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Subscriptions for early, ad-free Parts 1 & 2 — plus Part 3 exclusively as bonus content.
671. KenCafé: Pint Size
10:50||Ep. 671Welcome 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 one is from Episode 188: A Mug Of KenCaféCheck 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.
669. Maybe Start With Public Speaking (pt 2)
32:41||Ep. 669Episode 300: Maybe Start With Public SpeakingDistant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero dive into the best (and worst) clips, documentaries, books, and sporting moments they’ve discovered that week.🏃♂️ CHARITY RUNSteff is running the Tokyo Marathon for Orchid Cancer.👉 Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-podcast-5🎧 PART 2 – Episode 300Elis Documentary: Flo Jo: A Daughter’s Lovehttps://watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.6fda2c47-6ef2-415d-ab31-d889eacc240bSteff Book/Find: Lee Child using footballers’ names in Jack Reacher bookshttps://www.reddit.com/r/footballcliches/comments/1gnw5d7/footballers_names_in_jack_reacher_things_again/🔒 Upgrade to Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple for early, ad-free Parts 1 & 2 — and get Part 3 as exclusive bonus content.
668. Maybe Start With Public Speaking (pt 1)
58:57||Ep. 668Distant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero dive into the best (and worst) clips, documentaries, books, and sporting moments they’ve discovered that week. From iconic brilliance to complete nonsense, each episode is a fast-moving, funny tour through sport, culture, and the strange corners of the internet — with zero expertise required and strong opinions guaranteed.🏃♂️ CHARITY RUNSteff is running the Tokyo Marathon for Orchid Cancer, raising vital funds for men’s cancer research and support.👉 Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-podcast-5🎧 PART 1 – Episode 300 (Free)Elis: Sign languagehttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DTmdmaxCsBP/Steff: No tracksuitshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DSphmvCCsWD/Mike: Kirk Cousinshttps://www.instagram.com/reels/DSYbctrjBG4/🔒 Want more? Join Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Subscriptions for early, ad-free Parts 1 & 2 — plus Part 3 exclusively as bonus content.
667. Paul McCartney: Pint Size
07:35||Ep. 667Welcome 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 one is from Episode 171: Gordon Smart, Live in Islington (a)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.
665. Mario (pt 2)
26:11||Ep. 665Distant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero dive into the best (and worst) clips, documentaries, books, and sporting moments they’ve discovered that week.🏃♂️ CHARITY RUNSteff is running the Tokyo Marathon for Orchid Cancer.👉 Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-podcast-5🎧 PART 2 – Episode 299 Mike’s documentary pick: Terry Yorathhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08ps93gElis’s book pick: Test Cricket: A History — Tim Wigmorehttps://amzn.to/4rzgpvu🔒 Upgrade to Apple Subscriptions (Distant Pod Bonus Club) for early, ad-free Parts 1 & 2 — and get Part 3 as exclusive bonus content.
664. Mario (pt 1)
01:02:46||Ep. 664Distant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero dive into the best (and worst) clips, documentaries, books, and sporting moments they’ve discovered that week. From iconic brilliance to complete nonsense, each episode is a fast-moving, funny tour through sport, culture, and the strange corners of the internet — with zero expertise required and strong opinions guaranteed.🏃♂️ CHARITY RUNSteff is running the Tokyo Marathon for Orchid Cancer, raising vital funds for men’s cancer research and support.👉 Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-podcast-5🎧 PART 1 – Episode 299 Mike’s clip: Osi and Jasonhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DTtOnBODPNI/Elis’s clip: Cantrell Farm, mid-90shttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DTfD_ECiY_H/Steff’s clips: Making Golf Balls (1966 & 2010s)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-0U_R8zwkkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUjV0ipBvJY🔒 Want more? Join Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Subscriptions to get Parts 1 & 2 early and ad-free — plus Part 3 exclusively as bonus content.