Share

cover art for 274: I’m Not An Owl (Pt 1)

The Socially Distant Sports Bar

274: I’m Not An Owl (Pt 1)

Ep. 568

🎙 The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Episode 274: I’m Not An Owl (Pt 1)


We’re in the running for the Listeners’ Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards — and we need you to make it happen!

👉 Vote now: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

It’s quick, free, and genuinely makes a huge difference. Thank you!

🎧 This Week:

From Roy Hodgson’s perfectly baffling post-match thoughts to Dexys honouring a darts legend, Pastor Joe blessing NASCAR, sarcastic keepers, Claude Makélélé appreciation, and the wonderful world of softball — it's another classic week of sporting detours.

Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero return to rifle through the weird, heartfelt, and downright brilliant side of sport.

“It’s like a sports podcast… except when it absolutely isn’t.”

📌 PART 1

🟢 Mike: Pastor Joe Nelms' NASCAR prayer – Praise for the fuel and the wives

🟢 Elis: Roy Hodgson delivers an all-time post-match moment

🟢 Steff: Dexys – “Jackie Wilson Said” with… Jocky Wilson?

📌 PART 2 (OUT FRIDAY)

🎥 Steff Documentary: The Best of Saint & Greavsie – classic chaos, timeless telly

📖 Mike Book: Pocket Money by Gordon Burn – snooker, celebrity, and obsession

📌 PART 3 – PATREON EXCLUSIVE

👉 patreon.com/distantpod gets you:

  • Weekly bonus episodes

  • Michael Owen’s Movie Club, Hoffi Pod & guest Q&As

  • Early live show access

  • Ad-free episodes

🟢 Steff: Claude Makélélé – the original “Makélélé role”

🟢 Elis: The most sarcastic goalkeeper dive you’ve ever seen (Hemel Hempstead style)

🟢 Mike: Softball energy. Always softball energy.

🎟️ THE 2026 LIVE TOUR – ON SALE NOW!

We’re taking The Socially Distant Sports Bar on the road with a brand-new live show. Expect stories, clips, surprises… and maybe the odd song.

📍 Tour Dates:

  • Fri 20 March – Cardiff, New Theatre

  • Sat 21 March – Cardiff, New Theatre

  • Tue 7 April – London, Hackney Empire

  • Wed 8 April – London, Hackney Empire

  • Fri 24 April – Carmarthen, Lyric Theatre

🎫 Tickets → www.distantpod.com/live


Click here for a NORD VPN deal

https://nordvpn.com/distant


CLICK HERE TO SEE CRWST's SELECTION

https://crwst.cymru/collections/shop-all


🛍️ NEW MERCH ALERT

We’ve launched a brand new merch store — mugs, hoodies, prints and more!

If you fancy supporting the pod that way, head here 👇

🛒 sdsb2025.myshopify.com



🎟️ TOUR 2026

Live shows are coming!

🎫 Tickets available now at distantpod.com/live




More episodes

View all episodes

  • 643. Conkers: Pint Size

    12:42||Ep. 643
    Welcome 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.
  • 641. George Lewis (pt 2)

    30:33||Ep. 641
    Episode 293 — Guest Episode: George Lewis (Pt 2)Distant 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.This week we’re joined by George Lewis — comedian, writer, and one of Instagram’s fastest-rising comedy voices. George’s stand-up and sketches have earned him millions of views online, sold-out live shows, and a reputation for brilliantly observed comedy about modern life, masculinity, and social awkwardness.👉 Watch George’s comedy here:https://www.georgelewiscomedian.com/🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — WE NEED YOULondon is the big push — grab your tickets now.🎟️ distantpod.com/live🎧 PART 2 — Guest ClipsComedian George Lewis continues his tour through the clips that shaped him — this one is a nostalgia-drenched football tripGeorge Lewis: Posts on local Facebook groupshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DHXuyWgMOb6/?igsh=MWFjZjM3cTdiYnoxMg==George’s Pick — Champions League Final 1999“Massively nostalgic for me — plus I’ve got a story about actually going to the final… and everything going wrong.”https://youtu.be/cmtmojTSRR8?si=N4z0MmhZ9XNJvASY
  • 640. George Lewis (pt 1)

    32:18||Ep. 640
    Episode 293 — Guest Episode: George Lewis (Pt 1)🎫 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.🎟️ distantpod.com/live🎧 PART 1 — Guest ClipsThis week we’re joined by George Lewis — comedian, writer, and one of Instagram’s fastest-rising comedy voices. George’s stand-up and sketches have earned him millions of views online, sold-out live shows, and a reputation for brilliantly observed comedy about modern life, masculinity, and social awkwardness.👉 Watch George’s comedy here:https://www.georgelewiscomedian.com/George Lewis: Stag do v Hen dohttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DOXqKglgHVZ/?igsh=MXgzcjU2MG90MnQ2eA==George’s Pick — Snooker“If you just want a short bit that sums it all up, Mark Williams at 04:35 is perfect.”https://youtu.be/L138s7bCnag
  • 639. Like: Pint Size

    06:44||Ep. 639
    Welcome 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.
  • 637. Pillock (pt 2)

    31:16||Ep. 637
    Episode 292: Pillock (Pt 2)Distant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero bring you the best (and worst) of sport, culture, and internet oddities. Expect classic clips, documentaries, books, bizarre moments, and plenty of total nonsense along the way.🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — HELP US FILL THEMLondon is the big push — we’d love to see you there.🎟️ distantpod.com/live🎧 PART 2 — Documentary & BookElis Documentary: North of the Sun https://www.netflix.com/watch/81471236?trackId=280243014&tctx=1%2C19%2Cec7949b7-500b-4713-ad25-bcdab7106b25-1601869%2CNES_CE87A35D1B149D47BFD302D9C3C44A-FCB3BC258D6CD4-CAAC7C19F8_p_1765320237105%2CNES_CE87A35D1B149D47BFD302D9C3C44A_p_1765320237105%2C%2C%2C%2C81471236%2CVideo%3A81471236%2CminiDpPlayButtonSteff Book: Beartown — Fredrik Backmanhttps://amzn.to/48xu3J3🛍️ SHOP → sdsb2025.myshopify.com🎟️ LIVE → distantpod.com/live
  • 636. Pillock (pt 1)

    01:19:41||Ep. 636
    Episode 292: Pillock (Pt 1)Distant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero bring you the best (and worst) of sport, culture, and internet oddities. Expect classic clips, documentaries, books, bizarre moments, and plenty of total nonsense along the way.🎫 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🎧 PART 1 — ClipsSteff: Brian London tamping at losing to Dick Richardsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8egll49f8QMike: Scooter Joustinghttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DSGHfQOjEjt/?igsh=MXF4NWIxNXNvbmZtdQ==Elis: You pillockhttps://x.com/sid_lambert/status/1998840100587757962?s=46&t=neS5hOG2rnBndx5FBpAv6g🛍️ SHOP & SUPPORTsdsb2025.myshopify.com🎟️ LIVE SHOWS (LONDON NEEDS YOU)
  • 635. Outdoorsy: Pint Size

    10:29||Ep. 635
    Welcome 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 226: I Am OutdoorsyCheck 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.
  • 633. Siôn Corn (pt 2): 291

    36:51||Ep. 633
    Episode 291 — Part 2Distant Pod is a weekly celebration of sport, strange clips, forgotten documentaries, great books, and the occasional baffling decision. Hosted by Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero, it’s equal parts sporting joy, cultural curiosity, and absolute nonsense.🎫 LONDON LIVE SHOWS — HELP US FILL THEMLondon is the big one — please come along!🎟️ distantpod.com/live🎧 PART 2 — Documentary & BookMike Documentary: Kenny Dalglishhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F9VWW44R/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rElis Book: The Escape — Pippa York & David Walshhttps://amzn.to/4j5kCEj
  • 632. Siôn Corn (pt 1): 291

    01:23:41||Ep. 632
    Episode 291 — Part 1Distant Pod is a weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins, and Steff Garrero bring you the best (and worst) of sport, culture, and internet oddities. Expect classic clips, documentaries, books, bizarre moments, and plenty of total nonsense along the way.🎫 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🎧 PART 1 — ClipsMike: Jess Li and guest on silkshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DSA3BHSATrh/?igsh=bGpqaHg4NGdxanVuElis: Bellamy loves Christmashttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DSFLwaYjPbY/?igsh=MXdvaGNiMWpwZnV3cQ==Steff: Steph Curryhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DRxYDohgYiR/?igsh=amZxd3cwdjZlY2Ru