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The Socially Distant Sports Bar
274: I’m Not An Owl (Pt 1)
🎙 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
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🎧 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
We’ve launched a brand new merch store — mugs, hoodies, prints and more!
If you fancy supporting the pod that way, head here 👇
More episodes
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696. Darllen a Rhedeg (pt 1)
01:07:50||Ep. 696This week on The Socially Distant Sports Bar, Elis James, Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero bring you another batch of sporting clips, chaos and commentary — from world-class brilliance to complete nonsense.🎧 PART 1Elis: Tadej Pogacar is the greatesthttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DWOPjUeieCR/?igsh=aXh4ZmhqNHNsb3pshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DWLtnkrAaEF/?igsh=MWp6NzQ4bW8xNDR5aw==Steff: Harry Styleshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DUsge_gDACm/?igsh=MWppZ2ltdGVqcXdvdA==Mike: Every Sports Dochttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DVnFBqAk2Yx/?igsh=N3RyNjVmNDE2cXIx695. Searching: Pint Size
09:34||Ep. 695Welcome 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 Episode 228: It’s Kissing Time693. Night One at The New Theatre (Pt 2)
52:24||Ep. 693Night One at The New Theatre (Pt 2)Part 2 of our LIVE Cardiff show — and the crowd (and hosts) are a few drinks deeper…https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-liveFeaturing:Steff: Hull KR crowdhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DU85KI8DsbY/?igsh=MWlqMzJ3eG9xdWFkZA==Steff: Perfect for Runninghttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/DkRc0SIdO0kElis: High Jumphttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DVrDTyAjio4/?igsh=Y3liMWRsMzEyMGYz👉 For Part 3 (Q&A), subscribe on Apple Podcasts.692. Night One at The New Theatre (Pt 1)
45:22||Ep. 692Night One at The New Theatre (Pt 1)Elis James – the king of Welsh podcasting – joins forces with TV’s Tony Mammoth, Mike Bubbins, and ARIA award-winning producer Steff Garrero for a LIVE episode of The Socially Distant Sports Bar, recorded at the New Theatre in Cardiff in front of a sold-out crowd.🚨 LAST REMAINING LIVE DATES 🚨London's Hackney Empire TONIGHT is the ONLY show left — and tickets are almost gone.https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-liveThis is Part 1 — the first half of the show, with:Mike: Golfhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DVedLLGksz8/?igsh=cDk5a25ieDg4Mm91Elis: Sir Alechttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DV7J6eOgsQf/?igsh=MWlsNTJlNnFyZWxyeQ%3D%3DMike: Karmahttps://youtube.com/shorts/bIXPZwGUgW4?si=Jk3u2KnMWNK0mYnE👉 Want the full episode (including Part 3 Q&A)?Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.691. He Has Risen: Pint Size
08:56||Ep. 691Welcome 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 Episode 211Come and see us LIVE in London on Tuesday and Wednesday https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live689. Mainland (pt 2)
27:16||Ep. 689Episode 305: MainlandStill gloriously obsessed with sport’s weirdest, funniest and most fascinating moments, Distant Pod continues to documentaries and books that make sport so compelling.🎟️ Hackney tickets - see us live next weekhttps://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live🎤 Mike tour:https://mikebubbins.com/❤️ Tops Off Vic fundraiser:https://www.justgiving.com/page/kelly-bubbins-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM&utm_campaign=020🎧 PART 2Steff’s documentary this week is The Track, a deep dive into Bosnia and the luge.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0G5647BLG/ref=atv_sr_fle_c_sr09b671_1_1_1?sr=1-1&pageTypeIdSource=ASIN&pageTypeId=B0G56Q2S17&qid=1772611735930Mike’s book this week is slightly closer to home — Mike’s Wales Youth Rugby Programme... Bubbs' Sliding Doors moment.🔒 Join Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and Part 3 every week as a bonus episode.688. Mainland (pt 1)
01:16:27||Ep. 688Episode 305: MainlandThree hundred episodes in and still finding brilliance in the strangest corners of sport, Distant Pod is the weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero bring you the best clips, books and documentaries they’ve found.🎟️ Watch us live in Hackney:https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live🎤 Mike is on tour in 2026:https://mikebubbins.com/❤️ Donate in memory of podcast legend Tops Off Vic:https://www.justgiving.com/page/kelly-bubbins-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM&utm_campaign=020🎧 PART 1Mike kicks things off with Tiger vs Boulder, a clip that perfectly captures the unpredictability (and occasional absurdity) of nature meeting sport.https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUTUF39EfBb/?igsh=MXg0NmdidHQzYWprZg=Elis brings a nostalgic gem — “And Ninian Park looks more like the San Siro!”https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ny-Za-ryGukSteff rounds out Part 1 with a pair of clips from Canadahttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DUyT1FQDtoX/?igsh=dzdrZGx3enQycmx6https://www.youtube.com/shorts/naGpZhyJP0s🔒 Subscribe to Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts for early, ad-free Parts 1 & 2 — plus Part 3 as exclusive bonus content every week.687. Veg: Pint Size
15:37||Ep. 687Welcome 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.Come and see us LIVE in London in April https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live685. The 20% (pt 2)
32:11||Ep. 685Still gloriously obsessed with the brilliance and absurdity of sport, Distant Pod continues to explore the clips, stories and ideas that make sport endlessly fascinating.🎟️ Hackney tickets:https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live🎤 Mike tour:https://mikebubbins.com/❤️ Tops Off Vic fundraiser:https://www.justgiving.com/page/kelly-bubbins-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM&utm_campaign=020🎧 PART 2Elis’s documentary pick is Jim Mills: Jacko’s Sporting Almanac, a deep dive into one of sport’s great collectors and chroniclers.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08qggc1?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobileSteff’s book this week is Good Coach, Bad Coach by Simon Harling, exploring what separates effective coaching from the rest — and what really drives performance.https://store.simonharling.blog/🔒 Join Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and Part 3 every week as a bonus episode.