Share
The Socially Distant Sports Bar
260: Our Friends At The Ford Motor Company (Pt 1)
🎙️ The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Episode 260: Our Friends at the Ford Motor Company
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero are back with another week of sporting chaos, niche nostalgia, and tangents that take longer to arrive than a Capri Mk2 in rush hour.
This week we’ve got: Wally losing it in the dugout, rugby underdogs upsetting the giants, Elton John’s autobiography, and a heartfelt poem about Steve Bull delivered by actual rock royalty. Also – the Grand Slam Track, some subtle Rishi shade, and a celebration of Aaron Ramsey’s journey from Caerphilly to Captain.
“Like a sports podcast, if the sport was optional.”
✨ What’s on This Week’s Episode?
📌 PART 1 (Out Wednesday)
Mike:
😡 Wally Backman Meltdown – Baseball manager goes full nuclear. It’s a masterclass in swearing and dugout destruction.
Elis:
🎤 Steve Bull Poem by Tom Parry – Performed by Robert Plant (Yes, that one)
It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and has a Led Zeppelin frontman reading about a Wolves legend.
Steff:
🏉 Moana Pasifika Beat the Crusaders – One of Super Rugby’s greatest underdog moments. Spine-tingling.
📌 PART 2 (Out Friday)
Elis’ Documentary Pick:
Premier League Stories: Aaron Ramsey – From local lad to European stage, with all the drama in between.
Mike’s Book Choice:
🎹 Me by Elton John – Music, madness, tantrums, tiaras… and probably a fair bit of Watford FC.
📌 PART 3 (Patreon Exclusive)
Elis:
💼 Rishi Sunak Banter – Sometimes you just have to let a clip speak for itself.
Steff:
🎵 Grand Slam Track
Mike:
⛳ Ian Poulter & Cam Smith.
💡 Want Even More of the Pod Every Week?
🎧 Join Patreon!
Patreon is the best way to support the show and unlock exclusive weekly content:
- Bonus Episodes – 30+ mins of extra clips and chaos every week.
- Hoffi Pod & Michael Owen’s Movie Club – Our legendary spin-offs.
- Gift Memberships – Treat a mate to proper nonsense.
- Help us keep going – And keep Mike in Ford Cortina (not the new one) memorabilia.
👉 Join the £8 or £10 tiers now
🚀 Or Try Wondery+
- 🎙️ Early access every Tuesday
- ❌ Completely ad-free listening
🎉 Another week of barely researched brilliance, niche nostalgia, and sporting absurdity – only at The Socially Distant Sports Bar!
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
View all episodes
697. Darllen a Rhedeg (pt 2)
39:54||Ep. 697A weekly mix of sporting brilliance, nostalgia and complete nonsense.🎧 PART 2 (Early & Ad-Free)Mike Documentary:Final Siren: Inside the AFLhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0GHP5F7Q3/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rElis Book:Austerity Britain — David Kynastonhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Austerity-Britain-1945-1951-Tales-Jerusalem/dp/0747599238AND Alternative Wales https://www.alternativewales.com/shop696. 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-live