Share

The Socially Distant Sports Bar
The Patreon Tapes 5: Splinter
This week’s episode is only available on Patreon.
Our contract with Wondery ended abruptly, which means for now, the full pod lives exclusively on Patreon while we figure out what’s next.
👉 Join us here: patreon.com/distantpod
đź’¸ 25% off your first subscription with the code ACD83
Or, if you don’t want to subscribe, you can buy individual episodes — including this one — from our Patreon shop.
🛍️ patreon.com/distantpod/shop
THIS WEEKIt’s the final instalment of The Patreon Tapes — our special run of Patreon-only episodes that will never appear on the free feed.
🎙️ Featuring:
- Mike’s heartwarming Cardiff Rugby sensory pack
- Elis’ rat on the pitch chaos
- Steff’s World Conker Championships deep dive
- Doc: Confessions of a Steroid Gang
- Book: Escape by John Smith
- Plus plenty more from the world of sport, friendship and nonsense
You’ll start to hear some ads returning to free feed episodes this week — that’s part of how we’re working to bring the main podcast back properly. Thanks for sticking with us while we get things sorted ❤️
💬 THANK YOUIf you’ve supported us through The Patreon Tapes — by subscribing, buying episodes individually, or picking up some merch — you’ve genuinely kept the show alive.
🎟️ Tour 2026 – tickets at distantpod.com/live
🛍️ Support us with merch – https://sdsb2025.myshopify.com
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

689. 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
685. 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.
684. The 20% (pt 1)
01:18:10||Ep. 684Three hundred episodes in and still digging up gold from sport’s strangest corners, 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 — from elite performance to absolute chaos.🎟️ 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 1Elis brings a brilliant reality check with real people attempting marathon pace, a reminder of just how extreme elite endurance really is.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SRYtn0j5ccASteff shares a deceptively simple but strangely gripping clip simply titled “Stairs” — one of those bits of internet sport-adjacent content that becomes oddly compelling.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bHT_jZvQDsMike rounds things off with Rhys Carré, showcasing the power and personality of the Welsh rugby star.https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVj19MfDMV5/?igsh=NzUzb2JjY2lqZWp3🔒 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.
683. Philosopher: Pint Size
15:09||Ep. 683Welcome 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 193: His Guts Split Open And It Was The King Of SpadesCome and see us LIVE in London in April https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live
681. Sondico Mills & Boons (Pt 2)
35:56||Ep. 681🔒 Subscribe to Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts for early, ad-free Parts 1 and 2 — plus Part 3 every week as exclusive bonus content.Over 300 episodes deep and still gloriously sidetracked, Distant Pod is where Mike, Elis and Steff explore the brilliance, nostalgia and absurdity of sport through the clips, documentaries and books that caught their attention this week.🎟️ LIVE SHOW UPDATECardiff and Carmarthen are now completely sold out — thank you so much to everyone who’s coming along.The only remaining shows on this run are our two nights at Hackney Empire in London on April 7th and 8th, and there are only a handful of seats left.🎫 Tickets:https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live🎧 PART 2Steff Documentary:The Toughest Tug of War Team in the Worldhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxo3JPdWHXoMike Book (chosen by Elis James):More Than a Shirt — Joey D’Ursohttps://amzn.to/3P81qec
680. Sondico Mills & Boons (Pt 1)
01:03:50||Ep. 680🔒 Subscribe to Distant Pod Bonus Club on Apple Podcasts for early, ad-free Parts 1 and 2 — plus Part 3 every week as exclusive bonus content.Over 300 episodes in and still discovering sporting brilliance in the strangest corners of the internet, Distant Pod is the weekly podcast where Elis James, Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero bring you the best clips, documentaries and books they’ve found that week. From legendary sporting nostalgia to total nonsense, it’s a fast-moving tour through the world of sport.🎟️ LIVE SHOW UPDATEOur live shows in Cardiff (March 20 & 21) and Carmarthen (April 24) are now completely sold out — thank you so much if you’ve already grabbed tickets.That means the only shows with seats left on this run are our two nights at Hackney Empire in London on April 7th and 8th.And even those are very close to selling out, with only a handful of seats left in the stalls.🎫 Grab tickets here:https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live🎧 PART 1Mike: Newport RFChttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DUA3QPkCINR/?igsh=MzdpMTY5endzMzRnElis: Peter Beardsleyhttps://x.com/sid_lambert/status/2018588358193062387Steff: Is that you Maureen?https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSzyZL3DBEl/
679. Big Kick Energy: Pint Size
08:11||Ep. 679Welcome 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 202: Suzi Ruffell & Maisie Adam from “Big Kick Energy”Come and see us LIVE in London in April https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/the-socially-distant-sports-bar-live