The Socially Distant Sports Bar

Elis James returns to Carmarthen for a special live recording of The Socially Distant Sports Bar, joined by Mike Bubbins and producer Steff Garrero.

Recorded at the Lyric Theatre in front of a sold‑out crowd packed with Elis’ family and friends, this is a proper homecoming show — warm, lively and a bit looser than usual.

In the first half, the conversation ranges from Don Revie’s famously unconventional man‑management techniques, to the realities of Sunday League football, and a brilliant story involving a teacher unexpectedly outsprinting an entire class.

PART 1
Elis:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUc0iHGDMTd/?igsh=MTFveWtrdHN0N3Y1dQ==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV3HRNrElCd/?igsh=MWhmM2I1c3NvazE1MA==

Mike: Don Revie, masseuse
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXTP4p7jAY-/?igsh=M3FyYXR5d3llZnVz

Steff: Teacher wins
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXNa3rRjTl_/?igsh=MWRmYmUxdzBsM3Q5MA%3D%3D

👉 For Part 2 and bonus content, subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

🛍️ 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 187: I Think She Could Believe Her Luck (Pt 1)

🛍️ 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Socially Distant Sports Bar is a comedy podcast hosted by Elis James (Elis James & John Robins on BBC Radio 5 Live) and Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), alongside Steff Garrero — offering a funny, curious take on sport, culture and the stories that surround them.

This week, it’s a FIFA World Cup Special — a deep dive into the moments, players and chaos that make the tournament what it is.

Yes, we’ve gone slightly SEO‑friendly this week — so you’ll see names like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Kylian Mbappé, alongside phrases like World Cup highlights and iconic football matches — but once you’re in, it’s the usual mix of niche clips, big stories and sideways conversations.

Steff chooses Foul Play - Sport, Spies and Family Secrets https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1896803199?i=1000769870330 - a podcast documentary series asking whether the CIA poisoned the England World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks during the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. It takes in Fidel Castro, JFK, The Scorpions and Peter Bonetti.

Alongside that, Elis introduces Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage — a book about professional cycling, doping and truth in sport. Although not about football, it prompts a broader conversation about integrity, pressure and how sporting achievements are judged and remembered.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Ride-Behind-Wheel-Cyclist/dp/0224080172

🛍️ 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Socially Distant Sports Bar is a comedy podcast hosted by Elis James (Elis James & John Robins on BBC Radio 5 Live) and Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), alongside producer Steff Garrero — offering a funny, curious take on sport, culture and the stories that surround them.

This week, it’s a FIFA World Cup Special — a deep dive into the moments, players and chaos that make the tournament what it is.

Yes, we’ve gone for a slightly SEO‑friendly title — which is why this description also includes names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Pelé, Zinedine Zidane, Kylian Mbappé and terms like World Cup goals, World Cup highlights, greatest World Cup moments… but once you’re in, it’s the usual mix of niche clips, big stories and sideways conversations about whether Mike could be a 13th Century entertainer...

🎧 PART 1

The lads look at the experience of getting to games at this year's tournament before diving into World Cup nostalgia.

Mike on the realities of travelling to matches:
https://share.google/d9wFWdgwmAZK50WE1
https://share.google/HtzictWOpgMjjtzgl

Elis revisits Roberto Baggio at Italia ’90:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lOnKZ1M1anU&ra=m
https://youtu.be/9hp1cl5Igig?si=6vmzaPJKViL0vmRp

Steff looks at the England squad announcement and it's cultural impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umUvkWzzxw

🛍️ 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Pint-Sized Distant Pod.

This week the broadcasting legend Bob Harris announced he is leaving BBC Radio 2.

Bob was a guest on the podcast in 2024, so we’ve dug out our favourite bit of Bob.

This is from 223: Bob Harris

Get Well Soon Bob xx

🛍️ 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.