264: Max Rushden (Pt 1)
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero return with another round of top-tier sporting nonsense, barely researched takes, and an absolutely brilliant special guest.
“Like a sports podcast, if the sport was optional.”
✨ This Week’s Special Guest – Max Rushden!
If you’ve enjoyed our guest episodes with Chesney Hawkes, Josh Widdicombe, or Sam Warburton, you’re in for a treat.
This week we welcome Max Rushden — broadcaster, podcaster, football obsessive, and all-round good guy.
Max is the long-running host of Guardian Football Weekly, where he teams up with our friend Barry Glendenning for football chat, laughs, and chaos.
He’s also recently launched a new podcast with comedian David O’Doherty called What Did You Do Yesterday?, where they interview fascinating guests about a completely ordinary day.
Max’s broadcasting career has spanned BBC Radio 5 Live, talkSPORT, Channel 4’s Jump Off, and iconic years hosting Sky’s Soccer AM.
Known for his wit, love of the underdog, and eye for the ridiculous, Max fits right in at the Distant Pod.
🎟️ We’re Going on Tour in 2026!
We’re hitting the road with a brand-new live show in 2026!
Tickets on general sale now – head to distantpod.com/live for all the details.
📍 Tour Dates:
Fri 20 March 2026 – Cardiff, New Theatre
Sat 21 March 2026 – Cardiff, New Theatre
Tue 7 April 2026 – London, Hackney Empire
Wed 8 April 2026 – London, Hackney Empire
Fri 24 April 2026 – Carmarthen, Lyric Theatre🎉 This Week’s Show – Don’t Miss It!
Max has brought some absolute gems to the show:
🥫 Baked Beans, Penalties – Max and Charlie Baker
🐎 Man Versus Beast
Yes, humans really raced animals on TV in 2003. No, we can’t quite believe it either.
⛸️ Steven Bradbury – Australian Speed Skating Gold, 2002
The greatest underdog gold medal of all time.
(Yes, Joe Marler wishes he picked it, but no, it wasn’t actually his choice. And yes, technically Steff picked it for a live stream, but… we’ve lost the tapes.)
📖 A Little Extra Gift from Max
Max also shared this brilliant nostalgic piece that perfectly fits the vibe of the pod:
🔗 Vonk, Zoeller, Tomba… The Joy of Sporting Names (The Guardian)
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Ad-free episodes🎉 Another week of sport, nostalgia, and nonsense — only on The Socially Distant Sports Bar!
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The Socially Distant Sports Bar
Join Elis James, Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero in Award winning Podcast "The Socially Distant Sports Bar".
It's a Comedy & Sports Podcast, but you don't have to like Sports to LOVE it.
Comedians Elis James (BBC 5Live, Sky TV's Fantasy Football League) & Mike Bubbins (BBC's Mammoth) are "Unreasonably hilarious" The Telegraph.
"Elis James, Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero created a haven where they ramble on about classic clips and random recollections." The Guardian
Known to fans as Distant Pod it has won awards at the Sports Podcast Awards & Pod Bible Awards.
Hosts of "Down The Clubhouse" on TNT Sport another Comedy & Sports show.
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