Best Aloof Podcasts (2026)

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#502 - Cheating Shoes, A 46% Complaint Ratio and New Year Old John 1:15:02

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12m ago1:15:02

1:15:02

It may be a new year, but it’s an old John we find on today’s podcast. An attempted new year’s resolution meant the odd tear was shed, and now he’s in hell. But it’s not all bad, because he does have the cleanest crotch in show business thanks to a hand sanitiser mishap. Spirits get lifted by a visit from our in-house statistician, our very own And…

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#501 - The Best of 2025 1:03:48

1d ago1:03:48

1:03:48

The year 2025 will forever be remembered as the year of Elis and John. It will be remembered for John's wins and losses, for Elis's car antics. It will be remembered for Tim Key's John snub, for Elis cementing the Cymru Connection into the Welsh psyche. It will be remembered for James Acaster's searing takedowns, for Dave's alarm disaster, and for …

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#500 - Elis and John’s Christmas Cracker 1:21:39

2d ago1:21:39

1:21:39

Put the wrapping paper down, turn off Home Alone and stop stressing about a glorified Sunday roast… the true meaning of Christmas has finally been revealed to us, and would you believe it, it’s Elis and John! Yes, everything in this festive period has been leading up to Elis and John’s Christmas Cracker, and boy does it deliver on festive cheer. Be…

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#499 - Digital Oil, Peak Christmas and Love Shakes Piles 52:28

6d ago52:28

52:28

John's eaten two helpings of pancakes and we’re in a race against time. Can this bantercast cram in enough badinage before one of its hosts succumbs to a sugar crash? It’s a question that’s been asked many times before, and one that will no doubt be asked again, but it’s a critical question nonetheless. Elis has spent the week telling his wife Isy …

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Glory at 3 AM 39:36

9d ago39:36

39:36

Pastor Jason takes a look at what the Angels midnight Gloria in Luke 2:8-30 can teach us about joy. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! We would love to have you join us for our candlelight Christmas Eve Service on December 24th. More information about Christmas eve and other upcomin…

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#498 - Chilli Rice, Grieving Upside Down and Thames! 1:09:01

9d ago1:09:01

1:09:01

You might detect a slight difference in Elis’s demeanour this week; a bolstered confidence, an increased self-worth, a man with a purpose. Elis has tasted power, and he ain’t looking back. This is the new Elis, Elis 2.0, Elis ‘You’ll Do What I Say’ James. Because Elis has looked after 4 children on a school trip to The Monument. This feels signific…

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#497 - Badiography, Gunge Limitations and Snippy WhatsApps From The 1pm Bath 1:02:32

13d ago1:02:32

1:02:32

Today we ask the question: what would a world without Dave look like? A Daveless world. Imagine a sliding doors moment where a sterner producer was given the reins in 2014. Fast forward to late 2025 and in the studio, almost certainly, Elis would still be eating or have forgotten to come in. John would have vape hot boxed himself into a coma. Do no…

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GLORIA: New Melodies Breaking Forth 24:23

19d ago24:23

24:23

Pastoral Resident Jordan is joined by midwife in training, Indie, for a conversation about advent and our "GLORIA" series. Show Notes: 1:35 - New to Advent? Check out this deep dive we did in 2023. 7: 18 - “I always think that Christmas is a bit like an emotional magnifying glass. If you feel loved and happy, Christmas will make you feel even happi…

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A Journey of Belief | Guest Speaker: Krista Penner 42:31

18d ago42:31

42:31

Guest speaker Krista Penner leads us through the story of Zechariah and his journey of belief at the end of Luke chapter 1. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! Check out more of our upcoming events at: www.citycollective.com/around-the-table If you've never been to City Collective, o…

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#496 - Cloud 7, 40 Guffs and Elements of Edmonds 1:19:01

16d ago1:19:01

1:19:01

What does an already packed show need to make it feel complete? That’s right, it’s an 8 minute intro (or just under a 5th of an Edinburgh show...) and an 8 minute Noel Edmonds apologia. This show is nothing if not disciplined. Once we’re all intro’ed and up-to-date on the elements of Edmonds, it’s content content content. John does some winning and…

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#495 - Oil Gangs, Fiddler of the Roof and Bags In The Sex Shop 56:15

20d ago56:15

56:15

Oil rises to the top of the content liquid again, primarily because of its lower density. It’s hard to remove as we know, so there’s a slick across the episode clogging our feathers. So what are your oils? More importantly, what are Adrian’s oils? And will John insist on going through all the smoke points of all the oils? Questions that are all ans…

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#494 - Classic 6 7, The Best Brazil and Will Punk Tomorrow 1:18:10

23d ago1:18:10

1:18:10

With something being filmed just outside the studio we’re lucky Elis and John made it in for today’s episode. John was very nearly accosted to fill the leading role, and Elis was just about able to peel his eyes away from potential live blunders. Thank goodness for the boys’ dedication to #content. Away from the glitz and glamour of a film set, Eli…

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A Song Of Hope 45:07

1M ago45:07

45:07

By City Collective

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#493 - Yeovil Creatives, Scared of My Mate and What Are Your Oils? 59:56

27d ago59:56

59:56

John has had enough of apologies. He wants action and results. Combine that with John being notified about every business expense, and you get a very scared Elis and Dave. But sometimes it’s fear that instils results - or more importantly top quality content. This is how Sir Alex would want it. Meanwhile the more be-thighed of the two has had enoug…

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#492 - Transit Guffs, Ania Magliano and Mr Big Boggle 1:24:33

30d ago1:24:33

1:24:33

As John returns from yet another triumphant, nay groundbreaking eye-climbing tour of the Alps, there are a few questions on everybody’s lips: What records did he break this time? Was he able to stick to the confusing speed limits of Swiss roads? And more importantly, what would the future of the BBC look like under the tutelage of the great eye-cli…

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You've Taken My Gods 45:00

1M ago45:00

45:00

Welcome to City Collective Church. Pastor Jason takes us through Judges 17+18 looking at Micah the Hillman. He looks to answer: "What is required for a true spiritual foundation?" To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! Get the Prayer guide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14XwlU3CK…

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#491 - The PM, 10 Downing Street and A Big Chinese 1:05:10

1M ago1:05:10

1:05:10

It’s a big big week. No phoning it in this time. No no, as this is the most politically significant balanced podcast in the UK. Finally, the call of the nation has been answered. John Robins has been in the corridors of power. If you notice general efficiency being raised by 0.12% in UK PLC this week then you have one man to thank - external factor…

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Judges: Learning from the Called and Complicated 29:49

1M ago29:49

29:49

Pastor Jason and pastoral resident Jordan expand on our latest series: Judges. They look at God's theological accommodation, the purpose of Judges inclusion in the bible, and how calling can be comforting rather than crushing. Notes: 9:21 - “The book of Judges demonstrates that God’s commitment to his people often exceeds their commitment to him.” …

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#490 - Tom Rosenthal, Thrown by Doves and Adjust or Leave 1:13:23

1M ago1:13:23

1:13:23

Elis and John are joined by the UK’s ‘most confusing prospect’, aka Tom Rosenthal, to talk affairs, internet fads and conspiracy theories. We also learn what their respective approaches to golf can teach us about John (The James Milner of golf) and Tom (The Diego Maradona of golf). Elsewhere there are revelations and tears in the Cymru Connection, …

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Glory, Gideon + God 33:25

2M ago33:25

33:25

Pastoral Resident Jordan brings us the second instalment of our "Judges" series. She took a look at what Gideon in Judges 6-8 can teach us about who God is and about what we can learn from his story. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you!…

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#489 - Robins’ Nest, Introducing Doubt and The Zeitgeest 1:00:34

1M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

Are Elis and John’s stars in the ascendant? Are we on the edge of James and Robins becoming household names? Can you imagine John staring down the camera and gleefully shouting ‘Keep Dancing’? These questions and more are explored as Elis and John put forward their cases to be the next presenters of the BBC’s flagship entertainment show, Strictly C…

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#488 - The Tregib Vibe, Discounting Pabs and Greg James 1:02:13

1M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

After a frantic morning of plucking and preening, Elis and John are confronted with the beautiful sight of Greg James. Eyelashes are fluttered, beauty tips are garnered, and in a wonderful showing of modern masculinity, four men chat about their hair care routines. And before he can go, Greg’s radio credentials are put to the test in a classic Made…

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Faithful in Chaos 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

Pastor Jason begins our "Judges" series looking at Deborah in Judges 4, and how she was an example of faithfulness in the midst of chaos. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! Check out more of our upcoming events at: www.citycollective.com/around-the-table If you've never been to City…

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#487 - Ghoul (General), Ian the Liar and Having 10 Kids & Turning To Sludge 49:10

2M ago49:10

49:10

Strap in folks, it’s time for some more Wordle chat! You thought we were done with it? No sir, we, well John, has only just got started. But luckily this is X-rated Wordle chat. Sexy content which really spices up the barrel-scraping etymological discussions. In other happenings, can you explain the Richter scale to a child when at the football? Th…

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#486 - Panicdoting, CMs for the DB and The Birthday Boy’s Low 1:15:10

2M ago1:15:10

1:15:10

Today we celebrate one of Wales’s finest exports; the Cymru Connector himself, Mr ‘Where-Did-You-Go-To-School’, the one and only Elis James! Yes it’s Elis’s birthday, and he kicks off the show by doing what all 45 year olds do: rapping. After receiving a gift from John that is so thoughtful it almost derails the recording, Elis takes part in an eve…

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The Divine Godfather 42:18

2M ago42:18

42:18

Pastor Jason wraps up our journey through Matthew 12, looking at what it means to belong in the family of God. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you!By City Collective

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#485 - Promoting Crispin, 1% Cats and We’ve Got Enough Sports 1:05:59

2M ago1:05:59

1:05:59

It’s the annual spooky episode and that means it’s as spooky as any other podcast episode we ever release. In a nice chatty ep shooting the breeze Elis and John uncover the layers of a man who continues to fascinate them: Bell Tower Crispin. But is Dave flouting BBC balance regulations in order to get more great Halloween activities and free car ch…

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#484 - Juicy Forearms, DBW and Zone 3 in the Bedroom 56:36

2M ago56:36

56:36

What’s it like to share a bank account with John Robins? Austerity Robins: a notification to his device every single time you make a purchase, no matter how small. Well we find out because nothing can get past him, with, in his own words “notifications echoing through his empty life.” Extraordinary scenes today as Dave got chatted up on the way in …

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When You Are Afraid You've Gone to Far 45:12

2M ago45:12

45:12

Pastor Jason continues in our journey through Matthew 12, looking at the ways that the lies we believe keep us from seeing the truth. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! Check out more of our upcoming events at: www.citycollective.com/around-the-table If you've never been to City Col…

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#483 - Freezer Cupboards, Adrian’s Chipper and Not Feeling Like I’m On Fire 55:22

2M ago55:22

55:22

The UK’s motorways are now one tour bus quieter. Which perversely probably makes the roads noisier given John’s silent approach whilst inhabiting the Sad Van. And what celebrations happened at the post-tour party at The Palladium? Debauchery and several kilos of Producer Dave's favourite over the counter pharmaceuticals? Not quite. Rather it was a …

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Clear As Mud 32:57

2M ago32:57

32:57

Pastor Jason, Resident Jordan, and Intern Sarena share a conversation around our latest series "Clear as Mud," looking at some of our assumptions of faith. Show Notes: 8:45 - Luke 16:10 17:10 - Sermon from October 12th 26:11 - Isaiah 54:8 32:16 - Hosea 6:6 Thanks for listening! Stay up to date with all thing City Collective at citycollective.com…

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#482 - Zzamph, #VanMems and Potential Curry Gone Mad 1:06:31

2M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Confidence is the word of the day, with differing meanings for both of our heroes. Does John have enough of the stuff to go through with his edgy scripted intro? Is Elis sufficiently supplied to make his 5th Cymru Connection in a row? It’s all to play for, and play we must. The other word on everyone’s lips is farewell, as the boys bid adieu to the…

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Working on the Sabbath | Guest Speaker: Ryan Guerra 31:36

2M ago31:36

31:36

Welcome to City Collective Church. Guest preacher Ryan Guerra takes us through Matthew 12 as we continue through our "Clear as Mud" series. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! Join us for our family discipleship morning on October 25th! Check out more of our upcoming events at: www.c…

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#481 - The Mega Bond, £14.67 Savings and Dressed As A Big Kefir 56:46

2M ago56:46

56:46

We’re at a crossroads. A vape crossroads. For the dual forces of quicker marathon times and health effects are coming together to fight against the temptations of fruity mist. And John must make a choice. Elsewhere it’s a show of rare beasts: Elis takes it upon himself to get in the grill of a listener and do the sacking, and we dole out a good rad…

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#480 - Hot Trees, Exhaustion Tears and Let It Be Birds 1:03:34

2M ago1:03:34

1:03:34

What’s the best way to round off 39 hours of no sleep? Invite 7 young girls round for your daughter’s birthday sleepover, that’s how! Were there tears? Of course! Did said tears belong to Elis or the kids? Listen to find out. Elsewhere we’re answering the question, ‘is mid-October too early to be talking about Christmas?’ Not in these parts it ain’…

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Blessed are the Doubter's 43:44

3M ago43:44

43:44

Welcome to City Collective Church. Pastor Jason continues our "Clear as Mud" series going through Matthew 11. He dives into how doubt emerges and how Jesus responds. To learn more about City Collective you can visit citycollective.com. We would love to hear from you! Check out more of our upcoming events at: www.citycollective.com/around-the-table …

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#479 - Going Cockleless, Lamb In Bed and The Elis James Clerical Universe 45:12

3M ago45:12

45:12

This show has been many things, but right now this a cockles podcast. Elis’s homecoming show in Swansea was very much tied to whether he could get cockles at breakfast which sets us off on a cockle rollercoaster. But will Dave like them? There’s also a very intense Ask Us Anything, and a 1.5 times playing of the jingle. Plus, what meat would you ea…

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#478 - Zones, Curry Pyjamas and Pre-Time Speeches 1:07:38

3M ago1:07:38

1:07:38

By BBC Radio 5 Live

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Striving vs. Surrender 28:50

3M ago28:50

28:50

By City Collective

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#477 - Oasising, The Sero Clan and Trapped in Neasden 50:45

3M ago50:45

50:45

It’s 3 croaky voices in the studio today because Elis and Dave have Oasised once again, and poor old John is unwell. Luckily that means a general vibe alignment is struck, but, crucially, the standards do not slip. For Elis and Dave both have tales of struggling to get out of Wembley, and John wonders which of his awards would be best suited to bea…

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#476 - Explicit Cakes, Sewer Coffee and A Sexual Holiday to Cardigan 59:27

3M ago59:27

59:27

Having conquered the earthly plane, Elis and John are taking to the skies. Can they become the first podcast to be recorded entirely in space? Or will the anecdote well run dry too quickly? Back down on Earth there’s a debut trip to Birch Services for Johnny JR, Elis is positively giddy after the pair run round the natural sights of Llandudno, and …

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Betrayal, Bread, & Blessing 42:00

3M ago42:00

42:00

By City Collective

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#475 - Two Pint Problems, Yaris Rats and Carry On Loving Britain 1:12:14

3M ago1:12:14

1:12:14

It’s a huge episode for loving Britain, but more importantly it’s a huge episode for cagoules. This is the UK’s number 1 cagoule podcast, and a very special guest has got Elis barking like a waterproof dog in heat. If you’re anti-outer layers then this is not the place to be. It’s slightly lighter ground on the anecdote front as John has just writt…

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#474 - The Shusher, Donning Donnington and Content: The Movie 58:00

3M ago58:00

58:00

In a life full of achievements John may have finally topped the lot. In his 5 year battle with the word game that most people stopped playing a few years ago, John has finally come out victorious. Yes, he’s Wordled in one. It’s a big day. But the main question is, did it make him happy? There’s another chapter of Elis and John’s Road To Nowhere, in…

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A Tale of Two Tables 38:42

3M ago38:42

38:42

Pastor Jason shares the third message of our series "Creating Space." He shared on the story of the woman with the alabaster jar and what Jesus was trying to teach Simon at the table in Luke 7.By City Collective

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#473 - James Acaster, The Sad Van and Anne Tuna 56:40

3M ago56:40

56:40

473 episodes in and there is still room to excavate the vast intricacies that make up the Pompeii dig of John Robins’ mind. Grab your JCB because there’s a dump truck’s worth to uncover off the back of the latest adventures from the Sad Van. And it all boils down to one thing, as the hotels John’s willing to stay in simply say so much about the man…

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A conversation on Creating Space 23:42

4M ago23:42

23:42

Pastor Jason and pastoral intern Jordan engage in a conversation about "creating space" and what it means as part of City Collectives mission statement. Notes: 9:23 - Luke 15:12-14 15:10 - Walter Brueggemann "Hospitality is the practice of making room for the stranger. It's the practice whereby God's own generosity and welcome are enacted in our mi…

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#472 - 47 Kisses, #NoPowerUps and The More Money than Sense Boys 1:01:58

4M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Move over Oxford Union, debating has a new home! As Elis and John towers has turned into a hotbed of discourse and deliberation. The big topics are given the respect they deserve and the order of service for today is as follows: What’s the saddest song ever written? Hotels: budget or bespoke? And finally, are baths rubbish? Aside from heated argume…

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The Good Portion 38:12

4M ago38:12

38:12

By City Collective

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#471 - John’s Critical Path, Elis’s 0.0% Curry and Dave’s Not So Silent Alarm 1:05:18

4M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

What starts off as a huge day for John (book deadline day) turns into a massive (massive it is) day for poor old Dave. As the saying goes: ‘The best laid plans of podcast producers often go awry’, and Dave’s idea for the team to record remotely gets derailed quite spectacularly by a faulty alarm system. Brace yourselves for the most stressed you wi…