Best The Monster Kid Podcast Community Podcasts (2025)

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

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18h 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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#473 - James Acaster, The Sad Van and Anne Tuna 56:40

5d 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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#472 - 47 Kisses, #NoPowerUps and The More Money than Sense Boys 1:01:58

8d 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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#471 - John’s Critical Path, Elis’s 0.0% Curry and Dave’s Not So Silent Alarm 1:05:18

12d 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…

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#470 - Old Man Bum, A Dream A Dream of Beef and Lust: 12 Bodies That Changed My Life 1:16:28

15d ago1:16:28

1:16:28

The boys have been busy bees recently and the show’s in danger of turning into a Michael Palin travelogue. Elis has returned from France and regales us with stories of visits to ex-military factories, intense chats with German families and Isy’s attempts at speaking French. Then it’s time for the first instalment of Elis and John’s Road to Nowhere,…

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#469 - The New Beans, In John’s Time and Eating Margaret Mountford’s Hair 48:53

19d ago48:53

48:53

The boys are fresh from driving around the country for charity with Ian Botham, which of course means Elis is exhausted and tour newbie Dave is absolutely fine. And there’s more bad news for Mr James as the Elis vote is being split in the Listeners’ Choice vote at the British Podcast Awards. He’s going to get pilloried by one co-host or maybe both.…

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#468 - Noble John, Sugar Me Twice and Good Old Gent 54:50

22d ago54:50

54:50

The ripples of last week’s Elis James mega-rant are still being felt right across the BBC, and despite vowing to ignore the call to pen John’s obituary, Elis has rowed back and done just that. Brace yourself for some emotional heft and candid commentary on John’s propensity for darts at university. But John’s made of sterner stuff these days and re…

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#467 - Chiles Miltree, Toddler Watson and King of the Nerds 59:36

26d ago59:36

59:36

There’s a surprise in the offing for John. Not that that’s a surprise to him. Nothing gets past old Sherlock Robins. Especially Producer Dave positioning a phone on a table at a very slight angle. But said surprise leads to some incredible finds about Johnny JR which leave Elis and Dave’s jaws on the floor. This was not what had been intended. Else…

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#466 - The UK’s Dumb Plums, The McFlurry Route and The Menutality Monster 1:11:08

29d ago1:11:08

1:11:08

Today’s episode is filled with the big questions of our age. These are the things that government top brass are pouring over day in, day out: Is Martin Lewis up there with Galileo and Mozart? Can you put goodwill on your shelf? And most divisively, is wee ever fine in a paddling pool? It’s a show that asks questions rather than answers them, and yo…

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#465 - Mr Headinhands, Kirsty’s USP and The Stomach Microbiome of My Instagram 50:24

1M ago50:24

50:24

Elis made a bad decision the other day. And if you had a million guesses as to what that decision was then you won’t even get close, even when given the clue "Welsh culture". He's insistent it isn’t the outcome he wanted but John and Dave aren’t sure they believe him. Quite frankly it’s one of the most baffling conversations ever had on this show. …

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#464 - Aloof Disinterest, Raised By Rats and A Sixth Form State of Mind 1:02:19

1M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Memory lane is today's destination of choice, as John dons his rose-tinted glasses to reminisce about the time 'an arrangement was made' for him to return to his secondary school to assist in its production of Guys and Dolls. Was he officially invited back? Did John simply turn up because he had nothing else on? We're still not entirely sure, but t…

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#463 - The Trifecta of Value, Celya AB and A Bin Bag of Marmite 1:02:17

1M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

There’s huge news in the rural Bucks area as the Trifecta of Value begins to take shape - pending planning application rulings. It’s one of many wins for John, but the spectre of the biggest loss in many a year hangs over him. But he is unwilling to reveal it in his losses column. Someone should have cottoned on to this sly behaviour by now. Away f…

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#462 - Burger, Sell Me Your Suitcase and Topless Dave In Front of An Olive 1:12:29

1M ago1:12:29

1:12:29

John’s been chained to a typewriter diarising his life experiences, and he's so confident about his memoir that he’s written “this is a good book” in Bic on its cover. Something all the great authors do, and he clearly has confidence in his witty emotionally hefty prose. But anyway, in this chapter of the Elis James and John Robins show we’re whisk…

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#461 - Elis, Man City’s Back Four and Will The Drummer From Coldplay 1:01:42

2M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

We start in the anecdote Wild West. Specifically it was wild [north] west London for Elis as he’s been to Oasis in credibility damaging seats. The best seats in the house, surrounded by some of the most famous people in the country. He *could* have asked for General Admission. But he didn’t and that suggestion is shoved up the tunnel of anguish. Ci…

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#460 - John’s 50 Kids, Nish Kumar and The Cobbles Sing Their Plaintive Lament 1:01:03

2M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

It’s a lament time of year. It’s an Edinburgh time of year. A time when John yearns for the crippling comedic examination which is the Edinburgh Festival. For he cannot experience that emotional rollercoaster this year. He can’t sit on a stage and call himself a C*** after someone shouts “have you had a ploughman’s” during the most emotionally heft…

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#459 - Josie Long , Verge Christ and Mammary Glands In The Runner Beans 53:47

2M ago53:47

53:47

Elis has secured a last minute Oasis ticket, but the big question is… what *does* he wear??? Will Liam stop during Champagne Supernova and pick him out specifically? Meanwhile, John has had two prawn vindaloos and there’s been ‘interest’ down below. This is all amidst the great wildflower debate which continues apace, and Elis is on the end of a lo…

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#458 - Simon Davies’ Uncle, #CigsNotPigs and The Protective Wall of Human Community 59:53

2M ago59:53

59:53

It’s a big show for Elis’s confidence. After failing to clinch the first quint-connection last week, he was already on the ropes. But throw in a Made Up Game question harking back to school maths, and another tense outing of the Cymru Connection, and he may (does) turn into a man on the edge. And for said Made Up Game we have a very special guest i…

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#457 - Becoming Compost, Squire Dave and #SenseTheSoil 1:03:20

2M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

Elis and John vibes in the areoh! Producer Dave has been to see Oasis and talks the boys through the various ‘ingredients’ that made it a night to remember. He also recounts a living nightmare he’s just experienced including missing equipment, an excitable crowd in Oxford, and a cat that can’t stop weeing. Elsewhere there’s all the accoutrements th…

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#456 - Mad Foxes, Papa Podium and 40 Rhodris 57:52

2M ago57:52

57:52

Elis is on the precipice of glory. Just two things stand between him and immortality. First up is the chance to be crowned the fastest dad in all of key stage 1 at his son’s sports day. We know he plays football a lot and we know he cycles to Brighton sometimes, but can Elis do it on an overcast Thursday in South London? Secondly, our very own son …

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#455 - Badly Well, Warm Panic and A Defence of Yodelling 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

It's a very smell heavy show today but the aromas aren't good as listeners inform Elis and John of a quite literal VW barrel of eggs and a queasy French exchange tale. Meanwhile Maisie Adam is very very hungover after England’s dramatic quarter final win, and Dave gets sacked twice in the first 10 minutes after his lads trip to Mallorca. Of course …

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#454 - Swiss Arrogance, All Cars are the Same and One of the UK’s SUVs 52:05

2M ago52:05

52:05

Elis needs a new car. But how can John advise him on his next whip when shackled by the understandable constraints of undue product prominence? Well John has been on a special course, the Balance BBc (Hons) at a local uni, in order to undertake this difficult task and be What Car?* for the impartial content generation. Can he navigate such tricky w…

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#453 - Decking or Necking, Dad of the Year and Too Handsome to Focus 50:44

2M ago50:44

50:44

Elis is back from Euros Trip No. 1 and he’s Dad of the Year. A far more prestigious award than the 2008 accolade of the same name won by Peter Andre and sponsored by “Daddies Sauce”. Yes, his daughter not only experienced an unforgettable time watching the Welsh women, but she also saw her two favourite artists in eight days. Could Elis now become …

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#452 - Here Lies The Volkswagen Barrel of Eggs 58:09

3M ago58:09

58:09

After many moons of service the mobile terrarium / paint dump / dodgem, the VW Barrel of Eggs, is no more. And today’s show is in tribute to that trusty steed. Currently lying in state, when it makes its final journey on the back of a low loader to the scrapheap make sure to line the streets of South London and doff your cap. Yes this is the only p…

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#451 - OG Guffer, Rodders (A) and The Man Is Your Husband 1:18:52

3M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

John’s annoyed because Elis and Dave have used all their material before the mics came on. Chin wagging like old ladies at the salon. But as is often the case we are saved by delving into the depths of insignificance. Some people think that the mines of inconsequentiality had run dry on this show. That the pick axes couldn’t uncover anything more m…

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#450 - Backing Framed Content, Backing the Compliance Form and Backing the Riff 1:12:16

3M ago1:12:16

1:12:16

The time has come to pick a side: are you pro-riff or anti-riff? Do you think that caution kills the riff? Would you wilfully step into the riff matrix and do your damnedest to see it through to the bitter end? In short, do you back the riff? This is what Producer Dave must decide. But he’s not the only one facing tough questions this week. Elis is…

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#449 - Rodmas Day, Magnificent Lions and Every. Journey. Counts. 1:05:55

3M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

It’s a strange old time for Elis James. On the one hand he’s being called a thirst trap on the carra (the Instagram carousel, for those not in the know); people can’t seem to get enough of his floppy hair, his jawline, and his interesting t-shirts. On the other hand, he’s getting hammered for slagging off Belgium, and having some harsh words direct…

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#447 - Davie vs Horse, Bin Gear and The Gulag of Truth 56:02

3M ago56:02

56:02

There’s some good upstanding British gear flying around today. Bin chat. Which bins? What goes in what? What blooming colours have you got? Show us your bins on [email protected] or WhatsApp on 07974 293 022. In less disposable content, there’s a right to reply from one of Colin’s holiday companions and he may have to be sent to prison for tell…

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#446 - Bowie Crocs, Knee Length Utility Socks and Courteeners of Comedy 1:17:05

3M ago1:17:05

1:17:05

Elis James has become the story, and not for the right reasons. No matter how much he talks about ‘Zoe on the train’, there’s no doubt that our Cymru Connecting prodigy has lost his way. He’s in the Bobby Gould years. Today we attempt to correct his woeful form with some expert help. Colin makes a welcome return to proceedings as John shares more i…

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#445 - Colin, Carras and A Big Frozen Bag of Mince 57:42

3M ago57:42

57:42

You can tell John’s been on holiday because he starts the show by giving a promotion to someone who doesn’t even work on the show. The mood is high. And he’s come back a new man. He’s Colin now. An even more chill and organised version of Johnny JR. He’s the opposite of pura vida - i.e. not the same as his travel companions, who included someone wh…

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#444 - Tim Key, He Needs A Cup Run and Bit Early For A Pint So I Have An Easter Egg 1:04:26

4M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

William Wordsworth, Carol Ann Duffy… Tim Key. Just a few of the great poets this fair nation has produced. But there are two more names to add to the pantheon, two new kids on the block: Elis James and John Robins. Our heroes have picked up their pens (opened their laptops), unfurled their manuscripts (opened Word), and trawled their creative depth…

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#443 - Mockproof Robins, Medium Cod +1 and Good Black Eps 57:12

4M ago57:12

57:12

After a week when John offered apology texts to Elis, Dave and the production team for being in a bad mood, he’s back to his Billy best. There’s a bright ray of sunshine in his heart and nethers which clears the studio air. No black eps today and Elis can leave the studio without an impending sense of worry. But there are challenges afoot for our h…

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#442 - Tara Me Sue, More Pear Puddings and Dark Days in Denbigh 50:27

4M ago50:27

50:27

Wagon wheels, mushy pea hummus and baked bean daal. Move over Rick Stein, there’s new gastronomic broadcasters in town. Yes, food is the order of the day as the delectable George Egg rides into the studio to serve up a delicious Made Up Game for Elis and John. And the theme doesn’t stop there, for before you can say ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ there's a …

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#441 - Full Fibre Content, Ladies Lashathon and Taking a Mini Retirement 44:43

4M ago44:43

44:43

It’s the TFI Late Review on the show as a night-time recording has Elis at his energetic peak. He's ready to throw a chair at a wall and also discuss the latest avant-garde Spanish melodrama. It’s a different vibe altogether, the boys don’t even know what day it is. But in such a circular audio environment, what even are days? We speak to the chatt…

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#440 - Beefcake Alert, The Lust King and Producer Dave’s Handsome Surprise 1:03:09

4M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

Every week on this show you think that the last vestige of John’s weird past is revealed. You think there cannot be any more layers peeled back. And then bam(!), another one, as yet another aspect of intense Robins c.1994-2004 hits you smack in the face. This is one such episode. But don’t worry it’s not all too harrowing, for there’s a huge and ex…

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#439 - Inverting The Pilaumid, Winning 18 Apples and The Mayor of Thornbury 54:56

4M ago54:56

54:56

There’ve been contrasting weeks for our two heroes. It’s a non-stop all anecdote premiere for Elis. For he has as follows… met Hugh Grant, attended Ken Clarke’s curry house, been to film screenings and had his greatest ever stag - apart from the one organised by John he stresses. *And* Mo Salah thinks he matters. John meanwhile has been asleep for …

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#438 - The Human Clock, Threads Be Cloves and Thanks For Jumping on That Call 1:10:46

4M ago1:10:46

1:10:46

It’s official. Elis and John are the most listened to on demand radio programme amongst the Under 35s on BBC Sounds. This is huge. Finally the boys are appealing to a demographic that extends upwards to those could well be married with two children. Bringing 5 Live’s average age down from 57 to 55 was the aim. But they’ve overshot so far that it’s …

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#437 - The Great Geordification, Cloud Storage Afterlife and Narrative! Narrative! Narrative! 53:40

4M ago53:40

53:40

He’s only gone and done it again. The serial winner himself, John Robins, the narrative bender, has won yet again. Despite not even really liking football, John just can’t help being John, and he's done something on the football pitch worthy of an end-of-tournament emotional BBC sports montage that makes Elis cry. If anything feels significant, thi…

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#436 - I Attract The Mums, 200,000 Items and John Robins Ltd. 1:11:14

4M ago1:11:14

1:11:14

This show isn’t often one for big announcements. But today we park the trivialities. There’s not a mention of word games or credit scores in sight. For another obsession is about to take over the life of Johnny JR. It’s big. And it could complete his transformation from movement cynic to the Haile Gebrselassie of rural Bucks*. And Producer Dave is …

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#435 - Orcs & All, Cannellini Alley and ‘Wisdom, Bit of Sadness, Go Home’ 1:10:36

5M ago1:10:36

1:10:36

Young John Robins goes under the microscope as we learn some revealing things about his burgeoning adulthood; whilst other holidaymakers were making art around turtles and sunsets, what was a youthful Johnny JR focusing his attention on? When students were showing off their favourite books in their dorm rooms, what tomes was Robins proudly showcasi…

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#434 - TwistMcGist, Spikey Mike and Oh You’re A Catholic 1:09:31

5M ago1:09:31

1:09:31

It’s been a fallow period for Mr Elis James. The one time leading light of Cymru Connecting has faltered. Boy wonder no more. With 5 failures in his past 6 outings, everyone is asking "has his star fallen?" Will he become like Adel Taraabt, a mere “the streets won’t forget” connector of unfulfilled promise? Today he tries to arrest the descent and …

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#433 - Pasta Disaster, Child Of The FTSE and The BACS Is Safe 1:07:39

5M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Who built John? We find out that it takes more than just a village/borough/nation to raise such a superhunk. He has an entire team behind him, like all of the top athletes of his generation. And not just any top athlete superhunk, but one on the verge of yet another birthday. With this year's birthday, Elis has pushed the present boat out even furt…

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#432 - Roast Goose, Intro Sequels and The Volkswagen Barrel of Paint 1:07:02

5M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

“This question will have enormous ramifications for my mental health for the rest of my life.” It’s that sort of episode. Today is MASSIVE for Robins, as Producer Dave surprises him with a humdinger of a special guest. It's John's time to enjoy the fruits of 14 months worth of Made Up Games labour. But it’s not all about fruit - which, yes, could b…

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#431 - Corner Energy, Non-Playable John and Tubing The Room 1:00:59

5M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

John and Producer Dave are back from a high after John turned 2,000 revellers up to eleven with his problematic walk in music. Elis has questions but Robins simply adds so much value to live events. And he’s been adding his own energy to another live event - that of the singles night variety. And he sure did set the vibe by diving straight in with …

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#430 - Grief Granola, Psephologist Wildfowl and How is Scratching Free? 1:22:10

5M ago1:22:10

1:22:10

You’ve probably heard it whispered on the train on your way into work. You’ve likely heard mutterings about it on the concourse at the football. And you’ve almost certainly heard your grandma claim it at Sunday dinner. Well, this episode confirms the rumours; no one else is doing this. Especially if by ‘this’ you mean an extensive chat about spare …

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#429 - Czecholate, 11 Years of Silence, and No One Else is Doing This 58:22

5M ago58:22

58:22

We join our heroes during a telling off session, because someone is being a naughty boy. Has John eaten too much chocolate on the way in and he’s about to experience the mother of all choco crashes? Has Elis insisted that we scrap the proposed running order to talk instead about every conceivable permutation of the Nations League? Or could Producer…

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#428 - Hunting Aled, Gen Sea and Harriet Kemsley 1:13:22

5M ago1:13:22

1:13:22

Acceptance is the word on everybody’s lips today, but it has different meanings for Elis and John. For John it’s a meaningful form of accepting things as they are in life. For Elis it’s about accepting that his wife Isy will never be interested in the Nations League. Both are valid, I'm sure you'll agree. Also getting in on the acceptance game is t…

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#427 - OALPs, Scared To Stand and Career Progression In Feudal Britain 49:20

6M ago49:20

49:20

Elis and Producer Dave are fresh from taking breaths of the night DJ’ing. The only two people on planet Earth to become hipper as they age. But Mixmag has it that Elis spent most of it seated. Because that’s what the top DJs do. Harris, Tong, Guetta, all from a seated position whilst sucking on Werther’s Originals. Yes Elis got a little bit tired b…

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#426 - Writing Sid, UNESCO Accents and Condemned to a Life of Seeing Clearly 1:00:29

6M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

John’s managed to pick himself up after last Friday’s show. Well to a certain degree at least - thank the lord. But the collective vibe scale is nudged handsomely towards ‘winning’ as Elis has had one of his all time great days. Cycling? Check. Wales? Check. All time hero who laughs at every single one of his jokes? Check. So it’s all the fun of th…

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#425 - The Credit Score Special 59:57

6M ago59:57

59:57

We’ve hit a low ebb. The show which won Best Entertainment Podcast at the British Podcast Awards just a few years ago is dredging the bottom of the barrel. That new low being production staff researching their credit scores ‘live’ on the show. Throw in a chat with an expert on credit ratings and it’s a wall to wall credit ball. And at such an ebb o…

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#424 - Zanecdotes, Fab Pensions and Mallett’s Depths 1:02:33

6M ago1:02:33

1:02:33

Huge news in Elis and John towers today, for Producer Dave bumped into the man, the myth, the Solero supper himself, Mr Tim Davie. Could he use this opportunity to pitch a brand new true crime podcast about dupes from Stockport who get sold fake shoes? Well that commission’s ripe for the taking if there’s a Magnum that goes the other way. Alongside…