Some podcasts make you laugh out loud, some make you feel things deeply, and some give you plenty to think about; it’s rare for a podcast to manage all three.
But a quiet favourite of mine for a while has managed that, and I saw a live recording of it at the world’s biggest podcast festival (apparently), Crossed Wires, on 4 July.
The Elis James and John Robins podcast is, I suspect, often discovered by word of mouth – if only because it has, to be honest, a pretty uninspiring name (unless you are already a particular fan of either of the hosts).
Both are comedians, and they are roughly the opposite of each other. Welsh delight Elis is joyful and silly (his episode of the Off Menu podcast remains a firm favourite of mine), while more serious John is prone to darker moods.
Elis and John balance each other out in such a generous way, but what stands out more is how much they, and producer Dave, clearly adore each other. For straight men, examples of other men openly loving and supporting each other may be in short supply in this world of toxic stereotypes and abusive role models.
So while the Elis James and John Robins podcast is mostly one I recommend because it is hilarious, entertaining and thought provoking, the fact that it all appears from a central bed of really healthy masculinity is absolutely a selling point in my view.
Elis has been having a bit of a moment recently, being profiled in the New York Times, but despite his recent burst of new fans, he has been a firm favourite in the UK for a long time, albeit perhaps among a more niche fanbase. But more widespread recognition for this frankly adorable man is long overdue, and I love how much he seems to be enjoying (and simultaneously baffled by) his international recognition.
One of the better known segments on the Elis James and John Robins podcast is called Cymru Connection, in which Elis is given 60 seconds on the phone with a Welsh caller to find a connection they have in common.
Impossible, you might think. It’s not a huge country but his chance of success must be near-zero, right?
In fact, he has remarkable success, and the encouragement his co-host and producer give him – as well as all their listeners – is so endearing.
So when I was invited to see Elis, Dave and John record an episode in the magnificent Sheffield City Hall as part of the Crossed Wires Festival, I’m confident it’s the only Three White Men Talk About Stuff podcast I would ever consider saying yes to. There are so many Three White Men Talk About Stuff podcasts and most of them only lead to terrible places.
Not this one. What a joy.
I’m always intrigued by what the demographics of an audience will be at any comedy event, for some reason. In this case, it was people roughly my age and older, many clearly long-term fans of this podcast. They knew all the in-jokes – far more than I did, in many cases – and joined in with encouragement and laughs. And there were many laughs.
And I was so pleased to see with my own eyes that these three men, who seem to so clearly root for each other on the show, have the same relationship in person that they do in our ears. The vibe was perfect, the audience was cheering them on, and despite a crushing Cymru Connection defeat, the dynamics that make the podcast so brilliantly listenable were on full display.
This is a long-running podcast that has truly earned its success. It’s one of those that people have either never heard of or that people adore. I’ve never yet seen any James and Robins haters (though this is the internet, so I am of course now bracing for them to show up). It is gentle, but not in a way that dilutes the comedy or makes any of the sincerity sickly sweet.
Instead, you get your laughs, your insights about mental health, and your silliness all gathered in one hour of your podcast feed, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the Elis James and John Robins podcast is regularly a source of joy in my life. Go listen. Seriously.
Images: Elis James and John Robins podcast, Philippa Willitts