E26: Vindaloo is Coming Home - The Story of England's Immortal Football Anthem

E26: Vindaloo is Coming Home - The Story of England's Immortal Football Anthem

Welcome to Long Distance, Bit Weird, a podcast from international comedy couple Sooz Kempner [https://www.instagram.com/soozkempner/] and Michael Balazo [https://www.instagram.com/mbalazo/]. One of them lives in the UK, the other in Canada. OK. This week Sooz tells Michael the unbelievable story of England's immortal football anthem Three Lions. How did it happen? Why is it so suffused with melancholy? Will the guys ever record a new version? And what is Vindaloo? Listen to find out! But first: Michael reports on Toronto's World Cup fever; Sooz triumphs on the stage; PLUS: a new edition of the hit segment "Actual Customer Letters to Wetherspoon News," in which we read genuine letters written to a damn pub. *** If you like what you hear, you can support Long Distance, Bit Weird on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongDistanceBitWeird]. Subscribers will get early access to episodes, bonus content and special surprises. In fact, you can watch several Travelodge episodes, along with the classic British animated films Watership Down and the bonkers Canadian documentary Project Grizzly in FULL right now with witty/sweary commentary from Sooz and Michael.  *** ANNOUNCEMENT On June 16, Michael Balazo is releasing his much-anticipated 3rd standup comedy album "Pizza Pals". Recorded in November of 2025, Pizza Pals is available for pre-order on Bandcamp now! [https://michaelbalazo.bandcamp.com/album/pizza-pals]   And be sure to check out the video for Michael's smash hit Canadian World Cup 2026 anthem "Canada is Balls." [https://youtu.be/SG6PsuYXkDI?si=c-dEYzP4KsAm972s]   SHOWS! See Sooz in Grayson the Musical - July 16-19 - Soho Theatre Walthamstow - TICKETS [https://sohotheatre.com/events/grayson-the-musical/] June 14th - Sooz at Sunday Cabaret @ Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London TICKETS [https://www.vauxhalltavern.com/whats-on/] June 28th - Sooz Kempner - IMPOSTER WIP @ Chippenham Comedy Fest TICKETS [https://www.chippenhamcomedy.co.uk/festival-2026] July 2nd - Sooz at Hamlet Comedy Club @ Dulwich FC, London TICKETS [https://hamletcomedy.co.uk/#NEXTGIG]

"Canada is Balls" - Canada's World Cup 2026 song by Michael Balazo

Hello LDBW listeners! With the start of the 2026 World Cup just hours away, we decided to adorn your podcast feed with Michael Balazo's new song "Canada is Balls." This song is designed to unite Canada as the country prepares to win the World Cup. There's even a slick music video for "Canada is Balls," with editing and graphics by Sooz Kempner. CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT! [https://youtu.be/SG6PsuYXkDI?si=R_OJX9Qzi_x_M-j4] Good luck, everybody!

E25: A Peek Behind the Pub Quiz Curtain with Terrance Balazo

Welcome to Long Distance, Bit Weird, a podcast from international comedy couple Sooz Kempner [https://www.instagram.com/soozkempner/] and Michael Balazo [https://www.instagram.com/mbalazo/]. One of them lives in the UK, the other in Canada. Please give generously. This week Sooz and Michael welcome veteran quizmaster/brother Terrance Balazo to the show to talk about all things pub quiz. When did they start? Has technology made cheating inevitable? And why do pub quizzes make certain nerds lose their minds and become violent? Listen to find out! For more on Terrance's pub quizzes in Toronto and beyond, visit Another Round Trivia [https://www.anotherroundtrivia.com]. But first: Sooz gives her thoughts on why World Cup 2026 will be a massive shitshow; PLUS: a new dog-themed edition of the hit segment "Actual Customer Letters to Wetherspoon News," in which we read genuine letters written to a damn pub. *** If you like what you hear, you can support Long Distance, Bit Weird on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongDistanceBitWeird]. Subscribers will get early access to episodes, bonus content and special surprises. In fact, you can watch several Travelodge episodes, along with the classic British animated films Watership Down and the bonkers Canadian documentary Project Grizzly in FULL right now with witty/sweary commentary from Sooz and Michael.  *** ANNOUNCEMENT On June 16, Michael Balazo is releasing his much-anticipated 3rd standup comedy album "Pizza Pals". Recorded in November of 2025, Pizza Pals is available for pre-order on Bandcamp now! [https://michaelbalazo.bandcamp.com/album/pizza-pals] SHOWS! Grayson the Musical - July 16-19 - Soho Theatre Walthamstow - TICKETS [https://sohotheatre.com/events/grayson-the-musical/] June 5th - Sooz at Comedy Network @ Corn Exchange, Newbury TICKETS [https://cornexchangenew.com/events/comedy-network-summer-2026] June 6th SOOZ KEMPNER: IMPOSTER WIP @ Northampton TICKETS [https://tickets.thecomedycrate.com/events/thecomedycrate] June 7th - Sooz at Agony Aunts @ Aces & Eights, London TICKETS [https://www.acesandeightssaloonbar.com/events/edfringe-double-preview-aaagony-aunts-all-the-animals-ranked-by-comedians/] June 10th - Sooz at Keep it Clean! w/Nish Kumar @ The Comedy Store TICKETS [https://london.thecomedystore.co.uk/event/keep-it-clean-2026]

*PREVIEW* Bonus Ep.07 - The Great Stink!

In this week's bonus episode, Sooz tells Michael all about The Great Stink of 1858, when the River Thames was so full of sewage and the sun was so hot that London got too stinky and parliament couldn't operate. Bit on the nose, lads! Literally. This is just a preview of course. To hear the full episode and gain access to all of our exclusive content please head to our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/longdistancebitweird]. Thanks!

E24: The October Crisis - Bombs, Tanks and Chaos on the Streets of Montreal

Welcome to Long Distance, Bit Weird, a podcast from international comedy couple Sooz Kempner [https://www.instagram.com/soozkempner/] and Michael Balazo [https://www.instagram.com/mbalazo/]. One of them lives in the UK, the other in Canada. Hot Stuff. This week Michael tells Sooz about one of the rudest chapters in Canada's history: the October Crisis of 1970, when, after a seven-year bombing campaign, the militant Quebec separatist group the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) kidnapped British diplomat James Cross and Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau responded by implementing the War Measures Act, which led to tanks, soldiers and snipers on the streets of Montreal. Did it end politely? Listen to find out! But first: Sooz reports on the English heatwave; Freddie the cat is forced to take a bath; PLUS: a new edition of the hit segment "Actual Customer Letters to Wetherspoon News," in which we read genuine letters written to a damn pub. *** If you like what you hear, you can support Long Distance, Bit Weird on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongDistanceBitWeird]. Subscribers will get early access to episodes, bonus content and special surprises. In fact, you can watch several Travelodge episodes, along with the classic British animated films Watership Down and the bonkers Canadian documentary Project Grizzly in FULL right now with witty/sweary commentary from Sooz and Michael.  *** ANNOUNCEMENT On June 16, Michael Balazo is releasing his much-anticipated 3rd standup comedy album "Pizza Pals". Recorded in November of 2025, Pizza Pals is available for pre-order on Bandcamp now! [https://michaelbalazo.bandcamp.com/album/pizza-pals] SHOWS May 29th - Sooz Kempner - Screaming Blue Murder @ The Core, Corby TICKETS [https://www.screamingbluemurdercomedy.com/corby] June 2nd - Sooz Kempner - BYOB @ Komedia, Brighton TICKETS [https://byobcomedy.com/area/brighton/] June 4th - Sooz Kempner - BYOB @ East Dulwich Picturehouse, London TICKETS [https://byobcomedy.com/area/east-dulwich/]