E23: Rainbow, the Beloved British Children's Show

E23: Rainbow, the Beloved British Children's Show

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. At time of publishing, 1 Canadian dollar is worth 0.54p. This week Sooz tells Michael the story of beloved British children's television series Rainbow. Created as a British response to Sesame Street, Rainbow aired from 1972-1992. And while Rainbow lacked Sesame Street's American glamour, big budget and huge cast, it certainly had a man named Geoffrey who was forced to live in a small house with two puppets and a huge bear that argued nonstop. Why was the Rainbow theme song so groovy/melancholy? What is Zippy? Was innocuous folk trio Rod, Jane and Freddy fuelled by sexual jealousy? Why was Bungle arrested? And was an episode of Rainbow really banned? Listen to find out! But first: SILLY town names; forgotten David Bowie personas; 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.  *** SHOWS May 24th - Sooz Kempner: Imposter WIP @ Crack, Kingston TICKETS [https://www.crackcomedy.com/kingston] 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/]

*PREVIEW* Bonus Ep.06 - Grogu Time

In this week's bonus episode, Sooz tells Michael what a Grogu is.  Please enjoy this free episode preview, where Sooz has done some research so that she and Michael, both of whom aren't interested in Star Wars, aren't left behind in the pop culture.  If you want to hear the entire episode AND gain access to all of our bonus content, support Long Distance, Bit Weird on Patreon. [https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongDistanceBitWeird]

E22: Vietnam War Resisters or "Draft Dodgers" in Canada

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. But only one is human... This week Michael tells Sooz about the 30-40,000 young American war resisters or "draft dodgers" who decided to move to Canada instead of fighting/dying in the Vietnam War. How did the draft work? Why Canada? What type of criticism did war resisters face? And how did reactionary rocker Ted Nugent avoid going to Vietnam? Sit back and enjoy this serious BUT ALSO humorous chat! But first: Sooz sips red wine and positively roasts the UK's Labour government; Michael praises Machynlleth's misty mountains; PLUS: a very soupy 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.  *** SHOWS May 18 - Michael is doing standup on the Vibraslap show, 8PM, Comedy Bar, Toronto. GET TICKETS HERE. [https://comedybar.ca/shows/vibraslap-stand-up-comedy?ev=2026-05-18T20%3A00%3A00] May 21 - Sooz is performing at Pride and Perverts supporting the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV charity. With Billy Bragg, Ada Campe, Dosa Cat, Jamie-Diane Rajaram, Ebony Rose Dark and HOMOPARODY. 7PM, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London. GET TICKETS HERE. [https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35397/pride-and-perverts-supporting-the-terrence-higgins-trust] May 24 - Sooz is performing a preview of her new Edinburgh Fringe show "Imposter" as part of a double-bill with Juliette Burton, who will be previewing her show "Villain Era." 7PM, Crack Comedy, Ram Jam Records @ The Grey Horse, Kingston. GET TICKETS HERE. [https://www.ramjamrecords.co.uk/events/24-05-26-ed-fringe-previews]

UNLOCKED! Bonus Episode 3: Sex Column SPECTACULAR

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 enjoy this! This week we're unlocking a recent Patreon bonus episode in which Sooz reads Michael some incredibly unerotic sex columns from Metro, the UK's free commuter tabloid. If you close your eyes, you can pretend you're on an overcrowded bus... or tube! *** 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.  *** SHOWS May 8 - Michael is at AAA #1 Best Standup Comedy Show, 8PM @ Tallboys in Toronto. TICKETS [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/friday-standup-comedy-aaa1-best-standup-show-tickets-1979825220530?aff=oddtdtcreator] May 10th - Sooz is a guest on Get Your Geek On, 1.30pm @ The Walrus, Brighton. TICKETS [https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/get-your-geek-on/] May 10th - Sooz is performing as part of Sunday Cabaret, 5:45pm @ Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London. TICKETS [https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35745/sunday-cabaret-with-the-de-experience-and-sooz-kempner]

E21: Sooz and Michael LIVE from Bath

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. Haha. This week is a treat for fans of the popular "Actual Customer Letters to Wetherspoon News" segment, as Michael reads THREE magnificent missives that touch on subjects like tiny knives, restaurant renovation and signed garbage. Then, Sooz turns up the heat with TWO sex columns from the free commuter newspaper METRO. Will you become aroused? Who's to say. WARNING: one of the sex columns is about an old man with a dirty/stinky shirt.  *** 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.  *** SHOWS May 2- Machynlleth, UK!  Sooz is performing a work in progress of her standup show Imposter at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Get your tickets HERE! [https://machcomedyfest.co.uk/show/2026/sooz-kempner-imposter-work-in-progress/]