Advertise on podcast: Elis James and John Robins on Radio X Podcast

This episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including addiction and alcoholism, that some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening, and feel free to pause or step away if you need to. John Robins has spent much of his life making people laugh. But behind the award-winning stand-up, broadcasting and podcasts was a relationship with alcohol that he spent years trying to understand, manage and ultimately escape. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with John to trace the experiences that shaped him, from a childhood marked by anxiety and an intensely religious father to Oxford, gambling and the discovery of stand-up. John reflects on growing up with a sense that something wasn’t quite right, learning to use humour as both attack and defence, and becoming fascinated by alcohol long before he understood what it offered him. He talks candidly about the progression of his drinking and the years he spent trying to control it: counting drinks, crossing days off calendars and comparing himself with people who seemed to drink more. Looking back, John describes alcohol not as the problem but as his solution to something deeper - a way to quieten his mind, relieve discomfort and, at times, disappear completely. John also recalls the night in 2022 when, exhausted by years of fighting his drinking, he searched the word “sober” in a podcast app. Hearing two recovering alcoholics speak with calmness, warmth and humour gave him a glimpse of another way to live. He went to his first AA meeting the following day and hasn’t had a drink since. Now, John reflects on the strange and painful process of learning how to live without alcohol, from relationships and work to simply being alone with his own thoughts. He talks about therapy, recovery, meditation and spirituality, and why accepting the things he cannot control has begun to make life feel a little less complicated. It’s a funny, thoughtful and strikingly open conversation about addiction, anxiety, childhood, shame and recovery - and about what happens when the thing you’ve relied on to escape yourself is no longer there. Find out more about Thirst by John Robins here Additional support: If you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode, please take a moment to read the resources listed: We Are With You, Change Grow Live, Turning Point Full Disclosure is a Global Production Listen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hello Elis and John fans! If you want more Elis in your life then you should subscribe to The Socially Distant Sports Bar with Elis, Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero. Three men trying to talk about sports. Three men who get distracted by everything. Three men who think a sports podcast should contain frequent references to Kimbo Slice, Erasure and Bobby Davro. Give it a listen now and join the bar on Twitter, Insta and Facebook via @distantpod

Hello podcast listener. If you're a fan of Elis and John then we think you'll enjoy another podcast, Early Work with Rhys James. Stand-up, panel show regular and the only comedian with a podcast, Early Work sees Rhys and guests reliving some of their most cringeworthy childhood and teenage attempts at creativity. Search Early Work where you get your podcasts and find Rhys on Instagram and Twitter @rhysjamesy for more about the podcast.

This January, Radio X are launching a whole host of new comedy podcasts. In this bonus episode you’ll hear a snippet from each one. If you like what you hear - make sure you hit subscribe! Funny How? with Matt Morgan: https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/podcasts/funny-how-with-matt-morgan/ That’s A First: https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/podcasts/thats-a-first/ Early Work with Rhys James: https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/podcasts/early-work-with-rhys-james/ Job's A Good’un with Chris Washington: https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/podcasts/jobs-a-good-un-with-chris-washington/ A Thin Layer of Film: https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/podcasts/thin-layer-of-film-with-heidi-regan/ Class Dismissed! with Tom Houghton: https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/podcasts/class-dismissed-with-tom-houghton/

The Kings are dead. Long live the Kings.

There you have it. 5 years, 264 shows (proper), many laughs, some tears and an almost unacceptable quantity of shame. The lads bid farewell to Radio X in fine fashion. Expect montages, familiar voices and the cynical inclusion of emotional heft. Thank you to all PCD's, casual listeners and contributors great and small. Live your best life, keep it Radio X and most importantly of all: Keep it session. Lovely stuff.

Classic Dog-mess anecdote revisited, John's bodily functions feature heavily and we reopen the Wackaging file! PLUS! Humblebrags, Papers reviewed light-heartedly and a ShameWell! The staples to any healthy Podcast. Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

"Pullman's won it... go away." Elis needs a new car and John may or may not have a secret child, more on that as we get it. Tastes to be ticked, hypothetical stag dos to plan and papers to be read light-heartedly. This Podcast has it all. BIG FUN. Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

You have no idea how high John can fly. Today, we answer the questions, what do you get for the man that has everything, how many Blue T**s do Elis & John weigh and what exactly is John Kennedy doing in that tree. Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

Elis was definitely feeling as young and hip as ever this week, and John simply couldn’t get more charitable. Plus the boys made a discovery about everyone’s favourite forgotten Californian hard-rock-nu-metal group. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DementiaRevolution Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

How do you get through a three hour show on barely any sleep? Well if you’re Elis you have four coffees before 1pm. Spoiler alert, it all gets a bit silly. An informative show this week, with the guys getting to the bottom of what really is ‘cool’ and clearing up any misconceptions of what to expect from a breastfeeding café (no paninis?!) Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

If you stand still with a shark, you’ll die. That’s just one of Elis’ hot-takes from today. Meanwhile - Johnny JR Robins brings you some rather BIG NEWS! Plus more Hypothetical challenges, a naked Shame Well, some over-personal questions and a Middle of The Road Made Up Game! Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

Elis loves his children. John shouts “revealeth” at pubs. What a pair of legends. For those of you concerned that The Light-Hearted Paper Review has never featured a “central heating special” – consider your prayers answered. There’s also some classic Humblebrags, a sexy Shame Well, a return of John’s Gig Diaries and some FREE #CONTENT! Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

The Band is back together. Elis has returned with news of what he’s been up to, mainly being a father (again). John’s had an issue with his iPhone. We all must bear our own cross. 2 exciting competitions, one to win tech prizes and one to name Elis' son. We also ask the question, what do you do with a surfeit of breastmilk? All this PLUS a Shamewell that will make you walk to Lancaster. Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/

In 255 episodes, have you heard John Robins do an impression of a Dalek? The wait is over. Tim Key played another blinder as he deputised for Elis. There were accusations, challenges, interruptions and pauses. Lovely stuff. All this plus a Somerville Shame Well, a LONG and ghastly Humblebrag and a tasty Made Up Game! Remember, you can get in touch on [email protected] (if you’re on e-mail. You’ve simply got to be on e-mail), and you can tune in across the UK every Saturday from 1pm til 4pm! Keep it session. Keep it Radio X. [email protected] https://elisandjohnmerch.com/