Episode 57 and Hooper is back on the podcast… but once again, no Jerry.

This one turns into a proper catch-up. We talk about what’s changed over the last couple of years, and it turns out quite a lot has happened.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Becoming a dad (including the chaos of baby week and life since)
• The biggest changes in that first year of parenting
• The best bits… and the brutally exhausting bits
• ADHD diagnosis and how that reframes past decisions
• Redundancy, career risks, and landing somewhere better
• Trying to balance sleep, work and mental health

🎧 The Vibe

There’s still the usual nonsense, but this one has a bit more reflection in it. Growth, perspective, and the reality of navigating big life changes while pretending you know what you’re doing.

No scripts. No preparation. No Jerry.

Just Hooper and whatever comes out when you press record.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:17:53) Blindly Rank
• (00:53:50) ADHD Diagnoses
• (01:21:53) Final Thoughts

This week, Distinct & Jovial takes a slightly different turn.

Jerry is absolutely fine, but for the first time ever, this episode is a solo one; just Dom behind the mic. Rather than skip a month, it became a chance to slow things down, check in, and talk through what’s been going on.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Why this episode ended up being a solo recording
• Life feeling busy, loud, and a bit overwhelming
• Thoughts on routine, running, and consistency
• Reflections on keeping momentum when motivation dips
• A decent chunk of Formula 1 chat
• Honest, low-key thoughts rather than big debates

🎧 The Vibe

Less chaos, more calm; but still very Distinct & Jovial. A reflective episode with some familiar comforts (including F1), recorded simply because sometimes showing up matters more than sticking to the plan.

Normal service will resume soon.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:11:05) Opinions on the world
• (00:24:15) F1 2026 Season
• (01:13:22) What is next?
• (01:19:20) Final Thoughts

Swanny is back! And this time he’s joined by his and Dom's Taekwon-Do instructor and coach. This episode has parenting updates, and a whole lot of opinions. In Episode 55, we catch up nearly two years on from his last appearance and find out what’s really changed. Also, we give our opinions on that Jake Paul fight!

👶 Two-Year Parenting Update

• Biggest changes since becoming a parent
• Best and worst parts of parenthood
• Things you swear you’d never say… but now say weekly
• Children’s TV characters that should be banned
• The most painful toy ever stepped on

🚗 New Cars, New Problems

• Dom and Swanny both have new cars
• Why automatics might actually be superior
• Fanciest and most surprising features
• And yes… questions about curry smells still apply

🤔 Poignant Questions (Classic D&J Edition)

• If animals could talk, which would be the biggest arsehole?
• What do clouds smell like?
• Would you teleport naked?
• Which historical figure would be cancelled first today?
• Which room would ghosts haunt in your house?
• Pillows, queues, fridge calendars, slippers, and time itself

🔥 Blindly Rank This

Room 101: because some things deserve to be launched into the void.

🎧 The Vibe

Thoughtful, ridiculous, nostalgic, and very Distinct & Jovial. A proper catch-up episode with laughs, tangents, and just enough chaos.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:11:35) Two Year Update
• (00:42:00) New Car Update
• (01:11:21) Poignant Questions
• (01:43:51) Blindly Rank: Room 101s
• (01:56:39) Post Production Dom

In Episode 54, we’re joined by Katy, our favourite teacher-turned-podcast-guest, for an episode packed with debates, distractions, and the classic Distinct & Jovial chaos; plus some inevitable technical difficulties.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Katy survives (and contributes to) our tech problems
• Our go-to meal deals
• The mysterious world of 6–7 (and why it nearly broke us)
• A full-blown rant about traffic lights
• The great debate: butter or margarine?
• Our favourite places to read books

🎧 The Vibe

Light-hearted, slightly chaotic, and very D&J. A mix of silly debates, teacher talk, nostalgia, and rants that go on just a bit too long. Katy fits right in.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:42:09) Food of the Month
• (01:02:34) Room 101: Traffic Lights
• (01:11:17) Conspiracy Theory: Moon makes people go crazy?
• (01:39:47) House Renovations
• (01:56:55) Blindly Rank: Reading Places
• (02:04:13) Final Thoughts

He’s back! In Distinct and Jovial Episode 53, Chat Stevie T re-joins Jerry and Dom for an episode that quite literally runs out of money but not out of laughter.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Holiday catch-ups (plus bonus video clips!)
• Movie reviews: Ballerina & Dune: Part Two
• A dive into 80s fashion
• Our Blindly Rank This: Movie Franchises Edition
• Technical difficulties that, of course, stayed in

🎬 The Vibe

A mix of travel stories, film talk, and nostalgia is all tied together with the signature Distinct & Jovial chaos you know and love. It’s fun, funny, and delightfully unpredictable.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:34:11) Holiday's of a Lifetime
• (01:26:51) Jerry's gone all Zen
• (01:56:28) Movie Reviews
• (02:12:50) Blindly Rank: Film Franchises
• (02:27:10) Final Thoughts

We’re back with another Distinct and Jovial episode; this time finishing off the Vanity Fair-style questions we started in Episode 50. And let’s just say… things got a little delirious.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Destination weddings: romantic or ridiculous?
• The great cake debate: buttercream vs icing
• Milk first or cereal first (and why Jerry’s wrong)
• Electric toothbrushes, recliner sofas & scented candles
• Dressing up pets and posting baby photos
• Mayonnaise on chips: genius or crime?
• Pokémon memories and confessions

🌟 Plus…

Somehow, we ended up designing Star Wars ships out of food. Don’t ask how, just enjoy the ride.

🎧 The Vibe

Think old-school Distinct and Jovial energy: random tangents, questionable logic, lots of laughter and all fuelled by how tired (and slightly unhinged) we were while recording.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:22:39) Vanity Fair Interview
• (01:02:14) Conspiracy Theory: Mythical Creatures
• (01:06:55) Poignant Questions
• (01:53:33) Final Thoughts

For the second time, Distinct and Jovial went in person but for the first time with a live audience! Episode 51 was recorded overlooking the stunning backdrop of Croyde Bay in North Devon, complete with sea breeze, laughter, and a fair share of chaos.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Guests galore: Steph returns, and Jack makes his debut
• A Blindly Rank This with… biscuits (yes, things got heated)
• Endless movie quotes and one-liners
• A dive into fashion talk (with varying levels of expertise)
• Technical difficulties that became part of the comedy
• Plenty of audience outtakes and first-time live reactions

🌟 The Vibe

A mix of sunshine, sea air, and silliness; this episode is packed with big laughs, new voices, and the unique energy of recording together in person.

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:04:54) Steph: Food of the Month
• (00:15:52) Dom's Burger King Rant
• (00:21:00) Jack's Introduction
• (00:23:30) Jack: Food of the Month
• (00:52:35) Camping Discussion
• (00:55:07) Rank these things Blindly: Biscuits
• (01:04:53) Disgusting Words
• (01:07:50) Banter in the Bay
• (01:27:47) Try not to Laugh
• (01:40:55) Final Thoughts
• (01:43:20) Outtakes

We made it to 50 episodes! In this special milestone episode of Distinct and Jovial, Jerry and Dom take a reflective (and slightly chaotic) journey through five years of podcasting. Inspired by Billie Eilish’s Vanity Fair interview style, this is our fifth year doing it. Same hosts, same questions, wildly different answers.

💬 What’s Inside?

• Why we started Distinct and Jovial
• Funniest and most frustrating moments on the podcast
• Our unexpected favourite topics
• Dream guests we’d actually have a chance of landing
• Will we reach 100 episodes? Hear our honest thoughts.

🛫 Topical Tangents

• Jerry’s solo holiday to Gibraltar: confidence, solo travel tips, and where he’s off to next
• Dom’s new house adventures: DIY, chaos, and maybe a little buyer’s remorse

🎲 Blind Ranking Game

• A twist on our “Blindly Rank This” — this time, it’s our own episodes on the chopping block.

Whether you’ve been with us from episode 1 or just hopped on, thanks for being part of the ride. Here's to the next 50.

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:14:00) Bonus Questions
• (00:36:48) Blindly Rank: Distinct and Jovial Episodes
• (00:51:37) Jerry's Holiday
• (01:19:18) Dom's New House
• (01:31:43) Vanity Fair Interview
• (02:05:07) Final thoughts