The Competition

The Competition

From Harford: An Oral History by Dan Hooper

March 30, 2026 · 16 min · Season 1 · Episode 13

About this episode

A man wins a competition that changes his life and introduces him to the elite, despite family constraints.

A man dreams of a better life but is held back by his family. Then one day he wins a competition that sets him on a new path and into a world of the elites. You can support the show by visiting https://ko-fi.com/harford , sharing the show with a friend or rating and reviewing it. Harford: An Oral History is a monthly surreal comedy podcast uncovering the strange and forgotten history of Haverfordwest. In each episode, a town inhabitant recounts their role in a key moment of its past—from a disastrous attempt to build the world’s tallest building to a battle reenactment that spiraled into real conflict. Written, produced and performed by Dan Hooper Winner: Golden Lobes — Best Scripted Comedy. The Observer said “These punchy 10 to 14 minuters crackle with bible-black, absurd, twisted humour.”and The Guardian described the show “Strange little monologues brimming with dry wit and unlikely twists.” You can contact Dan at danhooper86@gmail.com. Harford: An Oral History is a monthly surreal comedy podcast uncovering the strange and forgotten history of Haverfordwest. In each episode, a town inhabitant recounts their role in a key moment of its past—from a disastrous attempt to build…

People in this episode

Host: Dan Hooper

Topics covered

  • competition
  • family dynamics
  • social class
  • dreams
  • elites

Keywords

  • competition
  • better life
  • family
  • elites
  • surreal comedy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harford: An Oral History

Books & works: The Observer, The Guardian

Places: Haverfordwest

More episodes of Harford: An Oral History

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Harford: An Oral History podcast page.