Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast (Urban Podcasts)
Explore every episode of Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 2024 | Bugbrooke to Milton Keynes | 00:31:22 | |
Here’s a bit more behind the scenes info from episode 9 of Canal Boat Diaries season 5. I journey from Bugbrooke to Milton Keynes in this episode along the historic Grand Union Canal. I share the practicalities of life aboard and discuss (perhaps in a bit too much depth!) how an efficient water filtration system can make all the difference. I’ll guide you through the historical Blisworth Tunnel and take you onto the river Nene at Northampton to introduce you to some of my favourite ‘Pubs of the Week’! Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 11 Jan 2025 | Boating in London | 00:22:23 | |
In this episode, I talk about what life on a narrowboat in London is really like – the good, the bad, and everything in between. With over ten years of experience living on the water, I share some of my personal stories from when I first started out, including the surprises and challenges that came with it. I’ll take you through what it’s like managing life on the canals in London, from navigating the busy waterways to dealing with the Canal and River Trust, plus some of the new rules that have popped up. There’s also a story at the start which will also be available as a narrated timelapse on my YouTube channel. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | Atherstone to Moira | 00:29:03 | |
I'm continuing to take you behind the scenes of Canal Boat Diaries, Series 5 which is now available to watch on Yesterday and stream on UKTV Play. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of episode seven as I dive into the rich history of the Ashby Canal, uncovering its 22-mile stretch built in 1804 and the exciting ongoing restoration efforts. I also talk about one of my favourite times of the year, Halloween and relive some of my spooky escapades, from dressing as the Grim Reaper, Alan Partridge, to own my villain creation, Bad Man. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 18 Feb 2025 | Winter on the Water | 00:14:14 | |
What’s it really like living on a canal boat during winter? In this episode, I share the ups and downs of winter life on the water – the cold, the shorter days, and the isolation that come with it. As someone who’s spent a lot of time navigating through it, I give you a behind-the-scenes look at balancing the tough side of winter with the unexpected rewards. From keeping the fire burning to embracing the quiet of winter moorings, I share the little things that make this season special – like wildlife sightings, the beauty of the landscape, and how the solitude can spark creativity. I also talk about the practical side: staying warm, finding the right spots to moor, and how living this way takes both physical effort and mental resilience. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 11 Apr 2025 | The Light at The End of the Tunnel | 00:19:58 | |
Imagine gliding through Braunston Tunnel, a 2,042-yard passage dug in 1796. Your narrowboat’s light flickers on damp, iron-streaked walls. In this episode, I’ll take you inside this marvel—4.8 meters wide, 3.76 meters high, with a slight S-bend from shifting soil and three air shafts. It’s just wide enough for two 7-foot boats to pass. Heading north after filming series six of Canal Boat Diaries, I contend with engine noises and spider webs, finding an eerie calm in the tunnel’s hidden story. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 26 Feb 2025 | River Rage | 00:16:49 | |
It’s not all roses and castles as they say! This is a whole side of boating that I don’t think I’ve ever talked about. River rage – disagreements and arguments that often occur when waterways users lose their cool after a long day living the good life! A boater’s £4,000 fine for disrupting a rowing regatta was the subject of a radio phone in that I took part in recently. So, in this episode I share some true stories of my own experiences from the rivers Thames, Weaver and Ouse. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 23 Dec 2024 | Christmas Special 2024 | 00:33:25 | |
In this Christmas special, I share what Christmas truly means to me, from family traditions to the reality of spending Christmas on a boat. I also give a sneak peek into 2025, with exciting things coming up, like more live shows, writing a book, and season 6 of Canal Boat Diaries, featuring more adventures and canals to explore. Throughout the episode, I answer listener questions about life on the boat, what it’s like to spend Christmas alone, and how the laid-back pace of boat life has changed the way I enjoy this time of year. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 10 May 2024 | Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast | 00:01:16 | |
I'm Robbie Cumming, and this is my Canal Boat Podcast where I'll be taking you on a journey behind the scenes on my TV show Canal Boat Diaries, letting you in even further to my little world on the waterways. Whether you're a boater or live on land, Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is for anyone who enjoys looking at life a bit differently. New episodes every fortnight, so don't forget to subscribe to keep it cranking.' Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 25 Jul 2024 | Simpson to Little Tring (feat. My Dad) | 00:19:25 | |
My dad, Richard, joins me for this episode, where we reminisce about our adventures on the water. From his globetrotting career in high-tech horticulture to earning his yacht master qualification, we recount memorable boating trips, including a hilarious mishap on the Kennet and Avon Canal and a nerve-wracking journey down the tidal River Trent. We also share some of the unique challenges of living on water, especially when the temperatures drop. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 27 Mar 2025 | Going Through a Lock | 00:11:20 | |
I’m taking you through Cosgrove Lock on the Grand Union Canal—engine humming, lock gates creaking, water rushing as I work the paddles. It’s a sunny spring day, cherry blossoms are out, and after a long, muddy winter, I’m finally moving. Simon, a continuous cruiser, lends a hand and we chat about why days like this—calm, bright—make it all worthwhile. It’s real-time canal life: the windlass clanks and the boat steadies. No polish, just the water, the quirks, it’s a raw slice of the cut. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 19 Aug 2024 | Filming Adventures on England's Waterways | 00:10:46 | |
What’s it really like filming Canal Boat Diaries? Summer edition! From the set of Canal Boat Diaries (er, well my narrowboat) I bring you some extra special behind the scenes content. Anxiety about public scrutiny and the inevitable loss of privacy are points I cover, as well as baffling other boaters and how long it really takes to film a one-hour show. From the long and arduous days, some lasting up to eleven and a half hours, every lock (and aqueduct) can test both physical and mental endurance. The logistics with cars and boats can be complicated and it can be stressful but it’s interesting, fun and ultimately worth it! Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 12 Jun 2024 | Wolverhampton to Anglesey Basin | 00:25:01 | |
As the latest series of Canal Boat Diaries continues on Yesterday and UKTV Play, I take you behind the scenes of episode five as I journey from Wolverhampton to Anglesey Basin in Walsall. In this episode, I share how recording a TV show on a canal boat can involve many patience-testing moments with my producer and drone pilot, who had to adapt to the unpredictable nature of canal boating. I also share how, during the filming of this episode, I had to dodge some unruly kids who were up to no good and show you the reality of canal boating in the summer, which led me to spend five hours down my weed hatch. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | Coventry to Weedon Bec | 00:26:52 | |
I'm taking you behind the scenes of episode eight, series five of Canal Boat Diaries, which you can stream now on UKTV Play as I journey from Coventry to Weedon Bec. In this episode, I explore Coventry's musical heritage and how the Specials and ska-punk bands like Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish have influenced my musical journey. As a musician living on the waterways, recording music aboard a canal boat can sometimes be challenging. So, I'm revealing my unique recording process and taking you behind the scenes of creating some of my tracks, such as Windy Biscuits. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 07 Oct 2024 | Does Living on A Boat Help Improve Your Mental Health? | 00:11:06 | |
In this episode, I take a break from filming Canal Boat Diaries series 6 to dip my toes into anissue that impacts millions of people and yet remains a delicate and very personal subject. Living on the water certainly offers a slower pace of life and a chance to reflect on life, but it’snot easy and can be very challenging mentally as well as physically. Drawing from my own experience of anxiety and depression I discuss if boat life could help pre-existing mental health disorders or make them worse. But it almost goes without saying, I am not a mental health professional and contained in the podcast are my own opinions, not to be taken as medical advice! Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 31 May 2024 | Setting Off | 00:11:44 | |
Ahead of my new TV series Canal Boat Diaries, which starts this Monday on Yesterday, here's the very first episode of Robbie Cumming's' Canal Boat Podcast! In my first episode, it's all about starting new journeys, whether it be creative endeavours or DIY projects. I share my spontaneous approach to life on the canals and how it mirrors the way I tackle new projects. I also share behind-the-scenes stories about the production of my TV show, including meticulous planning despite my preference for spontaneity. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 10 Jun 2024 | Stourton to Wolverhampton | 00:18:47 | |
I continue to uncover the secrets behind my TV show, Canal Boat Diaries, as I take you behind the scenes of Series Five, Episode 4, as I journey from Stourton to Wolverhampton. In this episode, I share some scenes that didn't make the final cut, such as setting fire to some baked beans! I also share what it is like living on the waterways, the unique challenges of working as a content creator and how I balance precious moments with loved ones. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 07 Jun 2024 | Hawne Basin to Stourbridge | 00:28:11 | |
Dropping your phone into a canal might sound like a nightmare, but for me, it's just another day in the world of canal boating. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of Episode 3, Series 5 of Canal Boat Diaries as I recount the challenges of navigating the famously narrow Gosty Hill Tunnel, and give you a peek into the editing room where blurring out graffiti and adding subtle touches to scenes are all part of the job. Plus, I talk about the joy of connecting with family and the unwavering support from fellow boaters that make these journeys possible. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 04 Jun 2024 | Yardley Wood to Netherton Tunnel | 00:20:15 | |
I'm continuing to take you behind the scenes of the new series of Canal Boat Diaries, which is now available to watch on Yesterday and stream on UKTV Play. In this episode, between my nostalgic journey from Yardley Wood to Netherton Tunnel, I explore the sights of Bourneville, Dudley Tunnel, and the serene beauty of Bumblehole Nature Reserve while getting into the nitty-gritty of boat maintenance, which leads to not one but two costly mishaps. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 03 Jun 2024 | Braunston to Lapworth | 00:21:05 | |
Have you ever wondered what filming a TV series on a canal boat is like? Uncover the secrets behind my TV show, Canal Boat Diaries, as I take you behind the scenes of Series Five, Episode 1, now available on Yesterday and UKTV Play. In this episode, I share how our filming process works, including the clever use of iPhones and GoPro cameras and how we create stunning drone shots which complement my journey. Plus, as with most journeys along our waterways, I share the challenges we face along the way. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | Answering Your Questions After Canal Boat Stories Live | 00:15:24 | |
Aside from making Canal Boat Diaries for TV, I am also on tour with my live show – Canal Boat Stories. It’s mostly just me sharing photos, videos and stories about my travels, with a bit of music and also a Q&A. With an audience of around 200 people, I enjoy answering questions, but this time there were so many I ran out of time. So, in this special episode, I’ll be covering some of the questions I didn’tget around to including ‘would you ever leave the Naughty Lass and return to regular living’ ‘does it get lonely on a boat’ and ‘how many windlasses have you lost this year’! Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.
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| 14 Jun 2024 | Great Barr to Atherstone | 00:19:19 | |
I continue to take you behind the scenes of Canal Boat Diaries, Series 5. In this episode, I navigate from Great Bar to Atherstone, sharing a journey full of unexpected twists and realities of canal boating. From the frustration of getting wedged between locks and battling a wrapped propeller to the less glamorous parts of canal life, such as toilet troubles and leaking lock gates, I share the raw essence of life on the water. Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts. | |||