Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.