Best Narrowboat Podcasts (2025)

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Filming on My Narrowboat Home in London - Plus Additional Canal Stories and Some Surprisingly Rude History 32:27

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14d ago32:27

32:27

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of Episode 8 of Canal Boat Diaries, Season 6, recounting my past journey from northwest to east London. Did I think we really captured what it’s like to be a continuous cruiser in London? What challenges did I come across? And how did the old working boat families actually have space to er... have a…

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With Tom Rolt on the North Stratford Canal (Summer Readings) 23:51

8d ago23:51

23:51

Send us a text It’s been a long sweltering day. Darkness is reluctantly beginning to fall, and a restless heat lies heavy over the canal. Let's settle down and listen to some echoes from the canal-side past as we hear Tom Rolt’s account of his journey up the Stratford upon Avon Canal (North) and the ‘battle for Bridge Number 1 (Lifford Lane).' At a…

1
Living Life on the Road: From Software Engineer to Full-Time Musician 35:58

21d ago35:58

35:58

In this episode of Alternative Living Chat, Maxine delves into the adventurous life of Alex, a former software engineer who has turned his passion for music into a full-time career. They discuss his unique journey from the tech world to living in a 2006 Vauxhall Movano van, previously a speed camera police van, and his experiences as a musician on …

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A Summer Wind among the Alders (Speaks of Lludd and Llefelys) 52:43

24d ago52:43

52:43

Send us a text Stories have always been part of our world. From antiquity, stories create the light that help us find our way through the darkness. We need to rediscover those stories to help us face the dragons in our lives. Join us tonight as we listen closely to the summer wind play among the alders and hear a very old story that understands our…

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My Dad's Apple Cake, Bumping into Boats and Saving People from the Canal 33:17

1M ago33:17

33:17

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of Episode 7 of Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6, traveling from Weybridge to Stonebridge Park. Joining me is my Dad, who brings along his legendary apple cake. We tackle the Hanwell flight and experience vibrant Diwali celebrations in Southall, where fireworks light up the night sky. I also share a wild st…

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Life Afloat: Narrowboat Living with Sarah Kent 37:48

1M ago37:48

37:48

Welcome back to Alternative Living Chat — the podcast where we explore the paths less traveled and the people living them. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Sarah Kent, a transformational coach who’s embraced life on the water. From the cozy charm to the daily challenges, Sarah shares what it’s really like living on a narrowboat — the joys, the woe…

1
Unsettled at the Still-Point (Of the year) 35:28

1M ago35:28

35:28

Send us a text It is a hot midsummer night of warm winds that makes the Erica creak at her moorings. Tonight, we find ourselves at a year’s turning point — caught between the stillness and the unsettling. Join us as we explore the solstice, the shifting seasons, the rhythm of carnival swings, and the restless nature of the mind, uncovering the conn…

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The One Where I Almost Gave Up... Twice 37:01

1M ago37:01

37:01

In this episode, I dive into the wild ride of filming Series 6, Episode 6 on the Basingstoke Canal, where I nearly threw in the towel thanks to relentless weed, a cracked rib, and a bridge disaster. You’ll also hear from my mate Jamie, whose help and positivity saved the day! Don’t forget, you can watch Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 on the U&Yesterd…

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Pizza on the Water: Life Aboard Lola with Keith & Claire 28:12

2M ago28:12

28:12

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Keith and Claire, the warm-hearted duo behind Lola, the charming café boat serving up fresh pizza, coffee, and cakes along the canals. They share what it’s really like to live and work on the water — from firing up the pizza oven to finding community on the towpath. Come aboard and hear how they turned a narr…

1
Goggleboxed 18:56

2M ago18:56

18:56

In this episode, I chat about being featured on Channel 4's Gogglebox over the weekend, with celebs throwing shade at my canal boat life and the behind-the-scenes of getting on the show. I also talk about the need to be thick skinned and how I’ve learnt not take harsh feedback to heart. Plus, I reveal which Gogglebox celebrities I’d trust to take t…

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Falling in and Meeting Timothy Spall 28:19

2M ago28:19

28:19

In episode 5 of Canal Boat Diaries series 6 you see me fall in, you see me meet Timothy Spall, and you see me struggle with a mystery battery problem. What you don’t see on camera is how the Naughty Lass could have burnt down, the real reason for the drain on my batteries and a licensing loophole that I discover only after spending hundreds of poun…

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A brooding sky and mirrored waters (Fen Country) 42:32

2M ago42:32

42:32

Send us a text Join us on a quiet night of summer rain as we listen to rooks and explore the beauty and ambiguities of two liminal places with a lot in common. We learn about the web-footed fenmen and are guided by Luke Sherlock to a ruined church under haunting skies. Journal entry: 6th June, Friday “We walk through the sheep field As the rain pou…

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Thunderstorms, toilet seats, and Thames tales 27:25

2M ago27:25

27:25

In this episode, you'll hear about my misty morning start, navigating the challenges of drone filming in fog, my nomadic life on the move and a near-miss with rowers on the River Weaver. Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from serie…

1
From Land to Water: Tracy's Boat Living Adventure 24:39

2M ago24:39

24:39

Welcome to this week's episode of the Alternative Living Chat podcast! Join us as we dive into the captivating journey of Tracy, a former occupational therapist who, together with her husband, traded a traditional home for a life aboard a narrowboat. Discover the adventures, challenges, and joys they encountered as they embraced this unique lifesty…

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Windows, weeding, and rock 'n' roll 27:45

2M ago27:45

27:45

Behind the scenes on episode 3 - Oxford to Reading. In this podcast episode, you'll hear how I spruce up the Naughty Lass with new bespoke windows, chat about growing up on a garden centre weeding for pocket money, breaking my sink off camera and some rock and roll history including Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and George Michael! Canal Boat Diaries…

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Erica's Place 39:40

2M ago39:40

39:40

Send us a text Welcome to tonight’s episode where ‘Erica’s Place’ by Mindshambles awakens a kaleidoscope of reminiscences about Mum and ‘elevensies’ and her never ending supply of fresh scones. As the different memories flow and glide past, it slowly becomes clear how much of ‘Erica’s place’ and Mum’s philosophy still lives on and unconsciously sha…

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A Canal Programme Inspired by Skateboarding and Comedy... 30:52

2M ago30:52

30:52

Believe it or not the making of Canal Boat Diaries draws its ins from many different other genres of filmmaking. Not only the personal self-shot vlogging style taken from my YouTube videos, but also skate videos from the 90s and a fledgling stand up comedy career! You’ll even find out where the phrase ‘let’s crank it’ came from and I tell a funny s…

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Why We're Still Living This Life After 7 Years! Special Episode With Haven Knox-Johnston 1:10:28

2M ago1:10:28

1:10:28

Dive into the joys of narrowboat life with us and Paul from Haven Knox-Johnston. In this, the first of our new season, we share our exciting journey, top tips, and why we’re still loving every moment after 7 years on the water. Join us for an upbeat chat filled with inspiration and practical advice! https://www.havenkj.com https://floatingourboat.c…

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Series 6 is here! Behind the Scenes of Episode 1 31:57

2M ago31:57

31:57

Here we go again! Ever wondered how Canal Boat Diaries is made? What really happens behind the scenes? Or simply why British people complain about it being too hot when it’s only 26/79°F?! In this episode, I will answer all those questions and more, as I provide a sort of director’s commentary retracing our journey from Napton Junction to Aynho Wha…

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Life Off-Grid: Sue and Ian's Journey from a Derelict Farmhouse in Spain to Narrowboat Living 34:48

3M ago34:48

34:48

In this episode of the Alternative Living Chats podcast, we dive into the inspiring journey of Sue and her husband Ian, who spent 20 years renovating a derelict farmhouse in Spain and living off-grid. Situated two hours south of Barcelona in Tortosa, Sue shares the hardships and joys of their unique lifestyle, from enduring cold winters in a carava…

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A Totally Worthwhile Risk - 4 35:14

3M ago35:14

35:14

Send us a text Tonight, we float upon a starfield of hawthorn blossom under a waxing moon. Why not join us as we continue with the final part of Mum’s account of the ‘totally worthwhile risk that was never regretted.’ Journal entry: 9th May, Friday “A westering sun Lays long shadows across The towpath and canal. Two geese in a field watch me from a…

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Talking Series 6 with Producer Stu 23:59

3M ago23:59

23:59

Hop aboard for a cruise down the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal with myself and the canal geek genius producer behind Canal Boat Diaries, Stuart Woodman. With over 30 years in telly, producer Stu and I enjoy a bit of barge banter and spill the beans on our one-of-a-kind reality/history/travel show. We talk about working without a script, ho…

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Introduction to the Accessible Waterways Association 30:59

3M ago30:59

30:59

Tim and Tracey Clarke, founders of the Accessible Waterways Association, chat about their recent visit to the Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice. They also talk about how and why the AWA was formed, how disability shapes their life on the waterways and think about their imminent cruise to the Crick Boat Show. Support the show Visit us at www.awa-u…

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Sailing Through Life: Sandra's Journey from Career to Canal Living 24:12

3M ago24:12

24:12

Join us in this captivating episode of the Alternative Living Chat Podcast, where host Maxine welcomes Sandra Willis, an inspiring individual who has embraced an unconventional lifestyle. Having lived on a narrowboat for 13 years, Sandra shares her unique journey from the bustling life of running an events company to the tranquil existence on the w…

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A Totally Worthwhile Risk - 3 47:56

3M ago47:56

47:56

Send us a text Join us tonight under a waning April moon as we think about the local ducks preparing for the ‘long sit’ and hear more about what happened to Mum and Dad after they had landed in Canada to start a new life together. Journal entry: 25th April, Friday. “Down in the engine bay De-rusting for painting. I am once more a clumsy adolescent.…

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"Navigating Life Aboard: Maxine's Alternative Living Journey" Introduction 5:23

3M ago5:23

5:23

Join host Maxine on the Alternative Living Chats podcast as she explores the unique lifestyles of those who have chosen to live differently—from narrowboats to tiny homes, and everything in between. Dive into the adventures of living on the water, hear firsthand accounts of embracing the off-grid life, and discover the pros and cons of stepping awa…

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A Totally Worthwhile Risk - 2 44:35

4M ago44:35

44:35

Send us a text Tonight, clouds build as the high pressure breaks. Speculative gusts of wind kick blackthorn blossom ghostly white along the towpath and the full moon seeps heavy and watery through a blanket of cloud. Join us tonight as we continue hearing Mum's account of a risk that was totally worth taking. Journal entry: 7th April, Monday “Warm …

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The Light at The End of the Tunnel 19:58

4M ago19:58

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 nort…

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A Totally Worthwhile Risk - 1 43:07

4M ago43:07

43:07

Send us a text It's a spring, moonless night - not quite 'Bible black', but nearly! It's a perfect night for stories. Why not join us to hear the first part of Mum’s account of their great adventure when, 68 years ago, almost to the day, Mum and Dad embarked on a totally new phase of their lives. Journal entry: 26th March, Wednesday “The ash are he…

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Going Through a Lock 11:20

4M ago11:20

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 worthwhi…

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Holiday Log 31:16

4M ago31:16

31:16

Need advice? have a question? then send us a text! This week we talk about our little trip up the Trent & Mersey Canal, engine breakdowns and yet more things being dropped in the canal. If you would like to submit anything for the podcast, please contact us on our Social Media or email [email protected] Have a question? need advice? or hav…

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Creepy Katy 51:53

5M ago51:53

51:53

Need advice? have a question? then send us a text! On this weeks episode we talk about personal struggles, birthdays and new boats! Have a question? need advice? or have something you want to throw overboard?? then email us [email protected]

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Cloud Herder (Won't you spin us one last story?) 38:48

5M ago38:48

38:48

Send us a text Along the towpath, the battle between winter and spring has begun with days of warmth and days of sleet. Although even the young ducks teach us a lesson in conflict avoidance. Join us tonight as we celebrate the lives of two people who were central to the creation of Nighttime on Still Waters. Journal entry: 12th March, Wednesday. “T…

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On the Leading Edge of Spring 37:36

5M ago37:36

37:36

Send us a text Along the towpath winter slowly fades. If we are not quite in spring yet, we can feel it close at hand. Join us tonight as we celebrate the shifts in light and tone across the landscape and from deep within. Journal entry: 26th February, Wednesday “For me, there are few things more beautiful and soul inspiring than this: Rain on wate…

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River Rage 16:49

5M ago16:49

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…

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Boat of Sickness 39:28

5M ago39:28

39:28

Need advice? have a question? then send us a text! This week we talk about how sickness has hit the Narrowboat along with how we ride out a storm. Have a question? need advice? or have something you want to throw overboard?? then email us [email protected] Terry Lancaster

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Winter on the Water 14:14

5M ago14:14

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 unexpecte…

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Winter Readings ('The Great Frost of 1895' and 'Day of the 'Iceberg'') 26:34

5M ago26:34

26:34

Send us a text A winter’s night on the canal, starless and wind gnawed. A snug cabin with a warm stove. A hot drink in a favourite mug (and a biscuit or two). A cosy chair waiting for you. It’s just the perfect kind of night to curl up and listen to some accounts about life on the canals in winters past, when the ice was 2ft 6in deep. Journal entry…

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Orion Still Looks Down (On the land my shadow knows) 34:59

6M ago34:59

34:59

Send us a text It’s a bitingly cold, sleety night. There’s a warning of snow in the forecast for later. It’s a perfect night to sit together around a warm stove snug inside the Erica’s cabin, while the wild world rages outside. The kettle is singing, the biscuit barrel is full. The night belongs to us. Journal entry: 7th February, Friday. “Yesterda…

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Premium Bonds, Coronation Street, Bread Week, Tasteless Tomatoes, Travelling Cat EP 214 44:49

6M ago44:49

44:49

This time… Premium Bonds… are they unique to the UK? Coronation Street AXED? How reporting is so different between sources. Youtube viewers like Andy and Nick are losing patience with the length of videos, the ads, and the moaning vloggers! Real bread week… why is sliced white so dreadful? We note the death of actor Brian Murphy and discuss 70s sit…

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Puffer Fish 42:36

6M ago42:36

42:36

Need advice? have a question? then send us a text! This week we have a full episode! Listen to the reality of Narrowboat Living, along with what we would like throw overboard! quizzes and questions! Have a question? need advice? or have something you want to throw overboard?? then email us [email protected]…

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The Pilot 30:32

6M ago30:32

30:32

Need advice? have a question? then send us a text! Well, after a lot of faffing, we finally managed to record the Pilot. Where we talk hot summers and pooing in boxes! Have a question? need advice? or have something you want to throw overboard?? then email us [email protected] Terry Lancaster

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The Changes that Come 36:29

6M ago36:29

36:29

Send us a text There seems to be an awful of change happening recently, often unasked and with far-reaching consequences. Knowing how to deal with it can be difficult and lead us to feeling unbalanced and overwhelmed. Tonight, we try to find some still-points within the chaos. Journal entry: 23rd January, Thursday “A robin, one winter, Riding out a…

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Wrapped in Freezing Fog 31:11

7M ago31:11

31:11

Send us a text Join us aboard the Erica, as we sit around the stove on a raw night of ice and freezing fog. Tonight, we reflect on boat (and other) life in the times of hard frost, the trials of swan and kingfisher life, and we finish with a short reading from Tom Rolt. Journal entry: 9th January, Thursday “The shatter of January light On fractured…

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Boating in London 22:23

7M ago22:23

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 mana…

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Cranes and Boats and Drains. Episode 8 44:05

7M ago44:05

44:05

Happy New Year This episode we talk wildfowl, leaking canals, Fran's dream to do something different and boy is Rich tired of food. Support the show Make sure you're subscribed! Website: https://floatingourboat.com/ Send all your questions and thoughts here [email protected] You can support us here if you like: https://www.patreon.com/floati…

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Into the Silence (The Undreaming) 23:47

7M ago23:47

23:47

Send us a text I am probably not the only one feeling a little disoriented and uncertain about what the upcoming year will hold. While it is great to have plans and dreams, these are not always possible and sometimes, I think, not even desirable. There are times for wisdom to be silent and for the 'undreaming' to occur before we can begin to discov…

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Christmas Special 2024 33:25

7M ago33:25

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 epis…

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Where Does Father Xmas Get Off?? - Episode 7. 27:23

7M ago27:23

27:23

Merry Christmas everyone. This week we talk about Fran's return, the vicar who tells the truth, our presents and ringing the changes. Support the show Make sure you're subscribed! Website: https://floatingourboat.com/ Send all your questions and thoughts here [email protected] You can support us here if you like: https://www.patreon.com/floa…

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Practically Speaking (Listeners' questions - 7) 32:51

8M ago32:51

32:51

Send us a text Join us tonight under the soft light of a veiled full moon as we consider the wash of winter tree colours, when to start looking for a mooring, and how practical do you have to be to live on a boat? Journal entry: 11th December, Wednesday “All week, a north-easterly Has raked across the bevelled Waters, aching and raw, Rattling the s…