Swinging the Lamp

A Journey from the Moon to Moorings

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:12:45 GMT

The podcast episode dives into various intriguing topics, starting with a conversation about space missions and rocket launches that segues into a critique of leadership in politics and business. The discussion touches on the challenges faced by leaders like Trump and the expectations of accountability in corporate versus political spheres. Additionally, the podcast reflects on historical war crimes and the complex dynamics of warfare, comparing past events with current geopolitical tensions. Anchors and maritime adventures add a lighter tone, as the hosts discuss community spirit in sailing clubs and the economic impacts on boat logistics due to rising fuel prices.

"It's only a joke"

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:18:40 GMT

In this episode, Thor and Rory dive into the nautical challenges faced at Port Edgar Marina, discussing the mysterious source of water on board and the intricacies of marine maintenance. As they troubleshoot issues from WiFi to engine troubles, they also touch on broader political themes like the US-Iran relations and the financial implications of peace talks. Amid the nautical discourse, they compare the costs of rail travel, reflecting on the extravagance of first-class experiences and the economic constraints of spontaneous journeys. The episode promises insights and humour in the world of sailing and beyond.

Boats, Battles, and the Beauty of the Canaries

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:27:17 GMT

Amidst technical setbacks, the Rory and Thor delve into boating stories, sharing updates on their ventures and technological advancements in their sailing experiences. They reminisce about the Canary Islands' allure while revealing their ambition for a transatlantic journey. As the Middle East unfolds into conflict, travel plans are reevaluated, highlighting the unforeseen consequences on flight paths and international travel. The hosts further engage with their audience through a poll predicting the conflict's duration, emphasising concerns of seasoned professionals whose insights provide a comprehensive view of how ongoing geopolitical strife influences the broader narrative of their maritime adventures.

# 57 Sailing amidst the storm

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:21:35 GMT

A debate around technology in education forms the crucial backdrop of this episode, as there is growing concern in Fife about providing iPads to primary school children. Hosts weigh in on the educational advantages and screen time implications, questioning the overall impact on young learners. They touch on geopolitical tensions as well, particularly British expatriates finding themselves amid conflict in Dubai. Finally, sailing anecdotes and tales from both experienced and aspiring sailors paint a vivid picture, wrapping around significant questions about modern living, cultural experiences, and the environment, all reflected through an engaging maritime lens.

#56 Aberdour Boat Club Talk "Pilot on the Forth"

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:56:50 GMT

Explore the dynamic and fascinating world of ship pilotage in this podcast episode set in Scotland's Aberdour Boat Club. Rory shares his insights into what it means to be a ship pilot, detailing their responsibilities, training, and the essential role they play in safely manoeuvring massive vessels through tricky maritime terrain. The conversation is peppered with humorous maritime anecdotes, illustrating the rich and sometimes light-hearted culture among seafarers. This episode is a deep dive into the blend of precision, local expertise, and camaraderie that defines the profession, making a compelling case for its ongoing importance.

#55 On the brink of war?

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:17:15 GMT

In this podcast episode, Rory and Thor are joined by former British diplomat Alex Parsons to delve into the geopolitical tensions unfolding between the US and Iran. With speculation of an imminent strike by the US, they explore potential responses from Iran, including the possibility of Iran targeting US naval assets or merchant ships. The discussion touches on internal US political dynamics, the strategic implications in the Middle East, and the role of oil prices. The episode also scrutinises the concept of 'regimes' versus 'governments,' questioning the international double standards applied to different nations based on strategic interests.

#54 Super CalMac in España, extra fake news bonanza

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:08:39 GMT

In this episode, Rory and Mark Thompson discuss the intriguing delay of a Scottish ferry currently docked in Almeria, Spain. Having departed from Gibraltar over a week ago, the ferry faced inclement weather off Morocco before diverting to Spain. Initial speculations included crew rotations or poor weather conditions. However, new information casts doubt on these explanations, hinting at possible technical issues. The hosts explore various theories and speculate about administrative inefficiencies and potential political manoeuvres behind this taxpayer-funded vessel's prolonged stay in Spain.

#53 CalMac Cruise

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:45:22 GMT

This episode takes listeners from the sunny horizons of Texas to the bleak Scottish weather, through a conversation between two friends passionate about sailing. Rory and Thor discuss the quest for innovative sailing technologies like forward-facing echo sounders and their potential benefits. The conversation also steers towards a contentious ferry voyage fraught with delays and detours, all underpinned by union rules and global geopolitics. From evocative descriptions of sea states to a tongue-in-cheek proposal for union leaders taking political reins, this discussion is an insightful melding of sailing wisdom, political critique, and genuine camaraderie.

#52 Sun God

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:34:29 GMT

Join Thor and Rory as they converse across time zones, discussing cultural observations and experiences from Texas to Scotland. Thor, stationed at a family friend's expansive Texan property, recounts warm adventures in America and an unexpectedly friendly welcome at Austin's airport. Rory, on the other hand, corrects some factual missteps from previous episodes while enduring Scotland's unforgiving weather and preparing for his talk at Aberdour boat club. Together, they humorously address serious topics like political scandals and the global influence of Western leaders. With a seamless blend of jovial banter and poignant reflections, the two hosts craft a richly entertaining dialogue that traverses from casual observations to profound inquiries.

#51 Maintenance Issues

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:45:02 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss whether the Golden Globe Race was really the "Maintenance nace Race" and wonder whether it's fair to boycott the USA world cup.

#50 Sorry seems to be the hardest word

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:49:38 GMT

Thor and Rory tackle the thorny issues of out of control dogs and dodgy parking and wonder why so many people struggle to say 'sorry'.

#49 What is a risky childhood?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:48:05 GMT

Thor and Rory debate the merits of a family sailing adventure and whether an upbringing sailing around the world is riskier than living in a house with a trampoline in the garden.

#48 New Year Harmony

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:29:03 GMT

This episode kicks off 2026 by intertwining personal anecdotes with broader social commentaries. Rory reflects on a surprising wake-up call from an innocuous New Year's Day activity, prompting a healthier lifestyle. Thor and Rory debate the potential ramifications of replacing ferries with bridges or tunnels on Scottish islands, arguing for the preservation of traditional ways and jobs. The discussion is set against the backdrop of beautiful yet challenging Scottish winters, exploring how climate change plays a role in this new year. Through it all, the episode provides a captivating blend of humour, reflection, and earnest dialogue.

#47 Solo Sailing

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:57:20 GMT

In this episode, Thor and Rory discuss plans for celebrating New Year's Eve with a trip to Prague. The conversation humorously delves into the naming confusion of Czechia and classic Cold War references. With a nod to the Scottish celebration of Hogmanay, there's a somber reflection on recent tragic events during a Christmas swim in Cornwall. The episode takes a critical turn with discussion about safety at sea, where opinions clash between libertarian freedom and responsibility towards others, highlighting the potential consequences of neglecting safety for social media attention.

#46 Below Deck

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:26:09 GMT

In this engaging podcast episode, Kelly Broad, a seasoned chief stew, provides an insider's look into the luxurious world of superyachts. Starting her career in 2011, Kelly shares her journey from a green stewardess to leading a team, maintaining the impeccable standards required onboard, and catering to high-profile guests. She discusses the diversity of duties, ranging from guest service to managing dietary needs, and reflects on working with celebrity guests like Johnny Depp. Kelly also addresses common misconceptions about superyacht life, fueled by popular TV shows and films, highlighting the real challenges and rewards of her career.

#45 Human relationships on the high seas

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:57:53 GMT

The episode dives into the complexities of friendships formed during intense experiences like sailing voyages. Thor and Rory reflect on the shipmate bonds they form, sharing stories about sailors who have touched their lives, including one named Neil, whose tragic story sheds light on the challenges of loneliness. The hosts also ponder the effectiveness of modern digital communication, particularly WhatsApp, in maintaining friendships. Despite the serious undertones, they reminisce about laughter and camaraderie during an RYA sailing course, exploring how fleeting social interactions can sometimes leave lasting impressions, even if they fade into distant memories over time.

#44 From Hampden Park to the Heart of Finance: A Journey from the 70s

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:02:54 GMT

Rory and Thor are joined by Martin Vander Weyer, the business editor of the Spectator and described by Boris Johnson as the most oracular and entertaining financial journalist in London. They reminisce about Scotland’s football success in the 1970s, with stories involving Hampden Park's infamous 'hot leg' experiences. The episode shifts to economic discussions, evaluating the impacts of current tax policies on various sectors, including the oil industry and banking, debating the merits and demerits of income taxation, and contrasting Hong Kong's laissez-faire legacy with Scotland's current economic strategies.

#43 Drug Running and Whisky Distilling

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:43:44 GMT

Rory tells Thor about his contribution to the "war on drugs" while Thor has an exciting update on the Shetland Distillery.

# 42 Steven A. Young on Alchemy and other assorted topics

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 07:41:53 GMT

In this episode of Swinging the Lamp, Dr. Steven Young shares insights from his book, A Fool's Wisdom, offering a compelling examination of modern scientific concepts compared to ancient alchemy. With a background in theoretical physics and nuclear physics, Young discusses his unconventional journey from academia to music, challenging mainstream notions about the world. He reveals how the events surrounding COVID-19 motivated him to scrutinise his beliefs and question the scientific narratives we've been taught. His exploration encourages listeners to rethink established truths and seek deeper understanding, blending scientific rigour with ancient knowledge.

#41 Beer blagging and Life Coaching

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 02:25:27 GMT

Thor tells Rory about his latest comedy gig and Rory wonders when one should sieze the moment.

#40 No Man is an Island - Unless his name is Madagascar

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:31:01 GMT

Rory is joined by Mark Thompson to discuss blue water cruising

#39 Hot Hash Browns

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:20:04 GMT

Thor and Rory agree on the importance of hot hash browns at McDonalds and the usefulness of seawater cooling strainers.

#38 Class Sailing

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:10:45 GMT

Thor and Rory debate the British Class system and assess their own class credentials.

#37 Goodbye to Paper Charts?

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 21:18:01 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss the wisdom of no more instruction on paper charts in UK Nautical Colleges.

Who's Taking Out the rubbish? The Ethics of Maritime Chores

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:17:20 GMT

The episode is an engaging mix of humour and insight as Rory and Thor banter about various transportation modes. They see-saw between Thor's public transport woes and the reliability of older cars, drawing a passionate debate about sustainable travel. Rory recounts an amusing experience with new lease cars and their intrusive alarms, while Thor reflects on the larger picture of environmental implications. The conversation shifts to maritime life, where they unravel the cultural dynamics of onboard chores and the notion of shared responsibility. With anecdotes spanning ships and skies, the dialogue underscores the evolving nature of travel and teamwork.

#35 Nobel Peace and a stormy Weekend

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:15 GMT

Thor reveals the result of his poll on who should win the Nobel Peace prize while Rory has a few anecdotes from the stormy weekend.

Look up and Look out

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:13:42 GMT

Thor is in recovery mode after his eye operation as he catches up with Rory to discuss the merits of Infra Red lookout cameras and bow fenders

#33 Pirate Patch and Passage Planning

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:24:42 GMT

Thor finds that NHS queues can be very speedy when you need something serious done and Rory outlines a 2026 sailing itinerary.

#32 Man Overboard

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:47:31 GMT

Thor and Rory catch up after a big week in the culture wars and discuss Rory's travails with a flooded heads and how he his gone mainstream.

#31 Comedy and connection

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 06:36:30 GMT

Thor is buzzing after his impromptu call to perform at a stand-up gig but Rory questions how the word 'connection' has crept into modern parlance.

#30 Lords, piers and Calmac ferries

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:34:04 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss the wisdom of hereditary entitlement when it comes to the future of Scottish Islands and they conclude that lords resemble barnacles on a boat.

#29 Going bananas with boats

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:36:37 GMT

Thor and Rory exchange tales of woe on the boating front and Rory finds some of the nursery material not to his taste.

#28 The Police State and the Potter

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:47:18 GMT

Rory drops in to Bill Williamson's pottery studio in Argyll to hear about his recent arrest and weekend in captivity after his silent vigil for Palestinian children fell foul of the 2000 Terrorism Act.

#27 Out at Sea

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:54:10 GMT

Thor gives Rory some "Thorapy". Rory is out at sea as he leaves the harbour at Eyemouth and heads for the Forth - but things are all a bit fraught.

#26 We're goosed, we're goosed, we're goosed (OVER)

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:50:18 GMT

Mark Thompson joins Thor and Rory to discuss how to deal with dodgy engines and the delights of taking your boat to the Mediterranean.

#25 Peaceful Protests

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:24:28 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss the dramatic Greenpeace protest off the Forth road bridge and Thor tells Rory about his plans for a weekend of Sailing out of Tarbert on the West Coast.

#24 The Mariner Returns

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:51:06 GMT

Thor reports on his sea experience with the RYA and his discovery of the best takeaway in Scotland while Rory recounts an unwelcome encounter with a dog owner on the beach.

#23 A salty sailor anchored in Ibiza

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:37:08 GMT

With Thor on the high seas, Rory invites Mark Thompson to swing the lamp from his anchorage in Ibiza. He weighs in on the RYA debate, discusses solar power on boats and offers some candid reflection on the covid era + much more.

#22 Hairdressers, Tennis Players and Presidents

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 08:06:41 GMT

Thor and Rory contemplate the latest sinister plan to use our hair cut outings for indoctrination purposes and how some of the players at Wimbledon have been made stateless. They also reveal who's in the running for Scottish President.

#21 Tin Foil Hat Tennis

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:22:18 GMT

Thor and Rory dive into how debates are won and lost and the power of being on the side of the dominant narrative before pondering who might make a good Scottish president.

#20 Getting Ready for the Apocalypse

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:51:58 GMT

Thor tells Rory about his application to join a reality TV show and his decision to enrol on an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) course.

#19 Yacht Spotting

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 08:02:34 GMT

Thor and Rory catch up on their travels and marvel at Maltese ferries while they disagree on Greta's voyage to Gaza

#18 Fine Dining

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:41 GMT

Thor and Rory exchange notes from their recent dining experiences and another rollercoaster of a chat lands on Greta Thunberg's voyage to Gaza

#17 Gaslit in a crazy cult

Thu, 29 May 2025 07:08:17 GMT

Rory and Thor discuss the triumph of Aberdeen at the Scottish Cup and return to the theme of the declining Granite City.

#16 Moorings and Midwits

Thu, 22 May 2025 06:56:05 GMT

Thor and Rory ponder the slur of being a 'midwit', while on the maritime front, Rory updates Thor on the progress of a new mooring. There's also time for a chat about bananas.

#15 Who's house is it anyway?

Thu, 15 May 2025 06:32:31 GMT

Thor and Rory are joined by former British Diplomat and Middle East consultant, Alex Parsons to discuss the recent Palestine / Israel debate between Douglas Murray and Dave Smith on the Joe Rogan podcast. Plus Rory tells a few stories about an obsessive stickler for rules and diesel engine maintenance at sea.

#14 Where do the Children Play?

Thu, 08 May 2025 05:39:58 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss the lack of children out and about in suburbia, Rory tells Thor about the sailing trip to Belfast and they end up in a discussion about doing the right thing at work.

#13 Electrification & Punishment

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:56:49 GMT

Rory and Thor start this weeks Pod with a discussion about modern parenting before Thor finds out some unwelcome news for boat owners.

#12 Swingers and Left Wingers

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 07:36:44 GMT

Thor and Rory consider the effects of Thatcher's legacy on the fabric of society after Rory's hotel stay cast his mind back to the 80s. Thor is feeling positive after his visit to Dubrovnik and continues to try and persuade Rory that not all politicians are incompetent buffoons.

#11 Responding to Authority

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:40:54 GMT

Thor dials in from the outer reaches of Shetland using Starlink to hear about Rory's misgivings about changing the clocks and offers some comedy material as an antidote to government intervention. Rory swings the lamp about his favourite sea captain and his attitude to authority.

#10 Influencing Comedy

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:34:14 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss what makes an influencer and their impact on contemporary society + Thor reveals that he's been trying to influence the Edinburgh comedy circuit with some pacifist influence.

# Careers or bums on seats? + Interview with Ben McInnes

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:09:30 GMT

Rory and Thor discuss living to work and working to live and then we swing the lamp with Portsmouth Harbour Master and Ship's Pilot Ben McInnes.

#8 Smashing Teslas and blockading Ports

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 18:30:44 GMT

Thor returns from Romania where he enjoyed the wine, while Rory was a bit concerned about the Tesla backlash but took a trip to Eyemouth and was excited about how the boat is progressing at the yard and where the lamp will swing from.

#7 Brigitte Macron Goes Mainstream

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:05:04 GMT

Rory stops by Thor's boat on his way to sail a supertanker and Rory has some good news about Thomas the Tank Engine books.

#6 Engines and Collisions

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 07:39:31 GMT

Thor contemplates a negative Trustpilot review after he discovers all is not well with his boat engine and Rory thinks the North Sea collision might actually be a cock-up rather than a conspiracy.

#5 Riffing and Rolling on Thor's Boat

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:01:43 GMT

Thor and Rory talk about the mystery of the sea and how stories shape our understanding.

#4 From Macro to Micro

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:58:30 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss the possible advantages of focussing on small things close to home rather than getting too stressed about world affairs.

#3 The Art of the Disagreement

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

Thor and Rory consider why contemporary discourse has become more unpleasant and the lively debate is in danger of being consigned to the past.

Swinging the Lamp #2 Smart Energy

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 13:06:09 GMT

Thor and Rory discuss what kneeling at the altar of net zero means

Swinging the Lamp #1 (Thor and Rory)

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 10:17:40 GMT

Thor and Rory launch Swinging the Lamp with a chat about the extra Flower of Scotland Lyrics