Routes

Welcome back to the Quiet Coach, where we dive into Erin Richards' travel essentials and the moments that have shaped her as a traveler. From chocolate obsessions to meditation retreats, this is where we get into the details.Erin's always got dark chocolate in her bag, usually around 90% cocoa, and she's got her top three brands ranked like a proper connoisseur. She's more of a podcast person than music, currently obsessed with something called the Telepathy Tapes, and her travel hack is beautifully cheeky: order hot water for free at coffee shops and add your own herbal tea bags. Thailand and Hawaii both changed her profoundly through meditation retreats, teaching her she had all the tools she needed within herself. During COVID she saw Michelangelo's David in Florence with only three people in the room, though she admits she completely ruined the romantic moment with her husband. She's learned she's a brilliant traveler who's finally stopped running through airports, a small victory she credits to her husband's influence, and unpacking immediately to make any space feel like home is essential when you're constantly on the move.

From childhood camping trips in France to missing flights in spectacular fashion, Erin Richards has always been someone who thrives on movement and discovery. The Gotham star joins Jenni to chat about her journey from Penarth to Hollywood and back again, with plenty of wild stories along the way.Growing up, Erin was the kind of kid who'd pile into the back of her mum's Chrysler seven seater with her sisters and drive through France for what felt like days. Those childhood camping trips planted something deep, a love of being in transit that's never really left her. At eighteen, armed with money from her first acting job on a Welsh TV show, she took off on a proper gap year adventure through Canada, New Zealand and Australia, hitchhiking without a second thought and throwing herself into every extreme sport going. She remembers jumping into the ocean and landing right next to a whale shark, just this insane moment of being utterly present and alive. These days, as a mum with another baby on the way, she won't even do rollercoasters anymore, that shift in perspective where suddenly you're not the lead character in your own story.What comes through most is how travel has shaped everything, from her decade in LA and New York to finally returning home to Cardiff. She's someone who used to run for every single plane but has recently started packing the day before for the first time in her life, a small miracle of maturity. Expect tales of her deeply embarrassing teddy bear that she once had her sister rescue from a Gatwick Hilton, that transformative ten day cleanse in Thailand where she drank clay mixed with watermelon juice, directing her first UK series back home in Wales, and the family house in France that her mum and aunt bought on impulse when they popped out for apples.Discover The Best Places to Visit in The UK by Train with LNER

In this very special Christmas edition of Routes, Jenni invites you to a festive celebration filled with laughter, travel stories, and holiday cheer. Whether you're journeying near or far, this episode brings you Christmas traditions and stories from some of Jenni's past and future guests.Penny Lancaster shares her love for Christmas parties, tree decorating battles with Rod, and why having a chef means she actually enjoys the day. Ella Eyre takes us through her spreadsheet planned three day menu from beef Wellington to Yorkshire pudding toasties. Stephen Mangan explains why he's the designated washer-upper and his quest to work out New Year properly. Suzi Ruffell brings festive enthusiasm from 1st December, love for Christmas films, and cooking while pickled on Buck's Fizz. Erin Richards reveals her family's three hour present circle and accidentally spending New Year countdown alone on the M4. James Martin shares why he took over cooking 30 years ago, feeding 20 people, and sending live lobsters to Holly Willoughby. Sam Heughan's mission to roast Brussels sprouts properly and why dry January should be disbanded.Warning: Expect family moments, festive fun and of course, a bit of Christmas chaos to get you in the festive spirit.Discover The Best Places to Visit in The UK by Train with LNER

What happens when a self-confessed show off who was made to feel stupid at school becomes a bestselling author and one of the UK's most loved comedians? In this Quiet Coach episode, Suzi Ruffell opens up about her journey from struggling with severe dyslexia to writing a book that surprised even herself. She reveals how she actually writes her standup, working from single word cue cards and improvising stories on stage rather than scripting every line, and shares the lovely moment her publisher told her "I don't care how you spell things, I care about your story," which opened up a whole new world for someone who'd been told they couldn't write.Expect candid chat about letting go of the good gigs before your ego gets unbearable, the travel essential ear plugs that deaden sound without blocking it completely, and why there's always a whippet draped across her on the sofa at home. Plus, Suzi's train snack of choice is refreshingly sensible (fruit salad and biscuits with endless cups of tea), she's got strong opinions about audiobooks for thrillers versus physical books for gentler reads, and she shares the rhythms of tour life from weekly Tuesday morning podcast recordings with best mate Tom Allen to winding down with ice plunges she can only manage for thirty seconds.

From childhood holidays in caravans with cousins to selling out Edinburgh Festival shows and traveling the country on tour, Suzi Ruffell's life has been shaped by journeys both literal and creative. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the award winning comedian and Sunday Times bestselling author chats with Jenni about her love of train travel, how she became a standup storyteller, and why Edinburgh Festival is basically "clown town on a train."Suzi reflects on her early years in Portsmouth, those magical trips to Disney World (courtesy of her dad's lorry selling connections), and how she went from drama school graduate working in a pub to building a comedy career with nothing but open mic nights and determination. She also shares behind the scenes tales of writing her book on trains around the country, the mixed bag of Edinburgh Festival experiences, and that chaotic dash across Switzerland involving three trains, one double decker, and an hour to spare before the Lionesses Euro final.Expect laughter, honest chat about imposter syndrome, and some proper train enthusiasm too, including why Suzi loves the disconnection of rail travel, her elaborate system for working on trains (involving ear defenders and a privacy screen), and that time she accidentally blagged her way into a FIFA party with Maisie Adam. Plus, find out what it's like when your five year old daughter thinks you're the coolest person alive, even if your shows would be better with songs and dances.Discover The Best Places to Visit in The UK by Train with LNER