Cheers with Nat

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. In today's episode, you're going to hear from Natalie Chiu, co-founder of Saicho Sparkling Tea. We explore how Natalie's lifelong love of food and her fascination with science led her to train as a flavourist… and how an unexpected twist during her and her husband's PhD programmes set them on the path to creating Saicho. In addition to learning all about the business and the many roles Natalie plays within it, you'll also get a mini tea masterclass, hear the long list of podcasts that keep Natalie grounded outside of work, discover what she enjoys most about being part of the drinks industry, and a whole lot more. --- What stuck with me from this conversation: On wearing her many hats in the business: "It's such a joy, because every touch point is just so different. And it's nice to be able to see everything from conception of the product, to production, and then to release. And then seeing people come back and tell us they enjoy it, it's such a humbling experience." On Saicho's impact: "Creating Saicho is actually allowing people to have those moments. Because it's looking at something to appreciate it… Often we're so fast – in terms of eating, consuming, moving around – there's so much going on. And, actually, creating that and being part of that experience of slowing people down is just amazing." On starting the business: "Neither of us are business backgrounds. We're both scientists and we were just figuring things out. So we learned along the way." On how the market has changed: "Whenever we go out to see consumers and we'll do tastings, we used to get a really confused faces about sparkling tea. Now, it's people are actively seeking out sparkling tea. It is such a difference just over the couple of years we've been around." On advice for her younger self: "Something that I definitely think is important to get through and start a business is to make sure you have grit and perseverance through those challenges. I think, for me, not giving up is probably one of the most important things… And then finding your people. Whether or not you're looking at hiring your first person and continuing to hire people. Finding people that fit when you're looking for advisors or investors. It's important to find those people that fit with you. And I think trusting your gut is often the best thing."   Links & things: Saicho Sparkling Tea We were tasting the Osmathus, which was a seasonal, but is now part of the core range Try them all here Check out 'The Art of Pairing' University of Nottingham Food science research Natalie's podcast reccs: Acquired Hungry Dish Science vs The Check up And one TV recc for good measure Emily in Paris  (I wholeheartedly agree with this one! 😄)   Recording info: December 2025 in London --- Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Before we get started with Episode 2, I wanted to share an exciting update about last week's guest, Georgia Kelly.  In true Cheers with Nat fashion, Georgia has also just moved beyond beer! Last week, on the very day her episode was released, she started a new role as a sales rep for Disaronno. Please do take a moment to pop onto LinkedIn and congratulate her, as that's what this show is all about – cheering on women in drinks. What a start! And we've got another incredible guest up next.  In today's episode, you're going to hear from Karina Aggarwal, better known on Instagram as GiggleWater411. Considering one of the things Karina loves most about her work is that no two days look alike, we start by digging into her job as a brand strategist and consultant and what it actually entails. We then go all the way back, discussing her childhood interest in Egyptology (and the surprising parallel with her work today), how she created her current role, the hobbies that keep her grounded outside of work, and more. Just before we get into the episode, I wanted to share a little content warning that we  also talk about Karina's recent battle with cancer, which she's been very open about on her social media. If you have a loved one living with cancer, like I do, I know these conversations can be tough to hear, but Karina's story is a really inspiring one. She lets us in on why she chose to share her battle so publicly, the positive impact she's had on others by doing so, and the life lessons she's learned from this experience. --- What stuck with me from this conversation: On imposter syndrome: "For me one of the things that has always helped is to know that I've done as much as I could from a preparation point of view… The confidence then comes to say, if there's something that I don't know, it's really ok for me to say, 'Oh wait, that's an interesting question. Let me try to find out about that. I'm not sure.' It doesn't diminish everything else that I know." On her role as a brand strategist: "It may eventually be about selling the product, but you want to establish what the brand is, you want to know who the right audience is to speak to, and how do you speak to the audience." On social media: "The idea is not to say this is the best whiskey or the best beer, it's always to say this for this reason is why I like to drink it or why it's on my bar." On her journey with cancer: Why she shared it publicly: "I just realised that I wanted people to hear from me. Like, I wanted them to know where I was at at that point in my head. That it wasn't a sob story. Yes it was a huge thing and I was sort of getting used to it. But that I was ok." The impact on others: "The other thing that became really important through the journey is that, again, when I first put it out there, I encouraged women to go and get tested. I said it's not something that we are told and I don't know why that is… and a lot of women write to me and said, 'We went. We took our best friends, we took our sisters, we took our mothers. We had been putting it off for a while.' But it was almost like, if it happened to you, it can happen to us." The impact on herself: "I've never been a patient person. I wouldn't say I am one now. But it did teach me a little bit to, you know, pick my battles a little better. Slow things down a little bit. Not need to be everywhere all at once." On scuba diving: "I struggle with getting my mind to shut down… but being in the ocean and diving and just looking at stuff and thinking about how the symbiosis is between these things and how it functions, that really calms me. It stops my mind from wondering."  Links & things: Indian indigenous spirits Six Brothers Mahura More on mahura and feni Karina's favourite comeptitions to judge Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Brussels Beer Challenge The legend that is RBG Book reccs – The Broken Earth Triology   Recording info: November 2025 in Bangalore, India Apologies for the background noise, we were recording in a meeting room in our hotel in India (we were both in Bangalore for the Brews & Spirits Expo) and we had a bit of company on a few occasions! --- Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

Welcome to the first episode of Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. My first guest, Georgia Kelly, is the person that gave me the push I needed to bring this show (back) to life, after a chat at an event way back in January 2025. (Yes, it took me that long to get myself and this project in motion!) Georgia was working for Lucky Saint at the time and said she'd listened to my Beer with Nat episode with Lucky Saint's MD Emma Heal as part of her interview prep. (She also said she'd fall asleep to the pod, which I'm still not sure if that's a complement or not! lol) She really wanted to see the podcast make a comeback – which I'd been toying with, but I'd been wanting to broaden the scope of the show – and she gave the straight-talking advice I needed to get make it happen. More in the episode! A Key Account Manager at DEYA Brewing Company (at the time of our recording), our focus is on Georgia's career story. From her start as a pot-wash, to working behind the bar, and now to life on the other side of it as a sales rep. We also get into much more, including what she wanted to be when she was little and the thread that runs through all of her roles – her love of people and their stories. --- Editor's note: As of March 2026, Georgia has just started a new sales role elsewhere in the drinks world... listen in to Ep 2 for an update! --- What stuck with me from this conversation: On job searching: 'I didn't know even the words to search for for the job. I kept searching rep, and if you search rep it's not going to come up, because often the words are brand ambassador or account manager' On the Women in Beer mentorship programme: 'I think the main takeaway would be feeling like I have a place in the industry' On how to treat people: 'Making someone else smile makes your day a lot better, too' On confidence: 'You realise you can sort of practice being confident by complimenting somebody randomly' Georgia's advice in a nutshell: Ask questions, pay attention to the people around you that inspire you (and tell them that they inspire you), and practice your confidence   Links & things: Chouffe – traditional & cherry DEYA Brewing Company – beers & taproom in Cheltenham Lucky Saint - beers & pub in London Shout outs to Emma & Kerttu on the team for being super inspiring Georgia's favourite author Jeannette Winterson and book Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit The Women in Beer mentorship programme & annual awards On mental health & hospitality – Mental Health First Aid England & Burnt Chef Podcast & book reccs The Lock In podcast 'Stop! In the name of pubs' episode Tart by Slutty Chef   Recording info: November 2025 at Market Coffee House in London Thank you for hosting us! I hope the background noise from this lovely venue adds a bit of atmosphere and isn't too distracting And apologies for the phone buzzes – I'll make sure all future guests don't have their phones on the table! --- Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

For this final episode of the 'Beer with Nat' podcast, we're going full circle… all the way back to Episode #001. Today's guest is Jaega Wise, Head Brewer at Wild Card Brewery and my very first guest when the show kicked off in November 2018. We start by checking in with Jaega on what she's been up to since then, including seeing the brewery through the pandemic, launching their new barrel program, hosting a TV series and publishing a book. (Yep, she's been busy!) Then, as a thank you to Jaega for helping me get the show off the ground all those years go… she gets to turn the tables and interview me!    We chat all about my career, what I was up to before beer, what I enjoy most about being part of the beer industry and plenty more. We have a lot of laughs, too. I hope you enjoy listening in. Here's Jaega…

Today's guest is Helen Anne Smith (they/them), Founder of Burum Collective. We start by discussing what Burum Collective is all about, what inspired Helen to set it up during the first pandemic lockdown in 2020, the resources they offer currently and what their goals are for the future. Then we get into what keeps Helen busy alongside Burum, including part-time roles as a bartender and in sales and marketing for Wilderness Brewery and Welsh Mountain Cider.   Finally, Helen lets us in on what they were up to before beer, how they got their start in the beer industry, and, of course, what they enjoy most about being a part of it. Here's Helen…

Today's guest is Maia Kazas, European Events Manager at global hop company Barth-Haas. To start, Maia tells us what Barth-Haas does, what her role as events manager entails and how her work was impacted by the pandemic, given that most of the activities she'd normally be organizing were put on hold the past two years. Maia then shares what she was up to before beer and how she made her transition into the beer industry – more specifically, into working with hops. You'll get to hear all about her experience working on a hop farm in New Zealand and what it was like for her to move from the US to the UK for her job… without ever visiting first! We also discuss one of Maia's other passions: mead. And lastly, Maia lets us in on what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. Here's Maia…

Today's guest is Lucie Dallas, General Manager of The Griffin Pub in Whetstone, North London. To start, Lucie tells us what her day-to-day work life as a pub GM looks like, including a run-down of the different tasks on her to-do list and the skills she thinks it takes to really excel in her role. We then discuss what it was like to see the pub – her business, her team and her customers – through all of the pandemic-related challenges of the last two years. Finally, Lucie shares what she was up to before beer, the different roles she's held during her time in the beer industry and, of course, what she enjoys most about being a part of it. Here's Lucie…

Today's guest is Helena Adedipe, Co-Founder of Eko Brewery. To start, Helena tells us what inspired her and her husband, Anthony, to set up the business in 2019 and talks us through some of the unique ingredients and considerations behind their distinctive African-inspired beers. We then discuss what her role looks like today and what keeps Helena busy outside the brewery, as she still maintains a full-time role as a financial crime consultant. You may think that role might not have much to do with beer, but Helena lets us in on some of the skills she's brought from her day job into her beer career. She also shares her advice for others looking to start their own business and, of course, what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, there's quite a bit of feedback from Helena's mic as the conversation gets started, but we get the issue fixed about one-third of the way through. So please do hang in there and apologies in advance!) Here's Helena…

Today's guest is Ruth Mitchell, Operations Director at Elusive Brewing. Ruth has been with Elusive for just about a year now, but her promotion to Operations Director was relatively recent. As the role was still very new when we spoke, she tells us a bit about what her current day-to-day looks like, the vision for the future, and what her previous role as Head of Sales, Marketing and Events entailed. We then go all the way back to the beginning of Ruth's career in beer which has seen her work in sales roles for breweries including Adnams, Charles Wells, West Berkshire, Utopian and now Elusive. (She's also spent some time in gin sales, too!) As you'll hear, she's got a wealth of experience and knowledge to share, including advice on how to get started in a career in beer, the skills it takes to succeed in sales and much more. Finally, Ruth tells us what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads-up Ruth's adorable sausage dog Bertie was in the room with her during our conversation, so you'll hear him chime in on occasion. Hopefully it's not too distracting!) Here's Ruth…

Today's guest is Lana Svitankova, a beer writer, translator, beer judge and brewery ambassador for Varvar Brew in Kyiv, Ukraine. Before we get into what we chatted about, I thought it best to mention when we chatted. Lana and I recorded in mid-December 2021, just two months before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Given the current situation, I checked in with Lana to make sure she was comfortable with me sharing our conversation as planned and she felt there was no need to postpone it, suggesting instead that the episode may help draw attention to the country, its people and its beer scene. If you'd like to support the people of Ukraine, Lana has launched a new initiative – Drinkers for Ukraine – to help raise funds for the Red Cross humanitarian relief effort in the country. Visit drinkersforukraine.com to find out how you can get involved. And if you'd like to learn more about Lana, the incredible individual behind this initiative, listen in as we discuss what Lana's day-to-day work life looks like, how she got into beer, and of course, what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, I was recovering from Covid when Lana and I chatted, so my voice is a bit scratchy. Apologies in advance.) Here's Lana…

Today's guest is Pip Young, founder of The Coven Brewsters and Brewery Manager at Salt Beer Factory. To start, Pip tells us about her business, 30 Six Co, and the projects it encompasses, including Flour to the People and The Coven Brewsters. You'll hear all about what she's accomplished so far and her exciting plans for the year ahead. We also discuss her role as Brewery Manager at Salt Beer Factory and the collaboration brew that brought both of her worlds together. Finally, Pip shares her advice on how to get into the beer industry and what she enjoys most about being a part of it. (Just a quick heads up, Pip was chatting with me from the brewery taproom, so there's a bit of background noise on her end, but hopefully it's not too distracting!) Here's Pip…

Today's guest is Emma Heal, Managing Director of Lucky Saint, the UK's biggest dedicated alcohol-free beer brand with the aim to "inspire the world to drink better." Emma tells us what a Managing Director does and what it was like to take on her role at Lucky Saint in February 2020… just one month before the pandemic began. We then take a deep dive into the business: the incredible growth Lucky Saint has seen (growing 150% year on year), who their customers are, and what sets the brand apart from the other no- and low-products on the market. Finally, Emma talks us through her career to date spanning a range of food and drink brands, what led her to pursue a career in beer, and what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. Here's Emma…

Today's guest is Allison Macdonald, Head Brewer at Malt Shovel Brewers in Sydney, Australia. We start by discussing what Alli's day-to-day role looks like and her favourite part of the job, then we get into what inspired her to become a brewer and how she made it happen. Alli also tells us about her three-year tenure as the President of the Australian chapter of the Pink Boots Society, the advice she has for others looking to get into brewing and, of course, what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. Here's Alli…     

Today's guest is Lorraine Copes, Founder and CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to accelerate racial equality within the hospitality sector. We start by discussing what inspired Lorraine to set up the organization, what her day-to-day role as Founder and CEO looks like, and what aspect of her work she's felt to be most impactful so far. We then hear all about Lorraine's career to-date, as she's spent nearly two decades leading procurement and supply chain teams for some of the country's best-known restaurant and pub groups. She tells us what it's been like to go from managing a team to managing her own business, including the pros and cons and what transferrable skills she brought with her. Finally, Lorraine lets us in on what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer, pub and hospitality industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Lorraine…

Today's guest is Amy Todd, Owner and Analyst of Zymology Labs. We start by discussing what Zymology Labs does, what inspired Amy to set up the business, and what her day-to-day there looks like. Then Amy tells us how she got here and the training it took to set up an independent beer quality laboratory – from her chemistry degree in university, to an apprenticeship with the American Brewer's Guild, to roles with Magic Hat and Zero Gravity Brewing in Vermont. Finally, Amy lets us in what it's been like to go from working for someone else to working for herself, what advice she has for others looking to set up their own business, and, of course, what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Amy…

Today's guest is Claire Ashbridge-Thomlinson, Director and Founding Partner of East London Brewing Company. Claire tells us what her day-to-day role as a Director there looks like, how the business got started, and what it's been like to help navigate the brewery through these incredibly challenging last 16 months.   We then learn all about her career before beer, what transferrable skills she brought with her, and what advice she has for others looking to start their own business. Finally, we hear what she enjoys most about her role at East London Brewing Company and about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Claire…

Today's guest is Dr. Margaux Huismann, Hop Applications Scientist at Totally Natural Solutions. Margaux tells us what her role at Total Natural Solutions entails, what the business does, and we even do a little tasting experiment with some of their products! Then we learn what sort of training it took for Margaux to get to this role by focusing in on her academic journey, which saw her move from Wisconsin to Scotland to pursue her Master's in Brewing and Distilling and later PhD in Brewing Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. She tells us all about what it was like to move across the pond, along the with topics of her Master's and PhD theses and the research that each entailed. Finally, Margaux tells us what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Margaux… ––– Check out Margaux's recently published paper(s) in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03610470.2021.1937460 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03610470.2021.1937461

Today's guest is Mellanie Struthers, Co-Founder of Draught Drop, the UK's first draught beer delivery service. Mell tells us what her day-to-day life at Draught Drop looks like, how the business works and what inspired her and her husband to set it up. We also hear about the many skills Mell brought with her from her previous career… which was conveniently in e-commerce in the food and drinks space! Finally, Mell shares  what it's been like to go from working for someone else to working for herself, her advice for others looking to start their own business and what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Mell…

Today's guest is Sophie de Ronde, Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery. Sophie lets us in on what her day-to-day role as a head brewer looks like… but she's quick to acknowledge that her experience in the role likely isn't the same as others. That's because in recent years Sophie learned she's allergic to wheat and barley, so she can't actually spend much time on the brewery floor or even enjoy the products of her labour… but she still loves making beer. She talks us through how she went from serving beer, to brewing beer, and her time spent as a brewing technologist at a malt producer, too. Finally, Sophie tells us all about International Women's Collaboration Brew Day, an annual celebration of women in beer that she's been organizing since 2014, and what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Sophie…

Today's guest is freelance beer writer Ruvani de Silva. Ruvani tells us what her day-to-day life as a freelance beer writer looks like and talks us through some of her latest pieces for Burum Collective and Good Beer Hunting. Then we hear about her many careers before beer, how she made the transition to full-time beer writing, and what advice she has for others looks to follow a similar path. Finally, as a Brit now based in central Texas, Ruvani shares her thoughts on how the US and UK beer scenes stack up and, of course, what she enjoys most about being a part of the beer industry. (Just a quick heads up, this episode was recorded remotely, so the audio quality is not quite the same as previous seasons, but I hope you still enjoy it!) Here's Ruvani…