Banter: Real Talk. Real Life.

Sometimes, it's lovely to be the one being looked after for a change.

In this week's episode of Banter, Anu shares a little escape to Somerset to visit a friend, where homemade cake, a delicious roast and apple crumble remind her just how wonderful it feels to have someone else doing the looking after.

Of course, real life is never far behind and her mini break comes to an early end when mum duty calls!

Back home, Anu talks about discovering something new right on her doorstep at the Barnes Fashion Show, celebrating local independent businesses and the importance of supporting them. There's also a wonderful school concert, a little reflection on motherhood and another conversation about menopause following her recent chat with Petra, particularly fitting as the episode was recorded on World Menopause Day.

THIS WEEK ON BANTER

LIFE LATELY
A Somerset escape, the joy of being looked after and the inevitable return to reality.

OUT & ABOUT
The Barnes Fashion Show, discovering local gems and celebrating independent shops.

MIDLIFE CONVERSATIONS
Revisiting menopause, sharing experiences and continuing the conversations that matter.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK — Creamy Chicken, Mushroom & Cavolo Nero

A comforting dish with chicken thigh fillets, mushrooms, cavolo nero and crème fraîche. Simple, hearty and perfect for an autumn evening.

Full recipe details to follow.

As always, a little bit of everything — real life, honest conversations and plenty of Banter.

If you enjoy the podcast, don't forget to follow, rate, review and share with a friend.

New episodes every Monday.

Midlife, menopause, motherhood and the things nobody quite prepares you for…

In this week’s episode of Banter, Anu chats about the realities of life at 51, from menopause and brain fog to people who test our patience, music that takes us straight back to another chapter of our lives and the bittersweet realisation that our children are growing up faster than we’d like.

Anu also shares a rather unexpected encounter with an 85-year-old man who asked her on a date. Yes, really. 😂

And she gets into the question of whether our patience for difficult people really does shrink as we get older or whether we’ve simply had enough.

Banter Recommendations:

📺 TV

• The Gentlemen - Netflix: Anu nearly gave up on the second season but recommends sticking with it. It gets seriously good.

• War - NOW / Sky: Starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West. One episode in and Anu is already hooked.

• Slow Horses - Apple TV+: Gary Oldman’s gloriously cantankerous Jackson Lamb is back and Anu is loving it.

  
  

📚 BOOK CORNER

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

A moving, imaginative and uplifting story about regret, the choices we make and the lives we might have lived. Anu read it a while ago but it’s a book that has stayed with her and made her think about the decisions we make along the way.

🍴 Banter Bites

Huo, in Chelsea via First Table

Anu took her mum out for her birthday and used First Table, an app that offers 50% off food at selected restaurants for a small booking fee.

They tried Huo, a lovely Chinese restaurant just off Fulham Road in Chelsea. The food was fresh, full of flavour and offered a modern take on familiar dishes.

The interior felt light and contemporary, too. Anu enjoyed it so much that she’s already thinking about taking the boys back!

For anyone who enjoys discovering new restaurants and trying somewhere different, First Table is well worth a look.

🍽️ RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Creamy, Lemony Butter Beans

Another week, another bean recipe! 😂 These creamy, lemony butter beans are comforting, fresh and filling and Anu’s favourite way to serve them is on hot sourdough toast with butter. Happy days!

Ingredients

• 2 tins of butter beans, drained

• Olive oil

• Garlic cloves, chopped

• Crème fraîche

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• A little vegetable stock

• Fresh parsley

• Salt and black pepper

• Optional: chilli flakes and grated Parmesan

Method

1. Gently fry the garlic in olive oil.

2. Add the drained butter beans and a little vegetable stock. Simmer for 3–4 minutes.

3. Stir in the crème fraîche and lemon zest over a low heat.

4. Add lemon juice to taste. If the mixture is too thick, loosen it with a little more stock or water.

5. Season with salt and pepper, then finish with fresh parsley. Add chilli flakes or Parmesan if you fancy.

6. Serve warm on toasted sourdough and enjoy!

From menopause to difficult people, nostalgia, growing children and an unexpected invitation, it’s another week of real talk, real life and plenty of Banter.

Grab a coffee (or a glass of wine), settle in and join Anu for another episode.

If you enjoy Banter, don’t forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with a friend. It really does help more people discover the show.

And a little reminder: Anu is a wills and probate lawyer by day, so if you’re navigating the life admin that comes with midlife or helping an elderly parent with theirs. Don’t forget your Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

What if menopause isn’t something we simply “get through”?

This week, Anu is joined by menopause coaching specialist and personal trainer Petra Boddington for a brilliantly honest and very funny conversation about menopause, post-menopause and what it really means to feel like yourself again in midlife.

We talk HRT, brain fog, joint pain, exercise, libido, relationships and confidence but this episode goes far beyond symptoms. Petra shares why walking may be one of the best things we can do for ourselves, how to make movement feel manageable when life already feels overwhelming, and why sometimes the most powerful word a woman can learn to say is simply… no. 

We also get into changing relationships in midlife, putting yourself first without feeling guilty, sex and dating, women supporting other women, kindness, confidence and why getting older might just give us permission to care a little less about what everybody else thinks.

Petra is refreshingly unfiltered, so expect plenty of laughs along the way and a few moments that definitely made me blush!

Because, as Petra puts it:

“We don't go through it. We live with it. It doesn't end.” 

This is a conversation for anyone navigating perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause but also for any woman who has reached midlife and wondered: when did I stop putting myself on the list?

Grab a coffee (or a glass of wine), settle in and join us for some real talk, real life and, as always, plenty of Banter.

If you enjoy the episode, please follow Banter, leave a rating or review and share it with a friend. It really does help more people find the show.

Sometimes life doesn’t quite go to plan.

This week’s episode of Banter is a little different. After an unexpectedly difficult week involving her family, Anu talks about what happens when life suddenly throws you a curveball; the worry, the shock and trying to keep everything together when you’re struggling with it yourself.

It’s an honest conversation about parenting, family, the mental load and navigating difficult moments in midlife, but also about support, perspective and the importance of talking rather than bottling everything up.

Anu also reflects on gratitude, not pretending everything is fine, but finding the things that help carry you through when it isn’t.

And, of course, there’s still room for some of the usual Banter: what she’s been reading and watching and a smoky black bean chilli for Recipe of the Week.

BANTER RECOMMENDATIONS:

📚 Book: Fruit Fly by Josh Silver

📺 TV: Youth by Sharon Horgan - HBO

📺 TV: The Split Up - BBC iPlayer

🍴 Recipe of the Week: Anu’s Smoky Black Bean Chilli and Chunky Guacamole 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 3 - 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 2 tins black beans, drained
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 packet Old El Paso Chilli Con Carne Seasoning Mix
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• Salt and pepper
• A splash of water, if needed
• 2–3 squares dark chocolate

To serve

• Anu’s chunky guacamole
• Fresh coriander
• A dollop of Greek yoghurt
• Grated cheddar
• Tortilla chips
• Lime wedges

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan.
2. Fry the onion, red pepper and garlic until softened.
3. Add the black beans, chilli seasoning and tomato purée. Stir everything together for a few minutes.
4. Add the chopped tomatoes and bring everything to a gentle simmer.
5. Stir in 2–3 squares of dark chocolate.
6. Leave it to bubble gently until the edges become slightly reduced and the chilli has thickened. Add a splash of water if it needs loosening.
7. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
8. Serve topped with chunky guacamole, coriander, Greek yoghurt and grated cheddar, with tortilla chips and a wedge of lime.

(You can also add chicken or beef mince first) 

Anu’s Chunky Guacamole:

Ingredients

• 2 avocados
• ½ red onion, very finely chopped
• Juice of 1 lime
• Fresh coriander, chopped
• Diced tomato, optional
• Good pinch of salt and pepper
• Fresh chilli, optional

Method

Cut the avocados in half, scoop the flesh into a bowl and roughly mash, keep it chunky.

Add the finely chopped red onion, lime juice and coriander. Add diced tomato if using, season generously with salt and pepper and add a little fresh chilli if you want some heat.

Mix gently and serve straight away.

A slightly different episode this week. Real life, as it happens because sometimes you simply have to take things one day at a time.

So grab a coffee (or a glass of wine), settle in and join me for some real talk, real life and as always, a little Banter.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the show, leave a rating or review and share it with someone who might enjoy Banter too. It really does help more people discover the podcast.

What happens when you take your slightly sceptical mum to Basel for a Joe Dispenza event with 8,300 people?!

This week, Anu is back with a proper life catch-up, sharing what the experience was really like, the people she met along the way and the one thought she brought home with her: where you put your attention is where you put your energy.

Plus, there are some very honest book reviews, what she’s been watching lately and an easy tomato, feta & butter bean bake that’s perfect for those in between September evenings.

A little travel, mindset, midlife, food and plenty of real-life Banter.

THIS WEEK’S RECOMMENDATIONS

📚 Book: Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
📚 Also reading: Last Seen - J.L. Doucette
📺 TV: Colin From Accounts
🎧 Experience: Joe Dispenza event in Basel

🍴 Recipe of the Week: Tomato, Feta & Butter Bean Bake

An easy one-pan dinner for those not quite summer, not quite autumn evenings.

Ingredients

• 1 block feta
• 1 tin butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 250 - 300g cherry tomatoes
• 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced or crushed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Pinch of chilli flakes, optional
• Salt & black pepper
• Handful of fresh basil or parsley, to finish
• Crusty bread, to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan.
2. Add the cherry tomatoes, butter beans and garlic to a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, season with oregano, chilli flakes, black pepper and a small pinch of salt, then toss everything together.
3. Place the block of feta in the centre and drizzle with a little more olive oil.
4. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until the tomatoes have softened and burst and the feta is golden around the edges.
5. Gently stir the feta through the tomatoes and beans to create a creamy, slightly chunky sauce.
6. Finish with fresh basil or parsley and plenty of black pepper.
7. Serve warm with crusty bread for scooping everything up.

So settle in and join Anu for a little escape from the everyday: real life, honest opinions and plenty of Banter along the way.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, leave a rating or review and share it with someone who might enjoy a little Banter too. It really does help more people discover the podcast.

Have you ever looked at a wardrobe full of clothes and thought, I have absolutely nothing to wear?

This week, Anu is joined by personal stylist and former senior fashion buyer Lisa Wisdom, founder of Style With Wisdom, for a brilliantly honest conversation about style, confidence and why so many of us lose our fashion mojo in midlife.

They talk about shopping your own wardrobe, dressing for the life you have now, breaking out of a style rut and why getting dressed can have a much bigger impact on how we feel than we realise.

Plus, Lisa shares her tips for shopping pre-loved, the autumn pieces worth having on your radar and the one fashion rule she would happily ban forever…

In this episode:

• Why our wardrobes don’t always keep up when our lives change
• How to rediscover what you already own
• Style, confidence and getting your mojo back
• Why you don’t need somewhere special to go to make an effort
• Shopping pre-loved and buying more intentionally
• Lisa’s autumn style picks
• Why skinny jeans aren’t dead
• The fashion rule Lisa would ban forever
• And why sometimes you should just wear the sequins

Plus, Lisa joins Anu for a little bit of Banter with her TV, book and recipe recommendations.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in a style rut lately, this one’s for you!

Banter is back for Season 4 and Anu is officially entering year two of the podcast!

In this first episode back, Anu gets honest about the self doubt that still comes with putting yourself out there, why she continues to make Banter alongside her career as a lawyer and family life and the joy she’s found in creating something of her own in midlife.

She also catches up on a very full summer: slowing down in Croatia, surviving a week on a boat with three children and her husband plus a skipper, discovering the joy of being a tourist in your own city, keeping teenagers occupied through the school holidays and unexpectedly sending her middle son off to university in Madrid!

There’s also a conversation about losing your style mojo in midlife and how making one small effort with what you already own can completely change how you feel.

And as always, plenty of Banter recommendations and an easy Recipe of the Week.

This week on Banter

- Starting Season 4 and why the self-doubt hasn’t disappeared

- Summer with teenagers, Croatia and family travel

- Navigating A-level disappointment and an unexpected move to Madrid

- Losing and rediscovering your style mojo

- Becoming a tourist in your own city

- Summer books worth adding to your reading list

Banter Recommends

Books

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

All My Mothers by Joanna Glen

TV

Furious - Disney+

Off Campus - Prime Video

Podcast

They Call Her Emma - a fascinating series exploring Asma al-Assad and her journey from Britain to the Syrian regime.

Restaurants

Smoking Goat, Shoreditch (Thai) - particularly the crispy fish sauce chicken wings.

Home, Putney - including its Monday menu made from the weekend’s surplus ingredients.

Recipe of the Week

Merguez, Middle Eastern Chopped Salad & Crispy Chickpea Hummus

A really easy late summer meal that works just as well on the barbeque as it does in the kitchen.

You’ll need:

Merguez sausages, (from the butchers or M&S have them now)

Harissa paste

Warm pittas

For the salad:

Lettuce

Red onion

Radishes

Pomegranate seeds

Fresh parsley

Fresh mint

(Or whatever you already have in the fridge!)

For the crispy chickpea hummus:

Shop bought hummus

1 tin chickpeas, drained and dried well

Paprika

Garlic powder

Salt

To serve:

Sriracha, optional

Cook the merguez sausages on the barbeque, in a frying pan or in the oven until cooked through.

For the salad, finely chop the lettuce, red onion and radishes, then add the pomegranate seeds, parsley and mint. Toss everything together.

Spread the chickpeas on a baking tray, season with paprika, garlic powder and salt, then roast until crispy.

Smear the hummus over a serving plate and spoon the crispy chickpeas over the top.

Serve everything with warm pittas, harissa and a little sriracha if you like. Stuff the pittas with salad and merguez, add plenty of hummus and enjoy.

Happy days!

Season 4 starts here, with more honest midlife conversations, brilliant guests, books, food, travel, style and the recommendations Anu genuinely thinks are worth your time.

If you enjoy the episode, follow Banter: Real Talk, Real Life, rate the show and share it with someone who might enjoy a little more Banter in their week.

In the final episode of Season 3, Anu is joined by her sister Nidhi for a warm, funny and honest season finale full of midlife real talk, sister banter and reflections on the year.

Together they talk about menopause, perimenopause, the emotional ups and downs of midlife, the joy of small wins, cancelling plans, social batteries, resilience and why sometimes all you can do is laugh your way through it.

This episode also includes the first ever Banter Awards, where Anu and Nidhi look back at their favourite books, TV shows, films and restaurant recommendations from the season.

Plus, Anu ends the season with one last easy summer recipe: a fresh Asian cucumber salad, perfect for hot days when you cannot face cooking.

In this episode:

• The final episode of Season 3

• Anu and Nidhi’s sister catch up

• Menopause, perimenopause and midlife overwhelm

• Why women need to talk, laugh and vent

• Social batteries and cancelling plans

• Little wins, little joys and summer pauses

• The first Banter Awards

• Favourite books, TV, films and restaurants

• Easy summer recipe: Asian cucumber salad

🏆 Banter Awards

📺 Favourite TV Show

Anu and Nidhi both choose: Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Also mentioned: The Four Seasons, Rooster, Friends & Neighbours

🎬 Favourite Film

Nidhi’s pick: Michael

Anu’s pick: Project Hail Mary

Also mentioned: Tuner and Nidhi’s extra recommendation, The Invite

📚 Favourite Book

Anu’s pick: Heart the Lover

Nidhi’s pick: Fame Sick

Also mentioned: The Strangers, The Names, The Wedding People

🍴 Favourite Restaurant

Anu’s pick: The Tamil Prince

Also mentioned: Tosa in Hammersmith and Chet’s in Shepherd’s Bush.

🥒 Recipe of the Week: Asian Cucumber Salad

A fresh, crunchy cucumber salad that is perfect for summer and ideal alongside an Asian style bowl, chicken, rice or salad.

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber

• Soy sauce

• Rice wine vinegar

• Sesame oil

• Chilli crisp or chilli oil

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• Sesame seeds, optional

• Spring onions, optional

• Crispy onions or crispy toppings, optional

Method

1. Slice the cucumber in half lengthways, then chop into half-moon pieces. You can also smash the cucumber if preferred.
2. Place in a bowl or jar.
3. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, chilli crisp or chilli oil and crushed garlic.
4. Toss everything together until the cucumber is well coated.
5. Leave to sit so the flavours develop.
6. Finish with sesame seeds, spring onions or crispy toppings if you like.
7. Serve cold with an Asian bowl, chicken, rice or salad.

Perfect for hot days when you want something fresh, quick and delicious.

Thank you for listening to Season 3 of Banter: Real Talk, Real Life. If you’ve enjoyed the season, please follow, rate, review and share the podcast. Your support helps more women discover the show.

Until next season, keep talking, keep laughing and keep finding the banter in everyday life.

Anu x

This week on Banter, I’m talking about surviving what I’m calling my hot mess summer.

Between menopause, the UK heatwave, school events, parenting, work and the invisible mental load that so many women carry, I’ve been learning to slow down, simplify life and stop putting so much pressure on myself.

From meal planning and journalling to shopping my own wardrobe and finding unexpected joy in school events I almost didn’t attend, this is an honest conversation about navigating midlife when everything feels just a little too much.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or simply trying to survive the heat, I hope this episode reminds you that sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference.

In this episode:

• Surviving menopause during the UK heatwave

• Coping with overwhelm and the invisible mental load

• Why slowing down helped me more than pushing through

• Journalling, meal planning and simple routines that made life easier

• Parenting teenagers, school events and mum guilt

• Finding joy in unexpected moments

• Shopping your own wardrobe and rediscovering forgotten favourites

• Wimbledon, football and embracing a slower summer

• Practical ways to make midlife feel a little lighter

📚 Book of the Week

A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving

One of my all-time favourite novels. A moving story of friendship, fate and unforgettable characters that has stayed with me for years. If you’ve never read it, this summer might be the perfect time.

📺 Watch of the Week

Criminal Record (Apple TV+)

A gripping British crime drama starring Cush Jumbo. Clever, compelling and perfect if you’re looking for your next series after the football.

🥦 Recipe of the Week: Roasted Broccoli Two Ways

A simple summer recipe that’s perfect as either a side dish or a fresh salad.

Ingredients

Base Recipe

• 2 heads (or bunches) of long-stem broccoli

• Olive oil

• Salt & pepper

• Garlic powder

Version 1 – Side Dish

• Parmesan flakes

Version 2 – Summer Salad

• Toasted flaked almonds

• Crumbled feta

• Juice of ½ lemon

• Olive oil

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• Salt & pepper

Method

1. Toss the broccoli with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.

2. Roast for around 15 minutes until tender with lightly crisp edges.

Version 1: Finish with Parmesan flakes and serve warm.

Version 2: Allow the broccoli to cool, then top with toasted almonds and crumbled feta. Dress with lemon juice, olive oil, crushed garlic, salt and pepper before serving.

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you could follow, rate and review Banter. Every review helps more women discover the podcast and join our wonderful community.

This week I’m talking about something I know so many women in midlife will recognise: overwhelm.

Between menopause, brain fog, parenting teenagers, work, school events, summer holiday planning and the endless mental load that seems to fall on our shoulders, there are times when everything feels like too much.

In this episode, I share what’s been helping me navigate a particularly challenging few weeks, why I’ve stopped putting so much pressure on myself and the small mindset shifts that are helping me cope when life feels overwhelming.

What I discuss in this episode:

• Menopause overwhelm, exhaustion and low mood

• Managing the mental load of family life

• Father’s Day expectations and family dynamics

• Mum guilt, school events and end-of-term chaos

• Parenting teenagers and surviving A-Level season

• Learning to let go of perfection

• Why exercise has helped more than I expected

• The importance of rest, boundaries and self-compassion

• Football, Wimbledon and finding simple pleasures

📺 Watch of the Week

Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

A dark comedy with a touch of mystery and supernatural intrigue. Set on a small island off Massachusetts, this unusual series follows a mayor determined to modernise his town while battling local superstitions and strange events. Funny, quirky and completely different.

📚 Book of the Week

You Are Here by David Nicholls

A warm, funny and uplifting story about loneliness, friendship and second chances. Following two middle-aged strangers on a long-distance walking journey across northern England, it’s the perfect summer read.

🥔 Recipe of the Week: Crispy Mashed Potatoes Two Ways

Perfect as a side dish or turned into a delicious potato salad for summer gatherings and barbecues.

Ingredients

For the potatoes:

• 750g baby potatoes

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• Garlic powder

• Paprika

Optional topping (side dish version):

• Pickled red onions

• Chopped pickles

For the potato salad version:

• 2 tbsp Greek yogurt

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard

• Capers

• Chopped pickles

• Fresh dill

• Chives

• Lemon juice

• Red onion

• Spring onions (to serve)

Method

1. Boil the baby potatoes until soft.
2. Drain and place on a baking tray.
3. Gently smash the potatoes using a potato masher or the back of a spoon.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
5. Bake until golden and crispy.

Option 1: Crispy Potato Side Dish

Top with pickled red onions and chopped pickles before serving.

Option 2: Crispy Potato Salad

Allow the potatoes to cool. Mix together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, capers, pickles, dill, chives, lemon juice and red onion. Fold through the potatoes and finish with extra chives and spring onions.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate and review Banter. Your support helps more listeners discover the show and means the world to me.