Hello lovely listeners,

In our third episode of I Was Listening To This Podcast with wine expert Hetty Hubberstey and journalist Maddi Howell, recorded from our house share in London, we kick off with a glass of Moulin-A-Vent Beaujolais from female Burgundy winemaking superstar, Anne-Françoise Gros, and have a candid chat about two books we've been enjoying this month.

First up, Hetty can't stop talking about Inheritocracy: It’s Time to Talk About the Bank of Mum and Dad - a thought-provoking memoir and cultural commentary about the impact of inherited parental wealth on society in 2025. 

Meanwhile, Maddi has been enjoying influencer Florence Given's new book Women Living Deliciously, which encourages women to overcome barriers to accessing joy. 

We hope you enjoy it!

Maddi and Hets x

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In our second episode, we mull over the powerful friendships in our lives.

What is it that sets friendships apart from the other relationships we have? There's so much focus on romance and the pursuit of the fairytale in the narratives we absorb, but friendship can be just as – or sometimes even more – important.

But what are the hallmarks of a great friendship, and what makes for a true friend? Who are the absolute 'lifer' friends that you know will always be around? And when can friendships go wrong?

Sometimes, of course, there's nothing better than sharing a glass of wine with a friend who you know you can let your hair down with and speak your mind around without fear of judgement. In that spirit, this week, we cracked open a bottle of Philippe & Sylvain Ravier Mondieuse 2021 (a deliciously light, crunchy red from the Alpine Savoie reason of France, perfect for a fondue night with friends) as we recorded this episode.

We hope you enjoy listening, and we'd love to hear what you think. Until next time!

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In our very first episode, we sat down to chat about New Year's resolutions.

Should the start of a New Year be about setting restrictive rules, or more about gentle, cosy enjoyment of the winter months and adding more good things into your life? When does goal-setting become too much pressure? And what about the perils of navigating Dry January?

For Hetty, who works in the wine industry, January isn't a time to cut out drinking completely. But even for wine lovers, it can be a time for a mindful reset.

That said, with a nod to Dry January, we rounded off our conversation with a delicious Mother Root Sour mocktail with egg white and thyme. Give it a listen to find out how to make it (Mother Root is a ginger switchel with apple cider vinegar, and it's our new favourite alcohol-free aperitif. Also a delight served with soda over ice).

We're so excited to have recorded the first pilot episode of our podcast, I Was Listening To This Podcast (with Maddi Howell and Hetty Hubberstey), and we hope you enjoy listening too. Next time, we might even open a bottle of wine. Happy New Year!

Music by Yomoti from Epidemic Sound

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