Spilling Tea

Kathryn is a natural dye and paint expert with 14+ years of experience in the field. We dive into her background and how you can start playing with natural dyes in your own kitchen.

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Follow Kathryn on:

Instagram @kathryn_davey

Website kathryndavey.com

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Useful links:

London Workshops: Waitlist 

Creative Retreats & Accommodation At Mèlisses, Andros

Beginner Blog Posts & Natural Dye Resources

Get 25% off on all courses and guides with the code TVPSP

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Behind the scenes and recipes on my Substack Follow me on @thevenetianpantry

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This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

On this episode, we drink Blooming Moments Peach

Jojo is an acclaimed Interior Designer, Entrepreneur and Podcaster. We chat about her personal journey from a little girl who was struggling at school to becoming the powerhouse she is today.

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Follow Jojo on:

Instagram @houseninedesign

Website housenine.co.uk

Jojo's Fashion line: The T Store

Jojo and Polly's podcast The Ins and Outs

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Behind the scenes and recipes on my Substack Follow me on @thevenetianpantry

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This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

On this episode, we drink Avantcha's Majestic Earl Grey

Ksenija is a skincare and face massage expert, as well as a pilates instructor, naturopathic nutrition student and soon-to-be-published author. We talk about her journey, plus all things self-care.

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This week, I'm joined by my good friend and fellow multi-hyphenate, Ksenija Selivanova and her fur puppy Rio. Ksenija is the ultimate jack of all trades. She started her career as a model before pivoting to food styling for a few years and then becoming a Pilates teacher.

At some point along her journey, she started developing a deep passion for skincare and face massages and realised her true calling was, as she put it, to help people to feel better and lighter within themselves.

She achieves this both with in-person treatments across multiple locations in London and online through her Instagram and YouTube channels, where she's known as The Moments to an adoring community that is hundreds of thousands strong.

We go quite deep with Ksenja,, from the traumas that make us who we are to growing a tougher skin against criticism and protecting your own energy. But don't worry, we also talk about lighter things as well, like what must-have skincare products she would bring to a desert island.

As you will hear, she has a very funny and bubbly personality, but she also has an extremely nurturing and caring side to her.

Amongst her many talents, Ksenija is also very green-fingered. Once, after visiting her old home studio for a treatment, she offered me a fresh lemon verbena tea with leaves she grew in her garden. That stuck with me, so I thought I’d repay the favour by creating a Lemon Verbena-inspired meal, paired with Avantcha’s Lemon Verbena & Lavender tea.

Find out more about Ksenija:

Youtube

Instagram: @the_moments

Register your interest in pre-ordering her book here

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Check out my Substack Podcast page to see the recipes of the dishes I prepared for Ksenija.

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This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

George is the co-founder of the award-winning Architecture practice BVDS. He is also the architect we appointed for our renovation. We talk about all things reno, from underfloor heating to loft extensions and contingency budgets – including why it's never too early to get an architect on board.

Find out more about BVDS:

Website: b-vds.co.uk

Instagram: @bvdsarchitects

Check out my Substack Podcast page to see the building we talk about and to get all the recipes I made for George.

The recipes have been paired to this tea.

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This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

With a combined experience of 25 years in the premium property market and over 1000 sold homes under their belt, Rosie and John know a thing or two about beautiful homes.

We chat about what makes a space truly outstanding, their architecture heroes and favourite buildings around London, and they answer some listeners’ questions about the property market, including some invaluable advice for first-time buyers.

At the end of the conversation, we also touch on career changes and impostor syndrome, and the different approaches of men and women towards this topic. It was refreshing to both be able to talk candidly with Rosie about our shared experience, but also to hear John’s perspective on it.

It was a warm August day when we recorded, and I kept the menu light and fresh: pan-seared salmon fillets marinated in a herby, citrusy mixture, and a watermelon, feta, cucumber and pine nuts salad to go with it. All paired with the Jasmine Mao Jiang Green Tea from Avantcha, which I have used to infuse the pannacotta we had for dessert too.

Find out more about Sekforde:

Website: sekfordeproperty.com

Instagram: @sekforde.property

Check out my Substack Podcast page to see the building we talk about and to get all the recipes I made for Rosie and John.

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This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

This week, I am delighted to bring you Steph Hannington-Suen, who is a dear friend and 50% of the London-based scent brand Homework, which she founded and runs together with her husband, Ross.

When it comes to scent-making, I truly think Steph is one of the most talented noses in London, if not the whole country.

I've been a hardcore fan of homework since pretty much the beginning, back when they had a stall in a tool market. I am such a groupie, in fact, that a lot of my guests have commented how they have come to associate my house with their scents.

Steph and I talk about her background as the daughter of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner; how those principles have influenced this new iteration of the brand, which is the fifth, as she will explain herself; how sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is to just start again; how she views scent making as a very logical storytelling process; the challenges of becoming a mother (especially when both you and your partner are involved in the same business) as well as some practical tips for budding entrepreneurs.

We also somehow end up talking about the uncanny similarities between the Chinese and Italian cultures – especially when it comes to health beliefs – and I think you can hear what a field day we had on that topic.

Find out more about Homework:

Website: homeworkstore.co.uk

Instagram: @homework.store

Take the test to find out which is your element:https://homeworkstore.co.uk/pages/tcm-quiz

Check out my Substack for behind the scenes and extra content from this episode

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This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

I came across Gillian’s Instagram profile back in 2021, around the time I opened The Venetian Pantry. Back then, Gillian was a lifestyle photographer, and I was immediately captured by her timeless sense of style, calm interiors and idyllic family life.

When she decided to pivot her career and start her own clothing line, I was there to watch it all unfold in awe. I would describe Gillian’s sense of style as timeless and effortlessly elegant, and her clothes appeal to women of all ages and sizes.

After following Gillian for so long online, I was a little starstruck, but the thing that impressed me the most was her ability to be completely open and vulnerable. We touch on things like self-doubt, social media trolling and cancel culture, the less glamorous sides of having your own business, as well as Gillian's continued fascination with the Uk as a source of inspiration for her designs.

Find out more about Gillian's brand:

Website: gillianstevens.co

Instagram: @gillianstevens

Tiktock: @gillian.stevens

Check out my Substack for behind the scenes and extra content from this episode

.

This episode is sponsored by Avantcha.

With over 100 different teas in their collection, Avantcha is truly a one-stop destination for tea lovers like me. If you don't know where to start, check out Avantcha's Tea Silkbag Explorer box and take advantage of their limited-time offer for new customers: the cost of the box (£15) will be credited back to you as a voucher to spend on your favourite tea.

Find out more at

https://uk.avantcha.com/silk-teabag-explorer/

For this episode of Spilling Tea, I’m sitting down for lunch with the lovely and extremely impressive Sooji, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing for my Substack a while ago (If you miss it, head here to read it). This conversation focuses more on Sooji’s inspiring personal story, as well as what it’s like to start a business from scratch during the pandemic.

It was a rainy summer day when Sooji came to record. To brighten up the day, I cooked a Spanish/Peruvian-inspired feast: A classic Tortilla de Patatas, charred asparagus on Romesco sauce with burrata and toasted almonds, baked feta with cherry tomatoes and oregano and finally a green salad made with pak choi, grapes, blueberries and a green dressing inspired by a dish I tried at Llama Inn, one of my favourite restaurants.

Thanks for listening! If you think this conversation will be inspiring for someone you know, feel free to share!

LINKS:

Follow Sooji @_im_sooji

@be_oom_

@cha_oom_

be-oom.com

We mention in the podcast…

Sooji’s favourite author & books: W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage & The Moon and Six Pence

Be–oom best selling Tea:Persimmon Leaf tea

Sooji’s favourite spot in London:The Barbican

Sooji’s favourite Bakery in London:Arome Bakery, Covent Garden

Sooji’s favourite comfort-food restaurant:My Old Place, Liverpool Street

Sooji’s favourite fine dining Korean restaurant:Sollip, London Bridge

Hannah is a fashion stylist with a 15+ career dressing celebrities. We talk body confidence, ageism in the fashion industry, as well as her top tricks of the trade to elevate any outfit. See more of Hannah's amazing outfits on her blog, grahamst.co.uk, or on her Instagram @grahamst.fashion

Welcome to Spilling Tea, or – as I like to call it – my accidental podcast. Why is it accidental? Well, I never really planned to start a podcast, but as I was recording an interview with someone really special for my newsletter, I realised it was too good not to share.

I have to admit, one or two close friends have asked me in the past if I would ever consider starting a Podcast, and to be honest, I used to dismiss the idea, telling myself that I didn’t have enough interesting things to say, it’s not my first language, and so on.

But in the past 3 years since opening The Venetian Pantry (my Instagram account) I have met so many interesting, creative and inspiring people, and I feel really excited at the thought of sharing them with you all.

So here is the idea: a series of conversations with people I admire from different fields, from design, food, health and beauty or – like in the case of my first guest – fashion.

I can’t wait for you to listen to the first episode – I think it’s a banger of a conversation.

In the meantime, it would mean the world if you could subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use.

So that’s it from me for now.

Over and Out.