Tell us about the new podcast you have been working on?
Libby Brodie: It’s called ‘The Inner Table: The Art Of Living Well” and it brings together two worlds that seem to be increasingly divided: hospitality and wellness.
There is a massive wellness trend right now, but it can be extreme. Most people want to live longer, healthier lives but they don’t want to live like Spartans, they want a glass of wine and a bowl of pasta. Ultimately, it’s about balance, because what’s the point of living forever without any pleasure?
I was also a bit frustrated by booze being totally demonised and wanted to do something that kept wine relevant within wellbeing.
Anna and I have been best friends for many years, and though we both love a glass of wine.
Friends and now podcast hosts - Libby Brodie and Anna Lancaster - who are exploring how we we can live well but also have a good time too in their new 'Inner Table' podcast
Anna brings a wellbeing expert’s perspective, and I come from a more epicurean, gluttonous one. Together we talk to leading voices from different industries about how they achieve balance, their personal journeys and we also share tips that we’ve picked up that week from gut health, to meditation, to the best new restaurant that’s just opened.
Why did you want to structure it in this way and focus on "the art of living well"?
Anna Lancaster: For me it came from noticing a real tension in the wellness space - everything had become very prescriptive, very all-or-nothing. I kept thinking, that's not actually how I want to live.
Look at the Blue Zones - the places in the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives. They're not following strict protocols or eliminating entire food groups. They're sharing meals, drinking wine, moving naturally and finding joy in the everyday. Enjoyment isn't separate from longevity - it's central to it.
How have you chosen your guests as they are quite a mix of people from different backgrounds?
Brodie: We absolutely wanted people from different walks of life. Wanting to live well and the pleasure of food and drink are themes that all humanity shares. Many of our guests this first season are friends and people we’ve met and worked with along the way.
We’ve ended up with a big happy melting pot of chefs, comedians, singers, skincare experts and more – and no two stories are the same. It’s been fascinating.
(You can watch an episode of the Inner Table below)
What is the format for the podcast in terms of the style, content and what you want to achieve?
Lancaster: We wanted it to feel like you had pulled up a chair at a really good dinner table - relaxed, unscripted, and genuinely surprising. Each episode is filmed and recorded, which adds another dimension, and every guest brings something completely different.
What we want to achieve is really simple - we want people to finish each episode feeling inspired and informed.
Why did you want to work together on this project?
Brodie: A wine professional and a wellbeing expert? It’s a perfect pairing! Plus we’re long term friends so the chat genuinely flows. Though I think the seed was planted by our online audiences as we were going away on mini-breaks together and posting funny things like Anna making me walk barefoot through a field of cowpats to get “grounded”…
People liked learning about our two worlds and thought we were funny together. They started messaging they would like to join us on trips, and we thought maybe we should work together on something professionally.
What inspiration have you taken from other podcasts that you hope you can bring to your own?
Lancaster: I've always been drawn to podcasts where the host is genuinely curious - where you feel like they're discovering something in real time rather than running through a list of questions.
That's what we wanted to bring. The best conversations I've had with clients over the years have never been linear, and we wanted The Inner Table to feel the same way - spontaneous, honest, and a little unexpected.
What do you think the skill of a good podcast is?
Libby Brodie and Anna Lancaster in action on their new podcast The Inner Table - The Art of Living Well
Brodie: Well, I guess we shall have to see how successful The Inner Table is before claiming to know it, but I think it’s a topic that genuinely interests people for a start, led by enthusiastic, informed hosts who can draw stories out of people with empathy and a pinch of humour.
What lessons have you learnt whilst working on the podcast about how to make them more effective?
Lancaster: Preparation is everything, but so is knowing when to let go of it. I came in with my background in mindset and behaviour, thinking I understood how conversations unfold. And I do, but a podcast has its own rhythm and guests can be very unexpected.
The biggest lesson for me has been learning to really listen, not just to what someone is saying but to where they want to go. That's where the magic is.
How are you monetising the podcast and are you looking for sponsors?
Lancaster: We're proudly partnering with Coravin for season one and honestly, it couldn't be a more perfect fit. Coravin exists to help you enjoy wine with intention, pouring a glass without opening the bottle means you can savour something exceptional without having to commit to the whole thing.
That's exactly the philosophy of The Inner Table. Moderation, balance, pleasure without guilt.
Beyond that, we're focused on building the audience and community first, the right partnerships will follow organically. We're working with and looking for brands that genuinely align with what The Inner Table stands for.
Any advice to others making podcasts or thinking of doing one?
Brodie: Have a structure in mind, so episodes don’t run away and conversations don’t falter. Importantly, it is the team around you that makes the experience. Our fantastic sponsor Coravin who shouldered the costs, and we’ve loved filming at the Podcast Studio in London Bridge, Ads and Henry are brilliant and we really trust them.
And our PR, Hayley Hamburg of Rave PR has been an absolutely goldmine of support, knowledge and skill. And ultimately, if you want to do it – then just do it.
- You can watch or download The Inner Table on Apple and Spotify and YouTube.
- Guests for the first series include:
- Ryan Riley: Celebrity chef and bestselling author.
- Nick Ede: PR expert and media commentator.
- Laura Louise: Music artist, writer and UN speaker.
- Nathaniel Mortley (Natty Can Cook): Chef and entrepreneur.
- Lee Peart: Comedian, actor and presenter.
Libby Brodie is a wine consultant, presenter, host and judge and founder of Bacchus & Brodie Wine Consultancy and is the weekly wine columnist for City AM.
Anna Lancaster is a senior clinical hypnotherapist and mental longevity expert.
