Raising the Glass

Why are women still not safe at work and in public? Why does gender equality still feel so far away? Why are women still underrepresented in politics and business? And what needs to change to make the workplace genuinely inclusive? Rom talks to the amazing Helen Pankhurst and Anita Iwugo about why we’re still searching for the answers for these questions, even in 2026. Helen Pankhurst carries one...

In some places the language around diversity, equity and inclusion is changing, but the people, culture and issues aren’t. Celeste Warren has so much to share. From her childhood lessons from her parents about overcoming obstacles, her own route from radio and television into a career in HR, leadership and organisational development. She talks to Rom about the things that matter most in a workplac...

Anne Jones spent over 20 years at Waitrose. Then she left it to build Limestone and Jones, a sustainability consultancy that refuses to sit in one box. On the latest episode of the podcast, Anne talks about what career change actually looks like once you strip the polish off it. The uncertainty, the false starts and the years spent tryingto force something to work before you admit it won't. Th...

What happens when the reason for starting a business matters more than the product itself? For Naomi Partridge and Holos, kombucha was never the end goal. It was simply the best way to build something that could create lasting opportunities for women who have survived exploitation and trauma. Naomi talks to Rom and shares how Holos Kombucha has grown with purpose baked into every decision, from hi...

Know someone who mansplains? Know someone who thinks their point of view is the ONLY point of view? Know someone who thinks they know equality inside out because they commissioned your work’s International Women’s Day social media output? Sit them down, hand them some earbuds and get them to listen to this episode. Rom talks to Jeremy Stockdale, founder and CEO of Y.Lead. He’s a leadership strateg...

The UK grocery market is more concentrated than most founders realise. Just 3% of businesses generate almost 87% of all grocery sales, leaving thousands of challenger brands competing for the remaining share. So how do emerging brands break through? In this episode, Miranda Ballard from NielsenIQ shares the data behind UK grocery performance and explains what retailers actually look for when decid...

What happens when a business measures its success by the lives it changes as well as the profit it generates? In this episode, Zoe Hill and Jessie Snelling from Paddy & Scott’s share the story behind a company that has woven social impact into its DNA. From supporting girls' education in Kenya through Dignity Packs to creating workplaces where leading with purpose is truly valued. The conv...

Government guidance on single-sex spaces, like changing rooms and toilets, is just days away from changing. The new guidelines say that these spaces must be used on the basis of biological sex, and not gender. It has left many in the LGBTQ+ community feeling uncertain, vulnerable and exhausted. For example, the change means that a trans woman - a biological male who identifies as a woman - should...

How can the drinks industry build more inclusive hiring practices? Welcome to The Tipple, Raising the Glass’ sister episode to the main podcast. Rom talks to Kayleigh Norcross, a recruitment and diversity specialist from the Advocate Group, a consumer product and FMCG recruitment agency. This conversation looks at how unconscious bias shapes hiring decisions and what organisations can do to create...

We don’t know how we got here, but we’re so happy to celebrate Raising the Glass’ second birthday with you! If you’ve heard of us and are curious about what we do and what we stand for, or just want to celebrate with us, then this episode for you. Join Rom and Lottie Tregear as they look back on an incredible journey, with a bottle of bubbly. They reflect on the last two years, have big conversati...

Welcome to a very special episode of Raising the Glass – The Tipple. Rom is joined by a special panel, recorded at one of our Untapped events. Joining her are Emma Heal, Miranda Ballard, and Ciara Cullen to explore the realities of building brands, navigating industry challenges as a woman, and creating better connections within the food and drink sectors. From scaling challenger brands and unders...

Rom sits down with Marnie Millard OBE to explore what leadership really looks like in today’s ever-changing world. From her early career in the food and beverage industry to her extensive board-level experience, Marnie shares the lessons that have shaped her approach to leadership. All of which are rooted in clarity, confidence, and compassion. Together, they reflect on navigating change, building...

Welcome to The Tipple! In this episode, ROM is joined by Lottie Tregear, Matt Bowler-Jones, and Emma Thackray for a conversation recorded live on stage at the International Food & Drink Event 2026. They talk about one of the most important, and often overlooked, drivers of growth in the drinks industry: diversity and representation. As consumer expectations evolve, inclusive product ranges are...

Greg Morley returns with Rom for this episode of Raising the Glass, and they’re refocusing allyship, and what DE&I means on the changing sands we currently find ourselves on. They talk about how inclusive cultures are built, why organisations that concentrate on it are winners and why we all should embrace the power of difference. Greg shares personal reflections and real-world examples that h...

Welcome to The Tipple – Raising the Glass’ short pour where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the drinks industry. In this episode, Rom sits down with Aidy Smith, award-winning drinks broadcaster and neurodiversity advocate, to talk about authenticity, inclusion, and breaking barriers in wine and media. Aidy shares how a life-changing placement in San Francisco sparked his love of wine and...

Rom sits down with Laura Pace, CEO of Yellow Fish a brand experience agency. Together they explore the quiet realities women at the top face. Laura shares her journey to running her own agency, her hands-off approach to management, why no superheroes are required and why authenticity matters more than ever. This is an honest conversation about mentorship, mothership, allyship, and creating safe sp...

We talk a lot about allyship on this podcast and in the work we do at Raising the Glass, but how do we ensure we raise our game when it comes to equality in the workplace? Yes, we’ve all heard the visions, we’ve all taken the course and we’ve all got the lived experience, but how to we actually make this work in the real world. How to we check the balance? Rom talks to Kate Stables, a Chief Techno...

If you’ve heard of Untapped, our year-long incubator scheme, but don’t know what it is, then you MUST listen to this episode! During the inaugural The Mixer trade show at the Ministry of Sound, Rom sat down with Hip Pop’s Emma Thackray to talk about the launch of Untapped. It’s a groundbreaking incubator program designed to level the playing field for women in the drinks industry. Our main aim is...

Welcome to The Tipple! In this episode, ROM is joined by Miranda Ballard from NielsenIQ to talk about one of the biggest forces currently reshaping consumer behaviour: the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss injections. As these treatments move into the mainstream, they’re changing how people eat, drink and think about health. Miranda shares fresh data on declining and changing food consumption across the U...

As the year draws to a close, Raising the Glass takes a moment to reflect. In this episode, Rom and Lotte Lottie Tregear look back on a big year for the drinks industry and the Raising the Glass community. There’s so much to contemplate on from 2025, for them both personally and professionally. It’s a year that we saw the first Mixer event, huge change in the FMCG category and has seen the Raising...

This is a very special edition of Raising the Glass, not only does Rom sit down with David Beardmore, Non-Exec Director of the Deposit Management Organisation, this episode was recorded at our inaugural Mixer event at The Ministry of Sound. If you’re a start-up drinks brand wanting to make it onto the shelves of supermarkets, this is a must listen. In this conversation, David uncorks what Tesco lo...

Welcome to RTG The Tipple where we take a closer look at the people, trends, and ideas reshaping our industry. In this episode, ROM sits down with two brilliant voices in the world of wine; Producer Sally Evans from Château George 7and Anne Jones from Limestone & Jones, a drinks sustainability consultancy. They’ve set themselves the task of unravelling one of the most misunderstood topics in t...

Rom sits down for this must-listen episode with the brilliant Evelyne Brink. A performer, coach, author and all-round spark of energy to explore what confidence, inclusion and genuine human connection really look like today. Her background is truly different from most coaches. She is one of Europe’s top Madonna impersonators and is now a sought-after leadership coach. Evelyne does not hold back ta...

Welcome to The Tipple: Raising the Glass’ short pour where we take a closer look at the people, trends, and ideas shaping our industry. In this episode, ROM chats with Maria Murphy, a recruitment consultant with over 20 years of experience in the FMCG sector. Maria shares her insights into career development for women, opening up about the realities of breaking through barriers, building confidenc...

Setting up a successful brewery is no mean feat in any location, but doing just that in occupied territory is many times harder. Host Rom speaks with Madees Khoury, the first female brewer in the Middle East. In this episode we hear about Madees’ inspiring journey in continuing her family’s legacy at Taybeh Brewing Company in Palestine. Madees shares the challenges of running a microbrewery under...