Courtney Iseman: Drinks writer, media consultant, and obsessed with creative people
Release Date: 06/17/2026
Season 1 round up & what's next for Season 2!
Cheers with Nat
Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. When I (re)launched this show back in March 2026, the idea was to have conversations that made us all feel connected, celebrated, cheered up, and cheered on. (So, I hope you’d agree you feel that way when listening!) Importantly though, I didn’t want those feelings to end after each episode. My vision for Cheers with Nat has always been to keep cheering people on… so that’s what we’re going to do in this episode! To wrap up Season 1, we’ll hear from each guest – some in their own words –...
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Victoria Garcia: Senior bartender, film fan, and team player
Cheers with Nat
Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. It’s time for the final episode of my NYC mini-series! Today’s guest is , senior bartender at You’ll hear how Victoria got her start in hospitality, what keeps her here, and what it’s really like to work at the recently crowned ‘’. She also shares why mentorship matters, what makes a good bartender, the hobby that keeps her grounded outside of work, and more. What stuck with me from this conversation: On her shifts at Sip & Guzzle: “We have a good time” On her love of films: “When I...
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Mandy Naglich: Professional taster, author, and silent retreat regular
Cheers with Nat
Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. We’re continuing our four-episode mini-series from NYC! Today’s guest is , an author, journalist, and professional taster. Mandy tells us about the daytime TV icon she aspired to be when she grew up, and the winding career path she navigated in pursuit of her passion for broadcast journalism. We also discuss what it means to be a professional taster and how Mandy became one, what inspired her to about the topic, and how she trains bar teams with her tasting skills. The we get into Mandy’s , her...
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Tara Hankinson: Brewery co-founder, customer experience whiz, and loves a chilled red
Cheers with Nat
Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. We’re continuing our four episode mini-series from NYC! Today’s guest is Tara Hankinson, co-founder and co-CEO of . TALEA was founded with a mission to bring craft beer to a broader audience – and you’re about to hear exactly how they’re doing it. From brand voice, to customer experience, to collaborations and partnerships, Tara tells us how her early inspiration and entrepreneurial spirit snowballed to get her where she is today… and she’s got loads of great insight to share. What stuck...
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Courtney Iseman: Drinks writer, media consultant, and obsessed with creative people
Cheers with Nat
Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. We’re about to kick off a four-episode mini-series from my recent visit to NYC! Today’s guest is , freelance drinks writer and media consultant. Courtney shares how her childhood love of Broadway turned into a degree in journalism and screenwriting and, later, a career as a writer. We also learn how she went from writing about fashion to craft beer, and the surprising parallels between the two. You’ll hear about how she spots trends and makes connections, the many hobbies that keep her grounded...
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Lucy Do: Micropub owner, community builder, and finds magic in the mundane
Cheers with Nat
In our final throwback episode, we’re catching up with another guest from Beer with Nat season two, who I chatted with back in June 2019. Today’s guest is Lucy Do, owner of . We start by hearing what Lucy has been up to over the past 7 years, then we revisit our original conversation. Lucy shares us what a micropub is and why she decided to open one. She also reflects on some of her key learnings over the years, the advice she wished she had when she first started out, and a whole lot more. What stuck with me from this conversation: On community building: “Moving away from the...
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Annabel Smith: Beer taster, women-in-beer pioneer, and swimmer
Cheers with Nat
In this throwback episode, we’re catching up with someone from season two of Beer with Nat who I recorded with back in May 2019. Today’s guest is Annabel Smith, Beer Sommelier and founder of the training, consultancy, and events business, . We’ll start by hearing what Annabel has been up to over the past 7 years, then we’ll revisit our original conversation. You’ll hear about Annabel’s journey from pub landlady to self-described professional beer taster. She also shares her passion for cask beer, her many firsts as a woman in beer, and her research into why so few women...
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Lotte Peplow: Beer ambassador, judge, and field hockey fan
Cheers with Nat
This episode is another trip down memory lane, as we hear from a guest from the first season of Beer with Nat who I initially recorded with back in December 2018. Today’s guest is Lotte Peplow, American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe at We’ll start by hearing what Lotte has been up to over the past 8 years, then re-run our initial conversation. You’ll learn how Lotte got her start in PR, how a beer and food dinner – a topic she’s still incredible passionate about – led her to current role with The Brewers Association, her vision for the future (that she’s since managed to...
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Jane Peyton: Drinks educator, novelist, and befriender
Cheers with Nat
In today’s episode, we’re digging into the archives! You’re going to hear from a guest from the first season of Beer with Nat, who I initially recorded with way back in December 2018. Today’s guest is drinks educator, author, and founder of the , Jane Peyton. We’ll start by hearing what Jane has been up to over the past 8 years (wow!), then re-run our initial conversation. You’ll learn how a Venn diagram helped Jane to discover her perfect career path after she left behind her previous role as a documentary film producer, what it took to set a Guinness World Record, the aspect of...
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Ep 10 – Erika Haigh: Sake educator, relationship builder, and marathon runner
Cheers with Nat
Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Today’s guest is Erika Haigh, founder of . Erika talks us through her career to date, including how her work in wine led her to discover her true passion for sake, and how she went from opening London’s first dedicated sake bar to setting up a boutique fine sake merchant. A true sake educator, Erika tells us about her training, both within and outside of the classroom, helps us to bust some sake myths, and reflects on her role as a representative of Japanese culture more broadly. You’ll also hear...
info_outlineWelcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks.
We’re about to kick off a four-episode mini-series from my recent visit to NYC!
Today’s guest is Courtney Iseman, freelance drinks writer and media consultant.
Courtney shares how her childhood love of Broadway turned into a degree in journalism and screenwriting and, later, a career as a writer. We also learn how she went from writing about fashion to craft beer, and the surprising parallels between the two.
You’ll hear about how she spots trends and makes connections, the many hobbies that keep her grounded outside of work, and lots more.
What stuck with me from this conversation:
On a dream piece of work: “The first time I wrote a story for Full Pour… I opened the contributors page, and to see my name next to some of these writers that I absolutely worship…that is, I think, the biggest deal. To see your writing in the company of writers that you’ve admired for so long. It is a pinch me moment.”
On a focus of her writing: “My whole thing with my writing – whenever I can – is I really like to bring in other subcultures and other things that speak to people and help break down the rigid ‘bearded white dude’ thing in beer.”
On how she helps businesses as a consultant: “Everyone has a story. You’re not getting out there because maybe you haven’t identified it. Here’s how you do that. Here’s how you pitch yourself… so it’s just kind of giving them a toolkit.”
On freelancing: “It’s not for everyone and it absolutely has its challenges and its downsides. Absolutely. But it is the only life for me. And I do ultimately love it.”
On what piques her interest: “Whether it was in theatre, music or fashion, I’m obsessed with creative people.”
On how she stays grounded outside of work: “I want to be consuming art every day”
Links & things:
What we’re drinking:
Courtney’s work:
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Journalism (She’s pretty prolific! See all her work here)
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Newsletter & podcast (right here on Substack!)
Highlights from our last call round:
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Podcast recc: Threedom
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TV (& podcast!) recc: Hacks (watch in the US & the UK) & Hacks podcast
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Producer spotlight: Bayab Gin
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Another awesome woman in drinks we should know about: Stephanie Grant
Other topics Courtney touches on:
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Brewers she was starstruck to meet: Dan & Martha of St. Mars of the Desert
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One of her favourite publications: Full Pour
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Craft beer’s #MeToo movement
Recording info:
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April 2026 in NYC
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We recorded in a private room in a co-working space in NYC… that happened to be right next to the kitchen! That said, apologies for the occasional chat and clinking in the background.