{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep 5 \u2013 Nicola Hart: Founder, foodie, and fascinated with fermentation","description":"Welcome back to Cheers with Nat \u2013 the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Today\u2019s guest is Nicola Hart, founder of Agua de Madre. Nicola starts by telling us all about Agua de Madre\u2019s signature product \u2013 water kefir \u2013 including what it is, where she first discovered it, and what led her to start making it herself. From there, we discuss how the business has evolved over the years, why Nicola traded a career in film-making for one in fermentation (and the unexpected parallels between the two), what keeps her grounded outside of work, and lots more. --- What stuck with me from this conversation: On functional drinks: \u201cEverybody\u2019s understanding now, people are drinking less or rather they\u2019re just wanting to add value to their water. I mean, in the past, I would only ever drink water. I didn\u2019t \u2018get\u2019 fizzy drinks \u2013 until now.\u201d On film-making vs building a drinks brand: \u201cAll those skills you get \u2013 from organisation, making things happen, you\u2019ve got a budget. In fact, I\u2019d say that probably working in the drinks world is much tougher. Because in film production, you might have a 10-week production time when it\u2019s 24\/7, but then you have the downtime before that when you\u2019re working with the script and raising the money, and then you have the downtime after when you\u2019re editing. Getting a drink to market is absolutely non-stop. It\u2019s intense.\u201d On learning new skills and building a team: \u201cIt\u2019s about age and experience and listening and knowing that you don\u2019t know everything. That kind of helps\u2026 But also trusting your gut, as well. Trust your gut is pretty much one of our lines. \u2018Get a good gut feeling\u2019 is what it\u2019s about. And more and more that comes back.\u201d On advice for other founders: \u201cJust start. Just do the first step. Obviously, you learn on the way\u2026 Actually it\u2019s just starting and having passion, commitment, and knowing that it\u2019s going to be a long haul \u2013 it\u2019s not going to be a sprint \u2013 and to stick with it.\u201d On what keeps her in the drinks industry: \u201cWell, its compelling, isn\u2019t it? It\u2019s compelling to see the business grow. Especially now it seems to be. I\u2019m enjoying the adventure. I\u2019m enjoying the ride and, boy, what a ride.\u201d   Links & things: Agua de Madre Product range We were tasting the blood orange water kefir Home Madre film competition (scroll down) Early inspiration & stockists Doug McMaster\u2019s Silo (now closed) Sam & Sam Clark\u2019s Moro Nicola\u2019s latest film project Firebrand (2023) Based on the book Firebrand by Elizabeth Fremantle Local restaurants getting some love Jolene (makers of my fave cinnamon roll in London!) Primeur Westerns Laundry The Fermenters Guild Madres on the dance floor with Sophie Ellis Bextor Nicola\u2019s podcast reccs: Hungry (getting its second shout out on the show!) People Doing Things with Ed Little BBC\u2019s The Food Programme \u2013 \u2018The Science of Fermentation\u2019 episode Nicola\u2019s book reccs: Tim Spector\u2019s Ferment Check out Tim & Nicola\u2019s Instagram Live here The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz Which Wine When by Claire Strickett & Bert Blaize Culpability by Bruce Holsinger   Recording info: January 2026 in London Apologies for the typing noises at certain points, Nicola\u2019s colleague Yasmin was diligently taking notes during our recording! --- Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email ","author_name":"Cheers with Nat","author_url":"https:\/\/cheerswithnat.substack.com\/","html":"