Pull up a chair at a sumptuous soirée where Deborah Wastell is joined by a guest co-host who selects an enticing guest list packed with women who’ve given them food for thought.
Listen to Olivia Meikle's full length episode here
Listen to Vicki Pipe's Full Length Episode Here
Listen to Kenny Wastell's full length episode here.
Listen to Stephanie Shields' Full Length Episode Here
Listen to Rosie James' full length episode here.
Listen to Rebecca Windsor's full length episode here.
Listen to Heather Coombs' Full Length Episode Here
Listen to Jennifer Evans' full length episode here.
Listen to Lynne Payne's full episode here.
Listen to Aaron Paterson's full length episode here.
Listen to Claire Merrick's full length episode here.
Listen to Miriam Babooram's full length episode here!
Listen to Kate Calder's full length episode here!
Listen to Hannah Smith's full length episode here.
Listen to Naomi Cooper-Davis' full length episode here.
Listen to Nick Bailey's full length episode here!
Listen to Sarah Wanendeya's full episode here.
Listen to Anola Chase's full length episode here!
Listen to Avril Poole's full length episode here!
Listen to Colleen's full length episode here.
Hear Rebecca Windsor's full length episode here!
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by academic, author, and podcaster, Olivia Meikle. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Olivia food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Olivia herself, of course - Olivia teaches Women's Studies and English at the University of Denver and Naropa University, she is co-author of The Book of Sisters, and co-host of the excellent “WhatsHerName" Podcast. Find Olivia and WhatsHerName on Twitter.Agatha ChristieFrances PerkinsParticular mention of "The Woman Behind the New Deal" by Kirstin DowneyPrincess Ruth KeʻelikōlaniEmilie du ChateletRegina Weaver MerrillAmelia Peabody EmersonNur JahanParticular mention of Ruby Lal and "The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan"Judy ChicagoParticular mention of "The Dinner Party"
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by author, improviser, and museum manager, Vicki Pipe. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Vicki food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Vicki herself, of course - Vicki is an author, improviser, and manager of the Bow St Police Museum.You can find details of Lady Prov's upcoming gigs at Hoopla, including the first one of 2023 on 12th January, from their Twitter and Instagram accounts.And all of Vicki's books about the Railways are available from September Publishing.Find Vicki on Twitter and Instagram.Victoria WoodNancy WakeThe book Vicki mentioned was "Nancy Wake, SOE's Greatest Heroine"Rabia ChaudryParticular mention of "Undisclosed"Hallie RubenholdParticular mention of "The Five" & "The Covent Garden Ladies" Liz PowerAdelina PattiLady Jane Grey - as depicted in "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey"Jameela JamilParticular mention of "I Weigh"Barbara Hillary
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by he brother; journalist and ex-musician, Kenny Wastell. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Kenny food for thought. Round the table, you will find, Kenny himself, of course;Monica SelesGwen StefaniParticular mention of "Just a Girl"Carole CadwalladrJacinda ArdernMrs BrookPussy RiotRoz DoyleAmy WinehouseKate Sheppard
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by civil servant, author and poet Stephanie Shields. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Stephanie food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Stephanie herself, of course, You can find her on Twitter and Instagram, where there are links to her children's book, "The Star Princess and The Kitchen Witch" and her book of poetry, "One Hundred Breaths".Joan CollinsClaudia WinklemanJoanne HarrisCaroline HironsParticular mention of the Beauty Backed Trust and The Eve AppealHelen of TroyMention of "Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics"Victoria WoodParticular mention of 'The Ballad of Barry and Freda (Let's Do It)'Rosa Parks
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by music plugger, radio DJ, and comedian Rosie James. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Rosie food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Rosie's herself, of course, have a listen to her radio show, "Rosie & John"or go along to one of the gigs she has coming up:Weds 2nd Nov - "Cool-Aid" @ Caroline Of Brunswick, BrightonThurs 3rd Nov - "The Branding Needs Work" @ The Caxton Arms, BrightonTue 15th Nov - "Ed's Comedy Club" @ Presuming Eds, BrightonThurs 24th Nov - "The Branding Needs Work" @ The Caxton Arms, BrightonWeds 21st Dec - "Comedy Remedy" @ The Station, UckfieldGloria EstefanAnne Spencer Morrow LindberghSpecific Reference to "Gift from the Sea"Joan RiversDr Helen CzerskiRosie's NonnaUrsula Kuczynski AKA Agent SonyaLynn BenfieldChimamanda Ngozi AdichieSpecific Reference to Half of a Yellow SunLucy Worsley
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by Director and Writer, Charlotte Ive. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Charley food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Charlotte herself, of course - Charley is a Director, Writer, and all round creative powerhouse. You can find a couple of examples of her talents at 12Months 12Stories:Meanwhile The World Goes On, which she wrote, directed and did the sound design on, and Lineage, which she directed and did the sound design on. Aphra BehnMarsha P. JohnsonCéline SciammaParticular mention of Portrait of a Lady on FireSusan La Flesche PicotteAngie The Bad Women from History (mention of Isabella of France, Margaret d'Anjou, Anne Boleyn) Kitty from Tipping the VelvetParticular mention of Sarah WatersSapphoMia MottleyParticular mention on COP26 Speech
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by actor, Heather Coombs. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Heather food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Heather herself, of course - Heather is an actor. She also produces, directs and writes. You will have seen her onscreen in a multitude of shows from James Graham's Brexit An Uncivil War to Adam Kay's This is Going to Hurt. You can find more of it listed on her IMDB Profile and her Spotlight Page.Find Heather on Twitter and InstagramBarbara CookGina YashereParticular mention of Gina's interview on Brydon &Cleo SylvestreAmy JohnsonJennie BuckmanParticular focus on Piece of SilkMae WestWorth a look at her shoes!VillanelleNo links to the super group, which has not yet been formed... but watch this space!Noor Inayat Khan
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by actor, director, and podcaster, Blair McAlpine. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Blair food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Blair herself, of course - Blair is an actor, director, and host of “The Blair Bitch Podcast”. Find Blair on Twitter and InstagramThe Spice Girls Particular mention of Victoria Beckham Edith May BallQueen Latifah Karen O Blair's Godmother (no link - personal connection)Kate Moss Miss Piggy Nicola Adams The Mona Lisa
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by artist and interior designer, Jennifer Evans. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Jennifer food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Jennifer herself;Sally Gunnell;Christiane Amanpour;Miranda July;Gina Miller;Freya Gabie;Guerrilla Girls;Joan Harris;Barbara Demick;Mary Seacole.
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by Lynne Payne.Lynne is the Director of ROTTEN PARK ROAD PRODUCTIONS and ROTTEN PARK ROAD MANAGEMENT. She is a creative producer, actor and agent.She is the producer of HAPPY LITTLE BUNNIES and HOW NOT TO WORK AND CLAIM BENEFITS.Round the table today you will find:Lynne herself;Alanis Morissette;Thelma Schoonmaker;Alexa Canady;Dolly Parton;Patsy Stone;Denise RichardsWith a focus on Tammy and the T-RexChing Shih
Welcome! This week Deborah is joined by Aaron Paterson.Having previously worked as a director, Aaron is as a supporter of art, culture and heritage for all. He is family and community programmer for Westminster Abbey, one half of acapmedia (film makers for cultural organisations), a trustee of SouthWestFest - a community arts & health festival, and an avid TV watcher.Round the table this week, you will find:Aaron, himself. CherSpecial mention of Cher's One Woman West Side Story...Aaron's lovely Mum (no link)The Public Universal FriendCaroline HerschelHonourable Mention: Margaret CavendishLinda DoyleEva PerónShe-RaHonourable Mention: Cate BlanchettOctavia Butler Focus on "Kindred"Megan RapinoeHonourable Mention: Sally Gunnell
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by actor, writer and producer, Claire Merrick. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Claire food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Claire herself, obviously - Claire is an actor, writer, producer and collaborator. She is co-founder of the Who We Are Collective, whose work spans across multiple art forms. They are currently in the R&D stage of two new pieces for theatre: "The Table" and "The Tower"Gloria GaynorSue TownsendWith particular focus on Adrian MoleZaha HadidHelen Gurley BrownWith particular focus on Cosmopolitan MagazineV (Personal connection, therefore no link)Margaret ThatcherBridget JonesShirley ConranThe Guardian article referred to is here.Betty White
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by Actor, Writer and Voice Over artist, Miriam Babooram. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Miriam food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Miriam herself, of course - you can find the various ways to connect with her through LinkTreeIn July she will be performing in Tick Box Other at Theatre 503 - I'll update the link when there is more info online.Dr. Miriam StoppardCorrie ten BoomMindy KalingMacKenzie ScottLouise Robinson (Real Life Connection, therefore no link)Dolly PartonMary PoppinsJaelSusie DentFocus on her twitter account
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by Author and Food Writer, Kate Calder. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Kate food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Kate herself, of course - Kate is a Food Writer, Author, and Food Stylist and you can find her work in her fabulous book, Three Ingredient Cocktails.Cyndi LauperCourtney LoveRuby TandohMichelle WolfParticular Mention to the 2018 White House Correspondents' DinnerMary Calder (Personal Connection, therefore no link)Clairee Belcher from Steel MagnoliasMadam C.J. WalkerMention of Self Made
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by actor, director, and storyteller, Hannah Smith. Together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Hannah food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Hannah herself, of course - Hannah is an actor, director, and storyteller, and has previously been named World Book Day's Storytelling SuperstarIn the next few weeks you'll be able to find her reading a sonnet for Sonnets V Dementia Laura Ingalls Wilder Particular focus on Little House in the Big Woods Anni-Frid Lyngstad Penelope Leach Particular focus on Your Baby and ChildEmma Thompson You can read the article Hannah mentions here.Serena Williams Honourable mention to Venus Wiliams Holly Gibson (real life connection, therefore no link)Hillary Clinton Lib Wright, from The Wonder Prof. Alice Roberts Marie Antoinette
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by actor and community organiser, Naomi Cooper-Davis and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Naomi food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Naomi herself, obviously, Naomi is an Actor and Community Organiser who works to support local community organisations in Margate.You can find her on Instagram People Dem Collective have a big gig coming up: “People Dem Collective presents De La Soul and Sugar Hill Gang” Maya Angelou Tina Turner Kathy Burke Princess Sophia Duleep SinghQueen Elizabeth IMatildaJoan Cooper (personal connection, so no link)Memphis Minnie Nanny of the MaroonsHelen Sharman(Honourable mention to Nichelle Nicholls)
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by playwright Annie Fox, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Annie food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Annie herself.Annie is an American-born, London-based playwright, who previously worked as an actor and teacher. Annie Fox's debut play WOMAN CAUGHT UNAWARE, was a Heretic Voices winner. The Space in London has commissioned several plays from her, including PROGRESS, which was part of TwoFest. Her short and festival length plays have been produced widely, and she has been short and long-listed for major playwriting awards. The film TROLL, based on her screenplay and directed by Heather Coombs, just won the People's Choice Film of Fest award from the FFTG awards. Annie's lockdown Zoom play, SO MUCH STUFF, was awarded an Online OnComm commendation and can be seen on the Space Theatre's channel on YouTube.In addition to her playwriting, Annie has written many popular educational books for Illuminate Publishing and Oxford University Press. In 2022, she has a series of new books joining her other Illuminate books.Her play WOMAN CAUGHT UNAWARE is published by Nick Hern Books.(Photo used on Social Media episode announcement by Annie's son, Paul Chris Fox)Aretha Franklin; Dorothy Arzner; Focus on "Dance, Girl, Dance" Emily Brown Larrivee Irvine (Personal connection, therefore no link);Dorothy Parker; (Whatever You Think Dorothy Parker Was Like, She Wasn't) Miss Marple; Adriene Mishler; Focus on Yoga with Adriene Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by Nick Bailey, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Nick food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Nick himselfLise MeitnerJudit PolgárAnn McBride (real life connection, so no link);Ruth DavidsonMaude, from Harold and MaudeElinor Ostrom(With a specific focus on Common Pool Resources)Amber Ruffin
Welcome! Today Deborah is joined by actor, theatre maker and independent celebrant Sarah Wanendeya, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Sarah food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Sarah herself.Sarah is an actor/theatre maker who has written and created her own work with a particular focus on the experiences and perception of mid-life women in society. She is also an Independent Celebrant, writing, creating and officiating ceremonies for weddings, funerals and any other event or rite of passage which people wish to mark and celebrate. She recently set up Root & Branch Celebrants with Katherine Perry. You can find 12months 12stories here - Sarah will be appearing in the March episode, and she's involved in developing a community street theatre project in her local area which they hope to put on mid June.Julie Andrews Nina Simone Mariana Francesca Mazzucato Fiona Shaw Honourable mention to Sonali Deraniyagala Sarah PullenWith a focus on A Mighty Boy - book and charityGrace Jones Andréa Martel Philippa Perry With a focus on “The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did)” Murasaki Shikibu
Welcome! Today Deborah Wastell is joined by Amanda Ross, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Amanda food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Amanda herself.Kylie Minogue Michaela Coel (With particular focus on “I May Destroy You”) Hannah Jane Parkinson (With particular focus on "The Joy of Small Things") Marina Hyde Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Olivia Clark (Real Life Connection, therefore no link)Priti Patel Siobhan Roy (Honourable Mention to The Handmaids Tale) Tina Turner Francine Maisler(With particular focus on "Succession")
Welcome! Today Deborah Wastell is joined by actress, writer and podcaster Anola Chase, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Anola food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Anola herself.You can find 'Kiki in The Cronx' here. New podcast will be added when available. Madonna With particular focus on: “In Bed with Madonna” Issa Rae With particular focus on: “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” and "Insecure" Rihanna Mentions of: Fenty Beauty, SavageNatalie Lue With particular focus on: "Baggage Reclaim" and “The Baggage Reclaim Sessions” The Queen Samantha Jones Lupita (ancestor, so no link available)Dr Jennifer Gunter
Welcome! Today Deborah Wastell is joined by actor, improviser, writer and teacher Avril Poole, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Avril food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Avril Poole herself.As well as being with the long running group LadyProv, Avril created the improv groups, Moments In Time and Blend Off, which combines her passions for improv and whisky. She is also part of The Improvised Play, directed by Stephen Davidson, and runs improv workshops, both independently and with various companies, the details of which she tweets about. Honourable mention to Stephanie Macleod Jill Murphy (Focus on The Worst Witch) Tina Fey (Mentions here for: SNL, The Second City, Bossy Pants, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)Boudica Avril's Friend Sheila (Real Life Connection, therefore no link)Leslie Knope(Honourable Mention to: Amy Poehler)Dawn French (Honourable Mentions: French and Saunders, The ComicStrip)Simone Biles (Honourable Mention - Naomi Osaka)
Welcome! Today Deborah Wastell is joined by actor, director, voice artist and writer Colleen Prendergast, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Colleen food for thought. Round the table, you will find:Colleen Prendergast herself. Just type her name into your audio book provider's search engine, you will get hundreds of her brilliant narrated audiobooks. And her is a little snippet of her award winning Peter Rabbit. Sally Wainwright(Honourable mentions here: Kay Mellor, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Anne Bronte, with particular focus on To Walk Invisible)Tish Murtha Mary (Molly) Morrell (Real Life Connection, therefore no link)Diana Mitford(Mentions to Nancy, Jessica, Unity, Pamela and Deborah Mitford and Tamara de Lempicka) Anne Shirley Anne Boleyn (Mention of particular interest - Anne Boleyn's recently discovered wooden falcon)Wangari Maathai (Focus on: Green Belt Movement)
Welcome! Today Deborah Wastell is joined by writer and photographer Rebecca Windsor, and together they host a sumptuous soirée where the guest list is packed with women who have given Rebecca food for thought.Round the table, you will find:Rebecca Windsor herself. You can discover her photography here. And 12months 12stories here.Joyce Grenfell(Honourable mentions in this section: Emma Chambers/Vicar of Dibley, Prunella Scales and Connie Booth/Fawlty Towers, Victoria Wood/Dinner Ladies, and Penelope Keith/The Good Life)Kathy Burke (Particular mentions: Nil by Mouth, Kevin & Perry , All Woman)Katherine Johnson (Honourable mentions in this section: Hidden Figures, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan)Lily Bailey (Particular focus on: Because We Are Bad)Moira Rose (Particular mentions: Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek) Annie Leibovitz Ida B Wells
This is Dinner Party Dames, hosted by actor and writer Deborah Wastell. Every week Deborah is joined by an interesting guest, with whom she co-hosts an imaginary dinner party where the guest list is made up of women who have given them food for thought.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
