What does it take to cook with true passion? In this episode of Cloke Cooks, Chris Cloke chats with celebrity chef Steven Saunders, owner of The Geranium restaurant, at his beautiful home cookery school at his private finca (farm) in Spain.

Steven shares the story of how his mother’s incredible home cooking (and her French heritage) inspired his career, how a school careers adviser set him on the path to catering college, and his rise through the ranks after training at the world-famous Savoy Hotel in London.

They also dive into the realities of the kitchen (the heat, the grueling hours) and why you simply cannot cook great food without putting your heart into it.

• The Spark: How Steven’s mother (and grandmother’s French roots) embedded a love for food, pastry, and entertaining into him from the age of five.
• The Career Pivot: Why Steven chose catering college over his teenage dreams of becoming an actor or singer.
• Kitchen Realities: The dedication, long hours, and intense heat of the kitchen environment.
• The Finca Cookery School: How Steven hosts hands-on masterclasses at his private country home, utilizing on-site ingredients.
• The Magic of Local & Seasonal: Why The Geranium is ranked in the top 25 in Spain—focusing on fresh, local, and in-season produce grown right at the finca (like papayas, mangoes, and a banana plantation) paired with fresh seafood from the Andalusian coast.
• Demystifying Desserts: Why you should stop buying store-bought desserts and try making your own (including Steven's tips on a modernized, easy Baked Alaska and his seasonal chocolate mousse with fresh cherries).

• Beef Wellington
• Fresh Lobster
• Modernized Baked Alaska (With Italian meringue and homemade ice cream)
• Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Cherries

Cloke Cooks is produced by Chris Cloke and brought to you by ProClean Direct.

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About Basingstoke is Basingstoke's Podcast Network supported by IncuHive, now open at Houndmills.

We support local people to become podcasters - find out more at aboutbasingstoke.com

In this episode of You Are Not Alone: Conversations for Mental Health & Wellbeing, we dive into a feeling that so many of us experience but rarely talk about openly: "too-muchness." It’s not necessarily a single crisis, but rather the slow, heavy accumulation of daily demands: work, family, life admin, unread messages, and endless notifications.

We explore what overwhelm actually looks like (hint: it’s often highly functional on the outside), why we feel guilty for struggling, and how we can practice realistic self-care by focusing on what is next rather than all.

• The Mask of High-Functioning Overwhelm: Overwhelm doesn't always look like staying in bed; many overwhelmed people are still turning up, parenting, working, and supporting everyone else while drowning on the inside.
• A Sign of Strength, Not Failure: Overwhelm is not a sign that you are failing; it is a sign that you have been carrying too much for too long.
• Redefining Self-Care: Real self-care isn't about perfect morning routines or expensive spa days. It’s about small, simple acts that make you feel $1\%$ better—like stepping outside, drinking water, or saying "no."
• The Power of Connection: We often carry our burdens quietly to avoid being a hassle, but opening up often reveals that we are not alone in our struggles.
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• The Chatty Cafe at Proteus Creation Space
• What: A warm, welcoming space to connect over a cup of tea, a book, or a craft project.
• When: Mondays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
• Where: Proteus Creation Space, Council Road, Basingstoke.
• Contact: info@proteustheatre.com | 01256 354541
• Talk Club Basingstoke
• What: A UK men’s mental health charity helping men improve their "mental fitness" in a safe, open space.
• When: Fortnightly.
• Where: Basingstoke Town Football Club (Committee Room).
• Contact: talkclubbasingstoke@gmail.com
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If you are struggling and need to talk, please reach out. Support is always available:

• Samaritans: Call 116 123 (Available 24/7)
• If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, please contact emergency services or urgent mental health support straight away.
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Next Episode: We will be exploring high-functioning anxiety—what it looks like, why people become experts at hiding it, and what can help.

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About Basingstoke is supported by IncuHive.

In this episode, we chat with Lou Eddy, a long-time Basingstoke marketing consultant who has turned festival organizer for a new event.

Lou shares her inspiring story of turning a 40th-birthday poolside joke in Ibiza into a full-blown reality for her 50th year: EddyFest!

• From a Poolside Dream to Reality: How a casual chat with friends ten years ago evolved into a major local event.
• The Behind-the-Scenes Grind: Lou discusses the complex logistics of setting up a festival—from noise control and water access to securing permits from the local council.
• The Magic of Curation: Choosing the perfect blend of local artists, TikTok sensations, and classic covers to create the ultimate "Boho meets Disco" vibe.

• Where: Little Park Farm, Mortimer (a working farm complete with a rustic vibe and potentially a few roaming chickens!).
• When: Friday, August 7th & Saturday, August 8th (Saturday is the main day, but two-day tickets are available for campers).
• Accommodation Options: Campers are welcome! Standard camping spots, caravan parking, and pre-pitched luxury tents (via Sleepy Teepee) are available.
• Tickets: Under-10s go free! Get your tickets and book parking/camping at https://eddyfest.co.uk/

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About Basingstoke is Basingstoke's Podcast Network supported by IncuHive, now open at Houndmills.

We support local people to become podcasters - find out more at aboutbasingstoke.com