Are functional drinks the future of socialising, or just another wellness fad? On this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey sits down with Zoey Henderson, an entrepreneur, mindful drinking consultant, and early functional drinks pioneer, to unravel the hype, science, and shifting culture around functional drinks. With drinking habits changing across the UK and a booming market for mushroom-powered beers and botanical blends, they explore whether these innovative drinks can deliver real benefits, challenge traditions, and truly change how and why we drink. This episode offers plenty of practical tips to help you rethink what you’re pouring into your glass.
Here are the highlights:
00:00 Introduction
05:13 Functional ingredients are being integrated into various beverage categories
11:50 Functional drinks in the non-alcoholic space offer benefits like relaxation or invigoration
17:20 Brands must ensure transparency and provide evidence
21:18 Mainstream adoption of using adaptogens in drinks
25:05 Undoing long-standing alcohol marketing is challenging
41:01 Understand consumer needs respectfully
44:54 Lion's mane mushroom can enhance cognitive health over time
47:19 Using fungi and plants for health is regaining popularity
50:38 Research product ingredients independently.
If you’re feeling stretched thin, tired, and in search of support, you’re not alone. This episode - and the ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ group - are for you.
Join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment
And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener
For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration
If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:
https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink
About the host Anna:
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Connect with Anna:
Website: thebeliefscoach.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
Find out more about Zoey Henderson:
Zoey Henderson is an entrepreneur with a passion for health and wellness, and a mindful drinking and wellness consultant. She was an early functional drinks pioneer, with a desire to bring more functional herbs and fungi into the mainstream. Her brand, Fungtn, created a more mindful option for conscious consumers looking to reduce their alcohol consumption and empower their health. Zoe has been in the hospitality industry across various roles for over 15 years.
Connect with Zoey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoey-henderson-b9848b9a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fungtn.brewing/?hl=en-gb
Mentioned in this episode:
🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025
1. Click on the link below
2. Pop in your email
3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER
4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST
5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE
6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK
Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/
https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment
