The Modern Mann

From Gary Glitter to Rose West; Prince Harry to Harold Shipman… courtroom artist Priscilla Coleman has sketched them all, over five decades documenting Britain’s biggest criminal trials. In UK courts, artists can’t sketch inside, so she begins by writing what she sees, combining shorthand notes with a photographic memory technique. Under tight deadlines - and often without even a table - she rushes outside to turn those notes into the courtroom images we recognise from the nightly news. In this broad interview with Olly, Priscilla recalls watching the Wagatha Christie trial; considers what she’s learned from such diverse case studies as Ian Huntley and Jeffrey Archer; and explains why she thinks the legal system needs to change… Image credit: Priscilla Coleman/MB Media —----------------------- Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart joins Olly at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, surrounded by cars worth millions of pounds, to investigate the trend for younger people getting into classic car restoration. Is it a way of avoiding ULEZ charges? Do the tax breaks justify abandoning newer cars altogether? And, assuming you can’t afford a Ferrari or a Bentley, what are the upcoming marques to invest in? The answers may surprise you… —----------------------- Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from discovering a kindred spirit in a bondage-themed hair salon - tackles a listener’s anxiety about contracting HIV from a non-consensual encounter. Twenty-five tests, taken over fifteen years, are telling her she doesn’t have HIV… is there any chance they could be wrong? —----------------------- Finally, music this month comes from Ipswich-born rapper Piers James, and his new single 'F.O.E'. —----------------------- NOW… 🎧 LISTEN TO OLLY guesting on Mann-fan Darren Hill’s podcast, The Story Pilgrim - if two middle-aged men walking around Letchworth is your idea of an hour well spent: https://pod.fo/e/328330 🍻 BUY US A BEER. We are only able to make this show thanks to your donations. If you can afford to, pretty PLEASE support our independent podcast here. ✉️ SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK. If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, a letter for Olly, or you’d like to share your story on a future edition of the show - fill out our Feedback form here. —----------------------- … and we’ll see you with our tenth birthday episode on 10th October. x Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Priscilla Coleman, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Piers James. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Price and Stuart Goldsmith return for their annual catch-up with Olly, comparing notes on the pleasures and pitfalls of parenthood. With their boys now aged 9½, the Dads’ latest life advice includes how to remove a games console from the sitting room (without triggering a row); splitting Summer holidays into ‘manageable blocks’; giving their sons feedback without it sounding like criticism; and the joy of re-discovering The Simpsons. Plus, why singing out instructions can be more effective than shouting; how NOT to make a good impression at a posh playground; and the pressures of the Obligatory Back To School Photo… This is the tenth instalment of our annual ‘How To Be A Dad’ series. Catch up with all previous episodes HERE. 🎧Tom’s podcast is My Mate Bought A Toaster; and Stuart’s is The Comedian’s Comedian. _____________ Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart considers the soaring cost of getting away, and breaks down what a ‘holiday’ really means. Can a ‘staycation’ provide an equivalent wellbeing boost to travelling abroad? Maaaaaaaybe, says Ollie, if you plan your time off, lock away your laptop, and hire a cleaner. Along the way, he uncovers the trends for “noctourism”, “fakeations”, and “set-jetting”. It’s certainly a break from the grind… _____________ Elsewhere, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from discovering a new kind of ‘Big D’ in her work at Deaf Rave - has advice for pleasuring ladies with longer labia. Not every culture is squeamish about flappiness: some Eastern and African traditions celebrate and even enhance labia length. Whether you’re solo or partnered, Alix has a treasure chest of toys and techniques, from floral-shaped vibrators that flutter like a butterfly, to massage oils that pamper your folds. The goal is worship - not just stimulation. With the help of sexual wellness educator Tami Rose, sexpert Jess Wilde, professional long-lipped pleasure seeker Crista Anne, and pro piercer Mike Hill, Alix celebrates sensory exploration, and offers clever tricks with toys, casting kits, and knickers… _______ 🍻 BUY US A BEER. We are only able to make this show thanks to your donations. If you can afford to, pretty PLEASE support our independent podcast here. ✉️ SEND US YOUR LETTERS. If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, some feedback for Olly, or you’d like to share your story on a future edition of the show - fill out our Feedback form here. 💬 THE MODERN MANN DISCORD. It’s free! Meet other Mann-fans: https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _____________ Finally, our record of the month is Mogwai’s re-version of ‘Endsong’, plucked from The Cure’s brand new remix album, Mixes of a Lost World. … and we’ll see you with something new on 10th September. x Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Tom Price, Stuart Goldsmith, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, The Cure, Mogwai. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025 01:04 Your Letters 05:52 The Zeitgeist: Planning A Fake-ation 26:04 Feature: Three Dads Compare Notes, 10 Years On 67:19 The Foxhole: Longer Labias? No Problem! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Theme parks have transformed from the travelling fairs of the fifties and Disney-inspired family resorts into playgrounds for adrenalin junkies of all ages. So, how do ride designers meet the needs of their discerning public? Bradley Wynne, lead creative artist at Merlin Magic Making, is a man who knows - he's spent a lifetime obsessing about all things theme park and is now heading up the team for Thorpe Park's biggest ever launch, Derren Brown's Ghost Train. In this episode, Olly learns from him how sounds, smells and touch can enhance the experience of riding a rollercoaster; discusses the fallout from the tragedy on The Smiler, and how you can use a very boring interest in planning application data to your advantage, to secure a dream job. This episode first aired in April 2016, in our episode Let's Build A Theme Park. Now remastered and with an update from Bradley nine years on, we're replaying it to celebrate Olly's new BBC show: ROLLERCOASTER - UNIVERSAL’S BEDFORDSHIRE JOURNEY. Olly’s new four-part BBC series about the Universal Studios project in Bedford can be binged ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perry Burns was just 13 when his once-in-a-lifetime trip on an RAF plane ended in a devastating crash. It left him with burns over nearly half his body. In this gripping conversation with Olly, Perry relives the moment he thought he’d died; the fireball he escaped; and the chain of miracles that saved his life... He shares the pain of recovery, the power of one relentless teacher, and how love helped him rebuild. —----------------------- Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart is on a mission to Make Running Fun. While apps like VoiceMap offer self-guided audio tours you can create (and sell!), and GoodGym adds community purpose to your jog, his true champion is Zombies, Run!, a thrilling, GPS-triggered story game where undead hordes chase you into cardio greatness... and, it seems, makes Olly Mann sweat buckets around the Regent’s Park Running Track. —----------------------- Elsewhere, Alix Fox - fresh from National AIDS Trust fundraiser Drag Raise - is back to answer listener’s sex and relationships questions in The Foxhole. This month: What actually happens at sex-themed swingers holiday resorts, like Hedonism in Jamaica, and what should prospective travellers bring with them to the hotel? With the help of Sex Advice for Seniors’ Suzanne Noble, Alix reveals all… —----------------------- Finally, our record of the month is the folktastic ‘Cow Song’ from The New Eves 🐄. Check it out on our Spotify playlist now! Oh, and here are some useful links you should totally be clicking: 🎢 ROLLERCOASTER - UNIVERSAL’S BEDFORDSHIRE JOURNEY. Olly’s new four-part BBC series about the Universal Studios project in Bedford can be binged here. 🍻 BUY US A BEER. We are only able to make this show thanks to your donations. If you can afford to, pretty PLEASE support our independent podcast here. ✉️ SEND US YOUR LETTERS. If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, some feedback for Olly, or you’d like to share your story on a future edition of the show - fill out our Feedback form here. —----------------------- … and we’ll see you (with our annual How To Be A Dad special) on 10th August. x Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Perry Burns, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, The New Eves. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the reality of male-to-female transitioning on the NHS? Lexi Perry-Weston says the online resources she found didn’t relate to her experiences at all. In this interview with Olly, she explains how she’s been supported in her trans journey by her family, her workplace and the medical establishment - but also harassed by the public, fetishised by partners and discriminated against by businesses. From hormones to dating apps, vocal therapy to changing room etiquette, this is one Mann-fan’s experience of gender transition in 2020. CONTENT WARNING: interview contains references to rape, suicide, abuse, recounting of transphobic language and gender dysphoria. In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. This episode first aired in September 2020, in the episode 'What To Expect When You're Transitioning'. Now remastered and with a brand-new , extended interview with Lexi in 2025, we discuss how the political climate has changed... as well as Lexi's own life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Nick Coffer’s marriage fell apart, the breakup was a battlefield. Embroiled in high conflict, overwhelming stress, and crushing legal fees, he had to redefine his role as a father while struggling to maintain his cheeriness as a BBC broadcaster. But from the chaos, Nick forged a new path: re-training as a family mediator. Determined to rescue others from his mistakes, he now shatters stalemates between hostile exes, keeping conversations constructive and focussed on the only people who matter: the divorcing couple’s children. In this chat with Olly, Nick shares the game-changing apps that transform toxic communication; reveals how he fell into the trap of becoming a ‘McDonald’s Dad’; and explains why mediation can be useful even before you tell your kids you intend to split up… Nick’s mediation services can be found at wayforwardmediation.co.uk The Family Mediators Association is at TheFMA.co.uk —----------------- Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for sleeper trains - by taking Olly and Alix for a ride on GWR’s ‘Night Riviera’ from London Paddington to Penzance, Cornwall. What are his top tips to ensure you get a good night’s kip? Is the rise in overnight train travel because locomotives are so good - or aeroplanes are so insufferable? And how does one store excess luggage when arriving in a place with no car? Ollie has the answers - though they become increasingly less intelligible after a night in the on-board bar… The team travelled as the guests of GWR. Book tickets direct at gwr.com —----------------- Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from experiencing her first-ever dip in a geothermal pool - tackles a listener’s concerns about getting jiggy under canvas. Can sex in tents ever be comfortable? Is it best to use fairy lights, or fumble in the dark? And what are the camping essentials you need to bring along if you intend to get off? Armed with a packet of Fresh Wipes, and aided by author ⁠⁠Zachary Zane, Alix reveals all… —----------------- Finally, our record of the month belongs to Will Varley - it’s his latest track, ‘Home Before The World Ends’ featuring Bastille. _______ BUY US A BEER Your support keeps this show going! So, if you can afford to, please buy us a beer 🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer _______ Meet Other Mann-Fans on the Modern Mann Discord: 🤹➡️ https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US… If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: ✍️ https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback … and we’ll see you on July 10th! This episode is dedicated to former guest, and friend of the show, Dr Stuart Farrimond - who has died at the age of 43. His final book, ‘The Science of Flavor: Unlock the Secrets of Flavorful Cooking’, is available to pre-order now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Flavor-Secrets-Flavorful-Cooking/dp/0593844246 Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Nick Coffer, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Will Varley. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Finch’s life changed forever when his car flipped over in a devastating accident that left him with multiple neurological issues. He developed PTSD, suffered from seizures - and even became afflicted with Tourettes. But the medication he was prescribed was almost as bad: triggering fits, impotence and bloody discharge. Then he discovered cannabis... CONTENT WARNING: interview includes account of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempt, highly offensive language and on-mic drug use. _____________________ Now a registered, legal user of skunk, Jim campaigns for medical marijuana to be made available on the NHS. As he explains in this intense, compelling conversation with Olly, for disabled people who can’t afford a private prescription, the current alternatives are to support the criminal black market, or risk arrest by growing weed themselves. _____________________ In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After witnessing bleak conditions inside a mental health unit, artists Tim A. Shaw and Niamh White decided to take action. Drawing on their background in contemporary art, they set out to transform sterile clinical spaces with bold, thought-provoking artworks, via their charity, Hospital Rooms. Today, they commission over 40 leading artists a year to create immersive, site-specific pieces in psychiatric hospitals across the UK — from sweeping murals to hands-on workshops that put patients at the heart of the creative process. But despite critical acclaim, the battle for funding continues — and every brushstroke must be justified to NHS accountants. In this episode, Tim tells Olly why he won’t let hospitals sell off the valuable artwork he installs; explains why patients should look beyond the ‘recovery tree’; and reveals how his recent experience on pediatric wards has hardened his belief in the healing power of art… Find out more about Hospital Rooms at https://hospital-rooms.com/ _______ Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at ‘smart gardening’: growing vegetables without soil. Is hydroponics a workable alternative to getting an allotment? How much faster is it to grow a tomato indoors? And is the whole trend really just a fig-leaf for at-home cannabis growers? Ollie has the answers… from a ‘smart bench’. _______ Elsewhere, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from attending a provocative menopause seminar - investigates how a Mann-fan can hire sex workers who are into… belching. With the help of VTuber giantess Ana Valens, Alix uncovers a full-blown subculture in which burps are considered not just bodily functions but sensual, often spontaneous, expressions of intimacy. The appeal, it turns out, is both nostalgic and transgressive… Burp! _______ Finally, our Record of the Month is ‘Inland Ocean’ by Matt Berninger, formerly of The National... from his second solo album, Get Sunk - released on May 30. _______ BUY US A BEER Your support keeps this show going! So, if you can afford to, please buy us a beer 🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer _______ Meet Other Mann-Fans on the Modern Mann Discord: 🤹➡️ https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US… If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: ✍️ https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback … and we’ll see you on June 10th! This episode is supported by Shopify. Dream big, build fast, and grow far with 3 months for just £3 at https://shopify.co.uk/modernmann Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Tim A. Shaw, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Matt Berninger. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025 _______ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It began as a threesome, arranged through dating app Feeld. But soon, Maggie and Cody realised their connection to Janie was more than sexual… No longer just an adventurous couple in an open relationship, they had become a ‘thruple’ - whose relationship with Janie (their ‘third’) was as vital and equitable as their marriage to each other. In this interview with Olly, they explain the importance of communication in a three-way relationship, the dangers of jealousy and bigotry - and the complexities of sleeping arrangements and decision-making when you love two people at once. This interview first aired in 2021 - now remastered and with an update from the thruple in question, we're pairing this with our last Foxhole discussion on legal rights for thruples - check it out now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Armin Samii signed up to deliver food for Uber Eats, his intentions were to explore his city, and help pay off his new bike. He soon realised the app was poorly configured for cyclists, and uncovered glitches including a non-existent branch of McDonald’s. But getting support from Uber was frustrating. When he believed they were also underestimating his mileage - and therefore underpaying him - he used his background as a computer coder to create ‘Uber Cheats’, a Chrome extension that got the attention of gig workers around the world. In conversation with Olly, he sheds light on life as a gig worker and considers the future of worker’s rights. The company has not acknowledged any systemic error in how distances are calculated. An Uber spokesperson told us: "More drivers and couriers are choosing to earn on Uber than ever before and we know that the vast majority are satisfied with their experience. "The Uber app reviews real-time information to provide the best price to appeal to the drivers or couriers in the area, helping to minimise waiting times for customers and maximise earnings. Our matching tools follow a process that balances a number of different factors such as time and distance to provide the best possible experience for everyone using the app." —----- Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for gourmet sandwiches. Do they really taste better, or are they just for showing off on Instagram? Olly and Ollie head to award-winning London sandwich shop Sandwich Sandwich to taste for themselves… After studying sandwich influencers Max Halley and Sensational Sandwiches, can Ollie go viral with his own take on a Steak Frites Entrecote sandwich? —----- Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox investigates the legal status of consensual non-monogamy. For example, can a thruple inherit each other’s possessions when they die, as married couples can? What paperwork exists to evidence each part of a polycule? With the help of lawyers Rachel Frost-Smith and Lucy Bluck, and phychotherapist DK Green, Alix has the answers… … and, in light of research from BackMarket about the increasing issue of sex toy e-waste, Alix discovers that ‘Vibrators’ are now an official category for ‘Small Electricals’ recycling in the UK! —----- Music this month comes from Mann-favourite Self Esteem. After a few years moonlighting in the West End, she’s back with new track, If Not Now, It’s Soon' BUY US A BEER Your support keep this show going! So, if you can afford to, please buy us a beer 🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer _______ Meet Other Mann-Fans on the Modern Mann Discord: 🤹➡️ https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US… If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: ✍️ https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback _______ … and we’ll see you on May 10th! This episode is supported by Readly. Get your exclusive, three month trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines at readly.com/mann Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Armin Samii, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Self Esteem. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sperm donors are anonymised in British clinics. Recipients don’t even get to see a photo of the man who will father their child. Donor-conceived kids can only discover the identity of their biological father upon reaching adulthood themselves. But Mitch Kennedy is a private donor. His sperm has been used by 23 couples - and he’s met them all. In most cases, he’s slept in their spare room during the conception. He has around 40 children. In this fascinating interview with Olly, Mitch explains the logistics of his bespoke donation process, the legalities of his paternal responsibilities, and the ‘dark cloud’ that deters him from donating to hetrosexual couples... This episode first aired in October 2017 - now remastered and with an update from Mitch, we're replaying this with the news that sperm in the US is now one of their most priciest resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California wildfires ripped through L.A. this year, killing 29 people, destroying more than 18,000 buildings, and putting wildland fires back into the headlines. But what’s it like being one of the poorly-paid workers sent in to risk your life to fight the flames? Wildland firefighter Nathan Bell has ‘held the line’ across the United States: in Elk City, Idaho; on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Utah; and in the desert conditions of Sedona, Arizona. For 16 hour workdays, for weeks away from home, he will hike up a mountainside towards a raging fire with a 40 pound backpack on his shoulders, and a chainsaw over his shoulder. And his starting salary is less than a worker at Burger King... In conversation with Olly, he exposes the back-breaking, exhilarating life of a wildland firefighter - and the unspoken trauma so many of his peers experience ‘between seasons’... _______ Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for A.I. makeovers. From LolaAI, the ‘stylist and shopping copilot’ baked in to Open Wardrobe, to the at-home body scans offered by Bodymapp, can Ollie get himself a fresh Spring look - using only A.I? As ever, frankly, the results are mixed… _______ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox pops into Kiiroo to see how their teledildonics have adapted to the world of OnlyFans - and answers a listener question from a new Mum struggling with sex after breastfeeding. Once a source of pleasure, her boobs now feel sore, sensitive, and more like functional tools than instruments of intimacy. Will they ever feel sexy again? With the help of breastfeeding peer support worker Emilie Wardle, Frome Birth Talk’s Lucy Plummer and sex and relationship therapist Rhian Kivits, Alix explores considers the under-discussed issues of milk mishaps in the bedroom and babies getting a little too handsy; and proposes new erogenous zones for when ‘boobs are off the table’... _______ Music this month comes from Manchester indie band The Lottery Winners, and their infectious single, ‘Turn Around’. It’s our Record of the Month, and it’s out now. _______ SUPPORT US - every penny counts: THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous donations - independent shows like ours only exist with your support: 🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer _______ WANNA CHAT TO MANN-FANS? JOIN OUR DISCORD! ➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: ✍️https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback _______ … and we’ll see you on April 10th! CONTENT WARNING: references to suicide. SUPPORT: In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. CREDITS: Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Nathan Bell, The Lottery Winners. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: 'Skies Over Cairo' by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Falling overboard following a fit of food poisoning, Brett Archibald survived 28 hours alone in the Indian Ocean. In this extraordinary interview with Olly, he re-lives his onslaught of hallucinations, his encounter with a shark and how he contemplated certain death... Read more about Brett's amazing story on his website, and in his book, Alone. This episode first aired in October 2017. Now remastered, we have paired this episode with our latest episode, Naked And Exhausted, for reasons known only to our producer. Watch the moment he's rescued: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOq5g0O9v9s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine building a brand from scratch, and running your business for fifteen years - only to be told by a global corporation that your name isn’t yours to keep. That’s what happened to Rebecca Dowdesdell, founder of waxing business NKD, when she received a legal letter from cosmetics giant L’Oréal, opposing her application to renew her trademark. In this compelling conversation with Olly, Rebecca takes us inside her David vs. Goliath battle against one of the world’s biggest corporations; a tale of perseverance, justice, and the high price of standing your ground. Support Rebecca’s small business, and find out more about her story, here: https://nkdproducts.shop/pages/because-were-worth-it-too-loreal-vs-nkd Thanks to Private Eye for their help sourcing this story. _______ Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart dives deep into his DNA, to discover whether companies like Color can detect predispositions to serious diseases. After talking to journalist Molly Guinness, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at 38, Ollie investigates the growing trend for people proactively checking their health beyond the tests offered by the NHS, and - thanks to UK-based company Selph - discovers he has a hitherto undetected genetic condition, Lp(a). _______ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox uncovers the truth about a kinky MRI incident that’s taken the internet by storm, and advises a listener whose partner is not in-sync with his peccadillos. How can he balance a fulfilling monogamous relationship, while staying true to his most extreme desires? Might understanding the emotions behind his kinks lead to creative compromises? Or could attending a workshop, or even opening up his relationship, provide the right solution? With the help of Psychosexual and Relationship therapist Shae Harmon and Lola Phoenix’s new book The Non-Monogamy Journal, Alix reveals all… _______ Down in music corner, our record of the month is the brilliantly arresting ‘Angie’s Wedding’ from Manchester-based poet, writer and producer Antony Szmierek. His album, ‘Service Station At The End Of The Universe’, comes out February 28th. _______ SUPPORT US: THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous donations - independent shows like ours only exist with your support: 🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer _______ JOIN OUR DISCORD! ➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: ✍️https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback _______ … and we’ll see you on March 10th! Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Rebecca Dowdeswell, Antony Szmierek. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With zero experience running a professional kitchen, home cook Robert Maxwell poured his life savings into his passion project: a gastropub-inspired Toronto restaurant. It became a crash-course in coping with stress, managing his cashflow, and curbing his ego. "I was Don Quixote. I was chasing a windmill. I didn’t see the obstacles in my way." In this funny, forthright interview with Olly, Robert reveals how chasing a dream led to him selling his house, hitting the bottle and falling out of love with the thing he loved the most... cooking. This interview first aired in June 2018 - now remastered and with an update from Robert in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are so many restaurants closing down? Across Britain, the hospitality industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Twelve months ago, it was the turn of chef Tony Rodd. His passion for food saw him progress from hosting dinner parties for friends, to being a Masterchef runner-up, to eventually opening his dream London restaurant - Copper & Ink, in affluent Blackheath. But the dream unravelled. Crippled by Covid, increasing energy costs, VAT bills and ‘no-shows’, he shut up shop in 2024. One year later, he’s back, with an intimate new restaurant in Broadstairs. In this engaging interview with Olly, he explains how he’s making it work… this time, on his own terms. _______ Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart steps out into the cold night air to investigate the trend for smart telescopes, which combine automated star alignment and wireless connectivity to capture incredible images of the night sky. How easy is it to find stars and take photos of them? What is driving the interest in astrophotography? And are they a worthy upgrade to an old-fashioned eye-piece? With a Vaonis Hestia by his side, Ollie reveals all... _______ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox discovers how sound effects are created for erotic audiobooks, and tackles a question from a listener who wants to know about anal botox. Can bum injections reduce pain during anal play, heal fissures, and relax muscles for easier intercourse? Dr. Evan Goldstein, aka “The Bottom Whisperer,” certainly thinks so… … Alix considers the potential downsides, and investigates other aesthetic trends for 2025, from anal bleaching to skin tag removal, ‘scrotox’ and ‘showtox’. _______ Music-wise, our record of the month comes from The Lumineers, whose new single Same Old Song spearheads their fantastic new album, Automatic._______ SUPPORT US: We’re a completely independent podcast. We’re professionals. We only exist thanks to your financial contributions. THANK YOU. https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer _______ JOIN OUR DISCORD! https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback _______ … and we’ll see you on February 10th! Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Tony Rodd, The Lumineers. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Olly Mann and the gang for our bumper festive extravaganza… Featuring: 🎶 Live music from Sons of Town Hall – the Victorian-inspired duo from the Madmen Cross The Water podcast join us to serenade the season with their folksy harmonies - and test their Anglophiliac credentials with a Mannfan-made ‘citizenship test’… 💸 To Tip or Not to Tip? – Wondering how much to tip your postie, milkman, or the plumber who saved your pipes? Ollie Peart dives into the age-old debate on festive gratuities - and launches his new JUST THE TIP service! 🤪 The XXX-Mas Foxhole Quiz – Things take a turn for the risqué with Alix Fox’s annual laugh-out-loud Q&A… this time involving scented underwear, rubber chickens, and some out-of-context audio erotica… So, pour yourself a wine (courtesy of our sponsors, Wine52, of course), sit back, and enjoy our modern, mad, magical Christmas celebration! 🎄 We’ll be back with a brand new series on 10th January, 2025. In the meantime… why not buy us a beer, and help us keep our independent show running into its TENTH anniversary year? https://modernmann.co.uk/beer Join us on the Modern Mann Discord ➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Sons of Town Hall, Charlie Hedges, Lucy Fennell, Sue Beere, Sarah McCammon, Sam Shepherd. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being a landlord means trusting strangers to live in your house. Try as you might, you can't know everything about them. Sometimes, you just have to rely on an instinct that your tenants are good people. Until, that is, you get a knock on the door from the police... That's what happened to listener Ian from Dublin. In this interview with Olly, he re-lives the moment he became involved in an armed Police sting - and began to regret renting out his property. This interview first aired in July 2017, in the episode, 'The Accidental Pimp' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trashed rooms. Plastic sheeting. Dodgy ductwork. When Mike Senior returned to his rental property in Cambridge, he uncovered a scene straight out of a crime drama. In this interview with Olly, he reveals how some tenants from Gumtree turned his Dream Home into a landlord’s nightmare… _______ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for A.I.-assisted recruitment. Employers, he discovers, are using machine learning to whittle down candidates, read CVs and reduce biases. Applicants are hacking their jobsearch with “prompt engineering”, hidden fonts, and generative interview prep. … Is it still possible to get a job with inter-personal skills and chutzpah? And can he uncover a recipe to beat the bots? _______ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from the ‘You Me Bum Bum Train’ building site - has advice for a fifty-something Mannfan whose libido has reduced dramatically. Though physically capable, his emotional and mental energy are drained by health issues, caregiving, and stress. Could counselling, lifestyle changes, and a change of scene help him get his mojo back? And why do so many people seem to believe that if a man can get hard, there’s nothing to worry about? _______ Finally, our record of the month is ‘She’s Got A Problem’ from Hastings rock-trio HotWax 🤘 _______ SUPPORT THE SHOW: We’re an independent podcast and only exist thanks to your donations. 🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer JOIN OUR DISCORD! And help our Mannbassadors make a Mannfan meet-up! ➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72 _______ CONTACT US If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form: ✍️https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback _______ … and we’ll see you for our annual Christmas spectacular on December 10th 🎅 _______ This episode is supported by Readly. Get your exclusive, three month trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines at readly.com/mann Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Mike Senior, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, HotWax. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Medically assisted dying is legal in Canada, where over 10,000 people end their lives through euthanasia each year, and over 80% of applications are approved. Robin Farr, from Calgary, watched as her Dad, Mike, developed a rare lung disease that limited his breathing, massively impacting his quality of life. Then he decided to make use of the MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) laws. In this honest, unsparing conversation with Olly, Robin explains how it felt to manage the last couple of days of her father’s life - and reveals the flaws in the system that left her and her family unsupported in a time of anticipatory grief... Robin volunteers with Canadian support groups Bridge4You and Bridgec14, and recommends the resources at dyingwithdignity.ca and the Swiss organisations Pegasos and Dignitas. This interview first aired in September 2022, in the episode, 'The Countdown.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices