The Modern Mann

Olly, Alix and Ollie gather round the podcasting chimney for a festive knees-up, with musical guest Ashley Singh and entrepreneur Jules Parker. There are yuletide songs, holiday films, a ‘Christmas collab’ - and, of course, the LEGENDARY XXXMas Foxhole Christmas Quiz. Ho ho ho! First up, Ollie Peart has bought his one year-old child a skateboard, so can he be trusted to go into business with fabulous start-ups run by Mann-fans? (Spoiler: yes he can - and you can buy the result NOW at https://modernmann.co.uk/shop ) With the help of Manchester’s Brick Chocolate, beard specialists Runesilk and craft evangelists Knit Slips, Ollie wraps up 2022 with a collab-tastic way to support British artisan producers. ———————————— Then, there’s some superb live music - in the form of an exclusive acoustic performance from singer-songwriter Ashley Singh, whose heartbreak anthem Autopilot is our Record of the Month. Ashley reveals his disappointing middle name, explains why he has a burner phone, and reveals his soft-spot fo

Neil 'Sam' Samworth spent 11 years as a prison officer at HMP Manchester - better known as Strangeways, one of Britain’s most notorious jails. Building rapport with the men incarcerated there, he prided himself on de-escalating violent and threatening situations; an approach becoming increasingly impossible as the prison service churns through staff. In this interview with Olly, he confronts corruption; considers the toll his job took on his mental and physical health; and explains why, in his view, officer training is inadequate for purpose… Neil’s books, ‘Strangeways: A Prison Officer’s Story’ and ‘Strangeways Unlocked’ are out now. His video series, ‘Real Porridge with Sam Samworth’ is on YouTube. — Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at white labelling and drop-shipping. Using Chinese wholesalers Taobao and AliExpress, can he stumble upon the next big consumer sensation? How do Western brands ‘add value’, ensure decent customer service and client satisfaction when they’re flogging good

Vanessa Potter lost her sight in just 72 hours - the result of a rare condition that doctors struggled to diagnose.  In this interview with Olly, she recalls how it felt to experience the rapid deterioration of her vision and simultaneous paralysis; why her two young children aided her recovery; and explains how the process helped pivot her career… Vanessa co-founded the ParkBathe project. Her books, Patient H69 and Finding My Right Mind are out now, and you can follow her podcast here. ____________________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart channels his ‘inner Martin Lewis’ to see if he can SOLVE the cost-of-living crisis. With the aid of apps like Snoop and Lollipop, and online bank accounts like Revolut, can he claw back 20% from his monthly spending? The Zeitgeist is sponsored by Manscaped, now offering their Ultra Smooth Package in Europe. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com _____________________ Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox wonders whether the future is bright

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.. CONTENT WARNING: detailed discussion of assisted dying and euthanasia. Robin volunteers with Canadian support groups Bridge4You and Bridgec14, and recommends the resources at dyingwithdignity.ca and the Swiss organisations Pegasos and Dignitas. ____________________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart sees if he can be the one to break the socks-and-sandals taboo… and tries his hand at

Videogames, testosterone and triage - it’s all in day’s work when you’ve got a six year old boy, as Olly explores with fellow Dads Tom Price and Stuart Goldsmith in this eighth instalment of our annual ‘How To Be A Dad’ series. Along the way, our trio consider ‘the joy’ of morning routines, how to play ‘child Carcassonne’, and the environmental ethics of party bags… To catch up on the story so far, visit modernmann.co.uk/dads. (Check out Tom and Stu’s podcasts, ‘My Mate Bought A Toaster’ and ‘The Comedian’s Comedian’, wherever you get your podcasts.) ———————————— Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at writing the ultimate Best Man’s Speech - with some help from professional comedy writer, Marc Blakewill. What are his top tips to win over the room? How should a great wedding speech be structured? And should you even mention the Stag Do? Ollie reveals all… If YOU would like to challenge Ollie to test out a trend on a future edition of the show, submit it via our feedback form. The Zeitgeist

When adults adopted as children feel lost or incomplete - even if they had a happy childhood - they often describe themselves as ‘being in the fog’. For Vicky Sandison, who was told her mother’s birth mother’s name at the age of nine, it was the internet that spurred her on to investigate who she really was. First via Friends Reunited, then MySpace and now 23&Me, Vicky has been piecing together her birth family - and, as she explains to Olly in this month’s interview, coming out of the fog… _____________________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart takes an 18-hour military flight to the Falklands to uncover a world of dark tourism. Are sites like Goose Green, Pebble Island and Mount Tumbledown, where hundreds of people lost their lives, appropriate stop-offs on a tourist trip of the islands? Does holidaying at Anne Frank Huis, Auschwitz or the Cambodian Killing Fields diminish the terrors that happened there - or keep them alive in our collective memories? The Zeitgeist is sponsored by Manscaped, creato

Reggie Nelson grew up on an East London council estate to alcoholic parents. With drugs and violence all around him, he underperformed academically, and felt the only career options available to him were “music, football or crime”. Quintin Price grew up in India, with a cook, butler, and driver. His father was an international banker; his mother a committed philanthropist. After boarding school and University, he went into banking himself, and became an executive at BlackRock. Then, one afternoon in 2014, their lives crossed paths. In this eye-opening interview, they tell Olly what happened next. Reggie’s book, Opening Doors, is out now, and is also available as an audiobook. —---------------------- Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates self-publishing sensation Substack. Can he master the platform and become a blogging billionaire? With the help of music recommendation newsletter Flowstate.fm, he attempts to decode the ingredients to create the perfect Substack crowd-pleaser. But are hi

Pippa Till gave up her job as a TV edit assistant to follow her dream of selling food at festivals, in her very own food truck. But she had no food, no truck - and no business plan.  Armed with nothing more than derring-do spirit, a pile of debt and a sackful of scones, Pippa spent the next few years attempting to master her profit margin, ace her marketing, and bake the perfect cream tea. And then 2020 happened… Pippa’s business can be found at https://www.sconetomorrow.com — Also catching up with Olly this episode is brewer-turned-author Tommy Barnes (star of our 2019 episode, ‘Let’s Build A Brewery’).  When we last spoke to Tommy, he too had abandoned a steady job in the media to try his hand at beer-making in the Loire valley. How have the last two years treated him? And what IS a ‘beer-neutral brewery’?  Tommy’s new book, ‘Trouble Brewing in the Loire’, is out now. — Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the University of Salford’s project to develop a universal sound for e-scoot

Charlotte Henry’s brother Alex was just 20 years old when he was charged with murder, attempted murder and GBH for a gang-related incident that lasted just 47 seconds. Even though he did not know the victim, and did not issue the fatal blow that killed him, Alex had run towards the scene of the crime with his friend Cameron Ferguson, who was armed with a knife. Alex was charged under ‘joint enterprise’ laws - since overturned by the Supreme Court in instances of murder. But he remains in prison to this day. In this interview with Olly, Charlotte - now a criminal defence lawyer - re-lives the moment she became aware her brother’s teenage truancy was escalating into something more troubling - and explains why, ten years on, she’s still campaigning to exonerate him. — Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at making vegan milk. Can his soaked oats match brand leader Oatly for flavour? Is it really more environmentally friendly to drink rapeseed oil than cow’s milk? And is rice always nice? Olly

How did the credit card come to be invented? Who was the first man to be cryogenically frozen? And have you heard of the experimental drug club where Victor Hugo used to toke? The answers to these questions – and many hundreds more – can be found in the daily history podcast THE RETROSPECTORS, and in this special compilation for Mann-Fans, Olly introduces three brilliant episodes of the show, themed around The Modern Mann’s regular preoccupations – trends, music and sex... You’ll learn how much mayonnaise a woman can physically consume; how David Bowie and Queen came together to record ‘Under Pressure’; and the strange story of the Frenchman who made his wife wear a chastity belt. To get our entertaining, ten-minute ‘on this day in history’ digest each and every weekday, FOLLOW THE SHOW NOW: • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-retrospectors-today-in-history/id1564093130?uo=4 • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4BwUqSOfCS6sSrADe834BR • Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/pod

After surviving an incredible 200ft plunge from the Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia, multi-sport athlete Adam Campbell thought his mountaineering days were behind him. But, thanks in part to his wife, Dr. Laura Kosakoski, Adam was able to return to the slopes. Then, one day in 2020, he triggered an avalanche - with catastrophic consequences for both of them… As Adam explains in this emotional interview with Olly, dealing with the fallout has meant coming to terms with guilt, accepting his vulnerability, and tackling the notion of ‘high-performance grief’. Adam’s blog, Muddy Socks, can be found at: muddy-socks.ghost.io In the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the environmental impacts of the death care industry and the trend in Washington State for human composting, with the help of Return Home’s Katey Houston. Our record of the month is ‘In The Wake Of Your Leave’ from Gang of Youths: goy.ffm.to/intoyl If you can afford to, please buy us a beer using our secure form at modernmann.co.uk/beer - and wh

Getting a screenplay into production is notoriously tough. Writer Jack Barth came closer than most - scripting an episode of The Simpsons, and attracting the attention of Lord Puttnam at Columbia Pictures. He achieved his dream after 40 years in the business, when his script ‘Cover Version’ was optioned by Working Title. But, as Jack explains in this interview with Olly, the journey from page to screen was not as he’d hoped. His script was adapted into Yesterday, written by Richard Curtis and directed by Danny Boyle. The movie made over $150m, but Jack never received another penny, and watched from the sidelines as Curtis’ publicity interviews for the film implied he’d never read Jack’s script. At a screening, Jack’s ‘Story By’ credit was “buried” in the closing titles. • Jack’s script: https://bit.ly/3suH3Zt • Richard Curtis on ‘In The Studio’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csz1ym • Thanks to ‘The 237: Film School Podcast’: https://podfollow.com/1559372849/links We have approached Richard Curtis for a

Jim Finch’s life changed forever when his car flipped over in a devastating accident that left him with multiple neurological problems. 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. 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. CONTENT WARNING: interview includes account of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempt, highly offensive language and on-mic drug use.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

Olly, Alix and Ollie head to Bournemouth for their annual festive special, joined by young troubadour Thomas Headon and surprise special guests.It’s stuffed with songs, reminiscences and parlour games - and, of course, the legendary XXXmas Foxhole Christmas Quiz. ———————————— First up, new father Ollie Peart has broken his dietary habits and started eating meat again - and also the habit of a lifetime by finally listening to a ‘How To Be A Dad’ episode. Having abandoned both pescetarianism and bachelorhood, can he be trusted to lifehack a Moses basket? ———————————— Next, there’s some superb live music - in the form of an exclusive acoustic performance from singer-songwriter Thomas Headon, whose poppy earworm, Strawberry Kisses, is our Record of the Month.Thomas chats to Olly about the weirdest things he’s been sent by his teenage fans; how Aussie Christmas measures up to British Christmas; and why Urban Dictionary may not be the best source to interpret the meaning of ‘Strawberry Kisses’… ———————————— Finally

Guy Babcock is not a paedophile. He is not a sociopath, or a racist, or a ‘deadbeat’. He has not served time in prison. And yet, if you search his name online, you get a very different impression: hundreds of posts, smearing his reputation, all over the internet. In this interview with Olly, Guy explains why - despite a court ruling against the person ruining his reputation - these posts live on.He recalls the terrifying day he realised his name was being dragged through the mud, and explains how he came to understand who was behind the damaging slurs. Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Alix Fox posits her theory that ‘immersive scent experiences’ are about to be the next big trend. With the help of scent designer Tasha Marks, Olly and Alix test out some scents currently on show at the Museum of Docklands and the Wellcome Trust; muse on how difficult it is to describe a smell; and anticipate a world of VR smellathons. Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix looks into erectile dysfunction - an issue believed to affect over

Ken, Kevin and Martin are armed forces veterans. They were discharged from the military; their comrades never discovering why. This Remembrance Sunday, for the first time, they’ve been invited to march past the Cenotaph.  It’s a story of double lives, court payouts and military secrets - and what happened when three men told the truth. _____________________ Until 12th January, 2000, it was illegal for gay, lesbian and bisexual people to serve in the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF. If they were outed, they could lose their medals, their pensions and their jobs, and sometimes serve a prison sentence. The British Government finally apologised for the policy in 2020. Thanks to Fighting With Pride, the LGBT+ military charity, for putting us in touch. _____________________ This episode is sponsored by Beer52, the world’s number one craft beer club. For an exclusive FREE trial case of 10 beers, a magazine and a snack, visit beer52.com/modern _____________________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, expectant father Ollie

Pippa spent eight months struggling to conceive her second child. Then, on the brink of beginning IVF, she discovered she was pregnant. But, at ten weeks, she discovered there was a more than 99% chance that her foetus had Down's Syndrome. She and her husband Joe had already decided that, in this situation, they would have an abortion. In this brutally honest conversation with Olly, Pippa explains how the experience left her feeling guilty, compromised, and unsupported; and how she still struggles to reconcile the fact that she chose to terminate the baby she had wanted so much… The NHS has a page offering support for those considering termination for foetal anomaly: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/support/termination-for-foetal-anomaly/ ———————————— Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - fresh from accruing sixty (60!) followers on Spotify with his musical pseudonym Captain Spronk - has spent the past month learning to knit. Is this trend for young men taking up knitting limited to influencers like Tom Dale

Teaching English in Beijing seemed like a great opportunity for Welsh graduate Glen Williams, who’d previously spent time studying in China. He could brush up on his Mandarin, work with children, and earn up to £3k per month tax free. The hitch? The agency that placed him told him that every three months, he’d need to spend the weekend in Seoul - a ‘visa trip’ that, he soon discovered, was commonplace amongst ex-pat EFL teachers.  Then, one day, they changed their tune. “If the Police ask you”, they said, “tell them you sell whiteboards”. In this interview with Olly, Glen reveals what happened next…  ———————————— Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart, fresh from mastering ‘the Crow Pose’ on Instagram, attempts to dominate the internet through the medium of keyword spamming.  Can his well-established musical talent - now masquerading as alter-ego Captain Spronk - stretch to luring in listeners with clickbait titles like ‘Music For Focus’, ‘Music For Meditation’, and, um, ‘Olly Mann’? Judge for yourself, if

Living with narcolepsy - a rare condition that can cause you to fall asleep wherever you are, or whatever you’re doing - required Antonia Gentile to surrender her driving license, and step back from performing, cooking and even reading. As she explains to Olly in this insightful interview, narcolepsy and cataplexy are isolating and debilitating ‘hidden disabilities’. But they can be treated, somewhat, with increased awareness and good ‘sleep hygiene’. If you’re struggling with sleep issues, Antonia recommends sleep improvement app Sleepio, and the charity Narcolepsy UK. ———————————— Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - fresh from uncovering rude place names in his new podcast for the BBC - gets down and dirty in his recycling bin. Can he rise to the challenge of living a waste-free life? After experimenting with the advice from blog Trash is for Tossers, and registering for the Too Good To Go app, the culmination of his efforts is… steaming an old T-shirt in banana skins, broad beans, and sweet potato s

Bedtime stories, ‘social stalking’ and sugar-rationing are on the menu as Olly reunites with comedy podcasters Tom Price and Stuart Goldsmith to compare notes on fatherhood. Their sons are now five years old, and in this episode our Dads ruminate on ‘world-building’, how to make friends at pick-up time, and the dangers of doing a 'Hot Wheels Hunt'. To catch up on the story so far, visit modernmann.co.uk/Dads. And check out Tom and Stu’s podcasts, ‘My Mate Bought A Toaster’ and ‘The Comedian’s Comedian’, wherever you get your podcasts. --- Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at flying a plane - or, at least, a flight simulator, courtesy of Simulator Adventures in Media City, Salford. Will he be able to keep a ‘fly by wire’ Airbus A320 airborne and steady, without getting distracted by the on-board horn and windscreen wipers? How much does a box-fresh aeroplane seat cost? And is his dream flight from Southampton to Bournemouth all it’s cracked up to be? If YOU have a suggestion of a trend y