14/6 - Sex, Sobriety and Rock & Roll

“Can we value the artist? Can we put wellbeing above partying?”

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Booze, drugs and music are deeply intertwined - from the beers given to bands in their ‘riders’ to the excessive consumption facilitated by festivals and after-show parties.

For music promoter Chris De Banks, consuming up to thirty pints a day had become typical behaviour. In the fug of his addiction, he lost jobs, friends and self-respect.

Following rehab in 2016, he founded Not Saints, the UK’s only record label working with musicians in recovery from addiction.

In this candid conversation with Olly, Chris traces his problem drinking back to childhood, discusses methods for the music industry to clean up its act, and celebrates the artists he’s supported through their drug and alcohol recovery.

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Olly Mann and Chris De Banks,

June 2023

In the feature you’ll hear clips from Not Saints artists Ella Hayes, Mishkin Fitzgerald & The Chemical Perils, Phil Mac, and our record of the month, ‘Pedestal People’ by Little Tealeif👇

If you or someone you know thinks they may have a problem with drugs or alcohol then speak to your GP or contact your local Drug and Alcohol Services who will be happy to help and offer more guidance.

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart, inspired by the likes of YouTube sensation Odd Tinkering, is attempting to restore some retro tech.

His weapon of choice is a 1980s Philips AM/FM radio, picked up for a fiver in a Westcountry market - but, with a little help from Google Nest - can he make it ‘Smart’?

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in a future epsiode, fill in the Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox unboxes the Womanizer Wave - the first ever shower head that doubles as a sex toy. (Well, the first one to do so officially, anyway…)

Her listener question of the month is from an anonymous MannFan who considers himself straight… and prefers to be in a relationship with women… but enjoys sexual encounters with men on the side. Is he simply bisexual, or … is he ‘heteroflexible’?

With assistance from integrative counsellor and psychotherapist Anthony Davis, and Vaneet Mehta, author of ‘Bisexual Men Exist’, Alix unpicks the pride, shame and stigma of queer categorisations - and explains why, for some people, it’s important to define their place on the sexuality spectrum with a specific label.

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
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… And we’ll see you again on July 10th!

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14/5 - The 24 Weekers

“Twins are in the supermarket. They’re in the playground. They’re everywhere.”

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Elaine Gregersen was 24 weeks pregnant when her waters broke.

Having endured sickness throughout her high-risk pregnancy, she and husband Mark had not suspected anything sinister was happening when she appeared to be suffering from bladder weakness too. 

After a traumatic 24 hours in the maternity ward, the Gregersens were faced with the reality that their twin boys, Henry and Blake, were unlikely to both survive beyond the neonatal unit.

In this interview with Olly, they share their story. 

Content warning: intense experience, infant mortality.

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Elaine and Mark - the first time they held Blake.

Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates if, following the Coronation of King Charles III, Republican sentiment is trending upwards.

What path is there for Royal refuseniks to achieve their desire for an elected UK Head of State?

Thanks to columnist and commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Ollie unpicks the arguments monarchists put forward - and rewrites the National Anthem whilst he’s at it…

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in a future epsiode, fill in the Feedback form.

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Alix gets engaged! April 2023.

Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox - high on life from some Personal News - answers your sex questions: this month, from a Mannfan whose girlfriend burst into tears when he called her a ‘whore’ in the missionary position.

Is there a way to recover his mojo? Must he apologise for overstepping the mark? And how should you do ‘pillow talk’ - whilst respecting your partner’s boundaries?

With the help of sex educator Lola Jean and playwright and storyteller Cameryn Moore, Alix has the answers!

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
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Our record of the month is ‘Letter To Myself’, something peppy and fun from Leigh’s The Lottery Winners featuring Frank Turner👇

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… And we’ll see you again on June 10th!

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Support organisations: Elaine and Mark recommend Sands, supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby; and the Twins Trust Bereavement Service, supporting all parents and carers of twins, triplets or more who’ve died. 

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14/4 - Mike, Inc.

“I decided that the shareholders should help keep me accountable. And so I put up a vote asking the shareholders if they wanted control over my romantic life.”

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Imagine delegating your decisions to a group of people online, some of whom are total strangers.

Imagine sharing the most intimate parts of your life in order to get their approval. Imagine answering your personal problems in the same way a bank asks its shareholders to vote on corporate outcomes.

This is the life chosen by Mike Merrill.

Since 2008 - when he created 100,000 shares of himself and sold them at $1 each through his website, KMikeyM - he has asked his ‘investors’ for advice on his choice of romantic partner, diet and body art. This is not for a TV show. It’s not for a book deal. It’s for real.

In this conversation with Olly, Mike traces back his unconventional lifestyle to the DIY art scene in Portland,Oregon; his brush with corporate share-prices whilst seated at the front desk of a trucking company; and the anti-corporate activism with which he spices up his dates…

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Olly and Ollie posing with the deconstructed version of The Modern Mann cover-art.

Meanwhile, Ollie Peart has decamped to Camberwell for this month’s Zeitgeist, in an attempt to approximate the trend for ‘immersive’ exhibitions.

With a budget totalling £50.

Armed with an Oculus headset, a projector and a hacksaw, can Ollie convince Olly of the merits of experiential art?

And are interactive super-exhibits the future for museums and galleries?

Warning: includes the return of Captain Spronk.

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in a future epsiode, fill in the Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, we revisit a classic edition of the Foxhole, in which Alix Fox advises a horny student on his three-times-per-night escapades. From the comfort of a Vauxhall Corsa. 

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
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Our record of the month comes from ethereal groovster Eliza Rose, and her ace new track, ‘Better Love’ 👇

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Support for this episode comes from:

• Listeners like YOU.

  Buy us a beer 🍻 once per month, or make a one-off pledge - fill in our secure BEER MONEY FORM 👇

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14/3 - Why I Make Porn

“There's only so many ways of saying, ‘I'm going to destroy you with my beautiful bare feet’”.

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Rosie Hodsdon was struggling to make ends meet on a pHD stipend.

Then she hit Record and began to make sex videos from her student flat, indulging her fetish for kink.

As she explains to Olly in this intimate conversation, her sexy side-hustle introduced her to a range of peccadillos, including ‘Giantess’ porn and ‘sploshing’ - and even led her to be invited to join the cast of a professional adult video.

But it also left her exposed to assault.

Now an advocate for charity National Ugly Mugs, Rosie campaigns for increased rights for sex workers, and nurtures support networks for performers who fall prey to violence.

CONTENT WARNING: explicit sexual content; sexual assault.

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Ollie with his Sports Journalism award. He’s going to be unbearable now.

Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - fresh from scooping up a Sports Journalism Award for producing the podcast ‘Brown Gal Can’t Swim’ - investigates the trend for breakdancing. (Or, as he discovers, ‘break’, as it is correctly called…)

How will it fare as an Olympic sport in 2024? How does one go about gaining the highest score in a battle dance? And will he permanently damage his knees by just giving it a go? 

With help from break expert DJ Renegage and sports commentator Tim Warwood, Ollie BREAKS UP THE DANCE FLOOR. 

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in a future epsiode, fill in the Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox has a memorable encounter with Susie Dent, assists a listener in an open relationship, and proves she knows the difference between a low cervix and a short vagina. As if we ever doubted it.

She also showcases muslim-centred sex ed resources and support services The Village Auntie, Amaliah podcast ‘Lights On’, sexologist Shaakira Abdullah, sex educator Amirah Zaky, self-care group Deeper Feminine, and writer Habeeb Akande.

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Music this month comes from podcaster Rory Powers, known for his hugely entertaining show ‘This Paranormal Life’.

Our record of the month is ‘Down Bad’, from his forthcoming EP👇

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Support for this episode comes from:

• Listeners like YOU.

  Buy us a beer 🍻 once per month, or make a one-off pledge - fill in our secure BEER MONEY FORM 👇

  https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer

• Blinkist, the app that helps you understand the most important things from over 5,500 non-fiction books and podcasts in just 15 minutes.

  Start your 7-day free trial and get 25% off a Blinkist Premium membership HERE 👇

  https://www.blinkist.com/modernmann

… And we’ll see you again on April 12th!

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14/2 - Challenge Ian

“It’s may not be much, but, to these people, it’s everything".

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Ian Mudge was a teenage punk, whose exploits included chucking chairs out of a train window.

He became a teacher, whose unconventional methods and connection with kids saw him rise through the ranks, becoming Headteacher of a Pupil Referral Unit - responsible for educating some of Britain’s most challenging children, many with histories of violence and abuse.

As he explains to Olly in this lively conversation, it was a career that required lateral thinking and exhaustive energy - but ultimately left him burned out.

When Putin’s army invaded Ukraine in 2022, Ian’s wife suggested he should collect aid to support Ukrainian refugees…

It was all the prompt he needed to organise five trips personally delivering aid to Poland.

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - who owns a book about wood-chopping, don’t you know - explores the phenomenal potential of A.I. chatbot Chat GPT.

How will ‘large language models’ change the way we search, write and study? How will Microsoft’s investment into Open AI affect the usability of the program? And will all journalists soon be out of a job?

With the help of The Economist’s science correspondent, Alok Jha, Ollie has the answers. (And also thinks up some unspeakable things in the name of A.I-generated erotic literature.)

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in a future epsiode, fill in the Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox prepares for Valentine’s with some up-to-date figures on the amount of nerve endings in the clitoris.

Then, she assists listener Delores who wants to support ‘ethical porn’ sites.

Is it worth seeking out studios who offer safer working environments for their stars? Are free Tube sites necessarily ‘unethical’? And what about the ‘farm-to-table’ models like OnlyFans?

Alix has a long list of suggestions for listener Delores - and any wanker who wants to do the right thing… [list to follow shortly!]

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Images: Stroud News and Journal

Olly Mann & Ian Mudge, Feb 2023

“Olly Mann enjoying eating a donut”, according to A.I. chatbots

“Olly Mann as Manga animation”, according to A.I. chatbots

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Finally, our record of the month is this laid-back charmer from Billie Marten, This Is How We Move 👇

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This episode is sponsored by Stitch Fix, the personal styling site that sends you great clothes to try on at home.

Try their service FREE at StitchFix.co.uk/mann

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WANT TO SUPPORT THE SHOW? Buy us a beer 🍻… whatever you can afford makes a real difference.

… And we’ll see you again on March 10th.

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