13/12 🎄 Christmas 🥂 Spectacular - 2022! 🎅

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This month, 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!

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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.

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Ashley Singh, Alix Fox, Olly Mann and Ollie Peart, Dec 2022

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 👇

In our chat, Ashley also reveals his disappointing middle name, explains why he has a burner phone, and reveals his soft-spot for Jim Broadbent!

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Next up, Jules Parker, a metalworker from East Sussex, has come to chat to Olly.

His side-hustle is Moot - a lingerie store for men, offering sensual underwear for people with penises.

Does he see a mainstream future for lacey men’s undies? And what does he wear when he goes to the GP? Jules reveals all… 

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Finally, Alix Fox has outdone herself with a laugh-out-loud edition of our annual XXXmas Foxhole Quiz.

This year, Olly takes on Ollie in a game of ‘Murder She Scrote’; erotic titles are conjured from thin air; and there’s a harrowing round of ‘Two Ollies, One Cup’.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

(For more Foxhole chaos, check out this teaser video, thanks to PlayWivMe.com)

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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. Get £10 off your first purchase at StitchFix.co.uk/mann

• Wine52, the wine discovery club that sends delicious wine to your door from a different country each month. Claim your FREE case now - just pay the postage at wine52.com/MANN

• Manscaped, now offering their Ultra Smooth Package for sale in Europe. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com

• LISTENERS LIKE YOU. If you can afford to buy us a beer each month to say thank you for making you a free 1hr+ magazine show each month - please do. We rely on your support!

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Thanks for being a Mann-fan - have a very happy Christmas, and we’ll see you with a brand new season of the show on Jan 10th, 2023!

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13/11 - Inside Strangeways

“If you challenge the bullies? Then YOU become the problem.”

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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 increasingly impossible approach 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.

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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 goods they’ve never even SEEN?

If you own and operate a small business making products, we’d like to hear from you for our Christmas Collab! Drop us a line using the Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox runs us through Plenty of Fish's dating trends for 2023, from ‘bae realing’ to ‘eco-dumping’ - is it time for online courtship to enter a ‘sincerer era’?

Plus, it’s No-Nut November: when members of the NoFap movement encourage one another to abstain from masturbation for an entire month.

Are there any health benefits to taking part? Does the original study that kicked off the NoFap movement bare scrutiny? Alix dives deep into the manosphere to discover more…

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Finally, our record of the month is the Jungle-produced single from Poppy Ajudha - the turbo-charged and rebellious ‘NO!’ 👇 (It isn’t about No-Nut November, apparently).

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This episode is sponsored by:

• Wine52, the wine discovery club that sends delicious wine to your door from a different country each month. Claim your FREE case now - just pay the postage at wine52.com/MANN

• Manscaped, now offering their Ultra Smooth Package for sale in Europe. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com

• LISTENERS LIKE YOU. If you can afford to buy us a beer each month to say thank you for making you a free 1hr+ magazine show each month - please do. We rely on your support!

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… And we’ll see you again, for our traditionally chaotic Christmas special, on December 10th.

CONTENT WARNING: interview includes account of extreme self-harm and suicide attempt, drug and alcohol abuse.

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.

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13/10 - Contrast, Colour, Texture, Tone

“Everything was just black and white. People were like moving ghosts.”

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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.

You can follow her podcast here.

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Vanessa Potter and Olly Mann. October 2022

Seriously, change your lightbulbs.

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, who are now offering their Ultra Smooth Package for sale in Europe. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox wonders whether the future is bright for posh poppers, and advises a listener who wants to approach the subject of body image with her partner.

With the help of NLP trainer Andy Coley and Positive Body Image Educator Anupa Roper, Alix devises a ‘compassionately curious’, open-minded script for discussing weight gain within a relationship - and provides some tips to put the pleasure back in their bedroom.

If YOU have a relationships question for Alix, or a trends challenge for Ollie, please submit it via the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, our record of the month is the superb ‘Trouble’ from The Big Moon; out now!  👇

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This episode is sponsored by:

• Emma, Europe's most awarded, best-selling foam mattress. Find your best sleep and test products for up to 200 nights risk free. Save 5% on top on all offers at emma-sleep.co.uk/modernmann

• Stitch Fix, the personal styling site that sends you great clothes to try on at home. Get started today and get 20% off when you keep all five items at at StitchFix.co.uk/mann

• Wine52, the wine discovery club who send delicious wine to your door from a different country each month. Claim your FREE case now - just pay the postage at wine52.com/MANN

• LISTENERS LIKE YOU. If you can afford to buy us a beer each month to say thank you for making you a free 1hr+ magazine show each month - please do. We rely on your support.

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

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13/9 - The Countdown

“He’s made a decision about going ahead. It’s a week from today.”

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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.

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Ollie’s socks-and-sandals style crisis

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 becoming a mystic.

Is there any scientific basis to astrology? Has technology transformed horoscope delivery? And how did the Covid pandemic inspire millenialls to turn to this ancient ‘entertainment’?

With the help of veteran astrologer Sally Kirkman, Ollie attempts to find out - and, based on Olly’s date, place and time of birth - delivers our host an unforgettable reading…

The Zeitgeist is sponsored by Manscaped, who are now offering their Ultra Smooth Package for sale in Europe. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox ascends Bear Mountain (not a euphemism), and assists a listener who thinks he might have contracted Strep B from giving his partner oral sex.

Can this really be possible? What’s the difference between Strep A and Strep B? And how should he brave the conversation with his other half? Alix, as always has the answers…

If YOU have a relationships question for Alix, or a trends challenge for Ollie, please submit it via the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, our record of the month is the fist-pumping fun of ‘How Will I Know?’ from British four-piece The Amazons. It’s the lead track from their new album, ‘How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me’, out now. 👇

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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. Get started today and get 20% off when you keep all five items at at StitchFix.co.uk/mann

• Beer52, the UK's No. 1 Craft Beer Club. For a FREE case of their delicious beer, visit beer52.com/modern and just pay for the postage - and they’ll chuck in TWO EXTRA BEERS just for you!

• LISTENERS LIKE YOU. If you can afford to buy us a beer each month to say thank you for making you a free 1hr+ magazine show each month - please do. We rely on your support.

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

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13/8 - How To Be A Dad, Part 8

“They learn from the mortar, not the bricks”

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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 installment 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.

And check out Tom and Stu’s podcasts, ‘My Mate Bought A Toaster’ and ‘The Comedian’s Comedian’, wherever you get your podcasts. 

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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 is sponsored by Manscaped, the only men’s brand dedicated to below the waist grooming. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox considers the kinky uses for biodegradable tattoos, and investigates the new female contraceptive Phexxi.

Cleverly maintaining the pH level of the vagina during contact with sperm, could this product offer a life-line to women who don’t want to take hormone-changing pills and want to avoid pregnancy? Alix finds out…

If YOU have a question of sex for Alix, submit it via our feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, our record of the month is an infectious slice of Summery pop from Lauv. It’s called ‘Stranger’, and it’s out NOW on his album All 4 Nothing 👇

This episode of The Modern Mann is only possible thanks to the generosity of listeners LIKE YOU.

If you can afford to, please buy us a beer once per month - or as often as you like - using our secure, customisable form here. Thanks!

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… and we’ll see you again on September 10th!

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