4/5 - The Quiet Ones

"You're silent on the surface - but you're incredibly noisy in your head"

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From Morrissey to Laurence Olivier, public figures through history have channelled shyness and stage-fright into their work. But is shyness a useful tool - or is uninhibited confidence a better way to navigate the modern world?

In this episode, social and cultural historian Joe Moran talks to Olly about the implicit difficulty of silence, the internal monologues that plague him in social situations, and how shy people can weaponise irony, distance and aloofness to their advantage...

The Lego 'hooliganism set' really did exist, in 1998...

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Joe's book, Shrinking Violets: A Field Guide to Shyness, is out now. Thanks to the Southbank Centre - the interview was recorded backstage at their annual ‘Being A Man’ festival.

Meanwhile, over in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart explains how your car can interact with your ‘environmental happenings’, previews a forthcoming political bout, and reveals where you can buy a ‘Breaking Bad’ lego set.

And, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox ponders why she is having some difficulty finding the perfect partner, and offers some advice for a listener whose lover suffers from vaginismus. (Some useful resources Alix mentions in the show: Sarah Berry's blog and forum, 'Hey Vaginismus!', and the vaginismus episode of Alix's podcast for The Guardian, Close Encounters.)

Got a question of sex for next week’s show? Just fill in our Feedback form - you can remain anonymous if you like. The Foxhole is sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com - use the code ‘FOXHOLE’ at Checkout to receive an astonishing 15% OFF.

Finally,our song of the week comes from Artificial Pleasure, who you can catch touring in April. It’s called ‘All I Got’, and it’s out now:

Until next week, Mann-fans - do feel free to buy us a beer, write us a review or watch Modern Mann Extra - and we'll See You Next Tuesday!

4/4 - Being Amy Winehouse

“I’m not trying to insult her. We’re just trying to keep her music alive”

Amy Winehouse’s voice may have seemed unique - but you can sing just like her if you understand her influences.

So says Emma Wright, whose musical journey began with an X Factor audition that sounded like Christina Aguilera, morphed into a Stars In Their Eyes contest in which she played Lady Gaga - and culminated in a fully-fledged career impersonating one of the most troubled and celebrated musical icons of recent times.

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You can catch Emma on tour with The Amy Winehouse Experience, AKA Lioness, throughout March and April 2017. Dates and ticket-booking here.

Elsewhere this episode, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - whose Mum once called him a scrotum - considers biometric face masks, Pinterest parties and the Nintendo Switch; and, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox 'spices up' Superdrug’s social media presence and advises a listener who wonders if they should bring up their chequered sexual history with a new partner.

The Foxhole is proudly sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.Com - use the code FOXHOLE at Checkout to receive an incredible 15% Off. 

Music this week comes courtesy of British Sea Power and their new one, Keep On Trying, out soon on Rough Trade Records:

If you enjoy the show, please do buy us a beer, send us some feedback or leave us a review on iTunes. 

And, if you can't bear to wait a week for more sweeeeeet MM content, do check out Modern Mann Extra, Ollie's new video series. In this week's show, Ollie 'investigates' Craft Beer Rising - including bespoke canned cocktails, mushroom beer... and a sizeable hangover:

Ta Ta for now, Mann-fans: we'll See You Next Tuesday!

4/3 - The Impossible Cream

The story behind Baileys, the blockbuster booze brand, is unexpectedly lo-fi. It was invented not in Ireland but in London’s Soho, with ingredients purchased on impulse from a corner shop.

David Gluckman was one of the creative team who, by mixing whiskey and cream, unwittingly spawned a new sub-category of drinks - Irish chocolate cream liqueurs - which went on to sell billions of bottles. In this interview, he tells Olly how a disparaging focus group, some drinking policemen and a Jewish restaurant all played their surprising part in alcohol history.

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David’s book, That Shit Will Never Sell!, includes further stories behind brands he's had a hand in, including Smirnoff Black Label, Tanqueray 10, Sheridans, and Purdeys.

Will Podcast For Beer: Olly and Ollie get Zeitgeisting at London's Craft Beer Rising festival

The booze theme continues in this week’s Zeitgeist, recorded at the Craft Beer Rising festival in London’s East End. Therein, Ollie Peart predicts the hipster trends about to go global: barrel-aged beer, and sour beer. Meanwhile, Olly gets his lips around an Island Records Session IPA and attempts to name a new gin-and-tonic infused craft beer, with mixed success.

In this week’s Foxhole, Alix Fox has advice for a listener whose partner wants to put the slap into slap and tickle. Plus, there’s an update from Dry Delilah, and news of an injectable contraceptive for men. The Foxhole is sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com - remember to use the code ‘FOXHOLE’ at Checkout to get an astonishing 15% off!

Finally, music this week comes from British punk/grime/metal infusion The One Hundred, and their track Dark Matters:

That's almost it - but if you want even.... more!!!, then why not check out our brand new spin-off video series The Modern Mann Extra, hosted by a certain Mr Ollie Peart. This week, Ollie is tasked to find out about the 'home of tomorrow': which involves a trip to Cornflake, and a promise not to break anything:

If you’ve got any feedback for the show, or a question of sex for Alix, just click here. And, if you’d like to be considered as a Mannbasador, just leave us a review on iTunes. Most of all, if you value our show and believe in supporting independent voices in podcasting, please do go ahead and buy us a beer - you can now do so via PayPal if you prefer.

See You Next Tuesday!

4/2 - The 21st Century 'It-Boy'

Artist, muse, socialite: when Daniel Lismore visits a nightclub, he charges THEM to host him.

How did this quiet man from the Midlands become a fashion insider with countless celebrity contacts and an outrageous style that's so strongly influenced London clubland?

In this interview with Olly, he discusses how his battle with bulimia, love of Star Trek and savvy use of social media has propelled him from his mum's dressing-up box to fully-fledged 21st Century 'It-Boy'.  

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Daniel's book of extraordinary self-portraits, 'Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken', is out now.

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist this week, Ollie Peart considers the Scandinavian approach to social media, the sound production of BBC costume dramas, and the luxury fast food for people with more money than sense. 

And, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox has advice for 'Dry Delila' - a listener whose medication might be drying up her ladybits.

The Foxhole is sponsored by our friends at mycondom.com. Just use the code 'FOXHOLE' to receive an astonishing 15% OFF at Checkout. If you have a question of sex for a future edition of the show, you can send it to Alix here.

Music this week comes from Tom Williams. His song 'Everyone Needs a Home' is out later this year on Caroline Records:

If you enjoy the show and you'd like to keep us getting bigger and better, please subscribe, leave us a review on iTunes or buy us a beer. Every donation helps us to make more episodes of the show for your future enjoyment. 

See You Next Tuesday!

4/1 - CEO At 22

Adventures in entrepreneurial showmanship

Raising $1m in venture capital whilst still at Uni; starting a business seemed like child's play for James Routledge. His start-up attracted 50m page views per month, and his investors believed he could be the next Mark Zuckerberg.

Except, beneath the surface, he felt stressed, isolated and alone - and his business was burning £30,000 per month. In this honest and compelling interview with Olly, he explains what happened next.

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James is co-founder of mental health start-up Sanctus. Read the blog-post that started it all here, and sign up to their weekly newsletter here.

In The Zeitgeist this week, Ollie Peart attempts to explain why teenagers appear to be ever more stylish, reveals how to prevent pregnancy using an app, and highlights the sad retirement of America's top fortune cookie writer, Donald Lau. 

Meanwhile, Alix Fox clarifies exactly how one goes about moving house when you've got a home full of sex-toys, and advises a 43 year-old virgin who is desperate to lose his virginity, but worries he has missed the boat.

Massive thanks to MyCondom.Com for their continuing sponsorship of The Foxhole this series. Remember, for a staggering 15% OFF their amazing range of condoms, lube and toys, just enter the code FOXHOLE at Checkout. And if you've got a question for the next edition of the Foxhole, just submit it via our Feedback form - you can remain anonymous if you wish.

Music this week comes courtesy of Drangsal, and his new single Allan Align:

Remember, if you enjoy the show, please do tell your friends, leave us a review on iTunes and, if you can afford to, buy us a beer - every donation helps us to make more episodes of the show for your future enjoyment.

See You Next Tuesday!