7/7 - The Ten Commandments of Touring

‘Why do bands break up? Why do people go insane on the road? Because it’s such an intense bubble of life’

Tom Meadows and Olly Mann

Tom Meadows and Olly Mann

Being in a band - on a world tour - is the stuff rock n roll dreams are made of. But the contemporary reality is a corporate concern, involving hundreds of people, all separated from their families. Surviving is an art in itself.

Tom Meadows is a freelance drummer who's worked with Girls Aloud, Duffy, Leona Lewis, and - for the past nine years - Kylie Minogue.

What are his top tips to keeping your cool when you're out on the road? And how does Pink Floyd's 'Ten Commandments of Touring' mantra stack up in the modern era?

LISTEN NOW:

The Ten Tour Commandments, as seen in the exhibition Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains at the V&A

* NEW: You can now also listen to the show via our new Alexa Skill on your Alexa-enabled device. Get it here.

Elsewhere this week, Ollie Peart, standing beneath a mid-sized billboard of his own face, champions 'FaceGyms' and mines his own data  with typical journalistic rigour.

If you have a challenge for Ollie or a trend you'd like him to explore in next week's Zeitgeist, get in touch.

Olly and Ollie bear witness to a mid-sized billboard of Ollie's face. In Slough.

Olly and Ollie bear witness to a mid-sized billboard of Ollie's face. In Slough.

Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox recounts how a list-based podcast brought her together with Gail Porter, and advises a male listener who wants to spend more time wearing women's panties.

Thanks once again to MyCondom.com for their sponsorship of the Foxhole - remember, if you want condoms, they should be your first port of call - and you get 15% off when you use our discount code 'FOXHOLE', just for being a Mann-fan!

If you have a question of sex for Alix, get in touch here. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Also, in this week's Lifehack, Dominika Piasecka, Media & PR Officer at The Vegan Society, offers up her three top tips to help YOU go vegan.

Finally, our record of the week is from Ellevator, an experimental-pop band from Hamilton, Ontario. The track’s called Voices, and they’re on tour now:

Olly and Alix's favourite 90s choon

That's it for this week's show, but if you've enjoyed it, please do share it with your friends on social media, leave us a five-star review on iTunes, or support the show directly by buying us a beer.

We're an independent podcast and it's only thanks to the donations of Mann-fans like you that we are able to produce 30 episodes per year. Thanks.

See You Next Tuesday! 

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Seven and tagged blaine.

7/6 - Inside Amazon's Warehouse

‘There were rules that you couldn’t not break, if you wanted to keep your job’

Demeaning, poorly paid and tedious: life as an Order Picker in Amazon’s ‘fulfilment centre’ in Rugeley, Staffordshire was a draining, revelatory ordeal for writer James Bloodworth, who worked there undercover in 2016.

amazon centre.jpeg

In this enlightening interview with Olly, he reveals how being an ‘associate’ in Amazon’s warehouse meant enduring ten-hour shifts, tethered to an electronic device, walking up to fifteen miles per day; treated with suspicion, and effectively paid under the minimum wage.

LISTEN NOW:

James’s book, Hired: Six Months Undercover In Low-Wage Britain is out now.

In this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has news of the return of the mullet, is concerned with how smartphone photography is corrupting our memories - and triumphantly answers his challenge to spend £100 on displaying his face somewhere impressive… in Slough.

Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox explains why the law needs to change regarding ‘upskirting’, how your beard could carry an STI, and advises a listener seeking stealthy, quiet ‘battery-operated boyfriends’.

The Foxhole is sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com - visit their website now for an astonishing range of toys and products, and get 15% Off when you use our code, ‘Foxhole’.

If you have a question of sex for next week’s show, or a challenge for Ollie Peart to try, don’t hesitate to reach out via our Feedback form.

Elsewhere, in this week’s Lifehack, Jessica Cerasi, curator of the Government Art Collection, offers up her Top 3 tips on how to get the most out of a visit to an art exhibition: read up, bring a friend, and spend longer than you think you want to actually looking at the art! Jessica’s book, Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art?, is out now.

Finally, our record of the week is Beware The Beast by Carpenter Brut

Enjoy the show? Support the show! Buy us a beer, review us on iTunes, donate via PayPal, submit an idea for a future episode or just tell your friends about us on social media… we really appreciate it.

See You Next Tuesday!

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Seven and tagged RAMIRO rebecca armin.

7/5 - Closure and Disclosure: Surviving Abuse

Manny Waks was 11 years old when he was first sexually abused.

Raised in the ultra-Orthdaox sect of Judaism known as Chabad, he lacked the education or vocabulary to understand what was going on.

By the time he was studying for his bar mitzvah, he was molested by a second perpetrator.

Both men were members of staff at his school - the Yeshiva Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

In this searingly honest, compelling and sometimes angry conversation with Olly, he recalls how he was groomed, abused, disbelieved, and shunned - and recounts the moment he decided, aged 18, to turn his back on Hasidic Judaism for ever - and join the Israeli Defense Force...

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Last year, Manny confronted his first abuser, Velvel Serebryanski, in New York. In 2013, Manny's second abuser, David Cyprys, was sentenced to eight years for sexually abusing Manny and eight other boys.

Manny is now CEO of Kol v'Oz, established in Israel in 2016 to prevent child sexual abuse in Jewish communities globally. His book, ‘Who Gave You Permission?’, is out now.

Elsewhere this week, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart explains why ‘battle royale’ is the gaming format du jour, why China are investing in ‘fecal recognition’, and why Drake would rather be on Twitch than The Graham Norton Show. Plus, he reveals how he fared in his challenge to take up Para Ice Hockey (Clue: he didn’t make Team GB...)

If you’ve got a challenge to set Ollie for next week’s show, submit it via our Feedback page.

Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from checking out the ‘vac-cube’ at Eroticon - advises a listener who wants to spend longer, much longer, going down on his girlfriend. Along the way, Alix recommends some vocal exercises, a ‘queening stool’, and a surprising application of Prince’s ‘Alphabet Street’.

The Foxhole is delighted to be sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com. They stock a mahooosive range of condoms, lube and toys. Remember to use the code ‘Foxhole’ to get a buzzin’ 15% OFF!

If you’ve got a question of sex for Alix to answer on next week’s show, reach out via our Feedback page - you can remain completely anonymous if you so desire.

This week’s Lifehack comes courtesy of Sky Sports presenter Tony Wrighton, host of the Zestology podcast, who offers up his top three tips on how to be motivated with NLP (neuro-linguistic programming).

Finally, our record of the week is the ethereal and spooky Dans Ma Main, by Jean-Michel Blais, out now:

If you enjoy the show - please support the show. Buy us a beer, send us a donation via PayPal, review us on iTunes or tell your friends about us on social media - we really appreciate it! And, if you have a story you think we should feature on a future episode, or would like to sponsor the show - just let us know.

See You Next Tuesday!

Additional resources: Stop it Now! UK and Ireland is a useful website for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse. Survivors UK provides information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused. The Samaritans offer confidential, emotional telephone support 24 hours a day. This is a useful list for international listeners.

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Seven and tagged amibionics Martha PUPILA church.

7/4 - Anatomy of a Movie Trailer

"We are going to lie to you, if we really have to. We have to get you to come to the cinema"

comingsoon.jpg

Why are movie trailers more beloved and enduring than other forms of advertising?

How has the medium changed, to keep the video-game generation engaged? And what tricks do editors use to keep us watching, and returning to the flicks, week in week out?

In this episode, editor Gareth Davies sits down with Olly to review some classic examples of the genre, and provides a masterclass in how to market a movie - from the choice of soundtrack, to navigating plot spoilers, and defining the right pace.

Listen Now:

You can watch all the trailers discussed in the interview - Rear Window, Alien, Three Kings, A Serious Man and The One I Love - here:

Hey Siri - Can you tell us how to play our podcast? PLEEEEASEE?

Elsewhere, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart uncovers a plot to sell Guy Fieri’s hair follicles, explains why Google opening up its Maps API could be a game-changer for game developers, and reports back on his challenge to find the perfect combination of words to make this podcast play on Apple Homepod, Amazon Echo and Google Home.

If you have a challenge to set Ollie for a future episode - or think you know how to program an Alexa skill in ways he could only dream of - don’t hesitate to get in touch via our Feedback form.

Meanwhile, in this week’s Foxhole, Alix Fox considers the merits of a reusable tampon applicator, and tackles a buxom listener question: is it possible to have an orgasm solely through licking, flicking and lightly squeezing your nipples?

The Foxhole is proudly sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com. They have a great range of toys and protection at incredibly good value prices. Check ‘em out, and remember to use our code ‘Foxhole’ to get an astonishing 15% Off!

If you have a question of sex for Alix to answer on a future episode, stick it in her box via our Feedback page - you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer.

Finally, our record of the week is ‘Habibi’, the haunting debut single from half-Egyptian, half-Belgian singer Tamino. It's available to stream now, courtesy of Communion Records:

If you enjoy the show, please support us by buying us a beer for just £3.60 (around $5) via MoonClerk or via PayPal. Your contributions help keep us on the air; funding our independent podcast series so we can continue making episodes you love. Thanks!

See You Next Tuesday...

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Seven and tagged jack lucy.

7/3 - Nature, Nurture

"In the theatre of war, the theatre of wildlife kept me alive."

Ex-soldier Craig Jones escaped a brutal father and found solace in the natural world.

Now a distinguished wildlife photographer and conservationist, the aftermath of his traumatic childhood and military training informs his approach.

In this candid interview with Olly, he explains how his kinship with wild creatures has helped him survive, thrive and start afresh.

LISTEN:

Elsewhere, in this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart uncovers the secret world of 'millenialingo', explains why Basil Fawlty might feel at home in the world of self-driving cars, and reveals the results of his challenge to make £150 in one week of matched betting. 

If you have a challenge for Ollie to attempt, submit it here!

Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox, fresh from swotting up on Norwegian vaginal trivia, considers a question of split condoms and unwelcome pregnancies. 

If you have a question of sex for Alix to answer on the show, submit it here - you can remain completely anonymous if you wish.

The Foxhole is proudly sponsored by our friends at mycondom.com - remember to use our discount code, 'FOXHOLE', at Checkout to get 15% off!

This week's Lifehack comes courtesy of Studio Unwired's Ula Maria - RHS Young Designer of the Year - who reveals her Top 3 tips to make a beautiful urban garden. 

Finally, our record of the week is the new one from Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear. It's called Childhood Goodbye, and it's out now on Glassnote Records:

This show is only possible thanks to the support of amazing listeners like you. 

If you value the show, and you want to keep us going, please buy us a beer.

See You Next Tuesday!

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Seven and tagged julian homeless.