14/1 - Adventures In Microdosing

“It never felt like a risky behaviour. It never felt dangerous.”

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Ketamine and magic mushrooms are notorious for their damaging side-effects, including paranoia, depression and other ‘bad trips’.

But the process of carefully administering small amounts of these drugs - so-called ‘microdosing’ - is now gaining traction both recreationally and in medical settings.

In this episode, Olly meets NHS worker Nathan*, who credits his psilocybin experiments with improving his interpersonal skills at work; and Irish artist Tamzin Merrivale, who suffered poor mental health for decades until a pioneering Austrian doctor suggested she should try a course of ketamine as an antidepressant…

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Meanwhile, Ollie Peart - fresh from launching The Zeitgeist Collab - checks out the Chinese medical tradition of ear seeds.

Can placing a series of small stickers on his ears make him feel less anxious, or suppress chronic pain?

And what of his other ‘health trend’ predictions for 2023 - padel tennis, personalised nutrition plans, and weight-loss drug tirzepatide? Are any about to become a permanent fixture in our health routines?

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in 2023, fill in the Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox has exciting news of a little-known fetish… elbow-sucking!

Then, she assists a listener who would like to know how to dig deep into his partner’s G-Area…

Which toys are best suited for G-Area play? Is G-Area enhancement surgery worth considering? And why don’t we call it the G-Spot any more? Alix has all the answers.

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer in 2023, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, our record of the month is ‘Long Live The Strange’, a delicious slice of rock-fun from Gaz Coombes’ new album Turn The Car Around 👇

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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

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WANT TO SUPPORT THE SHOW? Buy us a beer 🍻…

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

CONTENT WARNING: interview includes account of parental suicide and drug abuse. *Name changed to protect anonymity.

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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13/4 - The Fatal Blow

Suspicion, violence, and guilt by association - one lawyer’s quest to exonerate her brother.

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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.

You can view Charlotte’s petition (now closed) here. 

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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 finds out - in the taste test from Hell...

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, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox weighs up the pros and cons of getting a ‘Prince Albert’.

Is it worth the discomfort to achieve greater sexual pleasure? What’s in it for your sexual partners?

And why ARE penis piercings named after Queen Victoria’s consort, anyway? Alix reveals all…

The Foxhole is sponsored by Handy - a WiFi-enabled sex toy for men, designed and developed in Norway. For free express shipping, use our code ‘Foxhole' at TheHandy.com.

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Finally, our record of the month is the loud-and-proud ‘Dangerous’ from indie funsters The Mysterines. Go stream it! 👇

Olly Mann and Charlotte Henry, April 2022

Alex Henry, around the time of the crime

Ollie gets ‘milking’

Ollie’s finished ‘milks’

The Taste Test

This episode is sponsored by:

• Wine52, the wine discovery club. For a FREE case of their delicious wine visit wine52.com/mann and just pay for the postage.

• 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

• 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 May 10th!

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12/7 - Why Do I Collapse When I Laugh?

“My body's paralysed, but my mind still works. I can still hear everything being said”

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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, narcolepsy and cataplexy are isolating and debilitating ‘hidden disabilities’. But they can be somewhat treated through awareness and good ‘sleep hygiene’.

If you’re struggling with sleep issues, Antonia recommends sleep improvement app Sleepio, and the charity Narcolepsy UK.

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Ollie modelling his home-dyed T-shirt.

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 on 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, broadbeans, and sweet potato scraps.

Greta Thunberg will be DEAD impressed…

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 helps out an anonymous listener who enjoys occasional anal sex with his wife - but is now worried he’s pressured her into it.

Is it fair to ask for anal sex when your partner isn’t finding it satisfying? If it’s not traumatising or upsetting her, and she’s consenting to it, should it be abandoned because it doesn’t give her physical pleasure?

It’s all about being ‘GGG’ (Dan Savage’s mantra: ‘good, giving, and game’), advises Alix, in this fascinating conversation.

The Foxhole is sponsored by Handy - a WiFi-enabled sex toy for men, designed and developed in Norway. For free express shipping, use our code ‘Foxhole' at TheHandy.com.

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Finally, our record of the month is the new one from Hampshire trio Drug Store Romeos - it’s called Secret Plan, and it’s from their forthcoming debut album, ‘The world within our bedrooms’":

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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We’ll see you again on August 10 - in the meantime, do check out Olly and Producer Matt’s BRAND NEW, DAILY PODCAST The Retrospectors!

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11/2 - The Candidate

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Layla Moran MP is fighting to keep her seat.

There are trolls, there are threats, there are hostile journalists.

And throughout the journey, as she campaigns in the 2019 general election... we are at her side.

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In this Modern Mann exclusive, host Olly Mann and producer Matt Hill accompany the Liberal Democrats’ rising star as she pounds the streets, battles her opponents, and goes public about her sexuality.

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From campaign launch to vote count, we learn what it takes to face the electorate in a divided nation.

And, quite by accident, find ourselves documenting someone who may yet become leader of one of Britain’s major political parties...

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Elsewhere this episode, Ollie Peart tries out a trio of health trends in this month’s Zeitgeist - getting seriously sweaty at CrossFit, bouldering his way round a climbing course in Poole, and trying his hand at Ayurvedic massage. You’ll never dress your salad with sesame oil again.

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Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener affected by inflammatory skin condition Lichen Sclerosus. Can a body-mapping app keep the heat in his relationship - even as he applies emollient to stop the burning? Perhaps, if he can uncover the ‘tiny everyday thrills’ of daily sensuality...

(For more support about sex with LS, Alix recommends Sam Evans’ blogs for Jo Divine, and the Facebook group LS UK Awareness).

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Our record of the month is ‘Your Light’ by The Big Moon, from the album ‘Walking Like We Do’ - follow-up to their Mercury Music Prize nominated debut, ‘Love In The 4th Dimension’.

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If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please tell your friends - we’re @themodernmann on Twitter - or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

And, if you can afford to support us financially, please buy us a beer.

As an independent podcast, we can only make the show thanks to the generous support of listeners like you.

We’ll be back on March 1 with a brand new episode.

In the meantime, if you have a suggestion of a guest Olly should interview, a trend Ollie should test or a sex question Alix should answer - get in touch via our Feedback form.

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6/4 - There's Something About Gavin

"I wasn’t doing it because I needed the money. I did it because I was a hedonist."

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Gavin Hay was a high-flying TV exec with a string of hits under his belt when he and his partner sold their production company for millions of pounds. Still only 42, he could have taken up golf, or skydiving. Instead, Gavin tried his hand at becoming a porn star...

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Gavin as Trojan Rock

In this exclusive interview with Olly, he explains how he became 'Trojan Rock', the 'Daddy' who starred in forty adult titles including Roid Rage, Hot And Sweaty: Men At Work, and Hairy Boyz 13.

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• MP3

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In this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has the low-down on artifically intelligent celebrities, Uber's experiment with flying cars, and the next drinks trend - which he likes to call 'Carrotea'. God help us all...

Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox shares her passion for handmade ceramics, considers whether chakrubs are a thoughtful investment, and gets all hot and bothered about her new book. 

The Foxhole is proudly sponsored by our sexy friends at MyCondom.com. Visit their excellent site for a superb range of protection, toys and lube, and use our special code 'FOXHOLE' to receive 15% Off.

There's also good advice in this week's Squarespace Lifehack, as Chris from Green and Black Cross offers up his Top 3 tips on how to survive getting arrested. (If you do ever find yourself in that situation, there's more to learn at ldmg.org.uk.) The Lifehack comes courtesy of Squarespace - to create your own blog, personal portfolio or business website with their easy-to-use templates, visit Squarespace.com and, when you're ready to launch, use our offer code 'MANN' to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Finally, this week's Record of the Week is Confidence by Dead Pretties, out now on Nice Swan Records:

Massive thanks to our title sponsor this week, Echo.co.uk, for making this episode possible. If you want a pain-free way to order repeat NHS prescriptions, just download their excellent app.

If you'd like to support the show too, just buy us a beer, or leave us a review on iTunes. And if you've got a challenge for Ollie, a question of sex for Alix, a guest suggestion for Olly, or anything else you want us to know about - just click Feedback.

See You Next Tuesday!