6/5 - Into the Deep

"Freediving is 99% mental. And the rest is in your head"

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Diving up to 700ft with no oxygen tank may seem like an extreme sport, but instructor Emma Farrell says freediving is more like a meditative state...

Training Olly to hold his breath like an underwater explorer, she explains why she's never more relaxed than when she's 'one breath away from potential death': 

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Emma Farrell and Olly Mann

Ollie tries his hand at aerial pilates

Meanwhile, Ollie Peart - fresh from testing out 'Carrotea' on an unsuspecting culinary professional - considers the benefits of crowdfunded wearable air conditioning in this week's Zeitgeist; and reflects on the curious case of nature photographer David Slater. He also reports back on his challenge to try out aerial pilates - could now be the moment to bring it to Dorchester?

Elsewhere, Alix Fox tries out binaural dinner dating and Liquid Silk lubricant in this week's Foxhole, and sets about myth-busting hymen-busting: is losing your virginity always painful? And, if both people in a couple are still virgins, is it necessary or relevant to get STI-tested before doing the deed? 

The Foxhole, as ever, is sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com. Even if you are still a virgin, there's much to enjoy in their online emporium (it's always worth practicing at home before you take the plunge...). Just use our offer code 'FOXHOLE' to receive 15% off at Checkout.

For this week's Lifehack, Alan Mahon of Brewgooder and Social Bite divulges his Top 3 tips to raise money for good causes through business. The Lifehack is sponsored by Squarespace.com - if you want to build a beautiful website from one of their award-winning templates, use our offer code 'MANN' to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Finally, our song of the week comes courtesy of new band Artificial Pleasure. It's called 'Wound Up Tight', and it's out now:

Massive thanks to Echo.co.uk, title sponsors of this week's episode. Their excellent app helps you manage your meds, notifies you when your prescription is running low, and re-orders it at the tap of a screen. And it’s all completely free!

If you'd like to sponsor a future edition of the show, or if you have a suggestion for a future guest - or if you have a question of sex for Alix, a trend challenge for Ollie, or you'd like to become a Mannbassador - just fill in our Feedback form. And, if you'd like to support our independent podcast, please do buy us a beer - every penny goes right back into making this show.

See You Next Tuesday!

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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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!

6/3 - Do Focus Groups Work?

"I don’t think people are necessarily experts on what they want"

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The pollsters failed to predict Brexit, Trump and Theresa May's lost majority. But, in political circles, faith remains in one particular research technique: the focus group.

Edelman's James Morris was an advisor at the Number 10 strategy unit under Tony Blair, and has advised international businesses including Virgin Media and Starbucks on reputation management. 

In this insightful interview with Olly, he reveals how U-shaped rooms, open questions and gender dynamics all affect 'what we think we think' about political issues like climate change, leadership and immigration...

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Elsewhere, Ollie Peart considers the return of the turtle-neck and the boom in onion jewellery in this week's Zeitgeist. Plus, as his quest to become a true trends insider continues, he reveals how he fared in an ethical audit of his consumer habits, thanks to Ethical Consumer's Tim Hunt.  (And if that's inspired you to get your own ethical audit done, check out ethicalconsumer.org).

Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox investigates the bizarre claim that toothpaste can function as an alternative to a traditional pregnancy test, and offers advice to a listener concerned that he's the only gay in the village. The Foxhole is, as ever, proudly sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com. Shop their excellent range of condoms and toys online, and remember to use our code 'MANN' to get a super-sexy 15% off.

For this week's Squarespace Lifehack, Trullo's head honcho Tim Siadatan offers up his three top tips to make restaurant-quality pasta at home. If you'd like to see more of Tim's advice, check out his book, also called Trullo, which is out now. The Lifehack is brought to you thanks to our good friends at 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 Song of the Week isn't from this week at all, really - it's Mike's Pop Song, an off-cut from Olly's all-time favourite album, R.E.M's Automatic For The People, reissued for its 25th anniversary:

If you'd like to suggest a challenge for Ollie Peart, a question of sex for Alix Fox, or you'd like to leave us a comment and nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, just click here. And if you'd like to buy us a beer to support the show, that would also be most welcome.

This episode was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of online eyewear store ArloWolf.com. Check out their stunning and good-value range of stylish frames, and get 10% off when you use our offer code 'MANN' at Arlowolf.com.

See You Next Tuesday!

6/2 - Cabin Crew Confessions

Tricky customers, fixed smiles and terrible turbulence: it's all in a day's work for a flight attendant.

But how to keep your cool at 30,000 feet? How to cope with unpredictable emergencies? And how to let off steam afterwards?

Daisy White is a woman who knows. Now a YA author, she spent 12 years working for airlines including Monarch and Caledonian. In this interview with Olly, she lifts the lid on drunken passengers, mile high club wannabes - and 'overweight' trolley dollies... 

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In this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart plays the 'Micro-Generation Game', tries his hand at Shoutcasting, considers the future of Amazon Key, and doesn't gloat about the fact he was sort-of-right about the decline of the musical fade out, even though he'd have every right to.

And a previous Zeitgeist topic, male make-up, rears its head again in this week's Lifehack - as make-up artist Declan Scammell proffers his Top 3 tips for men who want to wear make-up in their daily lives. The Lifehack is sponsored by our friends at Squarespace - if you fancy a free trial of their excellent website design and hosting service, head to 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.

Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox offers up some pleasurable positions for couples seeking to have sex during pregnancy, which can't harm your baby but will provide closeness and climax. The Foxhole is brought to you by the beautiful peeps at MyCondom.com, who offer Mann-fans 15% off their superb range of lubes, toys and condoms by using the code 'FOXHOLE' at Checkout.

Finally, our song of the week is the new one - it's called 'Fresh', appropriately - from awesome Aussie band Tired Lion:

If you have a suggestion for a future guest, a trend for Ollie Peart to investigate, a question of sex for Alix, or you'd like to become a Mannbassador, please get in touch using our Feedback page.

This episode was made possible thanks to the generous patronage of online eyewear store Arlowolf, who offer shockingly good value frames and sunglasses on a Try Before You Buy basis, with a 30 day no-quibble returns policy. Try 'em out at Arlowolf.com, and use our offer code 'MANN' to get 10% off your final purchase.

See You Next Tuesday!

6/1 - Lost At Sea

"The horror of that moment? There is no way to describe it."

Brett was rescued after a large search and rescue effort

Relief at having been saved

Brett had lost all the blood from his hand

Olly Mann and Brett Archibald

Falling overboard following a fit of food poisoning, Brett Archibald survived 28 hours alone in the Indian Ocean.

In this extraordinary interview with Olly, he re-lives his onslaught of hallucinations, his encounter with a shark and how he contemplated certain death...

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Read more about Brett's amazing story on his website, and in his book, Alone. 

Elsewhere in our season premiere, Ollie Peart returns with The Zeitgeist, and ponders the trend for 'marathon banditing', the return of Beck, and how to make Cheese Tea seem a delicious prospect.

And, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from winning an award for her podcast series Close Encounters - returns to shed light on the enigmatic world of female ejaculation. If you have a question of sex for Alix, now is the time to submit it; you can remain anonymous if you wish.

The Foxhole is sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com - remember, to get 15% off their range of incredible toys and condoms, just use our offer code 'FOXHOLE' at Checkout.

Meanwhile, in this week's Lifehack, polyglot Lindsay Williams from Lindsay Does Languages offers up her three top tips to master a new language in your spare time.

The Lifehack is sponsored by our friends at Squarespace - if you fancy a free trial of their excellent website design and hosting service, head to 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, our record of the week is the awesome Bodies by Wafia, out now on Future Classic:

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Episode Sponsors Arlowolf.com

There are still nine episodes to run this season, so if you have a suggestion for a future interviewee, a trend for Ollie Peart to investigate, or you'd like to become a Mannbassador, just get in touch using our Feedback page.

This episode was made possible thanks to the generous patronage of online eyewear store Arlowolf, who offer shockingly good value frames and sunglasses on a Try Before You Buy basis, with a 30 day no-quibble returns policy.

Try 'em out at Arlowolf.com, and use our offer code 'MANN' to get 10% off your final purchase.

See You Next Tuesday!