Sun, sea and €1 drinks lure thousands of backpackers to Andrew’s hostel in a typical year.
But 2020 was not a typical year.
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Confronting a doomed Summer season and 45 empty bedrooms, Andrew’s family converted their hostel, in the Cote d’Azur, in to a homeless shelter during Lockdown.
In place of tourists, they welcomed a diverse group of refugees, drug addicts, career criminals and victims of domestic abuse.
As Andrew recounts to Olly, the experience opened his eyes to the realities of life on the streets - the mental health problems, alcoholism, and traumatic violence so often lurking in the background - but also gave him hope that it’s possible to re-make your life, even in the most dire of circumstances.
(Names have been changed.)
If YOU have a story about overcoming the challenges of modern life which you’d like to share with Olly, send us an email via our feedback form.
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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart heads out into the bracing January fog for… a barbecue, of course!
Can he ‘upskill’ his outdoor cooking abilities to create a Winter feast?
Armed with little more than a plank of plywood and a side of salmon, he attempts to justify his hipster beard by mastering an authentic asado wood-flamed pit - and puts the trend for ‘sweet pizza’ to the test.
If YOU would like to challenge Ollie to test out a trend on a future edition of the show, fill out our feedback form.
The Zeitgeist is sponsored by below-the-waist grooming experts Manscaped.
For 20% off and free shipping use the code MANN at Manscaped.com.
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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox gets deep in the weeds of aphrodisiac seeds, and assists a lady listener who coughs each time she has sex.
Could this after-sex reflex be a reaction to her partner’s semen, an allergy to linens, or even a vasovagal attack? Alix investigates, with the assistance of breathing expert Jane Tarrant.
If YOU have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer in a future show, head on over to our feedback form.
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Finally, music this month comes from Dutch-born, London-based singer-songwriter Eyelar - and her current single, ‘Doin’ It Again’.
Listen back to all our ‘record of the month’ choices on our Spotify playlist here.
Love the show? Here are THREE GREAT WAYS TO SUPPORT US IN 2021:
• Tell your friends! We’re @themodernmann on Twitter.
• Post a review for the show on Apple Podcasts. It helps others find us.
• Send us a donation. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us make the show. BUY US A BEER HERE.
Happy New Year!
Stay safe, and we’ll see you with a brand new episode on Feb 10.
