16/2 - Naked and Exhausted

“ I was put into an impossible situation. What were my choices?”

Imagine building a brand from scratch, and running your business for fifteen years - only to be told by a global corporation that your name isn’t yours to keep. 

That’s what happened to Rebecca Dowdeswell, founder of waxing business NKD, when she received a legal letter from cosmetics giant L’Oréal, opposing her application to renew her trademark.

In this compelling conversation with Olly, Rebecca takes us inside her David vs. Goliath battle against one of the world’s biggest corporations; a tale of perseverance, justice, and the high price of standing your ground.

Support Rebecca’s small business, and find out more about her story, here.

Thanks to Private Eye for their help sourcing this story.

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Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart dives deep into his DNA, to discover whether companies like Color can detect predispositions to serious diseases. 

After talking to journalist Molly Guinness, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at 38, Ollie investigates the growing trend for people proactively checking their health beyond the tests offered by the NHS.

And - thanks to UK-based company Selph - he discovers he has a hitherto undetected genetic condition, Lp(a)…

Rebecca Dowdeswell and Olly Mann, February 2025

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox uncovers the truth about a kinky MRI incident that’s taken the internet by storm, and advises a listener whose partner is not in-sync with his peccadillos.

How can he balance a fulfilling monogamous relationship, while staying true to his most extreme desires? Might understanding the emotions behind his kinks lead to creative compromises? Or could attending a workshop, or even opening up his relationship, provide the right solution?

With the help of Psychosexual and Relationship therapist Shae Harmon and Lola Phoenix’s new book The Non-Monogamy Journal, Alix reveals all…

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Over in music corner, our record of the month is the brilliantly arresting ‘Angie’s Wedding’ from Manchester-based poet, writer and producer Antony Szmierek 👇

His album, ‘Service Station At The End Of The Universe’, comes out February 28th

NOW, SUPPORT US:

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous donations - independent shows like ours only exist with your support: 

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CONTACT US…

If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form:

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… and we’ll see you on March 10th!

This episode is sponsored by Readly, the UK’s largest digital newsstand. Discover thousands of top magazines, alongside Olly's favourites, with an exclusive THREE MONTH free trial, at readly.com/mann

16/1 - The Last Supper

“I’ve unlocked the door, and it’s cost me £2,000. Now I need to make £2,000.”

Why are so many restaurants closing down? Across Britain, the hospitality industry is facing unprecedented challenges. This time last year, it was the turn of chef Tony Rodd.

His passion for food had seen him progress from hosting dinner parties for friends, to being a Masterchef runner-up, to eventually opening his dream London restaurant - Copper and Ink, in affluent Blackheath.

But the dream unravelled. Crippled by Covid, increasing energy costs, VAT bills and ‘no-shows’, he shut up shop for good in January 2024.

One year on, he’s back, with an intimate new restaurant in Broadstairs - and, in this engaging interview with Olly, he explains how he’s making it work…

Olly Mann and Tony Rodd, Dec 2024

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Ollie Peart’s photo of the moon

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart steps out into the cold night air to investigate the trend for smart telescopes, which combine automated star alignment and wireless connectivity to capture incredible images of the night sky.

How easy is it to find stars and take photos of them? What is driving the interest in astrophotography? And are they a worthy upgrade to an old-fashioned eye-piece? With a Vaonis Hestia by his side, Ollie reveals all...

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox discovers how sound effects are created for erotic audiobooks, and tackles a question from a listener who wants to know about anal botox.

Can bum injections reduce pain during anal play, heal fissures, and relax muscles for easier intercourse? Dr. Evan Goldstein, aka “The Bottom Whisperer,” certainly thinks so… 

… Alix considers the potential downsides, and investigates other aesthetic trends for 2025, from anal bleaching to skin tag removal, ‘scrotox’ and ‘showtox’.

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Music-wise, our record of the month comes from The Lumineers, whose new single Same Old Song spearheads their fantastic new album, Automatic 👇

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

We’re a completely independent podcast. We’re professionals. We only exist thanks to your financial contributions. THANK YOU. 

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CONTACT US…

If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form:

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… and we’ll see you on Feb 10th!

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15/12 - ☃️ Christmas 🍷Spectacular 🦌 2024!!

Join Olly and the gang for our bumper festive extravaganza…

Featuring:

🎶 Live music from Sons of Town Hall – the Victorian-inspired duo from the Madmen Cross The Water podcast serenade the season with their folksy harmonies - and test their Anglophiliac credentials with a Mannfan-made ‘citizenship test’… 

💸 To Tip or Not to Tip? – Wondering how much to tip your postie, milkman, or the plumber who saved your pipes?

Ollie Peart dives into the age-old debate on festive gratuities - and launches his new JUST THE TIP service!

🤪 The XXX-Mas Foxhole Quiz – Things take a turn for the risqué with Alix Fox’s annual laugh-out-loud Q&A… this time involving scented underwear, rubber chickens, and some out-of-context audio erotica… 

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So, pour yourself a glass of wine (courtesy of our sponsors, Wine52, of course), sit back, and enjoy our modern, mad, magical Christmas celebration! 🎄

We’ll be back with a brand new series on 10th January, 2025. 

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In the meantime… why not buy us a beer, and help us keep our independent show running into its TENTH anniversary year?

Join us on the Modern Mann Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

15/11 - What Happened To My House?

“I leave UK. We can't rent at the moment. I put key outside door in kitchen. Go to garden. I'm sorry about that.”

When Mike Senior returned to his rental property in Cambridge, he uncovered a scene straight out of a crime drama:

Trashed rooms.

Plastic sheeting.

Dodgy ductwork.

In this interview with Olly, he reveals how some tenants from Gumtree turned his Dream Home into a landlord’s nightmare… 

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Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart  investigates the trend for A.I.-assisted recruitment. 

Employers, he discovers, are using machine learning to whittle down candidates, read CVs and reduce biases. Applicants are hacking their jobsearch with “prompt engineering”, hidden fonts, and generative interview prep.

… Is it still possible to get a job with inter-personal skills and chutzpah? And can he uncover a recipe to beat the bots? 

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from the ‘You Me Bum Bum Train’ building site - has advice for a fifty-something Mannfan whose libido has reduced dramatically.

Though physically capable, his emotional and mental energy are drained by health issues, caregiving, and stress. Could counselling, lifestyle changes, and a change of scene help him get his mojo back? And why do so many people seem to believe that if a man can get hard, there’s nothing to worry about?

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Finally, we’re rockin out to our Record of the Month, ‘She’s Got A Problem’ from Hastings rock-trio HotWax 🤘

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

We’re an independent podcast and only exist thanks to your donations. THANK YOU. 

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And help our Mannbassadors make a Mannfan meet-up!

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CONTACT US…

If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form:

✍️ https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback

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… and we’ll see you for our annual Christmas spectacular on December 10th 🎅

This episode is sponsored by Readly, the UK’s largest digital newsstand. Discover thousands of top magazines, alongside Olly's favourites, with an exclusive THREE MONTH free trial, at readly.com/mann

15/10 - Speaking In Tongues

“I followed all the rules. I did everything I was supposed to do, everything I was taught to do. I did my part… Why isn't this working?”

Sarah McCammon’s upbringing was steeped in evangelical culture—raised as a Charismatic Christian in Kansas City, Missouri, she asked God for salvation at just two years old. 

Soon she was ‘street witnessing’, trying to convert strangers to her mega-church; praying at family dinners for the salvation of her atheist grandfather; and crediting Jesus for healing her stubbed toe. 

As a teen, she followed the expected path: wearing a purity ring, committing to abstinence before marriage, attending a Christian university, getting married, and starting a family.

But then, she left it all behind.

In this candid conversation with Olly, Sarah—now a national political correspondent for NPR—unpacks the emotional, social, and political forces that shaped her beliefs, and ultimately led her to walk away from the evangelical world. 

Offering a compelling insider’s view of life within the movement, she delves into the personal cost of leaving her faith, and explains the deep connection between white evangelicals and their unwavering support for Donald Trump.

Sarah’s book, The Exvangelicals, is out now.

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Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart takes on the challenge of preparing for the Government’s infamous ‘Life in the UK’ test.

Although already a British citizen, Ollie has been swotting up to answer a dozen real-life questions from the extensive pool of questions that aspiring citizens must study. Can he correctly respond to the required 75%?

With topics ranging from British history to culture and law—and a £50 fee per attempt—he and Olly soon realise just how tricky and unpredictable these questions can be…

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Sarah McCammon (Instagram)

Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox fresh from a surprisingly intimate moment with the Teletubbies - considers the ethics of hiring a sex worker.

Is it ever truly possible to ensure prostitutes have not been trafficked by criminal gangs? What distinctions exist between the proposed decriminalization and legalisation of sex work? And even if women choose to enter the field due to poverty and desperation - does that necessarily mean they are victims?

With the help of sex worker-turned-author and comedian Kaytlin Bailey and the English Collective of Prostitutes, Alix gives this sticky quandary her very best shot…

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Finally, the music Making Us Happy this month… is Jason Derulo’s Make Me Happy 😊

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

We’re an independent podcast and only exist thanks to your donations. THANK YOU. 

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100 Mannfans are there. At least two of them are JUGGLERS.

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CONTACT US…

If you have a challenge for Ollie, a question for Alix, or some feedback for Olly; if you’d like to nominate yourself as a Mannbassador, or have a suggestion of a future interview for the show, just fill out our Feedback form:

✍️ https://www.modernmann.co.uk/feedback

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… and we’ll see you on November 10th 📅