10/9 - How To Write A Christmas Hit

Slade. Wizzard. Wham!

When it comes to Christmas songs, we know what we like, and we like what we know.

But is there a magical formula to writing a festive hit? Can a novice, armed with the right chords, instruments and lyrical motifs, unlock the secret to cracking the Christmas charts?

Last year, our very own Ollie Peart attempted to give it a go. This is his story…

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Including footage never previously broadcast, in this feature-length documentary Olly Mann tracks Ollie’s journey, as he consults music journalist Chris Lochery and songwriter Philippe-Marc Anquetil to discover the role of ‘freewriting’, the significance of writing in a major key, and the importance of ‘finding the line’.

The Sounds Of Christmas was released in December 2018 - but we’ve never announced its final chart position, or revealed how much money it made for charity, until now.

There’s also a BRAND NEW 2019 MIX OF THE SONG for you to buy.

As before, Ollie’s share of the publishing rights, and every penny of artist royalties, go to Samuel’s Charity. Get it HERE.

Samuel's Charity work with underfunded children's wards in the UK to provide support and comfort to families. From supplying decent meals and internet access, to medical kit that makes children's live that much more comfortable, Samuel's Charity makes a positive difference to hundreds of family's lives at a very stressful time.

If, after hearing Olly meet Samuel’s dad, Martin, you’d like to make the charity a festive donation, please do so HERE.

Big thanks to all the podcasters who gave their time and participated in the song, including: The Guilty Feminist, The Two Shot Podcast, Do The Right Thing, Answer Me This!, Wannabe, The Tip Off, The Comedian’s Comedian, The Beef and Dairy Network, Fun Kids Radio, and For F1’s Sake.

Remember, this whole mad enterprise began when Jim Taylor, occasional member of Reverend And The Makers, sent Ollie a challenge by filling in our Feedback form. If YOU have an idea of a trend for Ollie to investigate in our next season of The Modern Mann, contact us now!

Here’s the video Ollie made for the song, featuring Mann-fans from around the world:

We’ll be back with a brand new episode on Wednesday, January 1st 2020. Until then… Happy Christmas!

This episode is supported by Beer52.com - the UK’s No.1 beer club. Mannfans can claim a FREE case of beer, worth £24 at beer52.com/mann. 

10/8 - Christmas Spectacular 2019!

The legendary Foxhole XXXMas Quiz is the high-voltage highlight of our 2019 festive special, as Olly, Alix and Ollie gather round the Yuletide fire with special guest JC Stewart, some VR headsets and a crate of beer…

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Alix Fox, Olly Mann, JC Stewart and Ollie Peart getting festive, Dec 2019

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This is what erotic looks like.

Alix has outdone herself this year, with cheeky games involving gin and tonic lubricant, a haunted Fleshlight, and a harrowing round of ‘Squirtual Reality’.

Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie reveals exactly how much money he can make pimping out his services on Fiverr, and investigates the trend for video-game coaching. 

Our record of the month, performed live under the mistletoe by JC Stewart, is ‘The Wrong Ones’, out now.

We’ll be back to normal service on Jan 1 (with a special bonus Xmas episode on Dec 16).

Until then, a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all the Mann-fans, everywhere. This one’s for you.

This episode is brought to you in association with Beer52, the UK’s No.1 craft beer club. Claim your free case of beer NOW at beer52.com/mann.

10/7 - In My Defence

‘I’m glad it happened to me, rather than somebody else’

Can martial arts save your life? Self defence instructor Kriss Pyke says they can - not just because the moves themselves offer protection in a skirmish, but because the physical confidence you gain deters opponents in the first place.

Kriss’ views and teaching style are shaped by his own experiences at the sharp end of a vicious street attack, as he recounts to Olly in this month’s middle feature…

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In the Zeitgeist this episode, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for insect-based pet food, and prepares Olly a three course, insect based meal. How will the pair fare tasting their way through cricket onion bhajis, grasshopper green curry and mealworm Krispie cakes?

The Foreign Arm

(If you want to try making this feast at home yourself, use Ollie’s discount code Mann15 at EatGrub!)

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Kriss Pyke and Olly Mann, Oct 2019.

Meanwhile, in this month’s Foxhole, Alix Fox announces her new role judging an adult toy competition - and tackles a question from a bisexual student teacher about to begin work at a conservative Catholic school. Are his liberal views on LGBTQ+ lifestyles compatible with Christian scripture?

Music this month comes from pop-soul band The Foreign Arm. Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, their debut EP, The Reach, is out Nov 22nd.

Remember, this show is supported by listeners like you. Please buy us a beer to help us keep going. And, if you have a question of sex for Alix, a challenge to suggest to Ollie, a guest you’d like Olly to interview, or you’d like to become a Mannbassador… then fill out our Feedback form.

See you next when our CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR drops on Dec 1st!

This episode is brought to you in association with Thriva, the at-home fingerprint blood test. For £30 off your first Thriva kit visit thriva.co and use the code Mann30.

10/6 - Surgery on the Front Line

Adrenalin, stress and composure - it’s all in a day’s work for a trauma surgeon.

But how do these doctors cope with routinely operating on patients with devastating injuries? Does it ever get easy to deliver difficult news?

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Olly Mann and Dr Allan Philp; NYC May 2019

In this intimate conversation, Olly meets Dr. Allan Philp, chief trauma surgeon of Allegheny Health Network, Pennsylvania, and Mr Shehan Hettiaratchy, trauma lead surgeon for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, to discuss alleviating anxiety, performing amputations - and how both men’s military background in Afghanistan has informed their work with civilian casualties.

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Olly and Shehan Hettiaratchy; St Mary’s Hospital London, Sep 2019

Elsewhere, in this month’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for escape rooms - by designing and building his own, complete with terrifying deployment of ancient technology. Luckily, he’s roped in the services of escape room champion Sarah Dodd.  Just watch out for those Party Poppers...

Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a couple with wildly different libidos on how to get their sex schedule back on track. Along the way, she considers couple’s counselling, dirty diaries, and ‘bossy massage’.

Finally, our record of the month is ‘In Time’ by Self Esteem, solo project of former Slow Club singer Rebecca Taylor. It’s ace:

Remember, this show is supported by donations from listeners like you. If you can afford to, please buy us a beer. Thanks!

If you have a question of sex for Alix, a challenge to suggest to Ollie, a guest you’d like Olly to interview, or you’d like to become a Mannbassador, just reach out via our Feedback form.

This episode is brought to you in association with Thriva, the at-home fingerprint blood test. For £30 off your first Thriva kit visit thriva.co and use the code Mann30.

See you when our next episode drops, on Nov 1st!

10/5 - Porn Messed Up My Brain

‘Quitting porn is the hardest thing I’ve ever done’

Sebastian Schub was 19 when he first experienced erectile dysfunction.

But he wasn’t a big drinker. There was no clear medical cause, such as heart disease. 

However - like most men his age - he was an avid user of porn tube sites.

Googling his symptoms, he discovered the Reddit ‘no-fap’ community, and diagnosed himself with PIED (‘porn-induced erectile dysfunction’).  

Spurning masturbation, he attempted to ‘reboot’ his brain…

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Elsewhere this edition: Ollie Peart has been fishing, kayaking, foraging, wild-swimming, cliff-jumping, fire-building, and sleeping outside… all because Mann-fan Stefan in Coventry asked him to. Will his attempts at micro-adventuring inspire him to have a new outlook on life? Or did those poor fish die in vain?

Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox meets the 'Queen of Farts', and considers how best to make a written approach to a professional dominatrix. (Offering a deposit, apparently, is a strong start...)

Finally, our record of the month is ‘Love Song Too Late’, from 70s-inspired folk trio Moorby Jones. It’s from their album 'Past Continuous', out now.

If YOU have a question of sex for Alix, a challenge to suggest to Ollie, or guest you’d like Olly to interview, please reach out via our Feedback page.

Wanna be a Mannbassador? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or buy us a beer - then let us know about it in writing.

See you when our next episode drops on October 1st!

This episode is brought to you in association with Beer52, the UK’s No.1 craft beer club. Claim your free case of beer NOW at beer52.com/mann.