11/2 - The Candidate

LISTEN: Apple // Spotify // Google // MP3 // RSS // TuneIn

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.

__________________

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.

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...

__________________

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.

__________________

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).

__________________

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’.

__________________

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.

LISTEN: Apple // Spotify // Google // MP3 // RSS // TuneIn

MORE POLITICS ON THE MODERN MANN

9/2 - The Downing Street Heckler

6/3 - Do Focus Groups Work?

5/9 - Life In Westminster

11/1 - The Mum Who Gave Up Drinking

LISTEN: Apple // Spotify // Google // MP3 // RSS // TuneIn

“I thought everyone else was able to cope with alcohol, and I was the only one who couldn’t”

Clare Pooley gave up a booze-fuelled job in advertising - complete with a bar in the office and a massive expenses budget - to be a full-time Mum to her three kids.

But as she left the ladette lifestyle behind, she didn’t find herself drinking any less. In fact, she was polishing off ten bottles of wine per week, as she tells Olly in this confessional, compelling conversation...

Clare’s book, ‘The Sober Diaries’ is out now, and her blog Mummy Was A Secret Drinker and Facebook page SoberMummy provide support if you’re looking to give up drinking. Clare also recommends Club Soda and Soberistas.

Meanwhile, for this month’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has been digitising the Prime Minister and trawling through clips of Olly on The Alan Titchmarsh Show to create a terrifying ‘deep fake’ hybrid. Is misinformation the future of news? And can AI services like Lyrebird and Resemble contribute something positive to the world of podcasting?

If YOU would like to suggest a trend for Ollie to test out, fill out our Feedback form now.

Elsewhere, Alix Fox kicks off the one hundredth edition of The Foxhole with THE perennial penile puzzler: can pumps or pills give you greater length and girth down-below?

She meets the man behind one of the world’s most popular extenders, and considers whether, sometimes, size concerns aren’t just about ‘locker room syndrome’, but may be a healthy expression of kink.

If YOU have a question of sex for Alix to answer in a future edition of the show, just fill in our Feedback form - you can remain anonymous if you wish.

Music this episode comes from Cavetown, with his charming song ‘Things That Make It Warm’; indisputably our first record of the month about birds building nests:

Remember, The Modern Mann is an entirely independent podcast, funded in part by your generous donations. If you’ve enjoyed our first one hundred episodes for free, and can afford to give financially to the show, follow the links 👇. Thanks!

DONATE! Moonclerk // PayPal

See you for our next edition on 1st Feb.

Happy New Year!

This episode is sponsored by Thriva, the health-tracking finger prick blood test you do at home. Get 50% off your first kit by visiting Thriva.co and using the code Mann50.

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…

LISTEN: Apple // Spotify // MP3 // RSS // TuneIn

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.

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Ten and tagged christmas.

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…

LISTEN 👇

🎄 MP3

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

🎄Spotify

🎄 Apple Podcasts

🎄 TuneIn

🎄 Stitcher

🎄 RSS

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.

MORE XMAS FUN...

9/9 - Christmas in the Vicarage

3/9 - Mr Panto

1/9 - Being Santa Claus

DONATE

WRITE IN

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Ten and tagged christmas.

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…

LISTEN NOW:

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?

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

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.

FEEDBACK

DONATE

MANNBASSADORS