11/7 - I Invented Friends Reunited

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Four years before Facebook, long before anyone knew what ‘social networking’ was, Julie Pankhurst had an idea...

What if, without trawling through message-boards or working your way through The Phone Book, you could reconnect with all your old school friends, via one simple database?

Friends Reunited rapidly became one of Britain’s biggest ever start-ups, attracting 23m users at its peak, and a reputation for reigniting old flames.

In her first ever podcast interview, Julie reveals to Olly how a family separation inspired her invention, why she’s spent the last twenty years shunning the limelight, and how rival bidders tried to woo her - before she and husband Steve sold the company for £120m.

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Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Julie recommends the programme provided by Overcoming MS. 

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Meanwhile, in this month’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart explores Britain’s burgeoning love affair with e-bikes.

Can bone conducting technology alleviate the tedium of his two-wheeled commute? Why does a premium pedal-assist bicycle cost the same as a car? And was it really wise to chuck out all his lycra?

If YOU have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to test out on the show, just fill out our Feedback form.

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Elsewhere, in this month’s Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener who fears his wife is addicted to sexting.

What are the best ways to save their relationship? Should a text-only ‘affair’ be considered an act of betrayal? And, if you’re addicted to sexting, how can you give up?

Alix discussed the nature of addiction with Dr Suzi Gage, whose book Say Why To Drugs is out now, and sex and relationships therapist Sarah Berry. 

If YOU have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer on the show, fill in our Feedback form - you can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Our record of the month is the gorgeous ‘Roman Candles’ by Dizzy, freshly available to add to your Summer playlists NOW:

You can listen back to every tune we’ve ever played in our special Spotify playlist here.

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BEER MONEY: In these uncertain times, it is YOUR SUPPORT of this show that makes it possible for us to still make you a fresh new podcast each month - please DONATE if you can. Just fill out our secure form here.

Wanna be a Mannbassador? Buy us a beer, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - and then drop us a line and tell us about yourself.

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Stay safe, keep well, and we’ll see you with something new on August 1st!

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11/6 - The Night Before The Meeting

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Lottie Woods. Photo: Josh John.

Lottie Woods was in her early twenties when she was sent, alone, to meet a powerful buyer for a high street fashion brand in Guangzhou, China.

They went out for a drink. The next morning, they had a meeting. In this interview with Olly, she recounts what happened in between.

Along the way, she reveals the pressures of designing garments for the ‘fast fashion’ sector, the challenges of raising ethical standards, and the fallout from one fateful evening in a country she didn’t know, in a language she couldn’t speak.

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Lottie is now a freelance designer, working with ethical brands, and blogs about slow fashion and sustainable awareness at intotheeco.com

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Meanwhile, in this month’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart takes his first awkward steps into the world of videogame development. 

Is a month long enough for him to develop a story that’s ‘credible, coherent and dramatically meaningful’? Has the opportunity afforded by a sprained ankle and a third month of lockdown given him enough time to to make a genuinely playable 2D platformer?

(Spoiler: yes. PLAY THE MAC VERSION NOW!).

Thanks to ‘sprite’ designer Mr Gordo, Unity’s ‘Global Head of Evangelism Content’ Mike Geig, and online videos from Brakeys and Code Monkey for helping Ollie on his journey.

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The Zeitgeist is remote-recorded on fabulous Yeti X microphones provided by our sponsors, Blue Microphones. Get yours here.

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Elsewhere, in this month’s Foxhole, Alix Fox has advice on Zoom-based dating, ‘Buddha machines’, lockdown libidos and low-effort BDSM for those who fancy an X-rated session but need to catch some ZZZzzzs.

Such enquiries this month led her to consult professional Dominants Master Dominic and Moira Mona, and also the advice issued by the Faculty for Sexual and Reproductive Health for those using Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives, like coils and implants, during the Covid crisis.

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Our record of the month is ‘Begin Again’, by Mercury-nominated songwriter Nick Mulvey. It’s part of an EP of the same name, released on June 5th.

If YOU have a story you would like to share on the show, do what Lottie did - fill out our Feedback form. It’s the same form to use if you’d like to suggest a trend for Ollie to test, have a sex question for Alix, or have any ‘matters arising from the minutes’ you’d like Olly to address in the Intro. You can remain anonymous if you like.

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BEER MONEY: In these uncertain times, it is YOUR SUPPORT of this show that makes it possible for us to still make you a fresh new podcast each month - please DONATE if you can. Just fill out our secure form here.

Wanna be a Mannbassador? Buy us a beer, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - and then drop us a line and tell us about yourself.

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Stay safe, keep well, and we’ll see you with something new on July 1st!

If you have been affected by the issues raised in our middle feature - know that there is always someone you can talk to in confidence. A good place to start is Safeline.

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11/5 - How To Be A Dad, Part 6

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‘Sometimes I am guilty of inventing games where I get to lay down’

Comedians Tom Price and Stuart Goldsmith reunite with Olly to compare parenting notes - this time, in lockdown...

Can they turn mundane household tasks into games? What kids’ TV shows are best avoided? And how DO you explain the pandemic to a four year-old?

Olly, Toby & Harvey

Wilfred, Edmund & Tom

Stuart & baby detritus

In this laugh-out-loud, typically honest encounter, our trio of Dads share stories and support each other through a uniquely challenging milestone on their journeys through fatherhood.

Catch up with the previous five conversations in our ‘How To Be A Dad’ series HERE.

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For even more from Tom and Stu, subscribe to their podcasts:

• Tom pores over the Amazon purchase histories of his guests in ‘My Mate Bought A Toaster’ - and a certain Olly Mann is his most recent victim.

• Stu’s show, ‘The Comedian’s Comedian’, features in-depth interviews with the nation’s favourite stand-ups.

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Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart turns his hand to making ‘luxury products’ at home, using ingredients sourced and foraged from around his house in Dorchester.

Listen along as Olly unboxes a special delivery of Mr P’s best efforts -

caramel chocolates, ‘accidental' tumeric bath bombs, a ‘Modern Mann’ sourdough loaf, cherry blossom-scented loo roll, and Stinging Nettle Pasta. It’s quite the ride.

Thanks to John the Poacher for his help with Ollie’s foraging quest.

If YOU have a suggestion of a trend Ollie can test - whilst maintaining social distancing of course - reach out via our Feedback form.

'pasta'

chocolates

bath bombs

'toilet paper'. (Seriously).

This month’s edition of the Zeitgeist is sponsored by Blue Microphones - we used their incredible Yeti X model, yours for only £159. 

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener who wonders whether CBD-enhanced lubricants can ‘get her vagina stoned’.

Alix consulted Kathie Bishop, herbalist and founder of Into The Wylde; Daye, a female-founded company who make the world’s first clinically-validated CBD tampons; ‘Cannasexual’ specialist Ashley Manta; sex educator Chelsea Cebara of Velvet Swing and ‘supersoaker’ Lola Jean, who’s been experimenting with Foria CBD arousal oil.

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

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Our Record of the Month is the super-funky ‘Take Back The Track’, from The Magic Gang. It’s available to stream now - with a great Zoom-inspired music video also begging to be seen:

Wanna be a Mannbassador? Buy us a beer, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - and then send us an email to tell us about yourself. 

In these uncertain times, it is YOUR SUPPORT of this show that makes it possible for us to still make you a fresh new podcast each month - please DONATE if you can.

Stay safe, keep well, and we’ll see you with something new on June 1st!

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This episode is supported by Beer52. To get a free crate of eight delicious beers, a snack and a magazine, delivered straight to your door, visit Beer52.com/Modern.

11/4 - In The Crowd

‘Music is stronger than any antibiotic, any medicine. It can lift you out of anything.’

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Blaine Harrison, lead singer of Mystery Jets, is also a ‘property guardian’, who lives and works in the capital’s empty commercial premises.

For a while, the entire floor of an office block on London’s Strand was his home. Each weekend he had a front-row seat as NHS marches, Brexit protests, Extinction Rebellion demos and Tommy Robinson rallies made their way past his window. 

Olly Mann and Blaine Harrison, the Brainyard, March 2020

In this thoughtful interview with Olly, he explains how what he saw on the streets inspired his songwriting.

Mystery Jets’ new album, A Billion Heartbeats, is released April 3.

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Recording The Zeitgeist remotely with our Blue Yeti X mics.

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart considers how the current lockdown has prompted an unlikely rebirth for retro-gaming, VR, quiz apps and even ancient gaming platform Second Life. There’s also some chat about deckchair storage... 

If you have a suggestion of a trend Ollie can test - from his home in Dorchester, for now - get in touch via our Feedback form.

Thanks to our sponsors, Blue Microphones: we recorded this edition of the Zeitgeist on their Yeti X mics.

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener who wants to know what issues may present themselves if he sources the HIV prevention drug PrEP from online suppliers based abroad. 

Alix consulted with the activist team at PrEPster, IWantPrepNow and Terrence Higgins Trust, and, for more about this topic, highly recommends checking out the work of Nathaniel Hall – who wrote a compelling play about contracting HIV via his very first sexual encounter – and following Jason Domino on Twitter.

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

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Our Record of the Month is Bittersweet by Lianne La Havas - and, if you like it, get ready for the album, which drops 5th June:

There’s more Mann-endorsed music on our Spotify playlist here.
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Wanna be a Mannbassador? Buy us a beer, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - and then send us an email to tell us about yourself. 

Got a question for our How To Be A Dad episode, out May 1st? Fill out our Feedback form and send it in now for Olly, Tom and Stu to answer.

Stay safe, keep well, and we’ll see you next month. x

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This episode is supported by Beer52. To get a free crate of eight delicious beers, a snack and a magazine, delivered straight to your door, visit Beer52.com/Modern.

11/3 - My Dad Was Defrauded

Scammers took £160,000 from Nick’s father in just eighteen months.

He believed, in return, they’d send him gold, or stocks and shares, or even come to his home in Cyprus and begin a relationship with him. Instead, they just kept the cash.

In a reflective, revelatory conversation with Olly, Nick recounts how he confronted his Dad, to prevent him burning through his pension - and the moment he realised not all was as it seemed…

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Continuing the financial theme, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. If he saves 50% of his earnings, can Ollie live on his passive income?

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And, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from a rope bondage class - advises a listener who wants to squeeze and stretch her boobs in the bedroom, without causing any long-term damage.
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Music this month comes from Mann-fan Sebastian Schub (himself interviewed on the show in Sep 2019), with his excellent debut single, Paradise:

If you have a story to share in a future edition of the show, a challenge to set Ollie, or a question of sex for Alix, just get in touch via our Feedback form.

If you’d like to be a Mannbassador, just buy us a beer or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and follow-up with an email to tell us about yourself.

The Modern Mann is an independent podcast, and we rely on listener contributions to continue. If you can afford to support us financially, please send us a donation - we massively appreciate it.

We’ll see you with something new on April 1st!

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This episode is supported by Beer52. To get a free crate of ten delicious beers delivered straight to your door, visit Beer52.com/Modern.