The Modern Mann

Olly Mann

4.8 (77)
PERSONAL JOURNALS
UPDATED MONTHLY

Olly Mann brings you a monthly selection of incredible life stories, tests out the latest trends, and answers your relationship questions - with Alix Fox, Ollie Peart and guests. 'Best Interview Podcast', British Podcast Awards. New episodes on the 10th. Reach out or buy us a beer at https://modernmann.co.uk.

21 HRS AGO

Please Kill My Pet

What does it mean to give a pet a “good death”? Dr Caroline Flicker was Britain’s first vet to specialise in at-home palliative and end-of-life care. After three decades of home visits - caring for thousands of dying animals and the families who love them - she tells Olly why wagging tails and healthy appetites can mask profound suffering, why families so often disagree about “the right time”, and why pets experience death very differently from humans. From helping kids say goodbye to beloved pets to navigating the ethics of assisted dying, this is a thought-provoking conversation about grief, responsibility, and the emotional bond between humans and animals. Caroline practices across London. Find out more at pallivet.com _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend toward self-appointed ‘street patrols’. With groups like Safeguard Force and Essex Spartans promising to “take back” local communities, are these high-vis heroes filling the gaps left by shrinking police numbers… or creating new problems of their own? And when patrol groups start looking and sounding increasingly official, where exactly is the line between community support and vigilante justice? _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox ponders the etiquette of unexpectedly bumping into a colleague at a BDSM club! If your workmate spots you in latex while they’re getting their balls zapped by a dominatrix, should you acknowledge it… ignore it… or pretend the whole thing never happened? Alix consults London fetish educator and professional dominant Master Peter, and considers why what happens in the dungeon really should stay in the dungeon… _____________ Finally, our record of the month is 'Lucky Again' - from Lykke Li’s new album The Afterparty, available now. _____________ If you’ve got a letter for Olly, a relationships question for Alix, or a challenge for Ollie, please head to our website (where you can also donate to the show 🙏): https://modernmann.co.uk And/or join our Discord here. _____________ Thanks for listening - and we’ll see you on June 10th. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Dr Caroline Flicker, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Lykke Li. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 26min
26 APR

Playback: The Knock At The Door

Teaching English in Beijing seemed like a great opportunity for Welsh graduate Glen Williams, who had previously spent time studying in China. He could brush up on his Mandarin, work with kids… and earn up to £3k per month, tax free. The hitch? The agency that placed him told him that every three months, he’d need to spend the weekend in Seoul - a ‘visa trip’ that, he soon discovered, was commonplace amongst ex-pat EFL teachers. Then, one day, they changed their tune. “If the Police ask you”, they said, “tell them you sell whiteboards”. In this interview with Olly, Glen reveals what happened next… This episode first aired in August 2021. Now remastered and with an update from Glen, we're replaying this interview after this month's feature with Cheryl Bennett. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

33 min
10 APR

My Deepfake Nightmare

Cheryl Bennett doesn’t follow politics. But when her colleague said he was standing in local elections, she agreed to help deliver leaflets. Within days, doorbell video footage was circulating online, in which Cheryl could be seen calling prospective voters “f***ing P***s”. Cheryl had never said such words, but wasn’t sure anyone believed her. After being posted by an independent candidate for West Midlands mayor - ‘TikTok lawyer’ Akhmed Yakoob - the deepfake went viral, receiving over two million views across TikTok, Facebook and X. Cheryl was sent death threats. Police were sent to her house to arrest her. She was forced into hiding. Her career as a PE teacher was put on hold. And, even after the video was proven to be an AI distortion, she is still feeling the consequences years later. In her first podcast interview, Cheryl tells Olly how her world turned upside down - all because she did a favour for a friend… Content warning: racist language, suicidal ideation. _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for prediction betting - in which users buy and sell "Yes/No" shares on a variety of weird and wonderful real-world outcomes. How much money can a Mannfan make with a $100 trade? How do services like Kalshi and Polymarket differ from conventional trading markets? And why aren’t they legal in the UK? _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox assists a Mannfan whose libido has RISEN following the death of his wife. It may seem counter-intuitive that an intense and devastating bereavement would leave you feeling horny - but it’s a well-established phenomenon, known to counsellors as ‘Widow’s Fire’! With the help of Nicky Wake, founder of Chapter 2 (a dating and community app designed specifically for widows and widowers), Alix discovers the world of post-grief sex… _____________ Finally, our record of the month is James Blake’s new one: aptly enough, called Trying Times… _____________ If you’ve got a letter for Olly, a relationships question for Alix, or a challenge for Ollie, please head to our website (where you can also donate to the show 🙏): https://modernmann.co.uk And/or you can join our Discord here. _____________ Thanks for listening - and we’ll see you on May 10th. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Cheryl Bennett, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, James Blake. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 41min
30 MAR

Playback: The REAL California Schemin'

The amazing true story behind James McAvoy's directorial debut feature: Olly Mann sits down with Gavin Bain, one half of Silibil 'n' Brains⁠, the Californian rap group that never was. "Sometimes you have to be other people to become who you are." Best mates with Eminem, signed by Sony, and on the verge of international superstardom, Silibil 'n' Brains were the music industry's Next Big Thing. There was just one problem: they'd never been to California. They were from Dundee. In this extraordinary interview with Olly, Gavin Bain - who, as Brains Mcloud, was one half of the hip hop duo - recalls how a heady mix of humiliation, desperation and sheer chutzpah lead him to fool the entire music industry - and brought him to the brink. This interview first aired in 2017, under the title, The Confidence Trick. Now remastered, we're republishing this episode to coincide with the new feature film, California Schemin', released on April 10th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52 min
10 MAR

I Want My Kids Back

When Karina Graham’s children were removed from her care, social services did not step in with support. Instead, she was left to recover from her alcohol addiction alone. To form functional relationships with her sons’ foster parents. And to heal from this intensely traumatic moment. But that still wasn’t enough to get her boys back… In this frank, raw conversation with Olly, Karina recounts how her life’s been affected by domestic abuse; why she found herself turning to drink and drugs; and what happens when a reformed mum fights the system to reunite with her family. Karina is an advocate for Pause, a national charity that works to improve the lives of women who have had – or are at risk of having – more than one child removed from their care, and the services and systems that affect them. To find out more, visit https://pause.org.uk —----- Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart freeloads his way to consumer nirvana. With the help of services like Olio, Freecycle, the Library of Things and Magic Freebies, how many free products can he add to his bag of swag? And is the trend for using and abusing multiple free trials now OVER? —----- Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from discovering some staggering stats about prolactin production - provides a brief history of ‘pegging’. A term coined by advice columnist Dan Savage, the activity of strap-on play itself likely goes way back to ancient times, with references appearing in Greek theatre and even the Kama Sutra. But what was a ‘peg boy’? How did a well-circulated 1980s VHS add to the practice? And is it still called pegging when it’s between two men or two women? Alix, as ever, has the answers… —----- Finally, our hand-picked record of the month, ‘Generation Left On Read’, comes from Murkage Dave (ft Konopinsky). Enjoy! —----- If you’ve got a letter for Olly, a relationships question for Alix, or a challenge for Ollie, please head to our website (where you can also donate to the show 🙏): https://modernmann.co.uk And/or you can join our Discord here. Thanks for listening - and we’ll see you on April 10th. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Karina Graham, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Murkage Dave. Producer: Matt Hill. Thanks: Sounddelivery Media. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 34min
27 FEB

Playback: I Need To Lie Down

Professional dancer Raquel Meseguer had back surgery at the age of thirty, to treat chronic neuropathic pain. But, it didn’t alleviate her symptoms. In this insightful interview with Olly, she explains how this bombshell has impacted upon the daily practicalities of her life, why she doesn’t feel welcome in our ‘vertical culture’, and how well-meaning members of the public have repeatedly shamed her for committing the cardinal sin of... lying down. This episode first aired in April 2018 under the title, Cloudspotting. Now remastered and with a 2026 update from Raquel, we've paired this with our most recent interview: Trapped In The Rubble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

37 min
10 FEB

Trapped In The Rubble

An earthquake of 6.9 magnitude rocked Morocco’s Atlas Mountains in September 2023, causing around 3,000 fatalities. For six hours, British tourist Robbie Greatrex was trapped in the rubble; unable to feel his legs, unsure he would emerge alive. Locals clubbed together in the rescue effort, improvising tools from what came to hand. The prognosis was not good. In this compelling conversation with Olly, Robbie recounts his agonising rescue, his complex surgeries and his long road to recovery. He explains why his experience left him shaken but not angry; how he got himself through the hardest moments in the disaster’s aftermath; and why you should *always* buy travel insurance… —------- Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at ‘vibe coding’. With a carefully-crafted series of AI prompts, can he create a functional web app from scratch? And, if he can, what does that say for the future of web design and computer coding? Ollie has a warning for the currently complacent… —------- Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox, fresh from discovering exciting news about her future prospects, is on-hand for a listener whose sex life is troubled by his wife's UTI. How can you get back to bedroom fun when a urinary tract infection is interfering between the sheets? Can UTIs be passed on to your partner? And what new tests and techniques are there to diagnose and treat this common, yet sometimes devastating, complaint? —------- Finally, music comes from Japanese singer-songwriter Joji, and his melancholic new single, ‘Love You Less’. Yum! —------- We'll be back with a brand new episode on March 10th. In the meantime, please do tell your friends about our independent show: review us on this here podcast platform, and, if you can afford to, donate to the production by clicking ‘beer money’ at modernmann.co.uk Thanks! ❤️Olly Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Robbie Greatrex, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Joji. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 38min
30 JAN

Playback: Serving The Super-Rich

There are more billionaires than ever. Rockstars. Oil tycoons. Internet entrepreneurs. And all of them - all of them - employ private staff. The age of Jeeves and Wooster may be over, but the demand for a dependable butler remains. Lawrence McKenna has been serving the super-rich for three decades, including stints in private suites in London's poshest hotels and the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. In this interview with Olly, he reveals how to remain invisible yet available; poised to deliver whatever a ‘principal’ desires, from obscure coffee beans to a mid-coital cuppa. He explains how to carry a plate, when to say ‘yes’ and when to simply say ‘it can be done’, and how to prepare *just chilled* mineral water to the taste of a Saudi trillionaire... This episode first aired in 2017 - we're playing it again to compliament Alok Sama's interview this month: The Banker, The Billionaire, and the Big Lie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min

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TRAILER

This... is The Modern Mann

Amazing, original true stories, trends and relationship advice from the multi-award winning podcaster Olly Mann. Plus a record of the month. What's not to like? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17/05/2024

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1 min

Alix Fox

Host
Ollie Peart

Host
Olly Mann

Host

4.8

out of 5

77 Ratings

Fabulous show

05/12/2023

BadRobotMe

I’ve been following Olly Mann since his AMT days and was so pleased he has created this show. The magazine format of the show is different and Ollie has an amazing way of speaking to his guests allowing them to tell their story - and they are all different. Some funny, some sad, some unbelievable feats of survival, but always reflecting the humanity of the person involved. Ollie Peart has really come into his own with the trends and it is always enjoyable listening to the banter. The only warning is when Alice Fox leads you down the foxhole - no topic is taboo - and little ears should probably not be near. But boy oh boy, have I learnt a thing or too. And Alicia treats all questions with warm respect and humour.
Great show

02/07/2021

alicat57

Found Olly through “Answer me this” another great show. Not sorry I came to check him out the show is very funny and informative. Kind of like a small magazine
Always interesting

14/03/2021

LJ Mack

A great informative podcast, sometimes need to be careful where I’m listening to it for Alix Fox’s segment 🤣
Favourite podcast. Full stop.

10/09/2019

Madeinoz1975

Enjoying the new monthly format - anticipation is definitely high for each episode. Love listening to the content and it is refreshing to hear real, honest stories with questions normally avoided. Also, enjoy the random stuff done by Ollie P and the horizon expanding content of Alix Fox. Well done and thanks!

Olly Mann brings you a monthly selection of incredible life stories, tests out the latest trends, and answers your relationship questions - with Alix Fox, Ollie Peart and guests. 'Best Interview Podcast', British Podcast Awards. New episodes on the 10th. Reach out or buy us a beer at https://modernmann.co.uk.