The Modern Mann Olly Mann

Paul Watson realised he would never play football for England - so attempted, instead, to be recruited by the worst international team in the world. His quest lead him to Pohnpei, Micronesia; and, although he never realised his dream of becoming an international soccer star, he ended up coaching them instead... 
What's it like training a team 9000 miles away from home, in a country with no football culture? What is the beautiful game's secret at bringing communities together? And how can one recover after a defeat against the Guam Crushers?
This interview first aired in 2017 - hear the full episode here - now remastered with new sound design, we've paired with our latest episode, I ₿ought A Football Club.
Paul wrote a brilliant book about his adventures, Up Pohnpei, which you can buy here. Thanks to Mannfan Tom Cotton for suggesting Paul as a guest - if you have an idea for a future edition of the show, just get in touch using our Feedback form.
Paul's two podcasts are:

The Sweeper: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sweeper-a-world-football-podcast/id1557926870


False Economy: https://shows.acast.com/false-economy



PLUS get your free case of wine NOW: https://wine52.com/mann
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter McCormack, Bedford’s ‘budget Ryan Reynolds’, is on a mission to take his local team all the way to the Premier League ⚽️

When he bought Bedford FC in 2021, they were in the tenth tier, and unknown outside the town. 

After rebranding them as Real Bedford, securing investment from the Winklevoss twins, and internationalising his business model, the Bitcoin guru has achieved back-to-back promotions for his club - despite having zero experience in professional football.

How has he done it? With a mix of chutzpah, arrogance, planning and perseverance… as he explains to Olly in this compelling, funny and insightful interview.
_______

Meanwhile, in a French-flavoured edition of The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trends taking Paris by storm, including Loop earbuds, androgynous fashion, and, erm, a giant croissant 🥐

Can French chef Philippe Conticini’s coffee shops conquer Britain? Will London’s trend for hipster Pétanque spread across the country? And what does the French election tell us about the City hosting the Olympics? Ollie reveals all…   
_______

Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox chomps down on an English culinary classic, and asks if, in the age of the hook-up app, casual sex can transcend perceptions of being transactional and meaningless 🏩 

Is it possible to find a ‘vanilla’, non-kinky partner, who isn’t seeking a long-term relationship? And might seemingly niche apps like Feeld and Fab Swingers provide the answer? Alix investigates…
_______

Meanwhile, music this month comes from lo-fi American popstress Clairo, and her 70s-influenced Summer single, ‘Sexy To Someone’ 📀
_______

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
We’re an independent podcast and only exist thanks to your donations. THANK YOU. 
🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer
_______

JOIN OUR DISCORD! 
100 Mannfans and counting! Sign up:
➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72
_______
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
_______

… and we’ll see you on August 10th 📅

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Peter McCormack, Clairo. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2024
_______

🍷This episode is supported by Wine52, bringing beautiful wines from around the world to your door. Get your free case now and support the show at https://wine52.com/mann
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the Brexit referendum in 2017, Wes Streeting had only been an MP for two years... and had won two elections in as many years. In this month's Playback, we take you back to that time - away from the election spin of 2024 - to understand the man most likely to be Britain's new health secretary.
Would you be an MP, at a time when public trust in politicians has fallen to the lowest level in living memory? Could you dedicate yourself to your constituents, yet also make time for your family, fighting fires on social media and keeping the media on-side? 
Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North since 2015, entered the fray in time to experience the Brexit vote, the murder of his colleague Jo Cox, and the Palace of Westminster coming under terrorist attack. 
In this candid interview with Olly, he lifts the lid on day-to-day life as a young MP in the House of Commons, from his experiences adapting to the weird traditions of voting and speaking in the House, to the perils of navigating Westminster’s gossipy backstairs bars and their modern-day digital equivalents on WhatsApp...
Like politics beyond the headlines? Then discover what it's like on the campaign trail, as Olly spends a month with Lib Dem candidate Layla Moran for the 2019 election: https://www.modernmann.co.uk/new/candidate
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sex scenes are a feature of modern filmmaking, yet require meticulous planning and sensitive handling in a post-#MeToo world. 
Enter intimacy coordinator Lucy Fennell - whose credits include True Detective, All Of Us Strangers, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Navigating Hollywood power dynamics, she assists storytellers, whilst also protecting performers in their vulnerable moments. 
In this eye-opening conversation with Olly, she reveals the techniques that prevent unwanted physical contact during simulated sex, explains how male and female directors sometimes react differently to her presence on-set, and considers what happens if and when an actor gets an erection…
_______
Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates BookTok, the TikTok subculture where users share book recommendations and reviews. 
How significant has its impact been on the publishing industry? How has BookTok revived interest in older books? And can it be manipulated?
With the help of Literary Death Match’s Suzanne Azzopardi and creative consultant Miriam Robertson, Ollie reveals all… and puts their advice to the test. 
Armed with a Ladybird classic, can Ollie establish a BookTok presence, self-publish his own opus (generated by AI, of course), and become the next Colleen Hoover?
_______
Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox fails to find out why comedian Sofie Hagen hasn’t had sex for eight years, but comprehensively answers a complex listener question: How does one train to become a sex therapist?
With the help of Jo Coker, Director of Therapy and Training Standards at COSRT, sex educator Gigi Engle, sex and relationship coach Lucy Rowett, and therapist Chantal Gautier, Alix unpicks the demanding training process psychosexual therapists undergo; discovers the broad range of issues their clients can present with; and explains why therapists must manage their own biases and emotional reactions to provide effective support.
_______
Finally, our Record of the Month showcases the soulful vibes of Jaz Karis, with her sultry Summer single ‘Tequila’, feat. Reekado Banks.  
_______
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
We’re an independent podcast. We’re professionals. We only exist thanks to your financial contributions. THANK YOU. 
🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer
_______
JOIN OUR DISCORD! 
Olly is going to be answering your questions this month over on our Discord server. Sign up and join the MannFan community:
➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72
_______
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
_______
… and we’ll see you on July 10th!
Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Lucy Fennell, Jaz Karis. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2024.
_______
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED 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 https://readly.com/mann


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s it like when the person you’re closest to in the world isn't who you think they are?
Elizabeth* spent a year dating a man who provided only sketchy details about his life, but ingratiated himself into her friendship circle, her family and her home.
In this interview with Olly, she reveals how it felt to discover he was living a double-life, and how it’s affected her trust ever since...
This episode first appeared in March 2017. Now with an update from Elizabeth and remastered, we have paired this episode with our May 2024 episode, My Real Identity. Go listen now!
*we have changed her name to protect her identity
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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