The Modern Mann

Claustrophobia, panic attacks, and hyperventilation can feel even more acute at 35,000 feet. Perhaps that’s why some aviophobics never get as far as buying plane tickets, and spend a lifetime making awkward train journeys instead. Anna P - Team Leader on Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Without Fear course - says she can help passengers with even the most debilitating nerves overcome their fears. And she should know. As she reveals to Olly and journalist Rebecca Gillie in this candid chat, she once herself suffered from extreme anxiety. After one traumatic experience, she didn’t board a flight for eighteen years. Find out more about Anna’s course at flyingwithoutfear.co.uk. You can also hear more of Rebecca talking to Olly on ‘The Week Unwrapped’, wherever you find your podcasts. Elsewhere, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has returned from Europe’s largest VR experience with a spanking new Oculus Go. But the future, he maintains, is not in gaming and synthesised rollercoasters, but instead in Melody VR’s live m

With zero experience running a professional kitchen, home cook Robert Maxwell poured his life savings into his passion project: a gastropub-inspired Toronto restaurant. It became a crash-course in coping with stress, managing his cashflow, and curbing his ego. In this funny, forthright interview with Olly, Robert reveals how chasing his dream led to him selling his house, hitting the bottle and falling out of love with the thing he loved the most... cooking. Meanwhile, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart considers whether or not he is a B.U.M.M.E.R after reading Jaron Lanier’s new book, ‘Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now’. If you have a Challenge for Ollie, visit MODERNMANN.CO.UK and click ‘Feedback’ to submit your idea. Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from co-hosting Radio 1’s new podcast ‘Unexpected Fluids’ - advises a Mann-fan on the best techniques for couples to get jiggy… when you’re both fat. If YOU have a question of sex for Ms. Fox, visit MODERNMANN.CO.UK

Ben Ryan’s two year-old son, Sol, was born with a blood clot in his arm. Following amputation, the medical advice was to wait until Sol’s third birthday before fitting a prosthetic that grabs. But former psychology teacher Ben saw the developmental benefit of acting much sooner... In this astonishing interview with Olly, he recalls his rollercoaster of emotions when Sol was born; the sponge ‘arm’ he initially botched together with cotton wool and Micropore tape; and how he learned to use 3D printing and CAD software to help Sol and other children around the world. Ben’s business, Ambionics, involves parents in early rehabilitation and ultimately aims to develop printable hydraulic arms for babies at low clinical cost. He’s a finalist in the 2018 Nesta Inventor Prize, and is currently seeking more funding. Discover more at amibionics.co.uk. Meanwhile, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the real meaning of his SMS exchanges with Olly, using ‘texting relationship analyzer’ app Crushh; tests out S

Former investment banker Nicola Lewis likes to organise. Which is just as well, because the demand for decluttering has never been higher. Her clients might be coping with a bereavement, and the resultant truckload of unwanted furniture; or just moving house after decades of unintentional hoarding. As she explains to Olly in this laid-back chat, Nicola's skills lie in helping folks decide what to keep, what to donate, and what to throw out… You can discover more at thisgirlcanorganise.com. Elsewhere this episode, Ollie Peart returns from trying his hand at a spoken word evening to flag up this week’s trends in The Zeitgeist. To wit: the return of the bucket hat, and a revival in passive-view telly… in an internet browser. Meanwhile, in this week’s Foxhole, Alix Fox considers the internal workings of the clitoris, and whether a trans-man’s clit might continue to expand inside his body as a result of taking testosterone. (The Foxhole is, as ever, proudly sponsored by our friends at MyCondom.com. Remember to use

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. If you’d like to find out more about Raquel’s quest to establish a network of public resting spaces, visit uncharteredcollective.com In this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart ponders the emergence of trendy ‘microbrands’ on Instagram, reveals a surprising sensitivity to salt, and undertakes a challenge to test the best recipe boxes on the market. (On the list: Hello Fresh, Gousto, Mindful Chef, Born And Bred and Bakedin). Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox is back on Bumble but avoiding ‘The Tinder Trance’, and ready to advise a listener keen to explore the world of

Being in a band - on a world tour - is the stuff rock n roll dreams are made of. But the modern reality is a corporate concern, involving hundreds of people, all separated from their families. Surviving is an art in itself. Tom Meadows is a freelance drummer who's worked with Girls Aloud, Duffy, Leona Lewis, and - for the past nine years - Kylie Minogue. What are his top tips to keeping your cool when you're out on the road? And to what extent does he think Pink Floyd's 'Ten Commandments of Touring' mantra stacks up in the modern era? Elsewhere this week, Ollie Peart - standing beneath a mid-sized billboard of his own face - champions 'FaceGyms', and mines his own data with typical journalistic rigour. If you have a challenge for Ollie or a trend you'd like him to explore in next week's Zeitgeist, get in touch via our Feedback page at ModernMann.co.uk Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox recounts how a list-based podcast brought her together with Gail Porter, and advises a male listener who wants to spend mo

Demeaning, poorly paid and tedious: life as an Order Picker in Amazon’s ‘fulfilment centre’ in Rugeley, Staffordshire was a draining, revelatory ordeal for writer James Bloodworth, who worked there undercover in 2016. In this enlightening interview with Olly, he reveals how being an ‘associate’ in Amazon’s warehouse meant enduring ten-hour shifts, tethered to an electronic device, walking up to fifteen miles per day; treated with suspicion, and effectively paid under the minimum wage. (James’s book, ‘Hired: Six Months Undercover In Low-Wage Britain’, is out now). In this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has news of the return of the mullet, is concerned with how technology is corrupting our memories - and triumphantly answers his challenge to spend £100 on displaying his face somewhere impressive… in Slough. Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox explains why the law needs to change regarding ‘upskirting’, how your beard could carry an STI, and advises a listener seeking stealthy, quiet ‘battery-operated boyfrien

Manny Waks was 11 years old when he was first sexually abused. Raised in the ultra-Orthdaox sect of Judaism known as Chabad, he lacked the education or vocabulary to understand what was going on. By the time he was studying for his bar mitzvah, he was molested by a second perpetrator. Both men were members of staff at his school - the Yeshiva Centre in Melbourne, Australia. In this searingly honest, compelling and sometimes angry conversation with Olly, he recalls how he was groomed, abused, disbelieved, and shunned - and recounts the moment he decided, aged 18, to turn his back on Hasidic Judaism for ever - and join the Israeli Defense Force. (In 2013, Manny's second abuser, David Cyprys, was sentenced to eight years for sexually abusing Manny and eight other boys. Manny is now CEO of Kol v'Oz, established in Israel in 2016 to prevent child sexual abuse in Jewish communities globally. His book, ‘Who Gave You Permission?’, is out now). Elsewhere this week, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart explains why ‘battle ro

Why are movie trailers more beloved and enduring than other forms of advertising? How has the medium changed, to keep the video-game generation engaged? And what tricks do editors use to keep us watching, and returning to the flicks, week in week out? In this episode, editor Gareth Davies sits down with Olly to review some classic examples of the genre, and provides a masterclass in how to market a movie - from the choice of soundtrack, to navigating plot spoilers, and defining the right pace. You can watch all the film trailers discussed in the interview - Rear Window, Alien, Three Kings, A Serious Man and The One I Love - on our website, ModernMann.co.uk Elsewhere, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart uncovers a plot to sell Guy Fieri’s hair follicles, explains why Google opening up its Maps API could be a game-changer for game developers, and reports back on his challenge to find the perfect combination of words to make this podcast play on Apple Homepod, Amazon Echo and Google Home. If you have a challen

Ex-soldier Craig Jones escaped a brutal father and found solace in the natural world. Now a distinguished wildlife photographer and conservationist, the aftermath of his traumatic childhood and military training informs his approach. In this candid interview with Olly, he explains how his kinship with wild creatures has helped him survive, thrive and start afresh. Elsewhere, in this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart uncovers the secret world of 'millenialingo', explains why Basil Fawlty might feel at home in the world of self-driving cars, and reveals the results of his challenge to make £150 in one week of matched betting. If you have a challenge for Ollie to attempt, submit it via our website, modernmann.co.uk Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from swotting up on Norwegian vaginal trivia - considers a question of split condoms and unwelcome pregnancies. If you have a question of sex for Alix to answer on the show, submit it via our website, modernmann.co.uk - you can remain completely anonymous if y

On a bad day, what are you like to work for? When was the last time you felt professionally vulnerable? You’ve probably never been asked these questions in a job interview - but they’re bread-and-butter to executive headhunter Kathleen Saxton. In this conversation with Olly, she reveals the tricks she uses to ‘see through the professional mask’ to catch the eye of high-flying CEOs, ponders the future of workplace culture in an always-connected environment, and explains why employing a borderline psychopath isn’t *necessarily* a bad thing… Elsewhere, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - fresh from experiencing an ‘earthquake’ in Dorset - explores the deeply-felt nostalgia that surfaced on #PokemonDay, considers the benefits of living in the office, and updates us on his mission to live plastic free for a week. If you have a challenge for Ollie to attempt on a future edition, reach out at modernmann.co.uk/feedback. Meanwhile, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox has a jolly story about bacterial vaginosis, and much to

In his 20s, yet running a $50billion book, Kweku Adoboli had worked his way up the trading floor at the very point the market crashed. His actions wiped £2.7bn from the UBS share price, prompted the resignation of their chief executive - and got him a seven-year jail sentence for fraud. In this remarkable interview with Olly, he reveals a corporate culture of ‘wilful blindness’, explains how he fell foul of the UK’s hostile environment policy for migrants - and re-lives the moment he realised that, having taken responsibility for his actions, he would forever be known as Britain’s biggest ‘rogue trader’. (If you’d like to sign the petition to stop Kweku’s proposed deportation, you can do so here: http://bit.ly/2B9PgWD ) Elsewhere this week, Ollie Peart highlights ‘anonymous work talk’ app Blind, and the trend for ‘baby sculpting’ in gross-out cake baking. He also reports back on his attempts at ‘neuro-priming’. If you have a challenge for Ollie to try in The Zeitgeist, drop us a line at modernmann.co.uk/feed

Are you doing 'Dry January'? Experimenting with gluten-free snacks? Or stocking up on 'superfoods'? If so, Anthony Warner warns, you are, in fact, building up a damaging relationship with food, and should probably stop it, now... In this insightful interview with Olly, he takes on the bad science of the 'clean eating' movement, explains the reality of 'anti-oxidant' blueberries, and will make you think twice before you ever cook in coconut oil again. Elsewhere in our season finale, Ollie Peart - the man who predicted we’d all be wearing flared velvet by now - predicts the year ahead in this week's Zeitgeist: from metallic hair to Bitmoji, taking in backwards-looking technology and the threat of increasing earthquakes along the way. And, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - dismayed yet galvanised by a recent set of STI statistics - is on hand to advise a listener who wants to explore whether her husband should find sexual salvation with a transexual woman. (The Foxhole is sponsored, as ever, by our friends at mycondo

Tom Price and Stuart Goldsmith once again join Olly to compare notes on the perils of parenthood. Their sons are now coming up to two years old - but does that mean toddler tantrums ('the terrible twos') are about to become a way of life? And what does THAT mean for Christmas Day? In a typically frank and funny conversation, our trio of Dads tackle 'benign neglect', 'career lag', 'over-parenting', and the cult of Supernanny... Meanwhile, in this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart considers social media's grimmest question of 2017, suggests Ripple's XRP could be the next big thing in cryptocurrency, and gets a sneak preview of the new series of Black Mirror. Elsewhere, Alix Fox is emptying Santa's sack in our annual Christmas Foxhole Spectacular. On the menu this year: singalong dongs, mocha-flavoured lube and vibrators that look like bike lights. As ever, the fun is sponsored by our friends at mycondom.com, where you should use our exclusive discount code, FOXHOLE, to secure a superb 15% OFF. This week's Lifehack 

Wind speeds, planning restrictions, financial crisis... a lot can go wrong when designing a super-tall building. Yet, each year, more skyscrapers are springing up around us. Architect Fred Pilbrow, of Pilbrow and Partners, has designed a number of them, including London's third-tallest building, the Heron Tower. In this insightful interview with Olly, he explains how technology is solving problems of vertical transportation (that's 'lifts' to you and me), how Winter gardens offer an alternative to green space - and illustrates the journey of a poo as it makes its way down from the 65th floor...  Elsewhere, in this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart considers why this year's 'must-have' Christmas toy is, in effect, a slippery slope into gambling. He explains why dressing up as Batman might make you more productive at work. And he previews some big Christmas telly, including the season finale of Peaky Blinders and the return of Vic n' Bob. Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener with a seemingly unu

Best mates with Eminem, signed by Sony, and on the verge of international superstardom, Californian rap group 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... (Gavin's book, California Schemin', is out now - and you can find plenty of Sylibil N' Brains music on Spotify.) Elsewhere this week, Ollie Peart considers Uber's bid to prevent 'automovom' in this week's Zeitgeist. Also on the agenda: death on social media, Stephen Fry's sleep stories, hand massaging and hot baths... And, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from enlightening delegates at the Digital Freedom Festival - reveals the art of 'muffing', and answers the query of Mann-fan Pip, who's repulsed by

Andrew Ramroop OBE made his first pair of trousers whilst he was still in school shorts. At 17, he headed away from his home nation of Trinidad, gravitating towards London’s world-famous Savile Row. In this interview with Olly, he recalls how the racism he faced as a young tailor fuelled his career progression, and how he went on to create suits for Tony Curtis, Samuel L Jackson and Princess Diana. He also explains how, from a possible choice of 12,000 different fabric combinations, he could make YOU the perfect suit… (Andrew is the owner of Maurice Sedwell Ltd. Find them at 19 Savile Row W1, or online at savilerowtailor.com) Meanwhile, in this week’s Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart wonders whether real-time photo editing software will forever alter our perceptions of our own faces, and posits that live-streamed gameshow apps are the future of television. And, he spills the beans on his trip to Birmingham’s Comic-Con - dressed as his favourite cartoon character… Elsewhere, in this week’s Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from

Diving up to 700ft with no oxygen tank may seem like an extreme sport, but instructor Emma Farrell says freediving is more like a meditative state. Coaching Olly to hold his breath like an underwater explorer, she explains why she's never more relaxed than when she's 'one breath away from potential death'. Meanwhile, Ollie Peart - fresh from testing out 'Carrotea' on an unsuspecting culinary professional - considers the benefits of crowdfunded wearable air conditioning in this week's Zeitgeist; and reflects on the curious case of nature photographer David Slater. He also reports back on his challenge to try out aerial pilates - could now be the moment to bring it to Dorchester? Elsewhere, Alix Fox tries out binaural dinner dating and Liquid Silk lubricant in this week's Foxhole, and sets about myth-busting hymen-busting: is losing your virginity always painful? And, if both people in a couple are still virgins, is it necessary or relevant to get STI-tested before doing the deed? The Foxhole, as ever, is spons

Gavin Hay was a high-flying TV exec with a string of hits under his belt when he and his partner sold their production company for millions of pounds. Still only 42, he could have taken up golf, or skydiving. Instead, Gavin tried his hand at becoming a porn star... In this exclusive interview with Olly, he explains how he became 'Trojan Rock', the 'Daddy' who starred in such titles as Roid Rage, Hot And Sweaty: Men At Work, and Hairy Boyz 13. Elsewhere, in this week's Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has the low-down on artifically intelligent celebrities, Uber's experiment with flying cars, and the next drinks trend - which he likes to call 'Carrotea'. God help us all... Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox shares her passion for handmade ceramics, considers whether chakrubs are a thoughtful investment, and gets all hot and bothered about her new book.  The Foxhole is proudly sponsored by our sexy friends at MyCondom.com. Visit their excellent site for a superb range of protection, toys and lube, and use our special

The pollsters failed to predict Brexit, Trump and Theresa May's lost majority. But, in political circles, faith remains in one particular research technique: the focus group... Edelman's James Morris was an advisor at the Number 10 strategy unit under Tony Blair, and has advised international businesses including Virgin Media and Starbucks on reputation management.  In this insightful interview with Olly, he reveals how U-shaped rooms, open questions and gender dynamics all affect 'what we think we think' about political issues like climate change, leadership and immigration. Elsewhere, Ollie Peart considers the return of the turtle-neck and the boom in onion jewellery in this week's Zeitgeist. Plus, as his quest to become a true trends insider continues, he reveals how he fared in an ethical audit of his consumer habits, thanks to Ethical Consumer's Tim Hunt. (And if that's inspired you to get your own ethical audit done, check out ethicalconsumer.org). Meanwhile, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox investigates the