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Chris Moss has travelled the world. From Vancouver to El Salvador, Indonesia to Spitsbergen. But now… he wants you to visit Wolverhampton.Or Harwich. Or Gillingham. Britain’s bypassed towns that perhaps you’ve passed on the train, but never once got off at. In this entertaining chat with Olly, he explains why - after 37 years exploring Argentina and Patagonia - he now finds joy in a canal walk that ends under the M5, and a ham roll in a Victorian pub. How, if we look beyond the ‘crap towns’ stigma and dayglo shopfronts, up at our historic buildings and down at our cobbled streets, the UK’s second-tier conurbations have just as much to offer visitors as their tourist-swamped counterparts. Chris’s books, Where Tourists Seldom Tread: Postcards from Bypassed Britain, and Lancashire: Exploring the Historic County that Made the Modern World, are out now. _____________Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, the world is ending, and Ollie Peart is READY.Following this Summer's droughts and wildfires, the government wants us all to have a plan.But what kit does a sensible, mid-level prepper actually need? Which foodstuffs can actually survive an apocalypse? And how much loo roll is too much?Our team try out a £30 emergency shelter from Highlander, a wind-up solar radio from Roberts, and a bag of 25-year-shelf-life survival food from Readywise. Yum!Check out Ollie’s ultimate prep list HERE. _____________Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox is exploring ‘Locktober’, the annual challenge in which the nation’s kinksters lock up their knobs in chastity cages and hand over the keys to willing partners.Why is this fetish booming? Is there a safe way to imprison your g******s? And, if the thrill depends on a physical feeling of restriction, is it really ‘chastity’ at all?The Foxhole is sponsored by Huxi, who offer a 60 day, no questions asked money back guarantee on their delightful range of toys. Take a look at huxi.global and use our code MANN for 20% Off_____________Finally, our record of the month is a welcome return from Johnny Marr (yes! THE Johnny Marr!), and his defiant single, It’s Time, from his new album The Age of Everything._____________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 SUPPORT THE SHOW with donations): https://modernmann.co.ukAnd/or join our Discord here._____________Thanks for listening - and we’ll see you on November 10th.Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Chris Moss, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Johnny Marr. 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

Martha Adam was raped. For a week afterwards, she couldn’t even say the word. Couldn’t tell her parents what had happened to her. But she did report the assault - and faced hours of courtroom questioning that both embellished and undermined her trauma. In this compelling conversation with Olly, Martha explains how these events restricted her lifestyle, affected her relationships, and made her question her own sanity… Content warning: discussion of rape and trauma. If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in today’s interview, Martha recommends the following organisations: Rape Crisis offers online resources and has a network of centres where survivors can access support My Body Back Project run clinics giving access to sexual health services for survivors. This interview first aired in 2018, and was awarded Best Interview at the British Podcast Awards 2019. Now remastered and with an update from Martha, we're playing it this month because we're up for the same award in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When nurse Bernadette Rochford asked awkward questions about an NHS database at work, she says she found herself belittled, bullied and ignored. Identifed as a whistleblower, she went on to face years of meetings, investigations, and two employment tribunal claims. In this compelling conversation with Olly, Bernadette recounts how she lost her job, and her savings - but eventually found validation in a new role protecting other whistleblowers. She reflects on what happens when organisations close ranks instead of listening, and why she believes the answer isn't punishing individuals, but fixing the systems that let problems grow. _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist: Chinese cars are suddenly everywhere, but are they any good? Ollie Peart investigates how brands such as BYD, Chery and Geely offer tech-packed motors for dramatically less than their European rivals. Then, after heading to the Formula E championships at London’s Excel to witness electric supercars in action, he takes Olly for a spin in the tiny Microlino EV, a Swiss quadricycle that you enter through the front and which feels considerably more exciting than its top speed may suggest.  Is this the future of urban transport - or just a glorified second car that happens to be brilliant fun? _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener who wants a clitoral orgasm via oral sex, but doesn’t know how to get her new partner to give it to her… What practical ways can cunnilingus become more comfortable and enjoyable? How long should women expect their partners to go down on them? Is it too clinical to set timers? And can saliva enhancers and toys like the Svakom Klitty and LELO Ora 3 assist? Alix has the answers. _____________ Finally, our record of the month is ‘In Motion’, the latest banger from The Snuts, from their forthcoming album 'Joy In Short Moments', out in October. 🎸 _____________ 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 October 10th. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Bernadette Rochford, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart. Producer: Matt Hill. Thanks: Sound Delivery, Krazy Horse Motorcycles. 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

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 2016, Manny confronted his first abuser, Velvel Serebryanski, in New York. In 2013, Manny's second abuser, David Cyprys, was sentenced to eight years for sexually abusing Manny and eight other boys. His book, ‘Who Gave You Permission?’, is out now. This interview https://www.modernmann.co.uk/new/closuredisclosurehttps://www.modernmann.co.uk/new/closuredisclosure as part of our regular magazine show. Now remastered and with an update from Manny, we've chosen to pair this with our most next episode, due September 10th. Content warning: graphic descriptions of rape, child abuse. Additional resources: Stop it Now! UK and Ireland is a useful website for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse. Survivors UK provides information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused. The Samaritans offer confidential, emotional telephone support 24 hours a day. This is a useful list for international listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would you do if your phone rang and someone told you they'd kidnapped a member of your family? Scott Walker knows. As one of Britain's most experienced hostage negotiators, he spent years helping families through the worst moments of their lives before moving into the private sector, where he negotiated with pirates and organised crime gangs across the world. In this revealing conversation with Olly, Scott explains why lying almost always backfires, why the calmest person in the room usually wins, and how to keep your nerve in a seriously stressful ‘Red Centre’. Scott’s books, Order Out Of Chaos and The Eye of the Storm, are out now.  _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart takes time out of his holiday golf regime to discuss humane alternatives to rat traps. Are rodent populations on the rise, thanks to global warming? And how should you stay safe while dealing with droppings and drains that spread disease? _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox tackles the thorny dilemma of what to do when a man you used to hook up with turns up on Are We Dating The Same Guy? Are you responsible for warning his current spouse of his non-consensual history? Alix consults blogger and activist Girl On The Net to discuss…  (Content warning: rape, sexual assault). If you need support with any of the themes discussed, the following organisations can help:  https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/ https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/ https://thesurvivorstrust.org/ _____________ Finally, our record of the month is Antony Szmierek’s new single, ‘Seminal’. But, if you’d rather listen to some more speech… do check out Olly’s BBC Sounds series about the Universal Studios project in Bedfordshire, ‘Rollercoaster: Universal’s Bedfordshire Journey’. _____________ 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 September 10th. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Scott Walker, Antony Szmierek. 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

Olivia hardly knew her father. Her parents divorced when she was two, and she was brought up by her Mum. Sent to boarding school at the age of eight, she was estranged from her Dad for a decade. ———————————— Struggling financially, and weakened by bulimia, she got a call from out of the blue: it was her father, wanting to rekindle their relationship. But - as her health deteriorated, and the UK went into lockdown - her Mum dropped a bombshell that changed everything Olivia thought she knew about her family… Content warning: eating disorders, childhood trauma. Names have been changed.   If you’ve been affected by an eating disorder, BEAT or Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous may be able to help. If you’re dealing with emotional abuse, CRISIS Text Line offer free 24/7 support. If YOU have a story you’d like to share with Olly, send us an email via our feedback form. This interview first aired in 2021, under our regular show, with the same title. Now remastered and with an update from Olivia, this playback is paired with our most recent annual instalment of our How To Be A Dad series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Price and Stuart Goldsmith return to compare parenting notes with Olly, their sons now having reached the age of 10½. Up for discussion: how to make friends with your kids’ parents, the dangers of ‘backdoor’ YouTube exposure, and the challenges of coping with impromptu sex education... Plus, the appealing fraternity of teenage skateboarding, the toxicity of ‘Jordan and Salish’, and the big question of the Summer: should they make their kids try for grammar school?  This is the twelfth instalment of our annual ‘How To Be A Dad’ series.  Catch up with all previous episodes HERE.  🎧Tom’s podcast is My Mate Bought A Toaster; and Stuart’s is The Comedian’s Comedian.  🎤 Stuart's show "Canary" is at the Edinburgh Fringe from 17-30th of August, then on tour  📖 "You Know, Sex" by Cory Silverberg is out now _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart heads over to Olly’s house to cook up some BBQ barnstormers: ‘Swicy’ Korean Chicken Burgers, Gochujang Wagyu, and Logan Moffitt’s viral cucumber salad. What are the flavour trends making their way on to our menus this Summer? And can Olly’s Ninja FlexFlame compete with a charcoal barbeque? 🫕 Check out all of Ollie’s recipe’s here. _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox assists a listener who wants to know how to keep sex fun. Why is laughter a bedroom taboo? And how can you lighten the mood whilst staying sexy? 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. _____________ Finally, our record of the month is ‘Nosedive’ by Man/Woman/Chainsaw, out now.  _____________ Thanks for listening - and we’ll see you on August 10th. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Stuart Goldsmith, Tom Price, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Man/Woman/Chainsaw. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2026. _____________ #AD An estimated £8.2 billion is owed to around 14 million UK drivers. Are you one of them? Check for FREE if you are due a refund in 60 seconds at: refundclub.co.uk/mann Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law LTD. You can pursue a claim free of charge directly to your lender and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The FCA is likely introducing a free-to-use Consumer Redress Scheme; it estimates the average redress per agreement will be £829. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 9-10 Savile Row W1, or online at savilerowtailor.com. This episode first aired in 2017, under the title Suits You Sir. Now remastered and with a 2026 update from Andrew (including an appearance on Desert Island Discs no less), we're replaying this episode as we felt it paired perfectly with our latest interview: The Art of Human Restraint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Tad Tomlinson set out to learn leatherworking, he stumbled into one of Britain's most secretive subcultures.From handcrafted gimp masks and bespoke straitjackets to dungeon installations and novelty jockstraps, Tad spent years making luxury bondage equipment for wealthy, discerning collectors.In this eye-opening conversation with Olly, he recalls some of his most elaborate commissions - including a coffin that transformed into a sacrificial altar; reflects on the military and medical fantasies that occasionally tested his comfort zone; and lifts the lid on a much misunderstood community…_____________Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - burned by his seemingly non-cancelable ‘free pants’ subscription - investigates the world of AI-enhanced gadgetry.Can note-taking devices like Plaud and Anker’s Soundcore elevate the drudgery of a morning meeting? Will smart catflap OnlyCat help cat owners block unwanted ‘contraband’ from their homes? And what exactly is the Rabbit R1 for? Ollie finds out…_____________Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox tackles phimosis and adult circumcision, and advises a couple in their twenties whose bedroom activity is losing its lustre after reuniting from a long-distance relationship. All while sucking on a bone-conducting lollipop…_____________Finally, our record of the month is ‘Track and Field’ by JJerome87 - alter-ego of Joe Newman, the former frontman of alt-J. We can’t wait for his new album, The Canyon._____________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.ukAnd/or join our Discord here._____________Thanks for listening - and we’ll see you on July 10th for the latest instalment of ‘How To Be A Dad’.Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Tad Tomlinson, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, JJerome87. Producer: Matt Hill. Thanks: Rebecca Grisedale-Sherry. 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

Pathology technician Carla Valentine always knew she wanted to work with corpses. In childhood, she conducted funerals for roadkill. These days, she is curator of the Barts Pathology Museum, and a passionate advocate for more awareness about what happens when the mortuary doors swing shut... In this interview with Olly, she reveals how to prepare for an autopsy, how to get a sense of how a person lived from examining their remains, and how to create that ‘look of gentle repose’ so important to grieving families. You’ll discover when rigor mortis starts, how identify the difference between primary and secondary flaccidity, and you'll learn about alkaline hydrolosis (‘the new cremation’) and the American trend for being embalmed sitting up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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