Episodios

  • My Deepfake Nightmare

    My Deepfake Nightmare
    Apr 10 2026
    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
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    1 h y 41 m
  • The REAL California Schemin'

    The REAL California Schemin'
    Mar 30 2026
    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
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    52 m
  • I Want My Kids Back

    I Want My Kids Back
    Mar 10 2026
    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
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    1 h y 34 m
  • Playback: I Need To Lie Down

    Playback: I Need To Lie Down
    Feb 27 2026
    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
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    37 m
  • Trapped In The Rubble

    Trapped In The Rubble
    Feb 10 2026
    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
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    1 h y 38 m
  • Playback: Serving The Super-Rich

    Playback: Serving The Super-Rich
    Jan 30 2026
    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
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    28 m
  • The Banker, The Billionaire and The Big Lie

    The Banker, The Billionaire and The Big Lie
    Jan 10 2026
    Alok Sama was a high-flying CFO who fraternized with the world’s richest men. But he wasn’t immune from intimidation. Anonymous letters sent to his boss, Softbank’s Masayoshi Son, accused him of corruption. Suddenly, shadowy “shareholders” emerged from nowhere, and a whisper campaign quietly derailed his career. Then - as he recounts to Olly in this compelling conversation - Alok discovered his family was under surveillance. Desperate, he met men claiming ties to Mossad. And ultimately walked away, with first-hand experience of the corporate espionage that lurks in the shadows of Britain’s biggest companies. Alok’s book, The Money Trap, is out now. _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart - fresh from veritably leaping into his forties - tests out the viral wellness trend for ‘sleepmaxxing’. Can grounding sheets, a bone-conducting pillow-speaker, or light therapy help him get his forty winks? With the aid of the National Sleep Helpline, he delivers hacks and tips for anyone looking to improve their sleep in 2026. … Got a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to test out on a future edition of the show? Fill out the Feedback form on our website, or join our Discord. _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox is contemplating the surprising side-effects of ketamine, and discovering the demand for ‘creature cock’ sex toys such as Lovehoney’s ‘Swamp Monster’. How did this kink for fantasy dildos - kickstarted by niche brands like Bad Dragon and Gang Bankster - evolve into a mainstream, sold-out product category? Is it linked to zoophilia, ‘romatasy’ books on TikTok, liberation from masturbatory stigma… or all of the above? As always, Alix has some (eye-opening) answers... _____________ Finally, in music corner, our Record of the Month brings a welcome return to the show for Cavetown, whose new single, "Sailboat (feat. chloe moriondo)", is out now. _____________ We’ll be back with our Playback edition on 30th Jan, and something new on 10th February. In the meantime, thanks for your help supporting the show into 2026 with your beer money and/or reviews. Mwah! Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alok Sama, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Cavetown. 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
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    1 h y 25 m
  • CHRISTMAS Spectacular 2025!!!

    CHRISTMAS Spectacular 2025!!!
    Dec 14 2025
    What are the perfect ingredients for a stress-free Christmas? How do you render the Arctic in song? And what does it sound like when we drink from each other’s teats? … Just three of the hot topics being debated in our annual festive knees-up! Joining Olly Mann, Alix Fox and Ollie Peart this year, we welcome back family mediator Nick Coffer - who confronts the strains of a post-divorce Christmas with compassionate advice - and we enjoy extraordinary live music from cellist and poet Sarah Smout. Plus, fresh updates from some of our favourite guests of 2026: Rebecca Dowdeswell, the woman who took on L’Oreal; Armin Samii, who created distance-monitoring app UberCheats; and wildland firefighter Nathan Bell. Until our next episode on January 10th, have a fantastic Christmas, a very Happy New Year, and - if you can afford to - remember to support our independent podcast to fund another great year of the show. x Olly, Alix, Ollie and Producer Matt P.S. Alix is running the London Marathon for Positive East. Support her here. Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Nick Coffer, Sarah Smout, Nathan Bell, Rebecca Dowdeswell, Armin Samii. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: 'Skies Over Cairo' by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 30 m