15/6 - Negotiating Nudity: The Intimacy Coordinator

“I don’t look after people. I empower them to look after themselves”.

Sex scenes are a feature of modern filmmaking, yet require meticulous planning and sensitive handling in our 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 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…

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates BookTok, the TikTok subculture where users trade 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?

Lucy Fennell with Olly Mann, June 2024

📺 Watch Ollie’s TikTok debut here…

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox fails to find out why comedian Sofie Hagen hasn’t had sex for eight years, but comprehensively tackles 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.

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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

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JOIN OUR DISCORD! 

This month, Olly is going to be answering your questions on our Discord server! Sign up and join the MannFan community:

➡️ https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

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This episode is sponsored 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 readly.com/mann

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

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Fifteen.

15/5 - My Real Identity

“Who's lying to me here? Am I being lied to now? Was I being lied to then? How do I even know this is true?”

Patricia never knew her birth parents.

And she didn’t care to: adopted by a white family in Toronto, she felt awkward and embarrassed when people perceived her as Korean.

But, in her twenties, at the insistence of family and friends, she began a journey of discovery to uncover her roots: a bumpy ride that would take her to the other side of the world, into the arms of dubious private investigators, a fistfight, and institutional corruption.

In this poignant interview with Olly, Patricia explains how her sense of identity as a trans-racial adoptee has radically shifted - and reveals why, despite so much heartbreak, she considers herself lucky… 

The Adoptee Mentorship Society can be found on Instagram @adopteementorship.

Thanks to Maya Cederlund for her help producing the interview.

Partricia came to her adoptive family in a cardboard box, on the first Korean Air flight to Canada, 1989.

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart ventures beyond his four walls to explore the trend for Forest School education. 

What are the barriers preventing parents and schools from embracing outdoor learning? How can society address the knowledge gap around nature-based education? And how does ‘risky play’ contribute to children's mental and physical well-being?

With the help of Mann-fan Katie, Ollie has the answers!

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Elsewhere, in a classic question from the Foxhole vaults, Alix Fox considers the best way to get kinky when you live in a small community.

How can you best put together a voyeuristic MMF threesome… in the Isle Of Man?

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to try, or a relationships question for Alix,  submit it via our Feedback form.

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Finally, we’re getting ready for Summer 😎 with our record of the month, Mark Ambor’s Belong Together 👇

Love the show? Help us make it! 💰

Our monthly magazine show relies on your support - so, if you enjoy our independent podcast, and want to help us to keep making it, please BUY US A BEER 🍻

… And we’ll see you again on June 10th.

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This episode is sponsored by Readly.

Get your exclusive, three month trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines at readly.com/mann

This episode includes a paid advertisement for BetterHelp.

Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mann and get on your way to being your best self.

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Fifteen.

15/4 - I Was A Drug Dealer

“I enjoyed the contact of it. I enjoyed punching other people just as much as I enjoyed being punched.”

Stu Otten was raised on a tough Liverpool estate, where drug-taking was rife, and established crime families enacted violent retribution.

Aged 17, he became a bar-room bouncer - and soon found himself dealing drugs, protecting human traffickers, and defending his territory in a turbulent turf war.

In this raw, insightful interview, Stu reveals to Olly the self-loathing, drug-induced hallucinations and spiritual awakening that led him away from his marriage, his city, and organised crime - and into seeking forgiveness from those he’d hurt the most.

Stu now works for Causeway, stepping in to prevent today’s young people from echoing his mistakes.

Find out more about his work, and donate, via their website,  https://www.wearecauseway.org.uk/ 

Stu Otten and Olly Mann, April 2024.

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart examines how, in this election year, the war for our votes is being fought online - from A.I.-generated memes to disinformation campaigns.

How do MPs stay on top of fake news? How can social media users research who’s targeting them? And - eight years on from Donald Trump’s first Presidential election - how come foreign entities are still able to buy their way on to our Facebook feeds? 

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox discovers ‘fraysexuality’, and asks if some men get off on… having STI swabs.

If urethral sounding does give you a kick, what’s the safest way to introduce it to your sex life? What are the downsides of a ‘doctors and nurses’ fetish? And IS ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ by the Rednecks really about syphilis? 

With the help of Sophie Cohen from House of Vixens and Dr Kareem Mahmoud from Flo, Alix has the answers… 

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, for our record of the month comes from Aberdeen punk rockers Cold Years, and their not-very-aptly-for-a-podcast-named new track, ‘Radio’ - from their forthcoming album, ‘A Different Life’ 👇

Love the show? Help us make it! 💰

Our monthly magazine show relies on your support - so, if you enjoy our independent podcast, and want to help us to keep making it, please BUY US A BEER 🍻

… And we’ll see you again on May 10th.

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This episode includes a paid advertisement for BetterHelp.

Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mann and get on your way to being your best self.

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Fifteen.

15/3 - Am I Autistic?

“I’m not ‘abnormal’! There’s something I can put a name to. There was a sense of relief.”

Lexi struggled to ‘read’ faces.

She walked on her toes. She craved routine. She didn’t like her food to touch on a plate, and she was sensitive to light and sound. 

But, until she was 27, she didn’t know she was autistic. 

Lexi only took a test when - as a paramedic, grappling with erratic shifts and sleep disturbance - she sought help with anxiety and depression. 

In this candid conversation with Olly, she considers the ‘trigger points’ for her struggles, explains her support system, and reveals how adjustments have seen her progress in her career and romantic relationships.

CONTENT WARNING: self-harm.

Find out more about autism from the National Autistic Society.

This episode is sponsored by Readly, who are offering Mann-fans an exclusive, three month trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines. Get yours at readly.com/mann

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the intersection of eSports and motor racing.

Can platforms like iRacing truly replicate the physics, design, and engineering of real-world cars? Why don’t they use VR headsets? And how come more people don’t know about Max Verstappen’s gaming side-hustle?

With the help of Paul Crawford, Head of eSports at Motorsport UK, and sim-racer Jonny Elliot, Ollie discovers how (relatively) affordable home simulators might produce the next Will Byron…

The Zeitgeist is sponsored by our friends at BBC Maestro. Use the code MANN to get your 40% off your favourite video course or 40% off a subscription at https://bbcmaestro.com. Let the greatest be your teacher!

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox fresh from visiting Dennis Severs’ house in Shoreditch - tackles a bearded listener’s question of grooming… how can he minimise friction and tickles whilst going down on his wife?

With the help of ‘Celebs Go Dating’ sexpert Dr Tara, Alix considers the options - from flavoured lubes to beard oils - and explains why a German toy, Belou, might provide a viable alternative… 

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, for our record of the month comes from the Isle of Wight’s Lauran Hibberd, whose single ‘2nd Prettiest Girl (In The World)’ is out now 👇

Love the show? Help us make it! 💰

We rely on listeners like you to fund our independent podcast and bring you these stories. DONATE HERE

… And we’ll see you again on April 10th.

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This episode includes paid advertisements for Who Gives A Crap? and BetterHelp.

• Get 20% off toilet paper that does a world of good at https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/ when you use the code ‘MANN’.

• Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mann and get on your way to being your best self.

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Fifteen.

15/2 - Our Conviction

“People don’t understand the financial loss, the emotional loss… the children have lost friends.”

LISTEN: Apple // Spotify // Google // MP3 // RSS // TuneIn

Sue Beere’s husband, John, was jailed for his role in a £53 million drug-smuggling plot. 

He’s spent time in a maximum-security prison. He’s lost two appeals.

But Sue has never doubted his innocence.

Alongside charity Appeal, Sue continues to campaign for his conviction to be quashed - and for all the ‘Freshwater Five’ implicated in the alleged cocaine conspiracy to be exonerated. 

In this compelling conversation with Olly, Sue recounts how - from John’s unexpected arrest to the shocking outcome of his trial - she has battled stigma, financial struggles, and the British legal system… from her family home on the Isle of Wight.

This episode is sponsored by Readly, who are offering Mann-fans an exclusive, three month trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines. Get yours at readly.com/mann

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart is hunting for a cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder…

Might a simple vitamin tablet do the trick, or is it worth investing in a 10,000 lux therapy lamp?  

Or, could the trend for Nordic bathing - plunging from a piping hot sauna into freezing cold water - be a mood-boosting salve for S.A.D?

Ollie drags Olly along to the Saltwater Sauna in Sandbanks to find out…

The Zeitgeist is sponsored by our friends at Beer52. Claim your FREE case of 8 new and exclusive beers from across the world at https://www.beer52.com/MANN

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox fresh from a mind-blowing movie preview - investigates the booming market in A.I. girlfriends, and uncovers some tasty neologisms for part-time asexuals.

Could an over-reliance on ‘fap GPT’ be a bedroom boner-killer?

And do straight men get emotional support from their interactions with sex-bots? 

With the help of psychotherapist Silva Neves, specialist in sexual compulsive behaviour, and sex robot researcher Dr Chloé Locatelli from King’s College London, Alix has the answers… probably. 

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Finally, for our record of the month we turn to Vince Freeman, whose new single, ‘Blame Myself’ - taken from his forthcoming album ‘Scars, Ghosts & Glory’ - is out now 👇

Love the show? Help us make it! 💰

We rely on listeners like you to fund our independent podcast and bring you these stories. DONATE HERE

… And we’ll see you again on March 10th.

_____________________

This episode includes paid advertisements for Who Gives A Crap? and BetterHelp.

• Get 20% off toilet paper that does a world of good at https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/ when you use the code ‘MANN’.

• Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mann and get on your way to being your best self.

LISTEN: Apple // Spotify // Google // MP3 // RSS // TuneIn
Posted on February 10, 2024 by Olly Mann and filed under Season Fifteen.