Smuggling marijuana from Thailand to Alaska; trading illicit fuel in Nigeria; evading the law in France - Robert Stone did it all.

From one small fishing boat in the Bahamas he built up a veritable fleet of vessels - including a 6000-tonne oil tanker - devoted to his businesses empire.

In this incredible interview with Olly, Robert reveals what it was like to be making a million dollars per month, switching between dozens of aliases and risking his life on the high seas...

This interview first aired as Diving To Adventure in August 2018. We've paired it with I Was A Drug Dealer from this month - check it out now.

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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/ 

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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, down 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 Eyed 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… 

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Finally, in music corner, 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’.

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Thanks so much for listening! 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 🍻using the secure links on our website, https://modernmann.co.uk/beer

… and we’ll see you on 10th May!

x Olly, Alix, Olle & Producer Matt

—--

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

Sponsor: BetterHelp. Get started today and enjoy 10% OFF your first month of convenient and affordable therapy at https://betterhelp.com/mann

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Dr Stuart Farrimond was a disillusioned Junior Doctor. Night-shifts, the grim reality of hospital life and emotional exhaustion were all taking their toll - but he was in denial about what might be killing him.

In this extraordinary interview with Olly, he explains how an eating disorder and an unexpected diagnosis derailed his career and his marriage - but also how, in the most desperate of circumstances, his life could still change for the better…

This interview first aired in 2018. Now remastered and with an update from Stuart, we've paired this episode with Am I Autistic? - if you have an episode from our past you'd like to recommend, let us know at modernmann.co.uk/feedback

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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

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Elsewhere, 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…

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Meanwhile, down 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… 

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Finally, 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.

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GET IN TOUCH

If you have a letter for Olly, a question for Alix, a challenge for Ollie or want to share your story on our show, visit our website, HTTPS://MODERNMANN.CO.UK and fill out the Feedback form. 

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THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY…

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off a subscription at https://bbcmaestro.com. Let the greatest be your teacher!

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—

Thanks for listening! If you can afford to support the show financially, please buy us a beer - we put every penny back into producing this independent podcast just for YOU.

… and we’ll see you with a brand new episode on April 10th. x

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

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Extreme highs, extreme lows, and a bungled bank robbery

Radcliffe Royds had it all - a private education; a job in the City; a wife and kids. So, how did he find himself robbing a bank with a banana, high on crack cocaine, whilst living in a skip in Soho?

In this incredible interview, he tells Olly his outrageous story. It's a tale of extreme highs and lows, brutal honesty and dark humour.

This interview first aired in 2016. Now remastered and with an update from Radcliffe, we've paired this episode with Our Conviction. Listen now - and if you have an episode from our past you'd like to recommend, let us know at modernmann.co.uk/feedback

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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.

Find out more about Appeal on their website, https://appeal.org.uk/

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

—-

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, down 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? 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 and relationships for Alix to answer in a future Foxhole, submit if via our website, https://modernmann.co.uk

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Finally, our record of the month comes from Vince Freeman, whose new single, ‘Blame Myself’ - taken from his new album ‘Scars, Ghosts & Glory’, dropping in March - is out now.

—-

Thanks for listening! If you can afford to support the show financially, please buy us a beer - we put every penny back into producing this independent podcast just for YOU.

… and we’ll see you with a brand new episode on March 10th. x

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Sue Beere, Vince Freeman. Thanks: Jude Habib, Sound Delivery. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2024.

This episode includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mann and get on your way to being your best self.

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Raising $1m in venture capital whilst still at Uni; starting a business seemed like child's play for James Routledge. His start-up attracted 50m page views per month, and his investors believed he could be the next Mark Zuckerberg.

Except, beneath the surface, he felt stressed, isolated and alone - and his business was burning £30,000 per month. In this honest and compelling interview with Olly, he explains what happened next.

This interview first aired in 2017 . Now remastered and with an update on Sanctus, we've paired this episode with Veganuary - Planting The Seed. Listen now - and if you have an episode from our past you'd like to recommend, let us know at modernmann.co.uk/feedback

James is co-founder of mental health start-up Sanctus. Read the blog-post that started it all here, and sign up to their weekly newsletter here.

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Yorkshire couple Matthew Glover and Jane Land created Veganuary at their kitchen table. 

Inspired by Movember, their concept of challenging the nation to try veganism for a month gained incredible momentum via social media, and became a global organisation. 

But, along the way, it drained their finances, crashed their servers, and ate up their Christmasses...

In this interview with Olly, the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs consider the flaws of their early strategy; take us behind-the-scenes of the iconic Greggs’ Vegan Sausage Roll; and reveal how they’ve faced down criticism from within the vegan movement, the meat lobby and Piers Morgan…

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The health theme continues in the Zeitgeist, for which Ollie Peart investigates the trend for low and no alcohol wine and spirits.

From miniature cordials by high-end ‘wine’ brand Jukes, to a sparkling bottle of Muri’s Sherbert Daydream, Ollie attempts to persuade us there’s so much more to the zero-booze booze market than Beck’s Blue and Shloer.  

But, armed with a trio of mixers from British start-up Three Spirits and a miniature bottle of orange juice from Pret, can he persuade Olly to give up his dirty martinis?

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox advises a listener whose teenage trans daughter has, she suspects, become intimate with her girlfriend - another trans girl she met at her boys’ school.

Stepping around the inevitable minefield this question might attract, Alix consults Dee Lou Whitnell, trans activist and founder of the #TransKidsDeserveToGrowUp campaign, to offer stellar advice on supporting this young couple - whilst steering them away from potential problems. 

_____________

For our record of the month, it’s over to piano man Tom Odell, whose new song, Black Friday, comes from his new album of the same name. 

_____________

If you have a question you’d like to put to Alix, a trend you’d like Ollie to try, a Mannbassadorship request, or a letter for Olly to read out, just fill in the Feedback form on our website, https://modernmann.co.uk

There you’ll also find our Beer Money page where you can donate to the show AND HELP US CONTINUE TO MAKE IT. Thanks!

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

_____________________

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Matthew Glover, Jane Land, Tom Odell. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2024.

This episode includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mann and get on your way to being your best self.

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Olly, Alix and Ollie are under the mistletoe for our annual festive ding-dong, with sensational live music, a feelgood Christmas task, and a bucketload of obscene toys. Deck the Halls!

First up, Ollie Peart reports back on his mission to unite to match up the world’s Mann-fans with skills and needs in his philanthrotainment-bashing charity concept, The Modern 2023 Skill-a-thon.

Jingle your bells as he unites mountain climbers and copywriters, graphic designers and charity campaigners, and young farmers with energy consultants. Ho ho ho!

* Intrigued? Be the first to join our brand new Discord server: https://www.modernmann.co.uk/skills *

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Next up, there’s some superb live music - in the form of an exclusive acoustic performance from duo Ailis Mackay and Hayley Tait, aka Dirty Blonde, whose breakup anthem Favourite Record is, indeed, our favourite record this month…

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Finally, Alix Fox ups the ante yet again with an outrageous edition of her annual XXXmas Foxhole Quiz. 

Faced with a bowl of jelly, a marble run and a devious range of flavoured condoms, can Peart and Mann survive ‘Mann Summers’, ‘Jellied Eel or No Jellied Eel’ and ‘Kentucky Fried Dickin’?

You’ll have to make it to the end of the show to find out. Which may be a challenge at times.

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This episode of The Modern Mann is proudly supported by:

• Wine52, the wine discovery club that sends delicious wine to your door from a different country each month. Claim your FREE case now - just pay the postage at wine52.com/MANN

• BBC Maestro, world-class online courses. 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!

• The Handy, the high-end toy for men that bridges the gap between fantasy and reality. Get 10% OFF when you use the code FOXHOLE10 on their website.

• LISTENERS LIKE YOU. If you can afford to buy us a beer each month to say thank you for making you a free 1hr+ magazine show each month - please do. We rely on your support! https://modernmann.co.uk/beer

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Thanks SO much for being a Mann-fan - have a very happy Christmas, and we’ll see you with a brand new season of the show on Jan 10th, 2024!

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Dirty Blonde, Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: 'Skies Over Cairo' by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2023.

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Caz Jaine faced danger, isolation and even assault when she took a foreign office role in Basra during the ‘reconstruction’ phase of the Iraq war. 

But she thrived on the adrenalin of conflict zones - and was even diagnosed with ‘post-traumatic development’...

As she explains to Olly in this wide-ranging conversation, her subsequent experiences as a Police emergency call handler led her to broaden her self-care and resilience. Now a meditation teacher, Caz takes police officers on forest retreats, and advocates passionately for culture change and emotional support within blue light professions.

CONTENT WARNING: suicide, self harm, animal harm.

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Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart checks out the trend for ‘philanthrotainment’ - influencers leveraging their platforms to raise money for charity. 

Is the technique - evidenced by the likes of Youtuber Mr Beast and Instagram’s King of Chemo - a more direct, straightforward way of supporting charitable causes than the corruption-prone supply chains of larger organisations? Or do household name organisations remain the best places to donate, given the administrative struggles of smaller charities? 

With the help of Lucinda Rouse from Third Sector, Ollie navigates the best way to help out this Winter - and establishes his own side-hustle to support Mann-fans in need:

* REGISTER NOW FOR OLLIE’S MODERN MANN SKILL-A-THON *:

https://www.modernmann.co.uk/skills

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox, fresh from discovering the etymological roots of orchids and testicles, advises a widowed Mann-fan about post-bereavement dating.

When is the best time to disclose that your wife has died? Is it best to blurt the information out early, and risk ruining the conversation, or better to wait until you’ve established a deeper connection? And what are the stigmas around desire when you’re recently bereaved? 

With the help of WAY (Widowed And Young) and Lets Talk About Loss, Alix reveals all.

The Foxhole is sponsored by The Handy, a high-end toy for men that bridges the gap between fantasy and reality. Get 10% OFF when you use the code FOXHOLE10 on their website.

—

Finally, our record of the month comes from an artist described as one of the most original voices in UK rap - Jelani Blackman - and his current single, Clear. 

—

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY…

• Readly. Mannfans can get an exclusive, three month FREE trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines at https://www.readly.com/mann

• BetterHelp. Get started today and enjoy 10% OFF your first month of convenient and affordable therapy at https://betterhelp.com/mann

• 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!

• LISTENERS LIKE YOU. If you enjoy the show, support our independent podcast and BUY US A BEER via our website, https://modernmann.co.uk/beer - and you too could become a Mannbassador! Thanks.

—

CREDITS: Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Caz Jaine, Jelani Blackman. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: 'Skies Over Cairo' by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2023.

SUPPORT: In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here.

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After twenty years, Kamran Ashraf is still seeking justice.

Wrongfully sent to prison by the Post Office, he and his family are one of 700 subpostmasters and sub postmistresses that were convicted on false evidence - provided by a broken computer system known as Horizon.

Three years after our original interview, we discover what happened next. Was his appeal successful? And what will it take to see justice for the hundreds of men and women affected?

The ‘Horizon scandal’ has since been described as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in recent British legal history. You can discover more at postofficetrial.com.

Our thanks to journalist Nick Wallis for connecting us. In the original story, we changed their names to protect their appeal for justice.

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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart has spent the month avoiding Ultra Processed Foods, using The Nova Scale.

From sausages to cornichons, Ollie takes us through the things some experts think we should remove from our diet - and reveals a few surprising omissions along the way.

But is the science all it’s cracked up to be, when compared to a liberal dash of salt on a home-cooked meal? And how much of a trend is it really? The Zeitgeist investigates.

The Zeitgeist is sponsored by DIRTEA. Find your favorite mushroom powder and get 10% off your first order with promo code MANN at https://dirteaworld.com/mann

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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox conquers her very specific fear of diving near an airport - and then in our listener question of the month, she advises a Mann-fan who has vestibulodynia, a condition that leads to chronic pain around the vagina. So how can she and her partner conceive a baby in the old-fashioned way?

With the help of The Vulva Pain Society, Alix discusses the fun of playing with insemination kits, conception-friendly lubes like Conceive Plus and Pre Seed.

_____________

For our record of the month, we welcome British indie pop artist flowerovlove and her energetic new single, ‘Next Best Exit’.

_____________

If you have a question you’d like to put to Alix, a trend you’d like Ollie to try, a Mannbassadorship request, or a letter for Olly to read out, just fill in the Feedback form on our website, https://modernmann.co.uk

There you’ll also find our Beer Money page where you can donate to the show AND HELP US CONTINUE TO MAKE IT. Thanks!

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

_____________________

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Kamran Ashraf, Siema Kamran. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2023.

Sponsors: BetterHelp. Get started today and enjoy 10% off your first month of convenient and affordable therapy when you visit https://betterhelp.com/mann

Readly are offering Mann fans an exclusive, three month FREE trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines. To get yours, go to readly.com/mann

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