What’s the reality of male-to-female transitioning on the NHS?

Lexi Perry-Weston says the online resources she found didn’t relate to her experiences at all.

In this interview with Olly, she explains how she’s been supported in her trans journey by her family, her workplace and the medical establishment - but also harassed by the public, fetishised by partners and discriminated against by businesses.

From hormones to dating apps, vocal therapy to changing room etiquette, this is one Mann-fan’s experience of gender transition in 2020.

CONTENT WARNING: interview contains references to rape, suicide, abuse, recounting of transphobic language and gender dysphoria. 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.

This episode first aired in September 2020, in the episode 'What To Expect When You're Transitioning'. Now remastered and with a brand-new , extended interview with Lexi in 2025, we discuss how the political climate has changed... as well as Lexi's own life.

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When Nick Coffer’s marriage fell apart, the breakup was a battlefield. Embroiled in high conflict, overwhelming stress, and crushing legal fees, he had to redefine his role as a father while struggling to maintain his cheeriness as a BBC broadcaster.

But from the chaos, Nick forged a new path: re-training as a family mediator. Determined to rescue others from his mistakes, he now shatters stalemates between hostile exes, keeping conversations constructive and focussed on the only people who matter: the divorcing couple’s children.

In this chat with Olly, Nick shares the game-changing apps that transform toxic communication; reveals how he fell into the trap of becoming a ‘McDonald’s Dad’; and explains why mediation can be useful even before you tell your kids you intend to split up… 

Nick’s mediation services can be found at wayforwardmediation.co.uk

The Family Mediators Association is at TheFMA.co.uk

—-----------------

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for sleeper trains - by taking Olly and Alix for a ride on GWR’s ‘Night Riviera’ from London Paddington to Penzance, Cornwall.

What are his top tips to ensure you get a good night’s kip? Is the rise in overnight train travel because locomotives are so good - or aeroplanes are so insufferable? And how does one store excess luggage when arriving in a place with no car? 

Ollie has the answers - though they become increasingly less intelligible after a night in the on-board bar…

The team travelled as the guests of GWR. Book tickets direct at gwr.com

—-----------------

Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from experiencing her first-ever dip in a geothermal pool - tackles a listener’s concerns about getting jiggy under canvas.

Can sex in tents ever be comfortable? Is it best to use fairy lights, or fumble in the dark? And what are the camping essentials you need to bring along if you intend to get off?

Armed with a packet of Fresh Wipes, and aided by author ⁠⁠Zachary Zane, Alix reveals all…

—-----------------

Finally, our record of the month belongs to Will Varley - it’s his latest track, ‘Home Before The World Ends’ featuring Bastille.

_______

BUY US A BEER

Your support keeps this show going! So, if you can afford to, please buy us a beer

🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer

_______

Meet Other Mann-Fans on the Modern Mann Discord: 

🤹➡️  https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

_______

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

… and we’ll see you on July 10th!

This episode is dedicated to former guest, and friend of the show, Dr Stuart Farrimond - who has died at the age of 43. His final book, ‘The Science of Flavor: Unlock the Secrets of Flavorful Cooking’, is available to pre-order now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Flavor-Secrets-Flavorful-Cooking/dp/0593844246

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Nick Coffer, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Will Varley. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Artwork: Podcast Discovery. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025

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Jim Finch’s life changed forever when his car flipped over in a devastating accident that left him with multiple neurological issues.

He developed PTSD, suffered from seizures - and even became afflicted with Tourettes.

But the medication he was prescribed was almost as bad: triggering fits, impotence and bloody discharge. Then he discovered cannabis...

CONTENT WARNING: interview includes account of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempt, highly offensive language and on-mic drug use.

_____________________

Now a registered, legal user of skunk, Jim campaigns for medical marijuana to be made available on the NHS.

As he explains in this intense, compelling conversation with Olly, for disabled people who can’t afford a private prescription, the current alternatives are to support the criminal black market, or risk arrest by growing weed themselves.

_____________________

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 witnessing bleak conditions inside a mental health unit, artists Tim A. Shaw and Niamh White decided to take action. 

Drawing on their background in contemporary art, they set out to transform sterile clinical spaces with bold, thought-provoking artworks, via their charity, Hospital Rooms.

Today, they commission over 40 leading artists a year to create immersive, site-specific pieces in psychiatric hospitals across the UK — from sweeping murals to hands-on workshops that put patients at the heart of the creative process. 

But despite critical acclaim, the battle for funding continues — and every brushstroke must be justified to NHS accountants.

In this episode, Tim tells Olly why he won’t let hospitals sell off the valuable artwork he installs; explains why patients should look beyond the ‘recovery tree’; and reveals how his recent experience on pediatric wards has hardened his belief in the healing power of art…  

Find out more about Hospital Rooms at https://hospital-rooms.com/

_______

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart tries his hand at ‘smart gardening’: growing vegetables without soil. 

Is hydroponics a workable alternative to getting an allotment? How much faster is it to grow a tomato indoors? And is the whole trend really just a fig-leaf for at-home cannabis growers? 

Ollie has the answers… from a ‘smart bench’.

_______

Elsewhere, down The Foxhole, Alix Fox - fresh from attending a provocative menopause seminar - investigates how a Mann-fan can hire sex workers who are into… belching. 

With the help of VTuber giantess Ana Valens, Alix uncovers a full-blown subculture in which burps are considered not just bodily functions but sensual, often spontaneous, expressions of intimacy. The appeal, it turns out, is both nostalgic and transgressive… Burp!

_______

Finally, our Record of the Month is ‘Inland Ocean’ by Matt Berninger, of The National... from his second solo album, Get Sunk - released on May 30.

_______

BUY US A BEER

Your support keeps this show going! So, if you can afford to, please buy us a beer

🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer

_______

Meet Other Mann-Fans on the Modern Mann Discord: 

🤹➡️  https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

_______

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

… and we’ll see you on June 10th!

This episode is supported by Shopify. Dream big, build fast, and grow far with 3 months for just £3 at https://shopify.co.uk/modernmann 

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Tim A. Shaw, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Matt Berninger. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025

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It began as a threesome, arranged through dating app Feeld.

But soon, Maggie and Cody realised their connection to Janie was more than sexual… 

No longer just an adventurous couple in an open relationship, they had become a ‘thruple’ - whose relationship with Janie (their ‘third’) was as vital and equitable as their marriage to each other. 

In this interview with Olly, they explain the importance of communication in a three-way relationship, the dangers of jealousy and bigotry - and the complexities of sleeping arrangements and decision-making when you love two people at once. 

This interview first aired in 2021 - now remastered and with an update from the thruple in question, we're pairing this with our last Foxhole discussion on legal rights for thruples - check it out now!

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When Armin Samii signed up to deliver food for Uber Eats, his intentions were to explore his city, and help pay off his new bike.

He soon realised the app was poorly configured for cyclists, and uncovered glitches including a non-existent branch of McDonald’s. But getting support from Uber was frustrating.

When he believed they were also underestimating his mileage - and therefore underpaying him - he used his background as a computer coder to create ‘Uber Cheats’, a Chrome extension that got the attention of gig workers around the world.

In conversation with Olly, he sheds light on life as a gig worker and considers the future of worker’s rights.

The company has not acknowledged any systemic error in how distances are calculated. An Uber spokesperson told us: "More drivers and couriers are choosing to earn on Uber than ever before and we know that the vast majority are satisfied with their experience.

"The Uber app reviews real-time information to provide the best price to appeal to the drivers or couriers in the area, helping to minimise waiting times for customers and maximise earnings. Our matching tools follow a process that balances a number of different factors such as time and distance to provide the best possible experience for everyone using the app."

—-----

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for gourmet sandwiches. Do they really taste better, or are they just for showing off on Instagram?

Olly and Ollie head to award-winning London sandwich shop Sandwich Sandwich to taste for themselves… 

After studying sandwich influencers Max Halley and Sensational Sandwiches, can Ollie go viral with his own take on a Steak Frites Entrecote sandwich?

—-----

Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox investigates the legal status of consensual non-monogamy.

For example, can a thruple inherit each other’s possessions when they die, as married couples can? What paperwork exists to evidence each part of a polycule? 

With the help of lawyers Rachel Frost-Smith and Lucy Bluck, and phychotherapist DK Green, Alix has the answers…

… and, in light of research from BackMarket about the increasing issue of sex toy e-waste, Alix discovers that ‘Vibrators’ are now an official category for ‘Small Electricals’ recycling in the UK! 

—-----

Music this month comes from Mann-favourite Self Esteem. After a few years moonlighting in the West End, she’s back with new track, If Not Now, It’s Soon' 

BUY US A BEER

Your support keep this show going! So, if you can afford to, please buy us a beer

🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer

_______

Meet Other Mann-Fans on the Modern Mann Discord: 

🤹➡️  https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

_______

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

… and we’ll see you on May 10th!

This episode is supported by Readly. Get your exclusive, three month trial of unlimited newspapers and magazines at readly.com/mann

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Armin Samii, Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Self Esteem. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025

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Sperm donors are anonymised in British clinics.

Recipients don’t even get to see a photo of the man who will father their child. Donor-conceived kids can only discover the identity of their biological father upon reaching adulthood themselves.

But Mitch Kennedy is a private donor. His sperm has been used by 23 couples - and he’s met them all. In most cases, he’s slept in their spare room during the conception. He has around 40 children.

In this fascinating interview with Olly, Mitch explains the logistics of his bespoke donation process, the legalities of his paternal responsibilities, and the ‘dark cloud’ that deters him from donating to hetrosexual couples...

This episode first aired in October 2017 - now remastered and with an update from Mitch, we're replaying this with the news that sperm in the US is now one of their most priciest resources.

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California wildfires ripped through L.A. this year, killing 29 people, destroying more than 18,000 buildings, and putting wildland fires back into the headlines. But what’s it like being one of the poorly-paid workers sent in to risk your life to fight the flames? 

Wildland firefighter Nathan Bell has ‘held the line’ across the United States: in Elk City, Idaho; on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Utah; and in the desert conditions of Sedona, Arizona.

For 16 hour workdays, for weeks away from home, he will hike up a mountainside towards a raging fire with a 40 pound backpack on his shoulders, and a chainsaw over his shoulder. And his starting salary is less than a worker at Burger King...

In conversation with Olly, he exposes the back-breaking, exhilarating life of a wildland firefighter - and the unspoken trauma so many of his peers experience ‘between seasons’...

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Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates the trend for A.I. makeovers. 

From LolaAI, the ‘stylist and shopping copilot’ baked in to Open Wardrobe, to the at-home body scans offered by Bodymapp, can Ollie get himself a fresh Spring look - using only A.I?

As ever, frankly, the results are mixed…

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Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox pops into Kiiroo to see how their teledildonics have adapted to the world of OnlyFans - and answers a listener question from a new Mum struggling with sex after breastfeeding. 

Once a source of pleasure, her boobs now feel sore, sensitive, and more like functional tools than instruments of intimacy. Will they ever feel sexy again?

With the help of breastfeeding peer support worker Emilie Wardle, Frome Birth Talk’s Lucy Plummer and sex and relationship therapist Rhian Kivits, Alix explores considers the under-discussed issues of milk mishaps in the bedroom and babies getting a little too handsy; and proposes new erogenous zones for when ‘boobs are off the table’...

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Music this month comes from Manchester indie band The Lottery Winners, and their infectious single, ‘Turn Around’. It’s our Record of the Month, and it’s out now.

_______

SUPPORT US - every penny counts:

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous donations - independent shows like ours only exist with your support: 

🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer

_______

WANNA CHAT TO MANN-FANS? JOIN OUR DISCORD! 

➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

_______

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

_______

… and we’ll see you on April 10th!

CONTENT WARNING: references to suicide.

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.

CREDITS: Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Ollie Peart, Alix Fox, Nathan Bell, The Lottery Winners. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: 'Skies Over Cairo' by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025.

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Falling overboard following a fit of food poisoning, Brett Archibald survived 28 hours alone in the Indian Ocean.

In this extraordinary interview with Olly, he re-lives his onslaught of hallucinations, his encounter with a shark and how he contemplated certain death...

Read more about Brett's amazing story on his website, and in his book, Alone. 

This episode first aired in October 2017. Now remastered, we have paired this episode with our latest episode, Naked And Exhausted, for reasons known only to our producer.

Watch the moment he's rescued: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOq5g0O9v9s

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Imagine building a brand from scratch, and running your business for fifteen years - only to be told by a global corporation that your name isn’t yours to keep. 

That’s what happened to Rebecca Dowdeswell, founder of waxing business NKD, when she received a legal letter from cosmetics giant L’Oréal, opposing her application to renew her trademark.

In this compelling conversation with Olly, Rebecca takes us inside her David vs. Goliath battle against one of the world’s biggest corporations; a tale of perseverance, justice, and the high price of standing your ground.

Support Rebecca’s small business, and find out more about her story, here:

https://nkdproducts.shop/pages/because-were-worth-it-too-loreal-vs-nkd

Thanks to Private Eye for their help sourcing this story.

_______

Meanwhile, in The Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart dives deep into his DNA, to discover whether companies like Color can detect predispositions to serious diseases. 

After talking to journalist Molly Guinness, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at 38, Ollie investigates the growing trend for people proactively checking their health beyond the tests offered by the NHS, and - thanks to UK-based company Selph - discovers he has a hitherto undetected genetic condition, Lp(a).

_______

Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox uncovers the truth about a kinky MRI incident that’s taken the internet by storm, and advises a listener whose partner is not in-sync with his peccadillos.

How can he balance a fulfilling monogamous relationship, while staying true to his most extreme desires? Might understanding the emotions behind his kinks lead to creative compromises? Or could attending a workshop, or even opening up his relationship, provide the right solution?

With the help of Psychosexual and Relationship therapist Shae Harmon and Lola Phoenix’s new book The Non-Monogamy Journal, Alix reveals all…

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Down in music corner, our record of the month is the brilliantly arresting ‘Angie’s Wedding’ from Manchester-based poet, writer and producer Antony Szmierek. His album, ‘Service Station At The End Of The Universe’, comes out February 28th.

_______

SUPPORT US:

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous donations - independent shows like ours only exist with your support: 

🍺💰👉https://www.modernmann.co.uk/beer

_______

JOIN OUR DISCORD! 

➡️https://discord.gg/SKHnY6ZB72

_______

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

_______

… and we’ll see you on March 10th!

Presenter: Olly Mann. Contributors: Alix Fox, Ollie Peart, Rebecca Dowdeswell, Antony Szmierek. Producer: Matt Hill. Theme Music: ‘Skies Over Cairo’ by Django Django. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Olly Mann / Rethink Audio 2025.

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