The Modern Mann

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.

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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?

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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.

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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. 🎸

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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?

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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/

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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’.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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

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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.

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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.

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Finally, our record of the month is ‘Nosedive’ by Man/Woman/Chainsaw, out now.

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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.

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