They are the first of several big new lifestyle shows to be announced by Mercury this month.
A former drug dealer. A wrongfully convicted postmaster. Britain’s most prolific private sperm donor… these are just some of the amazing true stories The Modern Mann has brought you since its inception in 2015.
Hosted by Olly Mann with Alix Fox and Ollie Peart, they’re the magazine show for your ears; each month bringing you extraordinary people who share fascinating experiences that shed light on the modern world. With over two million downloads and a stacked trophy cabinet, The Modern Mann is a certified icon of the podcast world and proudly independent.
Today, The Modern Mann officially joins Mercury, the most exciting new podcast network in the world. They are the first of several exciting new additions to be announced this month, as the network builds a best-in-class slate of lifestyle shows.
“The Modern Mann is a flagship addition to our roster,” says Mercury’s founder and CEO Liam Heffernan. “Not only is it a legendary show and a standard-bearer for our industry, but the whole team are just a super bunch of people who care deeply about what they do. I’m thrilled to play a part in their continued success.”
The Modern Mann was recently announced on the longlist for Best Interview at the 2026 British Podcast Awards. It won the same prize in 2022.
Mercury is an independent podcast network, launched in 2025 to support the best indie creators in the world. It has represented 6.5 million downloads to date, with plans to scale rapidly over the next 12 months.
The Modern Mann is the first of three new lifestyle shows to be unveiled on the roster in July, as the network continues to build on its reputation as a champion of the best established and upcoming independent shows.
Mercury is also on the hunt for another show, after announcing an exclusive new Creator Residency with The Studio at Baha Mar. Established creators with existing or new podcasts are encouraged to apply, with the winner, and Mercury’s newest addition, also earning three nights at the luxury Nassau resort, to record in their state-of-the-art studio. To find out more and apply, visit the competition page here.
ABOUT THE MODERN MANN
Each edition of The Modern Mann kicks off with The Zeitgeist, in which listeners challenge Ollie Peart to experience the trends of the day – whether that’s ‘neuro-priming’, matched betting, or trying his hand at an open mic night.
Next comes an unpredictable, inspiring middle feature in which host Olly Mann hits the road to meet unusual characters who provoke or confuse: an OnlyFans performer, a Strangeways prison officer, a private prosecutor… Through their stories (typically recorded face-to-face), we gain insight into a hidden world, and often learn something we never knew we needed to know: how to make the perfect cup of coffee; how to get selected for a TV gameshow; or how to spot signs of undiagnosed autism.
Then, at the back, the sex bit: The Foxhole with Alix Fox – the softly-spoken, foul-mouthed love expert who warmly tackles listener questions about the messy brilliance of sex and the difficult, darker side of it too. What’s the best way to get off in a tent? How do I clean my vibrator? How do I ween myself off an addiction to A.I. girlfriends? Alix has a frank, funny, non-judgemental take on it all.
Each episode also brings you a record of the month. Over the years we’ve championed great recording artists like British Sea Power, Glass Animals, Mystery Jets and Los Campesinos!
The Modern Mann is independent and proud, supported by a legion of ‘Mannbassadors’, who regularly donate beer money to the cause.