It was fascinating to chat to travel writer Chris Moss, who after 38 years writing about Latin America for The Guardian and The Telegraph now focuses on minibreaks to unloved parts of the UK. I'm not sure I'll be visiting Blackpool instead of Miami when February comes, but it definitely made me think about my choice of excursions within the UK - maybe Dudley instead of York next time? @Traveloguer @themodernmann

a little scary but now I want one

This is Bernadette. When she was an NHS nurse, she asked some awkward questions about a database at work. She says she found herself belittled, bullied and ignored. Identified as a whistleblower, she went on to face years of meetings, investigations, and two employment tribunal claims. In this month's edition of The Modern Mann she tells me how she lost her job, her savings and two court cases - but eventually found validation in a new role protecting other whistleblowers. She considers what happens when organisations close ranks instead of listening, and why the real answer to whistleblowing isn’t punishing individuals, but fixing the systems that allow the problems to grow in the first place. I hope you'll find it a really compelling listen. x Olly

Woop, delighted to see both @TheModernMann and @RetrospectorsHQ on the #BritishPodcastAwards shortlist, up against some very tough competition

I’ve got TEN pets at home (if you include the chickens and goldfish...), so animal welfare is a subject close to my heart. But 'end-of-life care' is rarely part of the conversation. When the time comes, most pet owners are simply told, 'we've done all we can do'... and offered in-clinic euthanasia. So it was a pleasure to meet Dr Caroline Flicker this week - Britain’s first at-home palliative care vet. We spoke about grief, guilt, family, love, and the decisions we make for the animals who become part of our lives. Check out our conversation on @TheModernMann, and let me know what you think. 🐾

Cheryl Bennett doesn’t follow politics. But when her colleague said he was standing in local elections, she agreed to help deliver leaflets. Within days, doorbell video footage was circulating online, in which Cheryl could be seen calling prospective voters “f***ing P*kis”.  Cheryl had never said such words, but wasn’t sure anyone believed her.  After being posted by an independent candidate for West Midlands mayor - ‘TikTok lawyer’ Akhmed Yakoob - the deepfake went viral, receiving over two million views across TikTok, Facebook and X. Cheryl was sent death threats. Police were sent to her house to arrest her. She was forced into hiding. Her career as a PE teacher was put on hold. And, even after the video was proven to be an AI distortion, she is still feeling the consequences years later. In her first ever podcast interview, she tells me @themodernmann how her world turned upside down - all because she did a favour for a friend…

Nine years ago, I interviewed Gavin Bain - whose story the film is based on - for @themodernmann. The real tale involved a bit more death, and was obviously a bit less Hollywood-linear, but the spirit of his plucky adventures remains intact!

This is Robbie. He spent six hours trapped in the rubble after a devastating earthquake. Unable to feel his legs, unsure he would emerge alive. 🧵