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Artwork for Lives Less Ordinary

Lives Less Ordinary

BBC World Service
Tupamaros
Uruguay
José Mujica
Cyprus
Libya
Fugees
Michel Van Rijn
Amazing Sport Stories
Migration
Cameroon
Moscow
Family
Revolution
Lucía Topolanski
Stolen Heritage
Antiquities
Aydin Dickman
Brazilian Amazon
Vietnam
Rock and Roll

Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from e... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes305Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePersonal JournalsDocumentary

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Artwork for Lives Less Ordinary

Latest Episodes

Colm Tóibín is a celebrated Irish writer, but as a child words didn't come easily. Navigating grief as a boy when his father died, he developed a stammer. Instead of talking, Colm watched and listened, collecting stories that wove their way into his ... more

Willis Chimano is one of Kenya’s biggest pop stars. With the boyband Sauti Sol, he’s won a string of awards and even danced with President Barack Obama. But behind the success, Chimano had a secret: being gay in a country where gay sex is criminalise... more

When she was 14, Krystal Evans survived a lethal house fire. Years later, to come to terms with what she’d experienced, she turned it into a stand-up show.

The women in Krystal's family have always been funny, she says; her mother was no exception.... more

Joanne Briggs had always thought of her dad as a bit of a superhero. But he was hiding a dark secret.

She only saw him a couple of times a year during her childhood in the UK, but that was because Professor Michael Briggs was off travelling the worl... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Great Lives
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Recent Guests

Ijeoma Uchegbu
Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, a leading expert in the field of nanoparticles and a professor at University College London.
University College London
Episode: One suitcase, three kids: a broke scientist pursues a dream
Jenny Evans
A survivor who experienced first-hand the corruption involved in a sexual assault case and has since turned to journalism.
Episode: My private trauma was leaked to the press – so I fought back
Tim Berners-Lee
Inventor of the World Wide Web and advocate for digital sovereignty
Episode: Tim Berners-Lee: The man who dreamed of a World Wide Web
Giulia Bacosi
Crew member aboard the Avontuur, sharing her experiences and observations
Sailing Cargo Ship Avontuur
Episode: Hold Fast! 5. No better mirror than the sea
Christiaan de Beukelaer
An academic doing research on the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.
Episode: Hold Fast! 1. Signs from the universe
Mic Whitty
An Australian who faced severe personal and financial turmoil
Episode: My way out of the woods
Adjoa Andoh
Actor, director, and mother of three, best known for her role as Lady Danbury in Bridgerton.
Bridgerton
Episode: Introducing Dear Daughter
Sophie Parker
Granddaughter of Odette Hallowes, sharing her grandmother's wartime experiences.
Episode: The WW2 spy and the little leaf that saved her
Delimar Vera
Kidnapping survivor and subject of the episode
Episode: Stolen as a baby, I called my abductor ‘Mom’

Hosts

Asya Fouks
Host of Lives Less Ordinary
Jo Fidgen
Host of Lives Less Ordinary
Mobeen Azhar
Host of Lives Less Ordinary

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Good show

    Interviewing different people about interesting experiences and incidents, would recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ishaan Shetty 1411
    Singapore2 months ago
  • Simply perfect

    Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jeckles88
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Zarna Gary

    What an amazing story of how she got where she is! I love her!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cuca Girl
    United States4 months ago
  • Uplifting

    In these bleak times, I rely on Lives Less Ordinary to bring me hope. Stories about people surmounting sometimes unbelievably impossible obstacles- the one about the Indian woman whose stepmother stabbed, blinded her and left her homeless- comes to mind— and she not only persisted but learned to truly thrive. So many inspiring stories like that. A great pick-me-up when you’re feeling low

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sharon in Davis
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent Program!

    It takes you all over the globe and shares stories from peoples lives- some famous and some not- that keeps me looking forward to each and every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trouya
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The storytelling is often described as moving and inspiring, with many finding it a great source of motivation.
Listeners appreciate the incredible range of true stories and the personal touch involved in each episode.
Fans love the emotional depth and the ability to showcase diverse human experiences from around the world.
Some feedback points to occasional issues with interview style, but the overall consensus is that it delivers valuable narratives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Laughter saved me: the comedian turning tragedy into comedy
Q: How did your relationship with your mother change after the fire?
Krystal described things being tense between her and her mother upon returning home from the hospital, particularly when it came to conversations about the fire.
Laughter saved me: the comedian turning tragedy into comedy
Q: What prompted you to turn your experience of the house fire into comedy?
Krystal realized she needed to confront her past, particularly the trauma from the fire, in a way that felt empowering and comedic.
Living a lie: discovering my dad faked who he was
Q: What would you say to him?
I just want to start from the beginning and see if I'm right.
Living a lie: discovering my dad faked who he was
Q: Looking back, are you glad you started on that journey, that you picked up that report?
Yes, I am.
Fatima Whitbread: from abandoned baby to world champion
Q: When Margaret asked you, do you want to come and live as a Whitbread? What did you say?
I smiled and I was excited about it, but at the same time, I was unsure. I didn't want to feel let down if it didn't work.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Lives Less Ordinary

What is Lives Less Ordinary about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Expect the unexpected in a podcast featuring incredible true stories from diverse individuals across the globe. Each episode showcases a guest who shares gripping, personal anecdotes that span a variety of themes, including survival, resilience, humor, and intrigue. With stories ranging from miraculous rescues and harrowing experiences to touching family reunions, listeners are treated to a tapestry of the human experience. Unique narratives often involve astonishing twists and uncover mysteries, captivating audiences while highlighting the profound depth of human experiences and connections.

Where can I find podcast stats for Lives Less Ordinary?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Lives Less Ordinary. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Lives Less Ordinary and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Lives Less Ordinary get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Lives Less Ordinary, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Lives Less Ordinary?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Lives Less Ordinary, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Lives Less Ordinary have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Lives Less Ordinary has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Lives Less Ordinary?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lives Less Ordinary:

1. Life Changing
2. The Documentary Podcast
3. Witness History
4. Great Lives
5. The History Hour

How many episodes of Lives Less Ordinary are there?

Lives Less Ordinary launched 16 years ago and published 305 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Lives Less Ordinary?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Lives Less Ordinary?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Lives Less Ordinary from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Lives Less Ordinary?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Lives Less Ordinary. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Lives Less Ordinary?

Recent guests on Lives Less Ordinary include:

1. Ijeoma Uchegbu
2. Jenny Evans
3. Tim Berners-Lee
4. Giulia Bacosi
5. Christiaan de Beukelaer
6. Mic Whitty
7. Adjoa Andoh
8. Sophie Parker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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