Lives Less Ordinary
BBC World ServiceHave you ever locked eyes with a stranger and wondered, "What’s their story?" Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Extraordinary stories from around the world.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 305 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | DocumentaryPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Separated from her family and trained as a child soldier, Loung Ung's unbreakable spirit helped her survive Pol Pot’s regime, which killed nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s population.
In the Chinese tradition of Loung Ung's mother, the element of fire... more
When 19-year-old Ann from Florida, USA was shot by her boyfriend in 2010, her family were thrust into a nightmare, one that meant taking the agonising decision to withdraw her life support.
In this intensely moving account of violence and loss, Ann’... more
Jackie makes sporting history for Ireland and uncovers the truth about her past.
Taken from her mother as a baby and raised in an Irish institution, Jackie McCarthy O’Brien grew up in silence, facing prejudice because of the colour of her skin, and ... more
A black girl in a white town, Jackie’s made to grow up silenced and alone. This episode contains outdated racial language that some might find offensive.
Jackie McCarthy O’Brien was just a baby when police officers flanked by a nun and a priest cam... more
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Reviews
- Usually good, but not today
The NZ couple was SO hard to listen to. Sniff sniff every few words. Surely that could have been edited out
Apple Podcasts3nivlag8
Australia2 months ago - Good show
Interviewing different people about interesting experiences and incidents, would recommend.
Apple Podcasts5Ishaan Shetty 1411
Singapore5 months ago - Simply perfect
Love it!
Apple Podcasts5jeckles88
United Kingdom6 months ago - Zarna Gary
What an amazing story of how she got where she is! I love her!!
Apple Podcasts5Cuca Girl
United States7 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 Podcasts5Sharon in DavisUnited States8 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #56 | United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #14 |  Canada/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #15 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #101 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #205 | Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #10 | Australia/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lives Less Ordinary
What is Lives Less Ordinary about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This program curates deeply personal, real-life stories from people around the world, focusing on resilience, identity, and transformation. Episodes explore intimate journeys—ranging from activism and survival to improbable life pivots and creative reinventions—told through first-person narratives and thoughtful interviewing. The tone is human-centered and globally minded, often highlighting social issues, cultural contexts, and moments of change in people's lives. A standout trait is the breadth of subjects, from historic upheavals to intimate, everyday breakthroughs, all anchored by careful storytelling and empathetic hosting that keeps listeners engaged and inspired.
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. The Documentary Podcast
2. Witness History
3. The History Hour
4. The Audio Long Read
5. Great Lives
How many episodes of Lives Less Ordinary are there?
Lives Less Ordinary launched 17 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. Jackie McCarthy O'Brien
2. Jacqueline McCarthy O'Brien
3. Ify Adenuga
4. Lloyd Kaufman
5. Andrew Lovell
6. Francois Pierron
7. Maggie Robin
8. Loubna Mrie
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.