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Artwork for Lives Less Ordinary

Lives Less Ordinary

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

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes305Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & CultureDocumentary

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Artwork for Lives Less Ordinary

Latest Episodes

Fatima Whitbread grew up in a UK children’s home. She found both a mother and a coach in one person – going on to break the javelin world record and become an Olympic medallist. Fatima spent her first 14 years in a series of institutions after being ... more

When Ijeoma Uchegbu arrived back in the UK as a single mum of three young children she soon found herself living in a homeless shelter; now she is a pioneer in the field of nanoparticles in medicine.

Ijeoma Uchegbu has dedicated her career to studyi... more

Swedish youth worker Nicolas Lunabba had one strict rule: never get attached to the kids you help. Then 13-year-old Elijah moved in — and turned his mentor’s flat into a home.

In Malmö, Sweden, where poverty and violence shaped young lives, detachme... more

N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos survived betrayal and a tabloid sting.

Tulisa was born into a family of musicians in Camden, London, and says music was part of her everyday life. But her childhood was impacted by her mother's severe mental health ... 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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People also subscribe to these shows.

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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
    Singaporea month ago
  • Simply perfect

    Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jeckles88
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Zarna Gary

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cuca Girl
    United States3 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 States4 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 States4 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.

Tulisa: I wanted fame, but it almost destroyed me
Q: Do you feel accepted by the public now?
She affirmed that interactions with the public have been positive, indicating a change in public perception.
Tulisa: I wanted fame, but it almost destroyed me
Q: Did you feel that the aftermath of these experiences changed the perception of success for you?
Tulisa indicated that her view of success remained largely the same, seeing it as a game to navigate despite experiencing its darker side.
Tulisa: I wanted fame, but it almost destroyed me
Q: How did you cope during the legal troubles you faced?
She shared how she dealt with the pressure and mental health fallout, including retreating to a bathroom during the worst times.
Tulisa: I wanted fame, but it almost destroyed me
Q: Did you find pressure and scrutiny more intense after you became an X Factor judge?
Tulisa talked about the initial excitement but described it as the point when negative stories about her began to surface, making her feel the consequences of fame.
Tulisa: I wanted fame, but it almost destroyed me
Q: Tell me about joining what would become your first band. How did it happen?
Tulisa explained how her uncle recognized her singing talent and invited her to join her cousin's group, leading to the formation of N-Dubz.

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. The Inquiry
5. The Audio Long Read

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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