Lives Less Ordinary
BBC World ServiceIntroducing a new season of five remarkable true stories in which love rises above prejudice, waits decades, crosses oceans and survives war. From India to Italy, Syria to the Bahamas, and the UK to the US, these are unforgettable stories that reveal how love can survive against the odds, heal old wounds and transform lives forever.
Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that ... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 305 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Personal JournalsDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Karan and Roshan’s real-life romance inspired their film A Nice Indian Boy, and the success of the Hollywood/Bollywood romcom has healed many family rifts on the way.
Karan Soni is an Indian actor famous for playing supporting roles in films like De... more
Kris Armstrong and Brandon Smith took their marriage vows seriously. But after Brandon suffered a major brain injury, Kris made a decision that led to their unique blended family.
Texans Kris and Brandon were high school sweethearts, but just a few... more
A secret tore apart their teenage love. Four decades later, they got a second chance.
In 1970s Nottingham, two teenagers fell head-over-heels in love when Mark Bethel arrived from the Bahamas to study. For Penny Umbers, it felt like the beginning of... more
In 2016 Janay was a journalist in London and needed footage of the conflict in Syria, so contacted camera operator Habak in Aleppo. What followed was a love story neither saw coming.
When Lebanese journalist Janay Boulos first started messaging Abd... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- :)
I’m 9. I recommend this podcast
Apple Podcasts5Paws of the cat club
Canadaa month ago - Fab podcast
Great stories, always look forward to it.
Apple Podcasts5Deb290969
United Kingdom2 months ago - So inspiring
Absolutely wonderful podcast. I learn so much. Extraordinary stories and almost all of them completely absorbing.
Love the host as well
Thank you
P.S we just got back from visiting Brolga et al at the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs and it was the most wonderful and special experience
Apple Podcasts5AnnaBlueStar
New Zealand3 months ago - Best Podcast Ever!
I love the variety of stories, incredible individuals and brilliant interviewers.
Apple Podcasts5MJ29MOUnited Kingdom4 months ago - 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
Australia6 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #50 |  United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #10 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #15 | Canada/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #99 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #199 | Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #5 | Australia/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Talking Points
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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 show curates intimate, real-life stories from people around the world who have endured extraordinary circumstances—war, displacement, illness, accident, and long-lost love—and finds meaning through resilience, forgiveness, and connection. Across episodes, listeners hear how love, courage, and human ingenuity pull people through decades of separation, cross-cultural challenges, and life-altering trauma, often weaving in professional work, family dynamics, and personal reinvention. A standout aspect is the global mix of guests and the emphasis on personal voice—stories range from romance across oceans to survival in war zones—delivered with compassionate interviewing and a strong human-rights sensibility.
Expect a blend of emotional, in... more
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?
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What are the audience demographics for Lives Less Ordinary?
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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 Audio Long Read
4. The History Hour
5. Strangers on a Bench
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. Roshan Sethi
2. Karan Soni
3. Kris Armstrong
4. Penny Umbers
5. Mark Bethel
6. Abd Al-Kader Habak
7. Janay Boulos
8. Asya Fuchs
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.