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 | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Ex army officer Devon Harris was part of the historic Olympic bobsleigh team that inspired the film Cool Runnings, but Hollywood only got half the story.
Devon grew up in a tough area of Kingston, Jamaica, called Olympic Gardens. He dreamed of taki... more
Nina Blom's early years were plagued by mysterious, serious illnesses. Growing up in the Netherlands in the 1970s and 80s, Nina seemed at first to be a typical child, playing with dolls and enjoying singing and dancing. But soon, her mother became co... more
When Zayd Ayers Dohrn was born his parents were fugitives. They were the leaders of the Weather Underground – a violent revolutionary group opposed to the Vietnam war. Most members were white, but they worked closely with radical black organisations ... more
In some ways Zayd Ayers Dohrn’s childhood was normal; his parents went to work and played with him in the park. Though in other ways it was anything but: moving between safe houses, fleeing in the night as the FBI moved in. His parents were the leade... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- The matchmaker
Such a lovely episode- made me laugh out loud. Thank you
Apple Podcasts5Antigua listener
United Kingdoma month ago - :)
I’m 9. I recommend this podcast
Apple Podcasts5Paws of the cat club
Canada2 months ago - Fab podcast
Great stories, always look forward to it.
Apple Podcasts5Deb290969United Kingdom3 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 Zealand4 months ago - Best Podcast Ever!
I love the variety of stories, incredible individuals and brilliant interviewers.
Apple Podcasts5MJ29MOUnited Kingdom5 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #88 |  United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #17 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #34 | Canada/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #157 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #10 |  Australia/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #42 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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?
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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four 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. Careless | Tortoise Investigates
4. The Audio Long Read
5. Intrigue
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. Nina Blom
2. Zayd Ayers Dohrn
3. Victor Tsaran
4. Bart Zevenhek
5. Nieky Liesker
6. Karo Caran
7. Fiona Smiley Wright
8. Andrew Johnston
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.