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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
Cameroon
Migration
Moscow
Family
Revolution
Lucía Topolanski
Antiquities
Stolen Heritage
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
Personal JournalsDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Lives Less Ordinary

Latest Episodes

Abbas Alizada was nine when he first saw a Bruce Lee film. He fell in love with kung-fu, copying his hero’s moves and his look before an online post shot him to overnight fame.

Abbas was born in Kabul in 1993, the youngest of nine siblings. His fami... more

This extra edition of Lives Less Ordinary is to remember the remarkable conservationist and primatologist Jane Goodall, who has died at 91. The life she lived alongside great apes revolutionised the way we see them – and ourselves. It was 65 years ag... more

Vamarr Hunter always felt a special bond with the owner of his favourite local bakery — but never imagined she could be his long-lost birth mother.

Vamarr loved to visit the bakery in his home neighbourhood in Chicago, enjoying the cakes, pies and ... more

Once a homeless teen in Mumbai, now Zarna Garg’s a top comedian, touring with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Zarna Garg was in her 40s living in New York City when she went to an open mic night for the very first time. Before that, she’d never even heard... more

Key Facts

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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

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’
Tomoaki Hamatsu
Comedian known as Nasubi, who underwent a unique and demanding experience on reality TV.
Episode: Naked and alone: the comedian trapped in a reality TV show
Trent Dalton
Author and storyteller, known for his best-selling book "Boy Swallows Universe"
Author of Boy Swallows Universe
Episode: How my mysterious childhood became a best-selling novel
Johanna Aatsalo
Finnish journalist who uncovered a doping scandal in sports.
Episode: The sports scandal scoop that almost destroyed me

Hosts

Mobeen Azhar
Host of Lives Less Ordinary
Siobhán McSweeney
Host of Lives Less Ordinary

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Zarna Gary

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cuca Girl
    United States19 days 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Used to love this show

    Most recent stories sound fake. The dog whisperer thing is so fake the interviewer was reminding him of stuff throughout the interview:)))

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JJ_Lemieux
    United Statesa month ago
  • Inspirational Storytelling at its best! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I love this show! Every story is well-researched and delicately presented to inspire listeners to live less ordinarily. The writers and presenters creatively ask questions to move the story forward and keep us engaged authentically. I’m a big fan. Big thank you to the production team for the weekly inspiration!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    z8uneh
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews mention varying presentation styles, with a mix of appreciation for the depth of narratives and critique of interview techniques.
Listeners commend the podcast for its poignant storytelling and diverse personal experiences.
Overall, it garners praise for uncovering extraordinary tales that resonate with audiences seeking both hope and understanding.
The show is viewed as an inspiring source that highlights resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Zarna Garg: The rise of an ‘unstoppable’ comedy star
Q: Did you get to enjoy it?
Zarna expressed that while she works tirelessly, she loves what she does and finds great joy in it, despite the exhaustion.
Zarna Garg: The rise of an ‘unstoppable’ comedy star
Q: Did you feel that you'd been ground down to the point of submission?
Zarna admitted that she had given up after a long period of homelessness, but a last-minute visa change allowed her to leave at just the right moment.
Zarna Garg: The rise of an ‘unstoppable’ comedy star
Q: How did you translate that into being your career?
Zarna shared that her daughter suggested doing stand-up comedy, which led her to explore her humor after seeing that people engaged with her stories.
I sent three innocent teenagers to prison for life
Q: So when you sit down in the Conviction Integrity Unit and you give your account of what happened, which obviously contradicts the evidence you gave, how did they react?
As I'm explaining it, I could see that light bulb expression pop up in Ms. Laura Liskombe's face. Because she was like, wait a minute, we got something here.
I sent three innocent teenagers to prison for life
Q: Obviously, you were 14 at the time and in a very difficult situation. But now as a 56-year-old, do you take responsibility for what you did that day?
I've always taken responsibility, always, always. And I never once took the attitude well, well, it was the cops, it was the cops, it was the cops.

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?

A captivating exploration of remarkable true stories from people around the globe, this podcast invites listeners to immerse themselves in the extraordinary journeys of individuals from various backgrounds. Each episode presents an interview with a guest who shares a personal narrative that is often filled with ups and downs, grappling with themes such as resilience, survival, and the unexpected turns life can take. The diverse range of topics spans from harrowing accounts of survival in challenging circumstances to humorous anecdotes that reflect the complexities of human experiences, making it relatable yet awe-inspiring.

Noteworthy for its ability to connect listeners with the personal struggles and triumphs of guests from different cu... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Lives Less Ordinary?

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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 History Hour
4. The Audio Long Read
5. Strangers on a Bench

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. Giulia Bacosi
2. Christiaan de Beukelaer
3. Mic Whitty
4. Adjoa Andoh
5. Sophie Parker
6. Delimar Vera
7. Tomoaki Hamatsu
8. Trent Dalton

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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