REAL LIVES
From Naomi Channell, TV producer and journalist, comes a new series that explores extraordinary true stories beyond crime. Each episode features people with remarkable experiences, including a bigamist's victim, a Dunblane survivor, the UK's first commercial surrogate, and a death doula. These are tales of resilience, heartbreak, and reinvention that prove real life can be stranger than fiction.
Episodes
'I Begged Doctors For Help For Eight Years... I Had Stage 4 Cancer'
When Anna started to feel unwell eight years ago, she knew deep down that something wasn't right. She would constantly seek help from doctors, begging them to help her find out what was wrong. Anna believes that medical misogyny was partly to blame for cries for help, because the problems she was experiencing were gynaecological. Finally, after eight years, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.An
'My Daughter Was Killed by Racing Drivers'
In this episode, we are joined by Jo Alkir; her only child, 17-year-old Olivia went out with her friends to celebrate the end of her exams, but she never made it home.Olivia was killed after getting into a car with a boy who had passed his driving test the day before, and made the reckless decision to race his friend. That decision would claim Olivia's life.Jo is here to tell us about that fateful
'I've Worked on Murder Cases... As a Psychic'
When TJ Higgs was a single mother in her twenties, she went along to a psychic fair and it changed her life. She realised she had a gift and she wanted to use it for good. So she started working as a spiritual medium and after a few years of practicing, she was invited to try to help families who were looking for answers in their loved ones unsolved murder cases. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like
'Living With a Murderer Shaped My Life's Purpose'
When Sonnet Daymont attended a job interview to be a live-in assistant and nanny to a little boy, she had no idea how much her life would change.Her new employer was Gigi Jordan, who went on to kill her son Jude, who suffered with a range of learning disabilities. Sonnet had tried to get help after she suspected the little boy was being abused, but flaws in the social care system meant that potent
'My Boyfriend Had Me Sectioned... Because I Was Leaving Him'
When Orla met a man in a bar in France, she had no idea how much that meeting would change her life.They started dating and she travelled around the world with him, so he could pursue his career. But he soon started to control Orla, he was emotionally abusive and was doing everything he could to cut her off from her friends and family... including trying to convince her that had been abused as a c
'Being In The Police Nearly Killed Me... Now I'm Saving Other Officers'
Between 2022 - 2025, at least 70 police officers in England and Wales took their own lives.When Ben Dimmock joined the police, he knew he wanted to help others and serve his community. But after years in the force, seeing traumatic incidents and running towards danger, his mental health started to decline, and he started having suicidal thoughts.But he bravely confided in his superiors and after h
'My Abusers Walk Free... But I've Found Peace & Happiness'
TRIGGER WARNING: Child Sexual AbuseWhen Jeanette was a child, she survived sexually assaults by two different predators, neither of them have ever been held to account and walk free.But Jeanette reached out because she wanted to share an important message, one that centres around healing and finding a way to let go of the trauma and control her abusers had over her life.This is REAL LIVES.If you'd
'I'm Creating a Legacy for my Son who Died by Suicide'
When Steve Phillip's phone rang on the 4th of December 2019, he didn't know that phone call would change his life forever. His son's partner told him that Jordan, his second born child, had died by suicide. He was 34 years old.Steve now runs The Jordan Legacy, a suicide prevention charity, and he is here today to share his story and what he hopes to achieve in Jordan's honour.This is REAL LIVES.To
"The Accusation That Changed My Life."
When Sanjay met his ex-partner, red flags started to emerge shortly after they became a couple. She was rude to his family, tried to cut him off from his family and would verbally and physically abuse him.His family would get the police to conduct welfare checks on him, fearing he was in real danger of being seriously harmed. Sanjay started to recognise that he was being abused and told her that
'I Ended Up on the Sex Offenders Register Whilst I Was Pregnant'
When Steph was working in a mental health facility, she was also dealing with the break down of her marriage. So when a patient who was preparing for release started showing her attention, she entered into a relationship with him. One that would leave her expecting his child and facing a prison sentence....This is REAL LIVES.If you'd like to support the show and join me over on Patreon, please see
The Affair... with Anna Williamson - 'My maid of honour was pregnant with my husband's baby'
Today I want to share an episode of a podcast that I am the co-creator and producer of - 'The Affair... with Anna Williamson'. In the first episode Anna talks to Becky, a woman who has lived through the unthinkable. In this story of the ultimate double betrayal, Becky takes us through her journey of finding out that her husband and best friend were expecting a baby together and how she began to he
End Eye Check: The Fight Against Spouses Who Drug & Abuse Their Partners
In this very special podcast, hosts Naomi Channell (from the ‘REAL’ and ‘REAL LIVES’ podcast) and Lala (aka @Lalalaletmeexplain from the ‘Block, Delete, Move On’ podcast) are joined by Zoe Watts, a survivor of systematic drug facilitated abuse at the hands of her former husband and one of the founders of the #endeyecheck campaign. Zoe tells her story and the message and change she hopes to ac
'I Cut off my Parents to Save my Mental Health'
From the outside looking in, Elaine was raised in your average household - Mum, Dad and 2 children. But as Elaine grew older, she started to realise that her mother was being emotionally abusive towards her. She's here today to share her story and to explain why she chose to cut-off from her family for good. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can join Patreon here, thank yo
'I work on the front lines of the war against poaching in Africa'
Holly Budge is a modern day wonder woman. She started out as an adventurer, she was the first woman to skydive Mount Everest and she has jumped out of a place thousands of times.But when she came across the plight of wild animals, especially elephants, in Africa, and the thousands of poachers who illegally kill them every year for their ivory and other materials, she knew she wanted to be part of
The Story of Michael Dorian: An Unlikely 9/11 Hero
On the 11th of September 2001, Michael Dorian, dressed in scrubs, raced towards the pile of debris that was now all that was left of the twin towers. He knew people would assume he was a doctor, but he wasn't, he was a veterinary technician. Whilst he was there, he helped many firefighters and volunteers. In the years that followed, Michael became unwell. He had skin cancer, caused by wading throu
'Estrangement From My Children Has Broken Me More Than The Estrangement From My Parents'
Trinity grew up in a household that was void of love and care, her mother hadn't wanted children and she looked forward to the day she could start her own family and pour her love into them. But now she has found herself estranged from 2 of her children and she want's to speak out, to help make sense of her plight and to help others who might be going through something similar. This is REAL LIVES.
'A Tragedy Turned Me Into An Undercover Cop.... with a Death Wish'
Todd's life was going well, he had just joined the police, he'd met a woman he loved and he doted on her young son. But just after they saw in the new millennium - Todd's world changed in an instant. And the tragic event from that day, led him to becoming an undercover cop... who didn't care if he lived or died. Todd's story is raw, real and inspiring and now he is turning his pain into purpose an
'When Families End Up in Court, No One Really Wins'
For the last 25 years, Paula Rhone-Adrien has represented thousands of clients in UK family courts. From child abductions to cases involving domestic violence, Paula is here today to bust some of the myths that can be assumed when it comes to family law and how allegations of crime within the home are more common than we realise.To follow Paula on social media, see here:https://www.instagram.com/p
'I Caught a British Serial Killer'
Former murder detective Colin Sutton has achieved something only few can say they have done in their lives. He caught one of the UK's most violent serial killers ans well as one of the country's most depraved predators.In this episode, we hear directly from Colin about the highs and lows of his career and the moments that stuck with him. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you c
'My Sister's Murder Changed My Life'
When Bernie was told his sister had been murdered by her partner in 2012, he never could have predicted the way his life was going to change forever.Bernie now runs 'What Makes A Man' - an innovative enterprise that teaches men and boys about masculinity and how to end violence against women and girls. This is REAL LIVES. To support the show, you can do so here, thank you: https://patreon.com/REAL
'My Sister's Lies Tore My Family Apart'
When Suzanne was growing up, she was close to her big sister. But when she was 17, Suzanne's parent's told her her sister had accused Suzanne of the ultimate betrayal and 30 years on, the sisters continue to be estranged. Suzanne's here today to tell her story and how one vicious rumour almost ruined her reputation and meant that she never spoke to her again. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to s
'I Met My Husband Through Writing Prison Letters'
When Deb Cullen started writing letters to a violent prisoner in a psychiatric prison as a teenager, she didn't expect that her would soon be her husband.Deb had been a law abiding citizen, but when her husband got out of prison, it wasn't long before she found herself in one too....This is REAL LIVES.To support the show and get add free access to REAL LIVES and REAL for £2 a month, plus other ben
'My Daughter Died... And Now She's Saving Others'
In October 2024, six-year-old Ruby Rose Trussler became ill. Her family thought she had a sickness bug, but the reality was far worse. Ruby died after contracting sepsis following an operation she had 7 months prior.Their lives have been forever changed and now they have launched an independent charity called The Ruby Rose Foundation - a charity committed to education around sepsis, bereavement su
'I Had No Idea My Ex Was Stalking Me'
When actress Nicola Holt received a message from a film director called Kevin on social media, she was excited to get her teeth into some new projects. Their relationship became romantic and Nicola was hopeful for the future. But something was niggling her and after some digging she discovered that Kevin had a long term partner and that he was living a double life. The relationship ended and Nicol
'My Partner Almost Killed Me'
When Mandy met her ex-partner, she thought he was the one. But after six months, she started to see a completely different side to him and soon she found herself in a controlling and extremely violent relationship. Mandy was subjected to severe violence and she was terrified to leave, she even moved her son out of the home to keep him safe. But after a brutal assault by the man who claimed to love
'My Brother Killed 2 People... But I'll Always Stand By Him'
On this episode, I am joined by a woman who we are calling 'Natalie' to protect her identity. Her brother is serving a natural life order for killing two people and Natalie is here to give insight in to what it is like, grieving the loss of her brother, not through death, but through his incarceration.With approximately 300 people jailed for murder every year in England and Wales, the families of
'How I Discovered I was in a Cult'
When journalist Anke Richter moved to New Zealand, she wanted to explore more of life. So she joined an organisation that promised to help her explore sexuality. But it was a chance encounter with a cult survivor that she was writing a journalistic piece on that she realised that she was also in a cult.Anke is now one of the worlds most respected 'cult journalists' and advocates and she's here tod
From Homeless to Hero: The Story of Jay Flynn
In this episode of REAL LIVES, Jay Flynn MBE tells the extraordinary story of the two years he spent homeless, sleeping rough and living without certainty. It was a deliberate decision that would go on to shape his life, his career, and his sense of purpose.But then something changed... Jay was offered help from The Connection at St Martin's charity and now he's the Nation's Favourite Quizmaster,
Defending Evil & Freeing the Innocent with Tad Nelson
Tad Nelson is one of Texas' most successful criminal defence attorneys. With Texas being a death penalty state, Tad has saved lives but also defended some of America's most dangerous criminals. He's worked on over 500 jury trials and has a plethora of qualifications under his belt, including certificates in forensic science.In this episode, Tad tells us what being a criminal defence attorney is re
'I'm Fighting the Law for my Sister'
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains references to domestic violence and suicide. Whilst the descriptions are not explicit, please take extra care whilst listening. In March 2023, Danielle Haggarty was found unresponsive in the flat of a man she was dating on and off for eight years. The circumstance's in this case revealed a disturbing fact - it's not a crime to witness someone dying and not ca
'A Million Strangers Saved My Child's Life'
When Ellen De Meyer delivered her baby girl, she was over the moon to give her son a baby sister. But when her daughter Pia was just 3 months old, Ellen noticed that something was wrong with Pia's movement and strength.Pia was diagnosed with SMA Type 1, which can be life-limiting. There was a medicine that could save her, but it cost over £1.5m.And what happened next, is enough to restore anyone's
'I've Spent My Life Catching Killers'
If someone we loved is killed by someone else, we rely on detectives in the major crime teams to catch the killer. In this episode, murder detective Steve Keogh talks us through his career, how he has foiled terrorism plots, caught killers and got justice for than 100 murder victims.This is REAL LIVES. To join me on Patreon, please see here:https://www.patreon.com/c/REALtruecrimepodcastTo buy Stev
'My Husband - The Conspiracy Theorist'
Many of us have different points of view from our spouse, but what happens when your partner becomes a full time conspiracy theorist?This is exactly what happened to Louise Williamson. And she's here to tell us about her experience.This is REAL LIVES.To find out more about Louise's experience and how she started to heal, you can find her wonderful book 'My Husband, The Rabbit Hole and Me - When Ma
'I Endured Years of Gay Conversion Therapy'
Lewis Crompton knew he was gay, but the church he was part of told him it was wrong. So he entered their 'Gay Conversion' therapy programme. In this episode, Lewis describes his experience and how his life looks very different now. This is REAL LIVES. if you'd like to support the show, you can do so here by joining Patreon, thank you:https://www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcastTo follow Lewis on s
Mark Tinsley: The Man Who Helped Bring Down Alex Murdaugh
Mark Tinsley is the lawyer who stepped into one of the most notorious — and deeply troubling — criminal investigations of recent years: The Murdaugh Family Murders. Mark meticulously followed the facts and relentlessly pursued justice in one of America's most infamous trials. In today’s episode of Real Lives, Mark opens up about his fight against Alex Murdaugh, getting justice for Mallory Beach, a
The Rise of the Female PI's
In this episode, we speak to three female PI's who are blowing the stereotype of a 'Private Investigator' right out of the water. These women work on everything from cheating spouses to unsolved murders. Today's guests are Samantha and Emma from Verity Henton - www.verityhenton.co.uk / https://www.instagram.com/verityhenton/ / https://www.tiktok.com/@verityhentonAndAli Marsh from Miss AM Private
'My Teacher Abused Me and I Planned to Kill Him'.
John Comerford was raised in a home where he felt happy, safe and loved. But when he went to high school, his teacher took those feelings from him. He was physically and sexually abused by his teacher and it changed his life forever. After he left school, he was left with the emotional scars and deep routed trauma that made him want to take the life of the man who had caused him so much pain. So h
“My Brother Was Murdered & It Changed My Life Forever"
On the 30th of May 2015, Eugene Scardifield's life changed forever. His brother Michael had been murdered in a violent attack. In this episode, Eugene takes us through Michael's case and guides us through his reality. What does the family of a person lost to homicide do once they receive such devastating news? And how do you begin to live again? This is REAL LIVES. To join my Patreon, please find
'My Groom Went Missing on Our Wedding day'
Kayley Stead thought she had it all.... a job she loved, a man she adored and now... he'd put a ring on it and she was getting married.But as she was getting ready on the morning of her wedding, her bridesmaid dropped a bombshell - nobody could find the groom. And what happened next is something most of us would never have predicted. This is REAL LIVES. To support the show and become part of a lov
End of Life: Inside the Role of a Death Doula
We have midwives and birth doula's to help bring us into this world, but there are a growing number of people who are helping people leave this world too. In this episode, Dr Emma Clare tells us about her role an end of life doula, how she helps people die on their terms and why this job changed her view on life. This is REAL LIVES.if you'd like to support the show, you can join my Patreon here, t
Kim Cotton: The UK’s First Commercial Surrogate
In the 1980s, a British mother of 2 became the UK's first commercial surrogate. But what started out as an act of kindness, made headlines around the world. In her first podcast interview, Kim Cotton talks about her life as a once controversial figure, who has helped 1147 couples have babies via surrogacy. This is REAL LIVES. To support the show, you can join my Patreon here, thank you:https://www
Married to a Stranger: My Husband the Bigamist
Yve Gibney thought she had it all, a successful career, thriving children and a husband she adored.But almost two decades into her marriage, her husband said something that made her question everything. So she started to investigate him and what she discovered would turn her world upside down.This is REAL LIVES.If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:https://www.patreon.co
Remembering Dunblane: A Survivor’s Story
In March 1996, a man entered the Dunblane primary school in Scotland and murdered 16 primary school children and their teacher who was trying to protect them. This tragedy is mourned and remembered by millions across the UK and beyond, no more so than those from the local community. Amy Rose was a pupil at the school the day the unthinkable happened, and she is here to share how this tragedy impac
Introducing.... REAL LIVES
Starting weekly from the 6th of October 2025....From Naomi Channell, TV producer, journalist, and host of the hit true crime podcast REAL, comes a brand-new series that proves the most extraordinary stories aren’t always about crime… they’re about life.In REAL LIVES, Naomi sits down with people whose experiences are stranger, wilder, and more moving than fiction. From a victim of a bigamist to a D
Recommended
Off Court With Greg Rusedski
IELTS, OET and UKMLA PLAB 2 Made Easy Podcast For Medical Professionals
The Systemic Way
Trauma Bonding to Secure Relationship
Golden's Oldies
Lucy & Sam's Perfect Brains
The ADHD Adults Podcast
RHISE: Real History in Simple English (B2-C1, British)
Swingers
Messy Social Work
Africa's not for Wimps
Outsiding
