REAL LIVES

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...

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...

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...

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/REA...

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...

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...

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 s...

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...

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...

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...

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 to...

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,...

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 r...

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...

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...

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/REALtruecrimepodcast To buy S...

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...

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/REALtruecrimepodcast To follow Lewis on...

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...

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/@verityhenton And Ali Marsh from Miss AM Private...

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...

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...

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 lo...

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,...

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://ww...