Stories of Ordinary Lives

Owen's Story: Finding His Speed in Laos

Recorded at Owen's regular morning coffee spot in Luang Prabang, at 3 PM, because barmen keep their own hours. Owen is Canadian, stubborn by his own admission, and has called Laos home on and off since 2016. He first arrived as an English teacher with an NGO, working with novice monks in Buddhist temples outside Luang Prabang, before helping build one of the city's first stable for-profit language schools. Then COVID hit, the borders closed, and he found himself in Hackney for five years, working long hours and saving up for fish and chips. In this episode we talk about growing up feeling like you don't belong, what it means when a place finally matches your pace, and why the go-go-go mentality never quite sticks in Laos. We also get into the Lao village chief system, the honest directness he found here that he never quite got in London, and the difference between freedom in the UK and freedom in Southeast Asia. And at the end, Owen shares a moment of kindness that wasn't soft or sentimental, just someone telling him the truth at exactly the right time. If you're in Luang Prabang, go find him at La Cantina.

Iman's Story: Mekong reflections

In this episode of Stories of Ordinary Lives, we find ourselves on a two-day boat journey down the Mekong River. Our guest, Iman, reflects on her transition from finance in Paris to a life with no schedule. We talk about her parents’ fears, the difference between vacationing and traveling, and the realization that being open to new experiences shouldn't just happen when we’re away from home.   Pictures from the slow boat trip: https://justluciastudio.com/two-day-slow-boat-on-the-mekong-river-in-laos/

Season Two is Here!

Welcome to season two of Stories of Ordinary Lives. In this short episode, I’m saying hello from Laos and sharing a quick update from the road. I talk about arriving in Nong Khiaw, the journey that brought me here, and what the past weeks between Chiang Mai and Laos have looked like. It’s a brief check-in, a few impressions from travel, and a glimpse of what’s coming next. Season two starts here! Substack: https://justlucia.substack.com/

Season One Goodbye: Heading East

This episode is different. No guest, just a raw, honest monologue that closes season one. I walk you through the shock of returning to London after months in Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean, the uneasy sight of luxury towers gazing down on sprawling slums, and the cognitive dissonance that made me question how we live. I share the small, personal ruptures that pushed me toward a sabbatical and a leap into the unknown. It’s a story of burnout, curiosity, and the stubborn belief that changing your place can change your life. In a couple of days I fly east with a rough plan, a hope to find new faces, and a promise to bring you shorter updates and deeper interviews from the road. Tune in for a gentle, reflective send-off and the start of the next chapter.   Link to my Substack: https://justlucia.substack.com/

Prerna's Story: Choosing a Different Path in Modern India

What happens when you grow up in a sleepy Himalayan town, step into the whirlwind of Kolkata, and ultimately choose a quieter life in the hills of Sikkim? Prerna's story is one of contrasts—between tradition and modernity, family expectations and personal freedom, conformity and conscious choice. In this episode, Prerna opens up about her journey from a convent school in Kalimpong to the bustling streets of Kolkata, where she found both heartbreak and confidence that would shape who she is today. Now working in travel and rooted in Sikkim, she reflects on what it means to build a life on her own terms. We dive into the realities of gender roles in India, the invisible burdens of balancing career with traditional expectations that many women carry, and Prerna's bold choice to remain child-free in a culture where motherhood is often seen as inevitable. This episode is a reminder that life doesn't have to follow the script handed to us. It's about choosing, redefining, and daring to imagine a different future.