Mustafa Al-Assam was once part of the notorious Anonymous organisation, hacking into the world’s biggest websites and databases. He then started his own hacker group, taking down the entire PlayStation network for three weeks and leaking the details of 73,000 X Factor contestants… all whilst still a teenager in school. Mustafa explains how he got away with it all for so long and the moment he was eventually caught.  



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Extraordinary Lives is a podcast from the team behind LADbible’s Minutes With. You can watch all of our videos here - youtube.com/c/LADbible/videos



We speak to remarkable people who each have a unique story to tell - spies, terrorists, hackers, gangsters, killers, people with particular conditions, and those who’ve lived unreal experiences. These are the stories that resonated the most with LADbible’s audience when they were originally told on Minutes With.



In this podcast, LADbible’s Ben Powell-Jones sits down with those individuals for a more in-depth conversation, revealing untold tales for the first time.






S1 Ep14: I Hacked The US Government Aged 16

We speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor. Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

In this episode we sat down with Chris Lambrianou, former gangster, who worked with the Kray twins and was involved in the murder of notorious East End gangster Jack "The Hat" McVitie.



Chris told us about his childhood, his way into crime, what it was like to deal with the Krays and how the prison has completely transformed his childhood to life.



This is an episode of Extraordinary Lives, where we speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor.



Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives.



Extraordinary Lives is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/minuteswith and get on your way to being your best self.



Thanks to Chris for taking part!






S2 Ep17: Former Gangster Who Worked For The Krays Opens Up On His Life

Dave Courtney has many titles - he has been a doorman in London's finest nightclubs, he became known as "celebrity gangster" after carrying out security for the Krays at their funeral and has been involved in some criminal activity. Dave shared with us his incredible life story and where he is now. 



This is an episode of Extraordinary Lives, where we speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor. 



Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives.



Thanks to Dave for taking part! 

You can follow him here:

https://www.facebook.com/david.courtney.9003

https://instagram.com/davidcourtneyobe






S2 Ep16: London "Celebrity Gangster" Dave Courtney Tells His Life Story

Ruhal Ahmed was detained without trial by the US government in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He told us about the abuse and torture he experienced, and how he was eventually flown back to the UK in 2004 and released the next day without charges. 

This is an episode of Extraordinary Lives, where we speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor. 

Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives. 

Thanks to Ruhal for taking part! 

Host: Ben Powell-Jones, Twitter: @BenPowellJones

S2 Ep15: Ex Guantanamo Prisoner: Torture And Abuse Inside The World's Most Notorious Jail

Natalie Welsh was caught at Venezuelan airport in 2001 smuggling £300,000 worth of cocaine out of the country - together with her four-year-old daughter. Natalie shares a story of how she got to that point in her life, how she found out she was facing 10 years in one of the deadliest prisons in South America and her incredible escape back to the UK. 



This is an episode of Extraordinary Lives, where we speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor. Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives.



Thanks to Natalie for taking part! 

You can buy her book and find out more about her story here: 

⁠https://amzn.eu/d/bT0KzB4⁠

⁠https://instagram.com/nataliew3lsh⁠

⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-from-Venezuelas-Deadliest-Prison/dp/B08NC7BB81/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5HAAI9Q2GQO4&keywords;=natalie+welsh&qid;=1687870471&sprefix;=natalie+welsh%2Caps%2C187&sr;=8-1⁠



Host: Ben Powell-Jones, Twitter: @BenPowellJones 






S2 Ep14: Drug Mule: How I Survived Venezuela's Deadliest Prison

Art Forger Max Brandrett has spent most of his life forging famous paintings. He shared stories about his childhood, explained how he got into forgery and what techniques he used to age paintings, as well how he now creates Banksy replicas.



This is an episode of Extraordinary Lives, where we speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor. Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives.






S1 Ep14: I Hacked The US Government Aged 16

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