Welcome to strangers from KZW and Radiotopia.

I'm Leah Tao.

And a couple weeks ago, I got an email from a guy called Sam in Australia.

Here's some of what it said.

Hi, Leah.

I've been a longtime listener of strangers.

Just after my daughter was born, I had a massive, what-the-fuck am I doing with my life moment.

Actually more than a moment.

I'd always wanted to be a writer, but during my 20s I got sidetracked by being lazy, wanting to party,

and I was never willing to do any hard work.

But facing the reality of being a first-time

father, I knew I had to do something, create something, so my daughter could one day see the man

I really was. Around the same time, I started listening to strangers and Stali Kine's mystery show.

Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do with my spare time.

I knew who I could be.

I knew how I could be it.

I've recently released a 10th story on my podcast.

If you get an opportunity to give it a listen,

I would really value any feedback you might have.

Well, we did give a listen, and we really, really liked it.

So much that we decided to share it with you guys.

Sam's podcast is called Human Ordinary, and here's an adapted version he made for us of his

...