Episodes

Andrew Clough set off on what was meant to be the trip of a lifetime, but after a vehicle breakdown in Egypt's Western Desert he found himself stranded with a nomadic guide, walking nearly 100 kilometres through extreme heat with almost no water in a desperate fight to stay alive. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Andrew recounts the journey from carefree backpacker to survival mode, sharing the mistakes that led him there, the hallucinations, exhaustion and impossible decisions along th...

Danijela Čolić is an entrepreneur, strategist and Bosnian war refugee who has turned personal loss, displacement and hardship into a life built around business, community and helping others grow. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Danijela talks about the strength she draws from her family, the stories behind her tattoos, building Club Quantum and the lessons she has learned from running several businesses. This is a conversation about using pain as fuel, letting go of what no longer ser...

Liam shares the story of a business trip to Dubai that turned into a terrifying fight for safety after a drone was intercepted near the Palm and explosions started echoing through the city. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Liam talks about running from the Palm, hiding in a building site, leaving goodbye messages for his children, finding a way home, and trying to make sense of what happened afterwards. His story is about fear, family, survival, friendship, and the moment you realise t...

David Thomson is the founder of Suada whose life was shaped by growing up mixed-race in 1970s Britain, poverty, violence at home, and the fight to build a different future. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, David talks about racism at school, joining the army at 16, becoming a boxing champion, discovering sales, and using persuasion, self-education and discipline to change the direction of his life. David shares how resilience can come from harsh beginnings, but also why young people ne...

Olivia Hamilton is the founder of Changing Minds Training, a mental health training company that helps professionals have better, more human conversations about mental health, crisis and suicide prevention. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Olivia talks openly about growing up in a chaotic home, struggling with self-harm from a young age, developing bulimia as a teenager, and living through suicide attempts, family breakdown and long waits for the right support. She also reflects on the ...

Lyn Parent was born in Paris, raised in England, and built a life full of reinvention, risk, resilience and unexpected turns. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Lyn shares the story of being diagnosed with HIV in 1990, being told she had six months to live, moving to New Zealand, becoming a mother, facing stigma, surviving control and emotional abuse, and using her own experience to support other women. Lyn’s story is about much more than one diagnosis. It is about refusing to be defined...

Sonya Black is a psychotherapist and CBT specialist whose work focuses on trauma, anxiety, depression and helping people understand what happens when the brain’s alarm system gets switched on. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Sonya explains why trauma is not always about the event itself, but how the brain and body process what happened afterwards. She talks about safety, powerlessness, flashbacks, rumination, shame, post-traumatic growth and why some memories feel as if they are still ...

Greg Wasserman is a podcast industry connector, LinkedIn creator and host of Podcast Network Insights, whose life changed after a mental health crisis led him into rehab. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Greg talks about losing his job during the pandemic, struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, learning the language of emotions, and discovering why asking for help is a strength rather than a burden. Greg’s story is about recovery, vulnerability, male mental health, better co...

Rachael Rodgers is a specialist in wills and estate planning who helps people understand what really happens when life, death, divorce, blended families, property, children, and money collide. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Rachael explains why a basic will is often not enough, why assumptions about marriage and inheritance can cause serious problems, and why lasting powers of attorney may be one of the most important documents you ever create. Rachael’s message is blunt but useful: ...

Rachel Thomas is a specialist mesothelioma nurse whose work has been defined by more than two decades of supporting people and families through serious illness, end of life care, and the hard realities most of us try not to face. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Rachel talks about why so many people avoid talking about death, the fear families carry when time is short, and how honest conversations and good care can bring more peace than many expect. Rachel leaves you thinking about dea...

Lena Robinson is a marketer and founder of FTSQ whose life was shaped by years spent working across advertising, branding and sales, where she learned how often businesses confuse hard selling with real connection. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, David Brown and Lena dig into why so many LinkedIn posts feel forced, why mixing family moments with sales messages can fall flat, and how bad advice pushes business owners towards formulaic content that misses the point. Lena leaves the list...

Rebbeca Morse is an artist whose life was shaped by epilepsy, brain surgery, and the lasting changes those experiences left behind. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, she talks about growing up with seizures she did not yet understand, reaching the point where brain surgery became the only real option, and living with the personality, memory, and identity shifts that followed. Rebbeca shares how art became a way to process what happened and how surviving something major does not always m...

Mark Goddard is a writer and musician whose life was shaped by a 2002 road trip across America with his brother, Jeremy, chasing the roots of the music they loved and turning the journey into his book Losing Eldorado. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Mark reflects on the cities, music, mishaps, culture shock, poverty, freedom, and brotherly chaos that defined the trip, from New York and New Orleans to Austin, Chicago, and the long road between them. Mark leaves you with the sense that ...

Emily King is a multiple-time national stand up paddle boarding champion and coach whose life was drastically changed by a dog attack that nearly killed her while she was driving a horse-drawn carriage for a wedding. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Emily shares an outline of what happened, then talks about what recovery looked like in real life, including fear, PTSD, and finding steadiness again through time on the water. Emily leaves you with a quiet reminder that moving on is not ab...

Heart failure might sound like a death sentence, but for Alan King, it turned out to be a life-altering experience that reshaped his perspective on health and happiness. During a candid conversation with host David, Alan shares the gripping story of his health journey, detailing not just the clinical aspects but the emotional roller coaster that accompanied it. From his initial heart failure diagnosis in 2007 to the subsequent challenges he faced, Alan reflects on how this condition forced him...

Alice Phillips and Danielle Emery are the hosts of Work is Weird Now, two marketing and communications leaders whose paths into work were shaped by early failure, curiosity, entrepreneurship, and a shared interest in how people find meaning in changing careers. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, the conversation moves through school, strengths, apprenticeships, remote work, ageism, AI, and the growing sense that education and employment no longer line up with the world people are actually...

We've got a lively chat lined up today, diving into some pretty heavy topics: potholes and, well, death. Yeah, you heard that right! We kick things off with a thoughtful discussion about mortality, spurred by the startling news of a friend's near brush with death that really got us reflecting. Then we switch gears to rant about those pesky potholes that seem to defy all logic when it comes to being fixed. Why is it that councils can patch them up but can’t seem to make a lasting repair? We dig...

In this solo episode, Dave gets real about something we all face: mortality. After receiving difficult news about two people in his life, Dave reflects on the weight of it all. Why don’t men talk about health? Why do we brush off warning signs until it’s too late? And what does it mean when it all hits you in the same day? This one’s personal. About the Show Life by Misadventure is hosted by David Brown and features honest, engaging conversations with interesting people about life, loss, re...

In this episode David reconnects with filmmaker Angus 'Hendo' Henderson to explore the creative chaos behind real-time, one-shot filmmaking. They unpack the story behind the BAFTA-nominated indie hit Boiling Point, and the leap from there to Adolescence, the new Netflix mini-series that’s breaking both records and hearts. About the Show Life by Misadventure is hosted by David Brown and features honest, engaging conversations with interesting people about life, loss, resilience, ideas, and the ...

No matter what choice you make as a parent, staying home, going back to work, or trying to juggle both, someone is always judging. In this episode we dive into the realities of modern parenting and we unpack the tough decisions parents face, from career sacrifices and financial pressures to the emotional weight of raising kids. Two brilliant guests Gráinne Dunne and Claire Marshall explore: The stigma around stay-at-home parents vs. working parents. Why finances play a bigger role in parentin...

In this episode, we’re diving into a juicy discussion about the future of Bond and why some folks are just not keen on Amazon getting their hands on this iconic franchise. In this chat David and Angus (Hendo) Henderson tackle the fears of cheesy spin-offs, the importance of casting the right actor, and why some people are worried that Bond might just become another piece of “content” in Amazon's vast library. (Yes, they really said "content".) Plus, we share some insider stories and insights t...

In this episode, Dave and Alan dive into the relentless debate around Elon Musk, media bias, and the internet’s toxic discourse. They break down why Musk divides public opinion, with critics dismissing him unfairly while supporters ignore his flaws. The conversation expands to how both liberal and conservative media twist narratives, spreading misinformation to suit their agendas. Finally, they tackle the role of online anonymity in fueling bad-faith arguments and making social media a battle...

The first episode of the Life by Misadventure Podcast serves as an introduction to the show’s purpose and upcoming topics. About the Show Life by Misadventure is hosted by David Brown and features honest, engaging conversations with interesting people about life, loss, resilience, ideas, and the experiences that shape us. Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/4dmbrown/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepod/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https:/...

Welcome to the Life by Misadventure Podcast, the show where common sense and controversy collide. Join your host, David Brown, every so often as he dives into the topics people think about but rarely say out loud. From the absurd to the infuriating, the hilarious to the downright baffling, no subject is off-limits. Most of the time, he will bring in friends, thinkers, professionals (and the occasional troublemaker) to chat with. Other times, it’s just him, armed with a microphone and a questio...