Life by Misadventure

Hosted by David Brown

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Life by Misadventure is an independent interview podcast hosted by David Brown, featuring honest conversations with people whose lives have taken unexpected turns. Each episode centres on one guest and one life story. The conversations explore the moments, decisions, setbacks and strange turns that shaped them, from illness and loss to reinvention, resilience, identity, work, family and personal change. The show is not just about what happened. It is about what happened next. How did that moment change the way they saw themselves? How did it affect their choices, relationships, confidence, humour, work, family or sense of purpose? What did they carry from it? What did they leave behind? The format is simple: thoughtful long-form interviews, led by curiosity rather than sensationalism. Guests are given time to tell their story properly, without being rushed towards a neat lesson, tidy ending or polished version of events. Some stories are dramatic. Some are quiet. Some are funny, painful, surprising or strange. What connects them is the mark they leave. This is a podcast for listeners who enjoy real personal stories, reflective conversation and the messy truth of being human. It is for people navigating change in their own lives, people interested in lived experience, and anyone who knows that ordinary lives often contain extraordinary stories. Listen if you are drawn to stories about resilience, identity, loss, recovery, reinvention and the moments people carry with them. Life by Misadventure is about the things that happen to us, the people we become because of them, and the stories we only understand properly with time.

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20 recent

June 9, 20261 hr 7 min

Surviving Su*cide, Self-Harm and Bulimia | Olivia-Louise Hamilton

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 shame, secrecy and confusion that often surround self-harm, and why people in pain are not usually looking for attention. They are often looking for help, connection and relief.Olivia also shares practical insight into how parents, friends and professionals can respond when someone is struggling. Sometimes the most useful thing is not trying to fix the problem or deliver advice. It is staying calm, listening properly, asking what support they need, and helping them feel seen rather than judged.Community note:This episode includes open discussion of suicide, self-harm, bulimia, alcohol misuse, family trauma and mental health crisis.Please take care while listening, especially if any of these subjects feel close to home.Olivia-Louise shares her story with honesty and care, but the conversation is not intended as clinical advice. If you are struggling, please speak to someone you trust or contact a mental health support service in your area.UK support:Samaritans - Call 116 123 - Available 24 hours a daySHOUT - Text SHOUT to 85258 - Free 24/7 crisis text supportMind - mind.org.ukChanging Minds Training - changingmindstraining.comAbout 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 the UNCUT video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepodListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

May 27, 20261 hr 31 min

30 Years Ago I Had Six Months To Live | Lyn Parent

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 by fear, rebuilding a life from scratch, and turning personal pain into advocacy through Just Women Live.About the ShowLife 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/@lifebymisadventurepodListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

May 15, 20261 hr 5 min

A Psychotherapist on Healing | Sonya Black

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 happening now.Sonya also shares practical insight into how people can support someone after a difficult experience. Sometimes the most useful thing is not trying to fix anything. It is asking, “How can I show up for you right now?” and giving someone space, safety and time to make sense of what happened.About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

May 10, 20261 hr 5 min

From Suicidal to Thriving | Greg Wasserman

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 communication, and the quiet power of saying the thing that someone else might need to hear.About the ShowLife 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/Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

May 7, 20261 hr 18 min

Wills: The Unspoken Conversation We All Need to Have | Rachael Rodgers

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: you may not want to think about death, incapacity, probate, trusts, guardianship, inheritance tax, or who gets what when things go wrong, but avoiding the conversation does not protect the people you love.About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

March 27, 202644 min

A Nurse's Perspective on Life and Dying | Rachel Thomas

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 death in a different way, not as something only frightening or distant, but as part of life that becomes less terrifying when people are given truth, compassion, and room to talk.About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

March 22, 202646 min

Stop Turning Family Posts Into Sales Pitches with Lena Robinson

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 listener with a simple idea that cuts through all the noise: authenticity is not a trick or a format, but the result of telling stories that make people feel recognised, understood and less like they are being sold to.About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

March 18, 20261 hr 33 min

What Brain Surgery Left Behind with Rebbeca Morse

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 mean returning to the person you were before.LinksRebbeca Morse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebbecamorse/The National Brain Appeal: https://www.nationalbrainappeal.org/A Letter in Mind: Spring Forward exhibition: https://www.nationalbrainappeal.org/event/a-letter-in-mind-spring-forward/The 2026 A Letter in Mind: Spring Forward exhibition, runs from 24 to 28 March 2026.About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

March 13, 202656 min

From Bristol to the Blues: A Musical Journey with Mark Goddard

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 travel can crack open your assumptions, deepen your understanding of people and place, and turn even the messiest adventure into something worth remembering.Buy the book, photos and explore more at the Losing Eldorado website:https://www.losingeldorado.com/About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

March 8, 202650 min

Overcoming Adversity from Dog Attack to National Champion with Emily King an IWD 2026 Special

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 about pretending it never happened, it is about learning what helps, leaning on the right people, and choosing small actions that build confidence back.About the ShowLife 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://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d