Life by Misadventure with David Brown

Hosted by Orion Studios

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Nov 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.

Listen to episodes

30 recent

November 9, 20261 hr 56 min

The Author Who Couldn't Read | Christina Bachini

Christina Bachini spent much of her childhood struggling to read, unaware that poor eyesight and dyslexia were making school far harder than anyone realised. Decades later, she became a psychologist, therapist and published author. Her extraordinary journey includes leaving home at 17, experimenting with drugs, finding herself homeless while heavily pregnant and a chance encounter that prompted her to change the direction of her life. In this conversation, Christina and David explore the lasting effects of childhood, the choices that shape us, the importance of listening without judgement and why understanding yourself can take a lifetime.

November 2, 202637 min

Kidnapped at Gunpoint | Lorraine Marsh

As a teenager in the Philippines, Lorraine and her family were kidnapped at gunpoint and held hostage by criminals attempting to rob the bank where her mother worked. What followed was a terrifying night of blindfolds, threats and negotiations, with her mother forced to make decisions that could determine whether everyone survived. Although the family escaped physically unharmed, the experience changed their lives for years to come. Lorraine joins David to share what happened, how the experience affected her family and what her mother's extraordinary courage taught her about resilience, staying present and focusing on what you can control.

October 20, 202650 min

24 Hours Facing Death | Tara Pyfrom

In September 2019, Tara Pyfrom, her wife, their six-year-old daughter and five dogs found themselves trapped inside their home in the Bahamas as Hurricane Dorian brought devastating winds and a storm surge that flooded their neighbourhood. Tara shares the terrifying experience of escaping rising floodwaters, spending 24 hours trapped in their attic, and eventually being rescued before leaving everything behind to start a new life in Canada. We also explore the lasting effects of trauma, the difficult process of recovery, and how writing her memoir, The Ocean in Our Blood , helped Tara find hope and rebuild her life. Guest Links Website: https://www.tarapyfrom.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarapyfrom Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarapyfromwriter Book: The Ocean in Our Blood — Amazon

August 27, 20261 hr 11 min

A Dead Man in the Driveway | Jody McHugh

Jody McHugh is an Atlanta storyteller and writer whose childhood changed abruptly after witnessing a fatal heroin overdose at eight years old, followed by violence, poverty and the collapse of his family’s once-stable home. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Jody recalls growing up around drugs and murder, the young hippies who stepped in when his family could not, and how those experiences eventually became stories he could share with others. Jody has learned that talking about the darkest parts of his past can be a way of dealing with them, while choosing to focus on the kindness, humour and humanity that existed alongside them. You can buy a digital copy of Jody's book, The Damage Done, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Damage-Done-Jody-McHugh-ebook/dp/B00B6T246W --- 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://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuZnxBLBaCFU7seF6CvslECdaNyjkRSgV&si=BqJzc0FX1FvuaBvJ

August 20, 20261 hr 8 min

Three Months With a Killer | Grainne Canavan

Grainne Canavan is a former resident of 9 Wellington Terrace in Cork whose teenage search for independence placed her alongside people who would later become central to a disturbing murder investigation. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Grainne remembers living with Fred Flannery, her friendship with missing man Cathal O'Brien, the disappearances connected to the house, and how she gradually came to understand what may have happened after she left. Grainne reflects on the unsettling truth that people aren't simply good or bad, and how someone she remembers treating her with kindness could also be connected to events she has spent decades trying to understand. Blog post with images can be found on the show website at https://www.lifebymisadventure.com/blog/i-lived-with-a-serial-killer-inside-corks-house-of-horrors/ -- 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://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuZnxBLBaCFU7seF6CvslECdaNyjkRSgV&si=BqJzc0FX1FvuaBvJ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

August 6, 20261 hr 5 min

The Crash That Rewrote Everything | Jagger Waters

Jagger Waters is a writer, storyteller and creative strategist whose life changed in an instant after a catastrophic car accident left them battling PTSD, cognitive impairment and the challenge of rebuilding both a career and a sense of self. In this episode of Life by Misadventure, Jagger shares how months of insomnia, isolation and losing confidence in her own mind forced them to rethink everything they believed about success, relationships, work and healing, before finding a new path through community, creativity and learning to embrace change instead of resisting it. This is a conversation about accepting life's interruptions, discovering that recovery cannot be rushed, and realising that sometimes the greatest growth comes not from becoming stronger, but from allowing yourself to become softer. About the Show Life by Misadventure is a podcast about the moments that change us. Hosted by David Brown, each episode features an honest conversation with someone who has faced an unexpected challenge, setback or turning point, and explores what they learned on the other side. From survival and resilience to business, relationships, creativity and personal growth, these conversations reveal how life's biggest misadventures often become our greatest teachers. If you're fascinated by real stories, remarkable people and the experiences that shape who we become, you're in the right place. Find guest profiles, social links, blog posts, merchandise and more at: https://www.lifebymisadventure.com Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/4dmbrown/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1805318350 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Q2wQOWQJzkOQwQk3kJjQj Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepod

July 25, 20261 hr 8 min

Lost in the Desert With a Bottle of Water | Andrew Clough

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 the way, and the remarkable rescue that allowed him to continue travelling the world for years afterwards. It is a story about resilience, perspective and the extraordinary lengths people will go to when every step could be their last, reminding us that sometimes the only way through life's hardest moments is simply to keep moving forward. 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 the UNCUT video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepod Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

July 20, 20261 hr 20 min

War, Concentration Camp and Refugee Survivor | Danijela Čolić

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 serves you and having the courage to build a life that reflects who you really are. 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 the UNCUT video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepod Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

June 27, 202645 min

Surviving the Dubai Missile Strikes | Liam Hopper

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 that the things you thought mattered most can change very quickly. 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 the UNCUT video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepod Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d

June 21, 202656 min

Growing Up Mixed-Race in the 70s | David Thomson

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 need better systems, stronger communication skills, and people willing to teach them rather than write them off. 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 the UNCUT video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifebymisadventurepod Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-by-misadventure/id1782077287 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z1MszCU19QglChFb11Pw2?si=98ab1a34db074b3d