Life by Misadventure
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.
Exploring the messy truth of being human
Life by Misadventure
Life by Misadventure is an independent interview podcast that dives deep into the unexpected life stories of its guests. Each episode uncovers how pivotal moments and challenges can redefine our identities, choices, and sense of purpose.
Recent Episodes
23
July 25, 2026
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 th
22
July 20, 2026
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 ser
21
June 27, 2026
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 t
20
June 21, 2026
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 ne
19
June 9, 2026
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
18
May 27, 2026
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
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