Life by Misadventure
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.
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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

26
Aug. 27, 2026

A Dead Man in the Driveway | Jody McHugh

Jody McHugh looks back on an unconventional childhood in 1970s Atlanta and the extraordinary people, chance encounters and difficult experiences that helped shape the way he sees the world today.
25
Aug. 20, 2026

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 unsettlin
24
Aug. 6, 2026

The Crash That Rewrote Everything | Jagger Waters

After a devastating car accident changed everything, Jagger Waters shares how trauma, healing and learning to let go helped rebuild a life she never expected.
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
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
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 reali

Recent Blog Posts

Aug. 27, 2026

A Dead Man in the Driveway: How Jody McHugh Found the Light in a Dark Childhood

Atlanta storyteller Jody McHugh turned a childhood marked by drugs, violence and neglect into stories about humour, perspective and the people who chose to help. Jody McHugh was eight years old when he walked out of his family home in Riverdale,…
Aug. 19, 2026

Three Months With a Killer - Inside Cork’s House of Horrors

Grainne Canavan lived at 9 Wellington Terrace shortly before the Cork house became the centre of a disturbing murder investigation. At 18, Grainne Canavan wanted what many teenagers want: a place of her own. In the autumn of 1993, she found it a…
Aug. 6, 2026

When the Obstacle Becomes the Path

After a life-changing car accident, Jagger Waters reflects on the long journey from survival to acceptance and the unexpected lessons she found along the way. There are moments in life that arrive without warning and refuse to leave quietly. The…

About the Host

David Brown Profile Photo
David Brown

Founding Partner | Orion Studios

I’m a podcast host, producer and digital media strategist based in the UK. I’m the founder of Futurehand Media, a consultancy I started in 2005, and the founder of Orion Studios, a digital media and production studio in Tunbridge Wells.

Most of my work is built around real conversations delivered through podcasts, interviews, films, client stories (testimonials) and/or brand content. The format changes, but the aim is usually the same: help people and organisations turn ideas, experience and expertise into content that feels useful and human.

Before moving deeper into audio and video, I spent years working for startups focusing on digital marketing and analytics, including leading teams of digital marketing data analysts, which gave me a practical view of what works, what doesn’t, and why so much content fails to connect. I’m interested in simple systems, strong ideas and making things that serve a real audience.

I’ve also worked as a semi-professional photographer, which still shapes how I think about visual storytelling. There’s a big difference between something that simply looks “fine” and something that feels intentional and I try to incorporate that into all my work.

I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee, and I’ve lived in the UK since 1999, so I tend to bring a mix of Southern storytelling and British pragmatism to the work. I like honest conversations, useful media, and helping people communicate something that actually matters.

I believe the best way to become successful is to help other people succeed. Success isn’t a zero-sum game, and I enjoy seeing good people do well. If there’s something I can help with, send me a message.

No pitches, please.