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 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

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 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

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.

Links

Rebbeca 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 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

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 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

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 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

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 to reevaluate his life choices and priorities.

He humorously recalls how he once joked about being 'too busy dying' before the gravity of his situation hit home.

Through light-hearted banter, Alan's story reveals the importance of recognising one's limits and the necessity of lifestyle changes in managing chronic health conditions.

This episode is not just about heart health; it’s a testament to resilience, the power of perspective, and the unexpected silver linings that can emerge from life’s curveballs.

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 entering.

Alice and Danielle leave you with a simple but important tension: work feels uncertain and broken in places, but there is still room to build something more human, more honest, and better suited to the lives people actually want.

Find Dan and Alice:

LinkedIn: Danielle Emery | Alice Phillips

Listen to Work Is Weird Now on Apple, Spotify and more.

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

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 into the nitty-gritty of local infrastructure, the challenges of funding, and what it all means for us everyday drivers.

So, buckle up (see what I did there???) for a rollercoaster of thoughts, laughs, and maybe a few eye rolls as we navigate this conversation together!