Howie McConnell has lived many lives: club promoter, DJ, designer, car salesman, creative founder, and a man who faced the darkest moment of his life and found the courage to rebuild.
⚠️ Warning ⚠️ This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. We do talk about suicide which we know can be distressing.
In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, Howie opens up about his late ADHD diagnosis, his journey through a divorce, redundancy during COVID, and the moment he nearly took his life. But it's also a story of resilience, reinvention, and creativity. From running iconic Brighton clubs to founding 28th Street Media, Howie shares how creativity saved his life, how fatherhood fuels his purpose, and what it means to live authentically, with “peace in the chaos.”
Together we explore themes of masculinity, neurodiversity, emotional intelligence, and the power of being seen. This one’s not just for creatives or entrepreneurs, it’s for anyone navigating change, looking to heal, or wondering how to turn pain into purpose.
00:00 – From Darkness to Light: Howie’s rock bottom moment
03:04 – Defining Success: A triple-header view on peace, presence & parenthood
06:34 – Early Hustles, Millionaire Dreams & Fur-Covered Lighters
07:31 – School, Dyslexia & Creativity Suppressed
10:00 – What’s Broken in the Education System?
14:18 – Work Ethic, Essex Roots & Family Influence
16:20 – DJing, Honey Club & The Creative Scene
24:12 – The Origin of 28th Street Media
25:34 – Juggling Jobs, Redundancy & Survival
27:39 – COVID: The Worst and Best Time
31:24 – Health Wake-Up Call: From 20 Stone to Ultra-Marathons
33:05 – Midlife Awakening or ADHD Clarity?
39:46 – The Gift of Listening (Not Fixing)
43:52 – Late ADHD Diagnosis at 45
50:00 – Advice for Newly Diagnosed Adults
56:43 – Mental Health, Food Banks & The Knife Moment
58:48 – The Camera That Saved My Life
1:10:21 – Goal-Setting, Self-Motivation & Creative Grit
1:17:17 – Launching a Neurodivergent Clothing Line
1:21:15 – Being at Peace: Redefining Success through Contentment
Website: https://www.28thstreetmedia.co.uk
Instagram: @28thstreetmedia
LinkedIn: Howie McConnell
👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast
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