From Iraq to Mayor: Simon Brown on Military Service, Blindness and Purposeful Leadership

Please consider donating to the Blind Veterans UK charity in support of Simon and the team — in April I will be running the London Marathon in support of this great charity! :)https://2025tcslondonmarathon....On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, blind veteran and Mayor of Morley Simon Brown shares his extraordinary journey — from a military career cut short by a life-changing injury in Iraq to becoming an advocate, community leader, and living proof of what resilience and purpose look like in action.Simon speaks with honesty and warmth about the shock of losing his sight, the challenges of adapting to a new reality, and the vital role that Blind Veterans UK played in helping him rebuild his confidence and his life. His story is not just about survival — it is about growth, community, and discovering that the most meaningful chapters of your life can begin exactly where you thought they ended.Key TopicsSimon's military career and the injury in Iraq that cost him his sightThe emotional and practical challenges of adapting to blindness as a veteranHow Blind Veterans UK provides life-changing support and community for blind veteransSimon's path from patient to advocate, employee, and Mayor of MorleyWhat genuine resilience looks like — and why community is at the heart of itAbout Simon BrownSimon Brown is a blind veteran, disability advocate, and Mayor of Morley whose journey from the battlefields of Iraq to civic leadership is a testament to the human capacity for adaptation and purpose. As both a beneficiary and employee of Blind Veterans UK, he uses his experience to champion the cause of veterans living with sight loss and to demonstrate that a life of impact is possible on every terrain.Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.About your hostPippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com