Code not connecting to MQTT local server - arduino

Question

I am trying to connect my Arduino Uno with WiFi shield to my MQTT server. I am running it local on my Mac. It seems to be stuck in the while loop. I think it doesn't connect to the broker. Here is my code. What could be the problem with the loop? Or is there another problem?
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <MQTTClient.h>
const char ssid[] = " : /*filed in*: ";
const char pass[] = " /*filed in*/ ";
WiFiClient net;
MQTTClient client;
unsigned long lastMillis = 0;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
// Note: Local domain names (e.g. "Computer.local" on OSX) are not supported by Arduino.
// You need to set the IP address directly.
client.begin("10.0.1.5", net);
client.onMessage(messageReceived);
connect();
}
void connect() {
Serial.print("checking wifi...");
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
Serial.print(".");
delay(1000);
}
Serial.println("wifi connected");
Serial.print("\nconnecting...");
while (!client.connect("Arduino test")) {
Serial.print(".");
delay(1000);
}
Serial.println("\nconnected!");
Serial.println("connected");
client.subscribe("hello");
// client.unsubscribe("/hello");
}
void loop() {
client.loop();
if (!client.connected()) {
connect();
Serial.print("not");
}
// publish a message roughly every second.
if (millis() - lastMillis > 1000) {
lastMillis = millis();
client.publish("hello world");
}
}
void messageReceived(String &topic, String &payload) {
Serial.println("incoming: " + topic + " - " + payload);
}