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PODCAST

The Corporate Escapee

Stuck in corporate? You"re not alone. Corporate is broken. Loyalty is dead. Layoffs are coming. And you know it. But here"s the truth most won"t tell you: Building your own thing is easier than finding your next corporate job. I"m Brett Trainor—corporate escapee after 25+ years—and I"ve helped 500+ professionals escape and build $10K-$50K/month solopreneur businesses using their corporate experience. No unicorn startups. No venture capital. Just you, your laptop, and the expertise you already

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

45:24

Local First, Personal Always: Selling Solo to Small...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/08

Robert Lock went from corporate sales leadership to running supply chain during COVID—then used that “between lanes” moment to launch his own firm, Buffalo Mountain Sales Strategies.In this episode, he and Brett dig into how GenX escapees can win clients by going local-first and relationship-heavy, not enterprise-style transactional.You’ll Learn💡 How to build a referral engine from scratch:→ Daily LinkedIn connects with a simple, honest message→ Wait 24 hours→ Invite to a virtual coffee→ Leave

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36:05

Fans First: Jesse Cole’s Playbook Behind the Savannah...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/09/27

When I first interviewed Jesse Cole—the man in the yellow tux and founder of the Savannah Bananas—the team had just started selling out games in Savannah. Fast forward to today, and the Bananas are a global sports and entertainment phenomenon: • A ticket waitlist of more than 3 million people • Stadiums of 70–80,000 fans packed to see Banana Ball • 17 Major League Baseball parks sold out on their 2025 World TourThis conversation captures Jesse’s philosophy before the explosion—and it’s more relevant

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33:12

The Chief Energy Officer: What GenXers Can Learn from...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/09/24

What GenXers stuck in corporate can learn from a 22-year-old former D1 athlete who walked away from the easy path, found his purpose, and chose to serve others—even when it was uncomfortable.I like to connect the dots and showcase what's possible if we break out of our comfort zones🔑 In This Episode:Why Conrad left a full football scholarship (and $250K in value) at Kansas to find his true pathHow he walked on to Iowa State’s Top 25 basketball program after not playing for 3 yearsHis role as the

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43:34

Your AI Advantage: Why GenX Escapees Are Built to...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/09/23

Brett and Naveen break down how GenX escapees can use AI to work faster, earn more, and de-risk the leap from corporate. You’ll learn where AI actually helps (and where it doesn’t), how to turn your experience into simple, repeatable, AI-enabled services, and why singles (small wins) beat swinging for enterprise home runs when you’re solo. Think: micro-SaaS, productized services, and month-to-month offers that business owners can say “yes” to quickly.Key TakeawaysGenX Advantage: We’ve lived analog →

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32:26

Your First Revenue Stream Outside Corporate (with Lee...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/09/17

We’re launching a new recurring segment with Lee Ann Pepper focused on real-world revenue ideas for corporate escapees.If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How would I actually make money if I left corporate?” this episode is for you.Lee Ann and I break down practical, low-risk ways GenXers can start monetizing today—without swinging for six-figure fences or waiting years to replace a corporate paycheck.In this episode, you’ll learn:How User-Generated Content (UGC) works and why it’s perfect for GenXers

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46:23

Networking Made Simple: David Ackert’s Proven Short...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/09/12

For most corporate escapees, networking and sales feel like the biggest hurdles to building a solo business. With hundreds of LinkedIn connections and decades of contacts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—or worse, to avoid networking altogether.Enter David Ackert—author of The Short List and winner of the 2025 Non-Fiction Book Award. David has spent 20+ years helping professionals grow their books of business and has distilled his research into a simple, proven framework that removes the guesswork

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38:04

All Things Fractional: Your Complete Guide with...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/09/05

Fractional, Defined: How to Lead (Not Freelance) with Karina MikhliWhat does “fractional” really mean—and is it the right next step after corporate?In this episode, I sit down with Karina Mikhli, founder of Fractionals United, Fractional COO, and COO for the Fractional Leadership Alliance. She breaks down what fractional leadership is (and isn’t), how to price and structure your work, and why networking—not job boards—drives real opportunities.We cover: • The difference between fractional vs

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50:22

Nail Your Messaging and Master the 6 Questions Every...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/08/27

One of the biggest challenges GenX escapees face after leaving corporate isn’t expertise—it’s business development. How do you find customers, create clarity in your message, and grow without getting stuck in trial-and-error mode?In this episode, I sit down with Tom Freedman, a lifelong entrepreneur who has built six businesses and now helps solopreneurs and small business owners design simple, effective growth strategies centered around relationships.We dive into: • Why most escapees waste time on

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29:34

From Corporate Stress to Strength Training: A Dual...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/08/21

Dual Takeaway:This episode is a two-for-one: inspiration for escaping corporate and practical fitness guidance for living longer, stronger, and on your own terms.What happens when you realize corporate life just isn’t for you—before it consumes decades of your career? Greg Bogdanski found out early. After stints in investment banking and consumer goods, Greg walked away to follow his lifelong passion for health and fitness. Today, he runs a growing training facility in Tennessee, helping athletes

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36:26

Escaping Corporate Identity: How Thea Watkins Built a...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/08/21

After 27 years in corporate—including an executive role—Thea Watkins never imagined she’d end up running her own business. A layoff forced her to pause, reflect, and rethink what she really wanted. Instead of jumping back into another corporate job, Thea leaned into her passions: leadership, people development, and inclusive workplaces.Today, Thea runs a portfolio career that blends teaching, coaching, facilitation, and consulting. She’s proof that your decades of experience are not only valuable

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40:40

Portfolio Life: Building Purpose and Freedom After...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/08/15

What does “retirement” really look like for Gen Xers—and why do so many struggle with it?In this episode, I sit down with Joy Levin, market research consultant turned retirement coach, who helps Gen X professionals design their encore years with purpose, connection, and freedom.We dive into:Why retirement is no longer a five-year chapter but a 30-year journey—and what that means for planning.How our latchkey kid upbringing shaped Gen X resilience, adaptability, and desire for freedom.The social side

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40:38

UGC for Gen X: How to Make Money Creating Content (No...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/08/08

Episode Summary:Think UGC (User Generated Content) is only for 20-somethings? Think again.In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Collier—UGC creator, coach, and champion for Gen Xers and Boomers who want to turn their creativity into a revenue stream. Megan shares how she went from scrolling TikTok with just 200 followers to replacing her six-figure corporate income in just 14 months.We break down exactly what UGC is, why brands want creators over traditional actors, and how YOU can get started—no big

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48:45

From Burnout to Purpose: Escaping Corporate and...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/07/09

In this special episode, Brett flips the mic and joins John Browning on the Building Your Life Podcast. They dive deep into what it really means to escape corporate life and build something better—on your terms.Brett shares: • His journey from 25 years in corporate to solo consulting and fractional work • Why GenX is waking up to the reality that corporate won’t take care of them • How he found his first customers (and how you can too) • The rise of solo businesses—and why GenX is perfectly

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38:25

Escape Without Breaking: Shelley McIntyre’s 3-Phase...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/06/09

She’s back for part two! Shelley McIntyre returns to break down the exact framework she uses to help burned-out GenX professionals escape corporate life—without hitting rock bottom first.If part one was about why we escape, this one is about how to do it—mentally, emotionally, and tactically.We cover: • Why grief is a part of every transition (yes, even the good ones) • How to rediscover your identity after decades in corporate • The key mindset shift GenXers must make to take action before it’s too

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51:27

The LinkedIn Escape Plan: How Joe McKay Left...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/06/02

Joe McKay left a government job in Australia to raise his family in rural France—and stumbled into the solopreneur life along the way. In this episode, Joe shares how one consulting gig turned into a thriving ghostwriting business and agency, all built on the back of his personal brand on LinkedIn.We talk about: • The “fork in the road” moment that launched his corporate escape • Why solopreneurship gave him a taste of freedom he couldn’t un-taste • The mindset shift from resume-building to

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53:48

The Anti-Hustle Guide to Doing Better Work with Paul...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/05/29

This isn’t a future-of-work episode. It’s a how-to-work-differently episode.Paul Shirley returns for his third appearance on the show—and this time, we go deep. We’re talking focus, structure, guilt, failure, personal infrastructure, and why GenX escapees need systems more than strategies.If you’ve ever felt like: • You “should be able to do more” but can’t quite get there… • You’ve got time now, but not the energy or structure to use it… • You miss having a rhythm but hate the idea of being back in

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16:31

The Salary Gap Illusion: Why Going Solo Isn’t as...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/05/20

Feeling stuck between your 6-figure corporate salary and the dream of going solo? You’re not alone—and the fear is real. But the risk? It’s not as big as you think.In this Cliff Notes solo episode, Brett breaks down “The Salary Gap Illusion”—why so many GenXers stay stuck in jobs they’ve outgrown, and how to start building your bridge to freedom today.🎯 In this episode: • Why the fear of replacing your salary keeps you stuck • The real risk of staying in corporate • The 3 post-corporate paths: Go

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39:13

Jumping Out of the Corporate Plane—with a Parachute...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/05/07

In this inspiring episode, Brett chats with PR powerhouse Tonya McKenzie, a true OG in the escapee world, having built her own agency nearly a decade ago. Tonya shares the story of how her husband (a fellow escapee) gave her the push she needed to leap from corporate—and how she turned that leap into a thriving PR and media business. From launching a local real estate magazine to running full-service communications and now building a new Substack community, Tonya unpacks what it really takes to go

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41:40

If It’s Not a Hell Yes, It’s a No: Why Clarity Comes...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/04/17

Shelley McIntyre didn’t just leave corporate—she walked away from a long career in tech and consulting and into something completely unexpected: grief coaching. But as Shelley quickly discovered, grief isn’t just about death—it’s also what we experience when leaving jobs, identities, and entire versions of ourselves behind.In this candid conversation, Shelley shares her journey of transformation, from leading corporate strategy to coaching GenXers who feel stuck, burned out, and unsure of what’s

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01:12:43

Escape the Burnout, Save Your Brain: The Supersized...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/04/05

Supersized Episode Alert!This episode goes deep—and for good reason. Eric Collett didn’t just escape burnout and corporate stress. He rebuilt his life around brain health, longevity, and optimal performance—and now helps thousands do the same.This two-part-in-one episode blends Eric’s escapee origin story (and the moment he realized he couldn’t go back) with a practical brain health masterclass for GenX escapees looking to stay sharp, focused, and fired up.Eric’s mission? Save the next million

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320 results

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