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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

34:50

The Escapee Superpower No One Talks About: Smarter...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/03/26

In corporate, most of us weren’t really making decisions—we were following them. But out here? As an escapee, every choice is yours. And decision-making becomes one of the biggest levers for building the life and business you actually want.In this episode, I’m joined by organizational psychologist Dr. Magda du Preez to talk about the hidden skill that separates stuck escapees from the ones who are truly living. We dig into why decisions get harder after corporate, how emotions throw us off track,

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14:45

A 4-Step Process to Make Money from Your Corporate...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/03/21

Welcome to the very first Cliff Notes edition of The Corporate Escapee Podcast—a short, sharp, and actionable solo episode designed to help you take your next step toward freedom.In this quick-hit episode, Brett breaks down the 4-step process every GenXer needs to understand to start making money right now using just their corporate experience—no reinvention, no certification, no fluff.If you’ve ever thought, “I want out… but how do I actually replace my income?”—this is your roadmap.You’ll learn:✅

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52:40

How I Escaped Corporate: My Conversation on The...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/03/10

In this special crossover episode, I sit down with Kyle Knowles on Maker-Manager Money to share my journey from 30 years in corporate to building The Escapee Collective and The Collective Academy. We dive deep into why I walked away from corporate life, how I overcame the uncertainty of going solo, and the powerful mindset shifts that made all the difference.We discuss:✅ The moment I knew I was done with corporate for good✅ Why finding your first client is easier than landing your next job✅ How to

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42:40

Laid Off After 20 Years? Here’s How This Former Biz...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/02/27

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett sits down with Matt Hobson-Rohrer, an early escapee who has been navigating the solo business world for over 13 years. Matt shares how a moment in a Shanghai hotel room made him realize he was missing too much of his daughter’s life—only to have corporate make the decision for him a year later with a layoff (and a farewell gift of pots and pans).Matt walks us through his transition from a long corporate career in software partnerships to

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42:44

The Future of Business is Solo—Why This CEO is Hiring...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/02/21

The corporate world is changing, and businesses are no longer defaulting to full-time employees. Instead, they’re building lean, high-performing teams using fractional talent. But what does that actually look like in practice?In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett sits down with Ran Harpaz, a former corporate executive turned startup founder, who shares why he built his entire company with independent professionals—and why more businesses are following this model.Ran, whose

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01:01:44

Fractional Success: Mindset, Clients, & Growth...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/02/17

In this conversation, Brett Trainor and John Arms discuss the evolving landscape of fractional leadership, exploring its growth, the macro and micro reasons behind this shift, and how individuals can position themselves effectively in this space. They delve into the changing dynamics of corporate work, the demand for fractional talent, and the importance of empathy and networking in securing opportunities. The discussion emphasizes the need for a mindset shift from traditional employment models to

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41:21

Losing Corporate, Finding Yourself: How a Sales Pro...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/02/13

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett welcomes Denise Murtha Bachmann, a former corporate sales professional who reinvented herself as a consultant, coach, and fractional sales leader. Denise shares her journey of leaving a 30-year corporate career—one she once considered “family”—after an unexpected layoff. She opens up about the challenges of identity loss, mental health struggles, and the self-discovery that ultimately led her to build a business that aligns with her expertise

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47:05

Redefining Success: GenX, Freedom, and Second Chances...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/01/24

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, host Brett Trainor sits down with Tom Clement, a GenXer who shares his unconventional journey from a blue-collar upbringing to running a motorcycle dealership, transitioning into academics, and ultimately finding fulfillment teaching incarcerated individuals in Arizona.Tom opens up about: • The challenges of starting and selling a seasonal business • The importance of networking and financial planning for freedom • Lessons from teaching

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34:15

How to Escape Your 9-5 (Sabrina Ramonov Podcast)

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/01/16

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Corporate Escapee podcast! Today’s episode is a special one. I recently had the pleasure of joining Sabrina Romanov on her podcast, where we had an incredible conversation about escaping corporate life, finding freedom, and leveraging tools like AI to build a solo business. Sabrina was kind enough to let me share this conversation with you, and I’m excited for you to hear itSabrina's

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45:23

Escaping the 9-5: My Story & Interview from the...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/01/03

Welcome back to The Corporate Escapee podcast. I’m thrilled to bring you something a little different today. Recently, I had the privilege of being a guest on the What’s Next GenX podcast with Nicole and Anne Marie. These two are all about helping Gen Xers like us figure out what’s next in our careers and lives.In this episode, we dove deep into the journey of leaving corporate life and building a career on your own terms. We talked about the tipping point that led me to escape corporate, how I

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43:58

Ditch the Cold Outreach: How Thom Van Dyke Builds...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/12/31

In this episode of the Corporate Escape-y Podcast, Thom shares his unique journey from being a pastor for 19 years to becoming a successful entrepreneur and StoryBrand coach. He discusses the challenges he faced during his transition, including imposter syndrome and the importance of building a network based on trust.In this conversation, Thom and Brett discuss the importance of growth strategies for small businesses, emphasizing the role of networking and the concept of source networking. Thom

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32:31

Couples, Tech, and Taking the Leap: Escapee Lessons...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/12/26

Welcome back to The Corporate Escapee Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to chat with Heather McLean, a recent escapee who left behind a high-powered corporate role leading a 400-person software development team to co-found her own tech-focused business alongside her husband.Heather shares her journey from back-to-back corporate meetings and burnout to building a company that’s already making waves in AI and emerging technologies. We’ll talk about the leap of faith she took, how leveraging

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52:29

Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: A Journey to True...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/12/19

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett Trainor speaks with Nic Jones, a former corporate executive turned bus driver who shares his journey of redefining success and happiness. Nic reflects on his 40-year career in media and music, during which he held leadership roles at major companies like Yahoo, Murdoch’s digital businesses, and Vevo. After a failed entrepreneurial venture and personal loss, Nic reevaluated his priorities, choosing to pursue a fulfilling yet unconventional path

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45:12

LinkedIn in 2025: The Know, Like, & Trust Strategy...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/12/18

Welcome to The Corporate Escapee Podcast, where we explore the journeys of GenXers breaking free from corporate life to build something on their own terms. I’m your host, Brett Trainor, and today we dive into a conversation that’s critical for every corporate escapee: mastering LinkedIn.Joining me is LinkedIn strategist and fellow escapee, Deanna Russo. Deanna’s expertise has helped thousands rethink their approach to LinkedIn—not as a sales tool or online resume, but as a powerful platform for

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36:46

Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: A Journey to True...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/12/17

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett speaks with Nic Jones, a former corporate executive turned bus driver who shares his journey of redefining success and happiness. Nic reflects on his 40-year career in media and music, during which he held leadership roles at major companies like Yahoo, Murdoch’s digital businesses, and Vivo. After a a stalled entrepreneurial venture and personal loss, Nic reevaluated his priorities, choosing to pursue a fulfilling yet unconventional path as a

en

30:56

AI and the Corporate Escapee: Turning Tools into...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/12/14

Can experience and wisdom give us a unique edge in the age of AI? In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, I’m joined by Michael Himmelfarb, a seasoned consultant and one of the original escapees. Together, we explore how AI is reshaping solo businesses, why experience trumps prompts, and how escapees can use AI not just as a tool but as a competitive advantage. From intelligent interrogation to teaching AI to think like you, we uncover how combining AI with decades of expertise can create

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39:16

Testing Assumptions & Finding Freedom: Lessons from...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/11/16

In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Joe Manganelli shares his journey from a corporate finance role to becoming an entrepreneur and the founder of Calculate, a financial services company.He discusses the challenges and triumphs of building a business, the importance of embracing discomfort, and the lessons learned along the way. Joe emphasizes the value of testing assumptions, the significance of enthusiasm in business, and the need for accountability in entrepreneurship.He also

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47:15

The Smart Way to Structure Your Escapee Business:...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/11/11

In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Gabrielle shares her journey from a full-time marketing career to going solo, discussing the importance of understanding taxes and business structures like LLCs and S-Corps.She emphasizes the advantages of S-Corps in reducing self-employment taxes and the necessity of managing payroll effectively.The conversation also highlights the role of technology in simplifying financial management for escapees and the future of solo businesses in a rapidly

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41:37

An Escapee’s Journey: From Corporate Exec to Solo...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/10/31

Ray McKenzie, founder and managing director of Red Beach Advisors, shares his journey from corporate to entrepreneurship. He started his consulting firm in 2015, focusing on go-to-market strategy and operational efficiency for Fortune 1000 companies in cybersecurity and cloud computing. Later, he founded Starting Point, a workflow management and automation platform for professional services companies. Ray emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining relationships, leveraging your corporate

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50:47

Recalculating Life’s Path: Nina Sossamon-Pogue’s...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2024/10/22

In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Nina Sossamon-Pogue shares her multifaceted journey from being a U.S. gymnast to a successful journalist, and then transitioning into the tech industry. She discusses the challenges she faced, including injuries and career setbacks, and emphasizes the importance of resilience, storytelling, and mindset in navigating life's transitions. Nina provides valuable insights on identifying personal skills, the significance of positive language, and the

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320 results

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