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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

37:55

Corporate Quit on Her — She Built a Business Faster...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/11/26

What happens when corporate stress gets so bad you literally can’t swallow solid food?That’s where Claire Sullivan found herself.On December 1st, 2023, corporate quit on her — and she took what most people would call the riskiest step possible:She built a business… the same day.Filed an LLCRegistered everything needed to operatePosted on LinkedIn that she was going out on her ownListened to what the market actually wantedAnd replaced her former salary by the end of the weekIs that typical? No.Is it

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40:49

He Left a Cushy CFO Job to Fix a Broken System (with...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/11/22

Most solo businesses are focused on getting clients—but ignore the compliance risks that can quietly wreck everything.Former tax attorney and CFO Michael Williams joins Brett to break down the ADA, privacy, and regulatory issues small businesses face—and how a $100K GDPR mistake pushed him to finally build Clym.io, an all-in-one website compliance platform.Michael also shares the remarkable story of raising a seven-figure VC round… then paying it back to regain control and stay true to his vision.In

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24:57

How One TikTok Video Built the Corporate Escapee...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/11/19

This episode is a little different. I was a guest on Catherine Jelinek’s podcast, Breaking Through the Noise — and she generously allowed me to share the full conversation with you.We talk about leaving corporate, taking action, finding traction on TikTok, and the honest story behind building the Corporate Escapee movement. If you’re stuck, burned out, or thinking about going solo, this one will hit home.In this episode, we cover:Why taking action is the #1 skill corporate trains out of youMy path

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37:55

Bet on Yourself: From Video Agency to Solo...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/11/12

Today I’m joined by Neil K. Carroll, founder of vidwheel, who took the long way out of corporate: video agency → higher-ed job → rebuilding as a lean solo business.Neil shares how a simple testimonial project for a startup turned into something much bigger—a repeatable, productized service that helps founders uncover the stories and insights hidden inside their customer relationships.If you’re stuck in corporate and wondering what you would even sell, this episode will help you see the path: start

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34:02

He Didn’t Just Escape Corporate—He Left the Country...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/11/11

Download the FREE Escapee Starter KitEpisode SummaryAfter nearly 30 years in corporate communications, Ed Patterson didn’t just leave corporate—he left the country. He and his partner planned their move to Portugal, secured residency, and designed a new life where work no longer sits at the center. We cover what it really takes to prepare (financial, legal, lifestyle), what he’d do sooner, how he reframed success to “quality of my day,” and practical advice for anyone considering a similar

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30:57

The Go-Giver Playbook for Escapees (Greatest Hits)

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/11/07

Guest: Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-GiverNote from Brett:This Greatest Hits episode is one of the most shared conversations we’ve ever had — and for good reason. If you’re trying to land your first clients or grow your solo business, Bob’s Go-Giver principles are a masterclass in creating value, building trust, and turning relationships into revenue.I wanted to bring this one back for our thousands of new listeners. There is so much value to be learned from Bob and a core to solopreneur

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33:11

Healthcare for a Company of One: A Real Alternative...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/30

Healthcare is the #1 concern from wannabe escapees DM Brett about. Today, benefits veteran and fellow escapee Tom Morrissey breaks down a solo-friendly health plan designed for one-person companies: Solo Health Collective. We cover who qualifies, how underwriting your business (not you as an individual) changes the game, pricing logic, networks, what’s covered, what’s not, and where this is all headed (biomarkers, portable benefits, and association plans). If you’ve ever said “I’d leave corporate,

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53:10

Beyond the Escape: How to Stay Free (and Profitable)...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/29

What happens after you escape corporate? How do you make your solo business work long-term—without burning out or losing the freedom you left for?In this episode, Brett sits down with Jenni Gritters, author of The Sustainable Solopreneur and coach to creatives, consultants, and coaches who want to build profitable, flexible, and fulfilling solo businesses.Jenni shares her journey from The New York Times to building a six-figure business working just 25 hours a week. Together, Brett and Jenni unpack

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31:08

$5K in 48 Hours: Turning Your Experience into a...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/24

GenX Escapees: this one’s your playbook. Michael Himmelfarb (multi-time guest and early Escapee OG) breaks down how to productize a fast, high-value, AI-enhanced consulting offer—think $5K in 48 hours—by letting AI handle the heavy lifting while you deliver the human superpowers clients actually pay for: judgment, creativity, prediction, and trust. We get into pricing, point solutions, and why your domain expertise beats “AI-only” every time.You’ll learn • Why buyers now demand crystal-clear

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22:05

17 Ways (Plus 2 Bonus) to Monetize Your Corporate...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/22

About this episodeIn this solo “CliffsNotes” episode, Brett breaks down how to actually make money from your corporate experience — not theory, not startup fantasy — just 17 real ways GenXers are doing it (plus 2 bonus options if you’ve got some capital to invest).Whether you’re still in corporate wondering if there’s a way out, or already on the outside trying to replace your income, this episode is the playbook. From fractional and advisory work to user-generated content, workshops, and buying a

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41:17

The Ignorance Tax: How to Build a Lean, Automated...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/14

Paul Durelli returns to The Corporate Escapee Podcast one year after his first appearance to share what’s changed, what’s working, and where he sees the biggest opportunities for corporate and medical professionals looking to escape traditional systems.In this conversation, Brett and Paul explore how AI, automation, and virtual assistants can help GenX escapees scale their businesses without hiring full-time employees. Paul also explains how he’s helping medical professionals escape the bureaucracy

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35:46

From Corporate to Calling: A Practical Path to...

The Corporate Escapee ·

2025/10/11

If your “great job” feels increasingly empty, this one’s for you. Former corporate leader Lisa Petrilli (Medline/Baxter) shares a practical approach to discovering your Life Quest—the next chapter where purpose, agency, and freedom replace autopilot. We dig into choice vs. circumstance, how to reframe fear and uncertainty, and simple steps GenXers can take while still in corporate. No dogma required—just a better operating system for work and life.You’ll learn • What a “Life Quest” is and how to

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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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312 results

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