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 alread ...
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Brett Trainor Podcasts
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Your Corporate Escape Plan: Insurance Policy, Not Leap of Faith
22:11
22:11
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22:11
If you know corporate is broken but jumping straight into solopreneur life feels like too big a leap, this episode is for you. Brett breaks down how to treat your “escape plan” like an insurance policy—not a dramatic leap off a cliff. You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow. But you do owe it to yourself to be prepared for the moment corporate qui…
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Own the Room: How to Communicate So You’re Heard, Seen & Respected w/ Jake Stahl
43:43
43:43
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43:43
If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t that land?” Or if you’ve ever felt invisible in corporate… Or if you’re building a life outside of corporate and wondering why some conversations connect and others fall flat… This episode will hit you hard. Today, Brett welcomes back Jake Stahl — author of the brand-new book Own the Room…
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Corporate Quit on Her — She Built a Business Faster Than She Could Job Hunt w/ Clair Sullivan
37:55
37:55
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37:55
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 LLC Registered everything needed to operate Posted on Link…
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He Left a Cushy CFO Job to Fix a Broken System (with Clym.io Founder Michael Williams)
40:49
40:49
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40:49
Freebie from Michael: 20% off: https://www.clym.io/p/bretttrainor 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 pus…
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How One TikTok Video Built the Corporate Escapee Movement
24:57
24:57
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24:57
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…
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Bet on Yourself: From Video Agency to Solo Productized Service with Neil K. Carroll
37:55
37:55
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37:55
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 hidde…
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He Didn’t Just Escape Corporate—He Left the Country W/Ed Patterson
34:02
34:02
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34:02
Download the FREE Escapee Starter Kit Episode Summary After 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 (financ…
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The Go-Giver Playbook for Escapees (Greatest Hits)
30:57
30:57
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30:57
Guest: Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver Note 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 rev…
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Healthcare for a Company of One: A Real Alternative for Solopreneurs w/Tom Morrissey
33:11
33:11
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33:11
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, wh…
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Beyond the Escape: How to Stay Free (and Profitable) as a Solopreneur w/ Jenni Gritters
53:10
53:10
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53:10
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 bu…
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The Future Isn’t AI Automation — It’s AI Augmentation (with Michael Himmelfarb)
31:08
31:08
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31:08
GenX built the systems everyone’s now trying to automate — and that’s exactly why we’re built for what’s next. In this episode, I’m joined by Michael Himmelfarb, one of the original corporate escapees, to talk about why the real opportunity with AI isn’t automation…it’s augmentation. Michael shares how he rebuilt his consulting business by combinin…
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17 Ways (Plus 2 Bonus) to Monetize Your Corporate Experience w/Brett Trainor
22:05
22:05
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22:05
About this episode In 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…
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The Ignorance Tax: How to Build a Lean, Automated Solo Business with Paul Durelli
41:17
41:17
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41:17
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…
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From Corporate to Calling: A Practical Path to Purpose w/ Lisa Petrilli
35:46
35:46
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35:46
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 …
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Local First, Personal Always: Selling Solo to Small Business Owners (with Robert Lock)
45:24
45:24
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Fans First: Jesse Cole’s Playbook Behind the Savannah Bananas Phenomenon
36:05
36:05
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36:05
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 •…
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The Chief Energy Officer: What GenXers Can Learn from GenZ Purpose w/Conrad Hawley
33:12
33:12
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33:12
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 (a…
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Your AI Advantage: Why GenX Escapees Are Built to Cash In (with Naveen Aggarwal)
43:34
43:34
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43:34
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: m…
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Your First Revenue Stream Outside Corporate (with Lee Ann Pepper)
32:26
32:26
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32:26
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 fe…
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Networking Made Simple: David Ackert’s Proven Short List Framework for Escapees
46:23
46:23
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46:23
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…
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All Things Fractional: Your Complete Guide with Karina Mikhli
38:04
38:04
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38:04
Fractional, Defined: How to Lead (Not Freelance) with Karina Mikhli What 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)…
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Nail Your Messaging and Master the 6 Questions Every Client Will Ask w/ Tom Freedman
50:22
50:22
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50:22
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 solop…
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From Corporate Stress to Strength Training: A Dual Playbook for GenXers
29:34
29:34
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29:34
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…
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Laid Off After 27 Years—And Finding Fulfillment Beyond Corporate w/ Thea Watkins
36:26
36:26
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36:26
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…
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Portfolio Life: Building Purpose and Freedom After Corporate with Joy Levin
40:40
40:40
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40:40
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 3…
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