The Corporate Escapee

Updated: 17 Apr 2025 • 281 episodes
bretttrainor.com

You followed the rules. You climbed the ladder. But now you’re wondering… what if there’s more? Welcome to The Corporate Escapee Podcast—a show for GenX professionals who are done living a life around work and ready to start living life on their terms. Whether you’ve just started questioning your 9-5, got caught in a layoff, or are already out and building your own thing—this podcast is your roadmap to freedom. Hosted by Brett Trainor, a former corporate exec who escaped and never looked back, each episode features real conversations with real escapees, subject matter experts, and authors. You’ll hear the highs, the lows, and the practical strategies that help GenXers leave corporate—and stay out. 🎯 Inside each episode: • How to turn your corporate experience into income • Ways to land your first customer (without a website) • What’s working with consulting, fractional roles, and coaching • Mindset shifts to break free from fear and perfectionism • How to optimize for freedom, fulfillment, and flexibility If you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or just ready for something more—you’re not alone. Join thousands of others who are building the next chapter their way. ✨ It’s not just about leaving corporate. It’s about taking back control of your time, your money, and your future. It’s time to Get Busy Living.

Show episodes

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 be

41 min
00:00
41:40
No file found

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 mo

72 min
00:00
01:12:43
No file found

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 t

34 min
00:00
34:50
No file found

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

14 min
00:00
14:45
No file found

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 min

52 min
00:00
52:40
No file found

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

42 min
00:00
42:40
No file found