GenX Evolution is for midlife professionals who are done playing the corporate game and ready to build something real, on their own terms. Hosted by Shelley McIntyre, a certified coach and former corporate strategist, this show offers short, unfiltered insights to help you unmask your true identity, shed outdated corporate roles, and reconnect with what actually lights you up.
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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 bac ...
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0: GenXer, Ready to Build Something That Fits?
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1:07The GenX Evolution podcast is hosted by Shelley McIntyre, a certified coach and former corporate strategist. This show is for midlife professionals who are done playing the corporate game and ready to build something real–on their own terms. Weekly episodes cover how to unmask your true identity, shed outdated corporate personas, and finally stop b…
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The Salary Gap Illusion: Why Going Solo Isn’t as Risky as You Think
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16:31Feeling 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 t…
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Jumping Out of the Corporate Plane—with a Parachute (and a Plan) with Tonya McKenzie
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39:13In 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…
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If It’s Not a Hell Yes, It’s a No: Why Clarity Comes After Action w/Shelley McIntyre
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41:40Shelley 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 conversat…
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Escape the Burnout, Save Your Brain: The Supersized Eric Collett Episode
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1:12:43Supersized 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 g…
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The Escapee Superpower No One Talks About: Smarter Decisions, Faster Success
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34:50In 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 …
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A 4-Step Process to Make Money from Your Corporate Experience: Cliff Notes Episode
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14:45Welcome 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 …
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How I Escaped Corporate: My Conversation on The Maker-Manager Money Podcast
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52:40In 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 …
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Laid Off After 20 Years? Here’s How This Former Biz Dev Exec Took Control
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42:40In 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…
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The Future of Business is Solo—Why This CEO is Hiring Fractional Talent Instead of FTEs w/ Ron Harpaz
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42:44The 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 star…
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Fractional Success: Mindset, Clients, & Growth Strategies with John Arms
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1:01:44In 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 impo…
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Losing Corporate, Finding Yourself: How a Sales Pro Built a New Future w/ Denise Murtha Bachman
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41:21In 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…
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Redefining Success: GenX, Freedom, and Second Chances with Tom Clement
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47:05In 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 cha…
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How to Escape Your 9-5 (Sabrina Ramonov Podcast)
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34:15Hey 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 t…
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Escaping the 9-5: My Story & Interview from the What’s Next GenX Podcast
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45:23Welcome 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 t…
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Ditch the Cold Outreach: How Thom Van Dyke Builds Business with High-Value Introductions
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43:58In 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…
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Couples, Tech, and Taking the Leap: Escapee Lessons from Heather McLean
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32:31Welcome 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 an…
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Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: A Journey to True Happiness with Nic Jones
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52:29In 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, an…
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LinkedIn in 2025: The Know, Like, & Trust Strategy Escapees Need with Deanna Russo
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45:12Welcome 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 …
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AI and the Corporate Escapee: Turning Tools into Competitive Advantage with Michael Himmelfarb
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30:56Can 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…
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Testing Assumptions & Finding Freedom: Lessons from Joe Manganelli's Escape
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39:16In 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 …
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The Smart Way to Structure Your Escapee Business: LLCs, S-Corps, & Big Tax Savings with Gabrielle Tenaglia
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47:15In 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. …
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An Escapee’s Journey: From Corporate Exec to Solo Consultant, Firm Owner—and Surprisingly, Software Developer!
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41:37Ray 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 au…
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Recalculating Life’s Path: Nina Sossamon-Pogue’s Blueprint for Building Your Next Chapter
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50:47In 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 mind…
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Newly Escaped: Adrienne Farrell's Escape from "Toxic" Corporate to Solo Freedom
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39:32Hear from a recent corporate escapee and her journey so far. Adrienne Farrell is a corporate wellness consultant and the founder of the InnovateHerLab, a community for women exploring their career paths. She focuses on women's health and well-being in the workplace, recognizing the need to elevate this issue. Adrienne's journey to becoming an escap…
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"I’d Rather Be Homeless": Laine Belcastro on the Ups and Downs of Escaping and Why She’ll Never Go Back
38:48
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38:48In this episode, Laine Belcastro shares her journey from corporate marketing to becoming a solopreneur and email marketing consultant. Laine discusses the importance of networking, finding your niche, and the challenges of pricing strategies. Laine emphasizes the significance of email marketing for business growth and introduces her new venture, Ac…
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