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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Hello there. Welcome to the Maker Manager Money podcast with Kyle Ariel Knowles. This podcast is about entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, founders, business owners, and business partnerships, from startups to stayups, to inspire entrepreneurs to keep going and future entrepreneurs to just start.
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Diverse AI outside of tech
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Redesigning Life: Insights from Ryan Rigterink on Leadership and Talent Management
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43:50Send us a text In this episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with Ryan Rigterink, founder of Leaders Ops and Workgaze. Ryan shares his journey from traditional industries to entrepreneurship, discussing the importance of strategic talent management and creating workplaces where people and results thrive. Here are three key takeaways that I bel…
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The Art of Entrepreneurship: Insights from Jennifer Tsay, CEO of Shoott
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50:42Send us a text In this inspiring episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with Jennifer Tsay, co-founder and CEO of Shoott. This revolutionary platform offers free mini photo sessions with professional photographers. Jennifer shares her diverse journey from investment banking and documentary film production to acting and entrepreneurship. Here ar…
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Building a Legacy: Mentorship and E-commerce Success with Justin Cao
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40:36Send us a text Welcome to the Maker-Manager Money podcast! In this inspiring episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with Justin Cao, founder of multiple thriving Amazon FBA businesses generating over $7 million in revenue. Justin shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings as a Vietnamese-American entrepreneur to achieving financial fr…
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The Four C's of Effective Marketing with Amber Gaige Author of The Far Beyond Marketing Guidebook
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33:11Send us a text Welcome to the Maker Manager Money podcast! In this inspiring episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with Amber Gaige, a third-generation entrepreneur and founder of Far Beyond Marketing. Amber shares her unique journey from earning a vocal performance degree at Baylor University and singing Opera professionally to becoming a suc…
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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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From Tequila to Fresh Mixers: Ken MacKenzie’s Journey in the Beverage Industry
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57:33Send us a text Join us in this exciting Maker Manager Money podcast episode as host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with Ken McKenzie, the visionary founder and CEO of Fresh Victor. With over 20 years of experience in the spirits and craft beverage industry, Ken shares his journey from co-founding Republic Tequila to launching Fresh Victor, a premium …
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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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Building a Business with Heart: Mei-Yung Lee's Vision for Ageless Zen and Community Impact
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37:06Send us a text In this episode of the Maker-Manager Money Podcast, host Kyle Ariel Knowles welcomes Mei-Yung Lee, the president and CEO of Ageless Zen Incorporated. Mei shares her inspiring journey from her roots in Hong Kong, where she was influenced by her father's work as a herbal medicine doctor, to becoming an entrepreneur through acquisition.…
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The Escapee Superpower No One Talks About: Smarter Decisions, Faster Success
34:50
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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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Inside-Out Entrepreneur: Mo Ahmed on Building Resilience and Mindset
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52:18
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52:18Send us a text Join us as Mohamed "Mo" Ahmed, Ph.D., shares his journey from software engineering to entrepreneurship, his challenges transitioning from a maker to a manager, and the importance of developing a resilient mindset. He discusses his Entrepreneurial Conditioning Framework, which emphasizes the significance of mindset in navigating the u…
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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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Unlocking Sales Success: The Power of NLP with Steven Ethridge
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49:30Send us a text Steven Ethridge is the Chairman and CEO of Ethridge and Associates. With over 30 years of experience in strategic communication, coaching, and consulting, Steven brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, particularly in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and its application in sales training. Here are three key takeaways from our co…
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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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From Clarinet to Coaching: Tonya Lawson's Path to Multi-Passionate Entrepreneurship
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25:11Send us a text Tonya Lawson is a multifaceted entrepreneur, professional musician, and SEO specialist who empowers other entrepreneurs. We talk about her journey and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way. Here are three key takeaways: The Importance of Diversifying Income Streams: Tonya shared her experience of relying solely on her musi…
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Creative AI Projects for Kids - David Basulto
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36:59David Basulto is an award-winning high school media instructor based in LA, Apple learning coach, and Founder and Owner of iographer.com. David shares his early background in Hollywood and how he found his passion for teaching. In this podcast, we dive into David's experience teaching kids how to use AI creatively, video content creation, and tips …
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Breaking Free: Brett Trainor's Journey from Corporate Life to Entrepreneurial Freedom
53:48
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53:48Send us a text In this episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with Brett Trainor, a former corporate professional who traded his 30-year corporate career for entrepreneurial freedom. As the founder of the Escapee Collective and host of the Corporate Escapee podcast, Brett shares his journey of helping corporate professionals find their path to …
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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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AI Helps Women Navigate Breast Cancer - Ellyn Winters-Robinson
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35:50Ellyn is a breast cancer survivor, health rebel, and entrepreneur. She built her digital twin AskEllyn.ai to serve as an empathetic companion for women navigating a diagnosis. It's currently being used by women all around the globe, across multiple languages, and all walks of life. In this podcast, we talk about AI for good, patient-driven innovati…
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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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42:44
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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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Never Sit in the Lobby: Sales Insights from Glenn Poulos
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52:52Send us a text Glenn Poulos has started and sold two businesses and recently acquired his third. He's an author who wrote Never Sit in the Lobby: 57 Winning Sales Factors to Grow a Business and Build a Career Selling. Glenn's also a podcaster who hosts the Profit Powerhouse podcast. Three Key Takeaways from Glenn's Episode Never Sit in the Lobby: G…
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Fractional Success: Mindset, Clients, & Growth Strategies with John Arms
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1:01:44
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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
41:21
41:21
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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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AI for Blockchain and Aviation - Dr. Jamar Montgomery
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20:24
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20:24Dr. Jamar Montgomery is a content creator focused on AI, blockchain, aviation, and law, and experienced in educating his audience on using AI and blockchain tools in everyday life. He's spoken at summits and tech events, while building entrepreneurial ventures like Cryptonomics Wealth. Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjamarmontgomery Website: http…
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AI Improves Your Public Speaking - Meredith Grundei
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26:58Meet Meridith Grundei, MFA recognized as one of the top 10 public speaking coaches of 2022 by Yahoo Biz. With an impressive TikTok following of 100K+, she's become the go-to authority on public speaking. Meridith is an expert speaker, having delivered impactful and informative speeches globally for prominent names like Amazon AWS, Panasonic, and Me…
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Building Tiktok Replacement With AI - Aaron Litherland
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25:46Aaron Litherland is the founder of Lead My Care, a transformative AI-powered health assistant designed to enhance patient care and streamline clinical workflows. With a background nursing and clinical informatics, Aaron has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between technology and patient care. His work with Lead My Care focuses on leveraging…
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Navigating Entrepreneurial Waters: Insights from Coach David J. Greer
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50:04Send us a text I'm thrilled to announce the latest episode featuring the incredible David J. Greer, an entrepreneurial coach with over 40 years of experience in the business world. David has a wealth of knowledge to share, especially for those navigating the entrepreneurial journey. Here are three key takeaways from our enlightening conversation: 1…
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Sean Ginsburg - How to Attract Premium Clients and Transform Your Business
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57:26
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57:26Send us a text Welcome to the Maker Manager Money podcast! In this episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles sits down with self-made millionaire Sean Ginsberg, who has built an impressive $75 million portfolio. Sean shares his revolutionary PCA Premium Client Attraction System, which focuses on personalized value, targeting high-quality prospects, and mast…
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From 1 Billion Streams to Building AI Apps - tunnA Beatz
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34:14tunnA Beatz is a music producer with over 300,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 1 billion streams across songs worldwide. Starting from scratch, he embarked on building his own web app with the help of ChatGPT. Within a year, he acquired full-stack development skills and successfully built a complete, functional website, despite having no prior…
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AI for Market Research - Adam Probolsky, Probolsky Research
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25:07
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25:07Adam Probolsky is president of Probolsky Research, a woman and Latina-owned national market and opinion research firm. In this podcast, we discuss the impacts of AI and synthetic data on the market research industry. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamprobolsky/ Website: https://www.probolskyresearch.com/…
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Greg Shove - Entrepreneurship Is More Like a Rollercoaster Than a Rocketship
53:13
53:13
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53:13Send us a text Welcome to the Maker-Manager Money Podcast! In this episode, host Kyle Ariel Knowles talks with Greg Shove, CEO of Section and a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the tech industry. Greg shares his journey through the ups and downs of building successful businesses, including his insights on the myths of Silic…
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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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Special Episode - Finding Meaning in Grief: Lessons in Love and Loss
1:19:49
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1:19:49Send us a text In this heartfelt special episode on Maker Manager Money, Lyn Christian, Master Certified Coach (ICF MCC), Executive Coach, Business and Life Coach, Speaker, Amazon Best Selling Author, and Owner of SoulSalt Inc. dives deep into the complexities of grief and the importance of acknowledging our emotions after losing a loved one. Join …
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Navigating the Future of Education with AI - Laura Knight, Sapio Ltd
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30:44Laura Knight, Founder of Sapio Ltd, specialises in digital strategy, AI and innovation in education. With over two decades of teaching experience, she excels in strategic technology development for teaching and learning, AI, and digital skills training. Laura empowers leaders in schools, universities, and commercial organisations, leveraging techno…
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AI Transforms Patient Experiences - Vinod Subramanian, MedAdvisor
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25:46Vinod Subramanian is the Chief Operating and AI Officer at MedAdvisor Solutions, a global health tech company focused on transforming patient care through digital innovation. With a wealth of experience in both healthcare and artificial intelligence, Vinod leads AI strategy and operations, overseeing initiatives that improve medication adherence, p…
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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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How to Escape Your Corporate 9-5 - Brett Trainor, Escapee Collective
33:27
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33:27Brett Trainor is on a mission to help 100,000 Corporate GenXers escape the 9-5! He's the Founder of the Escapee Collective, Host of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, and CEO of the Collective Academy.By Sabrina Ramonov 🍄
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Kevin Bibelhausen - Navigating the World of Entrepreneurship: Lessons on Buying Established Businesses
39:49
39:49
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39:49Send us a text In this Maker Manager Money podcast episode, host Kyle Knowles sits down with Kevin Biebelhausen, an investor and business owner based in North Carolina. Kevin shares his journey into Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), a unique path to business ownership that focuses on acquiring established, profitable companies rather than…
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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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