PODCAST · business
Escape 9 to 5
by Lydia.CLinzi
Freedom, Agency and Meaning. Ever thought about ditching the regular 9 to 5 to chase what truly lights you up? I'm on this path to. This podcast is all about that leap of faith—no guides, no guarantees, just real stories from those brave enough to pursue a life beyond the ordinary. Join me as we uncover the untold journeys of dreamers and doers who are carving their own paths. Let's figure out this together.
Episodes
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Alexandra Simon - How to Prototype a Life That Feels Like Yours
What happens when a life that looked right suddenly disappears? Alexandra Simon had already quit what had once been a dream job and was preparing to move to Mexico when her relationship ended the day before the move. Suddenly she had no fixed home, no clear next step and, in her words, felt like…
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Every No Is a Vote for Yourself | Ify Walker
There are choices I’ve made that still scare me: saying no to the sensible thing, walking away from something that used to fit, choosing a version of myself I can’t fully see yet. Ify Walker gave me language for those moments: each one can be a vote for yourself. Somewhere along the way, without...
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I Was Wrong About Escaping the 9–5 | 36 Conversations Later
I used to think escaping the 9–5 happened in one brave moment. You quit. You leap. You start a completely different life. After 36 conversations with founders, authors, creators, and people who stepped away from the default path, I no longer think that is how it usually happens. Most people build…
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Brian Dean: What Happens After You Get Freedom?
Most people know Brian Dean as the founder of Backlinko and co-founder of Exploding Topics. He built his life from his dad’s basement into selling two companies. But this conversation isn’t just about how he did it. It’s about what came after: the strange, quiet, surprisingly stressful question…
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Stop Negotiating Like a Candidate | Jacob Warwick
Jacob Warwick has helped leaders secure over $1 billion in compensation across tech, Hollywood, private equity, and large companies. But this conversation goes far beyond negotiation tactics. We talk about the mindset shift from candidate to consultant, why so many people struggle to stand up for...
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What Happens After You Make It? He Retired at 31 and Started Building Again | Michia Rhossen
He sold his company for $110 million at 31. Retired. Traveled to Antarctica twice. Visited Richard Branson's private island. Then came back to build again.This is a conversation I've been trying to have for two years. Michia Rhossen and I first connected through the Part-Time YouTuber Academy in...
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He Bought a Business at 18 With $2,000 | Alex Smereczniak (CEO of Franzy)
At eighteen, Alex Smereczniak bought a college laundry business with $2,000 and a seller-financing deal. Three years later, he exited. In this episode, we talk about:• Buying a business at 18• Why “unsexy” paths can teach you more than prestige• Leaving corporate when it doesn’t fit• Building...
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You Don't Need a Dream Job to Build a Great Life | Simon Stolzoff
What if you don’t need the perfect job to live a meaningful life? In this episode, I talk with Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job and the upcoming How Not To Know, about permission, uncertainty, and designing a life that can change with you. We discuss the moment Simone quit his job...
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Why She Didn't Quit Her 9 to 5 (and Built a $10M Business on the Side) Gillian Liu, co-founder of Kiyoko Beauty
What if the smartest way to escape your 9-to-5… wasn’t quitting right away? In this episode, I’m joined by Gillian Liu, co-founder and CMO of Kiyoko Beauty, a brand on track to reach $10M in revenue. Gillian shares why she kept her 9-to-5 longer than most people would, took a $30K pay cut to…
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How to Speak Like Yourself Under Pressure — The Skill That Changed His Life
When I met Michael Gendler at the Interesting People event this summer, I didn’t even see him teach. But in a casual conversation between sessions, he told me the story of how he froze mid-sentence in a meeting years ago — and how that moment of fear became the doorway into his life’s work.…
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From SoulCycle Instructor to The PE Guy: Johnny Hilbrant’s Viral Story
Johnny Hilbrant didn’t plan to become The PE Guy. A SoulCycle instructor by day, he turned one awkward wedding conversation about money and status into a viral character followed by nearly 200 thousand people. In this episode, Lydia and Johnny talk about turning cringe moments into creativity,...
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Bootstrapped to Millions:How Ania Wysocka built Rootd as a Solo Founder
An app born from a panic attack that now calms millions. In this conversation, Ania Wysocka shares how she bootstrapped Rootd, kept her values (not someone else’s rat race), and why she wants people to graduate from the app back to their lives. We also get real on conviction, those rooms where...
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"See you later 9 to 5" From Oracle to Write of Passage — Will Mannon’s Act Two
This is one of the best escape stories you’ll ever hear.Will Mannon walked away from Oracle after realizing he couldn’t find meaning in a 40-billion-dollar company. A single cold email to David Perell opened the door to co-founding *Write of Passage*. In this episode, he shares his escape story,...
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[BONUS] What I Learned from 25 People Who Left the 9-to-5
ESCAPE isn’t quitting overnight—it’s designing your life.After 25 conversations with people who left the default path, I distilled six lessons I wish I’d known at 26. I call it ESCAPE: • E — Experiment early & often • S — Step into fear • C — Create your own table • A — Assemble your tribe • P —...
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#26 - Barista to Billionaire: Andrew Wilkinson on Money, Ambition, and Never Enough
I loved this one. Andrew Wilkinson (co-founder of Tiny and author of Never Enough) and I ended up covering so much—business and life, habits and mental models. We talk about “enough,” when to raise VC vs. bootstrapping, his recent ADHD discovery and how it became a founder superpower, finding the...
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#25 - Why She Quit Google to Build a Life She Loves | Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Anne-Laure Le Cunff thought she’d landed her dream job at Google—until a sudden health scare forced her to rethink everything. In this episode of **Escape 9 to 5**, the neuroscientist-turned-founder of **Ness Labs** explains:- Why burnout can hit people who *love* their jobs- How “Tiny…
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#24 How to Become a Master Storyteller: How to Pitch Ideas, Use AI & Daily Story Habits with Matthew Dicks
Matthew Dicks returns to show us how far we’ve come—and how far storytelling can still take us. In this intimate chat, he shares: A real-time founder pitch exercise How to use AI (ChatGPT!) without losing your voice The Homework for Life habit—now an app! Tips on asking better questions A playful...
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#23 Brian Wong: Escaping Expectations, Burnout & the 9 to 5 Trap ($32M Raise by 24)d
What if the success you dreamed of… wasn’t the life you actually wanted? At just 24, Brian Wong raised $32M and was flying private while his friends were still in college. But behind the headlines was a deeper story—about burnout, traditional expectations, and the real meaning of freedom. In this...
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#22 Whatever Scares You—Go DO It | Derek Sivers on Reinventing Yourself
Derek Sivers has lived many lives: musician, startup founder, TED speaker, minimalist nomad, and author of beloved books like Hell Yeah or No and Anything You Want. In this conversation, we talk about: – How to accumulate evidence for the life you want – Tiny experiments that shape your identity…
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#21 - You Don’t Find Your Dream Job — You Design It | Bob Moesta, Co-Author of Job Moves
What if your next career move isn’t about finding the perfect job... but hiring the right one? In this episode, Bob Moesta — innovation legend, author of Demand-Side Sales and Learning to Build, and co-creator of the Jobs-To-Be-Done framework — joins Escape 9 to 5 to talk about struggling…
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#20 How to be Indistractable | Nir Eyal on Distraction, Focus & Reclaiming Your Time
🎙 The Brain Only Wants One Thing… Why we get distracted—and how to take our focus back. In this episode of Escape 9 to 5, I sit down with Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Indistractable and Hooked, to talk about the psychology of distraction, parenting in the digital age, and why time management…
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How to Turn Setbacks into Your Greatest Breakthrough | Amy Shoenthal
Ever felt completely derailed by a setback, only to later realize it was exactly what you needed for your next big breakthrough? 🌟In this inspiring episode of Escape 9 to 5, Lydia sits down with Amy Shoenthal—journalist, author, and expert on turning life's toughest moments into powerful turning...
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Finding True Yoga: Why Master Aarya Left Big Yoga to Start His Own Studio
Ever wondered what it takes to walk away from success to seek true meaning?Master Aarya was at the peak of his career, teaching at one of the largest yoga chains in Hong Kong with packed classes and devoted followers. Yet, he knew something was missing. Driven by a deeper calling, he left it all...
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She Quit Law to Build a Mac & Cheese Empire – Erin Wade’s Million Dollar Success Story
🚀 She left corporate law to chase her love for mac & cheese… and built a thriving empire. Erin Wade, the founder of Homeroom, went from a career in law to creating one of the most successful mac & cheese restaurants in the U.S. In this episode, she shares:🍜 Why she quit law to start a...
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Julian Treasure: How to Speak So People Listen & Why Listening Is a Superpower
In this episode of Escape 9 to 5, I sit down with Julian Treasure, the world-renowned sound and communication expert whose TED Talks have been viewed over 100 million times. As the author of How to Be Heard and Sound Business, Julian has dedicated his life to helping people communicate more...
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How Senad Dilji Became a Web3 Leader at 23: A Startup Journey
🌐 How does a 23-year-old crack $70M in Web3 deals? Meet Senad Dilji, a rising star in the crypto world. As the 8th employee at Thrive Protocol, Senad helped secure massive partnerships with top players like Polygon and Arbitrum—all while redefining what’s possible in the blockchain space. 🚀In...
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Stop Chasing Success the Wrong Way: Break the Golden Handcuffs | Nat Eliason
Are you chasing success the wrong way? In this episode of Escape 9 to 5, Nat Eliason, the author of Crypto Confidential, joins us to discuss why breaking free from the “golden handcuffs” of conventional career paths is essential for finding true fulfillment. Nat, who left behind a financially...
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We Need a New Framework for Hard Work | Mohan Sivaloganathan
"There's reframing we need to do to see rest as a necessary gift"In this episode of Escape 9 to 5, we’re joined by Mohan Sivaloganathan, a keynote speaker and founder of Harmonious Leadership. Mohan shares his deeply personal journey of recognizing burnout after years of pushing himself as a…
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How to Recreate Your Life and Find Your Good Work | Paul Millerd
In this episode of Escape 9 to 5, I chat with Paul Millerd, author of The Pathless Path and Good Work. After a successful career at McKinsey and BCG, Paul decided to walk away from the traditional corporate ladder in search of something more meaningful. A health crisis was the turning point,...
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#12 - From Corporate to Climate Advocacy: How Eli Mitchell-Larson Tells a Better Climate Story
Eventually, our passions guide us back to who we truly are. For Eli, whether in university, impact investing, or working across California and Nepal, one thing remains constant: he's a climate person at heart. Fighting climate change requires a better story—and more people to join the fight. In...
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Why You Don’t Have to Follow the Script | Simon Alexander Ong
Hey wonderful people! I'm so excited to share this very special episode of *Escape 9 to 5* with you! This time, we did something different—we recorded this episode live with an amazing audience at The Conduit in London, and the energy in the room was just incredible. 🥳In this episode, I had the...
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Why your 30s can be better than your 20s? | Dr Meg Jay
🌟 Ready to discover why your 30s can be even better than your 20s? Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Meg Jay, the renowned clinical psychologist and author known for her work on the 20sths. In this podcast, we explore how to navigate career changes, build identity capital, and make...
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From Wall Street to Relationship Coach: Stephen Choi's Digital Nomad Life
"How you do one thing is what you do everything." This week we are back with another episode of Escape 9 to 5. With Stephen Choi, a relationship coach who has started career on the wall street, we had such a wholesome conversation about the challenges of today’s hyper-digitally connected world…
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How to Become a Full-Time YouTuber: Mint Mindy's Journey (8K Subs)
EP8: "I just know if I don't do this right now, I will regret it when I die." This is what Mint Mindy told me when asked about how her family feels about her decision to pursue YouTube. In this episode of "Escape 9 to 5," I chat with @Mint Mindy, a full-time YouTuber who's all about tech and...
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How we can Learn from our Trauma & Master Storytelling with Matthew Dicks
"Storytellers are people who are self-centered in a positive way." Matthew Dicks is an internationally bestselling author, podcaster, and a 59-time champion storyteller who teaches storytelling to individuals, companies, and universities. Hearing him say "My assumption is no one likes me, no one...
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"You Need to Be So Obsessed." How Founders Balance Mental Health & Stay Motivated
EP6 - "This is what I think about at night, I will wake up in the middle of the night and write stuff down" It's all about loving what you do—but not letting it consume you. Second installment of the podcast episode with Brendan and Kiran, the founders behind Velvet Green. Tune in as they share...
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That's the Best Day of My Life: How Life’s Own Course Correcting Shape a Dream
"Getting fired was the best day in my life." In Part 1 of EP5 of Escape 9 to 5, we meet the "Climate Cowboys," Brendan and Kiran, co-founders of Velvet Green, an impact-driven video production agency that’s changing the game. In this episode, we explore the raw and real beginnings of starting a...
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From 9 to 5 for 24/7 Passion, The Truth Behind Building a Dream, Anh, CEO of Nimi, Reveals
Is it true that you escape 9 to 5 then you can do whatever you want? Is it true when you work for yourself you no longer to listen to anyone? Step away from the grind and into the passion with Anh, CEO of Nimi, as she lays bare the exhilarating, round-the-clock adventure of leaving her 9 to 5.…
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From Meeting Beyoncé to Entrepreneurial Success: Asif's Story | Escape 9 to 5
EP3 is truly one for the books! 🌟 I sit down with Asif, a fellow visionary from the Antler residency entrepreneur program, who shares an early brush with stardom and the invaluable lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. From switching gear to riding the startup rolling coaster, what makes...
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"I always knew I wasn't going back to Banking." Banker turned Comedian and Storyteller, Anna's One Way Ticket Story
She ditched the financial forecasts for a future unwritten. EP2 with Anna Ong. Wave goodbye to number crunching, say hello to punchlines; Anna Ong's journey turns the tables on the typical career narrative. In this episode of 'Escape 9 to 5', we're not just talking about a switch from banking to...
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[Bonus] Ask these questions before you quit! | Escape 9 to 5
"I quit." It's never as rosy as it sounds.Hey everyone! 🌟 Thinking of breaking free from your 9 to 5, but not quite sure if you're ready to take that leap? In this video, I'll walk you through the LEAP Framework — a series of four crucial questions focusing on Vision, Values, Timing, and…
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#1 - Life After Banking: Why I Left to Build a Different Life
Join us on 'Escape 9 to 5', where we step off the conventional career ladder and onto the winding path of personal discovery. In our first episode, I sit down with Michelle from the 'Closer' podcast to share my own leap from the security of banking into the vibrant world of startups. We'll talk...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Freedom, Agency and Meaning. Ever thought about ditching the regular 9 to 5 to chase what truly lights you up? I'm on this path to. This podcast is all about that leap of faith—no guides, no guarantees, just real stories from those brave enough to pursue a life beyond the ordinary. Join me as we uncover the untold journeys of dreamers and doers who are carving their own paths. Let's figure out this together.
HOSTED BY
Lydia.CLinzi
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Escape 9 to 5 have?
Escape 9 to 5 currently has 42 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Escape 9 to 5 about?
Freedom, Agency and Meaning. Ever thought about ditching the regular 9 to 5 to chase what truly lights you up? I'm on this path to. This podcast is all about that leap of faith—no guides, no guarantees, just real stories from those brave enough to pursue a life beyond the ordinary. Join me as we...
How often does Escape 9 to 5 release new episodes?
Escape 9 to 5 has 42 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Escape 9 to 5?
You can listen to Escape 9 to 5 on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Escape 9 to 5?
Escape 9 to 5 is created and hosted by Lydia.CLinzi.
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