The 9–5 Exit Plan

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with author, poet, storyteller, and podcast host Branch Isole. With 22 books and a background spanning teaching, corporate sales and marketing, entrepreneurship, and spiritual study, Branch has spent decades exploring the choices and consequences that shape our lives. We discuss personal responsibility, relationships, communication, spiritual growth, tr...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with business systems expert, bestselling author, and speaker Marianne Page. Marianne spent nearly 30 years as a senior manager with McDonald’s, where she learned firsthand how clear systems, simple standards, strong culture, and consistent leadership can create reliable business performance. Today, she applies those lessons to help growing businesses b...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Emmy Award-winning motion picture sound editor and author Solange Schwalbe. Solange spent more than three decades working in Hollywood, contributing to major productions including The Goonies , Gremlins , Die Hard , Pirates of the Caribbean , Black Hawk Down , Moneyball , and HBO’s John Adams . Her work on John Adams earned her team an Emmy for sou...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with CPA, tax strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Sarah Jones CPA, Sarah Jones. Sarah shares how entrepreneurs can think differently about taxes, profitability, cash flow, and wealth-building. We discuss the difference between traditional tax preparation and proactive tax planning, entity optimisation, financial systems, business profitability, and...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Lady Jen Du Plessis, Dame Commander, Business Scaling Architect, Sovereign Leadership Mentor, bestselling author, and international speaker. After more than 40 years in finance, entrepreneurship, consulting, and business ownership, Jen has generated more than $400 million in revenue across multiple businesses and helped thousands of entrepreneurs a...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Marc Von Musser, global Heart Leader™, sales and coaching expert, and former Director of Coaching and Sales Training for Tony Robbins. With more than 35 years of experience in sales and business development, Marc has helped businesses improve their sales processes, reduce cancellations, and pursue significant growth. We discuss heart-driven selling...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Dean Weitenhagen to discuss an extraordinary journey through love, adversity, survival, and the search for purpose. After his partner Patsy suffered a debilitating stroke, Dean travelled with her to China in search of treatment and hope. Soon afterwards, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Following treatment, his cancer returned, and he...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Eric Svedberg, owner of European Autowerks and founder of Fuel Coaching. Eric began working in the automotive industry at 16 and has spent more than 30 years building and operating businesses. Along the way, he experienced the realities many entrepreneurs face: cash-flow struggles, hiring mistakes, long workweeks, and the feeling of being trapped b...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Dean Taylor, speaker, coach, and mentor who helps high-achieving people reconnect with purpose, regain clarity, and make meaningful pivots in life and work. Dean shares his personal journey through real estate, financial setbacks, faith, gratitude, and personal growth. We explore why success can sometimes leave people feeling misaligned, how to rec...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Troy Haslinger—TEDx speaker, medical sales professional, ultra-marathon runner, charity founder, and author of Beautifully Dysfunctional . Troy takes us back to a life-changing day in April 2011, when he learned that his dream job was slipping away and that his sister Holly had been diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. He shares how the years th...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with creative director, marketer, agency owner, mentor, and Paper Crane co-founder Tara Collins. With more than 25 years of experience in the creative industry, Tara has seen the evolution of agencies, corporate creative teams, digital marketing, branding, and now artificial intelligence. We discuss the future of creative work, whether AI will replace c...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with veteran brewmaster and beverage executive Tony Vieira. With 36 years in the brewing industry, Tony’s career has taken him from Anheuser-Busch’s Brewmaster Training Program to Coors, Coors International, FedEx, MillerCoors, and Mark Anthony Brewing. Tony played a key role in brewing and quality leadership during the development and rapid growth of W...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with bestselling author, editor, publishing professional, book coach, and Brooks StoryHouse founder Anne Macdonald. Anne has worked across multiple sides of the publishing industry, including acquisitions, editing, production, and author development. She also hosts the Debut Writers Podcast , where she explores the realities of writing and publishing. W...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with AI pioneer, Silicon Valley leader, Hola AI founder, and author Sasikanth Battula. We explore one of the biggest questions facing professionals today: How do you protect your career and remain valuable as artificial intelligence transforms the workplace? Sasikanth explains the Orchestration Gap and why the future may belong not simply to people who...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with researcher, author, educator, and ProCon.org founder Steve C. Markoff. Steven’s latest book, An Improbable Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict , examines historical events, population changes, land ownership, legal claims, and quotations from both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. We discuss how competing historical narratives develop,...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Jon Ostenson, Founder and CEO of FranBridge Consulting, an Inc. 5000 company, top 0.1% franchise consultant, and bestselling author of Non-Food Franchising . Jon draws on his experience as a former franchise president and multi-brand franchisee to explain why franchising is attracting increasing attention from entrepreneurs and investors. We discus...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with entrepreneur, YouTuber, educator, photographer, husband, and father Jerad Hill. Jerad started his entrepreneurial journey at a young age and has now spent nearly three decades working for himself, building businesses across web development, digital marketing, photography, online education, and technology. He’s also grown multiple YouTube channels b...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with public health writer, author, founder, and doctoral student Venchele Saint Dic. Venchele shares her journey through public health, community service, writing, resilience, and personal development, including the experiences that shaped her commitment to helping families navigate life-changing circumstances. We discuss health equity, communication, p...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with entrepreneur, author, speaker, and former corporate executive Sean B. Jones. After spending 30 years managing multi-billion-dollar P&Ls, Sean left corporate America and entered entrepreneurship with his wife, Amy. Together, they built What’s In The Bowl Pet Shops, while Sean also founded Foodynamics, a freeze-drying company that grew from a small o...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Rich Smith—executive advisor, behavioural marketing strategist, investor, and CMO with more than 30 years of experience leading growth across multiple industries. Rich shares how his lifelong curiosity about human decision-making led him to behavioural economics and shaped his approach to marketing, leadership, and business strategy. We discuss buy...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with Evan Jaqua, international business development specialist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Solutions Party. Drawing on his experiences in the United States, Japan, South America, and China, Evan shares how seeing different cultures has shaped his views on democracy, freedom, prosperity, and political institutions. We explore his proposals for elec...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with pastor, Bible teacher, author, and international speaker Dr. Gerald “Dr. G” Robison. Dr. G has pastored churches across three continents, trained Bible teachers in more than 25 countries, and written around 20 books. After facing tongue cancer and multiple surgeries, he continued teaching with the same humour, curiosity, and passion for helping peo...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with world champion grappler, longtime wrestler, and coach Michael Kelly. Michael has built an extraordinary career competing around the world, winning multiple world championships, earning numerous medals for Team USA, and continuing to compete at an elite level well into his 50s. But his story doesn’t stop with his own achievements. Michael has also c...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with real estate investor, author, and former engineer Lane Kawaoka. Lane’s journey began with a traditional engineering career and his first rental property investment in 2009. Over time, he transitioned from individual rental properties into larger real estate syndications and alternative investments, eventually becoming involved with more than 10,000...

In this episode of 9–5 Exit Plan, I sit down with travel advisor, adventure enthusiast, and side-quest queen Jen Aitken. Jen’s perspective on life was shaped at just four years old when she survived a devastating car accident that took her father’s life and left her with lifelong injuries. That experience gave her a powerful belief: life is short, so don’t wait to start living. Today, Jen helps pe...