Escape 9 to 5

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 of what freedom is actually for once you finally have it. We get into the first business that failed, th...

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 their own value, and what it takes to enter the room with dignity, safety, and self-trust. Jacob also...

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 London, and we finally sat down on my last day in Hong Kong before flying back to London. No script, n...

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 Franzy, a platform helping people access franchise ownership• And the question that still lingers with me:...

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 after buying a $220 plane ticket, how that decision shaped his relationship with work, and what it look...

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 create the right conditions for a side hustle, and how patience became her biggest advantage. We talk abo...

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. Michael is the co-founder of Ultraspeaking , and in this episode he opens up about: ✨ Showing up for 100 Th...

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, using humor to heal after the loss of his twin sister, and saying yes to what feels right—without quitti...

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 builders lift you up, and tiny drills you can try this week. You’ll learn: • panic → OK tools that help...

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, the “secret sauce” of great outreach, and why finding your inner fire can change everything. In this e...

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 — Pair action with rhythm • E — Energy attracts energyChapters 00:00 Intro 00:58 E — Experiment earl...

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 right partner , how he uses AI day-to-day, and legacy . It’s easy to see why Tiny runs the way it do...

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 Experiments” and her **PACT** framework turn uncertainty into growth- The power of Kairos moments (wait till you...

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 Lightning Round When we recorded: I was struck by how different—and deeper—this conversation felt comp...

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 episode, Brian shares how he broke free from the script, what first-time founders often get wrong, and...

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 – Cities of the future, from China to South Korea – Solopreneurship, uncertainty, and doing what scare...

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 moments, career redesign, and why retirement isn’t the end — it’s just another prototype. 🎧 We dive into: How...

🎙 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 is really pain management. 🌍 Connect with Nir: https://www.nirandfar.com🛠 Tools & Takeaways from...

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 points. Amy reveals the secrets behind her book, The Setback Cycle, guiding you through practical step...

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 behind to establish Pragya Yog School—a holistic space dedicated not just to physical poses, but to th...

🚀 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 restaurant💸 How she built a thriving F&B business from scratch🔥 The biggest challenges she faced a...

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 effectively, harness the power of listening, and create meaningful connections. We explore: The surprising...

🌐 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 this episode of Escape 9 to 5, we dive into:🔑 Senad’s journey from a university student with 3 jobs to...

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 secure path, "hacked" college system, built a successful SEO agency, and navigated the highs and lows of t...

"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 leader and changemaker. He opens up about what burnout looks like for driven individuals, the physical and...