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:“Are you happy doing what you’re doing?”Alex is the founder and CEO of Franzy, an AI-powered platform helping people discover and acquire franchise businesses. Before Franzy, he built and scaled 2ULaundry and LaundroLab.Connect with Alex:Franzy — ⁠https://www.franzy.com⁠LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/Hosted by Lydia .Escape 9 to 5 explores unconventional career paths and building meaningful lives on your own terms.

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 looks like to build a portfolio life with family, community, and flexibility at the center.This is an honest conversation about optionality, evolving identities, and learning to trust yourself in an uncertain world.Books by Simone Stolzoff:- 📘 *How Not To Know* (new book): https://simonestolzoff.com/how-to-not-know- 📕 *The Good Enough Job*Find Simone online: https://simonestolzoff.com/

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 about:Building slowly without panicWhy not quitting can be a strategyFamily expectations and non-traditional pathsWhat it really takes to grow something on your own termsThis conversation is for anyone who feels the pressure to rush—but knows deep down that timing matters.

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 Thursdays✨ Practicing courage long before mastery✨ What it means to speak with aliveness✨ How to unlock the voice you already have✨ Why enjoyment → confidence → clarityThis conversation changed how I see myself as a communicator.It felt less like an interview and more like gaining a new pair of wings — the conviction to speak honestly, the confidence to show up as myself, and the reminder that communication is something we unlock, not something we perform.If you’ve ever frozen in a meeting, doubted your voice, or wished you could speak with more ease and conviction — this episode is for you.🎧 EP30 — How to Speak Like Yourself Under Pressure (with Michael Gendler)Let’s dive in.🎙 Ultraspeaking • Website: https://www.ultraspeaking.com • Games: https://www.ultraspeaking.com/games • Courses & Coaching: https://www.ultraspeaking.com/courses • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ultraspeaking • Michael Gendler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgendler🎧 Escape 9 to 5https://www.instagram.com/escape9to5_podhttps://www.linkedin.com/showcase/escape-9-to-5/✨ Welcome to Your New Source of Freedom & PurposeHi, I’m Lydia — a former investment banker turned climate-tech founder, digital nomad, and creator.I make videos for people designing a life with more freedom, clarity, and connection — wherever you are in the world.🌍 Whether you’re:• breaking into climate tech• building a portfolio career• or crafting a life beyond the 9 to 5you’ll find gentle tools, creative experiments, and honest stories to help you move forward — on your own terms.🎁 Gifts & Tools I Use Daily(some links are affiliate — thank you for supporting my work!)🎥 DJI Camera Gear (my go-to minimal creator setup)https://dji-retail.co.uk/r?id=38ff4g🎙 Riverside — record high-quality podcast + remote interviewshttps://riverside.sjv.io/N9O5NV🎬 CapCut Pro (7-day trial) — my full editing workflowhttps://www.capcut.com/capcut_pc_web/fission_receive?code=4kGM2e23925838&lng=en🧠 Notion — planning, journaling, life operating systemhttps://www.notion.com/product?utm_source=affl&utm_medium=lydiachen8604🎵 Epidemic Sound — cinematic music for creatorshttps://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/invite-a-creator/?_us=Referral&_usx=0glnzs&utm_source=ref_program&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=0glnzs💪 ClassPass — £1 trial + 20 credits (my Lisbon/London workout routine)https://classpass.com/refer/STTVGMC528?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=raf_pre_reservation&utm_content=MjU4MTk4MzY%3D🧘‍♀️ Psycle London Starter Kithttps://psyclelondon.com/pages/register?referral_code=xZpKBB📬 Stay Connected💌 The First 60 Days — navigating change + reinventionhttps://lydiaclinzi.substack.com/💌 Sunday Not Blue — gentle reflections, weekly ritualhttps://www.lydia-c-linzi.kit.com/🌍 Websitehttps://www.lydiaclinzi.com📸 Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/lydiachenlinzi© 2025 Lydia C. Linzi — All Rights Reserved.

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 quitting the life that pays your bills.You’ll hear:• The real story behind “Absolutely Printing!”• How a viral character can stay grounded in real life• Why story always beats status• Finding joy again through comedy and community🎧 Follow Escape 9-to-5 for more human stories about careers, creativity, and reinvention.

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 in the moment• bootstrapping an impact product without losing your values• female-founder real talk (bias, confidence, and finding your rooms)• the “graduate from the app” philosophy + a 7-day calm protocolConnect with Ania: https://www.instagram.com/simply_rootd/https://x.com/aniamargaretTry out Rootd: https://www.rootd.io/• Watch the episode on YouTube — https://youtu.be/xo1lB9rxdxM*🎙 Tools Used to Record This Episode*🎙 Record with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?via=lydia-chen🎥 DJI Camera: https://dji-retail.co.uk/r?id=38ff4g🎬 Edit with CapCut Pro (7-day free trial): https://www.capcut.com/capcut_pc_web/fission_receive?code=4kGM2e23925838&lng=en🎵 Epidemic Sound (free music trial): https://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/invite-a-creator/?_us=Referral&_usx=0glnzs&utm_source=ref_program&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=0glnzs*🌱 Other Tools I Recommend*📚 Part-Time YouTuber Academy (PTYA): https://go.aliabdaal.com/ptya?ref=lydiaclinzi🧠 LifeOS by Ali Abdaal: https://aliabdaal.com/lifeos/ref/lydiaclinzi/🧘‍♀️ Psycle London Starter Kit: https://psyclelondon.com/pages/register?referral_code=xZpKBB🚲 SoulCycle Invite: https://www.soul-cycle.com/r/7mBwe8c8/💪 ClassPass (£1 trial + 20 credits): https://classpass.com/refer/STTVGMC528?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=raf_pre_reservation&utm_content=MjU4MTk4MzY%3D*(Some of these are affiliate links — thank you for supporting my channel!)*---🌍 **Website**: https://www.dayzeroproduction.com/escape-9-to-5📸 **Instagram**: https://www.instagram.com/escape9to5_pod/?hl=en🎯 About the PodcastEscape 9 to 5 is for people who’ve left corporate life behind and never looked back. We talk about risk, reinvention, and what it takes to build a life you don’t need a vacation from.© 2025 Lydia C. Linzi. All Rights Reserved.

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 episode, Will shares:- ✉️ The secret sauce of his cold email that changed everything- 💼 What it feels like to walk away from corporate- 🕰️ The joy *and* grind of building your own thing- 🌏 How a lightning-bolt moment in Shanghai made him fall in love with Mandarin- 🔥 Why finding your “uncommon inner fire” is the key to designing your second actIf you’ve ever felt stuck in your 9-to-5 and wondered if reinvention is possible — Will’s story shows that sometimes all it takes is one brave message and a door that’s slightly open.#WillMannon #WriteOfPassage #ColdEmail #CareerChange #Escape9to5 #CreatorEconomyConnect with Will:https://x.com/will_mannonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/will-mannon-317748a7/Chapters:00:00:00 Who’s Will Mannon00:02:25 Intro, 2 truths & a lie and 00:07:00 the Write of Passage story00:22:54 What Now - building ACT Two00:31:31 The best way to start an online course00:40:44 Will Learning Chinese & Become a Comedian in China00:59:04 Vision for Act Two & What’s next01:01:49 Lightning round01:06:56 Pass it on*🎙 Tools Used to Record This Episode*🎙 Record with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?via=lydia-chen🎥 DJI Camera: https://dji-retail.co.uk/r?id=38ff4g🎬 Edit with CapCut Pro (7-day free trial): https://www.capcut.com/capcut_pc_web/fission_receive?code=4kGM2e23925838&lng=en🎵 Epidemic Sound (free music trial): https://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/invite-a-creator/?_us=Referral&_usx=0glnzs&utm_source=ref_program&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=0glnzs*🌱 Other Tools I Recommend*📚 Part-Time YouTuber Academy (PTYA): https://go.aliabdaal.com/ptya?ref=lydiaclinzi🧠 LifeOS by Ali Abdaal: https://aliabdaal.com/lifeos/ref/lydiaclinzi/🧘‍♀️ Psycle London Starter Kit: https://psyclelondon.com/pages/register?referral_code=xZpKBB🚲 SoulCycle Invite: https://www.soul-cycle.com/r/7mBwe8c8/💪 ClassPass (£1 trial + 20 credits): https://classpass.com/refer/STTVGMC528?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=raf_pre_reservation&utm_content=MjU4MTk4MzY%3D*(Some of these are affiliate links — thank you for supporting my channel!)*---🌍 **Website**: https://www.dayzeroproduction.com/escape-9-to-5📸 **Instagram**: https://www.instagram.com/escape9to5_pod/?hl=en🎯 About the PodcastEscape 9 to 5 is for people who’ve left corporate life behind and never looked back. We talk about risk, reinvention, and what it takes to build a life you don’t need a vacation from.© 2025 Lydia C. Linzi. All Rights Reserved.

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 energyChapters00:00 Intro00:58 E — Experiment early & often02:12 S — Step into fear05:56 C — Create your own table08:25 A — Assemble your tribe10:51 P — Pair action with rhythm12:46 E — Energy attracts energyMy tools & resources • Escape 9‑to‑5 Quiz (30s) → https://tally.so/r/nG7ZbQ • I record with Riverside → https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig...• Camera: DJI → https://dji-retail.co.uk/r?id=38ff4g Find me on IG →   / lydiachenlinzi   Find the pod →   / escape9to5_pod   © 2025 Lydia C. Linzi. All Rights Reserved.

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 does—long-term, buy-and-hold; people often describe it as the “Berkshire Hathaway of the internet.”Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escape9to5_podWhere to find AndrewTiny: https://www.tiny.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/awilkinson/X: https://x.com/awilkinsonWhat we cover– Two Truths & a Lie (including a chance meeting with Steve Jobs)– Leaving a web-design job and starting anyway– Bootstrapped vs. VC: which path, when, and why– ADHD (recently discovered) → how he works– The feeling of “never enough”—and reframing it– Building Tiny with Chris (why partnerships need real work)– AI in Andrew’s daily workflow– Legacy & giving—letting go– Lightning round: books, newsletters, habitsTimestamps00:00 Intro01:49 Two Truths & a Lie – Meeting Steve Jobs10:39 What Now – Current Focus15:47 How to Start a Business: Bootstrapping vs. VC25:26 Having Enough & ADHD33:19 Chris and Zoe — The People on the Journey40:56 How Andrew Uses AI49:29 Legacy & Letting Go57:48 Lightning RoundFree 30-second quizTake my “Escape 9-to-5” quiz: https://tally.so/r/nG7ZbQAbout the showI’m Lydia—ex-banker turned climate-tech founder and podcast host. Escape 9-to-5 explores stories of people who left the default path to build lives of freedom, impact and authenticity. Thanks for listening! 🌱

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 hear the cacao story ☕🌞)- Practical tips for designing a life driven by curiosity—not corporate calendarsFollow Anne-Laure: https://nesslabs.com/*🧭 Take the “Escape 9 to 5” Quiz*Wondering if *you* should leave the default path?Take my free 30second quiz to discover what type of “escapee” you are:👉 https://tally.so/r/nG7ZbQ*✨ Welcome to Escape 9 to 5 — the podcast for curious rebels*I’m Lydia — a former banker turned climate tech founder, nomadic creator, and podcast host. *Escape 9 to 5* is where we explore stories of people who left the traditional path to build lives of freedom, impact, and authenticity.---*🎙 Tools Used to Record This Episode*🎙 Record with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?via=lydia-chen🎥 DJI Camera: https://dji-retail.co.uk/r?id=38ff4g🎬 Edit with CapCut Pro (7-day free trial): https://www.capcut.com/capcut_pc_web/fission_receive?code=4kGM2e23925838&lng=en🎵 Epidemic Sound (free music trial): https://www.epidemicsound.com/campaign/invite-a-creator/?_us=Referral&_usx=0glnzs&utm_source=ref_program&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=0glnzs🧠 Notion for episode planning: https://www.notion.com/product?utm_source=affl&utm_medium=lydiachen8604---*🌱 Other Tools I Recommend*📚 Part-Time YouTuber Academy (PTYA): https://go.aliabdaal.com/ptya?ref=lydiaclinzi🧠 LifeOS by Ali Abdaal: https://aliabdaal.com/lifeos/ref/lydiaclinzi/🧘‍♀️ Psycle London Starter Kit: https://psyclelondon.com/pages/register?referral_code=xZpKBB🚲 SoulCycle Invite: https://www.soul-cycle.com/r/7mBwe8c8/💪 ClassPass (£1 trial + 20 credits): https://classpass.com/refer/STTVGMC528?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=raf_pre_reservation&utm_content=MjU4MTk4MzY%3D*(Some of these are affiliate links — thank you for supporting my channel!)*---🌍 **Website**: https://www.lydiaclinzi.com📸 **Instagram**: https://www.instagram.com/lydiachenlinzi🎯 About the PodcastEscape 9 to 5 is for people who’ve left corporate life behind and never looked back. We talk about risk, reinvention, and what it takes to build a life you don’t need a vacation from.Let’s grow and glow together 🌱✨© 2025 Lydia C. Linzi. All Rights Reserved.