Way Out #17: From Pastor to Serial Entrepreneur with Keith Davenport
In this episode, we sit down with Keith Davenport, a man whose life is a masterclass in radical transformation. Keith went from growing up in a conservative evangelical household with a childhood calling to be a pastor, to ultimately leaving his faith to identify as a progressive atheist and political candidate. After experiencing severe burnout and untreated ADHD while managing crisis communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, Keith took a massive leap into serial entrepreneurship. We discuss how he acquired a beloved local coffee shop, launched a multi-six-figure consulting firm, and founded an HR tech startup. Ultimately, Keith shares how he redefined success entirely, choosing his mental health and his role as a husband and father over traditional corporate power.
Way Out #15: From Startup Toxicity to Building a Balanced Life with Anna Duin
Anna Duin spent 11 years doing marketing at startups — always doing the work of multiple people for the price of one. She navigated layoffs, negotiated flexible hours, and went through two terrifying years with a seriously ill child while her last company turned toxic. When she finally left, she didn’t have a plan. Just a conversation where she heard herself say: “I think I just have to build my own thing.” This is what happened in the year that followed.
Way Out #6: From Rising Star in Logistics Management to Nomad with Taylor Surdyke
On paper, Taylor Sordike had the American Dream: a husband, a suburban home, and a rising career in logistics. But deep down, she knew she was settling for "safety" rather than alignment. In this post, Taylor reveals how leaving a "good enough" marriage gave her the muscle memory to walk away from corporate life, buy a camper van, and follow her intuition to the Smokies. Her advice for anyone standing on the edge of a pivot? "Do it scared."
Way Out #4: From Professor to Tech Entrepreneur with Dr. Risa Stein
Most of us are taught to be strong. Push through. Don’t complain. Be grateful for the tenure, the house, the title.
Dr. Risa Stein did all of that. By her mid-30s, she had checked every box: PhD, marriage, child, tenure-track career. From the outside, it looked like success.
On the inside, it was slowly killing her.