Gen X Legends

#47 Darcy Eikenberg: Red Cape Rescue for Burnt-Out Gen Xers

Meetings are endless, your manager’s Slack tone feels like a personal attack, and quitting sounds like the only escape plan. But Gen Xers know better than to throw it all away without a backup parachute. In this episode, executive coach and author of Red Cape Rescue, Darcy Eikenberg offers an alternative to resignation: reinvention from the inside. Drawing on years of coaching and a dose of neuroscience, she shares how to shift your mindset, rewrite your story, and reclaim your power—without updating your résumé. For anyone who’s ever whispered “I can’t take this anymore” during a Zoom call, this is your comeback plan. >>The Red Cape Isn’t a Costume—It’s Control “When your shoulders go back and you feel in charge—that’s your red cape moment.” Darcy reframes confidence as something you create, not something you wait for. >>Your Brain’s Lying. Kindly Ignore It. “Our lizard brain doesn’t know the difference between a tiger and a Slack ping.” She unpacks how fear hijacks our workday—and what to do about it. >>Change Starts with Three Levers “We only control what we say, what we do, and what we think. That’s enough.” Forget fixing your boss or your org chart—Darcy redirects attention to what is in your control. >>The Jar Label Problem “You can’t see the label from inside the jar.” She offers a surprising exercise that helps you step out of your stories and into clarity. >>Rescue Yourself Without Leaving the Company “One client didn’t get the promotion. She didn’t quit. She spoke up—and now leads the agency.” Darcy shares real-world examples of reinvention without walking away. >>Fear Strategy Beats Fearlessness “You don’t need to be brave. You need a plan.” Instead of idolizing courage, she teaches how to prepare for fear when—not if—it shows up. >>Burnout Is Not One-Size-Fits-All “One person’s burnout is another person’s boredom.” She closes with a reminder that self-awareness is the ultimate Gen X leadership edge. _______________________ Connect with: Darcy Eikenberg [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcyeikenberg/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedikt-oehmen/

#46 Benedikt Oehmen: Turning Layoffs into Life Lessons

What happens when the company you’ve devoted half your life to suddenly disappears? Benedikt Oehmen spent 17 years at Blizzard Entertainment, moving from gamer support to managing teams across seven languages. But when corporate priorities shifted and layoffs hit hard, he didn’t just walk away—he rebuilt. In this episode, Benedikt shares how he turned a painful downsizing experience into a mission to help others, building a coaching practice and writing a book centered on his signature “Big Three” framework: Be Kind. Be Present. Be Open. It’s a mindset that’s not just for career survival—but for reinvention with soul. >>From Gamer to Guide “I thought I was taking a semester off from physics. It turned into a 17-year journey.” Benedikt recounts how a student gig at Blizzard became a defining career. From player support to managing pan-European communities, he found joy in collaboration—and in building something that felt like family. >>The Culture Shift No One Saw Coming “We were all passionate. Then the merger changed everything.” After Blizzard merged with Activision, the company’s soul began to shift—from people to profits. The once-collaborative culture gave way to numbers-first decision-making, culminating in layoffs that wiped out entire departments—and the community spirit with them. >>When Family Gets Downsized “We went from 10 community managers to one. It broke our hearts.” Benedikt describes the emotional toll of watching his close-knit team vanish under corporate restructuring. But instead of retreating, he leaned into leadership—guiding others through the grief and uncertainty. >>Coaching as a Way Forward “I didn’t want to just survive—I wanted to help others do the same.” The experience sparked something new: a desire to coach others through job loss and change. He pursued certification, built his practice, and found a new mission—supporting the “geeks and quiet warriors” navigating their own career crossroads. >>The Big Three: Kind. Present. Open. “Writing the book wasn’t the goal. Becoming an author was. ”His philosophy is simple but profound. Be kind—to yourself. Be present—in your journey. Be open—to what’s next. Whether coaching a client or finishing a book, Benedikt’s framework turns fear into forward momentum. _______________________ Connect with: Benedikt Oehmen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedikt-oehmen/]

#45 Collin Plume: Ownership, Not Optics—Teaching Real Wealth to the Next Generation

In the second half of his conversation, Collin Plume moves beyond financial products into financial legacy—sharing how Gen Xers can teach resilience, ownership, and critical thinking to the next generation. From diversifying income streams to protecting family futures with real assets, Collin reveals why wealth isn’t about a flashy portfolio—it’s about building something that lasts, even when systems shift.  For Gen Xers tired of flashy advice and ready to raise wiser, stronger humans, this episode delivers the quiet tools for lifelong financial independence. >>Inflation, Instability, and the Fight for Financial Control “Gold has kept up with the cost of living for over 150 years.” Collin explains why owning tangible assets isn’t just smart investing—it’s a fight for personal freedom and future-proofing your life against system shocks. >>Diversification Isn’t Optional Anymore “The mistake isn’t just losing—it’s being stuck in one idea forever.” He shares why today’s market demands diversified thinking, constant learning, and rejecting loyalty to any one asset class—including real estate. >>Retirement Will Never Look the Same “People aren’t retiring—they’re reworking life.” Collin talks about the shifting realities of work, aging, and how side gigs, flexible income, and purpose-driven work are rewriting retirement for Gen X and beyond. >>The Rise—and Risk—of Finfluencers “Algorithms reward appeal, not expertise.” He calls out the dangers of taking financial advice from unverified influencers, and why critical thinking is the real currency in today’s information economy. >>Teaching Kids the Real Value of Money “Experience and education over stuff.” Collin shares how he’s raising his three kids to value assets over toys, experiences over things, and knowledge over hype—with gold and silver as real-world teaching tools. __________________________ Connect with Collin Plume [https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-plume/]

#44 Collin Plume: Golden Rules for People-First Wealth Building

Collin Plume didn’t build Noble Gold to chase hype—he built it to restore trust in a system Gen X knows can break.  In this first of a two-part series, Collin shares how early lessons from insurance sales, real estate, and recession-era survival shaped his people-first approach to wealth building. He explains why real assets like gold and silver aren’t just investments—they’re anchors of ownership in a world increasingly built on debt and paper.  For Gen Xers who value resilience over rhetoric, and control over hype, this episode delivers the human side of financial security. >>Learning the Hard Way “Customer service wasn’t a department—it was survival.” Collin reflects on early lessons selling insurance and real estate, where trust and loyalty mattered more than shiny marketing. >>Why People Stay—and Why They Leave “Employees don’t stay because of ping-pong tables. They stay because they’re seen.” He shares how mentorship and genuine relationship-building shaped his leadership style at Noble Gold. >>Selling Without the Sleaze “I don’t care what you’re selling—if you don’t care about people, you lose.” Collin talks about why prioritizing people over products isn’t soft—it’s the only strategy that survives downturns. >>Precious Metals: The Ownership Play “When everything else feels intangible, gold and silver are still yours.” He explains why real assets like precious metals offer Gen Xers a hedge—not just against inflation, but against an unstable system. >>Family, Fear, and Financial Freedom “You’re not just buying an asset—you’re buying options.” Collin connects gold ownership to a deeper human need: protecting family, future, and dignity through real, controllable wealth. __________________________ Connect with Collin Plume [https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-plume/]

#43 Waverly Deutsch: Coaching the Founders Most Systems Miss

In Part 3, Waverly Deutsch steps into her latest role: founder of Wyseheart, a coaching firm designed to help the most overlooked founders build ventures that last. Focused on meaningful business, not unicorn exits, she brings her full career of coaching, teaching, and hard-won insight to early-stage leaders across age, gender, race, and identity.  For Gen Xers who aren’t ready to “retire,” this is a playbook for doing your best work—on your terms, with your values, and no need for external approval. >>What Retirement Really Means to Her “Retirement means you no longer have to work to cover basic necessities… but you work because you want to.” Waverly explains why Wyseheart was never about building a high-growth company, but creating space for meaningful work in the next chapter of life. >>Who Wyseheart Is Really For “I might have a session with you and turn you down as a client.” She describes her ideal clients: early-stage founders with strong ideas and potential—but she’s selective, because she coaches from belief, not obligation. >>Opening Access Where Systems Don’t “I want to make myself available to people who don’t always have access to someone like me.” Waverly shares how Wiseheart is designed to serve women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, rural, and underestimated founders who often face systemic barriers. >>LGBTQ+ Advocacy Through Data and Action “You can ask: do you choose to publicly identify as an LGBTQ+ founder?” She calls out the data gap and cultural risks still facing LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs—and how her work with StartOut aims to help change that. >>Advising Older Entrepreneurs With Realism “You may have to go back to the work that got you there.” She offers grounded advice to Gen X and Baby Boomer entrepreneurs who face ageism and cost-cutting—and encourages them to translate wisdom into flexible, consulting-based careers. __________________________ Connect with Waverly Deutsch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/waverlydeutsch/]