Look up pinephone, intended to let you have full control of the phone.

I miss the days of the Motorola flip phone where all you did is make phone calls.

Nokia flip phone or some de-Googled Android. As long as you don't download any Google applications, it works well for calling, texting, and music.

I want to exchange my iPhone for another phone in order to escape the tyrants running Big Tech and Apple. What phone(s) do you recommend?

Phone not being smartphone.

You cannot escape big tech if you want a cell phone. All you can do is switch which big tech company you are dealing with. I just got rid of Apple and got an Android. "Nord Oneplus". Had never heard of the manufacturer, but it was cheap. $299.