Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life – Details, episodes & analysis
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Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life
Michael Jacobs - Working Dads & Fatherhood Expert
Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 26
Build the life you’re working for.
Gap to Gig is the podcast for dads who want to crush it at work and still show up at home.
Each week, host Michael Jacobs talks with dads, founders, career experts, and creators about what it really takes to balance meaningful work and active fatherhood. From navigating career transitions and side hustles to staying present for hockey games and bedtime stories, Gap to Gig helps you create a life that feels steady, fulfilling, and built to last.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home dad reentering the workforce, a working dad craving more purpose, or a creator building your own path, you’ll find stories and systems to help you move forward with confidence.
Expect honest conversations about:
- Work-life balance that actually lasts
- Career change and meaningful work without losing yourself
- Parenting and productivity that fit real life
- Fatherhood, identity, and growth in the modern world
- Mindset and systems that keep both business and family running smoothly
No fluff. No hustle-culture noise. Just real stories, practical tools, and genuine conversations about being a dad who wants both: meaningful work and a meaningful life.
If you’ve ever felt pulled between your career ambitions and your kids’ soccer schedules, you’re not alone. Each episode offers ideas you can apply right away, whether that’s a way to structure your week, handle burnout, or rethink what success really means for you and your family.
The show blends personal storytelling, expert insights, and actionable takeaways from guests who are building careers, companies, and creative projects that fit their lives, not the other way around.
Recent episodes feature:
- Entrepreneurs who’ve built businesses around their families
- Career coaches helping dads find work that fits their values
- Creatives balancing passion projects with parenting
- Productivity pros teaching how to reclaim time and focus
- Everyday dads sharing their journeys from burnout to balance
If you’re ready to rethink success, build balance that lasts, and create space for what matters most, this podcast is for you.
Gap to Gig: Helping dads build the life they’re working for.
New episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen.
Recent rankings
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Apple Podcasts
🇩🇪 Germany - parenting
30/04/2026#88
Spotify
No recent rankings available
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See all- https://brenebrown.com/
661 shares
- https://chatgpt.com
129 shares
RSS feed quality and score
Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.
See allScore global : 68%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
David Shar on Passion, Burnout, and Work-Life Balance for Working Dads
Episode 25
mardi 28 avril 2026 • Duration 53:30
Why does work that once energized you start to feel like something you can’t turn off?
Dr. David Shar studies what happens when people fall out of love with their work and why that shift often happens long before anyone notices. His research shows that for working dads, the challenge is not just workload. It is how work connects to identity, purpose, and the life you are trying to build at home.
This conversation reframes passion in a way most people never consider. Not all passion is healthy. Some of it quietly creates burnout, tension, and distance from the people who matter most.
David shares how to:
• Understand the difference between healthy passion and the kind that leads to burnout
• Recognize when guilt at home or at work is a signal of misalignment 
• Identify when your work is integrated into your identity versus competing with it
• Shift from obsessive work habits to a more sustainable, balanced approach
• Influence culture and energy at work even without a leadership title
• Align your impact at work with who you are as a parent
• Create meaningful work without sacrificing presence at home
We talk about fatherhood, identity, and work-life balance that actually holds up under real pressure. Not less ambition, but better alignment between who you are, how you work, and how you show up at home.
Dig Deeper
Follow David
On his website: http://www.davidshar.com
On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshar
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Alan Lazaros on Meaningful Work, Work-Life Balance, and Living from the Inside Out
Episode 24
mardi 21 avril 2026 • Duration 39:50
What if the biggest gap between your work and your life is not your schedule, but how you define success?
Alan Lazaros built what most people would call a successful life. High income, fast growth, and clear upward momentum. But after a near-fatal car accident at 26, he was forced to confront a harder question. Was any of it actually meaningful?
For working dads trying to balance ambition, work-life balance, and presence at home, this conversation reframes what meaningful work really means and how easily success can drift away from what matters most.
Alan shares how to:
• Shift from chasing external success to building a life from the inside out
• Recognize when your goals are driven by validation instead of values
• Avoid building a life that looks successful but feels empty
• Focus on long-term growth instead of short-term approval
• Close the gap between your intentions and your daily actions
• Redefine meaningful work in a way that actually fits your life
This conversation is not about abandoning ambition. It's about aiming it in the right direction so your work, your values, and your life are moving together instead of pulling you apart.
Dig Deeper
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Adverse Childhood Experiences Score
Follow Alan
On his website: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com
On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/alazaros88
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc
On his podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelUniversity
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Danny Brassell on Becoming a Better Communicator at Work and at Home
Episode 15
mardi 17 février 2026 • Duration 57:29
How do you communicate in a way that builds trust, connection, and confidence with your kids, your partner, and the people you work with every day?
Danny Brassell has spent decades teaching, coaching, and speaking around the world about storytelling, reading, and communication. This conversation explores how communication is not about polish or performance, but about meeting people where they are and staying present in the moments that matter most.
Danny shares how to:
- Use storytelling to build trust instead of trying to impress
- Become a stronger communicator by focusing on failures, not just wins
- Create daily habits that strengthen presence at home
- Help kids love reading without turning it into a battle
- Model curiosity, learning, and humility for your children
Danny’s insights are practical, honest, and immediately usable for dads who want to communicate more clearly, lead more effectively, and show up better for the people who matter most.
Dig Deeper
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon
Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story
Follow Danny
On his website: https://www.wellcraftedstoryworkshop.com
On X: https://www.x.com/DannyBrassell
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realDannyBrassell
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DannyBrassell
On YouTube: https://youtube.com/DannyBrassell
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/DannyBrassell
Get your free well crafted story blueprint: www.freestoryguide.com
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Jon Merlin on Building Creative Work Without Sacrificing Family Time
Episode 14
mardi 10 février 2026 • Duration 44:11
Jon Merlin is a longtime designer who left agency life to start his own creative studio while raising two young daughters. Instead of letting work bleed into every hour, Jon drew a hard line around family time and rebuilt his business around clarity, intention, and values.
This conversation explores what it really looks like to pursue entrepreneurship without losing presence at home, and how letting go of perfection can unlock both better work and better parenting.
Jon shares how to:
- Protect daily family time without derailing client work
- Set non-negotiables in seasons where work pressure is real
- Build a focused business by saying no to the wrong projects
- Navigate the anxiety and ambiguity of starting something new
- Replace perfection with progress at work and at home
- Use small moments with kids to stay connected during busy days
- Model emotional regulation, repair, and growth for children
- Choose work that aligns with values, not just revenue
- Reframe career gaps as runways instead of setbacks
- Define success through legacy, not titles or output
Jon’s perspective is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply practical for dads who want to build something meaningful without missing what matters most.
Dig Deeper
One Club for Creatives (San Diego)
Follow Jon
Website: https://jonmerlin.com/
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmerlin/
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On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
Doug Fleener on Making Better Work and Life Choices Without Burning Out
Episode 13
mardi 3 février 2026 • Duration 51:38
Why does work keep crowding out family time even when no one is explicitly asking it to?
Doug Fleener is an author, coach, and former corporate executive who has lived both sides of the work equation. After years of leadership roles and constant pressure, he intentionally redesigned his work around presence, health, and family. As a dad to grown daughters and a teenager, Doug brings rare perspective on how seasons of fatherhood change what presence really looks like.
Doug shares how to:
- Shift from chasing balance to making clear work and life choices
- Recognize when work is crowding out presence without anyone noticing
- Build daily intention through future focused journaling
- Use physical cues like closing a laptop or putting down a phone to signal presence
- Pause before reacting when pressure spills into family moments
- Find meaningful connection in small, ordinary moments
Dig Deeper
Start With What If by Doug Fleener
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Website: https://www.dougfleener.com
On TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@dougfleener
On Instagram: https://instagram.com/dougfleener
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554942906442
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doug-fleener
On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougfleener
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Stephanie Cordes on Finding Clarity When Success No Longer Feels Right
Episode 12
mardi 27 janvier 2026 • Duration 39:18
What do you do when your career looks successful on paper, but something quietly feels off?
Stephanie Cordes is a career ownership coach who works with people at the exact moment when professional success and the life they want to live stop pointing in the same direction. She knows this moment personally. After building a successful corporate career, Stephanie realized that checking all the boxes did not automatically mean she was building the right life.
Stephanie shares how to:
• Recognize quiet misalignment before it turns into burnout
• Reevaluate work and life goals as seasons and family needs change
• Think beyond job titles and focus on lifestyle, income, and long term direction
• Create a personal North Star that guides decisions without locking you into one path
• Let go of the belief that every career change means failure
• Explore new options while keeping stability for your family
• Involve your partner in career decisions as a true team effort
• Redefine what providing really means beyond a paycheck
Dig Deeper
Jamie Siminoff, Founder of Ring Camera
Picture by Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock
Follow Stephanie
Website: https://stephahead.com
On X: https://x.com/stephcordesTES
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniecordesTES
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093172011381
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemcordes/
On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stephcordestes.bsky.social
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Kristian Leavell on Navigating Anxiety, Depression, and the Long Winter Season
Episode 11
mardi 20 janvier 2026 • Duration 55:16
Why do anxiety and depression feel heavier during the long winter season, even when nothing is technically “wrong”?
Kristian Leavell, licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and dad, returns to talk about the emotional weight winter can bring, especially for fathers carrying responsibility at work and at home. The focus here is awareness, regulation, and small, realistic ways to stay steady when energy is low and motivation fades.
Kristian shares how to:
• Notice early signs of anxiety and depression by watching patterns, not isolated moments
• Treat emotions as useful signals rather than problems to eliminate
• Separate thoughts from facts and step out of spirals
• Use small, practical actions to interrupt anxiety before it builds
• Apply opposite action when motivation disappears
• Practice mindfulness in real life, not perfect conditions
• Talk with kids about emotions in ways that create trust and safety
• Redefine strength as presence, not endurance
• Check in on other dads without feeling the need to fix them
Dig Deeper
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
How to turn crayons into candles
Follow Kristian
TherapyTalkWithKris on Instagram
TherapyTalkWithKris on YouTube
DistinctApproachCounseling.com
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Eddie Torba on Building a Career That Lets You Show Up for Your Kids
Episode 10
mardi 13 janvier 2026 • Duration 37:18
What does it mean to succeed at work without missing the moments you never get back?
Eddie Torba has spent decades in retail execution and operations, helping major brands adapt, rebuild, and evolve through massive industry change. Along the way, he made intentional career decisions to stay present for his family, from working nights and weekends early on, to shifting into remote corporate roles, to building a small consulting practice on the side.
Eddie shares how to:
• Design a career around family instead of fitting family into leftover time
• Choose flexibility and stability without treating them as opposites
• Build trust at work by delivering results, not logging hours
• Protect family dinners, school events, and everyday moments that matter
• Set boundaries that prevent burnout and protect mental energy
• Create morning and weekly routines that support focus and balance
• Explore a side path without overwhelming yourself or your family
• Be honest about capacity before taking on extra work
• Help kids understand the human effort behind convenience and consumption
• Teach responsibility, work ethic, and perspective by example
• Measure success by presence, not titles or constant availability
Eddie’s story is a reminder that careers evolve, seasons change, and showing up consistently for your family is a choice you make again and again. His approach is practical, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in the belief that work should support life, not replace it.
Dig Deeper
EWS Consulting
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AJ Rich on Becoming the Dad You Want to Be in an Anxious World
Episode 9
mardi 6 janvier 2026 • Duration 44:08
What does it actually take to feel grounded, confident, and present as a dad when anxiety is rising, expectations are shifting, and the world feels louder than ever?
AJ Rich is a licensed marriage and family therapist, practice owner, and doctoral candidate who works almost exclusively with men. After nearly 20 years in corporate leadership, AJ transitioned into clinical work and now helps dads navigate identity, emotional intelligence, anxiety, and growth without losing themselves or their families in the process.
In this conversation, AJ shares how men can move beyond coping and toward real psychological wellbeing, even while juggling work pressure, parenting, and constant change.
You will hear AJ break down how to:
• Understand anxiety as a signal, not a failure
• Build emotional intelligence without losing strength or credibility
• Develop the language to describe what you are actually feeling
• Shift from survival mode into sustainable growth
• Redefine success beyond titles, income, or external validation
• Identify what is holding you back when you feel stuck
Dig Deeper
Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart on HBO Max
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown (book)
This is How We Do It by Montell Jordan
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Paul Terrell on Grit, Recovery, and Rebuilding Life as a Dad
Episode 8
mardi 30 décembre 2025 • Duration 44:04
How do you rebuild your life when everything breaks at once and you still have kids who need you every minute of the day?
After a devastating spinal injury and years of recovery, Paul Terrell became a stay at home dad who had to relearn how to walk, talk, type, and parent with new physical limitations. Later he returned to work and eventually became a top performing enterprise account executive in PropTech and FinTech. His story is one of grit, patience, perseverance, and a deep commitment to family.
Paul shares how to:
• Relearn everyday life while caring for two young kids
• Parent with physical limitations and find creative ways to adapt
• Build mental toughness when progress feels painfully slow
• Return to the workforce with confidence after years away
• Use AI, systems, and prep work to compete at a high level again
• Navigate the emotional shift from being the primary caregiver to traveling constantly for work
• Strengthen a marriage through shared effort, support, and role changes
• Turn stay at home parenting into quantifiable wins on a resume
• Carry lessons from parenting into sales, negotiation, and leadership
• Protect health, energy, and family time in a metrics driven role
• Help kids understand work, money, teamwork, and responsibility
• Break big goals into smaller ones and use data to track personal progress
Paul’s story is honest, inspiring, and packed with practical wisdom for any dad rebuilding after a tough season or trying to figure out what comes next.
Dig Deeper
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