Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life
Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life

Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life

Michael Jacobs - Working Dads & Fatherhood Expert

Overview
Episodes

Details

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 lastsCareer change and meaningful work without losing yourselfParenting and productivity that fit real lifeFatherhood, identity, and growth in the modern worldMindset and systems that keep both business and family running smoothlyNo 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 familiesCareer coaches helping dads find work that fits their valuesCreatives balancing passion projects with parentingProductivity pros teaching how to reclaim time and focusEveryday dads sharing their journeys from burnout to balanceIf 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 Episodes

Loren Silverman on Reclaiming Your Identity Beyond Productivity
MAR 31, 2026
Loren Silverman on Reclaiming Your Identity Beyond Productivity
<p>What happens when your self-worth quietly becomes tied to your output?</p><p>After nearly two decades leading digital transformation work for major brands, Loren Silverman realized that success on paper didn’t equal fulfillment in real life. The titles, the grind, the constant responsibility all looked right from the outside. But underneath, something felt off.</p><p>That realization didn’t lead to a dramatic overnight reinvention. It led to something much simpler and far more powerful: pause, awareness, and small, repeatable shifts.</p><p>Today, Loren helps high-responsibility professionals untangle identity from productivity, align actions with values, and build healthier boundaries without losing ambition.</p><p>Loren shares how to:</p><p>• Recognize when your reaction is bigger than the moment</p><p>• Separate your identity from your professional output</p><p>• Align daily actions with personal values</p><p>• Protect energy, not just time</p><p>• Use small, consistent changes instead of heroic life overhauls</p><p>• Practice active listening to improve presence at home</p><p>• Create boundaries that actually hold under pressure</p><p>• Reframe slowing down as strength rather than weakness</p><p>• Catch burnout before it becomes depletion</p><p>• Pause long enough to make better decisions</p><p>This conversation is thoughtful, grounded, and practical for any dad who feels stretched between responsibility and presence, and wants a steadier, more intentional way forward.</p><p></p><p><strong>Dig Deeper</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria">S.M.A.R.T. Tasks</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.baskinrobbins.com/en">Baskin-Robbins</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4bFqW_eu2I">House of the Rising Sun by The Animals</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thedoors.com">The Doors</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Loren</strong></p><p>On his website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.silvermancoach.com">https://www.silvermancoach.com</a></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/loren.silverman/">https://www.instagram.com/loren.silverman/</a></p><p>On Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/loren.silverman">https://www.facebook.com/loren.silverman</a></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorensilverman/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorensilverman/</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Gap to Gig</strong></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/gaptogig">instagram.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On TikTok: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig">tiktok.com/@gaptogig</a></p><p>On X: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://x.com/gaptogig">x.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg">youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg</a></p><p>On your podcast player of choice: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/">https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/</a></p><p>Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://gaptogig.com">gaptogig.com</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Michael</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/</a></p>
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43 MIN
Julia Toothacre on Redefining Meaningful Work Through Life’s Seasons
MAR 24, 2026
Julia Toothacre on Redefining Meaningful Work Through Life’s Seasons
<p>What does meaningful work actually look like once you become a parent?</p><p>For many professionals, the answer changes. Priorities shift. Energy changes. The things that once felt exciting or important can suddenly feel disconnected from the life you want to build.</p><p>Career strategist Julia Toothacre works with high-performing professionals who look successful on paper but quietly feel stuck, burned out, or misaligned. Her work focuses on helping people take ownership of their careers while navigating the pressures of family, ambition, and changing priorities.</p><p>Julia explains why meaningful work is often misunderstood and why the answer usually isn’t a dramatic career overhaul. More often, it comes from understanding the season of life you are in and aligning your choices with what matters most right now.</p><p></p><p>Julia shares how to:</p><p>• Understand why meaningful work means different things to different people</p><p>• Recognize when feeling “stuck” is coming from internal pressure rather than external reality</p><p>• Think about career risk differently once kids enter the picture</p><p>• Identify when a job is temporarily demanding versus fundamentally misaligned</p><p>• Manage career transitions without making emotional or reactive decisions</p><p>• Spot the early warning signs of burnout before they escalate</p><p></p><p><strong>Dig Deeper</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bluey.tv/">Bluey</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI-5uv4wryI">Champagne Supernova by Oasis</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Julia</strong></p><p>On her website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ridethetidecollective.com">ridethetidecollective.com</a></p><p>On her podcast, Control Your Career: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/">https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/</a></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/ridethetidecollective">https://www.instagram.com/ridethetidecollective</a></p><p>On Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/RideTheTideCollective">https://www.facebook.com/RideTheTideCollective</a></p><p>On YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ridethetidecollective">https://www.youtube.com/@ridethetidecollective</a></p><p>On TikTok: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ridethetidecol">https://www.tiktok.com/@ridethetidecol</a></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell">https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Gap to Gig</strong></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/gaptogig">instagram.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On TikTok: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig">tiktok.com/@gaptogig</a></p><p>On X: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://x.com/gaptogig">x.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg">youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg</a></p><p>On your podcast player of choice: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/">https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/</a></p><p>Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://gaptogig.com">gaptogig.com</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Michael</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/</a></p>
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50 MIN
Alex Tuck on Timeboxing Your Way to Meaningful Work and Present Fatherhood
MAR 17, 2026
Alex Tuck on Timeboxing Your Way to Meaningful Work and Present Fatherhood
<p>What if the key to balance is not working less, but working with intention?</p><p></p><p>Alex Tuck runs a remote-first consulting firm from a farm in Vermont while raising four young kids with his wife. His approach is simple but disciplined: block the time, protect the priorities, and design work to fit life, not the other way around.</p><p></p><p>From quarterly OKRs to daily timeboxing, Alex has built both a company and a family rhythm around clarity and structure. But beneath the systems is something deeper. A belief that work matters. Health matters. Relationships matter. And none of them should consume the others.</p><p></p><p>Alex shares how to:</p><p>• Use timeboxing to reduce overwhelm and increase focus</p><p>• Break big goals into daily commitments that actually get done</p><p>• Protect personal time with the same intensity as client work</p><p>• Build a remote culture that values flexibility over utilization</p><p>• Model boundaries so your team feels safe taking time off</p><p>• Create phone free zones that increase connection at home</p><p>• Adjust work rhythms when kids, travel, or life get chaotic</p><p>• Invite your kids into decision making so they feel ownership</p><p>• Replace guilt with intentional tradeoffs</p><p>• Design meaningful work that supports, not competes with, family</p><p></p><p>This conversation is practical, honest, and full of real world examples for dads trying to build something worthwhile without losing the people they are building it for.</p><p></p><p><strong>Dig Deeper</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeboxing">Timeboxing</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://amzn.to/4cWfEZj">Timeboxing: The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time by Marc Zao-Sanders</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://marczaosanders.com/newsletter/">One Thing at a Time newsletter by Marc Zao-Sanders</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEypinvApHo">Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://journeymusic.com">Journey</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Alex</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck">https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck</a></p><p>On his website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tuckconsultinggroup.com">https://www.tuckconsultinggroup.com</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Gap to Gig</strong></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/gaptogig">instagram.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On TikTok: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig">tiktok.com/@gaptogig</a></p><p>On X: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://x.com/gaptogig">x.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg">youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg</a></p><p>On your podcast player of choice: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/">https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/</a></p><p>Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://gaptogig.com">gaptogig.com</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Follow Michael</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/</a></p>
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51 MIN
Merry Korn on Turning Professional Loss into Purpose-Driven Work
MAR 10, 2026
Merry Korn on Turning Professional Loss into Purpose-Driven Work
<p>What happens when the job you thought would carry you to the finish line disappears overnight?</p><p>Two months into what she believed would be her final role, Merry Korn was let go. She was a single parent with two teenagers, college tuition looming, and no clear path forward. The fear was real. The pressure was immediate. Staying in bed was not an option.</p><p>What followed was not an overnight success story. It was a series of hard conversations, informational interviews, small courageous steps, and a refusal to surrender. From those early survival decisions, Merry went on to found and scale a for-profit social enterprise that employed more than 1,300 people across 30 states, prioritizing jobs for people with severe disabilities, disabled veterans, and individuals living in the most impoverished communities.</p><p>Merry shares how to:</p><ul><li>Move forward when fear feels paralyzing</li><li>Use informational interviews as a career and business growth strategy</li><li>Align work with purpose instead of contorting yourself to fit the wrong environment</li><li>Build a mission-driven company that attracts high-quality talent</li><li>Create simple rituals that protect presence at home</li><li>Lead with values when rebuilding after a professional setback</li><li>Turn survival mode into meaningful, scalable impact</li></ul><p><strong>Dig Deeper</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pinsourcing.com">Pearl Interactive Network</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/bergen-belsen">Bergen-Belsen</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/">Schindler's List</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oeiO19qaDmQ">Barney</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXWCaQPXE_0">Crazy by Patsy Cline</a></p><p><strong>Follow Merry</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrykorn">https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrykorn</a></p><p>On X: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://X.com/korn_merry45334">https://X.com/korn_merry45334</a></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/mpearlkorn">https://instagram.com/mpearlkorn</a></p><p>On Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://facebook.com/firedtoinspired">https://facebook.com/firedtoinspired</a></p><p>On her website, Fired to Inspired: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://firedtoinspired.com">https://firedtoinspired.com</a></p><p><strong>Follow Gap to Gig</strong></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/gaptogig">instagram.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On TikTok: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig">tiktok.com/@gaptogig</a></p><p>On X: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://x.com/gaptogig">x.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg">youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg</a></p><p>On your podcast player of choice: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/">https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/</a></p><p>Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://gaptogig.com">gaptogig.com</a></p><p><strong>Follow Michael</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/</a></p>
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46 MIN
Tony Berardo on Redefining Success Around Time, Health, and Fatherhood
MAR 3, 2026
Tony Berardo on Redefining Success Around Time, Health, and Fatherhood
<p>What happens when health scares, job loss, and family tragedy collide all at once?</p><p>After having part of his lung removed, being laid off during the pandemic, and losing his father-in-law the same day he was discharged from the hospital, Tony Berardo was forced to confront a hard truth: work was taking up too much of the wrong space in his life.</p><p>Instead of chasing security, status, and a bigger paycheck, Tony rebuilt his life around something far more valuable: time.</p><p>Today, he’s the founder of Human Dad, a content creator, and an entrepreneur who prioritizes presence over prestige. He makes less money than he once did, but he has more clarity, more intention, and more time with his daughter.</p><p>Tony shares how to:</p><p>• Reevaluate success after health scares and job loss</p><p>• Shift from “work-life balance” to protecting time as your most valuable asset</p><p>• Build a side hustle before making the leap into entrepreneurship</p><p>• Lower financial stress by living below your means</p><p>• Model discipline, boundaries, and healthy habits for your kids</p><p>• Choose presence over prestige</p><p>Tony’s perspective is raw, direct, and deeply practical. For any dad questioning whether the grind is worth it, this conversation offers a clear reminder: your time is the real currency.</p><p><strong>Dig Deeper</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/about/pac-20384716">IVF</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/grwm?lang=en">Get Ready With Me</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hk6O61heulo6Ld-ZNP6WA">Ridiculousness</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521164/">Moana</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.regmovies.com">Regal Cinemas</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrlaVYKWeLU">Polly by Nirvana</a></p><p><strong>Follow Tony</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.theberardo.com">Website</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/humanityandhashtags">Humanity and Hashtags Podcast</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/theberardo">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtube.com/@theberardo">YouTube</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tiktok.com/@theberardo">TikTok</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://humandad.com/">Human Dad</a></p><p><strong>Follow Gap to Gig</strong></p><p>On Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/gaptogig">instagram.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On TikTok: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig">tiktok.com/@gaptogig</a></p><p>On X: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://x.com/gaptogig">x.com/gaptogig</a></p><p>On YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg">youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg</a></p><p>On your podcast player of choice: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/">https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/</a></p><p>Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://gaptogig.com">gaptogig.com</a></p><p><strong>Follow Michael</strong></p><p>On LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/</a></p>
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63 MIN