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

What happens when your life changes faster than you can process it?For Mike Weyandt, the shift into fatherhood came all at once. A long, uncertain adoption process suddenly turned into bringing home a newborn in a matter of weeks. At the same time, his career path was in flux, and shortly after, the world shut down.What followed was a season filled with constant change, new responsibilities, and very little time to step back and make sense of it all.Mike brings a rare combination of perspectives. As a former opera performer, he understands what it means to be fully present when it matters most. As a talent leader and executive coach, he has helped others navigate uncertainty in their careers. And as a dad, he has lived through the reality of balancing meaningful work, identity shifts, and the everyday demands of parenting.Mike shares how to:Recognize and interrupt reactive patterns in both work and parentingBuild awareness around the thoughts that drive stress and overwhelmStay present when everything around you feels uncertainBalance ambition with the realities of fatherhood and daily lifeMove from constant reaction to more intentional decision-makingLet go of “should” thinking and challenge inherited assumptionsHandle career uncertainty without defaulting to ineffective busy workAccept that growth as a parent and professional is an ongoing practiceMike’s perspective is thoughtful, honest, and deeply practical. Especially for working dads trying to figure out work life balance while navigating change, pressure, and the desire to be more present at home.It’s a reminder that not every season needs to be solved immediately. Sometimes the real work is learning how to stay grounded while everything is still unfolding.Dig DeeperADHDNever Eat AloneBlueyCrazy by Patsy ClineFollow MikeOn his website: analogpractice.workOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mweyandt/Follow Gap to GigOn Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogigOn TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogigOn X: x.com/gaptogigOn YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogigOn your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.comFollow MichaelOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/

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 workSet non-negotiables in seasons where work pressure is realBuild a focused business by saying no to the wrong projectsNavigate the anxiety and ambiguity of starting something newReplace perfection with progress at work and at homeUse small moments with kids to stay connected during busy daysModel emotional regulation, repair, and growth for childrenChoose work that aligns with values, not just revenueReframe career gaps as runways instead of setbacksDefine success through legacy, not titles or outputJon’s perspective is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply practical for dads who want to build something meaningful without missing what matters most.Dig DeeperOne Club for Creatives (San Diego)Creative MorningsLava ChickenDookie by Green DayBasket Case by Green DayFollow JonWebsite: https://jonmerlin.com/On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmerlin/Follow Gap to GigOn Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogigOn TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogigOn X: x.com/gaptogigOn YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtgOn your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.comFollow MichaelOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/

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 paycheckDig DeeperRing CameraJamie Siminoff, Founder of Ring CameraKim PossiblePicture by Sheryl Crow and Kid RockAquaphorFollow StephanieWebsite: https://stephahead.comOn X: https://x.com/stephcordesTESOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniecordesTESOn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093172011381On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemcordes/On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stephcordestes.bsky.socialFollow Gap to GigOn Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogigOn TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogigOn X: x.com/gaptogigOn YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtgOn your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.comFollow MichaelOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/

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 availabilityEddie’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 DeeperAd PopulumEWS ConsultingParty CityDuck TalesDuck Tales theme songKnee Deep by Zach Brown BandJimmy BuffettFollow EddieEmail EddieFollow Gap to GigOn Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogigOn TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogigOn X: x.com/gaptogigOn Threads: threads.com/@gaptogigOn YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtgOn your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.comFollow MichaelOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/