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Gap to Gig

Gap to Gig

By: Michael Jacobs
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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.

Gap to Gig, 2025 Career Success Economics Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Jacob Stone on Reentering the Workforce and Bringing Your Whole Self to Work

    Jacob Stone on Reentering the Workforce and Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
    Nov 25 2025

    What really happens behind the scenes in hiring and how can dads returning to work stand out?

    In this episode of Gap to Gig, host Michael Jacobs talks with Jacob Stone, HR consultant and founder of WorqTap, who’s spent over a decade helping companies hire smarter and helping people land roles that actually fit their lives.

    Jacob shares what most job seekers never hear:

    • What’s really going on inside hiring teams (and how to stand out).

    • Why soft skills like adaptability and communication matter more than technical ones.

    • How parenting builds the exact qualities employers need.

    • How to reframe career gaps with confidence.

    • Why networking, not algorithms, gets you hired.

    Whether you’re reentering the workforce, changing careers, or just trying to build meaningful work around family life, this episode will help you bring your full story to the table.

    Dig Deeper

    WorqTap

    Paul Revere by Beastie Boys

    Follow Gap to Gig

    On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig

    On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig

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    On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg

    On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/

    Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com

    Follow Michael

    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
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    34 mins
  • Jesse Holmes on Building Momentum in 10 Minutes a Day

    Jesse Holmes on Building Momentum in 10 Minutes a Day
    Nov 18 2025

    In this episode of Gap to Gig, host Michael Jacobs talks with Jesse Holmes, a performance coach who helps entrepreneurs and parents make measurable progress in just 10 minutes a day.

    Jesse shares how to:

    • Build clarity and confidence through small, consistent actions.

    • Find your focus when life feels chaotic.

    • Apply “deep work” principles to parenting, relationships, and self-care.

    • Turn daily 10-minute wins into lasting momentum.

    • Balance business growth with family life — without burning out.

    Whether you’re rebuilding your career, starting something new, or simply trying to stay present at home, this conversation will help you take the next step toward growth that feels sustainable.

    Dig Deeper

    Jesse’s Breakout Planner

    Fergalicious by Fergie

    Follow Jesse

    Jesse Holmes on Facebook

    Follow Gap to Gig

    On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig

    On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig

    On X: x.com/gaptogig

    On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg

    On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/

    Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com

    Follow Michael

    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • John Tarnoff on Finding Your Next Chapter

    John Tarnoff on Finding Your Next Chapter
    Nov 11 2025

    What happens when your career suddenly stops fitting your life?

    In this episode of Gap to Gig, host Michael Jacobs talks with John Tarnoff, an executive coach who rebuilt his career after the tech bubble burst and now helps mid-career professionals rediscover purpose and confidence.

    John shares how to:

    • Navigate uncertainty and rebuild resilience.

    • Reframe “returning to work” as moving forward, not backward.

    • Turn personal experiences — even parenting — into professional strengths.

    • Rebuild confidence by acting before you feel ready.

    • Create community instead of just “networking.”

    If you’re a dad redefining success, shifting careers, or searching for meaningful work that fits real life, this episode will help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.

    Dig Deeper

    Pema Chödrön https://pemachodronfoundation.org

    Gampo Abbey https://gampoabbey.org/

    Comfortable with Uncertainty https://amzn.to/4oNRCTc

    Julia Cameron https://juliacameronlive.com/

    The Artist’s Way https://amzn.to/4hClP5h

    Ikigai https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2022/03/ikigai\_japanese\_secret\_to\_a\_joyful\_life.html

    Ikigai Venn diagram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai#/media/File:Diagramo\_de\_Ikigajo\_-en.svg

    You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAR\_Ff5A8Rk

    Follow John

    John Tarnoff on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johntarnoff/

    Mid-Career Lab community https://midcareerlab.com/

    John Tarnoff website https://johntarnoff.com/

    Follow Gap to Gig

    On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig

    On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig

    On X: x.com/gaptogig

    On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig-gtg

    On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig

    Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com

    Follow Michael

    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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