Gap to Gig

Jon Merlin on Building Creative Work Without Sacrificing Family Time

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/

Doug Fleener on Making Better Work and Life Choices Without Burning Out

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 momentsDig DeeperBose CorporationDay OneStart With What If by Doug FleenerDraft DayArthur theme songTurn StylePiano ManFollow DougWebsite: https://www.dougfleener.comOn TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@dougfleenerOn Instagram: https://instagram.com/dougfleenerOn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554942906442On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doug-fleenerOn LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougfleener 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/

Stephanie Cordes on Finding Clarity When Success No Longer Feels Right

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/

Kristian Leavell on Navigating Anxiety, Depression, and the Long Winter Season

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 themDig DeeperACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)Cognitive FusionDBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)The JetsonsHow to turn crayons into candlesCrash the Gates by YellowcardFollow KristianTherapyTokWithKris on TikTokTherapyTalkWithKris on InstagramTherapyTalkWithKris on YouTubeDistinctApproachCounseling.comEmail KrisFollow 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/

Eddie Torba on Building a Career That Lets You Show Up for Your Kids

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/