Gap to Gig

AJ Rich on Becoming the Dad You Want to Be in an Anxious World

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 stuckDig DeeperFeelings wheelBrené BrownBrené Brown: Atlas of the Heart on HBO MaxAtlas of the Heart by Brené Brown (book)PERMA Theory of Well-BeingDoc McStuffinsSofia the FirstSubway Sandwich ArtistFood Avenue in TargetThis is How We Do It by Montell JordanFollow AJAJ Family Therapy, Inc.Email AJFollow Gap to GigOn InstagramOn TikTokOn XOn ThreadsOn YouTubeOn your podcast player of choiceSign up for the Gap to Gig newsletterFollow MichaelOn LinkedIn

Paul Terrell on Grit, Recovery, and Rebuilding Life as a Dad

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 progressPaul’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 DeeperYardiREITPlaudBohemian RhapsodyNuthin' but a "G" ThangFollow PaulPaul Terrell on LinkedInPaul Terrell on InstagramFollow 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/

Sean Waldron on Creativity, Healing, and the Work That Starts at Home

What happens when you realize the real work of your life is happening at home, not at your job?Sean Waldron returns for a deeper conversation about creativity, fatherhood, and the stories that shape us. He shares how filming with his son became a doorway into connection, why every dad has creative gifts even if they do not see themselves as creative, and how bringing your work skills into your home can strengthen the bond with your kids.Sean opens up about:• Entering his child’s world and why validation matters so much• How creativity shows up in everyday parenting• Using the skills you practice at work to build connection at home• The danger of tying your worth to your job• Why every dad carries a creative spark• How good is built in small moments inside your home• Growing up with fractured support and transforming that pain into purpose• The heart behind ROAR and the documentary Silly Cannonballs• The healing conversation he needed to have with his father before he could tell this story• Building habits and protecting your morning to stay grounded• Navigating perfection, mastery, and the pursuit of honestyThis conversation goes deeper into purpose, identity, generational patterns, and the kind of dad you want to become. It is raw, thoughtful, and full of clarity about what truly matters.Dig DeeperROAR DadsSilly CannonballsThe JetsonsMacGyverJohn MayerJapanese JoineryGap to Gig Episode 6: Sean Waldron on Purpose, Creativity, and Becoming a Present DadFollow SeanSean Waldron on LinkedInFollow 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/

Sean Waldron on Purpose, Creativity, and Becoming a Present Dad

How do you hold onto your creative identity while trying to be the parent you want to be?Sean Waldron has built a life around creativity from music to video production to brand storytelling. He has freelanced, gone in-house, flipped houses, and wrestled with the tension between purpose and practical responsibilities. Becoming a dad pushed him to rethink all of it.Sean shares how to:Blend creative skills with fatherhood in a way that builds connectionSeparate who you are from what you do after layoffs, pivots, or burnoutNavigate the pull between purpose, mastery, and paying the billsPursue creative work without letting perfectionism take overFind meaning in seasons of uncertaintyRecognize early signs that you are on the right path even without resultsCarry ambition into parenthood without letting it overshadow your home lifeCreate simple moments of delight using the skills that light you upExplore the stories you learned growing up and how they shape the dad you want to becomeIf you have ever felt torn between your creative passions, your responsibilities, and the desire to show up well for your kids, this conversation offers clarity, grounding, and a reminder that purpose is built one small moment at a time.Dig DeeperROAR DadsSilly CannonballsGirl AboveSet Your MindReset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture by David MurrayGood Inside by Dr. Becky KennedyBlueyRed Hot and Blue Pit BarbecueJason MrazMy HumpsBaby Got BackThe Roost StandFollow SeanSean Waldron on LinkedInFollow Gap to GigOn InstagramOn TikTokOn XOn YouTubeOn your podcast player of choiceSign up for the Gap to Gig newsletterFollow MichaelOn LinkedIn

Kristian Leavell on Finding Calm and Becoming the Dad You Want to Be

What does it really take to be present as a dad while juggling work, pressure, and your own mental health?Kristian Leavell, a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and dad, brings both clinical insight and lived experience to this honest conversation about the weight many fathers carry and how to navigate it with clarity and compassion.Kristian shares how to:• Be truthful about what you feel and what you need• Understand the voice behind internal pressure and self doubt• Redefine what it means to provide for your family• Manage guilt around work, parenting, and expectations• Let go of perfectionism and the anxiety under it• Reset when you feel disconnected from yourself or your family• Build routines that protect your mental health• Model emotional honesty for your kids while keeping boundaries• Build real community even when adult friendships feel difficult• Cross the swamp of discomfort to become the parent you want to beIf you feel stretched thin, quietly anxious, or simply trying to show up better for yourself and your family, this episode offers grounded guidance and a way forward.Dig DeeperKristian’s video about being a girl dad Instagram | TikTokDon't Go Chasing Waterfalls by TLCLisa “Left Eye” LopesThe Man Who Sold the World by NirvanaTexas StateFollow KristianTherapyTokWithKris on TikTokTherapyTalkWithKris on InstagramDistinctApproachCounseling.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/