Colin C. Thompson on Mental Fitness for Working Dads

Colin C. Thompson on Mental Fitness for Working Dads

How do you stay calm, present, and emotionally available when life keeps pulling you in every direction at once? Colin C. Thompson believes the answer starts with mental fitness. As a coach, speaker, and certified Positive Intelligence practitioner, Colin works with people who feel stuck between pressure, responsibility, and the constant demands of work and family life. His approach focuses on helping dads recognize the thought patterns, habits, and emotional reactions that quietly shape how they show up every day. This conversation explores how working dads can build mental fitness instead of constantly operating in survival mode. Colin breaks down the mental habits that create more presence, patience, emotional control, and healthier work life balance at home and at work. Colin shares how to: * Create healthier boundaries between work mode and family mode * Transition intentionally from work stress into parenting time * Recognize self-sabotaging thoughts before they spiral * Stop carrying workplace pressure into family interactions * Respond to stressful parenting moments with more calm and less reactivity * Model emotional openness and healthy behavior for your kids * Reduce comparison and external pressure as a working dad For working dads trying to balance fatherhood, meaningful work, and the emotional pressure that comes with both, this conversation offers practical ways to build stronger mental fitness, healthier boundaries, and more intentional relationships at home. Dig Deeper Kung Fu Theater [https://www.epicroadtrips.us/2003/summer/nola/nola_offsite/FQ_en.wikipedia.org/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Theater.html] Rally’s [https://checkersandrallys.com/] 24K Magic by Bruno Mars [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqyT8IEBkvY] Elmo the President [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ow2d62IktE] Follow Colin On his websites: https://www.oligye.com [https://www.oligye.com] and https://www.colincthompson.com [https://www.colincthompson.com] On Facebook: https://facebook.com/colin.c.thompson [https://facebook.com/colin.c.thompson] On LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/colincthompson/ [https://linkedin.com/in/colincthompson/] Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig [https://instagram.com/gaptogig] On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig [https://tiktok.com/@gaptogig] On X: x.com/gaptogig [https://x.com/gaptogig] On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig [https://www.youtube.com/@gaptogig] On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/] Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com [http://gaptogig.com] Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/]

Matt Campbell on Rebuilding Energy, Presence, and Work Life Balance in Fatherhood

Why do so many working dads feel exhausted even when they’re doing everything "right"? Dr. Matt Campbell believes the problem is not that most people are broken. It’s that they’re depleted. Matt is a clinical psychologist and creator of the Primal Five Framework, which focuses on five foundational areas that shape how we show up every day: sleep, sunlight, movement, connection, and consumption. His work explores how modern life quietly pulls us away from the things our minds and bodies were built for and how that depletion affects everything from patience and anxiety to parenting and meaningful work. Matt shares how to: * Recognize when exhaustion is really a capacity problem instead of a time problem * Improve work life balance without trying to overhaul your entire life overnight * Build routines that reduce decision fatigue and make healthy habits easier * Find practical ways to incorporate movement into an already busy schedule * Create meaningful connection instead of surface-level social interaction * Break cycles of depletion, irritability, anxiety, and overwhelm Matt brings a thoughtful and deeply practical perspective to fatherhood, parenting, and the reality of trying to stay healthy while balancing work, family, and daily responsibilities. Dig Deeper Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/n/surgepidlonliness/pdf/] Scooby-Doo Theme Song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_C2HJvtRDY] Thunder Road [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2X0Gf9jfz8] You Never Even Called Me by My Name [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4pZFsEdP3Y] Follow Matt On his website: https://www.ourprimal5.com/ [https://www.ourprimal5.com/] On his newsletter: https://our-primal-5.kit.com/9b41ee5325 [https://our-primal-5.kit.com/9b41ee5325] On Instagram: https://instagram.com/ourprimal5 [https://instagram.com/ourprimal5] On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-campbell-a5b22910/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-campbell-a5b22910/] Get the Our Primal 5 Workbook: https://amzn.to/48Qoe9h [https://amzn.to/48Qoe9h] Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig [http://instagram.com/gaptogig] On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig [http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig] On X: x.com/gaptogig [http://x.com/gaptogig] On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig [https://youtube.com/@gaptogig] On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/] Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com [http://gaptogig.com] Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/]

Mike Weyandt on Presence, Identity, and Navigating Fatherhood Through Uncertainty

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 parenting * Build awareness around the thoughts that drive stress and overwhelm * Stay present when everything around you feels uncertain * Balance ambition with the realities of fatherhood and daily life * Move from constant reaction to more intentional decision-making * Let go of “should” thinking and challenge inherited assumptions * Handle career uncertainty without defaulting to ineffective busy work * Accept that growth as a parent and professional is an ongoing practice Mike’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 Deeper ADHD [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd] Never Eat Alone [https://amzn.to/4cL2FrH] Bluey [https://www.bluey.tv/] Crazy by Patsy Cline [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXWCaQPXE_0] Follow Mike On his website: analogpractice.work [http://analogpractice.work] On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mweyandt/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mweyandt/] Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig [http://instagram.com/gaptogig] On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig [http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig] On X: x.com/gaptogig [http://x.com/gaptogig] On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig [https://youtube.com/@gaptogig] On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/] Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com [http://gaptogig.com] Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/]

Rob Capili on Rebuilding Life After Divorce and Raising Resilient Kids

What does it actually look like to rebuild your life after everything falls apart? Rob Capili has lived through it. Divorce, career pivots, identity shifts, and the long process of starting over while still showing up as a father. His path has never been linear. From tech to filmmaking to music to entrepreneurship, he has followed curiosity, taken risks, and learned the hard way what matters and what doesn’t. But some of his most important lessons didn't come from success. They came from failure, from relationships that didn't work, and from the responsibility of raising kids through difficult transitions. This conversation is raw, honest, and grounded in real experience. Especially for working dads trying to navigate fatherhood, work life balance, and the pressure to get it right while figuring it out in real time. Rob shares how to: * Rebuild your identity and direction after divorce * Balance honesty with protecting your children during difficult seasons * Let go of perfection and focus on being present as a parent * Give kids the space to make their own decisions while still guiding them * Shift from outcome-based thinking to focusing on effort and process * Recognize what you will and will not tolerate in relationships moving forward * Use failure, setbacks, and painful experiences as fuel for growth * Follow curiosity and creativity while still carrying real responsibility Rob’s perspective is direct, thoughtful, and often unexpectedly funny. A reminder that even in the hardest seasons, there is a path forward. Dig Deeper Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu] Barney [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oeiO19qaDmQ] Back That Azz Up by Juvenile [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYqmQPklI_0] Follow Rob On his website: robcapili.com [http://robcapili.com] Lovers Quarrel: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robcapili/lovers-quarrel-a-graphic-novel [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robcapili/lovers-quarrel-a-graphic-novel] Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig [http://instagram.com/gaptogig] On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig [http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig] On X: x.com/gaptogig [http://x.com/gaptogig] On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig [https://youtube.com/@gaptogig] On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/] Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com [http://gaptogig.com] Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/]

Faisal Ensaun on Taking Ownership of Your Life and Redefining Success as a Dad

What if the life you’re building is the very thing draining you? Faisal Ensaun’s journey spans survival, addiction, reinvention, and ultimately building a life rooted in purpose, ownership, and alignment. From immigrating out of a war-torn country to hitting personal rock bottom, he rebuilt his life by asking harder questions than most people are willing to face. Today, as a coach, entrepreneur, and father, Faisal works with high performers who look successful on the outside but feel disconnected underneath. Faisal’s perspective is intense, honest, and grounded in lived experience. Especially for dads trying to navigate fatherhood, meaningful work, and the pressure to provide without losing themselves in the process. Dig Deeper Gabor Maté [https://drgabormate.com/addiction/] Naraka [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naraka_(Buddhism)] Pink Panther [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy0ZoiJVmQk] Tom and Jerry [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37522729/] Wonderland [https://www.sixflags.com/canadaswonderland] Scare Away the Dark by Passenger [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWKTFuAFcOY] Follow Faisal On his website: https://www.faisalensaun.com/ [https://www.faisalensaun.com/] On his podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IhYB1waklQjJWPkDKeU66 [https://open.spotify.com/show/2IhYB1waklQjJWPkDKeU66] On X: https://x.com/faisalensaun [https://x.com/faisalensaun] On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faisalensaun/ [https://www.instagram.com/faisalensaun/] On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faisalensaun1 [https://www.facebook.com/faisalensaun1] On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@faisalensaun [https://www.tiktok.com/@faisalensaun] On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faisalensaun [https://www.youtube.com/@faisalensaun] On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faisalensaun/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/faisalensaun/] Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig [http://instagram.com/gaptogig] On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig [http://tiktok.com/@gaptogig] On X: x.com/gaptogig [http://x.com/gaptogig] On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig [https://youtube.com/@gaptogig] On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/] Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com [http://gaptogig.com] Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/]