David Shar on Passion, Burnout, and Work-Life Balance for Working Dads

Why does work that once energized you start to feel like something you can’t turn off?Dr. David Shar studies what happens when people fall out of love with their work and why that shift often happens long before anyone notices. His research shows that for working dads, the challenge is not just workload. It is how work connects to identity, purpose, and the life you are trying to build at home.This conversation reframes passion in a way most people never consider. Not all passion is healthy. Some of it quietly creates burnout, tension, and distance from the people who matter most.David shares how to:• Understand the difference between healthy passion and the kind that leads to burnout• Recognize when guilt at home or at work is a signal of misalignment • Identify when your work is integrated into your identity versus competing with it• Shift from obsessive work habits to a more sustainable, balanced approach• Influence culture and energy at work even without a leadership title• Align your impact at work with who you are as a parent• Create meaningful work without sacrificing presence at homeWe talk about fatherhood, identity, and work-life balance that actually holds up under real pressure. Not less ambition, but better alignment between who you are, how you work, and how you show up at home.Dig DeeperUniversity of MarylandCold Stone CreameryThe Crips and BloodsSafewayChatGPTWickedMarvel Cinematic UniverseDinosaur TrainThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirFollow DavidOn his website: http://www.davidshar.comOn LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsharFollow 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/