Why, and why now?
Dee & Jon Slavet (Left); Arnie Slavet, Jon’s Dad (Middle); Business Partner, Taylor Fogelquist (Right)
Last year change happened all around me.
My board decided they wanted a new leader.
My father passed away after a long illness.
I reached a financial settlement with my ex after many years.
I got remarried to the love of my life.
It was a mix of bitter and sweet. Sometimes it felt like things were happening to me, and other times like I had a semblance of control.
When I look back on it all, things happened exactly as they needed to. Each of these changes in and of itself was a major life event – but having them ALL happen in a single year was breakthrough territory.
I believe in the old saying “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle”. Life has always handed me challenges when I needed them, when I was too comfortable – or – when I wasn’t making the right choices.
And with kids (I have four, ranging from 5 to 19) time speeds up. I look in the mirror and see the age on my face and feel mortality whispering “hey buddy, it’s now or never”. It’s motivation to look hard at where I’m putting my life energies. I’ve been asking the question “what is my highest and best use?”.
Late last year as I was dusting myself off from my last executive role, I was inspired to launch a podcast based on my personal experiences – and in particular my own roller coaster journey through divorce and separation. My high school friend Taylor heard I was up to something and sat-in on one of our in-studio recording sessions – and we followed-up over coffee soon thereafter. Listening to me talk about the pod, he said “this isn’t just a podcast, this is a community for men” and the lightbulb went on. This was bigger than divorce & separation (although this would be our Season One), and this was bigger than a podcast (although this is where we’re starting). This will be a network for men at midlife.
As I’ve interviewed a range of experts for Season One, I’ve become convinced that men need a network for growth and change. Women naturally create communities around themselves, but men don’t do it naturally. Phrases like “boys don’t cry” and “go it alone” have come out of too many experts’ mouths as we’re recording our first season.
When we created our BETA episodes, we named the pod “Divorced Dads Talk” – yes, I was going for literal and a bit provocative. But as we realized the scope and vision of what we’re creating we soon pivoted to the idea of “Halftime”. Yes the sports analogy is there, but more than this is the idea of reaching the point in life where a combination of reflection, inspiration and good advice are required. So we can make the second half the best half.
So Halftime with Jon, the network for men at midlife, was born.
I’m looking forward to this journey with you.
