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WELCOME TO
WORK IS THIRD
A podcast for people who are done letting work take the lead.
Hosted by Dawn Hunter, Work is Third invites you to rethink the role of work in your life—and imagine something more whole, more joyful, and more human.
We believe that work isn't the main event. It's just one part of a meaningful, well-lived life. In each episode, we sit down with leaders, creatives, and change-makers to talk honestly about boundaries, rest, play, and radical self-care—and how they’re redefining success on their own terms.
Whether you're navigating burnout, building a career with intention, or just tired of the grind, you’ll find practical wisdom, inspiration, and a few well-earned laughs here.
The Movement Starts Here
This is what collective care sounds like. This podcast shines a light on the community that supports and connects us—so we all feel a little more informed, a little more inspired, and a lot less alone. With expert guests and real conversations, we share best practices, tangible tools, and stories of struggle and strength to help you build a life with more joy, more boundaries, and more room to breathe.
“I believe joy is strategic. Boundaries are radical. And work should never come first.”
Joyful rebel. Culture shifter. Boundaries enthusiast.
Dawn Hunter is the voice behind Work is Third, a podcast about rethinking work, reclaiming rest, and building lives rooted in care and connection. A public health leader and lawyer turned movement-builder, Dawn brings sharp insight, deep heart, and a healthy dose of humor to every conversation. The podcast is just one piece of her work helping people and organizations lead with intention and live with more joy.
MEET DAWN
Pause the Hustle.
Press Play.
EPISODE 23
BEING PRESENT, IMPERFECT, AND WHOLE | LAVONNA ROTH
How much control do you really have over your time—and your mindset? In this episode, LaVonna Roth joins Dawn to talk about the tension between productivity and presence, guilt and growth.
They dive into boundary-setting as an act of self-trust, rethinking what makes a “successful” day, and why perfectionism still shows up even when we think we’ve conquered it.
EPISODE 22
BONUS CLIP | PARDON MY MESS, I’M UNDER CONSTRUCTION
In this funny and heartfelt bonus clip, Carmen reflects onthe ease of showing up for others—and how she's learning to show up for herself, too. From therapy tips to fried rice and Drag Race, she shares how friends who say “I’m proud of you” for the little things can change everything. It’s a love letter to alone-but-together moments, emotional buffer days, and the people who make it safe to say no—and to say yes.
EPISODE 21
PERMISSION TO REST, PERMISSION TO PLAY: FINDING JOY AND GRACE | CARMEN PRICE CARRILLO
How do we keep joy at the center of our lives, especially when the world tells us to be productive instead? In this heartwarming and hilarious episode, I sit down with my dear friend Carmen Price Carrillo to talk about joy, boundaries, and all the things we’re allowed to do simply because they make us happy. From national park road trips to pottery Thursdays and unexpected D&D adventures, we reflect on friendship, finding rest, and giving yourself permission to live for you.
EPISODE 20
BONUS CLIP | PARDON MY MESS, I’M UNDER CONSTRUCTION
In this bonus episode of Work is Third, host Dawn Hunter and guest Julie Rocco slow down for a reflective moment about boundaries, compassion, and showing up for yourself. Julie describes her personal journey as “Pardon my mess—I’m under construction,” a phrase that reminds us growth is messy, and boundaries are an act of self-compassion.
EPISODE 19
THE THING IS…YOU THINK YOU HAVE TIME: A STORY OF TURNING INTENTION INTO ACTION | JULIE ROCCO
In this special episode of Work is Third, host Dawn Hunter sits down with her dear friend Julie Rocco, a suicide attempt survivor and founder of What I Would Have Missed, a suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention initiative. Julie shares her powerful story, reflecting on what it means to choose life, build community, and pursue purpose while honoring rest.
EPISODE 18
BONUS CLIP | LEAVE ROOM FOR THE MAGIC
In this bonus clip, Terra shares how she finds magic in the in-between moments—reading for pleasure, chatting with strangers in a hot tub, and creating space to be fully present. We talk about the challenges of maintaining boundaries and self-awareness in a busy world, emphasizing the need to appreciate small moments and give oneself credit for progress.
EPISODE 17
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GIVE 100%: ON BOUNDARIES & BEING ENOUGH WITH TERRA DUNHAM
In this episode of Work is Third, Terra Dunham-dog mom, book and wine lover, lifelong learner, self-proclaimed struggling overachiever, and founder of one of our favorite local gems, Book + Bottle, shares what it really looks like to chase big dreams while learning to slow down and let go of perfection.
EPISODE 16
BONUS CLIP | BOUNDARIES ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS
In this bonus clip, Miranda McDaniel and Noelle DeLaCruz get candid about what they say “yes” to too easily, what’s hard to say “no” to, and where they’re still growing when it comes to joy, rest, and boundaries. From Uber hustle days to bedtime routines, this conversation is a reminder that even the most intentional people have their struggles—and that’s okay. It’s all about practice.
EPISODE 15
NO LONGER AN ISLAND: ON FRIENDSHIP, BURNOUT, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | MIRANDA MCDANIEL AND NOELLE DELACRUZ
What happens when two friends, former co-hosts, and justice-driven leaders sit down to reflect on the evolution of their work, their identities, and their boundaries? Miranda McDaniel, founder of The Social Content Lab, and Noelle DeLaCruz, a school psychologist and LGBTQ+ advocate,share how their friendship shaped their podcast, The Unpacked Project, and how setting boundaries helped them navigate burnout, identity shifts, and a changing social justice landscape.
EPISODE 14
BONUS CLIP | SAY YES TO YOURSELF AND NO TO EXPECTATIONS
In this special bonus episode, Dr. Nicole Taylor is back to talk about boundaries—not as a buzzword, but as a practice rooted in self-awareness, intention, and truth. From learning how to say no without guilt, to embracing your own version of success, this is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt the pressure to shrink yourself to fit in.
EPISODE 13
FASHION DREAMS, FREEDOM, AND BLACK GIRL MAGIC WITH DR. NICOLE TAYLOR
In this soulful and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Nicole Taylor and host Dawn Hunter unpack the stories we grow up with about work, productivity, and success. From childhood dreams of fashion design to reflections on race, rest, and resistance, Nicole shares how shoes, hair, color, and community are more than aesthetic choices—they’re declarations of freedom.
EPISODE 12
BONUS CLIP | EVERYTHING IS NOT MEANT FOR YOU
In this bonus clip, Kimberly Green-Warren gets honest about the tension between being a dreamer and staying in your lane. We talk about having too many ideas, the challenge of saying no — especially to the people we love — and the gentle reminder we all need:
✨ Everything is not meant for you. And that’s okay.
EPISODE 11
CALLIGRAPHY, SABBATICALS, AND THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE WITH KIMBERLY GREEN-WARREN
Kimberly Green-Warren is a serene force in public health, education, and creative wellness. In this episode, we talk about what it means to lead with intention, how her sabbatical changed her life, and why she’s fiercely protective of her joy, even when capitalism comes calling.
EPISODE 10
BONUS CLIP | SAYING YES TO MOVIES, TRAVEL, AND BEING STILL
In this bonus clip, Hillary Van Dyke shares what’s currently on her “joy list”—from travel with chill friends to TV binges and the deep love she has for her baby niece. We also gush over the cinematic genius of Sinners (including her cousin’s epic camera work), and reflect on how hard it still is to let ourselves be still without guilt.
Hillary Van Dyke wears many hats—professor, filmmaker, nonprofit leader, and podcast host—but her story is ultimately one of intentional living. In this episode, we talk about the power of place-based education, the emotional weight of over-commitment, and how she's learning to reclaim time, joy, and energy as she enters her 40s.
EPISODE 9
ONE THING A DAY: ON BOUNDARIES, BALANCE, AND BLACK JOY WITH DR. HILLARY VAN DYKE
In this powerful reflection, Dr. Tonicia Freeman-Foster shares what she’d tell her younger self—and it’s not just about being fierce or fearless. It’s about trusting your own light and giving others space to find theirs. Because sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is step back and let someone live their own story.
EPISODE 8
BONUS CLIP | TRUSTING THE STORY
In this episode of Work is Third, Dawn Hunter is joined by Dr.Tonicia Freeman-Foster, leadership coach, cancer warrior, and unapologetic joy-seeker. They share their personal stories of survival, the healing power of Zumba, the importance of boundaries at work, and what it takes to lead ourselves first so we can lead others well.
EPISODE 7
FIGHT OR FOLD: INTENTIONALLY CHOOSING A LIFE OF JOY WITH DR. TONICIA FREEMAN-FOSTER
EPISODE 6
FRAZZLED, FEARLESS, AND FINDING THE MAGIC IN SAYING YES WITH DR. LINSEY GROVE
In this episode of Work is Third, Dr. Linsey Grove joins host Dawn Hunter for a joyful, insightful, and hilarious conversation about finding creativity in unexpected places, the power of third spaces, the myth of productivity, and the risks that change our lives. Plus: Godzilla, smutty fantasy books, and why bats are awesome.
EPISODE 5
BONUS CLIP | LESSONS ON SURRENDER AND LETTING GO
In this bonus clip from Episode 4 of Work is Third, Megan Albertson reflects on how her relationship to work, boundaries, and purpose has evolved over time. What does it mean to stay connected to your mission without becoming emotionally undone by it? What happens when the work you love starts to fall apart?
EPISODE 4
PROTECTING YOUR BEST SELF: MEGAN ALBERTSON ON BOUNDARIES, IDENTITY, AND JOY
How do you protect your best self in a world that demands more, faster, now? In this episode of Work is Third, host Dawn Hunter sits down with public health leader and joyful disruptor Megan Albertson for a rich, funny, and heartfelt conversation about what it means to live a purpose-driven life and why your boundaries are sacred.
In this bonus clip, Jamila Weathers joins me for a rapid-fire round of questions on joy, boundaries, and belief in yourself. From saying “yes” to rest to navigating mom duties and reprogramming limiting beliefs, Jamila offers powerful reflections - with a whole lot of honesty and heart.
EPISODE 3
BONUS CLIP | JAMILA WEATHERS ON PROTECTING TIME AND ENERGY
EPISODE 2
SHOWING UP AS YOUR WHOLE-ASS SELF: BEING INTENTIONAL AND BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH JAMILA WEATHERS
Jamila Weathers - joy specialist, community curator, and founder of Win Some, W(h)ine Some - joins me for a rich, real, and affirming conversation about what it means to reclaim your joy and your time. From daily affirmations in a federal workplace filled with uncertainty to nurturing sisterhood and healing through grief, Jamila shares how she’s rewriting the rules of success on her own terms
EPISODE 1
WORK IS THIRD: THE STORY BEHIND THE PODCAST
Host Dawn Hunter opens up about the burnout, loss, and reflection that led her to reimagine her life - and create Work is Third. From productivity shame and grief to morning rituals and joy-filled boundaries, Dawn shares the real story behind the podcast’s name and her journey to reclaim rest and redefine success.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join a growing community of people who are putting life back in focus.
DONʼT SETTLE FOR THIRD PLACE. UNLESS ITʼS WORK,
THEN DEFINITELY SETTLE.
HEAR FROM LISTENERS
HEAR FROM LISTENERS
HEAR FROM LISTENERS
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to design a life on my own terms, so this podcast couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s the kind of conversation that makes you feel seen, and sparks the courage to actually make a change.
Motherhood broke open everything I thought I knew about work-life harmony. Listening to these stories, and hearing people name the questions I’ve been sitting with, feels like being guided back to myself.
This was awesome and such needed content right now for all us burned out folk. Looking forward to more episodes!