Latest Episode | November 3, 2025
Wellness That Works For Women Who Lead | Tyneka Pack
Is your body strong enough to sustain your ambition?
In this episode, fitness coach and founder of Impackt Fitness, Tyneka Pack, joins Work Is Third to talk about what it really means to sustain your ambition — not just chase it.
From building a body that can carry your vision to embracing mindset shifts and the power of flexibility, Tyneka shares how high-performing women can lead with intention instead of exhaustion.
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.
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Episode 47
Wellness That Works for Women Who Lead | Tyneka Pack
Is your body strong enough to sustain your ambition?
In this episode, fitness coach and founder of Impackt Fitness, Tyneka Pack, joins Work Is Third to talk about what it really means to sustain your ambition — not just chase it.
Episode 46
Love…No Ego: The Courage to Be You | Freddy Jackson
Freddy Jackson, founder of the Love...No Ego Foundation, shares how he says yes to love—even when that means saying no to something else. In this short and soulful bonus clip, Freddy talks about protecting his peace, practicing at life, and creating space for what truly matters.
Episode 45
Love…No Ego: The Courage to Be You | Freddy Jackson
What does it mean to live without ego and lead with love?
In this episode, Dawn sits down with Freddy Jackson, inspirational speaker and founder of the Love No Ego Foundation, to explore what it truly means to practice at life. From grounding in nature to creating the conditions for peace, Freddy shares how authenticity, curiosity, and courage shape his work mentoring youth and speaking across the country.
Episode 44
When Slowing Down Becomes the Work | Jen Sacks
Does your calendar spark joy?
In this short, joy-filled clip, Jen Sacks, host of Small Things, Big Life, shares her take on Yes Days, saying no, and why her calendar glows bright yellow for workouts and joy.
Episode 43
When Slowing Down Becomes the Work | Jen Sacks
When was the last time you really slowed down?
In this conversation, Dawn sits down with Jen Sacks, host of Small Things, Big Life, to explore what it really means to pause, let go, and trust the messy middle.
Episode 42
Bonus Clip | Make Space for Amazing Things
Feeling tired or stretched thin? This one’s your reminder to listen to your body and make room for the magic that comes when you rest.
In this bonus clip, Your Dream Strategist Rashidat Odeyemi reminds us: “There's so many amazing things in this world to experience if we allow ourselves this space to do it.”
Episode 41
Living in Alignment: Plan Your Joy, Not Just Your Success | Rashidat Odeyemi
What if success wasn’t the goal—but joy was?
In this uplifting episode, Your Dream Strategist Rashidat Odeyemi joins Dawn to explore what it means to create a soft life filled with alignment, curiosity, and celebration. Together they unpack burnout recovery, the myths of hustle culture, and how to rehydrate your “dreaming gland.”
Episode 40
Bonus Clip | Keep Learning, Keep Growing
How do you keep growing when life already feels full?
In this bonus clip, Dawn and Jayden Aubryn explores what it means to stay curious, expressive, and grounded. From redefining continuing education to embracing creativity and self-reflection, this short conversation is full of reminders to celebrate progress—not perfection.
Episode 39
Do Whatever You Want, Be Whoever You Are | Jayden Aubryn
What if healing meant moving your body — joyfully, messily,and without judgment?
In this episode, psychotherapist, personal trainer, and founder of Chaotic Healing, Jayden Aubryn joins Dawn to explore what it means to live intentionally, move intuitively, and reject all-or-nothing thinking.
Episode 38
Bonus Clip | Outsource and Delegate to Protect Your Energy
Want more energy? Start delegating!
In this bonus clip from Work is Third, Danielle Roberts — the Anti-Career Coach — shares how outsourcing and delegation aren’t just for leaders, they’re for anyone who wants to protect their energy.
Episode 37
Astonished, Authentic, and Audacious: Redefining Work | Danielle Roberts
Do you have the audacity to live life on your own terms?
Danielle Roberts, known as the Anti-Career Coach, joins Dawn for a raw and inspiring conversation about redefining our relationship to work, navigating grief, and choosing authenticity.
Episode 36
Bonus Clip | Why You Can’t Do It All (And That’s Okay)
Do you have days where you just can't do it all?
In this bonus clip, Cassandra Hill reminds us of the power of boundaries. Sometimes saying no is the most faithful yes you can give yourself.
Episode 35
Transformation, Faith, and Triumph Through Adversity | Cassandra Hill
What storms in life have shaped you?
Master Life Coach, best-selling author, and speaker Cassandra Hill joins me to share her incredible journey of transformation. From corporate burnout and health challenges to building a life and career grounded in faith and resilience, Cassandra’s story is one of triumph through adversity.
Episode 34
Bonus Clip | The Joy in Small Things with Dr. Brittany Peters
What small thing made YOU happy today? 🌸🌮
In this bonus clip, Dr. Brittany Peters shares her easy yes (showing up for community), her hard no (also showing up for community), and her daily practice of finding joy in small things — from tacos to BOGO flowers.
Episode 33
From Overwork to Enough: Making Time for Mind and Body | Dr. Brittany Peters
Are you giving yourself the same energy you give to your job?
In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Brittany Peters, behavioral health expert, licensed clinician, and educator, brings wisdom, humor, and deep vulnerability to the Work is Third podcast. We explore the socialization of productivity culture, the survival strategies that many high-achieving women carry into adulthood, and the importance of rewriting our personal “policies and procedures” to include rest, joy, and boundaries.
Episode 32
Bonus Clip | Fluff Balls, Joy, and Finding Hope
Would someone describe you as a fluff ball?
In this bonus clip, Joshua Jackson answers four lighthearted but revealing questions: what’s easy to say yes to, what’s hard to say no to, what he does well when it comes to joy and rest, and where he still struggles.
Episode 31
Unlearning, Finding Purpose, and the Liberation of Men | Joshua Jackson
Have you ever been fun-employed?
Joshua Jackson joins Work is Third for a conversation about confidence, worthiness, and the messy beauty of becoming. From “fun-employment” and financial struggles to lessons from elders and mentors, Joshua shares how self-love, grief, and joy are intertwined.
Episode 30
Bonus Clip | Auntie Life Every Time
What can a pizza party teach us about joy, boundaries, andasking for help?
In this bonus clip, Dr. Alicia Justice shares why it’s always yes (and almost never no) for her niece and nephews—and how that shapes the way she thinks about joy, boundaries, and asking for help.
Episode 29
Forcing Joy, Claiming Space, and Feeling Liberated | Dr. Alicia Justice
What can feather boas, therapy, and TikTok teach us about joy, boundaries, and belonging?
In this edition of Work is Third, Dr. Alicia Justice talks about what it means to force joy when life feels heavy, the liberating power of therapy, and how self-expression through color and fashion becomes an act of resistance and self-love.
Episode 28
Bonus Clip | Butterflies and Boundaries
What’s easy to say yes to — and why is it so hard to say no?
In this bonus clip from my conversation with Gnora Mahs,I ask my four favorite questions about boundaries, joy, and self-care. Gnora discusses her philosophy of saying yes to experiences, the challenges of saying no, and how she navigates work-life balance.
Episode 27
Bread, Boundaries, and Building Community | Gnora Mahs
Joy doesn’t just come from self-care — it grows when we invest in our communities.
In this episode of Work is Third, I sit down with my friend and community-builder Gnora Mahs to talk about the surprising ways joy and connection show up in our lives.
Episode 26
No, But Make It Joyful | Veatrice Farrell
Boundaries are a skill, and Veatrice Farrell shows us how to practice them with kindness.
In this bonus clip from my conversation with Veatrice, we talk about the art of saying no without losing your kindness or your joy and how TV shows can reflect the America we want to live in.
Episode 25
Joyful Resistance: Finding Light in Life’s Challenges | Veatrice Farrell
What does your joyful resistance look like?
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and local advocate, Veatrice Farrell, for a conversation that blends history, identity, race, religion, and a whole lot of joy. Veatrice is a two-time cancer survivor whose outlook on life is as grounded as it is uplifting.
Episode 24
Bonus Clip | New Experiences & Real Talk on To-Do Lists
Say yes to new experiences and no to guilt-driven expectations.
In this bonus episode, LaVonna Roth talks about her love of new experiences, her evolving relationship with fitness and movement, and the constant challenge of managing focus in a digital world.
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 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 | Alone but Together: Celebrating the Power of Supportive Friends
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.
Episode 20
Bonus Clip | Pardon My Mess: Setting Boundaries & Self-Compassion
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 Burnout & 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 & 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 Isn’t 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.
Stillness is harder than it looks, but you can learn to embrace it.
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.
Episode 10
Bonus Clip | Saying Yes to Travel, Movies, and Being Still
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: 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.
"Prioritizing people. Protecting time."
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 | Protecting Your 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.
“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
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!