Work Is Third

Dawn Hunter

Work Is Third is a podcast for people who are ready to rethink how we work, lead, and live. Hosted by Dawn Hunter, JD, MPH, CWP — Workplace Culture Strategist and creator of the RESET Method — this show explores burnout prevention, boundaries, organizational wellbeing, and sustainable ways of working through honest conversations, research-informed insights, and real-world leadership stories. Each episode offers practical tools, reflective moments, and culture-shifting ideas to help individuals and organizations build healthier, more human ways of working — without losing what matters most.

  1. MAR 2

    Look Through the Turn | Small Wins, Big Healing & the Power of Celebration With Paula Thomas

    What if progress didn’t have to look impressive to count? In this episode of Work Is Third, Dawn Hunter sits down with founder and storyteller Paula Thomas to explore what it means to rebuild after loss, and how small wins can change everything. After navigating crippling depression and anxiety, and later, an ADHD and autism diagnosis, building a career in tech, and then losing her husband unexpectedly, Paula was forced to redefine everything: her identity, her work, and what success really means. Along the way, she discovered that small, intentional progress is often the most powerful kind. Together, Dawn and Paula discuss: Why “success” doesn’t always look like successWhat motorcycles and submarines teach us about resilienceWhy grief doesn’t fit into three days of PTOHow to build workplaces that expect the unexpectedWhy keeping a “win book” matters This conversation is for anyone who has experienced loss, burnout, identity shifts, or the quiet pressure to do more and is ready to move forward with intention. 📚 Guest Info Website: weiter-mfg.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-thomas/ 🎶Paula’s contribution to the Playlist: Shake it Out by Florence + The Machine 📔 Resources Mentioned SuperBetter App, https://superbetter.com/Brag Books “Clear is kind,” attributed to Brené BrownMilitary Concepts: submarine qualification cards(cross-training for resilience); designing systems that expect failure/unexpected absenceMorning pages, from The Artist’s Way Let’s Stay Connected 🎧 Subscribe to the show! 📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

    1 hr
  2. FEB 16

    Healing, Sovereignty & Community Leadership | Chris Tall Bear, Southern Cheyenne

    What does real healing look like after historical trauma, and how do we carry sovereignty, ceremony, and leadership into modern life? In this episode of Work Is Third, Dawn sits down with Southern Cheyenne Chris Tall Bear for a deeply grounded conversation about healing, history, and the responsibility of leadership. Chris Tall Bear is a Southern Cheyenne Chief, Tribal public health advisor, and community leader. In this conversation, he shares his experience as a descendant of survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre and his role in memorialization efforts. Together, they explore: The connection between community, history, and resilienceWhat tribal sovereignty really means in practiceThe role of ceremony and traditional healing in public health Leadership as service Balancing modern life, technology, and cultural traditionThe importance of women in Indigenous communitiesWhy self-care is essential for leaders and healers Chris also reflects on his personal journey, his family legacy, and his emerging consulting work focused on cultural engagement and traditional healing. This episode is about sovereignty, ceremony, and the kind of leadership that sustains communities across generations. 📚 Guest Info Website: https://www.tallbearllc.com/ Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-tall-bear-9894881a2/Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tallbear-llc/?viewAsMember=trueSand Creek Memorial Project: https://www.sandcreekmassacrefoundation.org/Article, Colorado cannot heal until itconfronts Sand Creek honestly: https://www.hcn.org/articles/colorado-cannot-heal-until-it-confronts-sand-creek-honestly/Let’s Stay Connected 🎧 Subscribe to the show! 📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

    59 min
5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Work Is Third is a podcast for people who are ready to rethink how we work, lead, and live. Hosted by Dawn Hunter, JD, MPH, CWP — Workplace Culture Strategist and creator of the RESET Method — this show explores burnout prevention, boundaries, organizational wellbeing, and sustainable ways of working through honest conversations, research-informed insights, and real-world leadership stories. Each episode offers practical tools, reflective moments, and culture-shifting ideas to help individuals and organizations build healthier, more human ways of working — without losing what matters most.