Work Is Third

Dawn Hunter
  • 5.0 (13)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 leadership speaker — 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. 3D AGO

    Prepare for the Future & Live for Today | Letting Go of Outcomes with DeMonta Whiting

    Have you ever felt like you’re always trying to do enough, be enough, have enough? In this episode of Work Is Third, Dawn Hunter talks with psychotherapist and coach DeMonta Whiting about people pleasing, emotional resilience, identity, and learning how to stop tying your worth to productivity. Together, they explore how childhood beliefs shape adult behaviors, why so many high achievers struggle to feel “good enough,” and what it means to prepare for the future while still living fully in the present. DeMonta shares his experience surviving a rare cancer diagnosis at a young age, how it transformed his perspective on life, and why letting go of outcomes can create more peace, connection, and authenticity. This conversation is a reminder that when we believe we are enough, we can let the chips fall where they may. Topics include: People pleasing and perfectionism High achievement and emotional wellbeing Childhood beliefs and adult relationships Letting go of outcomes Boundaries and self-worth Living fully in the present Therapy, healing, and identity Work-life balance and burnout 📚 Guest Info Website: DeMonta Whiting Coaching & TherapyInstagram: @demonta_the_therapistLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demontawhitinglmft 🎶DeMonta's contribution to the playlist: "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone Let’s Stay Connected 🎧Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @the_dawn_hunter

    52 min

  2. APR 27

    Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer | Protecting Your Peace With Rene Rivas

    What if protecting your peace doesn’t mean staying quiet—but finally speaking up? In this episode of Work is Third, Dawn Hunter talks with Rene Rivas, entrepreneur, nurse, and founder of RevIVe+ Mobile IV Concierge, about healing, presence, vulnerability, and redefining success on your own terms. Rene shares his journey from difficult workplace experiences to building a business rooted in prevention and wellbeing. Together, Dawn and Rene explore the power of community, how joy can be a daily choice, why adulthood may need to be reimagined, and the difference between being a thermometer who reacts to the room—or a thermostat who sets the tone. 📚 Guest Info Website: revive2you.com Socials: @revive2yoLet’s Stay Connected 🎧 Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @the_dawn_hunter

    50 min

  3. APR 13

    You’re Not Who They Told You to Be | How to Rewrite Your Story With James Lumumba

    Have you ever had a moment where you stopped and thought… how much of who I am is actually me? In this episode of Work is Third, Dawn Hunter sits down with James Lumumba, host of Don’t Be Afraid to Talk, for a powerful conversation on identity and how to rewrite the stories we’ve been told about ourselves. Together, they explore how many of the beliefs people carry about themselves are shaped by early experiences, expectations, and the need to belong along with what it takes to question and rewrite those stories. This episode covers: Letting go of external expectations Understanding guilt and people-pleasing The connection between belonging and self-worth Rewriting personal narratives Learning to love yourself and build healthier relationships Through honest reflection and shared experience, this conversation offers a reminder that self-awareness is the first step toward real change, and that it’s possible to define yourself on your own terms. 📚 Guest Info Website: https://co-creatingcoach.ie/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontbeafraidtotalk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslumumba/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dontbeafraidtotalk/ 📔Resources Mentioned Pieta House, Pieta | Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm since 2006Movie: Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

    47 min

  4. MAR 30

    Feeling Busy but Still Unsatisfied? Start Here | Rethink What Matters With Natolie Warren

    What if the problem isn’t that your life is too full, but that there’s no space for what actually matters? In this episode of Work Is Third, Dawn Hunter speaks with Natolie Warren, a psychotherapist, wellness expert, and retreat leader, about shifting out of autopilot and reconnecting with yourself through small, intentional practices. They explore the power of breath, the importance of asking better questions, and how letting go of expectations and guilt can open the door to a more fulfilling life. This conversation is a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always require a complete overhaul. Sometimes it starts with a pause. 📚 Guest Info Website: www.natoliewarren.comAll Socials: @natoliewarren  📔 Resources Mentioned Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the StressCycle by Amelia NagoskiWe Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers  Let’s Stay Connected 🎧Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

    48 min

  5. MAR 16

    What Happens When Women Share Their Stories | Learning Across Generations with the Raised by Her Podcast

    What happens when women share their stories and build connections across generations? In this episode of Work Is Third, Dawn Hunter speaks with the hosts of the Raised by Her Podcast, a mother-daughter duo exploring womanhood, identity, and life through an intergenerational lens. Together, they discuss the power of storytelling, the importance of honest conversations about women’s health, and how mentorship and community can help women navigate life’s challenges. From self-care and career growth to generational wisdom and evolving relationships, the conversation highlights how sharing experiences can help the next generation move forward with greater clarity and support. This episode is a reminder that when women openly share their stories, they create space for learning, connection, and collective progress. 📚 Guest Info Website: https://raisedbyherpodcast.buzzsprout.com/   All Socials: https://linktr.ee/raisedbyherpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisedByHerPodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@raisedbyherpodcastInstagram: instagram.com/@raisedbyherpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/RaisedByHerPodcastX: x.com/@RaisedByHerPod 🎶Raised by Her’s contribution to the Playlist: You Gotta Be by Des'ree   Let’s Stay Connected 🎧Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

    56 min

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. FEB 9

    What Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You | Breath, Movement & Recovery with Dr. Aissa McGuirl

    What if your exhaustion, pain, or restlessness isn’t something to fix, but something to listen to? In this episode of Work Is Third, Dawn Hunter sits down with Dr. Aissa McGuirl, physical therapist and author of Connect the Body Dots, for a grounded conversation about what our bodies are trying to tell us and why so many of us aren’t listening. Together, they explore how breath, movement, and recovery are foundational to nervous system regulation, sustainable energy, and long-term health. Dr. McGuirl shares why constant productivity keeps us stuck in survival mode, how body awareness can change the way we work and live, and what it really means to support your body instead of pushing through it. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and rethink what “taking care of yourself” actually looks like in a culture that rewards burnout and productivity. 📚 Guest Info Website: connectthbodydots.comIG @dr.aissa_YouTube: connectthebodydotsBook: Connect the Body Dots, connectthebodydots.com/thebookLet’s Stay Connected 🎧Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter 📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

    52 min
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Trailer

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 leadership speaker — 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Dawn Hunter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dawn Hunter
  • Show Website
    Work Is Third