Work Is Third

What if the people around you are one of the best ways to invest in yourself? Self-Published Author, Speaker, Female Mentor and Women's Advocate, and corporate finance professional, Urmi Hossain joins Dawn to talk about "friendtors," speed mentoring, and the boundaries that let her invest in herself so she can invest in everyone else. She shares tips on managing time so that she can...

Have you ever felt like you didn't belong somewhere but couldn't explain why? Organizational scientist, adjunct professor, and keynote speaker Andrea D. Carter has spent years studying exactly that feeling — and she has the data to prove it's not in your head. It's in your nervous system. Her belonging research, validated across 8 industries and over 150,000 people, makes one thing...

What does health actually look like — when you factor in ADHD, night owl energy, systemic barriers, and the courage to say the hard thing out loud? In this episode, I sit down with Jen Fry — conflict resolution coach, speaker, tech entrepreneur, and author of I Said No: How to Have a Backbone and Boundaries Without Being a Jerk — for a wide-ranging conversation about redefining health on our own t...

Are you building a life that feels right for you , or one shaped by expectations, achievement, and what you think you're supposed to do? In this episode of Work Is Third , Dawn Hunter sits down with Calvalyn Day to explore freedom, flexibility, reinvention, and the choices that shape our lives. Together, they unpack why so many people live by the "shoulds," how external validation can quietly driv...

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...

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 prevent...

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...

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 bet...

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 ho...

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 unexpe...

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...

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 re...

What does it mean to care deeply for others without losing yourself in the process? Adrienne Tucker, founder of Generation NOW Alaska, joins Work Is Third to talk about chronic illness, caregiving, boundaries, and the truth behind showing up sustainably. Living with fibromyalgia while leading youth programs, supporting families, and raising two children has taught Adrienne a powerful lesson: you c...

Midlife isn’t a decline — it’s a shift. In this episode of Work Is Third , Dawn sits down with Certified Midlife Coach Jody Phifer for an honest, grounding conversation about perimenopause, menopause, identity, and what it really means to put yourself first after decades of caregiving, hustling, and holding it all together. Together, they unpack why perimenopause is just one part of a much bigger...

When you’ve spent years being who you needed to be, it can be hard to remember who you actually are. This episode is an invitation to slow down, sit with yourself, and reconnect with what self-love really looks like. In this episode of Work Is Third , Dawn Hunter talks with Ger Carriere , entrepreneur, artist, and healer, about healing, legacy, identity, and what it means to truly commit to yourse...

Helping is human…but learning how to help without losing yourself is healing. In this bonus clip, Adam Wilson opens up about why helping others has become both his instinct and his biggest boundary challenge. From Costco moments to vulnerable conversations with his son, Adam shares how presence — not presents — is what children and loved ones truly need. We also talk about breaking generational pa...

How are you pausing and reflecting this holiday season? In this reflective solo episode, Dawn pauses as we head into the holidays to share what’s happening across the Work Is Third movement—from the new Bookshop.org list and the Joyful Rebellion playlist to her bi-weekly newsletters and your opportunity to send in voice notes. Dawn also revisits her favorite guest quotes, emerging themes across th...

We’re taught to hustle. We’re never taught to heal. That changes in this episode. Mindset and wellness coach Adam Wilson joins Work Is Third for a powerful and vulnerable conversation about healing, habits, father and mother wounds, breaking generational patterns, and learning to rest. Adam shares how childhood trauma shaped his early life, what pushed him out of tech and into coaching, how he hel...

If a 30-minute nap saves your whole day… take the nap. In this bonus clip, systems strategist and author Averri Simone Liggins shares how she recognizes the early signs of burnout — and the simple practices that help her reset before things spiral. From power naps to prioritizing client work, to delegating and building a support circle, Averri reminds us that systems matter just as much in life as...

How do you run a business, care for a parent, and thrive with a chronic health condition? In this heartfelt and practical conversation, systems strategist and author Averri Simone Liggins shares the structures and routines that help her run a thriving business while also serving as a full-time caregiver and navigating chronic health challenges. We talk about the real-world power of systems as tool...

How do you make time for yourself while still showing up for others? In this lighthearted and honest bonus clip, Dawn and Lynn swap stories about self-care, boundaries, and the body changes no one warns you about. From walking the dog and wearing sunscreen to navigating perimenopause and hot flashes in public, Lynn reminds us that taking care of ourselves is a lifelong practice—and humor helps. Th...

What does it mean to lead with heart —and stay grounded when everything changes? In this warm and reflective episode, Dawn reconnects with her former boss and friend, Lynn Gallagher , former Secretary of Health for New Mexico. Together, they share stories of friendship, grief, leadership, and joy—from mismatched earrings and “Power Squad” calls to lessons learned through loss and career transition...

Do you rest hard? In this Work Is Third bonus clip, Tyneka Pack , founder of Impackt Fitness , reminds us that joy, rest, and boundaries are just as essential to leadership as drive and discipline. From laughing about her love of cookies to reflecting on what truly brings her childlike joy, Tyneka offers a refreshing take on what it means to fill your own cup. She shares how overbooking herself re...

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 intentio...

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.   💬 Key Quotes “It’s easy for me to say yes to love—because I recognize it every time.” “I’m obedient to my peace.” “...