What if helping someone meant not fixing it for them?

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.

“Getting stuck is part of being human. Staying stuck is a choice.”

“You don’t have to dim your light to make others comfortable.”

This one’s for the helpers, the healers, the leaders, and the people who feel too much. 💛

Keywords

Travel, Joy, Empathy, Authenticity, Leadership, Cultural Immersion, Personal Growth, Self-Discovery, Emotional Intelligence, Life Advice

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

What does it mean to lead with joy, even in the middle of a cancer diagnosis, workplace stress, and cultural pressure to overwork?

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.

🎧 Topics Include:

• The difference between joy and happiness
• Why intuition matters for your health
• How to protect your energy in tough seasons
• Leadership lessons from chemo chairs and Caribbean vacations
• The cultural roots of hustle and how we unlearn them
• What "Work is Third" really means

This isn’t just a conversation. It’s a movement. Let’s reclaim our time, our joy, and our power.

Keywords

Joy, Wellbeing, Cancer Warrior, Self-care, Leadership, Boundaries, Unlearning, Work-life Balance, Personal Growth, Mental Health

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Embracing Joy in Daily Life

02:42 The Joy of Survival

07:10 Navigating Cancer Treatment and Work

12:18 Finding Balance

16:03 Prioritizing Health and Wellness

20:51 Modeling Healthy Leadership

24:44 Creating a Supportive Work Culture

31:03 The Culture of Work and Time Off

31:58 Encouraging Time Off and Team Support

34:44 Power, Control, and Leadership

36:55 Lessons on Rest and Joy from Childhood

39:01 Unlearning Productivity Myths

44:27 Work is Third: Prioritizing Life Beyond Work

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

• “You either fight or fold. And I said—I'm not folding.”
• “Doing nothing is doing something. Rest is worthy of my time.”
• “We are modeling the behavior we say we support—so make sure they match.”
• “Your platform is where you get paid. But your purpose? That’s your gift.”

🔗 Important Links

• Website: www.leidoswel.com
• Order the Book Navigating Rough S.E.A.S: www.navigatingroughseas.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toniciaff/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/leidoswel/
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/LEIDOSWEL
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.toniciafreeman-foster7600
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtoniciafreemanfoster

Let’s Stay Connected

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

What if being “frazzled” is actually a sign you’re doing life right?

In this episode of Work is Third, Dr. Linsey Grove joins host Dawn Hunter for a joyful, insightful, and hilarious conversation about growing up in rural Michigan, navigating challenges at Ladies Rock Camp, finding creativity in unexpected places, and why she never thought she’d be a business owner. They talk about 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.

Keywords

boundaries, creativity, entrepreneurship, community, joy, public health, self-care, work-life balance, personal growth, risk-taking

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Boundaries and Consent: Lessons from Ladies Rock Camp

06:30 The Importance of Third Spaces: Community and Connection

11:26 Creativity and Magic: Embracing Artistic Expression

17:53 Embracing Change: Evolving Interests and Passions

23:25 Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: Values and Impact

30:00 Reflecting on Risks: Personal Growth and Consulting

32:41 Rapid Questions: Yes, No, and Maybe

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

•  “I can write songs and it’s not a side hustle. It’s not for money. It’s just because it feels good.”
• “Not all volunteering is self-care.”
• “Work doesn’t have to be first. And it definitely doesn’t have to be forever.”
• “Capitalism will not make me feel bad about not being productive 24/7.”

🔗 Important Links

Viral Podcast: History. Health. Humor.

"Why Third Places are Essential to Creating Community in Modern Society" Closure of 'Third Places'? Exploring Potential Consequences for Collective Health and Wellbeing

Let’s Stay Connected

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

"You are not responsible for greatness."

In this bonus clip from 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?

Megan shares:

• How her default “hard no” turned into a year of “maybe”

• The tension between loving community and needing solitude

• The lessons she’s learning about surrender, emotional exposure, and loss

• What she would tell her younger self entering the workforce

And in true Megan fashion, it ends with warmth, insight, and a reminder that you are not responsible for greatness — only for taking the next beautiful step that is yours to take.

Keywords

social dynamics, personal boundaries, work-life balance, self-discovery, emotional labor, surrender, personal growth, introversion, community engagement, life lessons

💬 Quotes

• “You are not responsible for greatness. You just have to take the next beautiful step that is yours.”

• “I don’t know that I had a boundary for not letting the losses affect my person.”

• “Last year I had a year of maybe. That was a big step.”

• “Find a way in, not a way out.”

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

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. 

From spiritual practices and morning rituals to an exploration of grief and identity, Megan offers a generous, no-nonsense look at how we can all rethink work, joy, and what really matters. The discussion also touches on the systemic issues in healthcare and the need for universal healthcare, emphasizing the importance of relationships and understanding in policy-making. 

Whether you're looking for inspiration on living in the present or simply searching for a better rhythm, this episode is your permission slip to pause, laugh, assert your boundaries, and reclaim your joy. 

Keywords

Work, Boundaries, Spirituality, Creativity, Gratitude, Identity, Community, Healthcare, Personal Growth, Life Balance

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Tone

01:20 - Exploring Spiritual Practices and Daily Balance

04:12 - Creative Expression and Its Importance

08:36 - The Role of Goals and Aspirations

13:10 - Gratitude and Living in the Present

17:51 - Navigating Loss and Personal Growth

19:53 - Identity and Community in a Queer Context

25:25 - Work, Purpose, and the Distinction Between Job and Work

28:00 - The Essence of Work and Life Balance

28:24 - Reflections on Death and Meaningful Living

30:07 - Understanding Boundaries in Work

34:38 - The Importance of Energy Flow and Work Quality

37:53 - Challenging Traditional Work Norms

40:49 - The Flaws of Large Healthcare Systems

43:17 - The Need for Universal Healthcare

45:24 - Building Relationships Beyond Politics

48:49 - Personal Stories and Boundary Lessons

49:45 - The Importance of Self-Care

💬 Quotes to hold on to

• “The work is not the job. The job is how I get paid. The work is my calling.”

• “If it’s still going to be there tomorrow, I’m not doing it tonight.”
• “My best hours are for me. Get out of here.”
• “There is even liberation in rejecting the right answer to the wrong question.”
• "Living in the present fosters gratitude and joy."

🔗 Important Links

• Passage Meditation
• Viral Podcast: History. Health. Humor.
• The FrameWorks Institute
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Let’s Stay Connected

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

"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.

🧠 What’s easy to say yes to? What’s hard to say no to? And what’s the inner work you’re still doing? Jamila gets candid in just a few minutes - and you’re going to want to replay this one.

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – What Jamila finds easy to say yes to

00:40 – What’s hard to say no to

01:05 – Her gift: transformation and helping others feel seen

01:55 – What she’s still working on: self-limiting beliefs and reprogramming

💬 Quotes from Jamila

• “My gift is transformation.”

• “I'm working on navigating self-limiting beliefs—in the moment.”
• “I have to remind myself—this is programming. Reprogramming takes practice.”

Listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/GTrdBcmj73M

🔗 More from Jamila:

Hazelbrook Consulting: https://hazelbrookconsulting.com/

IG: @winsomewhinesome

LinkedIn: Jamila Weathers

Substack: @jamilahunni

Patreon: Win Some W(h)ine Some

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.

We talk about boundaries, burnout, friendship, and what happens when you stop pouring from an empty cup and start pouring into yourself. This is a conversation about alignment, agency, and joy without guilt.

✨ “There is no competition for you here.”

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:21 – Daily relief in a stressful workplace

05:16 – Intentionality vs. a to-do list

09:49 – Becoming a Joy Specialist

14:07 – Whole-ass selves & safe spaces for Black women

17:10 – Win Some, W(h)ine Some begins

20:13 – The Joy Sanctuary & “Stop Giving a F” energy

23:00 – Finding sisterhood through retreats

26:40 – Nurturing your audience & building alignment

30:41 – Power in removing job titles from connection

33:30 – From surface to soul-level friendships

34:49 – Managing time, energy, and boundaries

38:48 – Stress, legacy, and honoring your health

44:30 – Doing what you’re good at vs. what you love

49:07 – Jamila’s go-to affirmation

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

• “There is no competition for you here.”
• “My intentions are filled with joyous things—for me first, not for anyone else.”
• “We are filling each other up before we pour into someone else.”
• “Being good at something doesn't mean it's your purpose.”
• “Peace is what I’m protecting now, not productivity.”

🔗 Important Links for Jamila

• Website: https://www.hazelbrookconsulting.com
• IG: @winsomewhinesome
• LinkedIn: Jamila Weathers
• Substack: @jamilahunni
• Patreon: Win Some W(h)ine Some

Let’s Stay Connected

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to The Better Boundaries Brief @ www.thedawnlab.com

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife

In this deeply personal debut episode, 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.

You'll hear how community, creativity, and a powerful book club helped her reconnect with her values and ask a bold question: What if this life - one built around joy, rest, and intention - is enough?

This episode is for anyone who’s ever questioned the hustle, felt stuck on a path they didn’t choose, or longed for a life that puts you first.

📌Episode Chapters /Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Work is Third

02:53 Dawn's Journey as a Workaholic

05:35 The Meaning Behind 'Work is Third'

08:13 Understanding Rest and Its Importance

10:57 Reimagining Work-Life Balance

13:21 Redefining Success and Personal Identity

16:12 Creating a Life Aligned with Values

18:45 The Vision for the Podcast

🧭 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why “Work is Third” and what that means
• Dawn’s journey through burnout, boundaries, and big life changes
• How a toxic job, a totaled car, and the loss of a beloved pet reshaped her perspective
• The power of rest, “wintering,” and living in alignment with your values
• An affirmation to carry with you as you navigate your own path

💬 Affirmation from This Episode

You are worthy of rest. Your joy is not optional. Your work is not your worth. Remember: you are your most important asset. Work isn't first—you are.

🔗 Let’s Stay Connected

🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app

📬 Subscribe to ⁠The Better Boundaries Brief⁠

📸 Instagram: ⁠@workisthirdlife

🎧 Welcome to Work is Third — the podcast for anyone who's ready to stop letting work run the show.

In this short teaser, you’ll get a taste of what’s coming: honest conversations, practical insights, and a much-needed reimagining of how we live, rest, and relate to work. Hosted by Dawn Hunter, Work is Third invites you to explore boundaries, joy, rest, and radical self-care.

Because work shouldn’t come first. You should.

✨ New episodes drop weekly starting May 5th.

🎙️ Topics you can expect:

• Unlearning hustle culture

• Building better boundaries

• Centering rest and play

• Redefining success on your own terms

• Stories from people doing work differently

💌 Subscribe to The Better Boundaries Brief, the companion newsletter: https://www.thedawnlab.com/

Follow along, tell a friend, and get ready to join the Work Is Third movement.