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.