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

You're Never Stuck | Choosing the Life You Want with Calvalyn Day

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 drive our decisions, and why feeling stuck is often an invitation to get curious rather than stay still. Calvalyn shares her own journey of choosing a different path and offers practical insights on values, healing, self-trust, and creating a life aligned with what matters most. They discuss: * Why flexibility is more than just your work schedule * Breaking free from external validation * Why you're never too old — and never too stuck — to choose differently * The role values play in shaping decisions * Healing, reinvention, and learning to trust yourself * Why work should be third Because building a meaningful life doesn't start with havingall the answers. It starts with listening to your own voice. 📚 Guest Info * Website: https://www.calvalynday.com/ [https://www.calvalynday.com/] * YouTube: https://youtube.com/@calvalyn?si=d6Gr6bjzTttMmicl [https://youtube.com/@calvalyn?si=d6Gr6bjzTttMmicl] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvalyn/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/calvalyn/?hl=en] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@calvalynday [https://www.tiktok.com/@calvalynday?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] 🎶Calvalyn's contribution to Work is Third: The Soundtrack: T.I., Let 'Em Know Let’s Stay Connected 🎧 Subscribe to the show! 📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter [https://thedawnlab.kit.com/joyfulrebellion] 📸 Instagram: @the_dawn_hunter [https://www.instagram.com/the_dawn_hunter]

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 & Therapy [https://www.demontawhiting.com/] * Instagram: @demonta_the_therapist [https://www.instagram.com/demonta_the_therapist] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demontawhitinglmft [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 [https://thedawnlab.kit.com/joyfulrebellion] 📸 Instagram: @the_dawn_hunter [https://www.instagram.com/the_dawn_hunter]

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: @revive2yo Let’s Stay Connected 🎧 Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter [https://thedawnlab.kit.com/joyfulrebellion] 📸 Instagram: @the_dawn_hunter [https://www.instagram.com/the_dawn_hunter]

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/ [https://co-creatingcoach.ie/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontbeafraidtotalk/ [https://www.instagram.com/dontbeafraidtotalk/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslumumba/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslumumba/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dontbeafraidtotalk/ [https://www.facebook.com/Dontbeafraidtotalk/] 📔Resources Mentioned * Pieta House, Pieta | Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm since 2006 [https://www.pieta.ie/] * Movie: Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

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.com * All Socials: @natoliewarren   📔 Resources Mentioned * Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the StressCycle by Amelia Nagoski * We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers   Let’s Stay Connected 🎧Subscribe to the show! 📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter [https://thedawnlab.kit.com/joyfulrebellion] 📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife [https://www.instagram.com/workisthirdlife]