Forcing Joy, Claiming Space, and Feeling Liberated

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Work Is Third

Dawn Hunter

49 episodes

2 days ago

Welcome to Work is Third, the podcast for people who are done letting work take the lead. Hosted by Dawn Hunter, this show explores what it means to live a full, joyful life—with work as one part of the picture, not the whole frame. Each episode, we talk with leaders, creatives, and change-makers about boundaries, rest, play, and radical self-care. Expect honest conversations, practical wisdom, and a few laughs along the way. ✨ Work isn’t first. You are.

Self-Improvement

Education

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Self-Improvement

Education

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Forcing Joy, Claiming Space, and Feeling Liberated | Dr. Alicia Justice

Work Is Third

58 minutes 31 seconds

2 months ago

Forcing Joy, Claiming Space, and Feeling Liberated | Dr. Alicia Justice

What can feather boas, therapy, and TikTok teach us about joy, boundaries, and belonging?

In this edition of Work is Third, Dr. Alicia Justice talks about what it means to force joy when life feels heavy, the liberating power of therapy, and how self-expression through color and fashion becomes an act of resistance and self-love. Alicia shares stories of her journey: claiming space as a first generation scholar, navigating church and cultural messages about humility, and embracing joy as both practice and survival.

We also laugh about childhood boas, mismatched accessories, and playing dress up in our closets as adults. Along the way, Alicia reminds us: we don’t have to earn our worth, we don’t have to do all the things, and we’re still amazing even on the hard days.

✨ Subscribe to Work is Third and join the movement at workisthird.com.

Keywords

liberation, joy, human experience, authenticity, societal norms, currency, resources, self-expression, color, childhood stories

📂 Section Markers

01:41 Section 1: From Giddy to Green: Joy, Color, and Childhood Stories

33:36 Section 2: Breaking Through and Belonging

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Giddy Anticipation

03:36 Rebooking the Japan Trip

06:10 The Joy of Color and Personal Style

14:10 Childhood Memories and Fashion Choices

19:46 Therapy and the Journey to Joy

24:43 The Importance of Self-Awareness

26:47 Therapy: A Path to Self-Discovery

32:42 Embracing Age and Self-Acceptance

37:40 The Power of Affirmation and Support

38:35 Cultural Influences on Self-Perception

41:26 Breaking Free from Guilt and Responsibility

42:44 Curating a Positive Online Experience

50:35 Curating Happiness Beyond Work

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

“I don’t play about my mentals. Your mind can take you places a plane and a rocket can’t.”
“You don’t have to do all the things.”
“I’m still who I said I am, even in this pain.”
“I’m not responsible for your distraction—let me be fly.”
“Care has to be in alignment with my identity and how I want to show up in the world.”

Resources Mentioned:

Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Poem “Let Them” (author often attributed to Keishorne Scott)

Let’s Stay Connected

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

📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter

📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife