diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/providers/ConversationProvider.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/providers/ConversationProvider.tsx
index b9b8278..8f29903 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/providers/ConversationProvider.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/providers/ConversationProvider.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ function useSocketFire() {
 interface IConversationContext {
   conversationMap: ConversationMap;
 
+  // sorted conversation lists
+  priorityConversations: MasterConversation[];
+  inboxConversations: MasterConversation[];
+
   selectedConversation?: MasterConversation;
   selectConversation?: (conversationId: string, temporaryOverrideSort?: boolean) => Promise<void>;
 
@@ -72,6 +76,8 @@ interface IConversationContext {
 
 const ConversationContext = React.createContext<IConversationContext>({
   conversationMap: {},
+  priorityConversations: [],
+  inboxConversations: [],
 });
 
 export function ConversationProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
@@ -339,6 +345,43 @@ export function ConversationProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }
     return tunedConversations;
   }, [conversationMap, user]);
 
+  const masterConversations = useMemo(() => {
+    const priorityConversations: MasterConversation[] = [];
+    const inboxConversations: MasterConversation[] = [];
+
+    Object.values(conversationMap).forEach((currentMasterConversation) => {
+      const personalConvoMember = currentMasterConversation.members.find(
+        (mem) => mem._id.toString() === user._id.toString(),
+      );
+      if (personalConvoMember && personalConvoMember.memberState === 'priority') {
+        priorityConversations.push(currentMasterConversation);
+
+        return;
+      }
+      inboxConversations.push(currentMasterConversation);
+    });
+
+    // sort each list
+    inboxConversations.sort((a, b) => {
+      if (a.temporaryOverrideSort) {
+        return 1;
+      }
+
+      if (b.temporaryOverrideSort) {
+        return -1;
+      }
+
+      // sort by which ones have new activity for me
+      // then sort by last activity date
+    });
+
+    priorityConversations.sort((a, b) => {
+      return b.createdDate.getTime() - a.createdDate.getTime();
+    });
+
+    return [priorityConversations, inboxConversations];
+  }, [conversationMap, user]);
+
   if (fetchState.error) {
     return (
       <Typography variant={'h6'} color={'danger'}>
@@ -354,6 +397,8 @@ export function ConversationProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }
         handleStartConversation,
         selectedConversation,
         selectConversation,
+        priorityConversations: masterConversations[0],
+        inboxConversations: masterConversations[1],
       }}
     >
       {children}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/tree/ConversationList.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/tree/ConversationList.tsx
index 964f31e..411347e 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/tree/ConversationList.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/tree/ConversationList.tsx
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export function ConversationList() {
 
   const { omniSearch } = useSearch();
 
-  const { conversationMap } = useConversations();
+  const { conversationMap, inboxConversations } = useConversations();
 
   const rendersCount = useRendersCount();
   // console.warn('RENDER COUNT | CONVERSATION LIST | ', rendersCount);
@@ -51,43 +51,6 @@ export function ConversationList() {
     omniSearch(SUPPORT_DISPLAY_NAME);
   }, [omniSearch]);
 
-  const masterConversations = useMemo(() => {
-    const priorityConversations: MasterConversation[] = [];
-    const inboxConversations: MasterConversation[] = [];
-
-    Object.values(conversationMap).forEach((currentMasterConversation) => {
-      const personalConvoMember = currentMasterConversation.members.find(
-        (mem) => mem._id.toString() === user._id.toString(),
-      );
-      if (personalConvoMember && personalConvoMember.memberState === 'priority') {
-        priorityConversations.push(currentMasterConversation);
-
-        return;
-      }
-      inboxConversations.push(currentMasterConversation);
-    });
-
-    // sort each list
-    inboxConversations.sort((a, b) => {
-      if (a.temporaryOverrideSort) {
-        return 1;
-      }
-
-      if (b.temporaryOverrideSort) {
-        return -1;
-      }
-
-      // sort by which ones have new activity for me
-      // then sort by last activity date
-    });
-
-    priorityConversations.sort((a, b) => {
-      return b.createdDate.getTime() - a.createdDate.getTime();
-    });
-
-    return [priorityConversations, inboxConversations];
-  }, [conversationMap, user]);
-
   if (Object.keys(conversationMap).length === 0) {
     return (
       <Stack direction={'column'} alignItems="center">
@@ -123,37 +86,6 @@ export function ConversationList() {
 
       <Divider />
 
-      <List
-        sx={{
-          pt: 2,
-        }}
-        subheader={
-          <ListSubheader>
-            <FiActivity />
-            <Typography variant="subtitle2"> Priority</Typography>
-          </ListSubheader>
-        }
-      >
-        {masterConversations[0].length === 0 && (
-          <Stack direction={'column'} alignItems="center">
-            <Typography align="center" variant="caption">
-              Mark conversations as priority to hear them across the hall.
-            </Typography>
-          </Stack>
-        )}
-
-        {masterConversations[0].map((currentConversation, index) => (
-          <ConversationRow
-            key={`${currentConversation._id.toString()}-priorityConvoList`}
-            conversation={currentConversation}
-            index={index}
-            isPriority={true}
-          />
-        ))}
-      </List>
-
-      <Divider />
-
       <List
         sx={{
           pt: 2,
@@ -165,7 +97,7 @@ export function ConversationList() {
           </ListSubheader>
         }
       >
-        {masterConversations[1].map((currentConversation, index) => (
+        {inboxConversations.map((currentConversation, index) => (
           <ConversationRow
             key={`${currentConversation._id.toString()}-inboxConvoList`}
             conversation={currentConversation}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/tree/FooterControls.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/tree/FooterControls.tsx
index f754e3f..8502a32 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/tree/FooterControls.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/tree/FooterControls.tsx
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ import {
   FiVideoOff,
   FiX,
 } from 'react-icons/fi';
-import React, { useCallback, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { useCallback, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 
 import ConversationLabel from '../subcomponents/ConversationLabel';
+import { MasterConversation } from '../util/types';
 import { SUPPORT_DISPLAY_NAME } from '../util/support';
 import { blueGrey } from '@mui/material/colors';
 import useAuth from '../providers/AuthProvider';
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ import useZen from '../providers/ZenProvider';
 export default function FooterControls() {
   const { handleFlowState } = useZen();
 
-  const { selectedConversation } = useConversations();
+  const { selectedConversation, priorityConversations } = useConversations();
   const { user, handleLogout } = useAuth();
 
   const [openUserSettings, setOpenUserSettings] = useState<boolean>(false);
@@ -69,6 +70,18 @@ export default function FooterControls() {
     setOpenUserSettings(false);
   }, [setOpenUserSettings]);
 
+  // is there a selected conversation and if so, is it a priority one?
+  const isSelectedConversationPriority = useMemo(() => {
+    const priorityIds =
+      priorityConversations.map((priorityConvo) => priorityConvo._id.toString()) ?? [];
+
+    if (selectedConversation && priorityIds.includes(selectedConversation._id.toString())) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+  }, [selectedConversation, priorityConversations]);
+
   return (
     <Box
       sx={{
@@ -90,93 +103,23 @@ export default function FooterControls() {
           p: 1,
           flex: 1,
         }}
+        spacing={2}
       >
-        {selectedConversation && (
-          <Stack
-            direction={'column'}
-            spacing={1}
-            sx={{
-              p: 1,
-              borderRadius: 2,
-              bgcolor: blueGrey[300],
-            }}
-            alignItems={'center'}
-          >
-            {/*  status */}
-            <Box
-              component={'span'}
-              sx={{
-                bgcolor: (theme) => theme.palette.secondary.main,
-                height: 5,
-                width: 5,
-                borderRadius: 100,
-              }}
-            />
-
-            <AvatarGroup
-              variant={'rounded'}
-              sx={{
-                display: 'flex',
-                flexDirection: 'column',
-                '& >:first-child': {
-                  marginTop: 0,
-                },
-                '& > *': {
-                  marginLeft: '0 !important' as any,
-                  marginTop: -2,
-                },
-              }}
-            >
-              {selectedConversation.members?.map((conversationUser, index) => (
-                <Avatar
-                  key={`${selectedConversation._id.toString()}-${conversationUser._id.toString()}-convoIcon`}
-                  alt={conversationUser?.givenName}
-                  src={conversationUser?.picture}
-                  sx={{
-                    opacity: selectedConversation.tunedInUsers?.includes(
-                      conversationUser._id.toString(),
-                    )
-                      ? '100%'
-                      : '20%',
-                  }}
-                />
-              ))}
-            </AvatarGroup>
+        {priorityConversations.map((masterPriorityConversation) => (
+          <OverlayConversation
+            key={`priorityConversationOverlay-${masterPriorityConversation._id.toString()}`}
+            masterConversation={masterPriorityConversation}
+            isSelected={
+              masterPriorityConversation._id.toString() === selectedConversation?._id.toString()
+            }
+          />
+        ))}
 
+        {selectedConversation && !isSelectedConversationPriority && (
+          <>
             <Divider orientation="horizontal" flexItem />
-
-            <Tooltip title="Show video!">
-              <IconButton
-                sx={{
-                  color: 'white',
-                }}
-                size="small"
-              >
-                <FiVideoOff />
-              </IconButton>
-            </Tooltip>
-
-            {/* todo: not speaking mode, speaking mode, locked in mode */}
-            <Tooltip title="Speak or toggle by clicking here!">
-              <IconButton
-                sx={{
-                  color: 'white',
-                }}
-                size="small"
-              >
-                <FiSun />
-              </IconButton>
-            </Tooltip>
-
-            <IconButton
-              sx={{
-                color: 'GrayText',
-              }}
-              size="small"
-            >
-              <FiX />
-            </IconButton>
-          </Stack>
+            <OverlayConversation masterConversation={selectedConversation} isSelected={true} />
+          </>
         )}
 
         <Stack sx={{ mt: 'auto' }} spacing={1} direction={'column'} alignItems={'center'}>
@@ -222,6 +165,104 @@ export default function FooterControls() {
   );
 }
 
+function OverlayConversation({
+  masterConversation,
+  isSelected = false,
+}: {
+  masterConversation: MasterConversation;
+  isSelected?: boolean;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <Stack
+      direction={'column'}
+      spacing={1}
+      sx={{
+        p: 1,
+        borderRadius: 2,
+        bgcolor: isSelected ? blueGrey[300] : '',
+      }}
+      alignItems={'center'}
+    >
+      {/*  status */}
+      <Box
+        component={'span'}
+        sx={{
+          bgcolor: (theme) => theme.palette.secondary.main,
+          height: 5,
+          width: 5,
+          borderRadius: 100,
+        }}
+      />
+
+      <AvatarGroup
+        variant={'rounded'}
+        sx={{
+          display: 'flex',
+          flexDirection: 'column',
+          '& >:first-child': {
+            marginTop: 0,
+          },
+          '& > *': {
+            marginLeft: '0 !important' as any,
+            marginTop: -2,
+          },
+        }}
+      >
+        {masterConversation.members?.map((conversationUser, index) => (
+          <Avatar
+            key={`${masterConversation._id.toString()}-${conversationUser._id.toString()}-convoIcon`}
+            alt={conversationUser?.givenName}
+            src={conversationUser?.picture}
+            sx={{
+              opacity: masterConversation.tunedInUsers?.includes(conversationUser._id.toString())
+                ? '100%'
+                : '20%',
+            }}
+          />
+        ))}
+      </AvatarGroup>
+
+      {isSelected && (
+        <>
+          <Divider orientation="horizontal" flexItem />
+
+          <Tooltip title="Show video!">
+            <IconButton
+              sx={{
+                color: 'white',
+              }}
+              size="small"
+            >
+              <FiVideoOff />
+            </IconButton>
+          </Tooltip>
+
+          {/* todo: not speaking mode, speaking mode, locked in mode */}
+          <Tooltip title="Speak or toggle by clicking here!">
+            <IconButton
+              sx={{
+                color: 'white',
+              }}
+              size="small"
+            >
+              <FiSun />
+            </IconButton>
+          </Tooltip>
+
+          <IconButton
+            sx={{
+              color: 'GrayText',
+            }}
+            size="small"
+          >
+            <FiX />
+          </IconButton>
+        </>
+      )}
+    </Stack>
+  );
+}
+
 const NO_DEVICE_SELECTION = 'NA';
 
 function UserSettingsDialog({ open, handleClose }: { handleClose: () => void; open: boolean }) {