First Lady & Friends

May 15 2024 49

First Lady & Friends Podcast artwork

Join Utah’s First Lady Abby Cox and her friends for timely and candid conversations with fascinating people with unique perspectives in an effort to unite us all through our common humanity. Each week, Abby dives into discussions on topics ranging from education to motherhood to mental health and beyond. Abby is an outspoken advocate for “getting proximate” with people who have different viewpoints, and using her platform as Utah’s First Lady to combat the empathy crisis our country is facing. Come along with us as we journey to bring courage, compassion and connection back into our homes and communities... and have a lot of fun along the way! THANK YOU for being our friend.

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A Purposeful Priority: Conversations on Teacher Well-Being

May 15 2024 58 mins

Teaching is one of the noblest professions, and the well-being of teachers is a critical component of student learning and overall community advancement. During this special podcast episode recorded at SXSW EDU 2024, hosts Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson and Abby Cox are joined by National University President & CEO Dr. Mark Milliron, and Rady Children’s Hospital Senior Di

The Joys of Creating Musical Connections Through Performance with Violinist Aubree Oliverson

May 08 2024 48 mins

Aubree Oliverson (Violinist) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox to share her earliest memories of growing up playing violin, some of her favorite teachers who made an impact on Aubree’s success, and moving away to Los Angeles at fifteen years old to pursue violon. Aubree also talks about being one of this year’s Governor’s Mansion Artist Award recipients, some of h

Enhancing Connections & Fostering Positive Disagreements with S4K Talks

May 02 2024 52 mins

The original version of this episode can be found at https://stand4kind.podbean.com/. In this in-depth exchange, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox, Candy Olandt, and Maggon Osmond discuss the essence and urgency of education. Abby Cox, a pillar for educators and a special education background holder, gives riveting insights into the discernment needed at various institutio

Understand and Master Emotional Intelligence with Meikel Reece

Mar 20 2024 50 mins

Meikel Reece (Emotional & Relational Intelligence Consultant & Utah Influencer), joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox to talk about how social justice was a fundamental aspect of her home growing up in Provo, UT., her desire to fit in with a predominantly white community when she was younger while being biracial, and how she learned to belong and feel at home with who she is.

Vanessa Quigley on the Success of Chatbooks, the Importance of Family, and Adult Parenting

Mar 13 2024 47 mins

Vanessa Quigley (Cofounder of Chatbooks and Host of The MomForce Podcast), joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox to talk about moving back to Utah with her husband, Nate, to help build Chatbooks, how chasing her dreams of becoming an International opera singer shifted once Chatbooks started to take off, and the first viral video that helped put Chatbooks on the map. Vanessa also opens

The Undeniable Impact of Unified Sports in Tooele Schools with Superintendent Mark Ernst and Charlie Roberts

Mar 07 2024 33 mins

Superintendent Mark Ernst (Tooele County School District) and Charlie Roberts (Assistant Coach for Tooele High School) join Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox to talk about many of the challenges that teachers face nowadays, how social media has impacted the classroom, and the impact that Unified Sports has had on the schools throughout Tooele County. Then Superintendent Ernst talks about

Supporting Rural Educators

Feb 07 2024 36 mins

In the third episode of our Educator Well-Being series, our hosts are joined by Rachael Black, a WGU graduate and award-winning teacher. Together they explore some of the unique challenges facing rural educators – from funding models and policies that can sometimes skew toward urban schools, to helping educators get access to the services they need to address mental and physi

Mariluz Cook on Hosting NBA All-Star Weekend 2023, Being Named Miss Utah USA, and Excelling in a Male-Dominated Field

Feb 01 2024 52 mins

Mariluz Cook (Miss Utah USA, Sports Broadcaster, and Host), joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about sharing her culture with others as a Cuban-American, her decision to move to Utah from Florida to pursue sports broadcasting, and where her passion for sports originated when she was younger. Then Mariluz talks about her experience being selected to host the Rising Stars and

Advocating For Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education With The Policy Project

Jan 17 2024 48 mins

Emily Bell McCormick (Founder & President), Mary Catherine Perry (Director of Policy & Government Affairs), and Kristin Andrus (Community Champion) from The Policy Project join Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about the originations of The Policy Project, the group's efforts to raise awareness of child sexual abuse, and the legislative steps the organization is taking t

Helping Others Achieve Their Dreams with 2023 Spirit of Service Award Recipient – Jared Quan

Jan 11 2024 59 mins

Jared Quan (Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about being a 2023 Utah Governor Spirit of Service Award Recipient, his work with non-profits throughout the state, and his passion for inspiring others who are interested in reading and writing. Jared also shares some of his favorite authors and how his time driving for Lift to pay for ex