First Lady & Friends – Details, episodes & analysis

Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, joins news and broadcasting pioneer Stephen Cohen on the Responsibility Matter podcast this week to share her journey from growing up on a ranch in Mount Pleasant to becoming a champion for community connection and responsibility.

Abby then reflects on lessons from her childhood, the significance of modeling positive behavior, and the importance of fostering responsibility in the next generation. 

She also talks about disconnecting from social media, finding true happiness through service, and creating meaningful connections in a divided world.

Related links:

Responsibility Matters website: https://responsibilitymatters.buzzsprout.com/2326887

Responsibility Matters on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/42O8Wvnw1vTNWMkBdfNOoy

Dr. Tomicah Tillemann (President of Project Liberty) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to discuss the breakdown of institutions in our society, fears that the United States won’t be a trusted global partner due to conflicts within the country, and how Project Liberty is focused on helping people regain control of their digital lives.

We also dive into the root of society's dysfunction that stems from conflicts caused by social media, how Frank McCourt Jr.’s latest book, Our Biggest Fight, aims to combat corporate algorithms, and why the business model surrounding our data needs to change to create a better and safer internet.

Then, we discuss how Facebook has become a hub of anger, outrage, and misinformation targeting an older generation and realistic steps at the state level that can be taken to help us regain our personhood.

Related Links

Project Liberty: https://www.projectliberty.io/

Our Biggest Fight by Frank H. McCourt, Jr.: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743398/our-biggest-fight-by-frank-h-mccourt-jr-with-michael-j-casey/

People’s Bid For TikTok: https://www.projectliberty.io/peoples-bid-for-tiktok/

Kathy Searle, LCSW (Vice President of Utah Programs at Raise the Future), joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to discuss her experiences with adoption and how they have shaped her work today in helping to find families for children in foster care.

We also talk about the need to provide support to adoptive families, how adoptive families have to navigate the reality of expectations, and why community fear can have such a negative impact on foster families and their choices to adopt.

Then, we dive into Raise the Future’s mission of connecting youth with families.

Related Links

Raise the Future: https://www.raisethefuture.org/

Heart Gallery: https://www.utahadopt.org/building-your-family/heart-gallery

Nubia Peña (Governor Senior Advisor & Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs) and Claudia Loayza (Planning Policy and Engagement Coordinator) join Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about how their respective backgrounds influenced them to serve others, how multicultural communities have made Utah stronger, and ways that we can be even more welcoming to all cultures as Utahns.

Then, we dive into how Magnify Utah connects communities and people throughout the state and some ways that it can help Utahns learn even more about the state.

Lastly, we discuss why dignity is so important to allow Utah to continue thriving and how we can serve our communities through compassion and proximity.

Related Links

Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs: https://multicultural.utah.gov/

Magnify Utah: https://multicultural.utah.gov/magnify/

Utah First Lady Abby Cox led a discussion with Michelle Sobel (Unify America), David McCullough (American Exchange Project), and Sarah Igo (Vanderbilt University) on how we can help students develop conversation skills. Learn more about the Disagree Better Initiative at: https://www.nga.org/disagree-better/

You can also read about the conversation at: https://www.nga.org/news/commentary/disagree-better-panelists-highlight-ways-to-help-students-have-healthier-conversations/

Tania Hansen (Deputy Director of First Lady Initiatives) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox this week and we talk about her background, her passion for helping others, and some of Tania’s favorite events so far that she’s had while on the team.  

Then Sarah Allred (Director of First Lady Initiatives) and Amanda Millerberg (Show Up Board Member) join the show to talk about this year’s Summer Service Fair on Monday, June 3, from 4 - 8 pm MDT at Electric Park in Thanksgiving Point.

We also dive into the amazing service projects planned for the summer and the need to come together as a state to introduce service to our youth.

Related Links

Register for the Summer Service Fair: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-service-fair-tickets-867647054697?aff=oddtdtcreator

Service - Show Up: https://www.showuputah.org/service

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

Aimee Winder Newton (Senior Advisor to Governor Cox and Director of the Office of Families) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox to talk about becoming the first director for the new Office of Families, the Office of Families’ emphasis on strengthening families so children have better outcomes, and Aimee’s efforts in protecting our youth from the harmful effects of social media.

Then we dive into the positive trends that we’ve been seeing from parents when limiting social media and some tips that you can use to help your child avoid addictive social media behaviors.

Related Links

Utah Office of Families: https://governor.utah.gov/families/

Utah Department of Health and Human Services | Social Harms: https://socialharms.utah.gov/

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

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 Director Domonique Hensler, to continue the conversation on the importance of teacher well-being. During this episode, the expert panel examines the key positive strategies to implement to sustain educator well-being in the context of teacher preparation programs and K-12 schools, and concrete actions that should occur to keep educators well, despite elements that can exist beyond their control.

About Dr. Mark Milliron

Dr. Mark Milliron is an award-winning leader, author, speaker, and consultant, who works with universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, foundations, corporations, associations, and government agencies across the country and around the world. He serves as President & CEO of National University (NU), one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the United States. NU is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and has a 50-year history of innovating around the needs of military, working, and other nontraditional students.

About Domonique Hensler

Domonique Hensler is the Senior Director for Care Redesign Planning and Mental Health Integration for Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego and Rady Children’s Health Network. Her experience includes positions as a Fellow and Analyst at Sutter Health; a Network Manager for TRICARE Southwest at Health Net, formerly Foundation Health; and Executive Director of the Community and Family Network. Since joining Rady Children’s in 1998, Domonique has served in various leadership, strategic implementation, and project management roles in healthcare administration.

Related links:

WGU: https://www.wgu.edu/about/governance/education/educator-well-being-from-principles-to-practice-podcast.html

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlwjT_YKfmk

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 her fondest memories of attending the Colburn Conservatory of Music, and her decision to make Berlin, Germany her home base to continue pursuing her career as a violinist.

We also talk about Aubree’s goals of working with the best orchestras and conductors at the highest level as she continues to excel in her career.

Related Links

Aubree Oliverson: https://www.aubreeoliverson.com/

Instagram: @olversonaubree

Deborah Moench: https://giftedmusicschool.org/faculty/deborah-moench

Eugene Watanabe: https://www.giftedmusicschool.org/faculty/eugene-watanabe

Robert Lipsett: https://www.giftedmusicschool.org/event/2012/robert-lipsett-masterclass

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 institutional levels, building meaningful relationships, and the mastery of effective communication.

The conversation focuses on the significance of educators' links with the key policymakers in their communities and how their voices and influence can create waves of change. Abby further delves into the benefits of educators forming connections with legislators, resulting in a more seamless educational policy process.

Discussion progresses to the topic of 'Disagree Better,' an initiative aimed at promoting healthier dialogues, particularly within the educational sector. The philosophy stresses the importance of engaging in difficult conversations, understanding differing views, and acknowledging disagreements as opportunities for growth. The phrase, "Tell me more about why you think that," symbolizes a tool for navigating these tricky exchanges.

Further into the conversation, the significance of emotional intelligence in fostering strong relationships in the education arena is emphasized. The potency of the 'Disagree Better' campaign is shown along with the transformation that occurs in classrooms where amicable discourse takes place. The focus shifts to the vital role of educators in fostering future leaders who possess not just academic proficiency, but also important life skills such as critical thinking.

The discussion concludes by acknowledging the worldwide network of teachers and their extraordinary mission of shaping future generations. Join the lively conversation and get a glimpse of educational transformation in action.

Related links:

The S4K Talks podcast can be found on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.