First Lady & Friends

Latest Episodes:

Courtnie Worthen on all things Inclusion Week with Special Olympics Utah Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Courtnie Worthen (Director of Unified Champion Schools) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about her passion for unified sports, how Special Olympics has helped her grow as a person, and some of the most memorable moments from the USA Games.

Then we dive into the importance of Inclusion Week, some of the great events that have taken place throughout the state to celebrate the inclusion of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and how we can use Special Olympics and inclusive opportunities to create friendships.

We also talk about great ways that everyone can help support Special Olympics Unified Schools.

Related Links:

Special Olympics of Utah: https://sout.org/

Show Up: https://www.showuputah.org/

Spread The Word: https://www.spreadtheword.global/

Special Olympics Inclusion Tiles: https://www.generationunified.org/games/inclusion-game-page-1/

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J.W. Davies on unified sports and further education for high school graduates with intellectual disabilities Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

J.W. Davies (Co-Founder & Tax Partner of Davies + Allen) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about finding success in business throughout the state, the moment he learned that his newborn son, Tate, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and the importance that unified sports has had on so many athletes with intellectual disabilities.

We also talk about how the inclusion of unified sports in the education system can have a massive impact on the social growth of a student with intellectual disabilities and why continued education after high school can be a great way to integrate a recent graduate into the "real world."

To inquire about helping donate to the Heber Valley Center For Learning, you can email J.W. directly at jw@daviesallen.com.

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Encouraging diversity, equity and human rights with the MLK Commission Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

Members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission join Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and to talk about the commission's goals of advocating for and supporting underserved communities throughout the state of Utah.

We also discuss how the murder of George Floyd was a tipping point in society that has led to countless moments of self-reflection and exploratory conversations within our communities to bring us closer together as Utahns.

Guests:

Commission Chair Bridget Shears
Vice Chair Aanjel Clayton
Commissioner Dr. Tamara Stevenson
Commissioner Ofa Matagi
Commissioner Luna Banuri

To find out more information regarding the MLK Jr. Human Rights Commission, you can visit the official MLK Jr. Human Rights Commission website.

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A Christmas anniversary/reunion with the friends! Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Owen Fuller (CEO at Marq), Kirsten Rappleye (Director of First Lady's initiatives), and Jon Cox (Principal at Utah Public Affairs) join Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to reminisce about Spencer and Abby's first time meeting each other, what dating in a small town looked like, and what all of the friends have been up to since the last time we got together.

Then we dive into all things Utah Jazz including the surprises of the season so far and Will Hardy's candidacy for coach of the year.

Lastly, we recap some of our favorite Show Up moments throughout the year and what we're all looking forward to in 2023.

You can learn more about the books discussed in this episode by clicking the links below:

The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson by Jeff Pearlman

No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan

ZEALOT: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan

God: A Human History by Reza Aslan

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari

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Heather Vanboerum on finding forgiveness following an accident that would leave her a double amputee Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

Heather Vanboerumjoins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about her passion for being outside and enjoying nature with her family, as well as the accident that took place in a Costco parking lot that would ultimately leave her on the verge of death and a double amputee.

Heather also opens up about forgiveness helped her move forward throughout her journey, her physical and mental approach towards recovering from the accident, and immersing herself into the amputee community to find connection during her recovery.

You can learn more about Heather's story and her recovery journey by following her on Instagram: vb_flower_power

You can also find the books discussed in the episode here:

The Book of Joy By Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light by Mother Teresa

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Jeremy Cunningham on positive mentors, finding his career stride, and raising awareness for Alzheimer's disease Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Jeremy Cunningham (Public Policy Director with the Alzheimer’s Association, Utah Chapter) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about how the growth in technology has made an impact on the mental health of our youth, moving to Utah with nothing to his name, and the impact that his grandparents had on his life growing up.

We also dive into his background in marketing and public relations, the impact that positive mentors can have on your career, and how Jeremy's career intersected with comedian Joan Rivers.

Lastly, we dive into Jeremy's work in the field of Alzheimer's disease, why we need to do a better job at developing more accessible features for the aging population, and the isolating effects that the pandemic had on those suffering from Alzheimer's.

To learn more about Alzheimer's disease, you can visit the official Alzheimer's Association website here: https://www.alz.org/

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Elizabeth Petterson on being a "lived experience expert" and getting involved in foster care Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

Elizabeth Pettersonjoins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about growing up in Minnesota with a single-parent household, building resilience and independence through the foster care system, and learning to be a child once she was adopted out of the system by her aunt and uncle.

Then we dive into our recent trip to Washington D.C. to speak with the Department of Human Services about some of the experiences with foster care in the state of Utah and to advocate for the foster care kids who don't have a voice.

Elizabeth also talks about why becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) has helped her develop a deep sense of empathy in the world of foster care, her desire to build a community of lived experience experts, and her passion for connecting vulnerable youth with helpful life resources.

To learn more about foster care in Utah, you can visit: www.utahfostercare.org

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Kara Bachman shares how USU's food pantry is helping fight against food insecurity Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

Kara Bachman (Food Security Program Coordinator for the Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) at Utah State University) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about the experiences growing up that inspired her to pursue nutrition, food security, and social justice.

We also talk about some of the main factors contributing to a rise in USU's food pantry usage, how local food pantries contribute to the student population, and other services that are available to combat food insecurity.

Then we dive into the stigma of food insecurity, why the pandemic helped combat that stigma by allowing people to not feel shame in asking for help, and what Kara has planned for the future once she finishes graduate school at USU.

To learn more about USU's Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) you can visit their website: https://www.usu.edu/snac/

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Matilyn Mortensen on the evolving state of journalism Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

Matilyn Mortensen (Writer for @UUtah Communications & Host of "This is Not a Back-up Plan Podcast") joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about struggling to admit that pursuing journalism could be an achievable goal for herself, how journalism has evolved over the past couple of years, and where traditional media helps bridge together communities.

Then we talk about Matilyn's decision to use her journalism background to create, "This is Not a Back-up Plan Podcast", to help women with many different aspects of life ranging from buying a home, meal prep, or even making a will.

Matilyn also shares what her life looks like now that she's completed a Master's Program in Political Science at Utah State University, what she's been reading lately, and what her 20-year plan looks like.

The books talked about in this episode are below:

Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste

Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown

You can also find Matlyn on Twitter at MatilynKay

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Creating an inclusive high school culture through unified sports with Alizabeth Fonnesbeck, Bracken Hertzler, and Steven Hadfield Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Bracken Hertzler, Steven Hadfield, and Alizabeth Fonnesbeck, who are Mountain Crest High School students, to talk about their decisions to start getting involved in unified sports, some of their fondest experiences that they've had through unified sports, and how unified sports has helped create a more inclusive atmosphere throughout the school.

We also talk about some of the mental health challenges that high school students may experience in today's era, the importance of being empathetic to fellow students who might be dealing with mental health struggles, and why you shouldn't feel embarrassed to reach out for help and feel vulnerable.

Lastly, we dive into some of the dangers surrounding social media and ways that we can disconnect from social platforms and smartphones.

To learn more about unified sports in Utah, you can visit: https://www.sout.org/

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