First Lady & Friends

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.

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.

Then we talk about Meikel’s passion for teaching emotional intelligence, learning to understand and process the emotions that we experience, and some strategies for acknowledging our triggers and taking control of them.

Lastly, we dive into the concerns surrounding trigger behaviors that negatively influence us, and why emotional intelligence can help communities disagree better.

Related Links

Instagram: @meikelreece

Permission to Feel by Mark Bracket

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 up about the impact that Chatbooks has had on strengthening her relationship with her husband, how the family has helped contribute to the company over the years, and what’s next for Chatbooks.

Then we talk about Vanessa being named Miss Utah USA despite not being from Utah and some of the challenges that are not often talked about with adult parenting.

Related Links

Chatbooks: https://chatbooks.com/

The MomForce Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-momforce-podcast-hosted-by-chatbooks/id1464755075

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 the inclusion that has come with the introduction of Unified Sports, bridging the differences between regular and special ed experiences in the classroom, and the lifelong friendships that are built through Unified Sports.

Related Links

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

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 physical health concerns. Rachael shares some of her innovative practices that fully use available resources, including regional grant funding. She also discusses the importance of collaborative learning groups among educators to build communities of practice that support each other and share knowledge, which is especially important as rural educators often teach more than one subject. Listen to learn about the positive outcomes of educators maintaining a growth mindset.

Related Links

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6maVMdcovrU

About Rachael Black

Rachael Black is a passionate educator with a strong commitment to transforming education in rural communities. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from WGU since 2016, Rachael is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology. With an impressive eight years of teaching experience, she has been recognized for her outstanding contributions, including a nomination for New Teacher of the Year and winning an Innovative Teaching Award from Aledo (Texas) Independent School District.

Rachael's dedication extends beyond the classroom, as she has successfully secured over $160,000 in educational grants for innovative teaching projects. As a published author, Rachael shares her insights and experiences, advocating for accessible education for all. She has spoken before the Texas Senate in support of a bill aimed at increasing financial aid for adult learners. Rachael's journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences and championing educational equity in rural settings.

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 All-Star Saturday night during NBA All-Star weekend last year, how competing in pageants helped persuade her to chase a dream of public speaking, and why she was hesitant to pursue Miss Utah USA as a known broadcaster to avoid being put into a box.

Lastly, we talk about Mariluz’s experiences in a male-dominated field, some of the amazing women who have paved the way to propel others in the sports landscape, and how approaching an opportunity with a, “Why Not Me?” attitude can help build the confidence to chase your dreams.

Related Links

Mariluz Cook: https://www.mariluzcook.com/

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 to ensure that all K-6 students receive sexual abuse prevention education through The Safe Child Project.

We also talk about the importance of having difficult conversations with our children about child sexual abuse prevention, the need for prevention curricula to be taught in schools, and the easiest ways anyone can get involved.

Lastly, we dive into The Period Project, which was developed by The Policy Project to increase access to menstrual products in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, as well as how The Teen Center Project raised over $18,000,000 to develop Teen Centers in schools throughout the state to support teens in need.

Related Links

The Policy Project: https://www.thepolicyproject.org/

The Safe Child Project: https://www.thepolicyproject.org/thesafechildproject#:~:text=THE%20SAFE%20CHILD%20PROJECT%20SOLUTION,through%20a%20public%2Dprivate%20partnership.

The Period Project: https://www.thepolicyproject.org/theperiodproject

The Teen Center Project: https://www.thepolicyproject.org/theteencenterproject

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 expenses that accrued from his son’s heart condition inspired his book, “Lifted: Adventures in Ridesharing”, and the moment that Jared received the call that his son was going to get a heart transplant.

Then we talk about Jared’s work with both Jimmer Fredette’s and Steve Young’s organizations, the goal of bringing students more access to reading and writing resources, and some of the barriers preventing others from getting involved with volunteering and service.

Related Links

Jared Quan: http://www.jaredquan.com/

List of recipients: https://governor.utah.gov/2023/07/27/gov-spencer-cox-recognizes-recipients-of-second-annual-governors-spirit-of-service-award/

Fredette Family Foundation: https://jimmerosity.org/

Forever Young Foundation: https://foreveryoung.org/

Sarah Allred (Director of First Lady Initiatives) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to recap some of our favorite moments of the year which include the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, various service projects, and the ways we’ve been connecting with our youth to help promote positive change in our communities.

Then we dive into our latest Care Communities project that we’ve been working on to help provide support for our foster families and what we’ve learned from listening to our teachers during our annual Show Up for Teachers conference.

Lastly, we also talk about our favorite holiday traditions, the best books we read this year, and our favorite meals/restaurants we’ve had. 

Related Links:

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

Demon Copperhead by Barbera King Solver: http://barbarakingsolver.net/books/demon-copperhead/

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/22609522

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/4934

Surrender by Bono: https://surrendermemoir.com/