First Lady & Friends

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Vinay Kalva & Anagha Rao to talk about the inspiration behind their committment to service, their decision to pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and who have been their biggest influences in their education and dedication to service.

Then we talk about the the inspiration behind Live Well Teens, what their researching process looks like, and why they decided to target the physical, mental, and emotional needs of teenagers. 

We also dive into the coorelation between social media and various mental illness in our youth, how the fear of missing out is leading to many teens to feel like they need to rely on social media to stay social, and alternative ways that teens can stay engaged with their friend groups outside of social media.

Related links:

Live Well Teens Non-Profit: https://www.livewellteens.org/

International Baccalaureate (IB) program: https://www.ibo.org/

To get involved, you can visit: https://www.livewellteens.org/contact/

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In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Sally Steed (Vice President of Sales at Deseret News), Lynnette Cloward (Director of Events at Utah Business), and Sarah Allred (Deputy Director of First Lady's Initiatives) to talk about our upcoming second annual Show Up for Teachers educator wellness conference on July 19th, 2023!! We also talk about the complimenting gala at the Grand America sponsored by Deseret News and Utah Business and why it's so important to show our gratitude for all of the teachers in the state.

We also talk about why it's important that our teachers continue to share their stories of finding success in the classroom, how we can further support them by raising awareness of their work, and why we can never underestimate the influence that a great teacher can have on our youth. 

Lastly, we share some of our favorite teachers who had the biggest influences on us growing up.

Related links:

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

Show Up for Teachers (Nominations): https://www.showupforteachers.org/event/742b0a6b-f9cc-4a75-ad86-135e3f15ed85/websitePage:709b72db-1b84-4be4-80fb-c47ca4c31699

Show Up for Teachers Gala: https://www.showupforteachers.org/event/742b0a6b-f9cc-4a75-ad86-135e3f15ed85/websitePage:709b72db-1b84-4be4-80fb-c47ca4c31699

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In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Kirsten Rappleye (Director of First Lady’s Initiatives) and Sarah Allred (Deputy Director of First Lady's Initiatives) to recap the past couple of major events from our Show Up initiatives including some of the amazing moments from unified sports with Weber State University and the Utah Jazz and the need to continuously raise awareness surrounding our foster families throughout the state.

We also dive into the latest updates on our upcoming second annual Show Up for Teachers educator wellness conference on July 19th, 2023 with Arthur Brooks joining us as the keynote speaker.

Lastly, we dive into the upcoming service initiatives on the horizon including this year's family service fair at Thanksgiving Point's Electric Park on June 5th.

Related links:

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

Special Olympics: https://www.specialolympics.org/

Utah Foster Care: https://utahfostercare.org/

Arthur Brooks: https://arthurbrooks.com/

Show Up for Teachers: https://www.showuputah.org/wellness

Show Up for Serving: https://www.showuputah.org/service

Big Time Adulting: https://bigtimeadulting.blog/

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Megan Johnson (Co-founder of The Emily Effect) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about her sister, Emily, the origination of The Emily Effect, and what life was like for them growing up in Sanpete County.

We also talk about the early signs of Postpartum Depression (PPD) that Emily experienced, why sharing Emily's story is so important to spread awareness surrounding PPD, and some of the best resources available for those who may be experiencing symptoms of PDD.

Lastly, we dive into the reality that mental illnesses associated with PDD will appear differently among others, as well as how Emily's family is thriving and doing well through the support of their friends and family.

Related Links:

The Emily Effect

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

Utah Maternal Mental Health Collaborative – PSI Utah

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Sherry Cutler joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about meeting her husband, Rep. Paul Cutler (Utah State Legislature House District 18), her passion for teaching, and their family's journey to becoming a representative in the legislature.

We also talk about Sherry's experience being a spouse of a new representative during the legislative session and working together to create foster family connection kits and Valentine's Day gifts for foster children.

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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 (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 [email protected].

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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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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 joins 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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