58: How Action Relieves Anxiety: With Abby Cox (First Lady of Utah)

Girls Talk Healthy Aging

In this inspiring episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with Abby Cox, the First Lady of Utah, for a candid conversation about her journey from a small-town life to becoming a leader in her state. Abby shares how her life changed when her husband, Governor Spencer Cox, entered politics—something they never planned to do full-time.

Abby opens up about her role as the first spouse, how there's no guidebook for the job, and how she balances taking care of her family while making a meaningful impact across Utah. Without being directly involved in politics, she has found her own voice by focusing on areas close to her heart: promoting service, fostering unified sports, improving teacher wellness, and supporting foster care. Abby reflects on the deep responsibility she feels toward the children in Utah’s foster care system, and how she has made it her mission to support them and their families.

We also delve into her unique position—despite not being a politician herself or receiving a paycheck, she has access to powerful resources that allow her to create change. Abby believes the models they’ve developed in Utah could be implemented across the U.S. She encourages us to rethink how we spend our time and energy, suggesting we channel it into serving our communities as a path to improving both our health and the world around us.

Abby also touches on the polarizing nature of modern politics, how she and her husband have worked to combat it through their "Disagree Better" initiative, and why service can be a powerful antidote to the outrage-driven culture. She shares the importance of purpose and reminds us that it’s never too late to make a difference. Join us for this heartfelt conversation about leadership, family, and the healing power of serving others.

More About Abby:Abby Palmer Cox became Utah’s first lady when her husband Spencer J. Cox was sworn in as governor on Jan. 4, 2021. She and Governor Cox, her high school sweetheart, have been married for 27 years.

Abby’s initiative is called “Show Up,” and she uses her platform to convene, contribute to, and champion projects related to emotional self-reliance, service, foster care and sporting opportunities for children who live with intellectual disabilities.

Born and raised in the small rural town of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, Abby grew up on the Palmer family ranch where the values of hard work and grit were a way of life. She is honored to serve with Utahns as First Lady.

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