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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Join Girls Talk Healthy Aging Facebook Group for updates and additional resources:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030

Thank you for listening, following, & downloading the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast. We are so appreciative and would love your feedback and ideas for future episodes. Big Thanks if you have taken the time to give us a rating or review. It means the world to us!

Email us at: sapodcast23@gmail.com

Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski

Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://meetshawnak.shawnakaminski.com

Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).

Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online via Zoom here: https://https://www.thepinkphysique.com

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Your co-hosts Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with Cancer Trauma Coach Jenn Farr, who shares her deeply personal journey through breast cancer—not once, but twice. Jenn’s story begins at age 36 when she discovered an unusual lump under her arm and breast. With no family history of breast cancer, the diagnosis came as a shock. Jenn opens up about the physical, emotional, and mental toll of undergoing a double mastectomy, all while balancing the demands of raising a family and maintaining her career.

But her journey didn’t end there. Just three years after her initial diagnosis, Jenn faced another terrifying recurrence of cancer at age 39, leading to another round of treatments. She takes us through the pain of this second battle and the mental spiral it triggered, and how she struggled to find the right support—especially as no counselors she met were trained to handle the trauma of a cancer diagnosis like hers.

Jenn’s candid reflections offer insight into the challenges many women face, from hormone changes due to treatments and navigating medically induced menopause, to coping with physical pain and lifestyle adjustments after surgery. She discusses the importance of being educated rather than fear-driven when making health decisions, especially around hormone-positive cancers. Along the way, Jenn found support from specialists like Dr. Ardelle Piper, a menopause expert previously featured on the Girls Talk Healthy Aging podcast.

Jenn’s journey of healing led her to write her book No Baby Pigeons: Navigating Cancer Through Thought Wellness, where she shares her mission to help women move from a place of fear to one of forward momentum. In this episode, Jenn not only tells her story, but she also provides valuable guidance on how to support a loved one going through cancer, or how to care for yourself if you’re facing this battle.

Tune in for a raw, inspiring conversation about resilience, wellness, and aging well through the most challenging of journeys.

Jennifer Farr is a 2x breast cancer journeyer, Author of No Baby Pigeons - Navigating Cancer through Thought Wellness (Available on Amazon) and Cancer Trauma Coach. She provides 1:1 coaching, a self-paced digital coaching program and additional content on YouTube, The Farr from Fear Podcast and her blog at www.farrfromfear-coaching.com

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Join Girls Talk Healthy Aging Facebook Group for updates and additional resources:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030

Thank you for listening, following, & downloading the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast. We are so appreciative and would love your feedback and ideas for future episodes. Big Thanks if you have taken the time to give us a rating or review. It means the world to us!

Email us at: sapodcast23@gmail.com

Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski

Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://meetshawnak.shawnakaminski.com

Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).

Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online via Zoom here: https://https://www.thepinkphysique.com

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In this inspiring episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with Ginny MacColl, the world’s oldest American Ninja Warrior competitor. From her early days on Broadway to becoming a Guinness Book World Record Holder in her 70s, Ginny’s journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and the belief that "strength is ageless."

Ginny shares her incredible life story, including how she overcame the challenges of single motherhood, a career change, and personal setbacks. After watching her daughter, Jessie Graff, compete on American Ninja Warrior, Ginny decided it was time to pursue her own fitness goals. She talks about the societal pressures she faced growing up, how she redefined her view of strength, and her determination to master pull-ups and conquer obstacles—both on and off the Ninja course.

Now a Guinness World Record holder, Ginny reflects on how she has reversed osteopenia, maintained balance and mobility, and stayed active well into her 70s. She points out that “moving parts don’t rust.” This is a rallying cry for women of all ages to keep moving, keep dreaming, and never let age define their limits. Whether you're 30 or 90, Ginny's story will motivate you to stay strong and embrace new challenges!

Tune in for this motivational conversation on aging like a warrior, fitness, and the power of persistence.

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Join Girls Talk Healthy Aging Facebook Group for updates and additional resources:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030

Thank you for listening, following, & downloading the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast. We are so appreciative and would love your feedback and ideas for future episodes. Big Thanks if you have taken the time to give us a rating or review. It means the world to us!

Email us at: sapodcast23@gmail.com

Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski

Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://meetshawnak.shawnakaminski.com

Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).

Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online via Zoom here: https://https://www.thepinkphysique.com

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Follow Ginny MacColl on Instagram @ginnymaccoll