Mend the World: A Conversation with Eliza Reid, Former First Lady of Iceland

Mend the World: A Conversation with Eliza Reid, Former First Lady of Iceland

Hosts Cece Jones-Davis and Malika McKinley Cox welcome Eliza Reid. Eliza is a Canadian-born bestselling writer, public speaker, gender equality advocate, cofounder of the acclaimed Iceland Writers Retreat, and former first lady of Iceland. In this episode, Eliza shares her story about becoming an entrepreneur, balancing freelance work, and developing a writers' retreat. She also details how she met her husband in the UK, moved to Iceland, had four children, and, to her surprise, became the First Lady of Iceland when her husband, a professor, ran for the presidency and won. Her memoir, The First Lady Next Door, is an incredible read about authenticity, public service, and lessons from Iceland’s women’s strike, “Day Off,” in 1975, which has led to Iceland's widespread recognition as a global leader in workplace equality. The discussion is candid, exploring how to remain authentic amid life's unpredictability and how to seize opportunities to serve the greater good. What You'll Learn in This Episode:- How Eliza Reid went from a freelance writer and entrepreneur in Reykjavik to First Lady of Iceland in the span of seven weeks, and what that transition really felt like behind the scenes- Why Iceland consistently ranks as the most gender-equal country in the world, and what policies and cultural shifts actually got it there- How Eliza navigated raising four children in the public eye while holding onto her own career and sense of self- What it was like moving between vastly different worlds, from rural Ontario, to the White House, to Buckingham Palace, and what that taught her about belonging- Why Eliza chose authenticity and "messiness" over the polished perfection often expected of public women, and how that choice became her greatest strength- What other nations, including the U.S., can learn from Iceland's approach to parental leave, pay equity, and women's representation in politics and business- How identity as an immigrant, a mother, and an accidental public figure shaped Eliza's understanding of identity and belongingMending the world takes many forms; sometimes it's policy and protest, and sometimes it's a woman deciding to show up honestly in a role she never planned for. Eliza Reid's story is a reminder that the unexpected chapters of our lives can be among the most pivotal.Connect with us by subscribing to the podcast and following us on social media. Like, share, and send us a message with your thoughts or questions. We want to hear from you and keep this conversation going together.Eliza’s book, is: The First Lady Next Door:A Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure, is available now wherever books are sold.  To contact Eliza in Canada for speaking engagements: Eliza Reid, eliza@elizareid.com. For author events or interview requests: sscanadapublicity@simonandschuster.ca In Iceland: Fyrir viðburði á Íslandi: eliza@elizareid.com. In the U.S. for author events or interview requests: Mandy Chahal, mandy.chahal@sourcebooks.com.For the rest of the world, email eliza@elizareid.com. ,for rights inquiries: Samantha Haywood at Transatlantic Agency,  samantha@transatlanticagency.com. Also for Information on the Iceland Writers Retreat: iwr@icelandwritersretreat.comeliza@elizareid.com.Follow Mend the World Podcast on the following handles, and please subscribe. To support MTW Podcast and join our online community, go to our Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/cw/MendtheWorldPodcast  @TheMendtheWorldPodcast Facebook |   /   / themendtheworldpodcastInstagram |   /   / mendtheworldpodcastTikTok |   /   / mend.the.worldX | https://x.com/MendingTheWorld/CeceJonesDavis https://cecejonesdavis.com/Instagram |   /   / cecejonesdavis/Malika McKinley Cox https://www.malikamckinleycox.com/Substack https://substack.com/@malikamckinleycoxInstagram |   /   / malikacox

A Conversation with Carlos A. Rodríguez on returning to Puerto Rico, founding the Happy Givers, and finding hope locally.

In this episode of Mend the World, hosts Cece Jones-Davis and Malika McKinley Cox sit down with Carlos A. Rodríguez, the founder of Happy NPO and The Happy Givers store, for a moving conversation on purpose, community, faith evolution, justice, and connection to the land. Carlos leads the Happy NPO, and 100% of its profits go to the nonprofit. They manage and assist home reconstruction programs and food security efforts in Puerto Rico, a children's home in Peru, and partner with organizations supporting migrants in Tijuana. Recently, Carlos has been building a campus in Puerto Rico that includes a community kitchen and a trade school serving the local community in need. Together, Cece, Malika, and Carlos explore how the rise of Christian Nationalism has, for many, become a catalyst toward a more genuine faith and authentic life's work. They ask what it really looks like to show up for our neighbors in a way that is embodied and rooted in solidarity. This is a timely and significant conversation about living authentically, showing up for family and neighbors, and making a difference in the world; all while staying true to who we are. What You'll Hear in This Episode: * Carlos's work  in Puerto Rico with the Happy Givers * Carlos's faith evolution, leaving pastoral ministry after the rise of Christian Nationalism in the run-up to the 2016 election, and returning to his roots in Puerto Rico * Learn how you can participate in Carlos's work through donating, buying merchandise, or visiting Puerto Rico and the community kitchen. * to stand for what is right while also not letting the fight become your identity. The story behind the community kitchen Connect with Carlos A. Rodríguez & The Happy Givers: * Website / Shop: https://thehappygivers.com [https://thehappygivers.com] * Nonprofit: https://www.happynpo.com [https://www.happynpo.com] * Books by Carlos: Simply Sonship, Drop the Stones, and the upcoming Flip the Tables * Instagram / @carloshappynpo  About Mend the World: Mend the World is a podcast hosted by Cece Jones-Davis and Malika McKinley Cox, inviting you to reimagine a world that is just, equitable, and fosters planetary flourishing. Together, we face the truth of our world's pain with courage, hold space for lament, and listen deeply to the social repair practitioners healing our world. Support the show: We invite you to join us. Subscribe, follow our socials, like, share, and reach out. We are in this together.  YouTube |    / ‪@TheMendtheWorldPodcast‬     Facebook |   /   / themendtheworldpodcast    Instagram |   /   / mendtheworldpodcast   TikTok |   /   / mend.the.world   X | https://x.com/MendingTheWorld [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHJjRzF2TmYtLU5ubnB2bGZXQVJmZlVzRHpyQXxBQ3Jtc0ttencybU03dnF5WFFPbEFXOW5ORlllTHRSckhSeW5HLUJSTk1FZjBieWxtcV9BdlRfNFlsVThhcmdJaC0yVFppMlAwWENkMEdRT0hvQ0VrM1VjWGZhMHAwRlEyS043aVpQMEllYjFNNGtCU2hwRFQ1Zw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMendingTheWorld&v=hJ2x55wyNno] /CeceJonesDavis https://cecejonesdavis.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmxzZnByVmNnVEpUdkJlTUR4ZDhaMUZ5c3o2QXxBQ3Jtc0trNWk3OEd5M2xNZ1FKT2xmN29SWjRydHY2dVlaRlBNUWJkck5OTzlZaGR4dWdkUDlDbHhRRXZmdFluUFh6OUhGWUdqTEpZTl81UkxMZUE5UjBQbmI2QU5FWEJUYTJPcTFDcjZEZExQa3lYRFNZclN1dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcecejonesdavis.com%2F&v=hJ2x55wyNno] Instagram |   /   / cecejonesdavis   /Malika McKinley Cox https://www.malikamckinleycox.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbll4eXFsUkRzaldBR0hHc2dVZV9wMV9sOUN0UXxBQ3Jtc0tuM2RtN3I3bTBfZFZBcEpLREhzVGpORzFRU3kzQms3d09LSmNqZXZxVFZxSXVFVFU3bGs0NDJUSUdLbjJ3ZHFoVlhLb09YM1lCTFhvelRpczNIc2pXd0pJSF9qS0VxcGdqdEVtemZaVm9OQnRNdzRQTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malikamckinleycox.com%2F&v=hJ2x55wyNno] Substack https://substack.com/@rememberingeden [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFZ5MHhybm1qNzRDZzJhd0l4TzdZb3lIN2RaZ3xBQ3Jtc0trQ0FmVWU4enJSa2cwbnBZekkzblpqMWllUXNmTnM3dHRTSlFfdTNvUHYyS0RPbERZbWhKRnNrM01DOUdfaXVsSzZ5NFRHVDhlQ1RIR1BnTFNtbDh5TTg0VTVCekozUlM2bHhHMktvRW5xTE9ORHdqMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2F%40rememberingeden&v=hJ2x55wyNno] Instagram |   /   / malikacox

A Conversation with Indigenous Activist Sarah Adams and how advocacy, abundance, and kitchen table gatherings can mend the world.

In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Adams, an advocate for Indigenous culture, education, and rights. She is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Ten years ago, Sarah and her partner, Kendra, co-created an intertribal empowerment organization called Matriarch that serves Indigenous women, 2-Spirit, and nonbinary people in central and North East Oklahoma City. She worked alongside other Native advocates to secure the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Oklahoma City. Sarah loves hot tea, sweetgrass, the color yellow, and joyful gatherings with good snacks. Who doesn't love good snacks when mending the world together? Our conversation dives into Indigenous advocacy and the work still ahead, with a special focus on Missing and M@rd3r3d Indigenous Women's (MMIW) Month and the simple acts of hope like gathering around the table. Throughout, Sarah brings a perspective rooted in truth, hope, and abundance, making for a genuinely inspiring discussion. Don't miss this one. What You'll Hear in This Episode: * Missing and M@rd3r3d Indigenous People advocacy, the scope of the crisis, why it persists, and concrete ways listeners can help * Matriarchy as a model of caring governance, and what consensus leadership rooted in relationship and responsibility looks like * The truth about Native boarding schools, the intergenerational trauma that was caused, and the responsibility of churches to hold their denominations accountable * Why abundance and mutual flourishing, not scarcity, can guide how we move forward together * Mending the world is not a solo endeavor. It is built in conversations like this one, where truth is told, grief is honored, and hope is chosen again and again. We invite you to join us. Subscribe, follow our socials, like, share, and reach out. We are in this together. YouTube | / ‪@TheMendtheWorldPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMendtheWorldPodcast] ‬ [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMendtheWorldPodcast]Facebook | / / themendtheworldpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/TheMendTheWorldPodcast/] Instagram | / / mendtheworldpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/mendtheworldpodcast] TikTok | / / mend.the.world [https://www.tiktok.com/@mend.the.world] X | https://x.com/MendingTheWorld [https://x.com/MendingTheWorld] CeceJonesDavis https://cecejonesdavis.com/ [https://cecejonesdavis.com/] Instagram | / / cecejonesdavis [https://www.instagram.com/cecejonesdavis] Malika McKinley Cox https://www.malikamckinleycox.com/ [https://www.malikamckinleycox.com/] Substack https://substack.com/@rememberingeden [https://substack.com/@rememberingeden] Instagram | / / malikacox [https://www.instagram.com/malikacox] Sarah Adams @sarahadams.405 [https://www.instagram.com/sarahadams.405] @matriarchoklahoma [https://www.instagram.com/matriarchoklahoma] @cousinsokc [https://www.instagram.com/cousinsokc]

A Conversation with Jonathan Martin on Faith After Collapse.

In this episode of Mend the World, hosts Cece Jones-Davis and Malika McKinley Cox sit down with Jonathan Martin, writer, pastor, and spiritual guide, for an honest, often funny, and at times gripping conversation on faith evolution, the work of justice, and the fight to hold onto resilient hope. Jonathan has walked thousands through seasons of spiritual crisis and transformation through his books Prototype, How to Survive a Shipwreck, The Road Away from God, and The Book of Waiting. He currently serves as Director of the Center for Spiritual Life and Associate Chaplain at DePauw University, and as Pastor of Fillmore United Methodist Church. His words have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, Newsweek, Vox, and Sojourners.Together, Cece, Malika, and Jonathan move through some of the most urgent questions facing people today: How did the American Evangelical Church become entangled with the rise of fascism? What does it mean to leave a tradition without leaving the spirituality? And how do we keep showing up for our neighbors when the institutions that taught us to love our neighbor seem to have forgotten how?This is not a conversation that hands you easy answers. It's a conversation that offers honest company for the grief, the questions, the laughter, and the long road of becoming.What You'll Hear in This Episode:Jonathan's own faith journey and what it has cost and given him to keep evolving How the American Evangelical Church has shaped the political currents driving the rise of authoritarianism in the United States and the trauma behind the ‘‘Left Behind’ theology The difference between a faith that protects power and a faith that protects people How to recognize spiritual bypass and what genuine reckoning looks like instead Why grief, lament, and even anger are essential parts of the evolution of the soul  How resilient hope is built, not as optimism, but as a practice rooted in community, truth-telling, and love The role of artists, pastors, and ordinary people in the work of repair Why doubt is not the enemy of faith, but often its most honest companion Mending the world is not a solo endeavor. It is built in conversations like this one, where truth is told, grief is honored, and hope is chosen again and again. We invite you to join us. Subscribe, follow our socials, like, share, and reach out. We are in this together. YouTube | / ‪@TheMendtheWorldPodcast‬ Facebook | / / themendtheworldpodcast Instagram | / / mendtheworldpodcast TikTok | / / mend.the.world X | https://x.com/MendingTheWorld/CeceJonesDavis https://cecejonesdavis.com/Instagram | / / cecejonesdavis /Malika McKinley Cox https://www.malikamckinleycox.com/Substack https://substack.com/@rememberingedenInstagram | / / malikacox /Jonathan Martin Instagram | / /theboyonthebike

Inspiration and Hope: An Invitation to Mend the World

In this inaugural episode of Mend the World, hosts Cece Jones-Davis and Malika McKinley Cox unite with a shared urgency. They respond to the injustices unfolding across our nation and globe using truth, grief, and a fierce commitment to repair. Cece draws on her journey in social justice through HIV/AIDS advocacy and anti-death penalty abolition work. Malika draws on her studies in conflict resolution, human rights, and international law. Together, they lay the foundation for a podcast rooted in truth-telling and transformative action. This is not a space for despair. It is a space for reckoning and reimagining.The conversation moves through the pressing crises of the erosion of voting rights after the Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana, the defunding of USAID with devastating ripple effects on healthcare, hunger, and education worldwide, and the troubling rise of authoritarianism at home and abroad. Malika adds an academic lens to her research on Palestine and to studies of atrocities in Rwanda, South Africa, Gaza, Sudan, and the Congo, helping listeners understand the historical colonial patterns at play today.This episode centers on a call to wholeness, both collective and individual. The hosts turn to the Japanese art of kintsugi, repairing pottery with gold, as a metaphor for restorative justice. True mending, they say, means facing hard truths, sitting with grief, and taking active steps to repair communities and ourselves.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why the recent Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana has significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act, and what it means for Black and Brown communities in the United StatesHow USAID defunding forced clinics, schools, and food programs to close, affecting millions globallyRecognize warning signs of authoritarianism in the U.S., with historical parallels to the 1930s rise of fascism in Europe, the Rwandan Genocide, and South Africa’s ApartheidUnderstand the need to address the atrocities being committed in Gaza, Ukraine, Congo, and Sudan, and other places around the world, and take actionSee how kintsugi teaches us about restorative justice and why truth and lament must come before repairUnderstand how the tech oligarchy, environmental damage, and wealth concentration relate to the fight for human and nature rightsSee how climate disasters, the threat of World War III, and rising AI must be addressed to protect humanity's futureGrasp why radical self-love and inner healing are vital for sustainable activism and healthy and sustainable movementsMending the world is not a solo endeavor. Cece and Malika believe that real change emerges when communities come together with truth about the fractures, are willing to grieve them, and are committed to cultivating a new and more just world with intention and care. We invite you to join us as we mend the world. Connect with us, hit the subscribe button, follow our socials, like, share, and reach out to us. We are in this together.YouTube | / @TheMendtheWorldPodcastFacebook | / @TheMendtheWorldPodcastInstagram | / @mendtheworldpodcastTikTok | / @mend.the.worldX | @mendingtheworld/CeceJonesDavis https://cecejonesdavis.com/Instagram | / @cecejonesdavis/Malika McKinley Cox https://www.malikamckinleycox.com/Substack @rememberingedenInstagram | / @malikacox