Utah Women & Leadership Podcast Dr. Susan R. Madsen

A single mother is a primary caregiver of one or more dependent children and identifies as separated, widowed, divorced, or never married. According to Utah data, there were 70,647 single-parent families with children in 2021; of these, 69.2% were headed by single mothers. Being a single parent can present specific challenges for the parent as well as their children. Given that most single-parent households in the US and Utah are headed by women, understanding the unique needs of single mothers nationally and within Utah is an essential step in tailoring programs to help women thrive. This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research snapshot about single mothers in Utah. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Kristy Hodson, a professor of Professional Communication & Leadership at Western Governors University, and Kathryn Thomas, executive director of People Helping People, a nonprofit that assists low-income women and single mothers.
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In 2022, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP), and the Cox–Henderson Administration partnered to launch a one-year initiative titled 100 Companies Championing Women, which is the topic of this episode. It was part of the Inspire InUtah campaign’s mandate to support women in the workplace at all levels, including entrepreneurs -- specifically, the 100 highlighted businesses around the state that have incorporated family-friendly policies and practices and have implemented programs that improve recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing women employees and leaders. The overarching goal was to provide resources for women companies that facilitate success now and in the future. Hundreds of Utah companies and organizations submitted their nominations and the top 100 were selected. The UWLP then completed research of the 100 companies’ best practices for women in the workplace. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Nubia Peña, the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, and Kori Ann Edwards, the Managing Director at the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity.
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National and statewide studies continue to show that women and girls in Utah are not thriving in critical areas. Year after year, Utah continues to have high levels of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and gender-based discrimination, while also ranking as the worst state for women’s equality and having low levels of women’s leadership representation in nearly all domains, including politics and business. Although the needle has moved slightly in a few areas, with its current trajectory it will take two, three, or even four decades to make notable progress. It is time for Utah to embrace A Bolder Way Forward (BWF), a new statewide movement, and the topic of this episode. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Nubia Peña, the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs; and Sui Lang Panoke, the Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion at Zions Bank.
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Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States (US) and the leading cause of cancer death for women in the state of Utah. One in eight women in the US will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Mammography has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality and thus is a critical screening tool that can increase the chance of early detection and treatment. This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research snapshot that charts current Utah mammography rates and discusses mammography more generally. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Dr. Sarah Colonna, a physician with the Center for Excellence in Women’s Health, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Marie Nagata, Program Manager for the Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
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Utah has one of the highest economic growth rates in the nation, and the ability to attract, retain, and provide positive workplace environments for women will be critical for future growth and success. However, Utah ranks as one of the worst states for women’s equality in many areas, including wages, education, health, and political empowerment. It is critical to understand what obstacles stand in the way of closing gender gaps so that Utah’s workforce and economy can thrive and meet its potential. One set of obstacles relates to “gender bias,” a term used to describe various barriers embedded in workplace cultures that disadvantage women, either overtly (e.g., harassment) or covertly (e.g., policies that inadvertently benefit men more than women). 
This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research and policy brief about gender bias in the Utah workplace. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Dr. Helen Knaggs, author of the brief and Vice President of Research & Development for Nu Skin Enterprises, and Dr. Emily Swensen Darowski, the Associate Director of the UWLP.
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Pregnancy, giving birth, and caring for a newborn are challenging. Most mothers naturally experience the “baby blues” during the first two weeks after delivery, when they report feeling anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, or weepy. Usually, these symptoms resolve on their own within two weeks. Some women, however, experience mental health concerns beyond the baby blues, such as postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) is a term used to encompass a range of disorders that can occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum. This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research snapshot that summarizes data about PMADs in Utah, reviews relevant information for patients and healthcare providers, and aims to raise awareness about this issue so that more women receive appropriate screening and care. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Rachel Denton, a licensed social worker, and Madison Harmer, a graduate research assistant.
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