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, [email protected]. For author events or interview requests: [email protected] In Iceland: Fyrir viðburði á Íslandi: [email protected]. In the U.S. for author events or interview requests: Mandy Chahal, [email protected] the rest of the world, email [email protected]. ,for rights inquiries: Samantha Haywood at Transatlantic Agency,  [email protected]. Also for Information on the Iceland Writers Retreat: [email protected]@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