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Cougar Confab is a new podcast series that previews each BYU women's athletic team as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Lauren McClain chats with BYU Cross Country runner Emerald Kehr about her journey to BYU and the mindset behind this season's goals. From the culture and leadership that drew her to the program to the personal growth fueling her performance, Emerald offers insight into what fans can expect from BYU Cross Country this year.

Cougar Confab is a new podcast series that previews each BYU women's athletic team as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Lauren McClain chats with BYU Cross Country sophomore Zariel Macchia about her transition from Mastic Beach, New York to Provo, the mindset behind chasing consistency, and the opportunities and challenges awaiting the Cougars this season.

Cougar Confab takes fans behind the scenes of BYU women's athletics, highlighting each team before the start of a new season.

This week, Lauren McClain visits with BYU cross country junior Nelah Roberts, who shares how she's evolved as a student-athlete, learned to balance individual goals with team success, and drawn inspiration from her father's influence throughout her running career.

Emma Lythgoe never expected to be coaching at BYU this soon. Twenty weeks pregnant and settled into a life in California, she thought her dream of returning to Provo was years away. Instead, an unexpected opportunity—and a little sign she couldn't ignore—had her packing up her life and moving back to Utah in just three weeks. Now entering her third season with the Cougars, Emma is building a coaching philosophy around one simple belief: happy swimmers swim fast. She opens up about trusting God's timing, finding joy in the unexpected, and learning that motherhood doesn't have to mean putting your dreams on hold. From the pool deck to the realities of raising a daughter, Emma shares what it means to chase a dream that came sooner than she ever imagined.

From a young girl inspired by a movie about therapy to BYU's Assistant Athletic Director of Clinical Mental Health, Holly Binks's path into athletic counseling was anything but expected. She never imagined where her career would lead, but today she walks alongside student-athletes as they navigate burnout, perfectionism, identity struggles, and the unique pressures that come with competing at the highest level. Through years of listening, counseling, and advocating, Holly has become a trusted voice in helping athletes understand that their worth extends far beyond the scoreboard. In a culture that often celebrates performance above all else, she is helping redefine success by breaking down the stigma around mental health and reminding athletes and non-athletes alike that caring for your mind deserves the same commitment as caring for your body.

What does it feel like to chase your biggest dream alongside the person who has been there since the beginning? BYU long-distance runners and sister Karissa and Riley Chamberlain have seen each other through the highs, the setbacks, and the moments they never expected. Their journeys may not look the same, but through every race and every challenge, they’ve discovered the power of chasing a dream with your biggest supporter right beside you.

In this episode of our ongoing Cougar Confab series, we chat with BYU Volleyball junior outside hitter Ellie Mortensen.

Ellie shares what she's loving about this stage of the season, how the new coaching staff has helped her deepen her toolkit and find confidence in her swing, and why this team's grit and competitiveness have them ready to make waves in the Big 12. From growing as a player and a person since her freshman year, to the role faith and values play at BYU, to the team's pre-game Just Dance warm-ups — this conversation covers it all.

In this installment of our ongoing Cougar Confab series, Lauren McClain talks with KJ Burgess, senior middle blocker for the BYU Women's Volleyball team.

After transferring from Oklahoma and spending a semester studying abroad in Italy, KJ shares what brought her to BYU for her final collegiate season — including a little nudge from her dad, BYU men's basketball assistant coach Chris Burgess.

We dive into what she's most excited about this year, from playing closer to home to competing in the Big 12 for the first time. Plus, KJ tells us about the upcoming matchup she can't wait for: facing off against her sister Chloe at ASU. We talk family rivalries, the transition to a new team and coaching staff, her leadership style, and what makes this year's squad so dynamic and tough to scout.

We continue our Cougar Confab series with BYU Volleyball's Junior setter Alex Bower.

Alex is excited for the fresh energy surrounding the 2026 squad - a new coaching staff, new offensive schemes, and a reloaded roster of transfers and freshmen. Alex shares what it's like learning creative new plays under head coach Rob Neilson and the staff, how she's pushing herself to be less readable and more confident as a setter, and what being selected to the Big 12 preseason team means to her (hint: she credits her passers and hitters). The conversation also covers building team chemistry with a brand-new squad, the culture foundation the team is laying, and what it means to step into an upperclassman leadership role.

Cougar Confab is a new podcast series that previews each BYU women's athletic team as they prepare for the upcoming season.

In this episode, Lauren McClain chats with BYU Soccer defender Ella Rustand-Ford. Ella gives us insight into her role on the back line, the team’s preparation heading into the season, and the confidence she and her teammates have as they take the field this fall.