Her Y

Jessica Kehl has lived more lives than most! She is a BYU cheerleading alum, professional photographer, aerialist performer, mom of three, and an Aerialympics champion! In this episode, she joins us to talk about how she got from cheerleading on the sidelines at BYU to flying high above the stage at Hale Center Theater. Jessica tells us what it’s really like to train and perform aerial work, how she balances her creative passions with motherhood, and why she keeps chasing things that scare and excite her.

The Her Y team brings back one of our most inspiring episodes from Season 1 with BYU Cross Country and Track Coach Diljeet Taylor.

If you follow BYU sports, you’ve probably heard Diljeet's name because of her success in building one of the best programs in the country. In this podcast episode, Coach Taylor talks about growing up thinking her dreams didn't matter. Now, her purpose is to coach women chasing their running dreams and to empower someone every day.

After playing more than 100 games in a BYU jersey, women's basketball forward Emma Calvert is off to the Czech Republic to start her pro career. In this episode, she looks back on her senior season, shares how a surprise conversation convinced her to go pro sooner than expected, and opens up about what it means to take BYU—and her faith—on an international stage. Emma also talks about growing up in small-town Utah, her love of baking and pranking her teammates, and why being the “team mom” comes so naturally to her. From the paint to Prague, she’s taking everything she’s learned at BYU into this next adventure!

Meghan Hunter just wrapped up one of the most incredible seasons we’ve seen at BYU. She broke the 2-minute barrier in the 800 (twice!), set records, made the NCAA podium, finished her master’s degree, and was getting ready to get married...all at the same time. In this episode Meghan looks back on her final season as a cougar, shares the mindset that helped her keep showing up, and talks about what’s next as she steps into life as a pro runner, speech therapist, and newlywed.

Lauren McClain and the Her Y podcast will be back with another great episode next week! In the meantime, new BYU women's basketball coach Lee Cummard was recently featured on the Deep Blue podcast with Jason Shepherd. In this episode, Jason talks to Cummard about what we can expect from next year's Cougar squad, his unexpected journey to BYU, and why coming back to coach at his alma mater means so much to him.

Riley Chamberlain has helped BYU win three national championships—but her journey hasn’t always been easy. In this episode, the All-American distance runner opens up about bouncing back from disappointment, choosing faith over fear, and the deep sisterhood that powers BYU’s cross country and track teams. Plus, she talks about her Nike NIL deal, her love for the mile, and what she hopes her legacy will be as she heads into her senior year.

Brynlee Andersen, BYU’s “Beam Queen,” reflects on a season full of growth, grit, and gratitude. She helped her team take down Utah State, then went on to place 16th in the nation on beam at NCAA Nationals. In this episode, she talks about the pressure she felt to live up to her freshman year and how she found peace through mental training and faith. Brynlee also opens up about the back injury that nearly ended her career, the people who kept her going—including her mom and coach Natalie Broekman—and what it truly means to her to represent BYU and glorify God both on and off the beam.

In this episode, Lesa Burgess—former Division I soccer player, mom of five, and wife of BYU men’s basketball coach Chris Burgess—shares the real story behind her new book, Behind the Bench. She opens up about raising her family overseas during her husband’s pro basketball career, navigating the emotional ups and downs of life as a coach’s wife, and what it’s been like to rediscover her identity after stepping away from competitive sports. Lesa discusses the challenges of feeling unseen, the strength it takes to hold a family together amid constant change, and how faith and perspective have helped her find meaning in each chapter of her life.

In this episode of Her Y, we sit down with Anna Metcalf, BYU’s Director of Marketing and Fan Experience! Anna shares how she fell into the world of sports marketing and ended up in her dream job. From planning epic Cosmo stunts to making sure every fan has a memorable game day, she takes us behind the scenes of her work! Anna talks about the chaos, creativity, and all the little details that go into each event. She shares what it’s like to prep for a game week, the joy of seeing fans light up, and why creating those “first game” memories means so much to her. Whether it’s football at LaVell or Fan Fest madness, Anna’s passion for BYU and its fans shines through in everything she does.

We’re back with Part 2 of our Mother’s Day chat with former BYU Cougar soccer star Michele Vasconcelos, picking up right where we left off, talking through all the ups and downs of her pro career! From heartbreaking injuries and unexpected team moves to playing overseas in Spain, Michele shares how she has leaned on her faith and found strength through motherhood. She talks about the perspective her daughter Scarlet has brought into her life, the moments that tested her, and the ones that reminded her why she keeps going. Through it all, Michele has learned to trust God’s timing, stay grounded in her values, and keep chasing her purpose on and off the field!