CougarTales: The Podcast

Hosted by Kevin Jensen

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Latest episode

Jan 2025

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EN-US

About the show

On CougarTales: The Podcast we follow the adventures of the incredible students, faculty, and alumni of the Brigham Young University Executive MBA program. We highlight the achievements and backgrounds of our guests as they share their unique stories and what led us all to BYU. We'll also talk with friends of BYU not directly associated with the program to learn, grow, and expand our network. Join us on our journey as we enter to learn and go forth to serve.

Listen to episodes

24 recent

January 23, 2025Episode 2357 min

Heather Roberts

Today on the show we talk to Heather Roberts, president of the EMBA class of 2025. Heather currently works for DoTerra as Director of IT Customer Care and PMO. In this episode, we get to know Heather. She shares the story behind her middle name, her love of flying, and her work as an ASL interpreter. Heather also shares a significant life change she experienced just before starting the EMBA program and how she has navigated this transition with resilience and support from her cohort. She even talks about how ice cream making has helped tie generations of her family together. Without further ado, let's start the show!

January 18, 2025Episode 221 hr 1 min

Colton Lund

Today, we talk to Colton Lund, fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025. In this episode, we get to know Colton. He shares his experiences growing up in a small town in Utah, from working on his family's farm, to studying mechanical engineering and his current role at ACT Aerospace. Colton also talks about his mission in Mozambique, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned. We also get a glimpse into his personal life, including his love for his family, his passion for coding, and his thoughts on the transformative power of the MBA program. He even teaches us what the best toppings for a hotdog. Without further ado, let's start the show!

October 20, 2024Episode 2120 min

Halloween Special

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your spooky one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. We're going to change up the pace a little bit tonight. With Halloween upon us, I thought it might be fun to share a couple of spooky stories. The first story is actually a poem. It's called The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service. It was first published in 1907 as part of a book poetry called Songs of a Sourdough. It tells the story of the cremation of a gold prospector who freezes to death near Lake Lebarge in the Yukon. The second story is The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. It is a short story told by an unnamed narrator who is trying to convince us of his sanity, while describing some not so sane actions. It was first published in 1843 and is one of Poe's better known works. I hope you enjoy tonight's episode. I apologize to anyone tuning in hoping to hear an interview with a classmate and gets this bait and switch of an episode. Thank you for humoring me. Link to Mike Rowe's reading of The Tell-Tale Heart: The Way I Heard It Episode 142

October 16, 2024Episode 201 hr 4 min

Ryan Hall

Today on the show, I talk with the one, the only Ryan Hall. Ryan is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025. He has worked in the construction industry for several years and recently started his own roofing business. In this episode, we get to know Ryan. He shares about how he tries to be a solution finder, how a New Years Eve trip to Las Vegas turned into a significant spiritual experience, and how his background in sociology has helped him in business and in life. He even shares about how his gym habit helped him find love. With no further ado, let's start the show!

September 5, 2024Episode 1950 min

Nora Ballantyne

I talk with Nora Ballantyne. Nora is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and recently accepted a new role as a finance and operations officer for the BYU ARTS Partnership. In her new role, she administers grant funds, manages team operations for eight projects and initiatives, including marketing & communication, research, HR policies, and leadership development for each arm of our organization. In this episode, we get to know Nora. She shares about her love of music and art, how she has something in common with Indiana Jones, and her connection with the hit show, the Office. She even shares about how a chance encounter at a Cricket Wireless store not only led to love, but a free cell phone too! With no further ado, let's start the show!

August 21, 2024Episode 181 hr 5 min

Lars Peterson

Today on the program, I talk with Lars Peterson. Lars is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and is a a Fleet Management Specialist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this episode, we get to know Lars. He shares about how his graduate studies at BYU required the right timing, some of the lessons he learned growing up providing care for his mother after a tragic car accident, and how the 2002 olympics helped change the trajectory of his professional and spiritual life. He even shares about his time as a member of the Team USA Nation Bobsled team. Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it's podcast time!

August 14, 2024Episode 1754 min

Elizabeth Elder

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the show, I talk with Elizabeth Elder. Elizabeth is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and works as a Realtor for Lotus Real Estate. In this episode, we get to know Elizabeth. She shares about how a job offer from BYU upended plans for her family, how she makes an effort to put motherhood first, and how as a realtor, she occasionally has to play the role of therapist. She even shares about her love of Polish pottery. With no further ado, let's start the show!

August 7, 2024Episode 1640 min

David Chen

Today on the program, I talk with David Chen. David is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as a compliance officer for Morgan Stanley. In this episode, we get to know David. He tells us about how he works everyday to put client interests first and protect the reputation of his employer. We also discusses how under appreciated family traditions as a youth can bring strength and comfort as an adult, how cold-calls can build character, and how some English words don't sound anything like what they describe. He even shares his best advice about personal finance. With no further ado, let's start the show!

May 16, 2024Episode 151 hr 5 min

Kevin Smith

Welcome to the Cougar Tales Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the show, I talk with Kevin Smith. Kevin is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as an Instrumentation and Controls Engineer with Burns and McDonnell. In this episode, we get to know Kevin. We talk about lessons he learned becoming a Tae Kwon Do Blackbelt with his son, how his work travel to India has enriched his personal and professional life, and how following a girl to Utah was a good move. He even shares about how he served as a missionary in the same chapel in Spain he was baptized in at the age of eight.

May 9, 2024Episode 141 hr 9 min

Emanuel Figueroa

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the program, I talk with Emanuel Figueroa. Emanuel is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as a compliance officer for USAA. In this episode, we get to know Emanuel. He tells us about how works everyday to prevent money laundering, fraud, and financial crimes. He also recounts his experience in volunteering after an earthquake in Mexico City in 2017, and what carpentry has taught him about life. He even recounts the story about the bonus band that showed up at his wedding reception.