Cougar College

Get ready to drop it low, shake what your mama gave ya🍑, and bring a little hip-hop heat to Lake Norman! 🎵 This week on Cougar College, we’re joined by the fabulous Jena Bowman, who’s bringing the beats, the booty shakes, and the confidence with the opening of the FIRST Fly Dance Fitness studio in North Carolina! We’re talking hip-hop, empowerment, finding your confidence, and why sometimes the...

Apparently one episode of L. Feighery’s  favorite crimes just wasn’t enough. 🔪 In Part 2 of The Cougar Crime Files , we dive even deeper into the cases that fascinate her most—with twists, disturbing details, questionable rabbit holes, and plenty of Cougar commentary along the way. Because nothing says girls’ night quite like serial killers, true crime, and a healthy pour of Kraken Rum. 🐾🩸🍹 Co...

L. Feighery is BACK, and ready to regale us with their favorite crimes —because apparently this is what we do for fun now. 😂 We’re diving into the twisted tales of Jeffrey Dahmer, BTK, and Ted Bundy , with a healthy dose of “WHY are we fascinated by this?!” and, naturally, a side of Kraken Rum . 🥃🔪🐾 Consider this your invitation to pull up a chair, pour yourself something questionable, and ent...

What if getting older wasn’t about slowing down—what if it was about getting better at living? In Episode 60, the Cougars dive into the fascinating world of the Blue Zones and explore what some of the world’s longest-living people may be doing differently. From food and movement to purpose, friendships, community, and the simple daily habits that keep us thriving, we’re asking the BIG question: Ho...

This week, we’re talking all things Lake Norman with the woman who seems to know EVERYONE—and everything😉! Mamie Lee is a local influencer, radio show host, and editor of Lake Norman Woman Magazine , giving her a front-row seat to the people, businesses, stories, and personalities that make this community so damn interesting. From behind the microphone to behind the magazine pages, Mamie shares h...

One year ago, 210 Collective was a dream. Today? They’re celebrating their ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY on September 8th and dreaming even bigger! 🎉 We’re welcoming back our girl Heidi Karant to catch us up on an incredible first year of 210 Collective—what they’ve built, the people they’ve impacted, and the BIG vision for what comes next. And because apparently one year wasn’t enough excitement…they’re...

This week, we’re getting to know the woman behind the art. ❤️ Kathy Feighery joins us to share her personal journey—how she basically fell into the creative world (even though she was clearly always meant to have a paintbrush in her paw..er hand), the experiences that shaped her as an artist in art school, and what ultimately led her to create 26 Division . We also take a deep dive into some hilar...

From maggot farmers to dog food tasters , Episode 56 is taking a deep dive into the weirdest, wildest, and downright “wait…THAT’S A REAL JOB?” careers out there. 🤯 We’re talking jobs you never knew existed, jobs you definitely couldn’t make up, and a few that might make you rethink your current career choice. Because apparently, there really is a job for everyone…even if that job involves maggots...

Are urban legends actually true…or have we just been telling the same creepy stories for generations because they’re WAY too good to let die? 👀 From haunted bridges and old wives tales to “did that really happen??” — we’re diving headfirst into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully questionable. Grab your skeptical side and your “I totally believe this” side…because these Cougars have some tru...

Who says your biggest adventures have to happen when you’re young? In this episode, we’re talking women’s roles through the decades, reinvention, courage, and the freedom to chase something completely unexpected later in life. Mayor Janet Simpson joins us to share her story of stepping into new roles, breaking expectations, and proving that there is NO expiration date on ambition, purpose, or bada...

Ever wondered what all the buzz is really about? This week we’re joined by Justin from Queen’s Orders Honey to dive into the fascinating world of bees, honey and the tiny queens running the show. 👑 We’re talking hives, hard work, sweet rewards, trouble shooting and a few bee facts that just might blow your mind (Spoiler Alert - the girl bees aka the worker bees..don’t play around y’all😂) So grab...

We’re climbing the cougar family trees and discovering the stories, surprises, and maybe even a few skeletons hiding in the branches! From fascinating ancestors to unexpected connections, this episode proves that sometimes the best adventures start by looking back! So…who do you think you are? Tune in and let’s find out!  May you end your day wiser🐾 Send us Fan Mail Support the show Purchase an o...

Episode 51 is LIVE y’all!!  This episode is so much more than golf. John shares his lifelong love of the game, the wild story of meeting his wife😳, the joy of celebrating one of his daughter’s beautiful wedding, and why he’s so passionate about supporting his wife’s incredible nonprofit, 210 Collective . It’s full of laughs, heart, and proof that life doesn’t always follow the fairway—but sometim...

Some conversations stay with you long after the microphones are turned off, and this is one of them. In Part 2, our dear friend Erik continues sharing his journey of faith, coming out, and learning to fully embrace who God created him to be. This episode reminded us that living authentically isn’t always easy, but there is so much freedom and beauty in finally choosing to be yourself. We laughed,...

Our good friend Erik sits down with us for a powerful, real, and unexpectedly tender conversation about living an authentic life. From his coming out journey to navigating faith and Christianity along the way, Erik opens up about the tension, the growth, and the grace it takes to become fully yourself. This one is about truth without performance, faith without fear, and learning how to hold all th...

This week, we’re diving into the wildly unpredictable world of animal rescue with Stephanie! Pun definitely intended🤭 From rescuing animals that most people wouldn’t know how to approach to caring for giant breeds with even bigger hearts, Stephanie shares what it really takes to give these animals a second chance. We talk about the challenges, the unforgettable success stories, and the kind of da...

You think today’s world is weird? Just wait until you hear the laws that somehow survived the test of time. 😂 In this episode, we’re diving into the most ridiculous, head-scratching, “there’s NO way that’s real” laws that are technically still hanging around. From bizarre rules you could accidentally break to laws that make you wonder what happened to inspire them in the first place…we’re laughin...

We spend years counting down to milestones—driving, graduation, moving out, becoming independent. Then one day, they’re technically grown, making their own decisions, and somehow the worrying doesn’t stop. It just changes. In this episode, we’re talking about the unique challenges of parenting teens and adult children: learning when to step in, when to stay quiet, and how to support them without t...

Order in the court! This week at Cougar College, we’re putting life under oath with attorney Shawn Copeland. From LLCs to civil disputes, Shawn breaks down what you need to know to protect yourself, details the most insane case he’s ever handled and how you should not try to get out of the jury summons. No confusing legal jargon. No boring lectures. Just real talk, practical advice, and a few laug...

If there’s one thing we should all be getting better at with age, it’s setting boundaries. Not because we’re difficult. Not because we don’t care. But because our peace is too valuable to hand out for free. Boundaries aren’t walls—they’re guidelines. They teach people how to treat us, respect our time, and honor our energy. In this episode of Cougar College, we’re talking about the boundaries we w...

Episode 43 is for every woman who’s looked around in midlife and thought… “Wait. I can change my mind.” ✈️✨ This week we’re talking about pivoting careers in midlife, taking risks that actually light you up, and why becoming a travel advisor is about so much more than booking vacations. It’s freedom. Flexibility. Reinvention. And sometimes… finally choosing yourself. Because contrary to popular b...

In Episode 42, we sit down with April Zuiderveen, a licensed therapist and an integral part of leading women in faith at Search National, for a conversation about women’s leadership in faith, spirituality, and creating spaces where people of all beliefs feel safe to be heard. We explore the importance of leading with compassion instead of judgment, how respectful disagreement can bring deeper unde...

Usually around Cougar College we keep things light, funny and a little wild…but Episode 41 is different. This week we sat down with Maria Hamm for one of the most meaningful conversations we’ve had. We talked about grief, child loss, faith, and what it looks like to keep living when life changes forever. Maria shares the heart behind Beauty for Ashes, her ministry that provides grief boxes to thos...

You ever look back at your life and realize…you were never actually in control of the board? Cougar College Episode 40 is all about the plot twists we didn’t plan, the people who showed up right on time (or suspiciously late), and the moves that only make sense in hindsight. One minute you think you’re the one making power plays…next thing you know, you’re getting spiritually checkmated into growt...

Episode 39 of Cougar College is here, and we’re rolling out the red carpet for Dr. Julie Adams! 🐴🐶🐱✨ A licensed chiropractor with a lifelong passion for healing, Dr. Julie grew up on a horse farm where she learned early how to care for injured animals while helping at her family’s rehabilitation center, Indian Creek. Over the years, they’ve helped hundreds of animals—from horses and dogs to ca...