Share

cover art for Kalani Sitake: Highlight Episode

CASE STUDIES

Kalani Sitake: Highlight Episode

Season 1, Ep. 114
•

In this special episode, Casey’s business partner and long time friend, Dave Jensen sits down at the MW3 conference with Kalani Sitake, head coach of the BYU Cougars football team. Kalani, reflects on his upbringing sharing stories from his early years, the impact of his multicultural background, and his experiences with legendary figures like BYU coach LaVell Edwards and Nike founder Phil Knight.

He discusses how the relationships in his life have shaped his coaching philosophy, focusing on humility, empathy, and genuine connection. With powerful anecdotes of overcoming adversity, Kalani emphasizes the value of kindness and its profound impact on people’s lives.

Kalani shares his commitment to creating a positive environment where his players grow as athletes and individuals. He discusses his belief that true success is measured not just in victories but in the character and values instilled in those he mentors. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that shows how sports can transform lives and build stronger communities.



00:00 | Welcome, MW3 setup & Kalani’s intro

00:06 | Dave introduces Kalani’s journey & coaching career

01:46 | What excites Kalani most about BYU football right now

02:39 | Visiting Nike, meeting Phil Knight & LaVell Edwards stories

03:21 | The voicemail from LaVell that changed a 1–3 season

06:15 | Mission call, faith, and early mentoring from LaVell

07:19 | Growing up Tongan: divorce, moving, and feeling broken

10:11 | A BYU player’s hug that “fixed” a nine-year-old kid

12:09 | Kindness as a superpower & what really matters more than wins

13:44 | Spotting people who are hurting & choosing to reach out

15:16 | Family storytelling, heritage, and choosing happiness with little

17:21 | Discovering the commandment that changed how he honored his parents

18:41 | His father’s last day of work & a quiet act of integrity

22:06 | Meeting Timberley, raising kids, and the realities of coaching life

23:11 | How Timberley prepped him for the BYU head coach interview

25:33 | The line that sealed the BYU job (and who really wrote it)

27:03 | Lessons from Kyle Whittingham & gratitude to Utah

28:34 | Family, rivalry, legacy, and letting love lead

29:42 | Closing challenge: use your strengths to lift the world



More episodes

View all episodes

  • 137. Chris Lee: Why Hitting Rock Bottom Made Him a More Impactful Entrepreneur

    01:14:05||Season 1, Ep. 137
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Chris Lee; entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Next Level Pros - for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, family, and the lessons that only come from taking big swings in life and business. Chris opens up about the early ambition that drove him into entrepreneurship, the painful collapse of his first company, filing bankruptcy, and discovering that rock bottom was not nearly as devastating as he once feared. He shares hard-earned lessons on partnerships, leadership, culture, and why belief is often the greatest competitive advantage an entrepreneur can have. Casey and Chris also dive into fatherhood, criticism, faith, personal growth, and the tension between building something meaningful and slowing down enough to enjoy life. From raising five kids to building businesses, hobby farming, and mentoring entrepreneurs, Chris reflects on the deeper purpose behind success and the responsibility leaders have to truly impact people. This episode is packed with insight for entrepreneurs, builders, and anyone learning how to navigate failure without losing belief in themselves.

  • 136. James Clarke: Highlight Episode

    01:33:44||Season 1, Ep. 136
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with James Clarke - founder of Clearlink and managing partner at Clarke Capital - for an intimate look into the hard-won lessons behind a life of entrepreneurship, stewardship, and service.From his roots as a farm kid in Rexburg, Idaho to helming billion-dollar exits, James opens up about the foundational values instilled in him by family, mentors, and faith. He shares what it really means to lead with “labor and honor,” the ethos he now passes on to his children. Through raw reflections on early failures, pivotal pivots, and defining moments - including a highly publicized company controversy - James offers powerful insights on integrity, resilience, and staying the course.Casey and James explore themes of earned success, navigating public scrutiny, the difference between operators and investors, and why meaningful relationships matter more than ever in business. This is a thoughtful and inspiring episode for anyone building something that matters.

  • 136. Kip Sheppard: From Zero to 35,000 Units in Affordable Housing

    01:15:23||Season 1, Ep. 136
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Kip Sheppard, a leader in affordable housing development whose career spans more than three decades and over 35,000 units built nationwide. What begins as a conversation about Kip’s early life and church mission experience in Germany quickly evolves into a masterclass on discipline, resilience, and long-term value creation.Kip shares how foundational experiences like athletics, faith, and his time as an accountant shaped his approach to business, teaching him that mastering the language of business is essential to building anything meaningful. He reflects on pivotal relationships with mentors and the defining partnership with Dell Loy Hansen, which ultimately launched a career built on innovation within the low income housing tax credit space.Casey and Kip explore lessons from navigating the 2008 financial crisis, the power of attention to detail, and why consistency, integrity, and showing up on time remain the ultimate competitive advantages. At its core, this episode is about building more than real estate; it is about building a life centered on family, purpose, and lasting impact.

  • 135. Nate Randle: Highlight Episode

    01:24:22||Season 1, Ep. 135
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Nate Randle, CEO of Gabb and former executive at Nike, Vivint, Qualtrics, and the Utah Jazz, to unpack a lifetime of lessons in resilience, leadership, and personal growth. From navigating childhood adversity to steering major brands through crisis, Nate shares how his experiences shaped his leadership philosophy and deepened his commitment to supporting others.They discuss his journey from Nike Golf to running a high-growth company, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and the power of relationships in business. Nate also opens up about overcoming personal hardships, including a powerful story of forgiveness that changed his life.

  • 135. Spencer Cook: Turning Desperation Into a Multimillion Dollar VR Breakthrough

    01:13:21||Season 1, Ep. 135
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Spencer Cook, co-founder of Continuum and creator of the breakout VR game UG, for a candid conversation on resilience, risk, and the long road to meaningful success in the virtual reality gaming industry.Spencer shares the six-year journey behind building UG into one of the top-performing titles on MetaQuest, unpacking the lessons learned through failed VR games, missed payroll, and the pressure of leading a startup through uncertainty. From experimenting with augmented reality and VR development to finally achieving product market fit in the gaming space, his story highlights what it really takes to build a successful VR game and scale a business in an emerging market.Together, Spencer and Casey explore entrepreneurship, leadership under pressure, and the mindset required to fail forward. They also dive into VR game design, monetization strategy, and how community-driven gameplay helped UG become a breakout success.This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, founders, and anyone interested in VR gaming, startups, and building something meaningful through persistence and smart pivots.

  • 134. Justin Juntunen: Highlight Episode

    01:06:48||Season 1, Ep. 134
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Justin Juntunen - founder of Cedar and Stone Sauna - to explore why the ancient practice of sauna bathing is finding new life in the heart of modern wellness. What starts as a conversation about custom craftsmanship and cardiovascular benefits quickly unfolds into something deeper: a dialogue on slowing down, creating meaning, and pursuing a business with soul.Justin shares his journey from building saunas with his grandfather in Minnesota to leading a company that crafts world-class sauna experiences, from private homes to luxury resorts. More than just heat and steam, his mission is about reconnecting people to their bodies, their breath, and each other. Together, they unpack the science, cultural traditions, and spiritual rituals behind the sauna movement, and why it's resonating with high performers and families alike.

  • 134. Seth Jenson: From Oxford to UVU, Designing the Future of Entrepreneurship

    01:21:53||Season 1, Ep. 134
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Seth Jenson, Executive Director of the Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute at UVU, to explore what it really takes to build a world-class program from the ground up. Fresh off a PhD at Oxford and a global study of elite innovation ecosystems, Seth shares how he was given a blank canvas to reimagine entrepreneurship education and why outcomes, not optics, became his north star. Together, they unpack the power of experiential learning, the importance of industry-specific pathways, and how UVU is helping students graduate not just with degrees, but with revenue-generating businesses. Seth also breaks down the mindset shift required to see entrepreneurship as a skillset, not a title, and why resourcefulness is the ultimate advantage. The conversation expands into the future of higher education, the disruptive force of AI, and what institutions must do to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. For entrepreneurs, builders, and leaders, this episode offers a compelling look at how the next generation is being equipped to create value at scale.

  • 133. Stephen M.R. Covey: Highlight Episode

    01:44:04||Season 1, Ep. 133
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey is joined by Stephen M.R. Covey; bestselling author of The Speed of Trust and one of today’s most respected thinkers on leadership and credibility. Together, they explore the one leadership trait that multiplies everything it touches; and the silent killer when it’s missing: trust.Stephen reveals why trust isn’t just a soft skill, but the core of every high-performing team and thriving organization. He breaks down his legendary Four Cores of Credibility; integrity, intent, capabilities, and results; and shows how this framework can diagnose and transform relationships, leadership effectiveness, and organizational culture.From elite sports to billion-dollar businesses to moments of parenting and personal growth, Stephen and Casey unpack how trust scales performance, attracts talent, and builds enduring influence. They also dive deep into stories from Stephen’s upbringing as the son of Stephen R. Covey; giving a behind-the-scenes look at the principles that shaped a global legacy.If you lead, influence, or build; this conversation will challenge and elevate how you think about the most underestimated force in leadership.

  • 133. Brigham Taylor: From No Clear Path to Shaping Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Films

    01:30:01||Season 1, Ep. 133
    In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Brigham Taylor, longtime Disney film executive and producer behind iconic films like Pirates of the Caribbean, Tron Legacy, and The Jungle Book, for a thoughtful conversation on building a career without a clear roadmap.Brigham shares how an uncertain start at BYU, paired with a deep love for film, led him to pursue opportunities others might overlook. Through early scrappy work, curiosity, and a willingness to stay close to the action, he found himself inside Disney, learning the business from the ground up and eventually helping shape some of the most successful films of a generation.Casey and Brigham explore the role of timing, trust, and relationships in career growth, and why being prepared matters more than having a perfect plan. They also reflect on the mindset required to navigate high-stakes creative environments and evolve beyond a single chapter of success.This episode is a powerful lesson in embracing the unknown and building something meaningful over time.
Copyright Casey Baugh
Hosted with ❤️ by Acast