I am Tansley Stearns, and this is Despite Impossible. I am a long-time credit union executive leading orsa credit union as president & ceo. I have always admired and been inspired by people whose passion is boundless and who don't comprehend the word impossible. This show focuses on their stories.
Today’s episode of Third Fork comes straight from a viewer who asked:
'As a YP (young professional), what do you do when you’re the youngest person in the room? How do you actually build that confidence?
Ryan shares what still makes him anxious and exactly how he overcomes it. Tansley provides insightful strategies on how to set yourself apart and actionable steps that will get you noticed. You will walk away from this episode...
When the Tools Stop Working
This recording is based on an article written by Tansley Stearns and originally published by CUInsight.com on May 28, 2026. We are grateful to CUInsight.com for authorizing this audio version.
Today's guest is Dr. Scott Edwards. Scott is a music lover, educator, hiker, and biker. He is curious, flexible, and deeply committed to bringing experience to life. As an academic and educator, he spends much of his time thinking about how we will leave the world for future generations. At Harvard University, he studies bird diversity and disease resistance using field research, museum collections, and genomics. Scott's ...
Welcome to this week’s episode of ThirdFork!
This week is a video episode and you can check it out on the ThirdForkPodcast YouTube page.
In today’s fast-paced world, you can find an answer to almost anything in seconds. But here’s the real question: How do we know if that information is accurate—or even the right fit for the job?
Join hosts Tansley and Ryan as they dive deep into the challenge of information over...
Today’s episode rewinds to last year’s conversation with Megan Spanitz. Now serving as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at the Detroit Regional Chamber, Megan is undoubtedly in full swing preparing for this year’s Mackinac Policy Conference, which kicks off next week!
Rewind:
Today’s guest is Megan Spanitz. Megan is a voracious reader, intellectually curious, and someone who loves her Peloton (and Cody Rigsby)....
As we approach the begining of the SUMMER months, let's reflect back to this epsiode of Third Fork from last year on vacation guilt.
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In this episode of Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan dive into the all-too-familiar feeling of vacation guilt. That anxious voice that whispers you’re falling behind, even when you’re supposed to be restin...
“Today’s guest is Barb Lowman. Barb is a dog lover. She is brave, driven, loyal, and hardworking. She is also the President of CUNA Strategic Services, Inc., a premier connector for credit unions and fintech, functioning as an affiliate of America's Credit Unions to support digital transformation and financial sustainability. Barb’s commitment to sharing her journey so that others might learn and to ensure more people see just...
In this episode of Third Fork, hosts Tansley and Ryan dive into the world of side hustles. With Gen Z officially dubbed the "side hustle generation," they strip away the hype to discuss the genuine pros and cons of juggling multiple roles. Tansley introduces a unique concept currently happening at orsa credit union, while Ryan shares his HR wisdom on exactly what to consider before you take the leap. Whether you're ...
Today's episode is a little different and really important to me.
I've had the chance to sit down with two women in my life that mean everything to me, my mom and my daughter. Three generations. Three perspectives...on life, dreaming boldly, and leading bravely. This one is personal and I think it might be one you feel too.
In early celebration of Mother's Day, today's episode of Third Fork is all about moms!
Ryan and Tansley kick things off by sharing heartfelt memories of their own mothers and recounting the stories of their very first jobs. The conversation then shifts to the intersection of motherhood and work, exploring the unique challenges and joys of balancing both. Finally, they reflect on some of the wisest lessons they've lear...
Today’s guest is Sheena Allen. Sheena is an innovative entrepreneur, music-lover, and world changer who is fun-loving and considers herself to be weird. She is also a venture-backed tech founder, creative architect, and speaker building at the intersection of technology and financial equity. With a career spanning a bootstrapped app studio to founding and operating a digital bank, she is a leading voice among women in tech and non-...
This week's episode is a REWIND:
At orsa credit union, listening isn’t just polite, it’s a superpower. In this episode of Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan unpack how the art of listening has shaped their leadership, their learning, and their impact.
From sticky note reminders like “WAIT” (Why Am I Talking?) to the importance of clarifying questions, they explore why hearing others, often, matters more than being the loudest voice in...
Please Tell Me When I Have Spinach in My Teeth
To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.
Today’s guest is Laura Killingbeck. Laura is an independent explorer, adventurer, authentic listener, someone whose friends seek as a mediator, and she sees patterns in her journey and is inspired by nature in a genuine and unique way. She is also a writer, trailblazer, and you’ll want to add her to your social media feed. This is Laura’s story.
In this rewind episode of Third Fork from June 2025. Tansley and Ryan explore how young professionals can be powerful catalysts for innovation, not by having all the answers, but by asking the right questions.
From legacy systems that “have always been done that way,” to processes crying out for a fresh look, innovation often begins with a simple but profound curiosity: “Why do we do it this way?”
Ryan reflects on the value of health...
Today’s guest is Dr. Aimee Daily. Aimee is committed to helping ensure that kids get the care they need to reach their full potential. Aimee is also the president and chief executive officer at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals where she focuses on leading with authenticity, accessibility, and responsiveness and on building connections with team members, hospital leaders, and CMN Hospitals’ dedicated network of corporate, media,...
This week friends at work Ryan and Tansley discuss what it means to have friends at work.
Understanding all the research out there, they question, if there is a downside and Ryan flexes his HR wisdom! Tansley thinks credit unions the perfect place to develop friends at work and shares how that has shaped her network over the years.
Our favorite work friends discuss the importance of boundaries and candor in friendships at work and ho...
Today’s guest is Jess O’Brien. Jess is an artist, a coffee aficionado, a sky gazer, and someone who is deeply inspired by nature. Jess is also the photographer of our Northern Lights’ lighthouse debit card design, highlighting Michigan’s beauty, available now at orsa credit union. This is Jess’s story.
This week on Third Fork—what does it mean to grow up in a world that’s changing faster than ever?
Tansley and Ryan explore the realities younger generations are navigating—from AI to the lasting impact of the pandemic. Ryan reflects on his own kids and the future they’re stepping into, while Tansley sees something just as powerful: a deep and steady sense of hope.
They bring it into the workplace, too—where multiple generations are l...
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
A weekly podcast where host, Robert Smigel, and a rotating panel, his friends, assist callers seeking help in making something in their real life funnier. Anything. A best man speech, a eulogy, a breakup letter, a cover letter, an apology, a Tinder profile - Robert, with a panel of professional comedy writers and comedians, will punch it up and get results. Want help with your writing assignment? Submit it to: speakpipe.com/humorme