Despite Impossible
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.
Episodes
Today’s guest is Daniel Schaffa. Daniel is funny, easy to talk to, studious, and someone who is known for being observant of others. Daniel is also a professor of law at the University of Richmond School of Law, where he studies tax and law & economics. He is one of a handful of humans with 5 degrees from the University of Michigan. Go blue! His tax research focuses on how the tax system can be designed to achieve sociall...
Today’s guest is Dr. Nicole (Nikki) Hamp. People who know Nikki best would describe her as an advocate, a dancer, and someone fiercely committed to supporting Michigan families' well-being. Nikki is also the Chief Health and Program Officer for the Autism Alliance of Michigan, a board-certified developmental behavioral pediatrician, and an adjunct clinical assistant professor within the division of Developmental Behavioral Pe...
IRL: From Estes Park with Love
To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.
Some journeys end when the final mile is complete. The Choose the Bear® ride is not one of them.
We invite you to listen (and watch on Spotify or Apple Podcasts) to this special release of the closing speech for the Choose the Bear® ride conclusion and the journey ahead.
Despite Impossible is preparing for its fifth season, by introducing video recordings of our interviews!
Join us for powerful conversations with people chasing bold dreams, creating impact, and proving that impossible is only the beginning. This week, Tansley seats down with Jill Nowacki to talk her impossible.
Today’s guest is Jill Nowacki, Jill is thoughtful, contemplative, and someone who thinks about the many possibilities in front of her. She is also the co-founder and President & CEO of Zealyst, an organization dedicated to catalyzing for what's possible through executive search, leadership development, and organizational performance solutions, helping leaders and teams show up at their highest level. This is Jill’s ...
Invisibility Isn't a Superpower
To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.
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 dedication...
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 Pe...
“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 pe...
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.
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 an...
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.
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...
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.
Today’s guest is Heather McKissick. Heather is optimistic, someone who is community-minded, outgoing, and self-described as impatient. She is also the CEO of the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES), an organization dedicated to providing credit union professionals, directors, and suppliers the resources they need to reach their greatest potential. This is Heather’s story.
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