Despite Impossible

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 hi...

Invisibility Isn't a Superpower To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

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 notice...

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 colle...

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...

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...

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 . __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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...

“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...

 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...

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...

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...

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, matte...

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?”...

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’ ded...

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...

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,...

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.