Despite Impossible

Harnessing Control: Creating Joy in an Uncertain World  To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Meag Schwartz. Meag is a problem-solver, a millennial who enjoys a Goo-Goo Dolls song, loves scuba diving, and is passionate about maintaining the clarity of our Michigan lakes’ water. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Great Lakes Great Responsibility, an environmental non-profit that aims to prevent marine debris in the Great Lakes through litter cleanups. This is...

Tune in to this week's episode of Third Fork as Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown dive into a pivotal moment in a young professional's journey: the college internship. They explore how early career experiences, whether thrilling or underwhelming, can shape your path, build resilience, and sharpen your sense of purpose. Drawing from their own stories and lessons learned, Ryan and Tansley ref...

Food and Credit Unions: Breaking Bread and Changing the World Together To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

Today’s guest is Susan Mitchell. Susan is tenacious, a planner at heart, someone who is an energetic voice for financial democracy and human equality, a grandmother, and Susan gets shit done. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates, which offers innovative consulting services, including strategic planning, board governance, and executive education. This is S...

Meet Jimese Harkley, Chief Community Engagement Officer at Harborstone Credit Union, and mom to a newly minted college grad. On this week's episode of Third Fork, Jimese opens up about the joys and surprises of watching her child launch into adulthood, drawing parallels between parenting and leading teams. She also reflects on the wise counsel of mentors who've shaped her journey, emphas...

Of Fractions & Multipliers: Winning the War for Talent with Creativity and Curiosity To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest Jason Gittinger. Jason is a drummer, musician, a community builder, and someone who loves the color orange. Jason is also the Founder and Executive Producer of The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music, one of Metro Detroit’s most respected and cherished live music performance schools, helping thousands of students and families gain confidence sharing their music even more broadly. He...

Get ready to learn from a true trailblazer in the credit union space! This week on Third Fork, Tansley Stearns chats with Lauren Culp, Executive Director of the National Credit Union Foundation, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Having led impactful initiatives throughout her career, Lauren shares her secrets for making a swift and lasting impression in new roles, build...

Hustle & Grind: Running with our Members as a Financial Best Friend To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Amy Peterson. Amy is a fireball. Amy’s energy leads to getting shit done consistently. She is a surfer, a good friend, and a serial entrepreneur building new enterprises in surprising ways. Amy is also the Co-Founder and CEO of women-owned social enterprise Rebel Nell, with a dedication to providing employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women. This is Amy’s...

Tune in to this week's episode of Third Fork as Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown tackle a crucial yet often stigmatized topic: managing anxiety in the workplace. Rather than aiming for complete elimination, they propose a refreshing approach: embracing a balanced relationship with anxiety to optimize productivity and overall well-being. By sharing their own stories and expert insights, Ryan and...

The Power of a Tater Tot Casserole: Credit Unions’ Potential in Dark Moments To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today's guest is Scott Berman. Scott is thoughtful, insightful, and not afraid of confronting his fears. He is also driven and willing to fight that urge to charge. Scott is also the Founder of Sky Cave Retreats, the first darkness retreat center in the United States. He believes in healing through Darkness Therapy. This is Scott's story.

On this week's episode of Third Fork, Tansley Stearns reconnects with Ryan Brown to tackle one of the most critical aspects of long-term success: setting yourself up for holistic wellbeing. They dive into key decisions made early in their careers that continue to shape their lives today, covering everything from financial planning to boundary-setting and prioritizing purpose over prestige. Li...

Lessons from the Mall: Bridging Generations to Build the Future of Credit Unions To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is David Silver. David is a New York transplant, a competitive horse rider, and exemplifies perseverance. He is also the Founder and Executive Director at Detroit Horse Power, with a vision to give under-resourced youth a safe and enriching space that furthers their future development. Horses teach children critical traits, including empathy, responsible risk-taking, confidence, and...

This week on Third Fork, Tansley Stearns welcomes Cortney Arnold, Community Development Director at Filene Research Institute and Leader of The Cooperative Trust. As a champion of collaboration and lifelong learning, Cortney discusses her work empowering members across the credit union movement through innovative programs and resources. Tune in to hear Cortney's vision for building stronger c...

 Credit Unions: Best Friends Built for Dark Times To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Dan Pitera. He is an energetic leader, and someone who is also challenging current structures, and he is a political and social activist masquerading as an architect. Dan is currently the Detroit Mercy School of Architecture & Community Development dean and the former executive director of the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. Under his direction, they received the National...

Join us on this week's episode of Third Fork as Tansley Stearns and special guest Emily Sutton candidly explore the many opportunities surrounding us if we just stay curious enough to discover them.  Plus, you may recognize Emily's voice... Look out for a clue when you start the show.

Fueling Collaboration: Six Ways to Act on the Sixth Cooperative Principle To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Christi Lower. Christi is an entrepreneur, inquisitive, and someone who is honest and offers no judgement. She is also the Founder & CEO of Highline Spirits, where she honors her fascination with spirits and distillation but also aims to create a transparent business that clears the smoke and mirrors around common industry practices. In a way, she hopes to build an honest rela...

Join us on this week's episode of Third Fork as Tansley Stearns sits down with special guest Blake Woods to explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating a career transition as a young professional. With humor and candor, Blake shares his own story of stepping into unfamiliar territory, from mastering the art of using a fax machine to observing leadership habits at play.  We'll delve...

 Our Extravaganza: Creating a Movement of Credit Unions as Connectors To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .