Despite Impossible

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 .

Today’s guest is Megan Spanitz. Megan is a voracious reader, intellectually curious, and someone who loves her Peloton (and Cody Rigsby). Megan is also the Chief Strategy Officer for the Detroit Regional Chamber, playing a leading role in planning and executing the annual Mackinac Policy Conference and shaping the future of the great state of Michigan. This is Megan’s story.

In this episode of Third Fork, we dive into the nerve-wracking but pivotal moment of attending your first big executive meeting. Whether it’s a boardroom full of decision-makers or your first ALCO meeting, knowing how to navigate the unspoken rules can make all the difference.   Join hosts Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown as they share their first experiences in high-stakes meetings, unpack what the...

 A Story to Remember: Credit Unions as the Answer to Economic Pain To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Jolene Delisle. Jolene is resilient, possesses brilliant creativity, and is someone who those who know her well describe as fun. She is also the founder & creative director of the branding and creative agency The Working Assembly. Her work has been recognized by the Type Directors Club, Print, D&AD, The One Show, and Fast Company. This is Jolene’s story.

In Part II of this debut episode of Third Fork , we introduce the heart of our podcast — helping young professionals make sense of those unspoken workplace rules. From brushing up on networking etiquette to tackling conference jitters, we’re here to share the real-world insights no one ever spelled out. Join hosts Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown as they recount navigating their very first big confe...

Americans’ Best Friends Need a Best Friend: Five Ways We Can Unify Now To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Brandon Michaels. Brandon is passionate, driven, innovative, serious, a pilot, a dancer, and someone who is always willing to put people first. He is also the President & CEO at OneAZ Credit Union, where he is a curator of a dynamic, member-focused community that spans the entire state of Arizona. This is Brandon’s story.

In this debut episode of Third Fork , we introduce the heart of our podcast — helping young professionals make sense of those unspoken workplace rules. From brushing up on networking etiquette to tackling conference jitters, we’re here to share the real-world insights no one ever spelled out. Join hosts Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown as they recount navigating their very first big conference (like...

Restless and Ready to Quilt Our Future To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .

Today’s guest is Linda Armyn, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Bethpage Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in New York state and my alma mater. Linda is a dear friend and a huge fan of the Irish rock bank U2, which might rival my Dave Matthews Band fandom. This is her story.

Our Future's Playlist: Your Strategy Plays Here To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page .