x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Despite Impossible

Community Financial

I am Tansley Stearns, and this is Despite Impossible. I am a long-time credit union executive leading Community Financial 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.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

19:25

Assumptions Free: Speaking Across Generations

Despite Impossible ·

2025/09/08

In this episode of Third Fork, Ryan and Tansley break down what it truly takes to connect across generations at work. From legacy systems that challenge even the most tech-savvy new hires to the courage it takes to admit when you don’t know the latest slang, they remind us: stay curious, be open, and leave assumptions at the door. Plus, they share the personal moments that shaped how we show up across generations.

en-us

10:19

Making the Last Mile Count: Strategic Execution at...

Despite Impossible ·

2025/09/05

Making the Last Mile Count: Strategic Execution at its Finest To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

en-us

29:58

Rewind Episode: Dr. Aimee Daily

Despite Impossible ·

2025/09/04

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, and community partners. This is Aimee’s story.

en-us

16:44

Small Talk: Building Bridges Without Awkwardness

Despite Impossible ·

2025/09/03

In this episode of Third Fork, hosts Tansley and Ryan dive into the art of small talk at work. This is an underrated skill that can make or break your office experience. They explore practical strategies for young professionals looking to build connections in a new workplace, from confidently introducing yourself to a colleague, to balancing openness with healthy boundaries. Whether you’re navigating a new office environment or trying to strengthen relationships with teammates, th...

en-us

25:59

Rewind Episode: Missy Testerman

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/28

Today’s guest is Missy Testerman. Missy is a passionate joy-seeker, a gardener, a teacher at heart and professionally, and someone deeply committed to education. She is also the 2024 National Teacher of the Year in the K-8th grade category, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher who is a staunch advocate for her students, their families, and her fellow teachers. This is Missy’s story.

en-us

16:15

When Leaders Graduate: Coping with Change and...

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/27

In this heartfelt episode of Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan explore the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye to a beloved leader when they move on to a new opportunity. Tansley reflects on the importance of celebrating a colleague’s departure as a graduation, a recognition that their growth and success are something to cheer for. She reflects on a quote from the movie Elizabethtown to cope, embrace, and look forward to what's next: "You have five minutes to wallow in the delicious misery. Enjo...

en-us

19:29

Rewind Episode: Kelley Cusmano

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/21

Today’s guest is Kelley Cusmano. Kelley is a charismatic educator, energetic, outgoing, a mother of two fantastic children, and a twin sister. Kelley is also the 2025 Michigan Teacher of the Year, an ELA and Leadership teacher who believes all students can achieve their potential. She is skilled in bridging the gap between teacher voice, curriculum design, and state education policy. This is Kelley’s story.

en-us

17:48

Rewind Episode: Amy Hillman

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/14

Today’s guest is Dr. Amy Hillman, a giver, a lifelong learner, someone who is never afraid of trying new things, resilient, and a human capable of redrawing her future. She is also the Rusty Lyon Chair of Strategy, former Dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and the fellow leading Filene’s Center of Excellence for Leadership, Strategy, and Governance. This is Amy’s story.

en-us

13:56

Vacation Guilt: Learning to Truly Step Away

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/11

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 resting. Tansley opens up with a personal story from her childhood, recalling how she could feel the tension and guilt building at home in the days leading up to family vacations, and how that same mindset can follow us into adulthood. She shares what it’s taken to quiet those feelings and fully unplug...

en-us

15:24

The Gift of Experience: Five Ways Credit Unions Can...

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/08

The Gift of Experience: Five Ways Credit Unions Can Leverage the Post-Service Era To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

en-us

20:07

Rewind Episode: Lamont Black

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/07

Today’s guest is Lamont Black. He is an educator, thinker, dreamer, speaker, an author with a focus on financial innovation, and a futurist. He’s inspiring our credit union movement to test, invest, and strategize to embrace Artificial Intelligence. Lamont is also the Associate Professor of Finance at DePaul University in Chicago and a former economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. This is Lamont’s story.

en-us

19:18

Rewind: Curisosity Over Criticism

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/04

We’re rewinding one of our most popular and insightful episodes from the Third Fork archive: Curiosity Over Criticism. In this conversation, Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown explore the delicate art of navigating unsolicited advice. Tansley shares how leading with questions rather than statements fosters openness and curiosity, while Ryan encourages listeners to assume positive intent, creating space for healthier dialogue. Together, they offer practical strategies for receiving, processi...

en-us

16:44

Rewind Episode: Our Future Playlist: Your Strategy...

Despite Impossible ·

2025/08/01

Our Future's Playlist: Your Strategy Plays Here (Tansley Stearns originally published this article on December 6, 2024) To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

en-us

15:44

Rewind Episode: Christopher Veal

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/31

Today’s guest is Christopher Veal. He is a great listener, someone who’s warm, thoughtful, challenging the traditional definitions of masculinity, and he’s known to be silly. He’s also a dad. Christopher is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, and faculty for the Co-Active Training Institute and ACT Leadership & Performance Coaching, a former Marine Officer, and the author of The Whole Man: Evolving Masculinity. This is Christopher’s story.

en-us

11:22

Rewind Episode: Four Strategy Lessons from Ms. Pac-Man

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/25

Four Strategy Lessons from Ms. Pac-Man (Tansley Stearns originally published this article on December 6, 2024) To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

en-us

22:19

Rewind Episode: Vince Kadlubek

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/24

Today's guest is Vince Kadlubek, co-founder of Meow Wolf, an arts and entertainment company with experiential exhibits in Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Denver. He creates immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. This is his story. To learn more about his organization, visit: meowwolf.com

en-us

25:32

Eyes on the Horizon: Navigating External Job Interviews

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/21

In the second part of our Third Fork series on interviews, Tansley and Ryan shift focus to external job opportunities, when your growth journey calls you beyond your current workplace. Whether you’re passively exploring or actively applying, this episode offers practical insights on: How to prepare for external interviews without losing your authenticityNavigating loyalty and transparency with your current leaderWhat to ask (and what to avoid) in a first conversationWhy preparing your current...

en-us

11:54

Rewind Episode: Raise Your Glass: Lessons from a Pink...

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/18

Raise Your Glass: Lessons from a Pink Concert (This article was originally publised on by Tansley Stearns on November 8, 2024) To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven Newsletter page.

en-us

13:23

Rewind Episode: Greg Mitchell

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/17

Today’s guest is Greg Mitchell. Born into a family of farmers in the Midwest, he grew up to become a devout Christian, a Coast Guard member, a Disco dancer, and the CEO of First Tech Credit Union. All the way through, his life’s work has been making the most of his gifts to assist other humans in reaching their potential. This is Greg’s story.

en-us

18:33

The Inside Track: A Guide to Internal Interviews

Despite Impossible ·

2025/07/14

This week on Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan kick off a two-part series on navigating interviews, and we’re starting from the inside out. With experience leading HR and People teams (and with Ryan’s early career roots in recruiting), they unpack the unique dynamics of applying for internal opportunities within your current organization. From preparing to talk about your career growth, to understanding how to balance role satisfaction and ambition, this episode covers: · What ...

en-us

216 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger