Shows / Despite Impossible
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
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: MacKenzie Isabelle Stearns
Today’s guest is MacKenzie Isabelle Stearns. MacKenzie is an adventurer, a dedicated athlete, someone who deeply enjoys music, she is full of energy, and her…
Despite ImpossibleA Third Fork Q&A
Today’s episode of Third Fork centers on audience questions they’ve never seen before. No prep. No scripts. Just real talk.Tansley and Ryan dig into the messy…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 11: Dr. Missy Stults
Today’s guest is Dr. Missy Stults. Missy exudes high energy; she is a mom, a relentless problem-solver, an avid puzzler, and an upcoming speaker at HERd 2026…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 10: Dr. Gretchen Moran Marsh
Today’s guest is Dr. Gretchen Moran Marsh. She is driven, loves Michigan summers and dancing, and is ensuring mental health has the attention it deserves and…
Despite ImpossibleCareer Myths: The Ones Worth Busting (and Keeping)
This week, Tansley and Ryan unpack the biggest career myths we’ve all been told. From “follow your passion” to “climb the ladder.” Ryan shares why chasing…
Despite ImpossibleOf Diet Coke and Falling Asleep to Bad Television: Building New Habits at Work and at Home
Of Diet Coke and Falling Asleep to Bad Television: Building New Habits at Work and at Home To access this article and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 9: Jerry Paffendorf
Today’s guest is Jerry Paffendorf. Jerry is an artist, a Yooper, a skateboarder, and someone who enjoys a sauna. He is also the Co-Founder & CEO at Regrid with…
Despite ImpossibleWorth the Ask: Negotiations 101
Negotiating pay can feel like walking a tightrope in dress shoes. Ryan’s been on both sides of the table, coaching candidates and now extending offers, and…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 8: Vince Paul
Today’s guest is Vince Paul. Vince is an artist, a Detroiter, and boasts an alter ego, Tenacious V, who makes an appearance once a decade. He is also the…
Despite ImpossibleBuzzword Bingo
In this episode of Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan take a playful jab at the language of work. Those buzzwords and phrases that fill meetings, memos, and…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 7: Michael Randall
Today’s guest is Michael Randall. Mike is passionate about community development. He is an independent filmmaker, someone who enjoys a walk around the block…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 6: Maddie Farris
Today’s guest is Maddie Farris. Maddie is outgoing, empathetic, and someone who enjoys keeping up with her little sister. Maddie also plays forward and defense…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 5: Mariana Ceballos
Today’s guest is Mariana Ceballos. Mariana is an adventurer, a hiker, and someone who puts effort in everything she does. She also plays defense for the…
Despite ImpossibleOn Being Human at Work: Leading When It’s Heavy
Some days hit different. You wake up and something’s off, maybe it’s you, maybe it’s the air. The inbox feels louder, the faces in meetings blur together, and…
Despite ImpossibleRemoving Spinach from Our Teeth: From Potential to Human Impact
Removing Spinach from Our Teeth: From Potential to Human Impact To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns'…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 4: Julia Lindahl
Today’s guest is Julia Lindahl. Julia is driven, passionate, and empathetic. She is also a forward for the University of Michigan Women's Ice Hockey team…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 3: Lauren Hood
Today’s guest is Lauren Hood. Lauren is an expander of boundaries, someone who elevates what’s possible, and is always trying to maximize her potential. She is…
Despite ImpossibleButterflies on Day One: Welcoming Leaders with Intention
Behind the title and the resume is a human being stepping into new territory.Behind the title and the resume is a human being stepping into new territory…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 2: Jesse Thistle
Today’s guest is Jesse Thistle, who is a dedicated father and swimming cheerleader to his daughter Rose, a skilled pancake chef, and an avid writer. Jesse is…
- Despite Impossible
Season 4 Episode 1: MacKenzie Stearns
Today’s guest is MacKenzie Isabelle Stearns. MacKenzie is an adventurer, a dedicated athlete, someone who deeply enjoys music, she is full of energy, and her…
Despite ImpossibleAssumptions Free: Speaking Across Generations
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…
Despite ImpossibleMaking the Last Mile Count: Strategic Execution at its Finest
Making the Last Mile Count: Strategic Execution at its Finest To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Dr. Aimee Daily
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…
Despite ImpossibleSmall Talk: Building Bridges Without Awkwardness
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…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Missy Testerman
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…
Despite ImpossibleWhen Leaders Graduate: Coping with Change and Welcoming What’s Next
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…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Kelley Cusmano
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…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Amy Hillman
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…
Despite ImpossibleVacation Guilt: Learning to Truly Step Away
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…
Despite ImpossibleThe Gift of Experience: Five Ways Credit Unions Can Leverage the Post-Service Era
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…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Lamont Black
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…
Despite ImpossibleRewind: Curisosity Over Criticism
We’re rewinding one of our most popular and insightful episodes from the Third Fork archive: Curiosity Over Criticism. In this conversation, Tansley Stearns…
Despite ImpossibleRewind Episode: Our Future Playlist: Your Strategy Plays Here
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…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Christopher Veal
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…
Despite ImpossibleRewind Episode: Four Strategy Lessons from Ms. Pac-Man
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…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Vince Kadlubek
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…
Despite ImpossibleEyes on the Horizon: Navigating External Job Interviews
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…
Despite ImpossibleRewind Episode: Raise Your Glass: Lessons from a Pink Concert
Raise Your Glass: Lessons from a Pink Concert (Tansley Stearns originally published this article on November 8, 2024) To access this article and subscribe to…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Greg Mitchell
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…
Despite ImpossibleThe Inside Track: A Guide to Internal Interviews
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…
Despite ImpossibleRewinde Episode: Credit Unions, Americans Are Hurting: Our Time Is Now
Credit Unions, Americans Are Hurting: Our Time Is Now (This article was originally publised on by Tansley Stearns on November 8, 2024) To access this article…
- Despite Impossible
Rewind Episode: Megan Spanitz
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…
Despite ImpossibleRewind: Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams (with Cortney Arnold)
This week on Third Fork, we’re bringing back one of our most inspiring conversations, perfect for returning from the long weekend and resetting to refocus.In…
Despite ImpossibleYou Don’t Need All the Answers to Innovate
In this episode of Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan explore how young professionals can be powerful catalysts for innovation, not by having all the answers, but by…
Despite ImpossibleEmpathy: An Unlock Feature for Credit Unions
Empathy: An Unlock Feature for Credit Unions. To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven…
- Despite Impossible
Season 3 Episode 37: Doug Schwartz
Today’s guest is Doug Schwartz. Doug is warm, friendly, aims to be present in the moment, and is someone who enjoys a good slice of key lime pie. He is also…
Despite ImpossibleWAIT: Why Am I Talking?
At Community Financial, 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…
Despite ImpossibleCooking Up an AI Strategy: The More You Cook, The More Ideas Are Served
Cooking Up an AI Strategy: The More You Cook, The More Ideas Are Served To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns'…
- Despite Impossible
Season 3 Episode 36: Eden Alonso-Rivera
Today’s guest is Eden Alonso. Eden is confident, a go-getter, kind, a current high schooler, and someone who enjoys traveling. She is also the recipient of an…
Despite ImpossibleMilestones That Matter: Why We Pause, Reflect, and Celebrate
Milestones That Matter: Why We Pause, Reflect, and CelebrateThis week on Third Fork, Tansley and Ryan delve into the complex, yet meaningful, world of…
Despite ImpossibleFollow Liz’s Lead: Embrace and Celebrate Our Many Roles
Follow Liz’s Lead: Embrace and Celebrate Our Many Roles To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven…
- Despite Impossible
Season 3 Episode 35: Bob Sornson
Today’s guest is Dr. Bob Sornson. Bob is an educator, author of over two dozen books, someone who appreciates live music, and possesses a magnetic sense of…
Despite ImpossibleRewind: Your First Big Meeting (Still Worth Sweating Over)
This week, we're heading to our quarterly strategic deep dive, so we’re revisiting an episode that highlights big first meetings. Whether it’s your first time…
Despite ImpossibleBrave Strategy Horizons: Slam Poetry Is Just the Start
Brave Strategy Horizons: Slam Poetry Is Just the Start. To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously Driven…
- Despite Impossible
Season 3 Episode 34: Mona Hanna
Today’s guest is Dr. Mona Hanna. She is compassionate, loves puzzles, possesses a contagious sense of humor, and passions for holistic children’s health and…
Despite ImpossibleCuriosity Over Criticism
This week on Third Fork, Tansley Stearns and Ryan Brown tackle the delicate art of handling unsolicited advice. Tansley emphasizes the power of starting with a…
Despite ImpossibleIt’s a Sign: Be Bold. Be Epic. Be the Best in Governance.
It's a Sign: Be Bold. Be Epic. Be the Best in Governance. To access this article, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit Tansley Stearns' Curiously…
- Despite Impossible
Season 3 Episode 33: Najah Bazzy
Today’s guest is Najah Bazzy. She is visionary, justice focused, strategic and possesses a great sense of humor. Najah is also an RN, an internationally…
Despite ImpossibleMay is Mental Health Awareness Month
As young professionals, keeping close attention to mental health is essential. In this episode, Ryan and Tansley share their personal commitment to mental…