Despite Impossible

Despite Impossible

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.

Episodes

March 28, 2024 19 mins

Today's guest is Dr. Elliot Eisenberg. He is an intellectually curious, lifelong learner with a witty sense of humor that makes him a remarkable storyteller. He is also known as the bowtie economist who, through his consulting and keynote presentations, demystifies the intricacies of the economic indicators impacting our companies and communities. This is Elliot's story.

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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.

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March 14, 2024 25 mins

Meet Tony Roko, an awe-inspiring artist whose heart and stories can be found around Plymouth, Michigan. 

Tony’s art career began while he worked on the line at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. Ford management recognized his talents, named Tony Ford’s Resident Artist, and commissioned him to paint murals in many Ford facilities to beautify these buildings and bolster employee morale.

Learn more about his art, inspir...

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March 7, 2024 18 mins

Today’s guest is Rick Thomas, a father and a friend. He’s someone who loves animals and has a passion for community development, which started during his 17-year venture in Uzbekistan. He developed low-cost projects to empower underserved communities with a concentration on single women with children and retired adults. Rick is also the vp of community development and transformation at CU Strategic Planning, where he leads an elite...

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February 29, 2024 33 mins

Today's guest is Rachel Lauren. She's resilient, brutally honest, a former financial analyst, and an investor turned fintech entrepreneur. Rachel is also the COO and Co-Founder of Debbie Inc., a financial wellbeing platform offering cash rewards for positive financial behavior, available to credit unions - think of it as your debt payoff cheerleader. This is Rachel's story.

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February 15, 2024 18 mins

Today's guest is Lauren Culp,  a collaborative and tenacious leader skilled at balancing strategy and execution. Lauren is a vibrant human being who dreams boldly, cherishes the Summer, and never misses a chance to spike a volleyball or race down a waterslide. Lauren is also the Publisher and CEO at CUInsight. This is Lauren's story.

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February 8, 2024 26 mins

Today's guest is Dr. Shairi Turner - a mom, a holistic well-being advocate, and someone who is committed to addressing the mental health epidemic. She is also the Chief Health Officer at the Crisis Text Line: a 24/7, free high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention line with a mission to be at the intersection of empathy and innovation, promoting mental well-being for people wherever they are. Shairi ...

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February 1, 2024 23 mins

Today's guest is Anika Goss-Foster, a joyful dreamer, philanthropist, community leader, and one of Detroit's fiercest advocates. Anika is the Chief Executive Officer of Detroit Future City, a think-and-do tank focused on land use and sustainability, community and economic development, and economic equity in Detroit. This is Anika's story. Remember to stick around to hear Tansley's reflections at the end of the e...

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January 25, 2024 12 mins

Today’s guest is George Hofheimer. George is a friend, a leader, and an in-demand advisor for highly ambitious credit unions, including ours, that want to change the world. This is George’s Story. Stick around for Tansley's reflections at the end of the episode!

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January 18, 2024 28 mins

Today’s guest is Heidi Musser. She’s a determined and resilient servant leader, influencer, design thinker, change agent, and a master Agilest. This is Heidi’s story.
Remember to stick around for Tansley's reflections at the end of the episode!

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January 11, 2024 25 mins

Today’s guest is Kirk Drake. Kirk is an entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker who is on a mission to disrupt business norms and accelerate innovation through adventure, integrity, and of course, humor. This is Kirk’s story. Remember to stick around for Tansley's reflections at the end of the episode!

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January 4, 2024 15 mins

Today's guest is Michelle Winterfield, Co-Founder of Tandem, an incredible finance app for couples that makes money management fun and easy. This is her story. Be sure to stick around until the end to hear Tansley's reflections on her time with Michelle!

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December 11, 2023 14 mins

Today's guest is Matt Nahan. He is an artist, a friend, a collaborator, an advocate for social causes, a son, a partner, and a dog dad. He is also the executive director at our Relentless Care Foundation, leading the philanthropic impact CFCU ignites across Michigan. This is Matt's story.

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October 19, 2023 25 mins

Huzzah, Despite Impossible Season 1 is a wrap! I’m here to celebrate and reminisce with Lauren Culp, CUInsight’s CEO and my good friend. We’re sharing some meaningful moments from our first 41 episodes. Join us for our journey through some special humans’ impossible dreams, plus our take on how they’ve inspired us to keep dreaming.

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October 12, 2023 37 mins

Today’s guest is Cory Schlesinger. He’s a small-town Nebraska native and a former football player for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Detroit Lions. The NFL retiree remains active as an Allen Park High School teacher. Beyond his career in the classroom, he’s a husband and a father plus a painter and a gardener. This is his story.

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October 5, 2023 10 mins

Today’s guest is Rachelle Vartanian. She’s the founder of the Northville nonprofit Living and Learning Enrichment Center for adults with autism and related challenges. She’s also a former special education teacher and a mom of four sons. This is her story.

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September 28, 2023 21 mins
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September 21, 2023 15 mins

Today’s guest is Nathaniel Harley. He’s the CEO of MANTL, a financial technology company that provides a platform to open accounts online with community banks and credit unions – including us at Community Financial Credit Union. He’s also a husband and father, foodie and sports fan, meditator and problem solver. This is his story.

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September 14, 2023 18 mins

Turn on your listening ears for another back-to-school throwback! As the school year gets underway, we’re going back over our episode with Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Monica Merritt. She’s been honored as Michigan’s 2023 Superintendent of the Year, three impressive decades after starting her career in education as a high school English teacher. This is her story.


At the end, take advantage of ...

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September 7, 2023 13 mins

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.

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