Third Fork

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 reflect on why internships matter, how to stay committed even when the fit isn’t perfect, and how to turn any opportunity into a launching pad for growth.

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, emphasizing the importance of forging your own path rather than trying to replicate someone else's success. Join Tansley Stearns and Jimese as they explore themes of identity, legacy, and finding your unique voice in leadership.

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, building a reputation as a respected leader, and navigating complex office dynamics. Plus, she reveals the value of being a "respected pest": persistently pursuing goals while earning the trust and support of others. Tune in for valuable insights on accelerating your career growth and becoming a force for positive change in your organization.

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 Tansley show listeners how to recognize the signs of healthy vs unhealthy anxiety levels and develop personalized strategies for achieving equilibrium.

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. Listen in as Ryan shares actionable takeaways for investing in your whole self, both personally and professionally.

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 communities, a lesson on perseverance, and her vision for a brighter future for cooperative finance.

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.

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 into the lessons he learned along the way, including how to build connections with colleagues, earn trust from leaders, and turn mistakes into opportunities for growth. Don't miss Blake's anecdotes about crashing the GAC and more.

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 they wish they had known, and offer practical tips to help young professionals make a strong first impression.

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 conference (like, the America's Credit Union's GAC last week!)