Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The CUInsight Network
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed and Trust - Corporate Central Credit Union | 28 Oct 2026 | 00:15:46 | |
“Credit unions don’t need to become fintechs, but they really do need fintech-grade tools.” – Ryan McMillan Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Ryan McMillan, Technology Services Director of Corporate Central Credit Union. He joins me to talk about what happens when a childhood dream of playing professional baseball gives way to a career in technology, and so much more! He takes us through his journey from building his first PC and working in his high school’s tech department to leading technology strategy across cloud, cybersecurity, automation, payments, AI, and resiliency. Throughout our conversation, Ryan and I discuss what Corporate Central actually does as a “credit union for credit unions” and how its cooperative model allows credit unions to access technology and capabilities they might not be able to build on their own, and one of the biggest themes in our conversation is data, with Ryan arguing that most credit unions don’t have a data shortage; they have a connection problem. We discuss how bringing information together can help leaders make smarter decisions and how conversational business intelligence could change the way we interact with dashboards and reports. Instead of simply asking what happened, leaders can start asking what changed, why it matters, and what they should do next. As we wrap up the conversation, the two of us also take a look at the growing need for fintech-grade tools without credit unions having to become fintechs themselves, including Corporate Central’s Beastro platform and the future of instant payments. Listen as Ryan shares why speed also brings new risks, particularly around fraud, and why he believes that credit unions should help shape the next generation of financial infrastructure rather than wait for it to be built for them, and, as usual, we undergo a round of rapidfire questions, with Ryan talking about baseball stadiums, family, leadership, work-life balance, a book that he loves, and his advice for resisting the urge to chase every shiny new tool! I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Ryan McMillan! Connect with Ryan: | |||
| Coopetition - Innovative Business Solutions | 16 Oct 2026 | 00:22:31 | |
“We know we’ve a common problem. We know we’ve got to solve that problem. And even though were competing with each other, it will make all of us better if we cooperate.” – Mark Cox Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Mark Cox, President and CEO at Innovative Business Solutions. He joins me for a conversation about commercial lending, collaboration, and the ways credit unions can expand their impact in their communities, and he shares his journey from aspiring heart surgeon to a 37-year career in commercial banking and, eventually, the credit union space. We talk about how Innovative Business Solutions helps credit unions build and grow commercial lending programs without having to develop all the expertise and infrastructure in-house, with Mark breaking down some of the biggest concerns that credit unions have around commercial lending—including risk, cost, and staffing—and explaining how a collaborative CUSO model can help address those barriers. Throughout our conversation, Mark and I spend time talking about one of his biggest passions: affordable housing. He shares why he believes credit unions have an important role to play in addressing the housing crisis and highlights Duome and its innovative approach to helping more people overcome the affordability gap when purchasing a home. We also discuss ways credit unions can become more involved in local housing initiatives beyond traditional community service efforts. As we wrap up the conversation, we look ahead at what’s next for IBS, including continued collaboration with business partners, and, of course, as per usual, we wrap things up with some rapid-fire questions about leadership, mentoring, fishing, favorite cities, a book recommendation, and finding balance between work and life. Perhaps most importantly, Mark and I talk about the idea of “coopetition”—how organizations can work together to solve common problems, even when they’re competing in the same market. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Cox! Connect with Mark: | |||
| Human by Design - PixelSpoke | 02 Oct 2026 | 00:18:32 | |
“The credit unions that will stand out are going to be the ones that use technology to make the human experience better.” - Katie Stone Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today’s show are Katie Stone and Dave Drouin of PixelSpoke. Katie is the CEO and co-owner while Dave is the President and co-owner, and they were both on the show two years ago when we talked about credit union websites. This time, however, I wanted to take that conversation a step further: What can a credit union website communicate about who you are beyond your products and services? Katie and Dave make a compelling case that a website should be much more than a place to check rates, apply for a loan, or open an account. It should be one of the clearest expressions of your brand and a place where members and prospective members can get a sense of your people, your community, your values, and what makes your credit union different. Throughout our conversation, the three of us talk about the balance between conversion and connection, including some surprisingly simple ways that credit unions can make their websites more relevant and distinctive. Dave shares some examples from PixelSpoke clients that show how things such as localized imagery, member photography, community landmarks, and flexible homepage content can make a meaningful difference without requiring a massive redesign, and, of course, we talk about AI. As more of the internet becomes automated and AI-generated, Katie explains why being genuinely human may become even more important, and we discuss how credit unions can use AI as a tool without allowing their content to lose the stories, expertise, and community knowledge that make them unique. As we wrap up the episode, Katie and Dave look ahead to the future and share their thoughts on finding the right balance between technology and the human side of financial services. Technology isn't going away, and credit unions can't afford to fall behind, but there are important questions to ask about how it's used and who it ultimately serves. We ultimately close with a simple challenge: Take a fresh look at your website and ask yourself whether someone would recognize your credit union if the logo and product names were removed. If the answer is no, then Katie and Dave have some ideas about where to start. Enjoy my conversation with Katie Stone and Dave Dourin!
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| Preparing for the Firefight - Allied Solutions | 30 Sep 2026 | 00:13:06 | |
“Stop pretending you can prevent every attack. You will be attacked.” – David Ralstin Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is David Ralstin, VP and Chief Information Security Officer at Allied Solutions. He joins me to discuss cybersecurity threats which are moving faster than ever. Having a disaster recovery policy sitting on a shelf isn’t enough, and David discusses what credit unions can do to help ensure that they’re prepared for that moment when something goes wrong. Throughout our conversation, we look at how organizations can validate their recovery capabilities beyond a written plan or an annual tabletop exercise, with David explaining why continuous monitoring is so important and how measuring mean time to detect can provide a better picture of an organization’s preparedness, especially as AI-enabled attacks accelerate the timeline from reconnaissance to attack from weeks to hours or even minutes. We also discuss third-party and fourth-party risk, including why operational transparency and consistent communication are so incredibly important when a vendor experiences an incident. From there, we dig into the limitations of relying too heavily on compliance and annual SOC audits when security risks are constantly changing. One of the biggest takeaways, though, is the importance of having an incident command structure in place before a crisis happens, and David shares why organizations need clear communication channels, predetermined decision-making authority, and even an out-of-band way to communicate if their usual systems have been compromised, and yes, the idea of attackers monitoring the very channels defenders are using to respond is just as scary as it sounds! As we wrap up the conversation, David reminds us that even setting aside an hour to think through “what if?” scenarios can make a real difference. After all, we don’t have to predict every possible attack, but we can make thoughtful decisions before we’re forced to make them in the middle of a firefight. He highlights the fact that organizations should define incident-response authority in advance so that critical decisions aren't delayed until a crisis is already taking place. It's so important to have a clear decision-making “script” or plan in place as it prevents anxiety and chaos from slowing the response. Enjoy my conversation with David Ralstin! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Workplace Connection - CU Student Choice | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:36:55 | |
"The collaborative and information-sharing culture within the credit union space has been very enlightening and inspiring to me." - Doug Farry Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Doug Farry, SVP of CU Student Choice and Director of the Employer Choice Platform. He joins me for this conversation to talk about how the workplace could become one of the most meaningful places for credit unions to build relationships with members again. We talk about how Employer Choice is bringing credit union services directly into an employee’s benefits ecosystem and why that could make a real difference for people who are living paycheck to paycheck. Doug explains why the platform started with a no-credit-check small-dollar loan designed to help employees handle the kinds of unexpected expenses that can quickly become financial crises, from car repairs and medical deductibles to home repairs, and we discuss how payroll-connected repayment changes the equation, why this approach is different from early wage access, and how credit unions can still practice responsible underwriting without relying on a traditional credit score. Throughout our conversation, we take a step back and look at the history behind the idea. Credit unions were originally built around relationships between employers and employees, and Doug sees Employer Choice as a chance to reconnect with that part of the movement’s roots, while creating new ways to serve people who may not have many good financial options. The possibilities even go beyond emergency lending, and Doug shares how the platform could eventually support payroll-deposited savings, direct deposit incentives, and other services that help employees build a stronger financial foundation rather than simply solve the crisis in front of them. As we wrap up the episode, we also get to know Doug outside of his work. He discusses his appreciation for a good bottle of bourbon, two cities that he loves to visit, the book that made a lasting impression on him, and why he has to deliberately schedule time with his family. Most of all, though, Doug shares what has surprised and inspired him about the credit union movement: its willingness to collaborate, share ideas, and learn from one another. Enjoy my conversation with Doug Farry! Connect with Doug: | |||
| Data First, People Always - NextLeft | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:19:29 | |
“Taking their ground game and putting it online is where credit unions have a lot of room to win against banks and fintechs.” – John McKusick My guest on today’s show is John McKusick, CEO of NextLeft. He joins me for this episode to discuss what it takes for credit unions to stand out in a world where most people begin their search online. He shares how his path to leading a digital marketing agency is anything but conventional because he originally dreamed of becoming a professional surfer, discovered a love for computers and design, and eventually built one of the country’s largest independent digital marketing firms. Along the way, he became increasingly interested in using marketing to provide genuine value rather than simply chasing clicks, and today, that philosophy shapes NextLeft’s work with credit unions! Throughout our conversation, John and I discuss why credit unions have a significant advantage that banks and fintechs can’t easily replicate: their local relationships and community presence, and we talk about how bringing that “ground game” online via hyper-local digital strategies can help credit unions become more visible to the people they’re trying to serve. We look at the credit union website in a different way—as the organization’s main branch rather than simply a digital brochure, with John explaining how websites can better serve existing members while also addressing the questions and concerns that keep potential new members from joining. We also get into data and AI, including how credit unions can use search data to understand what matters to their communities without sacrificing the human connection that makes them distinctive. As we wrap up the conversation, John shares what’s ahead for NextLeft, including the development of DuckDive AI and its effort to connect marketing and operational data, and, of course, we have fun with some rapidfire questions and talk surfing destinations, entrepreneurship, leadership, and finding a healthy relationship between work and life. John also leaves us with a challenge that I believe is worth hearing: credit unions have what it takes to win, and now they need to show people why. Enjoy my conversation with John McKusick!
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| Speed Without Compromise - Origence | 04 Sep 2026 | 00:15:46 | |
“Find or do something in your career that you enjoy, and this will help bring passion to what you do every day.” - Marlene Juarez Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Marlene Juarez, Vice President of Professional Services & Training at Origence. She joins me in this episode for a conversation about technology, lending, leadership, and the experiences that shape a career in the credit union movement. Tune in as Marlene reflects on how her path to her current role certainly wasn’t a straight line. She shares how she started out in finance, where working in lending and collections taught her some valuable lessons about understanding borrowers. From there, she moved into the credit union world, eventually becoming a vice president before stepping back to spend more time with her growing family. That decision ultimately led her to Origence, where she has now spent more than two decades building expertise across credit unions, dealerships, lending, and technology. Throughout our conversation, Marlene and I discuss what makes Origence different from a traditional technology vendor, including its CUSO structure and deep connection to the credit union community. Marlene also shares why “Go Live” shouldn’t be viewed as the finish line for a technology implementation but rather as the beginning of something that needs to evolve alongside a credit union’s goals, members, and compliance requirements. We also talk a bit about AI, with Marlene making a truly compelling case for starting with something much less flashy: clean data, and we talk about what practical, useful AI should actually accomplish in lending as well as why reducing friction and producing meaningful results matters more than chasing the biggest promises. As we wrap up the conversation, we get into developing the next generation of leaders, the importance of mentorship, and the value of listening to new ideas, and, of course, Marlene undergoes our usual round of rapid-fire questions as we get to find out about her favorite way to splurge, her favorite book, her approach to work-life balance, what she looks for when traveling to a new city, and more! Enjoy my conversation with Marlene Juarez!
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| Strategic Leadership - DDJ Myers | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:21:09 | |
“You have to really understand yourself before you can be a leader of others.” – Deedee Myers Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is returning guest Deedee Myers, CEO of DDJ Myers. She joins me for this episode for a conversation about what it takes for credit unions to keep moving forward. We have previously talked about the future of credit union leadership, and this time, we’re building on that discussion with a closer look at the people and practices that can make a real difference. We kick things off with the boardroom, with Deedee sharing why a high-performing board can become a genuine competitive advantage and why a status-quo mindset can have the opposite effect. The two of us discuss what separates boards that are actively shaping their organizations from those which have become too comfortable, including the importance of preparation, meaningful conversations, accountability and keeping pace with a changing industry. Throughout our conversation, we discuss technology, generational change, and the evolving role of HR, with Deedee explaining why board members need broader experiences with the technology and services their members use as well as why HR has an increasingly important seat at the planning table. Deedee also gives us a look at what’s ahead for DDJ Myers and its expanding relationship with ALM First, including a more integrated approach to supporting credit unions from the balance sheet to the boardroom. As we wrap up the conversation, we have a little fun and so something a little unusual. Deedee's son Bryce Myers-Haeussler joins us for our rapid-fire questions, sharing his own career plans, favorite ways to recharge and some exciting personal milestones, and we finally wrap up with a reminder from DeeDee to recognize our own mastery, keep growing into it and help others find theirs! I hope that you enjoy this conversation with Deedee Myers!
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| Invisible Plumbing - Tyfone | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:23:02 | |
“AI companies have incredible convenience and are working on trust. Credit unions have trust and are working on convenience. The only question is who gets there first.” – Siva Narendra Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Siva Narendra, CEO and Co-Founder of Tyfone who returns to the podcast after having previously been featured in episode 100. This time, he joins me to discuss how AI is changing financial services at an alarming rate and what that means for credit unions. Tune in as Siva shares why he believes trust remains credit unions' greatest advantage but also explains why that advantage won't last forever unless institutions rethink how they approach it. We talk about why simply adding AI-powered features isn't enough, how credit unions can remain central to members' financial lives, and why the race between trust and convenience is accelerating faster than many people even realize. Throughout our conversation, Siva and I also explore why he regards lending as one of the strongest long-term opportunities in the AI era, the growing importance of identity verification, and the security challenges that come with increasingly sophisticated AI tools. Along the way, he offers some practical insights into how Tyfone is building technology designed to help credit unions embrace innovation without compromising the relationships that have always set them apart. As we wrap up the conversation, Siva discusses the inventor who inspires him most, the surprisingly indispensable purchase that's become part of his daily routine, the podcasts he relies on to stay informed, and why gardening (and a daily commute with his wife) continues to help him maintain balance outside of work. Enjoy this conversation with Siva Narendra! Connect with Siva: Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Siva G. Narendra (episode #100) | |||
| Trust - Gallagher | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:30:46 | |
“Trust is something that can only be built by consistently doing the right thing over an extended period of time.” - Jeremy DeBruin Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Jeremy DeBruin, Senior Area Vice President at Gallagher. Jeremy's story perfectly captures what sets the credit union market apart, and he shares how growing up in a blue-collar family shaped his outlook on work, leadership, and service—and why a pivotal moment from his childhood gave him an appreciation for a people-first philosophy. We discuss Jeremy's path into executive benefits, and the role Gallagher plays in helping credit unions hold onto exceptional leaders while remaining accountable long after a plan is put into place. Jeremy explains why his team is committed to providing guidance, administrative support, and follow-through for decades, ensuring credit unions have a trusted partner throughout the life of every plan! Throughout our conversation, we spend time discussing what the strongest organizations are doing to prepare for the future, from succession planning and attracting younger leadership to building cultures that encourage talented people to stay and grow. Jeremy offers some thoughtful insights into how trust is earned, why patience often leads to better decisions than chasing the latest trend, and how an entire team working behind the scenes helps deliver the consistency clients depend on year after year. As we wrap up the episode, Jeremy undergoes the usual round of rapid-fire questions, and he shares the leadership lessons that he learned from his father and longtime mentor Rich Brock. He also shares his fascination with mechanical watches, his favorite places to travel, the books that help keep his priorities in perspective, and why he remains deeply grateful to spend his career serving credit unions. Enjoy my conversation with Jeremy DeBruin! Connect with Jeremy: Consulting and insurance brokerage services to be provided by Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. and/or its affiliate Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc. Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., a non-investment firm and subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., is a licensed insurance agency that does business in California as “Gallagher Benefit Services of California Insurance Services” and in Massachusetts as “Gallagher Benefit Insurance Services.” Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth. Neither Osaic Wealth nor their affiliates provide accounting, legal or tax advice. | |||
| Relationship-Focused - Strum Platform | 07 Aug 2026 | 00:28:13 | |
“The institutions we will see win with AI will be the ones that use it to become more human.” - Laurie Flanders Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Laurie Flanders, SVP of Client Experience & Growth at Strum Platform. She joins me for this episode to shed light on a common misconception about data: that collecting more of it automatically leads to better member experiences. Laurie challenges that assumption, exploring why data alone isn't enough. Instead, she explains what it takes for credit unions to transform information into meaningful action that delivers real value for members. She reflects on her unconventional career path from studying English to working in banking, risk management, branch operations, and ultimately helping credit unions strengthen relationships with members via technology. Throughout our conversation, Laurie explains why understanding data matters far more than simply having it and how disconnected systems often prevent institutions from delivering the experiences that members expect. We also discuss Strum Platform's new CRM built specifically for credit unions and why an approach focused on relationships looks very different from the sales-first CRMs that dominate the market. Laurie explains how bringing member information together in one place can help employees serve members more effectively without adding yet another complicated system to their daily workflow. As we wrap up the conversation, we turn to the timely topic of AI. Laurie makes the case that, rather than replacing employees, AI has the potential to eliminate tedious work, giving people more time to focus on what matters most: building genuine human connections. We discuss how credit unions can embrace emerging technology while staying true to the people-first philosophy that has always set them apart, and, of course, Laurie undergoes our usual round of rapid-fire questions. Enjoy this insightful conversation with Laurie Flanders!
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| Infrastructure First - Nexcess | 24 Jul 2026 | 00:18:23 | |
“Infrastructure used to be invisible. Now, it’s the brand. ” - Kamila Thompson Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Kamila Thompson, Senior Director of Growth at Nexcess. She comes on the show to discuss the way that we think about technology, trust, and the future of digital banking. Listen as we talk about protecting a credit union’s core system and why the systems surrounding it can have an even more profound impact on security, compliance, and the member experience. Throughout our conversation, Kamila explains how digital transformation has left many institutions managing vendors and integrations, creating complications that often are not understood until an examination or outage exposes the gaps. She shares some practical insights into why leaders need to explain the “why” of their technology in plain language, and we also discuss what organizations can do to better prepare for future exams while strengthening resilience behind the scenes. We explore how member expectations have changed over time—reliability is no longer defined by branch hours or friendly service alone but is measured by whether digital experiences work flawlessly when members need them. Kamila makes the case that infrastructure has become part of a credit union’s brand and that trust is built via consistent and dependable technology! As we wrap up the episode, Kamila looks ahead to AI-ready infrastructure, the growing role of purpose-built cloud environments, and why credit unions shouldn’t have to choose between innovation, compliance, and security. She also undergoes our usual round of rapid-fire questions, and you're going to want to tune in for her answers. Enjoy my conversation with Kamila Thompson! Connect with Kamila: | |||
| Self-Issuance - i2c | 10 Jul 2026 | 00:14:02 | |
"Direct issuance offers credit unions the ability to have more touch points and connect with their members to help solve business challenges.” - Geoff Dean Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today’s show are Dan Hanks, SVP of Global Product Management, and Geoff Dean, Director of Commercial Product Management - both of i2c Inc. They come on board for this episode to talk about how card programs can play a much bigger role in a credit union's long-term success than many people may realize, which is why more credit unions are taking a fresh look at self-issuance and how today's technology is making that option more accessible to institutions that may have ruled it out in the past. Throughout our conversation, we compare the traditional agent banking model with self-issuance, explaining some of the differences when it comes to control, profitability, and the overall member experience. Dan and Geoff discuss why owning more of the card program can help credit unions strengthen member relationships, respond more effectively to member needs, and protect the trust that sets them apart from larger financial institutions. They also explain why self-issuance isn't simply about issuing cards but is also about creating better products, offering more flexibility, and positioning credit unions to serve members in more meaningful ways. As we wrap up the episode, we explore how modern processing platforms support the ability to self-issue while also reducing many of the barriers that once made self-issuance difficult for smaller organizations. They offer some memorable closing remarks, persuading credit unions to leverage modern technology to incorporate self-issuance, stressing the importance of strengthening member relationships. Enjoy my conversation with Dan and Geoff! Connect with Dan & Geoff: | |||
| Hidden Costs - Quavo | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:30:32 | |
““A true strategic partner understands what your goals and challenges are and brings solutions and ideas on how to solve those problems.” – Rex Richardson Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Rex Richardson, Director of Client Processing at Quavo Fraud & Disputes. He unpacks how his unexpected path into financial services led him through more than 17 years of direct experience in fraud, claims, and back-office operations before ultimately landing his current role. Listen in as Rex shares how early influences set the stage for a career built around understanding complex systems and the people they impact. Throughout our conversation, we dig into what the fraud and disputes space looks like behind the scenes, with Rex breaking down how Quavo approaches it from initiation through investigation, recovery, and resolution, while also leveraging automation, compliance, and emerging AI tools. The result is not just operational efficiency, but also a faster and more transparent experience for members who are often dealing with urgent financial concerns. Our conversation also turns to one of the biggest pressures that credit unions are facing today: rising amounts of disputes paired with staffing and budget constraints, and Rex walks us through why simply adding more people isn’t always sustainable, instead making the case for strategic partnerships that bring forth expertise, automation, and compliance support. We also explore the hidden costs that creep into inefficient systems such as longer resolution times, increased member contact, and growing operational strain that can quietly increase expenses. As we wrap up the episode, Rex reflects on what separates a true strategic partner from a traditional staffing solution, highlighting the importance of collaboration, problem-solving, and long-term alignment over short-term labor support. We close with a discussion on the integration of AI in fraud investigations, with Rex sharing how human-in-the-loop decision-making could help speed up resolutions while still maintaining oversight and accuracy. Enjoy this insightful conversation with Rex Richardson! Connect with Rex: | |||
| What Matters Now - TruStage | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:12:01 | |
“Growth will not come from doing more of the same, but from deeply understanding and connecting with younger consumers.” - Opal Tomashevska Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Opal Tomashevska, Director of Multicultural Business Strategy at TruStage. She joins me for this episode to discuss TruStage’s 2026 “What Matters Now” study and its interesting findings, highlighting that sustainable growth in 2026 begins with recognizing that today’s consumers cannot be treated with a one-size-fits-all approach. Throughout our conversation, we talk about how younger consumers are reshaping expectations, why financial stability has become a bigger priority than traditional milestones for many Americans, and what credit unions could be missing when it comes to building meaningful relationships with diverse communities. Opal also shares some fascinating insights around neurodivergent consumers, including why they report higher levels of financial worry despite strong employment rates, as well as the continued rise of the “hustle economy” and what that means for financial institutions. As we wrap up the episode, we explore how consumers are researching financial products today, the growing influence of social media and AI, and why convenience alone isn’t enough to earn long-term loyalty, with Opal’s focusing on turning research into action. Rather than stopping at data and trends, she explains how credit unions can use these insights to better serve members, strengthen trust, and stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Opal Tomashevska! Connect with Opal: | |||
| Build, Buy, or Partner - Allied Solutions | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:19:29 | |
“If we don't forget where we've come from, we're well positioned to continue to win share and growth in the future.” - Bill Gould Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Bill Gould, president of Allied Solutions. Our conversation today couldn’t be timelier, because since his last appearance on the podcast, Bill has stepped into the role of president at Allied Solutions, giving him an even broader view of the challenges and opportunities that credit unions face today. We kick off by talking about his journey, the remarkable story behind Allied Solutions, and how the company continues to help credit unions grow, protect what they’ve built, recover when challenges come up, and stay prepared for what comes next. Throughout our conversation, one theme that keeps coming up is the idea of “build, buy, or partner,” and Bill shares why there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for making those decisions. He explains how credit unions can determine which capabilities should remain core to their organization and which are better supported via outside expertise. In addition, Bill and I talk about one of the biggest realities facing the industry right now: growth through mergers, and Bill offers some practical insights into how credit unions can bring organizations together, thoughtfully integrate technology, and create member experiences that are consistent without losing sight of what makes each institution unique. As we wrap up the episode, we look ahead at the trends shaping the future, including AI, compliance, regulation, automation, and the increasing pace of change across financial services, and, of course, we, as always, get to know our guest a little more personally with a series of rapid-fire questions. Bill shares the leaders who have influenced him most, the books that have shaped his perspective, why family experiences are always worth the investment, and how he stays connected with loved ones despite a demanding travel schedule. Enjoy my conversation with Bill Gould! | |||
| Trust Moments - Casap | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:31:14 | |
“I'm so passionate about creating a world where fraud is rare and trust between a member and their credit union is a given.” - Shanthi Shanmugam Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Shanthi Shanmugam, CEO of Casap. She joins me for this episode to discuss the winding path that took her from studying computer science at UC Berkeley to helping credit unions rethink one of the most stressful moments in the member experience: disputes. Throughout our conversation, Shanthi makes it evident that she is passionate about building technology that feels human. She shares stories from her time at Facebook and Robinhood, including the moment when she realized that she wanted to spend her career solving problems that genuinely matter to people. Hear how that mindset eventually led to the formation of Casap, an AI-powered platform helping credit unions reduce fraud losses, improve dispute resolution, and strengthen member trust without losing the human judgment these situations often require. We also dig into why disputes are far more than just operational headaches, with Shanthi explaining why they’re “trust moments” that can determine whether a member stays loyal to their financial institution or walks away entirely. As we wrap up the episode, Shanthi talks about her love for custom suits, Bollywood dancing, Colorado Springs, and why Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People still resonates with her years after first reading it. Enjoy my conversation with Shanthi Shanmugam! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Shanthi: Show notes from this episode: In this episode: | |||
| Persona Shift - evok credit union marketing | 29 May 2026 | 00:22:27 | |
“Start simple and stay curious.” - Larry Meador Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Larry Meador, CEO of evok credit union marketing. Our conversation goes far beyond marketing buzzwords and demographic charts, with Larry sharing how a kid obsessed with commercials and creativity eventually found his way into advertising and the credit union world. Along the way, hear the wildly scrappy origin story behind evok! Throughout our conversation, Larry explains why demographics alone don’t tell the full story and why understanding motivations, anxieties, habits, and emotional triggers matters so much more than simply targeting “women 35 to 54.” We talk about the difference between target audiences and personas, how digital personalization has completely changed member expectations, and why credit unions can’t afford to sound generic anymore. Larry also breaks down how his team helps credit unions identify who they’re already connecting with, where future opportunities exist, and how behavior-driven marketing can help strengthen loyalty in an era when consumers can move money with simply a few taps on their phones. As we wrap up the episode, Larry talks about why travel makes him a better marketer, the lessons that he has learned from coaches and family members, and why communication sits at the center of great leadership. Enjoy my conversation with Larry Meador! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Larry: | |||
| Strive to Delight - LemonadeLXP | 15 May 2026 | 00:22:31 | |
“Strive to delight … it's a great ethos to live by.” - John Findlay Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is John Findlay, CEO of LemonadeLXP. He sits down with me to talk about learning, curiosity, and why most workplace training completely misses the mark. He shares his path to CEO, opens up about being labeled a “terrible student”, and how he knew early on that he was meant to build something of his own. From launching businesses right out of high school to using gamification before it even had a name, his story is a reminder that unconventional paths can lead to meaningful innovation. Throughout our conversation, we spend a lot of time discussing a problem that feels almost universal: when learning feels like a chore, people check out, but when it’s designed to be interactive and even enjoyable, that becomes a different story. We also get into how AI is changing the equation—not in a vague, buzzwordy way but in practical terms such as how it can reduce onboarding time, offer answers in real moments of need, and help organizations retain knowledge. As we wrap up the episode, John goes through our usual round of rapid-fire questions, revealing that he is a self-proclaimed “geopolitics nerd”, and why he recommends an especially “epic” book. Enjoy my conversation with John Findlay! | |||
| Know Your Members - Abrigo | 01 May 2026 | 00:15:25 | |
“If you understand your members, you'll know what products and services to offer.” - Rob Newberry Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Rob Newberry, Senior Consultant at Abrigo. Rob’s story begins about as far from finance as you can get—on a dairy farm in rural Iowa. His perspective was shaped not by what he wanted to become, but by what he knew he didn’t, and that path eventually led him from an entry-level role in the mortgage industry, to a VP position at Wells Fargo, and later to building a company of his own focused on supporting credit unions and community banks! In our conversation, Rob calls attention to something that feels increasingly rare in financial services: genuine human connection. He deconstructs why relationship lending still matters and why the best lenders aren’t the ones chasing the lowest rate but rather the ones who truly understand their members. His “Know Your Members” mindset is a practical way to think about risk, retention, and long-term value. We also get into the conflict that can come up between efficiency and authenticity. With AI reshaping workflows on the daily—from loan write-ups to risk analysis—Rob offers a fresh but grounded take on what technology can and can’t do. As we wrap up the episode, Rob shares his thoughts on effective leadership, where in the world he would like to travel, and his love for live music. Enjoy my conversation with Rob Newberry! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Rob: | |||
| Mergers - CUCollaborate | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:25:13 | |
“I can have significance in my life and my career in terms of helping credit unions and in some small way leave the world in a better place.” - Chris Tissue Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Chris Tissue, Chief Operating Officer at CUCollaborate, and he joins me for this episode to discuss something that can really spark some strong opinions across the industry—mergers. Listen in as he shares how his career path (from growing up in Pittsburgh in a family of entrepreneurs to working at Callahan & Associates, Deloitte, and Grant Thornton) eventually led him back to the credit union movement and into a role where he helps institutions think strategically about growth. In our conversation, we start with Chris’s early career journey and how a liberal arts graduate who once dreamed of entrepreneurship found himself immersed in the credit union world. That experience ended up coming full circle when he joined a former colleague to build out the consulting practice at CUCollaborate. Along the way, he and I discuss what the organization does day-to-day, and we also, of course, spend a good portion of the conversation discussing mergers, with Chris explaining how the industry historically viewed mergers as emergency solutions for struggling institutions. Nowadays, however, more financially healthy credit unions are considering mergers as a strategy to compete effectively and invest in the future, and Chris shares how his team approaches this work with a clear principle in mind: if a merger doesn’t meaningfully benefit members, it just should not happen. As we wrap up the episode, we touch upon Chris’s craft beer passion, the leadership influence of his grandfather, why Chicago in the summer tops his travel list, and more! Enjoy my conversation with Chris Tissue!
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| Activation Gap - Swaystack | 03 Apr 2026 | 00:17:49 | |
“The exciting part of life is innovating—creating, filling the gap where previously there was a void.” - Har Rai Khalsa Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Har Rai Khalsa, Co-Founder and CEO of Swaystack. He joins me for a conversation about a challenge which many credit unions quietly wrestle with: turning new accounts into real, active relationships. Har Rai’s path into fintech wasn’t exactly the one he imagined as a kid. Like a lot of young athletes, he once pictured himself going pro, inspired by legends such as Derek Jeter. Instead, his career began in lending, where he spent years learning the mechanics of onboarding, underwriting, and the systems which power financial institutions. He also explains how that experience eventually led him to build technology solutions for financial institutions and ultimately launching Swaystack. In our conversation, Har Rai shares how his team approached building their company and how—rather than assuming that they knew what credit unions needed—they began by asking a lot of questions. In their early conversations with credit unions, a surprising theme revealed itself: growth wasn’t actually the real problem. Many institutions were opening plenty of accounts, but far too many of those accounts were going inactive within months. We discuss why those first 90 days after opening an account are so incredibly important. Hear how onboarding responsibilities are scattered across departments such as marketing, retail, lending, and digital—yet no one actually owns the outcomes that matter most: balances, transactions, and direct deposit adoption. As we wrap up the episode, Har Rai talks about how he appreciates a nice car, the cities he loves to visit, a book recommendation, and more! I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Har Rai Khalsa! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Cover Your Assets - ClaimStinger | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:21:16 | |
“You make the best of what you've got, and you document it and you protect people. It can make a humongous difference in families that might be struggling right now.” - James Bishop Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is James Bishop, founder of ClaimStinger. His story doesn’t start out in a boardroom but rather in Southern Colorado playing cowboy on a dude ranch, then repairing hail-damaged cars, then running a shop, and finally asking a critical question: Why is the insurance process so confusing, so slow, and so stacked against everyday people? From that question, ClaimStinger was born, and what James is building now has serious implications for credit unions, their members, and the way vehicle assets are protected. In our conversation, James and I discuss the quiet documentation gaps that cost members thousands of dollars. James explains why insurance companies are increasingly denying claims due to missing photo evidence, how that drains equity from vehicles, and why credit unions feel the ripple effects in their loan portfolios. James walks us through the concept of “the birthdate of a loan,” and we also dig into what happens when members are left alone to deal with adjusters, estimates, and confusing checks that never quite cover the damage. James shares some actual stories from his repair shop—people driving devalued cars for over a year because they’re scared, stuck, or unsure what to do next. His proposed solution to this problem is to pair simple, plug-and-play technology with education that empowers credit union teams and members alike! As we wrap up the episode, James talks about the grandmother who mentored him, the grandsons he’s investing his time in, his love of museums and sci-fi, and why “playing in the dirt” is his version of balance. This conversation is about a lot more than just software; it’s about protecting what people work hard for and making sure that no one feels stranded when life throws a curveball. Enjoy my conversation with James Bishop!
Want to hear more from James? Click here. | |||
| Strategic Problem Solving - SRM | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:31:07 | |
“I love what credit unions stand for. I think we continue to provide relevancy and value to communities and our members.” - Cisco Malpartida Smith Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today's show is Cisco Malpartida Smith, Managing Director of Strategic Advisory at SRM. We discuss the future of credit unions and the strategic thinking that is needed to keep the movement strong, and Cisco shares the story of how his career began in a remarkable way, starting a student-run credit union while serving as student body president in college. He touches upon how that experience set him on a path that would eventually lead to CEO roles, strategic leadership positions, and advising institutions across the country! In our conversation, Cisco walks us through the work that he does today helping credit unions solve complex strategic problems, especially when it comes to growth. One of the biggest challenges that he covers is the rising average age of credit union members. Cisco explains why this causes financial pressure, with older members typically saving more and borrowing less. He also explains a strategy that he has spent decades refining—connecting credit unions with colleges and universities to reach the next generation of members. As we wrap up the episode, Cisco reveals a huge leadership influence on him, what he thinks about maintaining balance between career, family, and community service, and so much more! Perhaps most importantly, he shares an incredibly powerful strategy that has shaped his thinking: the idea of creating meaningful differentiation so that credit unions aren’t simply competing in the same crowded marketplace as everyone else. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Cisco Malpartida Smith! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Cisco: Book mentioned: Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne | |||
| CU Unplugged - DCUC & KFCU | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:12:54 | |
“We engage … and encourage more thinking, more ideas, more innovation.” - Tony Hernandez Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today's show are Anthony “Tony” Hernandez, President and CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, along with Maggie Sayer, President and CEO of Keys Federal Credit Union and DCUC Board Chair. They join me for this episode of the podcast to discuss CU Unplugged! CU Unplugged is not your standard conference with a ballroom, a rigid agenda, and politely timed applause. CU Unplugged is intentionally unstructured without keynote headliners or prepackaged talking points. As Tony puts it, the attendees are the agenda. In our conversation, we cover why collaboration is the credit union movement’s superpower and why traditional formats don’t always give that superpower room to work. Maggie shares why the open-to-all approach matters so much to her, especially coming from an IT background before becoming a CEO. With facilitators guiding so many outcomes and, of course, AI capturing key discussions, CU Unplugged isn’t just talk; it’s truly a launchpad in that insights from this event will directly shape breakout sessions at DCUC’s annual conference! As we wrap up the episode, we also get into timely issues such as, again, AI, crypto, governance, and what “AI” even means in practice. The smaller, intentionally designed setting of CU Unplugged creates space for honest questions and renewed curiosity! By the end of our conversation, one theme absolutely stands out: energy - energy, confidence, and the motivation to not just absorb ideas but to also carry them back, share them, and lead with them! Enjoy my conversation with Tony and Maggie! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Anthony: Connect with Maggie: | |||
| Agentic AI - Scienaptic AI | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:18:51 | |
“We know that trust is non-negotiable.” - Vinay Bhaskar Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today’s show are Patrick McElhenie, Chief Growth Officer and Vinay Bhaskar, Chief Operating Officer of Scienaptic AI. We discuss where lending is headed and why the next leap in AI could fundamentally change how credit unions operate. In our conversation, Patrick and Vinay explain how Scienaptic helps credit unions approve more loans while reducing risk and improving members’ experiences. We learn how Scienaptic’s platform considers the full life cycle of the member so that decisions are not isolated. We then dig into the main topic of the episode: agentic AI, with Patrick breaking it down into simple terms for us. While traditional AI helps answer “Should we approve this loan?” agentic AI asks, “What should we do next?” Agentic AI can coordinate workflows across systems while keeping humans firmly in control. As we wrap up the episode, Vinay also shares where credit unions will first feel the impact, especially within the first 60-90 days. He projects fewer false declines, more targeted engagement, and teams spending less time chasing data and more time working directly with members. We talk about explainability, audit trails, compliance guardrails, and what “governed autonomy” really looks like in practice. Finally, in closing, Patrick shares what he sees for Scienaptic’s future on the road ahead. Enjoy my conversation with Patrick McElhenie and Vinay Bhaskar! | |||
| The Messy Middle - Coviance | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:23:12 | |
“Whoever provides the ultimate user experience wins at the end of the day.” - Omar Jordan Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Omar Jordan, founder and CEO of Coviance. He shares how an unconventional path, fueled by curiosity, problem-solving, and what he openly calls “extreme ADHD,” led him from subprime lending in the early 2000s to founding what’s now Coviance! His story that he shares in this episode is truly a reminder that the credit union movement has always attracted people who see friction and feel compelled to fix it. In our conversation, Omar and I talk about his early days and what he learned when the economy collapsed—the culture shock that he experienced when he first stepped into credit unions and saw how many processes were still held together by spreadsheets, sticky notes, and fax machines. Omar realized that members weren’t frustrated by rates or products nearly as much as they were confused by silence, delays, and a lack of transparency once they clicked “submit.” We also discuss what he calls the “messy middle” of lending, spending time on why modernizing home equity isn’t about swapping out a LOS but is about questioning old assumptions that no longer serve members or staff. We also get into a topic that can make people uncomfortable: pricing, with Omar making a strong case that members aren’t chasing cheap but are chasing clarity, speed, and service! As we wrap up the episode, Omar shares lessons learned from building a company, raising kids, and realizing that success looks different at 25 than it does at 45. He even reveals what was on his Spotify Wrapped this past year! Enjoy my conversation with Omar Jordan! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Effective Cybersecurity - Synergent | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:19:28 | |
“Cybersecurity really is just another risk. I think where we complicate it sometimes is in the language we use to talk about it.” - Steve Torino Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Steve Torino, Chief Information Security Officer at Synergent. Steve’s path to cybersecurity was not a straight line, and he didn’t grow up dreaming about credit unions or information security. What stayed constant, though, was a deep curiosity about technology and how systems work, which eventually carried him from community banking to national payment processing and ultimately to Synergent. In our conversation, we spend a lot of time talking about what effective cybersecurity governance actually looks like for credit unions and why it is so important. Steve breaks down how governance starts at the board level, how expectations flow through management, and why cybersecurity should be treated like any other form of enterprise risk. We also dig into collaboration and information sharing—one of the credit union movement’s biggest strengths, and Steve points to leagues and professional groups as ways that credit unions can learn from one another. As we wrap up the episode, Steve talks about the mentor that influenced his life, how he loves traveling to Dallas, recommends a cybersecurity book that every can use, and more! Enjoy my conversation with Steve Torino!
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| Secure Tomorrows - Securian Financial | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:16:09 | |
“Securian holds a steadfast commitment to its customers, partners, and the broader community by honoring its promises and insuring dependable protection.” – Cynthia Billingsley-Smart Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Cynthia Billingsley-Smart, Customer Benefit Payments Manager at Securian Financial, whose journey is as inspiring as it is insightful. She has built a career that truly makes an impact, moving from examiner to senior specialist, trainer, auditor, supervisor, and now manager. She discusses what it really means to support credit unions and their members, and Cynthia reflects on Securian's purpose statement to build secure tomorrows. In our conversation, we talk about how Securian guides the way that they deliver protection products that make a measurable difference when members face unexpected challenges, and Cynthia highlights the fact that partnerships and product innovations aren’t just about offerings; the claims experience is where trust is won or lost. Cynthia also discusses leadership, highlighting the mentors who shaped her path and the principles that she carries forward in her own role. As we wrap up the episode, Cynthia talks about her love of designer handbags, New Orleans, and the professional book that she recommends—The Digital Mindset, a book which she calls essential reading for anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving work environment. If you’re curious about how thoughtful leadership, innovative solutions, and member-first approaches intersect in the credit union world, then you will enjoy my conversation with Cynthia Billingsley-Smart! Securian Financial is the marketing name for Securian Financial Group, Inc., and its
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| Empathy - Strum | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:29:30 | |
“To connect with people emotionally is really the key to good work.” – Josh Streufert Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Josh Streufert, Principal / Creative Director at Strum. Josh starts off by tracing his own path, which includes childhood dreams of archaeology, a strong Indiana Jones phase, film school, history studies, and eventually saying “yes” to a lot of opportunities that led him into creative leadership. It’s a reminder that most meaningful careers aren’t straight lines but are rather collections of curiosity, timing, and a willingness to try things before you fully know where they’ll lead! In our conversation, Josh and I discuss what Strum does for credit unions and why branding is so much more than just logos and taglines. Josh shares a simple but powerful idea: when products are largely the same, people choose the organization they like best. From there, we get into how storytelling, creativity, and culture shape trust, loyalty, and the overall member experience. A big part of our discussion is also centered around change and burnout, with Josh introducing a mindset shift: moving from being a “gatekeeper” who protects the status quo to a “curator” who actively searches for better answers. He also talks about the concept of an “optimal rate of failure” and why failing occasionally isn’t a weakness but evidence that you’re still growing. As we wrap up the conversation, Josh shares how he manages a work-life balance, what book he would recommend reading, and why he idolizes a former high school teacher! Enjoy my conversation with Josh Streufert! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| 2026 Economic Outlook - TruStage | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:09:01 | |
“AI is going to be transformational for the credit union industry.” – Steve Rick Today's episode is the second part of a very special four-part series brought to you by TruStage! My guest on today’s show is Steve Rick, Chief Economist at TruStage. Listen as he takes a good look at what 2026 may have in store for credit unions and the members they serve. We start with where inflation, GDP, and the labor market appear to be heading—as well as why tariffs and immigration policy are likely to show up in everyday prices sooner than expected. Steve explains why inflation could push past 3% in early 2026 and how that reality continues to shape the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to interest rates. Steve gets into what many leaders are watching the most closely: rate cuts. He breaks down why the Fed is expected to gradually ease rates throughout 2026, how close we are to what economists consider a “neutral” rate, and why concerns about rising unemployment are guiding such decisions. From there, our conversation turns to credit unions, with Steve sharing his outlook for loan growth, deposits, and earnings, and we talk about consumer uncertainty, the impact of loans made during the ultra-low-rate years, and what all of this means for balance sheets this coming year. As we wrap up the episode, Steve and I spend time talking about workforce trends and AI, where productivity gains are changing hiring patterns, reshaping call centers and lending teams, and even impacting recent college graduates trying to enter the job market. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Steve Rick! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Steve: In this episode: | |||
| Intentional AI - Optiri, a Trellance Company | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:20:24 | |
“Use AI where it can make a difference to the organization and members.” - Shane Butcher Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Shane Butcher, Chief Operating Officer / Chief Risk Officer at Optiri, a Trellance Company. Shane and I talk about how a teenage dream of becoming a fighter pilot turned into a career spanning the military, IT, operations, and ultimately the credit union space. In our conversation, Shane walks us through the evolution of Optiri and what it means to optimize, refresh, and innovate credit union technology without losing sight of the people whom it’s supposed to serve. We talk about why credit unions have unique technology and security needs and how Opitiri focuses on doing the behind-the-scenes work so that credit unions can spend their energy on members. A big part of our conversation, though, is centered around AI as something already embedded in everyday tools. Shane breaks down what credit unions really should be thinking about right now—understanding where their data lives, tightening permissions, updating vendor policies, and choosing intentional use cases instead of chasing every new idea. We also break down how AI is reshaping cybersecurity on both sides, fueling more convincing attacks while also giving defenders faster, smarter ways to respond. As we wrap up the episode, Shane shares some lessons that he learned from a Navy mentor who led through calm problem-solving. He also talks about his love of good restaurants and unique experiences, why he loves Las Vegas, and has a book recommendation for us. Enjoy my conversation with Shane Butcher! | |||
| The Leadership Shift - DDJ Myers | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:19:54 | |
“Ask questions. Have a culture of inquiry.” - Deedee Myers Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is returning guest Deedee Myers, CEO of DDJ Myers, Ltd. She comes back to discuss leadership as we unpack what’s forming the future of credit union leadership. From a huge wave of CEO retirements to board turnover to executive teams changing under new leadership, Deedee lays out what this really looks like in the concrete data that her team has been collecting for years. In our conversation, we talk about numbers and how many CEOs are expected to exit in the coming years. We talk about why so many delayed retirement after COVID and how that pent-up shift is finally arriving. Deedee also explains the generational turnover that is hitting boards and executive teams simultaneously, creating something close to a perfect storm. One of the biggest themes that we talk about, however, is responsibility. Who owns succession? Who’s accountable for readiness? What should each party be doing to prepare for the leadership needs of the next decade? In addition, Deedee and I cover the programs, institutes, and coaching experiences that are truly accelerating leadership growth right now. As we wrap up the episode, we go through our traditional lightning round of questions as I ask her about the little things as well such as the purchases that she swears by, the rituals that keep her grounded during nonstop travel, and the guiding principle that she believes the industry desperately needs more of. Enjoy my conversation with Deedee Myers! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Deedee: Want to hear more from Deedee? Click here. | |||
| Advocacy - DCUC & Atlas Advocacy | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:30:43 | |
“Every employee, from the C-suite to the teller, has a role in advocacy.” – Jason Stverak Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today’s show are returning guest Jason Stverak, Chief Advocacy Officer at Defense Credit Union Council, and Elizabeth Eurgubian, Government Relations and Advocacy Consultant at Atlas Advocacy. They both join me for this episode for a conversation that cuts right to the heart of what credit unions need most right now: stronger advocacy, louder storytelling, and a clearer understanding of what sets us apart! In our conversation, Elizabeth opens with something that she has witnessed from both sides of the table: policymakers are brilliant with statutes and frameworks, but they often have little sense of what day-to-day life looks like inside a credit union. She talks about the power of real-world examples and cautions that if we’re not bringing those stories forward, we’re leaving influence on the table. Jason also jumps in with the compelling argument that advocacy isn’t a job title; it’s everybody—teller to CEO—every interaction with a member, every community touchpoint, every small moment of goodwill becomes part of what reaches Congress. He shares some incredible behind-the-scenes stories from the recent government shutdown and how lawmakers were reaching out because they’d noticed credit unions stepping up while others hesitated. As we wrap up the episode, Elizabeth closes by previewing what’s coming from the NCUA in the year ahead—such as stablecoin and digital-asset rulemaking under the GENIUS Act, a much needed regulatory clean-up, and increased vigilance around cybersecurity. She also challenges all of us to think several years ahead about the skills we’ll need, not the ones that we’ve always relied on, as necessary skillsets are always evolving with the times. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Jason and Elizabeth! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Jason: | |||
| Special Series: The Data Dividend, Turning Insight Into Action – TruStage & Arkatechure | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:32:10 | |
“Better utilizing data can give a more-tailored member experience—which makes the member truly feel like their credit union knows them.” – Mike Kraus Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. Today's episode is the first part of a very special four-part series brought to you by TruStage! Today's discussion is with Mike Kraus (Managing Director of TruStage Ventures) and Jamie Jackson (CEO of Arkatechure), and we focus on how credit unions can make use of their data to drive better member experiences and business outcomes, with Jamie explaining that credit unions often struggle with data silos, lack of data ownership, and a culture of fear around data expertise and Mike noting that credit unions have an abundance of member data, but it is often locked away in legacy core systems. To unlock the value, it's so important for credit unions to pull all their data together into a unified platform! In our conversation, both Mike and Jamie really emphasize the role that fintech partnerships can play, as they can provide the modern data infrastructure, analytics capabilities, and agility that credit unions often lack. However, they also caution that partnerships must be strategic, with clear alignment on goals and outcomes. We also cover why it's so important to start small and prove value via quick wins and then scaling the data strategy. Measuring outcomes, not just activities, is key, and the most successful credit unions will be those that empower all employees to make data-driven decisions! As we wrap up the episode, we highlight how effectively leveraging data is crucial for credit unions to deliver personalized member experiences and drive sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape! I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Mike Kraus and Jamie Jackson! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Personalized Attention - MeridianLink | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:18:24 | |
“Invest the time to find the purpose in what you do. Let that fuel and motivate you.” – Wes Zauner Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Wes Zauner, VP of Product at MeridianLink, returning to the show from episode 96. Wes jumps right in with what he’s hearing across the industry—younger generations expect financial services to move at the pace of their everyday digital lives, and they won’t wait three days for an answer on a loan application. We also talk about the pressure that puts on credit unions that are still relying on paper-heavy workflows and why modernizing the “digital front door” is no longer optional. In our conversation, Wes gives a clear picture of what instant decisioning, automation, and personalized offers look like when they’re done right and why they matter so much if you want younger members to stick around. He also talks about how MeridianLink is supporting more than 2,000 institutions and handling tens of millions of applications and account openings! We dig into strategy and how credit unions can build a realistic technology roadmap without trying to be everything to everyone, as well as how understanding the specific people in your community beats a one-size-fits-all approach. As we wrap up the episode, Wes shares who he thinks of when he hears the word “success,” he talks about his enjoyment of pressure washing, and gives insight to balancing work, parenting, and purpose. Enjoy my conversation with Wes Zauner! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Wes: | |||
| The Future of Money - St. Cloud Financial Credit Union & DaLand CUSO | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:38:37 | |
“We have to get into the game of convenience so we can continue to prove that credit unions are the best financial institutions for consumers to partner with.” - Jed Meyer Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today’s show are Jed Meyer, CEO at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, and Jon Ungerland, CIO of Information/Innovation at DaLand CUSO. They join me to talk about the evolving digital asset ecosystem and the important role that credit unions can play, with Jon explaining how DaLand has been helping St. Cloud Financial stay relevant by using data and digital tools. A key focus has been DaLand's "Coin2Core" solution, allowing credit unions to connect to emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) networks and cryptocurrencies! In our conversation, Jed shares how he recognized the impact of the digital asset space on his members' financial lives about five years ago. Initially skeptical, he eventually realized the importance of getting ahead of this trend to keep his members' wealth circulating in the local economy. Partnering with DaLand has allowed St. Cloud Financial to plug into DeFi networks and offer innovative services like their own white-label stablecoin, and both guests call attention to the need for credit unions to engage with the digital asset ecosystem rather than avoid it, with Jed stressing the importance of education both for credit union leaders and their members. He also highlights the role which credit unions can play as trusted, community-based financial institutions in this new landscape. As we wrap up the episode, Jon notes how leaders across sectors are already deeply invested in the future of tokenized, blockchain-based money, and he cautions that credit unions must act quickly to avoid being left behind. Our conversation also emphasizes the potential of digital assets as well as the need for credit unions to shape this change to best serve their members and communities. Enjoy my conversation with Jed and Jon! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Jed: Connect with Jon: | |||
| Partnership Meets Progress - Elan Credit Card | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:16:02 | |
“When we combine our skills and expertise with (credit unions’) ability to service members, it’s a very synergistic relationship.” - Mitch Pangretic My guest on today’s show is Mitch Pangretic, SVP and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Elan Credit Card. He joins me to discuss his career journey and the value that Elan brings to credit unions as well as so much more, such as how he initially wanted to be an astronaut but ended up in the payments industry, working at companies like Discover, American Express, and US Bank before joining Elan in 2007. In our conversation, Mitch explains Elan's "agent issuing" model where they act as the credit card department and servicing team for credit union partners, allowing credit unions to offer robust credit card products and features without the complications of managing it all themselves. Elan provides the technology, risk management, marketing, rewards programs, and more! Mitch also highlights how Elan can help credit unions ensure that their members have access to the right credit card products, whether that's travel rewards, cash back, or even options to help build/rebuild credit. He discusses valuable member-facing features such as the Elan mobile app, which provides free credit scores, budgeting tools, and the new "Extend Pay" installment lending feature. Mitch notes Elan's expertise and how it can complement the deep member relationships of credit unions. By combining Elan's credit knowledge with the credit union's understanding of their members, they can help provide the best financial guidance and education to help members improve their credit. Mitch also looks ahead and shares Elan's focus on continuing to enhance the integrated technology and user experience for both credit union partners and their members. As we wrap up the episode, Mitch talks about the leader who most influenced him, his vacation bucket list, and how he loves visiting California. Enjoy my conversation with Mitch Pangretic! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Partnership Over Vendorship - Alacriti & Zelle | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:10:34 | |
“Work with a partner instead of just a vendor. Your success is our success. We feel very strongly about that.” - Mark Majeske Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guests on today’s show are Mark Majeske, SVP Faster Payments at Alacriti, and Matt Kinne, Senior Director of Market Solutions at Zelle. Mark and Matt discuss the partnership between Alacriti and Zelle and how the alliance benefits credit unions in offering peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services to their members. They explain that Zelle has become a household name and an expected service for consumers, with nearly 80% even saying instant payments are the most important feature their financial institution can offer. In our conversation, we highlight how Zelle helps credit unions address the challenges they face in P2P payments, challenges such as members using external apps such as Venmo. Their directory-based approach allows credit unions to bring that business back into their ecosystem. Offering Zelle as an option also helps credit unions strengthen their position as a trusted partner compared to fintech apps by taking advantage of their existing brand, security, and personal service. As we wrap up the episode, Mark, Matt, and I discuss the growing use of Zelle by small businesses, which now make up 15% of Zelle's total transactions, presenting an opportunity for credit unions to deepen relationships with local businesses. Our discussion also outlines the benefits of using Zelle via Alacriti as opposed to going direct, including Alacriti's role as a true partner, managing integration complexity, and providing a faster time to market! Enjoy my conversation with Mark Majeske and Matt Kinne! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Mark: | |||
| Serving the Underserved - TruStage | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:16:28 | |
“I really do believe what we're doing in the industry to help our members is noble, and TruStage wants to be a partner in that.” - Joe Boan Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Joe Boan, SVP Head of Sales Distribution at TruStage. Joe joins me to share his journey into the financial services industry and how TruStage is committed to partnering with credit unions to help their members achieve greater financial success. He reflects on how his path has taken him through various roles, from working at a brokerage firm to leading product and sales at a large insurance company. He discusses how he has seen the industry from many angles—as a consumer, someone who helps individuals directly, and as a distribution partner for financial services companies. In our conversation, Joe explains that TruStage is 100% focused on serving credit unions and their members, particularly the "underserved" middle-market consumers. With extensive research, TruStage designs products and solutions that are customized to this group's needs, unlike many institutions that cater to the top percentiles. By offering protection products such as life insurance, TruStage helps credit unions not only serve their members better but also generate sustainable income to support their growth. Joe highlights the fact that TruStage's mission is fully aligned with credit unions to help members become more financially secure. As we wrap up the episode, Joe talks about the leadership of his college baseball coach, his love of cars, his favorite city to travel to, and has a book recommendation for everyone! Enjoy my conversation with Joe Boan! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Building Trust - Allied Solutions | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:27:14 | |
“I focus on contributing and winning—and it's not winning for me—it's winning for everyone on my team.” - Pete Hilger Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Pete Hilger, CEO and president of Allied Solutions, a leading provider of products and services to the credit union industry. Pete shares his fascinating journey, from a young man with entrepreneurial ambitions to his current role leading a company that has a $3 billion annual impact on the credit union industry. Pete describes how he initially wanted to be an entrepreneur, but after a stint in the military, he ended up co-founding a document destruction business with his brother, an experience which taught him the realities of running a company which then led to an opportunity to join his family's business. In our conversation, Pete reveals how he worked his way up through the organization, eventually becoming President and then CEO when the company was sold to Securian in 2004. He discusses the importance of understanding a business from the ground up and how that has made him a stronger and more effective leader. He also discusses the various services Allied Solutions provides to credit unions, from generating non-interest fee income to asset recovery management. He highlights the company's focus on trust in its partnerships, openly sharing financial details to build long-term relationships. As we wrap up, Pete touches upon his deep admiration for his mom and shares insights into leadership, work-life balance, and the importance of gratitude and positivity. Enjoy my conversation with Pete Hilger!
Connect with Pete: Book mentioned: Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss | |||
| Audience First - TriAD CTV® | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:31:17 | |
“As a credit union, you can compete on an incredibly, if not the most influential video medium that’s out there, in television.” - James Karanasios Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is James Karanasios, National Account Manager at TriAD CTV®. James shares his unique journey into the credit union industry, starting out with a passion for music and eventually finding his way into the world of data, identity resolution, and connected TV advertising. Hear how Triad CTV®'s mission is to be "audience first" - helping credit unions leverage the power of connected TV and streaming advertising to reach and engage their target communities. In our conversation, we discuss the educational aspect of Triad's work—helping credit union marketers understand how streaming TV is changing and how to maximize its impact. James highlights the importance of keeping the creative personal and authentic to truly connect with the intended audience. James also looks ahead and shares Triad CTV®'s focus on continuing to provide credit unions with a roadmap for implementing successful CTV programs, as well as creating more opportunities for credit unions to share best practices with one another. The goal is to empower credit unions of all sizes to take advantage of this powerful medium and effectively tell their community-focused stories. As we wrap up, James talks about his love of buying guitars and pedals, his desire to travel to Rome, and lists some albums everyone should listen to. Enjoy my conversation with James Karanasios!
Connect with James: Want to hear more from James and TriAD? Click here. | |||
| Remembering Your Why - CUInsight | 22 Aug 2025 | 00:10:25 | |
“My best hack is always keeping my why in focus. Work is part of my why, but also my kids are my why too." – Linda Lafortune Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Linda Lafortune, Director of Learning and Client Support here at CUInsight! She joins me in this episode to share her winding story, not having set out to land in credit unions at all. In fact, her early passions were teaching and horses, and she spent her teen years working at a horse farm, teaching lessons, and absorbing the strong sense of community of that world. After trying her hand at journalism and realizing that it wasn’t the right fit, it was a conversation at the farm that steered her toward her very first credit union job—from there she built a 25-year career across multiple CUs before joining our team at CUInsight five years ago. In our conversation, Linda shares how those varied experiences—from the teller line to leadership development—have shaped the way she approaches her role today. She talks about CUInsight as a “centralized hub” for credit union professionals and why she’s passionate about making learning accessible and meaningful across the industry. As we wrap up, we also get into the mentors who helped Linda grow, why she’d rather splurge on experiences than things, what book she believes everyone should read, and the important role that her kids play in keeping her grounded when it comes to maintaining a work-life balance. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Linda Lafortune! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Linda: | |||
| Empowering Financial Futures - Zogo | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:25:39 | |
“We want to meet people where they are, in an approachable way.” – Ben Brooks Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Ben Brooks, President at Zogo, Inc., a financial education app. He joins me to discuss his background and how he ended up working in the credit union industry, despite not originally envisioning that career path. In our conversation, Ben explains Zogo's mission is to "empower everyone to take control of their financial future, one lesson at a time,” which Zogo achieves via a mobile app that gamifies complex financial concepts, making them engaging and digestible for users of all ages and experience levels. The app covers topics from basic budgeting to advanced investing, and a key focus for Zogo is partnering with credit unions to help them better connect with younger members around financial education. Ben looks ahead and shares how Zogo is focused on continually enhancing the app experience, possibly even adding features like paper trading. He also highlights Zogo's "user-obsessed, partner-focused" approach, aiming to be a trusted resource for credit unions to rebuild relevance and trust with members. As we wrap up, Ben shouts-out the moms in his life, shares his love for Upstate New York, and tells us why he loves James Clear's book Atomic Habits. Enjoy my conversation with Ben Brooks! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Ben: Book mentioned: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear | |||
| Credit Union Evangelism - Tyfone | 25 Jul 2025 | 00:46:48 | |
“The warm and fuzzy stuff actually creates a lot more value than a slight discount on a rate percentage.” - Josh DeTar My guest on today’s show is Josh DeTar, Executive Vice President of Evangelism at Tyfone, Inc., a digital banking provider for credit unions. Josh shares his personal journey of how a credit union saved him as a young adult, sparking his passion for the industry. In our conversation, Josh highlights the importance of credit unions balancing digital self-service with meaningful human connections. His passion for the credit union industry is shaped by his own experience and the inspiring leadership of Tyfone's CEO, Siva G. Narendra. Josh advocates for credit unions to embrace their unique strengths - community ties, member-centric culture, and the "warm and fuzzy" aspects that larger banks can't usually replicate. As wrap up, Josh talks about the great leaders in his life, recommends the book Hiring for Attitude, and shares that one big goal of his is to take his kids to Disneyland! Enjoy my conversation with Josh DeTar!
Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Siva G. Narendra (episode 100) | |||
| Impactful Partnerships - SalesCU | 11 Jul 2025 | 00:44:04 | |
"We’re looking for ways to make an impact for credit unions of all sizes.” - Nick Brown Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Nick Brown, Senior Trainer & President/CEO at SalesCU, which has the honorable distinction of being named the Top Sales Training Company for two years in a row! Nick joins me to share his journey into the credit union industry and how he found his passion for sales and coaching, explaining how SalesCU helps credit unions move from a reactive, order-taking service approach to a proactive sales culture that adds real value for members. In our conversation, Nick covers the four essential elements SalesCU focuses on to build an effective sales culture and highlights the importance of leaders becoming effective coaches who observe, plan, develop, and hold their teams accountable in a positive way. He also shares his vision for the future, focusing on making SalesCU's programs accessible to credit unions of all sizes to help them deliver the value their members deserve. Nick reflects on his own life-saving experience at a Children's Miracle Network hospital as a child, sharing how SalesCU is donating a portion of its earnings to support Credit Unions for Kids. As we wrap up the episode, Nick reveals what about his childhood soccer coach inspired him, what cities he would most like to visit, and what book he believes everyone should read. Enjoy my conversation with Nick Brown! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. | |||
| Embracing Fintech & AI - Corporate Central Credit Union | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:20:54 | |
“Be nimble and fearless when it comes to failure. Do it fast and move on.” – Chris Felton Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Chris Felton, President and CEO of Corporate Central Credit Union. Chris joins me to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the credit union industry. He reflects on his own journey into the credit union space, starting out with ambitions of a high-stakes finance career before discovering his passion for the credit union movement and its focus on serving members. In our conversation, Chris highlights how credit unions can take advantage of emerging technologies to improve member satisfaction, and he discusses Corporate Central's own technology platform, Bistro, which was built to allow for seamless integration with fintech partners. We explore the importance of credit unions embracing a "technology-first" mindset and the need for credit unions to form strategic partnerships with fintechs to deliver the frictionless experiences that members have come to expect. As we wrap up the episode, Chris talks about his love of the 1965 Ford Mustang and how he could definitely live in Colorado Springs. He also recommends the book “Kill the Company” by Lisa Bodell. Enjoy my conversation with Chris Felton! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Chris: Book mentioned: Kill the Company by Lisa Bodell | |||
| The Human Touch - VisiFI | 13 Jun 2025 | 00:21:54 | |
“Credit unions are so critical in helping their members and communities.” - Robin Kolvek Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Robin Kolvek, CEO of VisiFI. She joins me to share her compelling story of career pivots, personal values, and staying human in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Robin reflects on how she went from chasing dreams of being a teacher, coach, or even a detective to leading a major fintech company focused on credit unions—and how none of it was part of the plan. In our conversation, we discuss the often overlooked but incredibly important role that credit unions play in community development and why they deserve more attention in conversations around innovation. Robin offers an insider look at how VisiFI supports small and midsize credit unions by delivering the kinds of digital tools and enhancements that help them not just keep up but also genuinely compete with bigger players. She stresses that their clients’ voices aren’t just “heard” but are integral. Robin opens up about what it means to be a leader in the credit union space, especially when your organization is backed by a global tech powerhouse like Italy-based Dedagroup. We explore how that relationship gives VisiFI crucial access to next-level tools such as AI, cybersecurity, and analytics—while keeping them local enough to stay responsive to credit unions’ specific needs. As we wrap up the episode, Robin also reflects on the impact her mother had on her as a child, her love of travel, and how she manages to maintain a work-life balance. She also offers a couple of great book recommendations. Enjoy my conversation with Robin Kolvek! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Robin: | |||
| Executive Recruiting - Humanidei | 30 May 2025 | 00:22:16 | |
“The people helping people motto should be lived inside the walls of our organizations just as much as we live it outside with our members.” - Jaime Marks Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Jaime Marks, Director of Recruiting Services at Humanidei. Jamie and I dig into what actually matters when building strong leadership teams, and she shares the pivotal experiences that shaped her, from her first job at Ent Credit Union to taking on bold career shifts across states and institutions. In our conversation, we get personal about the mentors who saw Jaime's potential, the environments that helped her grow, and the toxic cultures which she learned to spot from a mile away. Her insights are grounded within years of experience and a true passion for helping organizations lead with integrity and intention. We also touch upon what “values alignment” really looks like when hiring senior leaders, with Jamie explaining that she doesn’t just fill roles; she reads between the lines, listening for what a board or leadership team really needs, even if they don’t say it out loud. As we wrap up the episode, Jaime talks about the mentors who have impacted her life, her love of Sur La Table and Santa Barbara, California, and has a book recommendation for everyone. Enjoy my conversation with Jaime Marks! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Connect with Jaime: Want to hear more from Jaime? Click here. Book mentioned: Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll | |||
| Tell Your Story - CUInsight | 16 May 2025 | 00:10:52 | |
“Every time you tell a story, someone's gonna be inspired by what you're doing, and someone's going to believe in credit unions.” - John Pettit Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is our own John Pettit, Managing Editor at CUInsight. We talk about his journey from aspiring baseball player to storyteller in the credit union space, with his career path being anything but linear from working in a restaurant right after college to managing retail stores and even building houses. He eventually found his passion for sharing stories through CUInsight, where he’s been for over twelve years. In our conversation, John opens up about what makes credit unions stand out: their genuine commitment to people over profit. He shares why he’s proud to be part of an organization that highlights stories of credit unions making a real impact, and we also talk about the role of storytelling in marketing credit unions and why sharing these success stories is more important now than ever. As we wrap up the episode, John talks about his love for physical media such as vinyl records and blu-rays, how he uses automated lights to help with work-life balance, and a book you’d definitely find inspiration from. Enjoy my conversation with John Pettit! Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com. Want to hear more from John? Click here. | |||