Ascent’s Podcast
Counting Change
Conversations on positive change in credit unions and community finance.
Season two has concluded
We wrapped season two in February 2026 and haven’t announced the next one yet. All 52 episodes stay right here.
Season Two
Jan 2025 – Feb 2026 · 27 episodes
Feb 12, 2026
32 min listen
Innovation and Trust: Navigating Tech in Credit Unions
Guest: Jamie Kruspel, Chief Transformation Officer, Mainstreet Credit Union
Feb 3, 2026
26 min listen
Digital Lending Transformation in Credit Unions
Guest: Mark Rodriguez, CEO, The Lending Studio
Jan 6, 2026
36 min listen
The Currency of Trust: Why Community Banks Matter More Than Ever
Guest: Wade Peery, Senior Advisor, FirstBank
Oct 7, 2025
29 min listen
Tech Meets Tradition: Expanding Credit Union Horizons
Guest: Nicole Smith, President and CEO, US #1364 Federal Credit Union
Sept 2, 2025
40 min listen
The Power of Storytelling
Guest: Josh Rodriguez, Assistant Vice President, Fintech and Mission Integration, West Community Credit Union
Aug 19, 2025
41 min listen
Aug 5, 2025
33 min listen
Fraud Alert: Understanding and Combating Check Fraud
Guest: Chris Wilson, Vice President of Business Development, Alogent
Jul 15, 2025
32 min listen
Exploring the Leadership Arc
Guest: John Janclaes, Strategic Advisor, Nymbus
Jun 10, 2025
28 min listen
What Allows for Community Banks to Innovate Quickly
Guest: Marianela Vazquez, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Reading Cooperative Bank
May 27, 2025
32 min listen
Building Stronger Communities Through Credit Unions
Guest: April Clobes, President/CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union
May 13, 2025
32 min listen
Building Stronger Communities Through Credit Unions
Guest: Nicole Tompkins, Chief Experience Officer, SVP, Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
Apr 29, 2025
26 min listen
AI is Transforming Community Banking
Guest: Heather Farwell, SVP Financial Services, Citizens First Bank
Apr 15, 2025
29 min listen
Instant Payments: Hidden Efficiencies & Opportunities
Guest: Lisa St. Germain, VP Client Success, Payfinia
Apr 08, 2025
37 min listen
Leveraging Data within Your Institution
Guest: Corey LeBlanc & Drew Saito, Co-Founders, Locality Bank
Apr 01, 2025
33 min listen
Preparing a Community Bank for the Future
Guest: Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer, Sunrise Banks
Mar 25, 2025
11 min listen
Transformative Impact of Generative AI
Guest: Ryan Goellner, Executive Vice President of Technology and Project Management, Gate City Bank
Mar 18, 2025
33 min listen
Technology to Empower, Innovate, and Satisfy
Guest: Traci Michel, Chief Operating Officer, Metro Credit Union
Mar 11, 2025
31 min listen
Clean Data is Key: Unlocking the Potential of AI
Guest: Jeff Barrage, SVP Chief Information Officer, United Solutions Company
Mar 04, 2025
34 min listen
The Importance of Community-Driven Innovation in the Approach of Credit Unions
Guest: Trey Maust, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Lewis & Clark Bank
Feb 25, 2025
34 min listen
The Importance of Community-Driven Innovation in the Approach of Credit Unions
Guest: Frank Wasson, President & CEO, CommonWealth One
Feb 18, 2025
31 min listen
Serving the Underserved
Guest: Jason Hagan, Senior Vice President & Director, Sunrise Banks
Feb 11, 2025
35 min listen
The Credit Union Future Driven by Tech Adoption
Guest: Jim Kasch, Chief Executive Officer, Kentucky Credit Union League
Feb 04, 2025
35 min listen
Personalization: The Key to Modern Banking
Guest: Marc Rehberger, SVP, Sr. Managing Director, Head of Tech Enabled Banking, Customers Bank
Jan 28, 2025
26 min listen
Enhancing Member Experience through Digital Transformation
Guest: Matthew Fehrmann, Chief Information Officer, Kohler Credit Union
Jan 21, 2025
35 min listen
Leveling the Playing Field with FinTechs
Guest: Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer, Great Lakes Credit Union
Jan 14, 2025
26 min listen
Culture is the Way We Get Work Done
Guest: Chris Parker, President & CEO, Lighthouse Credit Union
Jan 07, 2025
28 min listen
The Future of FinTech Partnerships
Guest: Tara Schultz, Senior Vice President Strategic Insights & Industry Relations, CSI
Season One
Feb 2024 – Dec 2024 · 25 episodesDec 24, 2024
35 min listen
Innovation VS the Credit Union Extinction
Guest: Shirley Senn, Chief Consulting Officer, CU Strategic Planning
Dec 10, 2024
48 min
Empowering Consumers Through Open Banking
Guests: Alex Johnson, Founder and host, Fintech Takes
Jason Henrichs, CEO & Co-host, Alloy Labs & Breaking Banks
Nov 26, 2024
32 min
Tech Transformation in Community Finance
Guest: Kevin Porter, CEO, DxO Advisors
Nov 12, 2024
30 min
How Community Banks are Adapting to Change
Guest: DJ Seeterlin, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, Chesapeake Bank
Oct 29, 2024
28 min
The Perceived Lack of Innovation in Core Banking
Guest: Santo Cannone, Board Chair, Tampa Bay Wave
Oct 16, 2024
35 min
The Fragmentation of Supply Chains in Financial Services
Guest: Sarah Howell, VP of Partnerships, Visa
Oct 01, 2024
26 min
Innovation for Efficiency
Guest: Joe Mancini, Chief Operations Officer, BankProv
Sep 24, 2024
27 min
State of the Rate
Guest: Robert Davis, President and CEO, The Bridge Companies LLC
Sep 17, 2024
35 min
The Pros and Cons of FI Consolidation
Guest: Elizabeth Osborne, Chief Operations Officer, Great Lakes Credit Union
Sep 03, 2024
33 min
The Importance of Collaboration with CUs and Fintechs
Guest: Melissa Pomeroy, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Cooperative Credit Union Association
Aug 20, 2024
30 min
The Evolving Audit Process: The Impact of Technology on Preparation
Guest: Rob Johnson, Chief Audit Officer, MSU Federal Credit Union
Aug 06, 2024
36 min
Creating a Culture for both the Institution and the Employee
Guest: Steve O'Connell, CEO and President, California Credit Union
Jul 23, 2024
25 min
Part 2: Navigating the Evolution of Digital Banking
Guest: Bryan Clagett, Advisor, Ascent Platform
Jul 09, 2024
24 min
Part 1: Navigating the Evolution of Digital Banking
Guest: Bryan Clagett, Advisor, Ascent Platform
Jun 25, 2024
31 min
Creating a Successful Culture for your Institution and the Individual
Guest: Greg Mitchell, President & CEO, First Tech Fed CU
Jun 12, 2024
28 min
The Balance between Technology and Humans with Theron McCollough
Guest: Theron McCollough, Managing Director, Citizens Private Bank™
May 28, 2024
31 min
The Applications of AI in the Financial Industry
Guest: Alice Stevens, VP of Consumer Lending, Product Innovation, and Credit Analytics, VyStar Credit Union
May 21, 2024
12 min
Bonus Episode
Guest: Glen Fossella, Head of Customer, Ascent Platform
May 13, 2024
35 min
Data Access within the Financial State in America
Guest: Trish North, Expert in Customer Success Roles, Financial Institutions & Fintech
Apr 29, 2024
38 min
The Importance of Small Credit Unions VS the Big Bank
Guest: Denise Wymore, GSD, Advocate & Cheerleader for Small Credit Unions,
Apr 15, 2024
35 min
Fintech Trends in 2024
Guest: Chris Tremont, Chief Digital Officer at Grasshopper Bank, Grasshopper Bank
Apr 1, 2024
22 min
Role of Fintech & Innovation in the CU Space
Guest: Benjamin Maxim, CTO and Chief Innovation Officer, MSUFCU
Mar 18, 2024
35 min
The Future & Trust in the CU Movement
Guest: Dan Daggett, Chief Strategy Officer, Credit Unions First
Mar 4, 2024
39 min listen
Venture Capital and Fintech in Africa
Guest: Alex Aitoro, Partner, SUNU Capital
Feb 28, 2024
37 min listen
Culture and Innovation within the Fintech Space
Guest: Kirk Kordeleski, Former CEO, Bethpage CU
