Credit union issues can get heavy.

If executives in the space aren’t reading about the latest twists and turns with the NCUA board they’re hearing about the challenges of surviving in an increasingly competitive industry.

So Natasha Chilingerian and Michael Ogden, the hosts of the Shared Accounts with CU Times podcast, decided to take a little break from weighty issues and lighten things up a bit.

Chilingerian is the Credit Union Times’ executive editor, and Ogden serves as editor in chief.

The podcast typically combines the personalities behind CU Times with pop culture and credit union issues, but on the latest episode the hosts broke from the traditional format to offer up their first-ever summer special.

“We really wanted to take a vacation from the serious credit union chatter and just talk about summer things,” Ogden said.

Tyfone’s EVP of Evangelism, Josh DeTar, joined the duo to share some summer travel tips from the road. Chilingerian called DeTar “one of the credit union industry’s most well-traveled professionals.”

Josh said he has already flown more than 75,000 miles in 2025 alone!

“I’m a little bit crazy,” he said. “I’m going to give you what one crazy dude does, and you can pick out of that what you want.”

In the episode, DeTar said his travel schedule for Tyfone ebbs and flows, but he is on the road at least three weeks each month on average.

“It’s everything from meetings with current customers, prospective customers, conferences and incredible industry events like the Luminaries Awards,” he said.

In terms of dealing with airports, DeTar said he lives about 45 minutes (if there is no traffic) from Portland International Airport, so he always tries to schedule flights either early in the morning or late at night.

“Because if I hit traffic, it’s a solid two hours to the airport for me,” he said.

DeTar also suggested that travelers use Uber whenever possible instead of driving themselves. He said it is often cheaper and allows him the ability to work on the ride to the airport.

Josh also shared that one key to headache-reduced travel is to check luggage as infrequently as possible.

“And always have your bags packed before you go to bed. Just in case,” he said.

The Credit Union Times bills itself as the most comprehensive, independent credit union news site in the industry.