Tammy Thies never planned to become one of the leading voices in big cat rescue. She was building a successful career in advertising, working with major brands when an encounter with big cats being used for commercial entertainment opened her eyes to a world of animal exploitation she never knew existed. What began as a desire to help a few wild cats became a lifelong mission to change how these animals are treated.

Today, Tammy is the founder of The Wildcat Sanctuary, a nonprofit in Sandstone, Minnesota, providing a permanent home for approximately 160 rescued wild cats. With more than 200 acres, a dedicated team of caregivers, and rescue efforts reaching across the globe, the sanctuary cares for animals rescued from roadside zoos, private ownership, trafficking, and other situations of neglect and exploitation. But Tammy's mission goes beyond rescue. Through education, advocacy, and legislative efforts, she is working toward a world where sanctuaries like hers are no longer necessary.

In this episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist visits The Wildcat Sanctuary in person to talk with Tammy about the realities of big cat rescue, the hidden world of captive wildlife, the challenges of building a nonprofit, and what it takes to dedicate your life to a cause without losing yourself in the process.

From international rescues and the impact of Tiger King to donor relationships, compassion fatigue, leadership, and learning to let go of control, Tammy shares the lessons of more than 25 years spent building an organization that has grown far beyond anything she originally imagined.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How a photo shoot involving captive tigers changed the direction of Tammy's career
• Why she left a successful advertising career to build The Wildcat Sanctuary
• The reality of big cats being used for entertainment, private ownership, and commercial profit
• How the sanctuary has rescued animals from across the United States and internationally, including Argentina and Ukraine
• What makes an accredited sanctuary different from a roadside zoo or private animal collection
• Why true sanctuaries don't buy, breed, trade, or sell wild animals
• How Tammy works with law enforcement agencies on complicated animal rescue cases
• What it takes to provide lifelong veterinary care, rehabilitation, and enrichment for rescued wild cats
• Why education and legislation are just as important as rescuing individual animals
• How the Big Cat Public Safety Act has helped address private ownership and cub petting
• The financial challenges of building and sustaining a nonprofit funded by donations
• Why Tammy believes nonprofit founders and caregivers should not have to sacrifice their own well-being to serve a mission
• How gratitude, donor relationships, and recurring gifts help keep the sanctuary operating
• Why succession planning matters when an organization's responsibilities may extend decades into the future
• How compassion fatigue and repeated exposure to animal suffering affect caregivers
• Why Tammy is learning to step back, trust her team, and make more room for family and personal life
• What it means to build a mission that can continue long after its founder steps away

Whether you're an animal lover, nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, caregiver, or someone trying to turn a personal passion into meaningful change, Tammy's story is a reminder that making a difference takes more than good intentions. It takes commitment, education, collaboration, and the willingness to build something that can outlast you. And sometimes, making the world a better place also means learning when to take care of yourself.

Inspired?

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who cares about animals, conservation, or making a lasting difference in their community.

Learn more about The Wildcat Sanctuary, sponsor a rescued cat, or support their mission at wildcatsanctuary.org.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise $1 million for medical research and help find cures for cancer and other diseases.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to:

PO Box 12
Afton, MN 55001, USA

Together, we can save lives.

In this edition of Sally’s Hotline, we hear from the unstoppable Deena Johnson Lee, a retired fire chief, mentor, and leadership coach known as The Feminist Fire Chief. After building a career in the high-pressure world of emergency services, Dena now helps women develop the confidence, authenticity, and resilience to lead, particularly in male-dominated fields.

Deena’s advice begins with a powerful idea: the most important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. Whether you want to lead a team, pursue a new career, or make a change in your personal life, leadership starts with understanding yourself, recognizing your patterns, and challenging the beliefs that may be holding you back.

But self-leadership does not mean doing everything alone. Deena encourages listeners to surround themselves with mentors, trusted advisors, champions, and people who can offer an outside perspective. She also shares how retirement led her to rethink the meaning of purpose. Rather than waiting to discover who she was supposed to become, she decided to design that future herself.

This short but meaningful tip episode is a reminder that you can choose who you want to become and begin taking steps toward that version of yourself today. Keep showing up, keep growing, and bring your authentic self along for the journey.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• How self-awareness and self-mastery form the foundation of effective leadership
• Why recognizing limiting beliefs and personal patterns matters
• The importance of continuing to show up and step up
• How mentors, champions, and trusted advisors can support your growth
• Why an outside perspective can help you see beyond your professional world
• What Deena means by upgrading your personal operating system
• How she designed her next chapter as a coach, mentor, and keynote speaker
• Why working backward from your vision can help you build the life you want

Key Takeaways:

Leadership starts with yourself. Understanding your strengths, patterns, beliefs, and motivations helps you become a more effective leader.

Keep showing up and stepping up. Growth requires participation, even when you are still learning.

Your authentic self is your greatest contribution. You do not have to become someone else to make an impact.

Nobody succeeds alone. Build relationships with mentors, champions, trusted advisors, and people who offer different perspectives.

Upgrade your operating system. Periodically examine whether your habits, beliefs, and ways of thinking still serve the person you want to become.

You can design your purpose. Decide who you want to be, work backward from that vision, and begin taking action.

If you want to hear Deena’s full story, including her journey from waitress to fire chief, her experiences navigating gender bias in the fire service, and her work empowering women in leadership, listen to the previous episode of Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

Learn more about Deena’s coaching and mentorship at supportherstrength.com, and follow her on social media at The Feminist Fire Chief.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise money for medical research and help find cures for cancer and other diseases.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to:

PO Box 12
Afton, MN 55001, USA

You can also support your community by volunteering with your local fire department.

Together, we can save lives.

Deena Johnson Lee knows what it means to take the heat. As a firefighter, she faced burning buildings, dangerous emergencies, and the physical demands of saving lives. As a woman rising through the ranks of a male-dominated profession, she faced another kind of pressure: proving she belonged, earning respect, and learning to lead without sacrificing who she was.

Deena's journey began as a young mother working as a waitress. An EMT class sparked an unexpected passion for emergency medicine, eventually setting her on a path from waitress in 1996 to fire chief in 2021. Along the way, she navigated single motherhood, demanding physical training, gender bias, and the challenges of leadership. Now retired from the fire service, Dena is known as the Feminist Fire Chief and runs Support Her Strength, where she coaches and mentors women to lead with confidence, authenticity, and resilience.

In this episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist talks with Dena about the realities of firefighting, the importance of public safety, what it takes for women to succeed in traditionally male-dominated careers, and the personal growth that comes from recognizing when old ways of thinking no longer serve you.

From carrying heavy firefighting equipment and building trust inside the firehouse to setting boundaries, overcoming people-pleasing, and developing what she calls internal personal protective equipment, Dena shares lessons about leadership, belonging, courage, and making room for the next generation of women.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Deena went from working as a waitress to becoming a fire chief in 25 years
• Why an EMT class changed the direction of her life
• What it was like raising two children while pursuing a career in emergency services
• The physical and mental demands of firefighting and emergency response
• Why volunteer firefighters are essential to communities and need greater support
• How Deena built trust and credibility as a woman in the firehouse
• The difference between proving your competence and feeling like you belong
• Why women don't have to become "one of the guys" to become "one of us"
• How gender bias and workplace expectations affect women in leadership
• Why Deena encourages women to aim for professional respect rather than approval
• What it means to upgrade your internal operating system as your career and identity evolve
• How self-worth, self-trust, and boundaries become a form of emotional protective equipment
• Why movement, fitness, and physical strength remain important parts of Deena's life
• Why mentorship and representation matter for the next generation of women
• How Deena is continuing her mission through Support Her Strength

Whether you're navigating a male-dominated workplace, stepping into leadership, changing careers, or learning to trust yourself after years of trying to meet other people's expectations, Deena's story is a reminder that you don't have to shrink yourself to succeed. You can be capable, compassionate, courageous, and entirely yourself.

Inspired?

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who is ready to lead with confidence, challenge expectations, or open doors for others.

Learn more about Deena's coaching and mentorship through Support Her Strength at supportherstrength.com.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise $1 million for medical research and help find cures for cancer and other diseases.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to:

PO Box 12
Afton, MN 55001, USA

Together, we can save lives.

Now with a post-race update!

In this edition of Sally’s Hotline, we hear from the unstoppable John Naslund, a true unicorn in the marathon world. John is a charter member of not one, but two major Minnesota marathons, meaning he has run all 50 Grandma’s Marathons and all 43 Twin Cities Marathons.

John’s advice is simple, direct, and earned over decades of running: failure is not an option. When you set out to do something meaningful, you have to figure out how to get it done. The original plan may change. The pace may change. The path may change. But the goal is to keep moving toward the finish.

Using the marathon as his example, John explains that you start with 26.2 miles ahead of you and a certain amount of energy. Five miles in, you still have 21 miles to go. At mile 16, you still have 10 miles left. At each point, you may need to revise the plan, go faster, go slower, manage your energy differently, but you do not simply push until you hit the wall and stop. You adjust so you can finish.

This short but powerful tip episode is a reminder that finishing is often about flexibility, not perfection. If the goal still matters, you manage your energy, overcome the obstacle, and find a way through.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why John believes failure is not an option
• How marathon wisdom applies to life, work, goals, and challenges
• Why you may need to revise your plan along the way
• How to manage your energy instead of pushing blindly until you break
• Why finishing sometimes means slowing down, reassessing, and adjusting

Key Takeaways:

• Set a goal and commit to finishing.
• Failure is not an option when the goal truly matters.
• Your first plan may not be the plan that gets you to the finish.
• Manage your energy before you hit the wall.
• Adjusting is not quitting.
• Overcome the obstacle and keep moving toward the finish line.

If you want to hear John’s full story, including his 50 Grandma’s Marathons, 43 Twin Cities Marathons, running history, retirement, family, and decades of lessons from the road, listen to his full episode of Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise money for medical research and help find cures for cancer and other diseases.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

Together, we can save lives.

John Naslund is a unicorn in the marathon world. He is a charter member of not one, but two iconic Minnesota marathons, meaning he has run every single Grandma’s Marathon and every single Twin Cities Marathon. That is 50 Grandma’s Marathons and 43 Twin Cities Marathons, a streak built not from one big goal at the beginning, but from decades of showing up.

John started running in 1973, and in many ways, he has been training for a marathon ever since. Now 76, newly retired, and recovering from a torn meniscus, John is still preparing for the next starting line. He hobbled through Grandma’s Marathon in June 2026 and is signed up to run Twin Cities Marathon on October 4, 2026, determined to finish even if the miles look different than they once did.

In this episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist visits John in person at his home in Bloomington, Minnesota, to talk about running, aging, persistence, family, career, and what it means to keep moving when your body no longer responds the way it did in your 20s, 30s, or 40s.

From a 2:28 marathon personal best to six-and-a-half-hour finishes, from opening Minnesota’s first specialty running store with Gary Bjorklund to running Western States, Boston, New York, Marine Corps, Grandma’s, Twin Cities, and more, John’s story is a rare look at a lifetime in motion.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How John became a charter member of both Grandma’s Marathon and Twin Cities Marathon
• Why his marathon streak started before it ever became a goal
• What he remembers from early Boston Marathons and the elite runners of that era
• How he and Gary Bjorklund opened Minnesota’s first specialty running store
• Why soft tissue injuries, shoe changes, and recovery become part of the long-term running process
• How John has adjusted his expectations through each decade of life
• Why running in your 70s requires more attention, patience, walking, and recovery
• How he uses heart rate, energy management, and flexibility to keep finishing marathons
• Why races are still social events, even after hundreds of miles and decades of experience
• What he has learned from fellow runners, older athletes, and marathon legends
• How family has become part of his marathon story

Whether you are chasing a personal best, walking your way to the finish, adjusting to a new decade, or trying to stay healthy enough to keep doing what you love, John’s story is a reminder that longevity is its own kind of greatness. The pace may change. The plan may change. The body may change. But there is still meaning in showing up, moving forward, and finding a way to finish.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who knows that the finish line matters, no matter how long it takes to get there.

Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

In this edition of Sally’s Hotline, we hear from the unstoppable Evelyn Smith, a runner, walker, retired math teacher, guidance counselor, and 700+ marathon finisher. Evelyn started running to help manage high blood pressure, and today, at 66, she is still moving forward one race, one goal, and one brave first step at a time.

Evelyn’s advice comes from one of the best lessons she ever received. When she was in high school, she wanted to take algebra but had heard people say it was hard. A trusted mentor told her not to let anyone else decide that for her. If she wanted to know whether something was hard, she needed to try it herself and make up her own mind.

That advice changed her life. Evelyn took algebra, loved it, took Algebra 2, and eventually became a math major. Later in life, the same mindset helped her try running, marathons, ultras, saxophone, Zumba, tai chi, and more. Her message is simple: set a goal, take the first step, and do what you can to keep moving toward it.

This short but meaningful tip episode is a reminder that other people’s opinions do not have to become your limits. Something may be hard. Something may be new. Something may feel outside your box. But you do not know what is possible until you begin.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why Evelyn believes you should not let other people decide what is too hard for you
• How taking algebra changed the direction of her life
• Why starting later in life still counts
• How Evelyn learned to play the saxophone in her 30s
• Why having a goal can help you take the next step
• How running, walking, music, and community continue to keep Evelyn moving

Key Takeaways:

• Do not let someone else’s opinion become your limitation.
• Try it for yourself before deciding it is too hard.
• Set a goal, then take one small step toward it.
• It is never too late to start something new.
• You can build confidence by doing the thing you were afraid to try.
• One brave first step can lead to a whole new life.

If you want to hear Evelyn’s full story, including her 700+ marathons, five rounds of the 50 States, her work as a teacher and counselor, her running journey, and the way she keeps trying new things, listen to her full episode of Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise money for medical research and help find cures for cancer and other diseases.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to:

PO Box 12
Afton, MN 55001

Together, we can save lives.

Evelyn Smith is an unstoppable athlete, runner, walker, retired math teacher, counselor, and true numbers girl. She has finished more than 700 marathons, completed five rounds of the 50 States, and continues to show up at races with hiking poles, humor, humility, and a deep love for movement.

Evelyn started running around age 40 after being diagnosed with high blood pressure. What began as a way to lose weight and improve her health turned into a decades-long journey through marathons, ultras, international races, 50 States Club milestones, and the kind of running community that can change a life one finish line at a time.

In this episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist talks with Evelyn about how she got started, why she kept going, what it feels like to complete more than 700 marathons, and why every race still feels like its own fresh challenge. From her first marathon in Las Vegas to 100-mile races, Zumba, car camping, Antarctica dreams, teaching, counseling, family, injury, bone density, and stubbornness turned into strength, Evelyn’s story is full of wisdom earned over thousands of miles.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Evelyn started running to manage high blood pressure and improve her health
• Why joining the Rockford Running Club helped her train for her first half marathon
• What she remembers about her first marathon in Las Vegas
• How she completed five rounds of the 50 States
• Why being a “numbers girl” shaped her goals and milestones
• What keeps her traveling, racing, and showing up after more than 700 marathons
• How Evelyn approaches walking, hiking poles, Zumba, tai chi, and cross-training
• Why she says every marathon still feels like the first one
• How she handled injuries, foot pain, neuromas, plantar fasciitis, and learning when to adapt
• What she learned from running 100-mile races and multi-day events
• How her years as a math teacher and school counselor shaped the way she sees people
• Why support, or the lack of it, can deeply affect a runner’s journey
• How Evelyn found encouragement from chosen family, teachers, friends, and the running community
• Why stubbornness can become a strength when you use it to keep moving
• How running helps her relax, solve problems, and clear her mind

Whether you are chasing your first 5K, your next marathon, your 50th state, or simply trying to stay active through a new season of life, Evelyn’s story is a reminder that movement can become medicine, community, identity, and joy. You do not have to be the fastest person on the course to belong there. You just have to keep showing up.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that every finish line counts.

Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

In this edition of Sally’s Hotline, we hear from host Sally Hed Dahlquist with a different kind of workout: a workout for your brain. Instead of focusing on running, racing, or physical training, Sally shares practical tips for studying, remembering information, and building stronger learning habits for school, work, and everyday life.

As back-to-school season begins, Sally reflects on her own experience as a lifelong learner. Even though she did well in high school, college pushed her to learn how to actually study. After taking a “How to Study” class as a senior, she developed habits that helped her through college, her professional career, and now her work as the host of Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

This short but helpful tip episode is a reminder that memory is built through repetition, creativity, and using your whole brain and body. Whether you are a student, a professional, or someone who simply wants to remember more, Sally’s advice is clear: take notes, review often, make it fun, and use every tool you can to help the information stick.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why repetition is the key to remembering information
• How studying builds “neural pathways” like a trail through the woods
• What to do before class to prepare your brain for learning
• Why taking notes by hand can help you remember more
• How to use colors, Post-it Notes, doodles, songs, and funny associations to make information stick
• Why sitting in the front row and avoiding distractions can make a difference
• What to do immediately after class to strengthen what you learned
• How studying with a friend can help you remember by teaching, speaking, and hearing the material out loud
• Why humor, movement, and creativity can make studying more effective
• How Sally applies these same study techniques to preparing for podcast interviews

Key Takeaways:

• Read before class whenever you can.
• Take notes by hand.
• Review your notes within an hour after class.
• Use colors, doodles, songs, gestures, and Post-it Notes to make studying more memorable.
• Teach the material to someone else.
• Say things out loud so you can hear yourself explain them.
• Study in an environment that helps you focus, like the library.
• Make studying active, creative, and a little messy.
• Your textbook should look used, loved, and full of effort by the end of the semester.
• Remember: you are not just memorizing. You are building pathways in your brain.

If you want to hear more of Sally’s story, including how she became an unstoppable runner, lifelong learner, and the host of a podcast with a purpose, listen to Episode 1 of Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise money for medical research to help fund cures for cancer and other diseases.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to: PO Box 12, Afton, MN 55001, USA

Together, we can save lives.