A police K9 given weeks to live walked onto an NFL field to a standing ovation—and reminded us why hope is a strategy. We sit down with Chris to trace Tambo’s journey from a sudden ER scare and a brutal hemangiosarcoma diagnosis to a rare break in the odds, immediate chemotherapy, and a plan built on grit, joy, and relentless love. What starts as a private fight grows into a movement as Chris turns chemo days into themed “fight nights,” shares their road trips and recovery, and watches a community rally around a dog who keeps choosing life.

We go deep on what it means to reject fixed timelines and lead with intention. Chris breaks down the mind–body–spirit approach that keeps Tambo strong: top-tier oncology, hydrotherapy and rehab, therapeutic massage, tailored nutrition, active play, and a calm mindset. Along the way, messages pour in from patients and parents who draw strength from a shepherd’s wag and a handler’s voice. Media features, sold-out “Tambo Strong” shirts, and a “Defy the Odds” line help fund care and spread his story. The Philadelphia Eagles honor Tambo during their salute to service game; 70,000 fans rise as he barks at the camera, a live-action reminder that resilience is a daily choice.

What if the partner you needed most was the one everyone else overlooked? We sit down with veteran officer Chris Bingham to share the remarkable arc of his relationship with K9 Tambo—the “aloof” dog who wouldn’t bond—through seven years of elite detection work, a tough retirement, and a sudden cancer battle that forced split‑second choices and deeper courage.

Chris takes us inside the quiet craft of canine detection: how a handler learns to read breath, posture, and micro‑signals; when to guide and when to trust; and why the best teams communicate without words. We talk about the milestones that defined their run—presidential inaugurations, major sporting venues, thousands of searches—and the smaller moments that mattered more: a hesitant climb onto a hotel bed, a first nap at the foot, and the feeling of finally being seen. When a ligament tear ended Tambo’s working career, a new purpose emerged at home as he guarded Chris’s newborn son, dispelling myths about temperament and proving that service doesn’t stop with the badge.

Then everything changed. A playful chase with a backyard squirrel led to double CCL injuries and costly surgery, until Project K9 Hero stepped in to shoulder medical expenses and restore options. Honors followed—from MLB clubhouses to on‑field salutes—before a mid‑July emergency exposed a ruptured splenic mass and probable cancer. Chris walks us through the frantic vet visit, the moment Tambo looked truly afraid, and the decision to operate despite the odds. It’s a raw, human account of loyalty, resilience, and the communities that rise to help retired police dogs when they need it most.

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What does it take to go from a life dimmed by control and doubt to a voice that fills pages and crosses state lines on two wheels? We sit with Teri as she walks us through the quiet tactics of emotional abuse—financial gatekeeping, isolation, and the slow erosion of self—and the practical steps that helped her leave for good. A single, measurable boundary around money became the hinge of a new life. Therapy rebuilt lost pillars: work, friendship, and agency. Allies showed up without pressure, offering presence over prescriptions and making room for a choice only she could make.

On the far side of fear, her creativity returned with force. Six weeks after leaving, 50,000 imperfect words spilled out, the first of many drafts that taught her hand to tell the truth. We talk about the craft of becoming an author: embracing messy first manuscripts, partnering with an editor, learning marketing as a skill, and publishing before perfect. Then the story moves to the road—3,102 miles of cycling that rewired identity from “I can’t” to “I did.” Big physical acts can anchor a new narrative in the body, and that proof changes everything.

Teri also shares a hard-won philosophy: throw out the bucket list. Pick the one dream that won’t leave you alone and do one concrete step today. That urgency sharpened after losing her husband Bruce to glioblastoma; because they rode when they could, the ride exists as a finished chapter, not a deferred wish. We close with where to find her work—podcasts that champion indie authors, new books and anthologies—and a toolkit for supporting friends in harmful relationships: reduce isolation, offer specific help, and hold space without judgment.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The co-hosts of this podcast are not medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by the podcast hosts or guests is solely at your own risk.

Pamela Cass is a licensed broker with Kentwood Real Estate
Natalie Davis is a licensed broker with Keller Williams Realty Downtown, LLC