Stories from the Heart

Why women's heart attack symptoms are still overlooked — and how it nearly cost Fiona her life Political cartoonist Fiona Katauskas shares the morning she collapsed at home, convinced she was "just imagining it." As she recalls, "I didn't call an ambulance because I thought, oh, I don't want to cause a fuss." Despite being fit and active, her symptoms didn't match the male‑centric heart attack des...

In this episode of Stories from the Heart , we hear from Sadie Goddard-Wrighton — a South Australian wellness coach, breast cancer survivor and founder of the Breast Friend Project, a Heart Foundation walking group supporting people affected by breast cancer. Sadie shares her story of recovery, the role movement played in her healing, and how connection with others became a vital part of rebuildin...

No Money, No Time? It doesn't matter – you can still make healthy meals With food bills creeping ever higher, many people worry about the expense of putting healthy meals on the table. But there are solutions.  In this episode, we explore how innovative tools and strategic partnerships are empowering Australians to improve their diet within budget and time constraints. This must-listen episode fea...

In this episode of Stories from the Heart, we look at ithe Health Hive, an initiative reshaping of how young people engage with public health research—especially heart health. Host, Matt Dunn speaks with Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge and members of her team about why youth involvement matters, what's holding young people back, and how the Health Hive is breaking down barriers with practi...

In this powerful episode of Stories from the Heart , we speak with renowned anti–food waste campaigner and chef Mandy Hall, who shares her deeply personal journey of misdiagnosis to a life‑threatening heart condition. Despite experiencing persistent and alarming symptoms, the former MasterChef contestant was told her condition was anxiety‑related. It wasn't until much later that she discovered she...

In this inspiring episode of Stories from the Heart , we sit down with Mildura teacher Graeme Tulloch , who turned a near-death experience into a mission to save lives. During a routine bike ride, Graeme experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to the quick actions of community members who performed CPR, his life was saved. He shares the harrowing details of that day, the medical response that...

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to disproportionately affect First Nations communities, but a simple idea is making a powerful difference: clean clothes. In this episode, we travel to Barunga Festival in the Northern Territory to learn how community-run remote laundries are reducing scabies, preventing new cases of RHD, and strengthening local pride. We hear from Aboriginal In...

In this powerful episode of Stories from the Heart, we sit down with Sanjiv Kulkarni, a 48-year-old father and husband whose life took an unexpected turn. Despite being active and health-conscious, Sanjiv dismissed his heart attack symptoms as simple heartburn—until a doctor's diagnosis led to a shocking recommendation: a triple bypass. Sanjiv's story is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks heart...

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women in Australia - yet too often it's underdiagnosed and undertreated. In this episode,  Dr Clare Arnott , cardiologist and Heart Foundation Clinical Ambassador for the Hand on Heart campaign, explains the gender gaps in heart attack care and the unique heart risks women face during and after pregnancy. She shares warning signs, practical s...

From coffee to cocktails, butter to "super-protein" diets, the world of nutrition is full of confusing (and sometimes misleading) advice.   In this episode, Heart Foundation Senior Food and Nutrition Advisor  J emma O'Hanlon helps us bust some of the biggest diet myths.   We explore how much sugar is really okay, whether coffee is good for your heart, why the carnivore diet is a health risk, and w...

Obesity is now one of the biggest drivers of poor heart health in Australia - affecting one-third of adults and contributing more to our national disease burden than tobacco. In this episode, we take you inside the Heart Foundation's first-ever National Stakeholder Forum on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease, the starting point for Australia's inaugural Clinical Consensus Statement on this critica...

Open heart surgery can save your life — but it can quietly put your brain and kidneys at risk. Many patients wake up from surgery confused or forgetful, with inflammation in the brain now known to be a likely cause of delirium. Dr Simon Iles knows this firsthand. As a young ICU doctor, he collapsed at work and suddenly became the patient — surviving emergency heart surgery but waking up unable to...

At just 14 years old, Leanne went into sudden cardiac arrest in a supermarket car park. Born with a rare congenital heart defect, her journey has included open-heart surgery, recovery from a coma, and learning to live with an internal defibrillator - all before adulthood.   In this episode, Leanne shares her remarkable story with honesty, humour , and a powerful message about resilience, visibilit...

Pete Marnock was the picture of health—lean, active, and unstoppable on a mountain bike. But beneath his peak fitness was a hidden, life-threatening heart condition. He had no symptoms, no risk factors, and no idea he was days away from disaster.   In this episode, Pete shares his powerful story of survival and the routine GP check-up that saved his life. With raw honesty, he talks about identity,...

When Janet suffered a heart attack at the theatre, her daughter Dawn didn't just take it as a warning—she turned it into a challenge. Now, s he is embark ing on the Queen of Hearts Run and Ride : a 20,000km endurance event to raise funds and awareness for heart disease research.   In this episode, we hear from Dawn Beaumont , the powerhouse behind the event, Janet , whose heart attack changed ever...

How do we stop junk food advertising from shaping the next generation's health?     In our first episode of this new season of Stories from the Heart we speak with three leading experts about the power of unhealthy food marketing and the urgent need for change.     Jane Martin from the Food for Health Alliance sheds light on the tactics used by advertisers and the urgent need for stronger regulati...

Could a routine mammogram save your life in more ways than one ?    In this episode, Dr Lauren Houston, Research Fellow in the Cardiovascular Program at The George Institute for Global Health, shares her groundbreaking work on combining heart disease screening with mammograms.   Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionising diagnostics, why women's unique health needs demand attention, a...

Vicki Roycroft, three time Olympian and Australian equestrian royalty, takes us on a journey from a life-threatening heart emergency to getting back on her beloved horse. After an aortic rupture at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2023, Vicki reflects on how CPR and the presence of skilled medics saved her life. Hear her candid account of recovery, her decision to step back from competition, and th...

Can a simple stroll really boost your heart health?    In this episode of Stories from the Heart , we dive into the surprising benefits of walking.    Dr Matthew Ahmadi, a research fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre, breaks down how wearable devices can turn everyday steps into heart-healthy wins.    Plus, we chat with K y m Lang and Elizabeth Calleja from the Heart Foundation's healthy living p...

This week, we're jumping into the Skip Your Way for 30 Days challenge with Jump Rope World Champion, Luke Boon .   Luke shares his expert insights on how skipping is not only a fun and accessible way to get fit, but also a powerful exercise for boosting heart health.   We're also joined by Dr Brooklyn Fraser , a leading researcher in childhood fitness, who tells us how skipping and other forms of...

How much do you really know about the foods you eat? In this episode of Stories from the Heart , we explore how ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are silently shaping our health—and not always for the better.   Dietary experts Jemma O'Hanlon and Dr. Priscila Machado break down the rapid rise of UPFs in modern diets and their connection to growing rates of chronic diseases like heart disease. They revea...

What happens to your mind when your heart lets you down?    In this episode, we delve into the critical but often overlooked link between mental health and heart disease. With around 3 million Australians living with depression or anxiety, the connection between mental well-being and heart health has never been more important.   We hear from Nadene Hall, who experienced a spontaneous coronary arte...

Could high blood pressure be the hidden force behind life-threatening heart conditions?    In this powerful episode of Stories from the Heart , we hear from Nathan Krepp, a self-described workaholic from Western Australia. With high blood pressure and a poor diet, Nathan had already lost 5% of his heart function due to minor heart attacks. But in 2020, an even more dramatic event unfolded, which s...

What would you do if your life changed in an instant?   For Dr Geoff Lester, a promising economics student and basketball referee, it all began with dizziness and a tingling sensation during a game. At just 24 , he was on the brink of death from a rare genetic heart disease he didn't even know he had. After four open-heart surgeries and two strokes, Geoff's life took a completely new direction. No...

In this episode of Stories from the Heart, we delve into the critical role of genetic counselling in understanding and addressing inherited heart diseases.    We speak to Associate Professor Jodie Ingles, a leading cardiac genetic counsellor and head of the Clinical Genomics Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, who shares her insights and expertise about the significance of gene...