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 had an 90% blockage in a major artery — a diagnosis that would ultimately save her life.

Mandy reflects on the challenges women face in having their heart disease symptoms recognised and taken seriously, and the emotional toll of not being believed. She also discusses how her experience has fuelled her passion to raise awareness about women's heart health, encouraging others to listen to their bodies and advocate for themselves.

This episode is a confronting and inspiring reminder that heart disease doesn't always look the way we expect — and that early recognition can make all the difference.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why heart disease symptoms in women are often missed or misdiagnosed
• The dangers of dismissing symptoms as anxiety or stress
• Mandy's journey to diagnosis and recovery
• The importance of self‑advocacy in healthcare
• Raising awareness to help save more women's lives

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone you love and help spread the message about women's heart health. Learn more about the signs of heart disease in women and how to protect your heart at heartfoundation.org.au, and subscribe to Stories from the Heart so you never miss an episode.

If you'd like to find out more about Mandy Hall, go to: realfoodhall.com.au

*The Heart Foundation relies on peer-reviewed scientific research in the production of this podcast.

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 followed, and how the experience reshaped his outlook forever.

We also talk to one of Graeme's rescuers, Seher Ozonal, whose early intervention not only helped to save Graeme's life but created a lifelong bond.

Out of this life-changing event came Hands on Heart Australia, an organisation Graeme founded to train and empower locals in CPR. His story is a reminder of the critical role everyday people can play in emergencies—and the emotional impact of surviving against the odds.

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 Investment Group CEO Liz Morgan-Brett, community laundry worker Darryl Miller, Heart Foundation leaders working on the ground, and researcher Dr Ailin Lepletier, who explains the science behind how skin infections can lead to serious heart damage.

We also share news of a brand-new Remote Laundry opening in Borroloola — the latest step in a growing, community-led movement improving health outcomes across remote Australia.

To learn more about rheumatic heart disease, the Remote Laundries Project, and how you can support this work, visit:

• https://www.remotelaundries.org.au/barunga/
• https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/catalyst/remote-laundries/umbakumba-borroloola-launch
• https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/first-nations-heart-health/acute-rheumatic-fever-and-rhd

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 disease only happens to "other people." With a family history of heart issues, his experience highlights how easily symptoms can be misunderstood—and how critical it is to listen to your body.

We're also joined by Natalie Raffoul from the Heart Foundation. As Senior Manager for Healthcare Programs and Clinical Strategy, Nat sheds light on why misinterpreting heart attack symptoms is so common. Plus, she also tells us about the My Heart, My Life program—a free support initiative designed to help people living with heart disease (and their caregivers) lead healthier, happier lives.

Tune in to hear:

· Sanjiv's emotional journey from denial to diagnosis

· Why heartburn and heart attack symptoms are often confused

· Expert insights from Natalie Raffoul on heart health awareness

Subscribe, listen, and share—because these stories could save a life.

My Heart, My Life: myheartmylife.org.au

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 steps to protect your heart, and why speaking up can save lives.

To learn more about women's heart health - and the Hand on Heart campaign - visit heartfoundation.org.au.

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 Jemma 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 what a truly heart-healthy eating pattern looks like.

With practical tips, clear explanations, and a dash of myth-busting fun, this conversation will leave you better equipped to make choices that support your heart health every day.

Presented by Matt Dunn.

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 critical health challenge.

Guests include Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd, Chief Medical Advisor Professor Garry Jennings, Laureate Professor Clare Collins - one of Australia's most influential nutrition experts - and Dr Mark Mellor, an experienced Specialist GP with advanced expertise in weight management and metabolic health.

Together, they share why this work is so urgent, how emerging treatments and prevention strategies can be applied, and what it will take to turn knowledge into action. They outline a vision for better care, better outcomes, and a healthier future for every Australian heart.

Presented by Michael Zubreckyj

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 remember his own mother's phone number.

Now, Professor Yugeesh Lankadeva and his team at The Florey are developing a potential disease-modifying therapy — using a carefully formulated compound related to vitamin C — to protect the brain and kidneys before damage begins.

It's hope for thousands of patients to not just survive heart surgery, but keep living with their minds and bodies intact.

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, visibility, and advocacy.

We're also joined by Bridget O 'Malley, a clinical researcher investigating the genetic and environmental causes of congenital heart disease. From cutting-edge science to the lived experience behind the diagnosis, this episode explores how far we've come - and how far we still have to go - in understanding and treating heart disease.

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, recovery, and what it's like to face your own mortality despite "doing everything right."

We also hear from Natalie Raffoul, Senior Manager Healthcare Programs & Clinical Strategy at the Heart Foundation, who breaks down why Heart Week matters, what Australians need to know about the silent nature of heart disease, and how simple steps like a heart health check can make all the difference.

Whether you're an athlete or just someone who puts off going to the doctor, this is an episode that might just change your life—or help you save someone else's.

🫀 Learn more at heartfoundation.org.au.