How a Fit, Healthy Man Nearly Missed a Deadly Heart Condition
Release Date: 05/09/2025
Busting Nutrition Myths with Dietitian Jemma O’Hanlon
Stories from the Heart
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...
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Shaping the Future of Obesity and Heart Disease Care
Stories from the Heart
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...
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Saving the Heart, Protecting the Brain
Stories from the Heart
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...
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Leanne’s Story: Surviving Cardiac Arrest at 14
Stories from the Heart
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...
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How a Fit, Healthy Man Nearly Missed a Deadly Heart Condition
Stories from the Heart
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...
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The Queen of Hearts Race to Save Lives
Stories from the Heart
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, she is embarking 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 everything, and Wade D’Arcy, a cycling expert and heart disease survivor playing a crucial role in getting this ride on the road. From CPR in a theatre foyer to the logistics of cycling...
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The Fight Against Junk Food Marketing
Stories from the Heart
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 regulations. Alison Corfield of the Jamie Oliver Group shares inspiring global success stories, offering a roadmap for change in Australia. And, the Heart...
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Rethinking Mammograms: Could They Soon Save Hearts Too?
Stories from the Heart
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, and the global potential of this innovative research. Dr Houston also opens up about the challenges of breaking new ground in medicine and the critical importance of...
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Heart Attack on Horseback: Vicki Roycroft’s Survival Story
Stories from the Heart
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 the genetic heart condition that has shaped her family’s health journey.
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The Benefits of Walking and Wearables for Heart Health
Stories from the Heart
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 Kym Lang and Elizabeth Calleja from the Heart Foundation’s healthy living programs about how small steps can make big changes.
info_outlinePete 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.