Shaping the Future of Obesity and Heart Disease Care
Release Date: 08/08/2025
Heart Failure to Heart Hero
Stories from the Heart
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...
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Washing Away Heart Disease in Barunga
Stories from the Heart
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...
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This is NOT a Heart Attack
Stories from the Heart
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...
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Heart Risks for Women: Pregnancy and Beyond (with Dr Clare Arnott)
Stories from the 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 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 .
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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...
info_outlineObesity 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