Podcast
Heart Warrior Project: For cardiac arrest survivors & those at risk
Hosted by Jellis Vaes · EN
I’m Jellis Vaes, founder of The Heart Warrior Project and a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. I started this project after experiencing firsthand how intense and life-altering this journey can be, and how little emotional support is available. The Heart Warrior Project is dedicated to supporting cardiac arrest survivors and those at risk. On the podcast, I sit down not only with fellow heart warriors but also with cardiologists, psychologists, and other experts to explore both the physical and emotional sides of recovery.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Life After the ICU: Understanding Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) with Dr. Brian Peach
1w ago01:03:31Tap to summarizeThe resources mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://heartwarriorproject.com/post-intensive-care-syndrome-dr-brian-peach/Leaving the intensive care unit doesn’t always mean that recovery is over.Many cardiac arrest survivors continue to struggle with fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, PTSD, weakness, and cognitive problems for months or even years after spending time in the ICU. Yet many have never heard of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).In this episode of The Heart Warrior Project, Dr. Brian Peach, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, ICU nurse researcher, and one of the world’s leading advocates for PICS awareness, joins us for a live Q&A meetup to answer a range of questions about this topic.If you’d like to take part in our next live Q&A meetup, be sure to follow us on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter. We’ll share the announcement and registration details there.
Transcribe →Health Trackers for Heart Patients: Helpful or Harmful?
3w ago00:17:35Tap to summarizeHealth trackers… They are becoming increasingly popular. But can a health tracker actually help when you live with a heart condition, or could it make you more anxious?After wearing the WHOOP health tracker for 11 months, I wanted to share what I personally found useful as someone living with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, an ICD, and exercise limitations.Although I used WHOOP, many of the features I discuss are also available on health trackers from other brands.The main features that I believe could potentially benefit us heart warriors include AFib detection, ECG readings, blood-pressure monitoring, sleep-quality tracking, heart-rate monitoring during exercise, and estimated biological age.Health trackers worth checking out include:WHOOPGoogle Fitbit AirPolar LoopAmazfit Helio StrapHume Band 2.0I’m also joined by Dr. Samuel Sears, a clinical health psychologist who has worked extensively with people living with ICDs and heart disease. He shares his perspective from a clinical and academic standpoint.By bringing these two perspectives together, I hope this video and podcast episode will give you enough information to decide whether trying a health tracker is right for you.Important: This video does not constitute medical advice. Always discuss health data, exercise limits, symptoms, and device readings with your cardiologist or medical team.
Transcribe →Upcoming Health Expert! Dr. Brian Peach
Jul 200:02:10Tap to summarizeDr. Brian Peach is a critical care researcher with a special focus on post-intensive care syndrome, also known as PICS.You can leave your questions by going to this page: https://heartwarriorproject.com/experts/Questions can be submitted until July 10, 2026.
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5 Things Every Heart Patient Needs to Hear!
Jun 1600:20:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I share the five most important insights I’ve gathered over my 27-year journey of living with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, surviving a sudden cardiac arrest, and navigating life as a heart patient.Whether you are a fellow cardiac arrest survivor or someone living with a heart condition, I hope that at least one or two of these insights can make your journey as a fellow heart warrior feel a little less lonely, difficult, or restrictive. Resources:Join our monthly meetups and learn more: https://heartwarriorproject.com/online-meetup-for-cardiac-arrest-survivors/Follow us on Instagram: @heartwarriorprojectSubscribe and follow the podcast for more stories from fellow heart warriors and expert Q&As
Transcribe →I Lost My Carefree Life After My ICD Shocked Me | Elise van de Haar
May 700:51:40Tap to summarizeSudden cardiac arrest survivor Elise van de Haar shares her story of what life has been like living with an ICD, and what her experiences were like receiving multiple shocks.This full conversation with Elise is part of an in-depth episode about ICD shocks, featuring multiple people who have experienced ICD shocks, so you can gain insight into how they dealt with them.Alongside this, Dr. Samuel Sears, a clinical health psychologist specializing in working with ICD patients, also shares his professional insights on what to do after an ICD shock and how to move forward.If you’d like to learn more about dealing with ICD shocks, be sure to also listen to that episode, titled: ICD Shocks: How Painful Are They—and How Do You Cope Afterward?
Transcribe →A Live Q&A with Cardiologist Dr. Sanjay Gupta | Your Heart Health Questions Answered
Apr 2400:55:23Tap to summarizeHelp the heart of The Heart Warrior Project continue beating by supporting us: https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolvedIn this episode, you're listening to a recording of our live Q&A meetup with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a consultant cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK. Besides his clinical work, Dr. Gupta also runs the YouTube channel York Cardiology, which has over 500,000 subscribers dedicated to free heart health education.Every month, we organize multiple online meetups, and occasionally, we host a special live session where fellow heart warriors from our community, survivors of cardiac arrest, and those at risk get to ask their personal questions directly to a cardiac expert.If you are a fellow SCA survivor or someone at risk, and you’d like to stay aware of when our next monthly meetup will happen, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram.An announcement will be posted there with information on how to sign up. These meetups are, by the way, completely free
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I Died While Running, Now I’m Running a Marathon | Becca Travis
Apr 1401:13:12Tap to summarizeBecca Travis, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, collapsed in 2024 at the age of 24 while out for a run. Today, she is preparing to run her first marathon, the London Marathon, to raise awareness of heart health and funds for the British Heart Foundation, supporting life-saving research, patient care, and CPR training, the skill that saved her life. Inspired by her story and want to support this campaign? You can donate via the following link: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/rebecca-travis ____________❤️ Help Me Keep the Project Alive! ❤️If you found this episode helpful, consider supporting the project to help keep the heart of The Heart Warrior Project beating. Your support is greatly needed.You can donate, become a member, or browse our merch through the following link: https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/Thank you, truly, for supporting this project! ❤️💪
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Upcoming Health Expert! Dr. Rosy Thachil
Mar 1600:01:58Tap to summarizeWhat question do you want me to ask Dr. Thachil? You can send them in through the following link: https://heartwarriorproject.com/experts/
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Dr. Sanjay Gupta – Where Modern Medicine Falls Short & Why Lifestyle Matters More Than You Think
Feb 2601:08:02Tap to summarizeIn this Q&A episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Consultant Cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK.With nearly 28 years of experience, Dr. Gupta is passionate about doing healthcare differently — focusing on lifestyle, prevention, and empowering patients to understand their hearts without unnecessary fear. Beyond his clinical work, he shares clear, evidence-based, jargon-free heart health information on his YouTube channel, York Cardiology, reaching over 500,000 subscribers.If you’d like to ask your question to the next cardiac expert, follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter — that’s where I’ll announce it.Instagram: www.instagram.com/heartwarriorprojectNewsletter: heartwarriorproject.com/newsletter____________❤️ Help Me Keep the Project Alive! ❤️If you found this episode helpful, consider supporting the project to help keep the heart of The Heart Warrior Project beating. Your support is greatly needed.You can donate, become a member, or browse our merch through the following link: https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/Thank you, truly, for supporting this project! ❤️💪
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The Reality of Living with an ICD: Will’s First Shock Experience
Feb 1600:44:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Heart Warrior Project, I sit down with Will, a fellow cardiac arrest survivor, to talk openly about something many ICD patients fear: receiving a shock.This is the full, in-depth conversation with Will about his recent ICD shock—what happened, what it felt like, and what went through his mind in those intense moments.This episode is also part of a larger, in-depth video about ICD shocks featuring multiple survivor experiences and professional guidance from Dr. Samuel Sears, a clinical health psychologist specialized in working with ICD patients.If you want to learn even more about ICD shocks—what to do, how to cope, and how to process the emotional aftermath—be sure to check out the full ICD shock episode: ICD Shocks: How Painful Are They—and How Do You Cope Afterward?
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