Embark on an unforgettable episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast as Boots Knighton shares her remarkable journey of overcoming adversity and finding resilience amidst life’s unexpected challenges. From her powerful recollection of breaking her leg in a skiing accident to her thought-provoking reflections on the impact of trauma on heart health, Boots delves into the depths of her personal experiences. Gain exclusive insights into the importance of mental health therapy post-surgery, the call for ...
Jan 30, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 35
**Alert! The name of this podcast is changing on June 4th to Open Heart Surgery with Boots! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the announcement. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter !** In episode 34 of The Heart Chamber Podcast, nutrition expert Michelle Routhenstein shares valuable insights on heart health and nutrition. She emphasizes the importance of personalized care and finding qualified healthcare professionals, cautioning against one-size-fits-all diet trends. The discussion delve...
Jan 23, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 34
#33 Dive deep into the hidden links between chronic illness, sensitivity to our modern world, and the transformative power of nature in this profound episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast. Our guest, Amy Stein, brings over 15 years of navigating the healing journey, combining her intimate knowledge of plants, energy medicine, and breath work. Join host Boots Knighton as they uncover the pitfalls of the medical system and explore the power of intuition and plant medicine as allies in the quest for...
Jan 16, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 33
In this episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast, host Boots Knighton interviews guest Robyn Peacock about her journey with a bicuspid aortic valve, misdiagnoses, and ultimate recovery from open heart surgery. Robyn emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, proactive healthcare, and trusting one's instincts when it comes to medical concerns. The discussion sheds light on the emotional and mental aspects of heart surgery recovery, with a focus on managing emotions and seeking support. Robyn's story...
Jan 09, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 32
#31 Boots Knighton and Dr. Cody Golman explore the misconceptions surrounding aging, weight gain, and emotional healing. Unveiling the truth about sugar's impact on the body, they delve into the addictive nature of sugar. Dr. Golman reveals his 4 secrets to healthy weight loss, shedding light on the emotional aspects of weight management and the importance of addressing mental health. This captivating conversation also touches on the transformative impact of love and connection on holistic healt...
Jan 02, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In this episode of "The Heart Chamber" podcast, host Boots Knighton and physical therapist Cassie Fuller discuss the importance of listening to our bodies and recognizing subtle signals for overall well-being. The conversation highlights the impact of open heart surgery and the care needed for cardiac athletes, emphasizing the importance of mental health in the healing process. Together, Boots and Cassie explore the challenges of reconciling an active lifestyle with the need for healing, and how...
Dec 26, 2023•48 min•Season 2Ep. 30
**Alert! The name of this podcast is changing on June 4th to Open Heart Surgery with Boots! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the announcement. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter !** In this emotionally charged episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast, host Boots Knighton takes listeners on a raw and powerful journey through her harrowing experiences with open heart surgery and her complicated recovery. From the life-threatening health journey of her mother overlapping her own diagnosis, to...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 29
#28 Buckle up for a thought-provoking exploration of the often overlooked relationship between gut health and overall well-being in this episode featuring Boots Knighton and Josh Dech. Josh reveals the impact of gut bacteria on genetic function, immunity, and even behavior. Delve into the essential role of gut health in post-surgery recovery and uncover insightful strategies for priming the body's detox pathways to optimize healing. From the potential risks of DIY interventions to the influence ...
Dec 12, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 28
#27 Boots Knighton interviews Dr. Jack Wolfson, a renowned cardiologist focused on finding the root causes of health issues. They discuss the importance of eating well, living well, and thinking well to enhance heart health. Dr. Jack emphasizes the need to remove chemicals from food, eat organic, gluten-free, and nutrient-dense meals. He also recommends holistic practices like chiropractic care and holistic dentistry. The conversation touches on the importance of quality sleep, physical activity...
Dec 05, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 27
#26 Host Boots Knighton invites guest Jacque Avalon, a nurse, to share her inspiring story of thriving post open heart surgery. Jacque's journey began when she went to the emergency room with chest pain, which turned out to be a rare condition called double chambered right ventricle. It took some advocacy and prompting from Jacque's primary care physician for a full work to be completed. This led to the discovery of her Double Chambered Right Ventricle, and other structural challenges with her h...
Nov 28, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 26
#25 Join host Boots Knighton as she welcomes Leigh Kamping-Carder, the mind behind The Heart Dialogues, to delve into the realities of living with a complex heart defect. She shares her journey of childhood surgeries from tricuspid atresia to navigating the uncharted waters of adult care. Leigh sheds light on the emotional toll of her condition, while offering hope and support to others facing similar battles. A Little More About Today's Guest Leigh Kamping-Carder is the writer of The Heart Dial...
Nov 21, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 25
#24 From a life-altering heart attack to a misplaced bypass graft, embark on a rollercoaster ride of resilience and self-discovery with Sherri Hansen. Sherri walks us through her heart attack diagnosis and subsequent open-heart surgeries. This story is important and is a reason why we all need to be our own best advocates. If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it: [04:14] Experienced chest pain but didn't seek help. [07:48] Had issues with pain medication, received...
Nov 14, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 24
#23 Host Boots Knighton and Julian Hayes encourage you to explore the power of the mind in healing. They explore the importance of mindset, visualization, and positive thinking in healing. They also discuss the impact of impulsive behavior on overall health and the importance of optimizing one's well-being, rather than simply maintaining it. Julian's personal experiences and unique perspective will leave you inspired to create your own path and challenge the status quo in pursuit of a fulfilling...
Nov 07, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 23
#22 Guest, Cody McKay, shares his journey with an ascending aortic aneurysm and how it impacted his life as a young athlete. He discusses the importance of considering cardiac health and the effects it can have on sports and overall well-being. Cody highlights the need for awareness and support for individuals dealing with heart conditions, emphasizing that age and athleticism are not exempt from such issues. He is also an advocate for heart-healthy living and the importance of educating oneself...
Oct 31, 2023•48 min•Season 2Ep. 22
#21 Christine Boev, a healthcare provider, mother, sister, daughter, and ICU nurse with a wealth of experience shares her journey through the realms of nursing, from her early days as a novice nurse to her current role as the chair of an undergraduate nursing program. We'll also delve into the intense and emotional world of pediatric ICU nursing and the ethical dilemmas that arise when making life or death decisions. Expand your knowledge and gain a deeper appreciation for the dedicated professi...
Oct 24, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Are you, or someone you love, looking at the possibility of open heart surgery? Join Boots Knighton, an educator, athlete, and heart patient, on her podcast, The Heart Chamber. With a surprise diagnosis and subsequent surgery at 42, Boots knows firsthand the challenges and fears that come with facing this procedure. In The Heart Chamber, she shares insightful conversations, reflective interviews, helpful resources and inspiration for heart patients, caregivers, and health care providers. Discove...
Oct 11, 2023•2 min
#20 Boots shares how much she has grown from launching this podcast as well as all the people she has had the priviledge to meet with Michael Moeri, the sound guru for this podcast. She also shares recent developments with her health and the importance of holistic dentistry. Michael reflects as well on how he met Boots and the episodes that touched him. You can hear Boots in Episode 209 – Making Friends with Stillness, Boredom and Courage with Suzanne Boots Knighton - The Jackson Hole Connection...
May 30, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 20
#18 Kathy Hoseth was the first patient to be unroofed for her myocardial bridge in the state of Michigan at age 58. She began experiencing symptoms at age 8 from a myocardial bridge but would not receive the diagnosis until age 58. Throughout childhood, she couldn't catch her breath, her legs hurt, and she just didn't feel right. She even passed out when standing in line for too long in high school. She kept living her life, had two boys in her 20s and even went back to school as a mom. She had ...
May 16, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Belen Blanton was born with tricuspid atresia in Caracas, Venezuela back in 1965. When she was born, many doctors told her mom that she was not going to make it. Fortunately, her mother took her to a cardiologist that had contact with Houston Children's hospital in Texas, where she had surgery, a Potts Shunt procedure performed by Dr. Denton Cooley. From age 15 she began to experience complications including arrhythmia. When she was 21 she moved to the US and from age 30 experienced atrial fibri...
May 09, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 17
On March 4, 1976, Jason Crutchley was born with 4 congenital heart defects: Atrial Septal Defect, Transposition of the Great Vessels, Sub-Aortic Stenosis and Pulmonary Atresia. In layman terms, he was born with 1 chamber of my heart working, not 4! All four defects individually are very common in males, but to have all 4 in 1 is extremely rare. At six weeks old, he underwent his first surgery called a Pulmonary banding. At that time, the doctors gave him a life expectancy of 3 years. At 6 years ...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 52 min•Season 1Ep. 16
#15 Boots interviews Erin Borbet, a acupuncturist and coach, to highlight the role Erin's acupuncture and coaching has played in Boots's recovery from heart surgery. There are so many important lessons in this episode. Boots shares about working through the emotional components of heart surgery with Erin. It's an important listen. Erin is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Board Certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine, a DONA Trained Labor Doula, Certified Nosara Yoga Instructor, Intuitive Life Coach and et...
Apr 25, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 15
#14 Frank and Anna Jaworski's baby, Alex, was born in 1994 and was seemingly ok...to the doctors and nurses. Frank and Anna disagreed. Alex was showing many symptoms of concern including not feeding well, tachycardia, not gaining weight, jaundice, and lethargy. Frank and Anna were continuously gaslighted until Alex's problems became emergent at just two months old. From there, a miracle began to take shape as Alex eventually landed in the right doctor's arms and a diagnosis was made: hypoplastic...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Bill Wingate will always hold on to hope, faith, and his bourbon. Thanks to his incredible community of friends and his wife, Martha, he has endured a medical journey few take and he has kept his humor in the process. In 1997, while a student at Auburn University, Bill began to experience issues in his neck. He went to see a doctor who heard a heart murmur and sent him to a cardiologist. Soon thereafter, he underwent his first open-heart surgery for the Ross procedure to repair his aortic valve ...
Apr 11, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 13
#12 Lisa Mihan shares how she felt 20 years younger after her myectomy at NYU Langone to treat her hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Now, 57 years old, Lisa lives her life like "a leaf in the stream." Boots and Lisa also talk about navigating the healthcare system and how we hire doctors to help us heal our hearts. Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) The Heart Chamber (@theheartchamberpodcast) Tha...
Apr 04, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Chris Moll breaks his heart transplant journey into three two-week chunks with Boots. In particular, he takes walks us through the mental health aspect of organ transplant and how he sought out support while he waited for a donor heart and how he coped post transplant. Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) The Heart Chamber (@theheartchamberpodcast) Thanks to Michael Moeri for being my right hand man. Mich...
Mar 28, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 11
#10 Paul Fasse shares his miracle story with Boots where he overcame hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse, and myocardial bridging corrected in TWO open-heart surgeries at the Cleveland Clinic. The main theme in this episode is the importance of patient advocacy. Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) The Heart Chamber (@theheartchamberpodcast) Thanks to Michael Moeri for being my ...
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 10
#9 In this episode, Kathryn and Boots share stories of how they manage other people's reactions to their heart journeys. Kathryn also shares her journey with Ehlers-danlos syndrome, POTS, Tetralogy of Fallot and Fibryomyalgia. If you have been wondering how to talk to someone dealing with a life changing illness or if you are afraid to share your story, this episode is for you. Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpod...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 9
#8 Boots Knighton has a candid conversation with Kari Potter on how Reiki, sound healing, and acupressure helped Boots remain calm in preparation for open-heart surgery as well as how it helped her process her grief when she learned she had been born with several congenital defects. Kari uses Suzanne, Boots's first name, to refer to Boots throughout the episode. Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com) The He...
Mar 07, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Michelle Sheely shares her story of three stents and open-heart surgery for myocardial bridging of her LAD. She also shares about WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Boots and Michelle's conversation focuses on advocacy as well as the effect of hormones on the heart. Thank you for listening! 0:00 intro 1:50 Michelle shares her story of suffering and how she advocated for herself to get help with several stents put in place. 3:30 She changed her diet and lifestyle. 3:...
Feb 28, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 7
#6 What happens when your heart doesn't perform as it should, and the answer isn't clear? In this episode, Rob Thornett reveals his fight against an elusive heart condition, his eventual lifesaving surgery, and the aftermath. He and Boots Knighton discuss the steep learning curve with medical terminologies, the power of patient advocacy, and the unspoken toll of being misdiagnosed. Rob also uncovers fascinating insights about the genetic links of myocardial bridge conditions and the remarkable r...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 6
