In my trailer episode, I introduce myself, who I am, what I do and my experience. I chat about how my podcast can help you if you have had a heart attack, cardiac arrest or live with a heart condition.

I explain how emotional rehabilitation is crucial for our recovery, that it should sit alongside and intertwined through the NHS provision of physical rehabilitation.

You’ll find out why I decided to create this podcast when you can listen to it and broadly what the future episodes will be about.

You’ll also learn what the podcast is not going to be about and what thoughts might get in your way of you gaining the benefits.

To hear more click the player below or listen on your favourite app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, TuneIn+Alexa or many more.

Topic takeaways

Free resources


If you prefer a read here’s the transcript

I want to tell you why you should listen to the My Heart & Mind Podcast. This post is to accompany my show trailer, my first ever episode of the My Heart & Mind podcast. I have called it “What’s she all about?” My intention is for you to get to know me a little. Most importantly though I will explain why I have created this podcast and the direction I am hoping it will go.

I’m a heart attack and breast cancer warrior who loves life, cats, coffee and cars.

I am very scared about launching my podcast but I am feeling the fear and doing it anyway. After all, I have survived much worse, it’s not like I am going to die.

This is my opportunity to make a real difference in your life. To help you (and me – as I have to walk the talk) overcome the emotional turmoil of a cardiac event and love the life you live.

Podcast Cover Art My Heart & Mind

Why you should listen to the My Heart & Mind Podcast

My ultimate goal is that together we will explore the art of living happy after a cardiac event. Helping you to get your emotional power back. To gain control of your life, your mind and body.

After a heart attack, cardiac arrest and when living with heart disease, it’s often only your physical body that receives cardiac rehabilitation. The My Heart & Mind Podcast focusses on your mindset, your thoughts and feelings, so you can feel good now.

In each episode, I will be sharing ideas, tips and tricks to transform how you feel after a cardiac trauma. Rehabilitation for how you think and your emotions so you can love the life you live. You can make new friends by joining me in the My Heart & Mind Community on Facebook.

If you’ve had a cardiac event yourself or you’re the partner or friend of someone that has this podcast is for you. It’s about you and for you, so you can be the best you.

What’s she all about?

As I have said my name is Sallie, I’m a survivor of a Heart Attack and Breast Cancer. I experienced both within 2 months of each other in 2016. These both happened while I had my leg in plaster due to having ruptured my Achilles tendon.

I have over 17 years’ experience working with people to help them achieve change in their lives. I am a Hypnotherapist, Life Coach and NLP Practitioner amongst other things. I’m a mum and have a beautiful daughter called Eleanor, I call her Ellz.

Okay, I can hear you saying ‘you what’, ‘NLP what’s that?’

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a set of skills that enable us to think in more helpful ways. This is achieved by understanding that our way of thinking about the world is unique to us. That we have power over our thoughts and can change them. Then by changing the way we think we can change how we feel about the world, ourselves and others. I will explain in more detail another time and until then you can read a little more about NLP here.

Hypnotherapy, NLP and Coaching are about helping people change easily and effortlessly. They’re solution focussed. They’vee been found to create change relatively quickly and have lasting positive effects. It can be fun; change doesn’t always have to be serious.

I created my podcast because I simultaneously experienced two life-changing health events. I became aware of how different they both were in understanding that it wasn’t just my physical body that was affected. For some people, including myself, the most devasting change after a cardiac event is the shock and trauma. Some people experience full-on Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

I was a person living with both a cancer diagnosis and cardiovascular disease.

The NHS is amazing despite the complications caused by my health circumstances. It was chaotic and complicated due to my immobility, heart attack and the required treatment for breast cancer. Each different speciality worked together as one team. They had good humour, they were supportive, caring and a positive can-do attitude. But …. it became clear to me was that there was a great difference in the emotional support provided.

Feeling alone and scared

Having my leg in plaster kept me isolated, I was in a wheelchair and knew no one that had experienced a heart attack. I couldn’t attend rehab and had nobody to talk to and I felt alone and frightened. I didn’t understand what had happened to me.

Luckily, we have the internet. While on the BHF Health Unlocked Forum I came across a Facebook group. The British Hearties: Worldwide Hearties Survivors Support Group, set up by Jeff Sykes. As I become proficient in this podcasting malarkey, I will be interviewing him in a later episode.

Through this group, I realised I wasn’t alone. I no longer felt as terrified. I read about other people who were experiencing the same as me. The confusion, fear, fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness as me. It literally saved my life as there were times when I had wished I hadn’t survived.

As I healed my body and my mind (good job I am a therapist), I watched the comments on the Facebook page. I wanted to help others but I am a lurker on social media and my own anxiety stopped me joining in.

It was later that I realised that I really wanted to help others that had experienced a cardiac event. Looking back over my lifetime I have had many life-changing events. You will learn more about these in future posts and episodes of the My Heart & Mind Podcast.

As a therapist, I have learnt many tools, models, processes and concepts to help myself and clients. I am going to share with you my techniques so you can learn the art of living happy after a cardiac event.

Although it is not mandatory that you’ve had a cardiac event! This podcast is for all who have had a life changing experience.

What I and my guests are going to share with you are all focussed around the mindset of loving the life you live. Your ‘new life’ not the ‘normal one’.

Disclaimer

There will be no medical advice given in my episodes or posts. You should only undertake any activities in consultation with your medical team. If you have concerns about your health or your heart, get expert medical advice immediately. My content is not intended to replace conventional medicine. It is complementary and educational.

Why you should listen to the My Heart & Mind Podcast

My show is not going to be about the medical/physical side of recovery. Yet it will touch on the mindset of being able to thrive. Be able to make the changes to your life so you can reduce risk factors and make lifestyle changes.

I chose to do a podcast so that I can be by your side and really talk to you. You’ll be able to take me with you as you are able to get on with other things at the same time. You can listen to me while you’re walking, driving to work, cleaning the car. You could listen while doing housework, exercising, cooking dinner or walking the dog. Or you can just sit and listen, taking it easy and taking notes.

I am hoping it will inspire you to take good care of yourself with me as your company and encouragement. And for those that prefer to read there will be an accompanying blog post like this one available.

What’s the podcast all about?

The My Heart & Mind Podcast is a mix of inspirational interviews. People that have been through a cardiac event or are living with a heart condition. You will also hear from their families too, it’s not just the patient that experiences a life change. In these interviews, they will share how they have thrived rather than survived. Yes, things may have been bleak but they came through it and want to share with you all their best tips and insights.

There will episodes that are solo, just me! I will share tips, advice and activities that you can apply to help feel emotionally stronger. You will learn to able to come to terms with your ‘new’ life. Helping you to make the necessary life changes. To support you in creating a life that is fulfilling and purposeful.

I have been through many life-changing events (stay with me to find more about the down and dirty about my life) and I am sure you have too. I found that there are 6 mindsets that are part of the process finding peace, joy and happiness. Theses stages are Acceptance, Energy, Hope, Purpose, Confidence and Direction. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on finding out how you can make use of these stages in living your new life.

I will interview a cardiologist, a cardiac nurse and cardiac rehab team nurse. There will be GP to discuss getting the most out of your appointments. A pharmacist talking about medication. I will also interview people that are in the know about the practicalities of life. A friendly Employee Relations Advisor for advice about work. Along with a specialist in finances to give benefits advice if you are unable to work.

Emotional rehabilitation

My mission is to help you with emotional rehabilitation. I want to be of service to you if you have experienced a life-altering event. In particular, my focus is on you if you have survived a cardiac event. I know what it’s like to feel as if your world has been turned upside down and you’re spiralling out of control. A dramatic life change (good or bad) can be a huge shock. I want to help you to be able to love the ‘new’ life you live.

What could get in your way?

Here’s some reason that might get in your way of getting the benefits from my podcast episodes? These might be some thoughts you have that will stop you from listening, reading and trying things out?

???? I don’t know what a podcast is or how to listen to it!
Don’t worry, you can read all about what a podcast is and how to listen to it here. There is always a first time and if you have any problems you can always drop me an email.

???? I’ve heard it before!
For anything that I share on the My Heart & Mind Podcast to make a difference, you have to do the work and give things a go. Knowing is one thing, doing is something completely different.

???? I tried it once!
So okay but did you do it? Did you do it more than once? Sometimes it is about sustaining the action or activity. Repetition creates habits and it’s the action that makes the difference. If you heard or read about it before but haven’t given it a go – try it. Remember if you want something different in your life, your life has to be different.

???? Nothing works for me. I tried it for a while and it didn’t feel right. Yet my friend did it and it worked for them, they swear by it!
Remember that it’s not once size fits all. If you’ve given it a go, a proper go and it is weirding you out then give it swerve and try something else. You do you because it is all about you.

It is different strokes for different folks. We are all uniquely amazingly individuals. Just because something worked for one person it doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. Give everything a go, be curious and experiment, have fun. What have you got to lose? Nothing, just everything to gain.

Why should you subscribe? What’s in it for you?

So come with me, and together, we can love the life we live:

1. Subscribe on iTunes or the platform you are listening on
2. Leave a comment, rate and review
3. Share with someone you know.

By subscribing you will help others find this podcast and help me reach more people. For you, you’ll get notifications so you don’t miss an episode. You can unsubscribe at any time.

And as the beat goes on … one moment at a time.