The Heart Warrior Project

Jellis Vaes
  • 5.0 (12)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS

I am Jellis Vaes, the host and founder of The Heart Warrior Project, and a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. I started this project to provide emotional support for fellow cardiac arrest survivors, after experiencing myself what a wild ride this has been, but also how little emotional support is offered. On the website, you can find practical articles to help you live a better life after surviving a cardiac arrest, and here on the podcast, I talk with fellow survivors about their journey to provide you with tips and advice. I hope you feel at home here, my fellow heart warrior.

  1. Dr. Sanjay Gupta – Where Modern Medicine Falls Short & Why Lifestyle Matters More Than You Think

    4D AGO

    Dr. Sanjay Gupta – Where Modern Medicine Falls Short & Why Lifestyle Matters More Than You Think

    In 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/heartwarriorproject Newsletter: 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! ❤️💪

    1h 8m
  2. The Reality of Living with an ICD: Will’s First Shock Experience

    FEB 16

    The Reality of Living with an ICD: Will’s First Shock Experience

    In 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?

    44 min
  3. Heart Warriors Make the Best Romantic Partners (Here's Why)

    FEB 1

    Heart Warriors Make the Best Romantic Partners (Here's Why)

    Love and dating can feel complicated after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest, living with heart disease, carrying an ICD, taking medication, or navigating physical limitations. Quiet doubts can begin to surface: Will someone still choose me? Will I be rejected because of what I’ve been through? Am I still enough? In this episode, I reflect on what I’ve witnessed firsthand through countless conversations with heart warriors—both on the podcast and during our monthly meetups—and share the remarkable qualities they embody. This episode isn’t about pretending that things are easy. It’s about flipping the narrative. Rather than focusing on fear, limitation, or illness, I explore why dating or building a life with a heart warrior can be deeply enriching—and why heart warriors make extraordinary partners. ____________ ❤️ 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! ❤️💪

    14 min

  4. JAN 28

    Upcoming Health Expert! Dr. Sanjay Gupta

    Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a consultant cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK, with a specialist focus on cardiac imaging, lifestyle medicine, and patient empowerment, is joining the podcast in a couple of days for a Q&A episode. What questions do you have for Dr. Gupta on cardiac imaging, lifestyle and patient empowerment, or medications — benefits vs side effects? You can leave your questions by going to this page:https://heartwarriorproject.com/experts/ Questions can be submitted until February 12, 2026.

    5 min

  5. JAN 7

    Live Q&A Meetup with Prof. Dr. Saenen: Specialist in Sudden Cardiac Arrest

    This live Q&A meetup was turned into a podcast episode so those who couldn’t join live can listen to it. In this Q&A episode, we are joined by Prof. Dr. Johan Saenen, a renowned cardiologist and electrophysiologist from Antwerp University Hospital (UZA). Dr. Saenen specializes in the prevention of sudden cardiac death and hereditary heart diseases. This episode also highlights the Heart Warrior Project’s mission: connecting survivors, providing free access to vital information, and building a supportive community for heart warriors. Every month, we host two meetups that give you the chance to meet fellow heart warriors from around the world. Occasionally, we also invite a cardiac health professional—as was the case here—so you can ask any questions you have, for free. If you are a SCA survivor or someone at high risk, follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on when the next meetup will take place. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartwarriorproject Subscribe to our newsletter: https://heartwarriorproject.com/newsletter Become a Heart Warrior Patron If you’d like to help keep the heart of the Heart Warrior Project alive, consider becoming a Heart Warrior Patron. For a small monthly fee, you’ll get access to exclusive content, such as recordings of past Q&A meetups, a beautiful wallpaper, and your name added to our wall of Heart Warrior Patrons as a thank you. Become a Heart Warrior Patron: https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/

    1h 2m

  6. JAN 1

    ICD Shocks: How Painful Are They—and How Do You Cope Afterward?

    If this episode was helpful, consider supporting The Heart Warrior Project through merch, donations, or become a Heart Warrior Patron. 👉 https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/ After leaving the hospital, we don’t receive a manual on how to cope with the mental load of living with an ICD, or what to do if a shock occurs. That’s why I created this in-depth video/podcast episode, where members of our community—Will, Elise, and myself—share their personal experiences of receiving an ICD shock and what helped them navigate it. We’re also joined by Dr. Sears, a clinical health psychologist specializing in quality of life for people with ICDs, who offers professional insights on coping with anxiety, responding to a shock, and rebuilding confidence afterward. I hope this episode can serve as a guide and provide meaningful support for living with an ICD. Cardiac Comeback Crew (Online Meetup) Want to meet fellow SCA survivors or those who are at high risk? Come join our international family of heart warriors. It’s completely free. Every month, we host two online meetups. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram to stay informed about when the next one will happen. https://heartwarriorproject.com/newsletter/ https://www.instagram.com/heartwarriorproject/

    45 min

  7. 12/15/2025

    2025 Reflections & What’s Ahead for the Heart Warrior Project in 2026

    I sincerely hope The Heart Warrior Project has been a source of support for you — and that it can continue to be one. I care deeply about making The Heart Warrior Project better, and I want to do this together with you. You can find the feedback form via the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf40ScqfcMFtABRXSXeXVma6_04zUegCxUTGzrcyXjku443gA/viewform?usp=header It’s completely anonymous, so please feel free to be as honest as you can. Thank you for being here. Happy holidays to you all! See you again in 2026.

    12 min
  8. Facing a Progressive Heart Disease: George’s Story

    11/02/2025

    Facing a Progressive Heart Disease: George’s Story

    In this conversation, I talk with George Biesmans, a fellow heart warrior from our community, to discuss the complexities of living with heart disease and the progressive heart disease he has, DSP cardiomyopathy. George shares the emotional impact of the diagnosis, the uncertainty of the condition, and the challenges of navigating relationships and life in general. If, after this episode, you’d like to learn even more about life with progressive heart disease, be sure to check out the full in-depth episode I made, which also includes parts of George’s story. In it, Karen, George, and I (all living with progressive heart disease) share our personal insights, together with Dr. Sears, a clinical health psychologist, who shares his professional insights on life with progressive heart disease. ❤️Help Me to Keep The Project Alive! ❤️ If you found this video/episode helpful, consider supporting this project to keep it going and to allow me to continue creating more content. 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! ❤️💪

    55 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

I am Jellis Vaes, the host and founder of The Heart Warrior Project, and a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. I started this project to provide emotional support for fellow cardiac arrest survivors, after experiencing myself what a wild ride this has been, but also how little emotional support is offered. On the website, you can find practical articles to help you live a better life after surviving a cardiac arrest, and here on the podcast, I talk with fellow survivors about their journey to provide you with tips and advice. I hope you feel at home here, my fellow heart warrior.

Information

  • Creator
    Jellis Vaes
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jellis Vaes
  • Show Website
    The Heart Warrior Project