Don't Ever Waste a Heartbeat: How Open Heart Surgery Unlocked Rachel McCord's True Purpose What happens when the woman producing 19 shows, running a Hollywood media network, and appearing on national television is quietly fighting to stay alive? That's the story Rachel McCord tells in this raw, remarkable episode of the Business of Story. Meet Rachel McCord Rachel McCord is the founder of The McCord List, a Hollywood media network that produces McCordless Today — a daily talk show airing on network television and streaming on Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, and Amazon. She's the author of You Can't Heal Your Life, But I Know a Guy, and the co-founder of Viral Brand, a creator marketing company that has launched campaigns for some of the biggest films and TV shows in the world. But before any of that, Rachel was a girl who moved 33 times before she was 16, grew up in multiple trailer parks in Georgia, and began working 13-hour days at a pizzeria at age 13 — not because she had to, but because she was battling depression and didn't want to go home. What You'll Discover in This Episode The hidden cost of success nobody talks about. Rachel was running the education for the world's largest fashion trade show, building a seven-figure media network, and appearing on national television — while simultaneously fighting PTSD, suppressed childhood memories, suicidal depression, and a heart condition that was quietly marching her toward heart failure. How EMDR therapy unlocked a missing chapter of her life. A chance encounter with a therapist led Rachel to a session that recovered years of suppressed childhood memories in a single afternoon — memories she had blocked as a protective response to severe early trauma. The Jerusalem moment that changed everything. Two months before her EMDR breakthrough, Rachel stood in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and begged God to heal her broken heart — not knowing how much healing was still ahead. Open heart surgery at 32 — and the peace that surprised everyone. When Rachel was diagnosed with severe mitral valve prolapse and told she needed open heart surgery (a procedure one in five patients don't survive), she discovered something unexpected: she was ready. The two weeks before surgery became the catalyst for her book. The three-part framework from her book. Get real and honest about your life. Starve fear, feed faith. Do what you're here for. Rachel breaks down each principle and why self-help alone — no matter how many books you read — can't do what faith can. The StoryCycle Genie brand assessment. Park ran Rachel's brand through the StoryCycle Genie before the episode. Rachel shares what it validated, what gaps it revealed, and why she immediately started planning how to use it for her own show hosts. Resources Mentioned Rachel McCord: themccordlist.com Viral Brand social media analysis (free for listeners): themccordlist.com You Can't Heal Your Life, But I Know a Guy by Rachel McCord Free StoryCycle Genie brand assessment: storycyclegenie.ai EMDR therapy information: emdria.org Subscribe to the Business of Story Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Join 5,000+ subscribers at businessofstory.com/newsletter.
