iHeartMedia and OSO Studios Launch “Cardiac Cowboys,” A New iHeartPodcast Narrated by Chris Pine Chronicling the Maverick Surgeons Who Risked Everything to Invent Open-Heart Surgery
iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, and OSO Studios, founded by producer Dub Cornett, today announced the debut of “Cardiac Cowboys,” a new six-episode documentary series narrated by actor, producer, director Chris Pine (Star Trek). The podcast will invite listeners to journey into the riveting true story of the birth of heart surgery, spotlighting medical pioneers from America’s heartland whose courage and ingenuity broke barriers and saved countless lives. The entire series will debut today on World Heart Day, September 29, 2025. Listen now, HERE.
For most of human history, the heart was a sacred organ, off-limits to surgeons. “Cardiac Cowboys” will transport listeners into the operating rooms where these audacious young doctors first dared to challenge conventional wisdom. They competed and feuded with each other, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Working on shoestring budgets, they made use of makeshift laboratories and home garages, rigging together old dairy pumps and beer tubes to build medical devices. In the span of a few short years, these American mavericks pioneered the world’s first open-heart operations, forging tools and techniques that still save lives today.
“As the narrator of ‘Cardiac Cowboys,’ I was struck by the sheer bravery and relentless determination of these medical pioneers.” said Pine. “This story is about rule-breakers who risked everything to save lives and changed the course of medicine for all of us.”
OSO Studios’ Dub Cornett and executive producer John Mankiewicz, in association with Barry Linen Motion Pictures and 13th Lake Media, brought together an award-winning creative team that includes writer and co-host Jamie Napoli, as well as GRAMMY award-winning composer David Mansfield to bring the story of the “Cardiac Cowboys” to life.
“When I first heard the story, I knew we had to gather our team and create this series. It’s epic in its real-life battles of life and death. The Cardiac Cowboys have saved countless lives and their work continues to this day,” said Cornett. “By partnering with iHeartPodcasts to bring this series to the world, we celebrate the physicians whose achievements have touched every family, in one way or another, reaching all of us who have a heart.”
Cardiac Cowboys” is sponsored by Jasper, the leading AI content automation platform that is purpose-built for marketing. Jasper enabled the iHeartMedia team to get this podcast to market faster by automating the production of its promotional assets, even across a broad and diverse set of audiences and channels—from social posts and video promotions to audio advertising spots—while ensuring quality and brand consistency.
“The story of the ‘Cardiac Cowboys’ is a testament to human courage and innovation—qualities that resonate deeply with so many of us,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We believe this series will not only honor the pioneers of heart surgery but also inspire listeners to consider what’s possible when boundaries are challenged. Thanks to Jasper, our team was able to rapidly create compelling marketing materials and seamlessly promote the podcast to audiences everywhere, helping us amplify the impact of this remarkable story.”
“Cardiac Cowboys” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. Listeners can experience this groundbreaking series on the iHeartRadio app and across all major podcast platforms. Tune in now and rediscover the proud legacy of America’s heartland heroes—where every life saved and every boundary shattered, began with courage and conviction in the beating heart of the nation.
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