Hey Hey Heart Buddies and Happy New Year!

Season 5 of Open Heart Surgery with Boots is here. Wow. Thank you for being along for the ride that is this life and this podcast.

I had the honor of interviewing Jeremy Rothenberg who shares his incredible journey, which began with an Apple Watch alert and ended in a life-changing open-heart surgery. Jeremy reveals what it’s like to go from feeling healthy and fit to confronting a shocking diagnosis (cirrhosis of the liver) and managing the whirlwind of emotions that follow. We explore his advice on regulating the nervous system, his candid recount of his surgery, and his inspiring post-op accomplishments. Whether you're curious about heart health, or you're in need of motivation to tackle life’s challenges, this episode offers a raw and uplifting narrative that will leave you pondering the preciousness of each heartbeat.

I wish I lived closer to Jeremy. He is such a light. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Read about and get in touch with Jeremy here.

Boots Knighton says her greatest teacher has been her heart thanks to a surprise diagnosis in 2020 (during the pandemic) of three different congenital heart defects. She is now thriving after her 2nd open-heart surgery on November, 2025 and is on a mission to raise awareness through her podcast, Open Heart Surgery with Boots, that heart surgery can be an incredible opportunity to begin again in life and live life wide open.