New Heart Podcast Will Explore Rare Medical Mystery
The eight-episode series will examine the cases of two men linked by a single heart transplant.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Apple will release Heart, an eight-episode podcast series hosted by Karen Kilgariff, on October 19, 2026. The program investigates the lives and deaths of Sonny Graham and Terry Cottle.
Why it matters
The podcast highlights the complex human experiences associated with cardiac transplantation through years of detailed reporting. It examines the personal and psychological outcomes following medical procedures.
The series is based on three years of reporting and public records. It covers the specific histories of two individuals who shared a heart transplant, with three episodes available to non-subscribers at launch.
The players
Karen Kilgariff
The host of the podcast who leads the investigation into the lives of Sonny Graham and Terry Cottle.
Sonny Graham
The transplant recipient whose life and subsequent death are central to the podcast series.
Terry Cottle
The heart donor whose personal history is examined alongside the recipient in the series.
Plan B
A production entity involved in the development and release of the medical-focused podcast series.
Blanchard House
A production partner that contributed to the three-year research and reporting effort.
The details
Produced by Plan B and Blanchard House, the series relies on court filings and personal accounts to reconstruct the events surrounding the heart transplant between Sonny Graham and Terry Cottle. The narrative examines the circumstances that led both men to die by suicide. The production team compiled these accounts over a three-year period to create the final eight-episode series.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: The series Heart premieres on Apple Podcasts.
November 23, 2026: The weekly episode release schedule concludes.
Health Landscape
The podcast provides a narrative look at transplant outcomes beyond traditional clinical success rates. It contrasts with the data-driven tracking provided by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.
For those managing heart conditions, the series emphasizes the importance of discussing psychological well-being and mental health with your clinical care team. If you are a transplant recipient or donor family member, talk to your doctor about available mental health support resources.
The takeaway
The series illustrates the long-term emotional realities that can follow complex medical procedures like organ transplantation. Readers should consider prioritizing mental health support as a vital component of any major long-term health treatment plan.
What happens next
New episodes of the series will be released weekly starting October 19, 2026, through November 23, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research and support resources in our Heart Disease section.
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