Episode Details

In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I’m sitting down with the incredible Justine Phillips, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor and founder of Heart Matters Australia. Justine shares her jaw-dropping story of being clinically dead for 93 minutes – yes, 93 minutes – before her heart miraculously restarted. It’s a story of resilience, survival, and the determination of her family and paramedics who refused to give up on her.

We talk about the life-saving importance of CPR and defibrillation, and how knowing these skills can literally mean the difference between life and death. Justine also opens up about the emotional toll her cardiac arrest had on her family, especially her children, who had to perform CPR under the guidance of emergency operators.

During our conversation, Justine clears up the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest (there’s more to it than you might think!) and busts some common myths around these critical health issues. Through her organisation, Heart Matters Australia, she’s on a mission to educate communities on how to perform effective CPR and use defibrillators, all with the aim of saving lives and reducing trauma for families in the aftermath of cardiac events.

We also dive into the bigger picture – how surviving a near-death experience has changed her outlook on life, shifted her priorities, and led her to embrace breathwork as a way to process what happened. This is more than a survival story; it’s a powerful reminder that we all need to know how to help in an emergency.

Here are the key points from our chat:

• Justine survived a sudden cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for 93 minutes.
• Her son performed life-saving CPR, guided by emergency services.
• We discuss the key differences between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest, and why CPR and defibrillation are so important.
• Justine founded Heart Matters Australia to promote CPR education and make defibrillators more accessible.
• She’s experienced some major life changes since the cardiac arrest, including a shift in her priorities.
• She’s used breathwork to recall and process her near-death experience (NDE).
• Justine advocates for open, honest conversations about death and end-of-life planning.

Remember, you may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.

Take care,
Catherine

Resources
You can reach Justine through her website: Heart Matters Australia

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