After an unexpected absence, Peter George returns with a deeply personal episode to share what kept him away. What began as feeling slightly under the weather in early July quickly escalated into an AFib alert on his Apple Watch, a rush to the hospital, and an aortic stenosis diagnosis that led to open heart surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston — on his 65th birthday. With the skilled hands of aortic specialist Dr. Kim De la Cruz and a recovery that included two additional procedures, Peter spent most of July fighting to get back to the life and work he loves.
Now recuperating faster than expected but with priorities firmly in focus, Peter shares a difficult decision: stepping back from the podcast so he can give his full energy to what matters most — his clients. He closes this final episode with gratitude for every guest who made the show worth listening to, and for every listener who tuned in. It's a candid, moving farewell that reflects the same authenticity Peter brings to everything he does.
Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as Peter and his guests discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income. Here's your host, the author of The Captivating Public Speaker, Peter George.
A Health Scare That Changed Everything
I've been away for the past couple of months, and I apologize for that — but there's a good reason. In early July, I'm sitting on the sofa, feeling as if I'm coming down with the flu. Sweaty, lethargic, just a bit off. Within a few minutes, my Apple Watch confirms that I'm experiencing AFib and suggests I go to the hospital immediately.
When I arrive, things move quickly. I'm brought into a small room and hooked up to an EKG. The nurse turns to a colleague — Donna? Donna takes one look at my EKG and turns to the doctor — Mike? Mike doesn't hesitate. A team of doctors and nurses is waiting for me. They stabilize me, and several hours later I'm heading up to a room.
Open Heart Surgery at Brigham and Women's
The next day starts with a coronary catheterization. A 30-year-old would love to have your arteries, the doctor tells me. They're in excellent condition. So I've got nothing to worry about — or so I think. I couldn't be more wrong.
The results come back: aortic stenosis. The valve is barely functioning and must be replaced within a few days. Jeanne and I quickly decide on Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston — one of the top cardiac hospitals in the country, and only an hour from my home in Rhode Island.
The next morning, as the Dropkick Murphys would say, I'm shipping up to Boston for open heart surgery. What a way to spend my 65th birthday.
Over the next couple of days, I meet with my surgeon several times — Dr. Kim D la Cruz, section chief and aortic specialist, with a wonderful bedside manner and a hearty, reassuring laugh. I'm confident and ready. Everything goes well during the surgery, and it looks like I'll be home in five or six days. But my heart has other ideas.
My Heart Had Other Ideas
Apparently enjoying the attention from the nurses, doctors, and staff, my heart decides to act up so the pampering can continue a while longer. Over the next two weeks, I have another operation — though not nearly as invasive — and two additional procedures, including one where they chemically stop my heart and restart it within seconds. While I'm awake. The doctor overseeing that procedure said it would be excruciating. She wasn't lying.
I spend most of the month of July in the hospital. In some ways it felt like several months. In others, it seemed to fly by. Thankfully, other than follow-ups, all of that is now in the past.
Dr. De la Cruz told me that of the thousands of aortic valves he's worked on, mine was in the top ten — if not the top five — of the most calcified. It seems I could have had, and probably should have had, a serious, if not fatal, heart attack.
A Difficult Decision
I'm recuperating at a faster pace than expected — but it's still going to be a while before I'm back to full work mode, so something has to give. And since my favorite part of being a speaking coach is working with my clients, I've made the difficult decision to step back from the podcast for now. As much as I enjoy it, my clients come first.
Someday the podcast may be back. In the meantime, I'd like to thank my guests for making it such a helpful and entertaining show — and of course, I'd like to thank you for listening. If you'd like to check out my multi-award-winning book, The Captivating Public Speaker: Engage, Impact, and Inspire Your Audience Every Time, it's available on Amazon — just click the link in the show notes. And if you want to work directly with me, visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and click the link to schedule a free consultation. Stay happy and healthy, my friend.
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