What if the heart could do more than pump blood?
In this episode of The Curious Cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with entrepreneur, author and heart-centered leadership expert Mindie Kniss to explore the fascinating intersection of heart intelligence, heart coherence, intuition, spirituality, leadership and personal transformation.
Mindie shares the remarkable story behind her work—from leaving a successful pharmaceutical career and moving into entrepreneurship, to experiencing bankruptcy, foreclosure and $100,000 of credit-card debt, and ultimately rebuilding her life and business. She also opens up about the devastating loss of her husband and how the practices she had spent years teaching helped her navigate grief and find a path forward.
The conversation explores why we often live from the “head” instead of the heart, how stress can affect our ability to communicate clearly within ourselves, why gratitude may be more powerful when it is physically felt rather than simply thought, and how heart coherence can influence the people around us.
They also discuss authentic leadership, radical ownership, intuition, purpose, Ikigai, and the importance of trusting yourself when life doesn't go according to plan.
In this episode, you'll discover:
• What “heart intelligence” means
• Why the heart isn't simply a pump
• The relationship between the heart and brain
• What heart coherence is
• How stress can affect internal communication
• Why intuition may be more than pattern recognition
• How gratitude can become a physiological experience
• The difference between thinking gratitude and actually feeling it
• How presence can help interrupt anxiety and overthinking
• Why authentic leaders create stronger connections
• What radical ownership looks like
• How adversity can become part of your development
• How Ikigai can help clarify purpose
• Why trusting yourself is essential to meaningful leadership
Mindie also discusses her books Heart of Consciousness and The Collective Heart, her Heart Path work, and her upcoming Heart Path book scheduled for publication through Hay House in March 2027.
Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction: What Does It Mean to Lead With Your Heart? 00:58 — Meet Mindie Kniss 03:16 — From Traditional Career to Entrepreneurship 05:27 — The Golden Handcuffs of Corporate Success 06:55 — The “Slow Suicide to My Soul” 07:24 — A Life-Changing Fellowship in Kenya 10:53 — When the Universe Opened a Door 13:02 — The Entrepreneurial Crash 14:45 — $100,000 in Debt, Foreclosure and Rock Bottom 16:10 — Meeting Her Future Husband 18:08 — Rebuilding Her Business and Money Mindset 19:40 — The Tragedy That Changed Everything 20:05 — Grief, the Heart and Finding a Path Forward 21:50 — What Is Neurocardiology? 23:33 — Sedona, Nature and the Birth of Heart Path 25:57 — Why Personal Experience Makes a Better Coach 26:43 — Finding the Lesson in Your Worst Experiences 29:59 — The Science Behind Heart Intelligence 31:53 — The Heart-Brain Connection and Coherence 34:01 — Can One Person's Coherence Affect Another? 36:22 — Heart Coherence in Real Life 37:34 — How Calm People Change a Room 40:24 — The First Heart Key: Gratitude 42:14 — Why Thinking Gratitude Isn't Enough 44:04 — The Story of the Gifted Duck 45:59 — Emotional Resilience as a Muscle 49:41 — Moving Beyond the “Woo-Woo” 50:11 — Anxiety, Depression and Getting Out of Your Head 51:09 — The Fascinating Question of Heart Cancer 52:48 — Trust, Authenticity and Leadership 55:54 — Radical Ownership 57:10 — Why the Present Moment Matters 59:05 — The Only Way Through Is Through 1:01:12 — Purpose, Dharma and Trust 1:01:44 — Mindie's Upcoming Hay House Book 1:02:12 — Rapid Fire: Favorite Place, Food and Curiosity 1:04:04 — Mindie's Books and Where to Find Her 1:05:21 — Final Thoughts: The Heart Is More Than a Muscle
What is The Curious Cardiologist?
Rethinking heart health, one question at a time.
I’m Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj—interventional cardiologist, functional medicine expert, and lifelong student of what really keeps us well. In this podcast, we go beyond prescriptions and procedures to explore the deeper drivers of health, disease, and healing.
From inflammation to intuition, cholesterol to consciousness, I sit down with doctors, researchers, and changemakers who are reshaping how we think about the heart—and the whole human behind it.
Whether you're a fellow clinician, a health seeker, or someone navigating your own transformation, this show will challenge what you thought you knew—and invite you to stay curious.