On the silver screen, Chris Pine has played heart-stopping action heroes. Now, as narrator of podcast series “Cardiac Cowboys,” he tells the true story of the renegade medical pros who risked their reputations to establish life-saving techniques in heart surgery.
From iHeartPodcasts, “Cardiac Cowboys” is narrated by Pine, the actor, producer, director and writer who is known his roles as Capt. James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboot film trilogy, Steve Trevor in DC’s “Wonder Woman” films and voicing one of the Peter Parkers/Spider-Men in 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
The entire six-part series is being released Monday, Sept. 29, which is this year’s World Heart Day. “Cardiac Cowboys” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts, available on the iHeartRadio app and across all major podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Per the show’s logline: “For most of human history, the heart was a sacred organ, off-limits to surgeons. ‘Cardiac Cowboys’ will transport listeners into the operating rooms where these audacious young doctors first dared to challenge conventional wisdom. Working on shoestring budgets, they made use of makeshift laboratories and home garages, rigging together old dairy pumps and beer tubes to build medical devices. In the span of a few short years, these American mavericks pioneered the world’s first open-heart operations, forging tools and techniques that still save lives today.”
Pine said in a statement, “As the narrator of ‘Cardiac Cowboys,’ I was struck by the sheer bravery and relentless determination of these medical pioneers. This story is about rule-breakers who risked everything to save lives and changed the course of medicine for all of us.”
The podcast is produced by OSO Studios, founded by Dub Cornett, in association with Pine’s Barry Linen Motion Pictures and 13th Lake Media. John Mankiewicz serves as executive producer. The creative team includes writer and co-host Jamie Napoli and composer David Mansfield.
Said Cornett: “When I first heard the story, I knew we had to gather our team and create this series. It’s epic in its real-life battles of life and death. The Cardiac Cowboys have saved countless lives and their work continues to this day. By partnering with iHeartPodcasts to bring this series to the world, we celebrate the physicians whose achievements have touched every family, in one way or another, reaching all of us who have a heart.”
Will Pearson, president of iHeartMedia‘s iHeartPodcasts division, commented: “The story of the ‘Cardiac Cowboys’ is a testament to human courage and innovation — qualities that resonate deeply with so many of us. We believe this series will not only honor the pioneers of heart surgery but also inspire listeners to consider what’s possible when boundaries are challenged.”
Pine will next be seen in “The Kidnapping of Arabella,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Pine just wrapped the Zellner brothers’ “Alpha Gang” alongside Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux and Riley Keough. Pine made his directorial debut last year with “Poolman,” which he also co-wrote, produced and starred in opposite Annette Bening, Danny DeVito and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Pine has starred in films including Oscar-nominated “Hell or High Water,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” Disney’s “Wish,” “Don’t Worry Darling,” “All the Old Knives” and “The Contractor.” He is repped by CAA.
Listen to “Cardiac Cowboys”:
