Heart Podcast Reviews: Karen Kilgariff's New Apple Original
At a glance
- Who: Karen Kilgariff, Apple TV, Plan B, and Blanchard House
- What: Heart, an eight-episode Apple Original true crime podcast
- When: First three episodes out October 19, then weekly on Mondays through the finale on November 23
- Catch: Apple TV subscribers can listen to all eight episodes right away
Karen Kilgariff has a new show, and it's a very different mood from My Favorite Murder.
Heart is a new Apple Original podcast about two men who shared one heart, and what happened after. It's a heavy story (more on that below), and it's also a good example of how Apple ties its podcasts to its TV subscription. The Heart podcast reviews are strong too, so let's get into it.
What Is Heart?
According to Apple, Heart tells the story of Sonny Graham and Terry Cottle. Sonny received a heart transplant, and the heart came from Terry. After Sonny reached out to Terry's widow, local papers called it a miraculous love story, but court filings pointed to a more troubled reality. Sonny later died by suicide, and so had Terry, his donor.
That leaves both families with hard questions, and the show asks whether the two deaths are a coincidence or something else. Podnews reports that the series draws on three years of reporting.
Content note: Heart deals with suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 in the US to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Apple TV / Plan B / Blanchard House
The First Three Episodes
- Episode 1, "The Lion": A transplant saves Sonny Graham's life, then his world shifts after he seeks out his donor's widow.
- Episode 2, "Suspicion": Sonny's daughter Michelle investigates after her father's death, while a friend says he became a different man after surgery.
- Episode 3, "A Good Heart": The show turns to Terry Cottle, the donor, and how his family remembers him.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfL_Uq79q1U
Heart Podcast Reviews: What Critics Are Saying
Heart is already holding a 5.0/5 critic score on Great Pods, based on three Heart podcast reviews, all 5 out of 5. We'll update this as more critics weigh in.
- Alexi Duggins, The Guardian: calls it an eight-part mix of scientific exploration and true crime drama.
- Sara Keenan, Independent (UK): praises Kilgariff's storytelling and the balance between the families' emotional toll and the mystery of both deaths.
- Stephen O., Podcast Delivery: calls it unsettling and unpredictable, and hard to stop listening to.
How to Listen
The easiest way to start is the Heart page on Great Pods. Hit the Where to Listen button and it opens the show in your favorite podcast player, so you don't have to go hunting for it. You'll also find the critic reviews there. Apple is included in the link so you can get all the episodes.
Where This Fits
That early access model isn't new for Apple, but it's still unusual. BGR reported in 2024 that Apple's My Divo was the first Apple original podcast where Apple TV+ subscribers got an advantage over non-subscribers, and that Apple planned to use the same approach for future originals.
Apple's list of originals keeps growing, too. Podnews says it includes Adrift, The Line, Hooked and The Pirate of Prague, plus companion podcasts for Foundation, For All Mankind and The Big Conn. Heart is also another Apple and Plan B collaboration, following F1 The Movie.
Compare that with this week's news: Disney+ and Hulu are adding podcasts as video, while Apple is keeping its podcast on Apple Podcasts and making the TV subscription the perk. Different routes to the same goal.
Who Is Behind It
- Karen Kilgariff: host, and co-host of My Favorite Murder
- Plan B: production company, led by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, per Podnews
- Blanchard House: British audio studio, per Podnews
- Apple TV: the Apple Original label behind the podcast
Heart Podcast FAQ
What is the Heart podcast about? Apple says it's the true story of Sonny Graham, who received a heart transplant, and Terry Cottle, his donor. Both men died by suicide, and the families are left with hard questions.
Who hosts the Heart podcast? Karen Kilgariff, co-host of My Favorite Murder.
How many episodes does Heart have, and when do they come out? Eight episodes. The first three premiered October 19, 2026, with a new episode each Monday through the finale on November 23.
Is Heart free to listen to? Non-subscribers can hear the first three episodes free, then one new episode a week. Apple TV subscribers can link their subscription in Apple Podcasts and listen to all eight right away.
Is the Heart podcast good? On Great Pods, it holds a 5.0/5 critic score from three reviews (The Guardian, Independent UK and Podcast Delivery) as of this writing. Read the Heart podcast reviews.
Who produces Heart? Plan B and Blanchard House, for Apple.
Final Thoughts
Heart is going to be a tough listen for some people, so go in knowing that. But the combination of Kilgariff, a hook this strong and a subscription perk this clear is going to be worth listening. I'll be curious whether the early-access model actually keeps people coming back before the November 23 finale.
About Apple Originals
Heart is an Apple Original podcast produced by Blanchard House and Plan B. More at apple.co/Heart.
Sources
- Apple press release for "Heart" (via Smith House Strategies), October 19, 2026
- Podnews, "Apple TV debuts trailer for Heart, a new Apple Original Podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff" (Oct 13, 2026): https://podnews.net/press-release/apple-tv-heart
- BGR, "You'll Need An Apple TV+ Subscription To Binge Apple's Next Hit Podcast" (Jun 24, 2024): https://www.bgr.com/entertainment/youll-need-an-apple-tv-subscription-to-binge-apples-next-hit-podcast/
- Great Pods, Heart critic reviews: https://www.greatpods.co/podcasts/heart-8069935
- Disney+/Hulu video podcast context: iHeartMedia and Big Money Players Network press release, October 15, 2026