The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

Atrial Fibrillation

Catheter Ablation

Electrophysiology

Ventricular Tachycardia

Heart Failure

Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Pulse Field Ablation

Artificial Intelligence

Heart Rhythm Society

Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing

Pulsed Field Ablation

Cardiac Electrophysiology

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Machine Learning

Hospital VT Ablation Volume

Left Bundle Branch Pacing

Post-Procedural Complications

Conduction System Pacing

Biventricular Pacing

The Lead – a weekly journal review podcast that is designed to keep you up to date and informed on the latest publications and hottest topics in electrophysiology. Key takeaways, in-depth interpretations, and informative interviews are all fitted into 15 minute time slots, so that they fit easily into your busy schedule. Click the link below to learn more!

22 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	174	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	CoursesEducation

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Latest Episodes

The Lead Episode 165: A Discussion of Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Medical Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation (The CLOSURE-AF Trial)

In this episode of The Lead recorded at HRS2026, host Danesh Kella, MBBS, FHRS is joined by Jeffrey S. Healey, MD, FHRS and Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS to discuss the journal article, Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Medical Therapy in Atrial Fibrilla... more

20 Aug 2026 • 32 min • Most popular

The Lead Episode 164: A Discussion of Digital Twin–Guided Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia

Recorded at HRS2026, this episode of The Lead features host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, in conversation with Junaid A.B. Zaman, MA, MD, PhD, CCDS, and Patrick Boyle, BS, PhD, FHRS, about the journal article, Digital Twin–Guided Ablation for Ventricul... more

13 Aug 2026 • 18 min • Popular

The Lead Episode 163: A Discussion of Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure, The PhysioSync-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Melissa Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, FHRS, in conversation with Sana Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS, and Wei Hua, MD, FHRS, about the journal article, Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart... more

6 Aug 2026 • 12 min

The Lead Episode 162: A Discussion of Atrial Fibrillation Screening According to Genetic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LOOP Study

In this episode of The Lead, host Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, is joined by Christopher Kowalewski, MD, and Marco Perez, MD, to discuss the journal article, Atrial Fibrillation Screening According to Genetic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LO... more

30 Jul 2026 • 23 min

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EHRA Cardio TalkEuropean Society of Cardiology

Recent Guests

Sana Al-Khatib

Professor from Duke University

Duke University

Episode: The Lead Episode 163: A Discussion of Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure, The PhysioSync-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

Wei Hua

Professor from the National Center for the Cutting of Vascular Diseases

National Center for the Cutting of Vascular Diseases, Beijing

Episode: The Lead Episode 163: A Discussion of Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure, The PhysioSync-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

Chris Kowalewski

Cardiologist; co-author featured in discussion

Germany

Episode: The Lead Episode 162: A Discussion of Atrial Fibrillation Screening According to Genetic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LOOP Study

Marco Perez

Cardiologist/Researcher; discussed limitations and future directions

Stanford, California

Episode: The Lead Episode 162: A Discussion of Atrial Fibrillation Screening According to Genetic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LOOP Study

Christian Sohns

Professor from Germany

Germany

Episode: The Lead Episode 161: A Discussion of 20 Years: Clinical Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Symptomatic Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Pierre Jaïs

Professor from Paris

Paris, France

Episode: The Lead Episode 161: A Discussion of 20 Years: Clinical Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Symptomatic Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Kenneth Ellenbogen

Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, and past president of HRS

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Episode: Episode 160: A Discussion of Real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices: SMART-ALERT study

Prashanthan Sanders

Professor at University of Adelaide, expert in Digital Education

University of Adelaide

Episode: The Lead Episode 159: A Discussion of Atrial Mechanical Contraction Predicts Cerebrovascular Risk in Patients With Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy and Sinus Rhythm

Tina Baykaner

Attending electrophysiologist from Stanford University

Stanford University

Episode: The Lead Episode 158: A Discussion of Device-Related Complications in Transvenous Versus Subcutaneous Defibrillator Therapy During Long-Term Follow-Up: The PRAETORIAN-XL Trial

Host

Melissa Middeldorp

Host of The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings

The best way to stay up to date on recent EP Literature
The best way to stay up to date on recent EP Literature.
Apple Podcasts
5
heart burner
United States3 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality guests provide credible, clinically relevant insights.

Strong focus on recent trials and real-world implications helps with decision-making.

Lively discussions that clarify complex topics for practitioners.

Concise coverage makes it easy to stay current without information overload.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#220	Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#86	Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#137	Germany/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#40	Denmark/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#69	Saudi Arabia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#114	Switzerland/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Lead Episode 163: A Discussion of Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure, The PhysioSync-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

Q: Could you give me some of the methods and highlight the key results of the study?

The trial randomized 173 patients with reduced ejection fraction and QRS duration to either biventricular pacing or conduction system pacing, predominantly left bundle branch area pacing. The primary composite endpoint included all-cause death, heart failure hospitalization, urgent heart failure visits, and changes in ejection fraction at 12 months. The findings showed that conduction system pacing did not meet non-inferiority and was actually inferior to biventricular pacing on the primary endpoint.

Episode 160: A Discussion of Real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices: SMART-ALERT study

Q: Ken, what do you think about the threshold and the results of this study?

The threshold is a pragmatic compromise and the results show devices are not all created equal; reliability of alerts varies by device, and the study highlights the need for clinicians to understand device performance before acting on alerts.

The Lead Episode 157: A Discussion of Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Sarcoidosis Using a Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Model

Q: Do you expect AI-driven risk models to eventually influence guidelines or require regulatory approvals before widespread use?

Yes, especially if treated as software as a medical device; regulatory considerations will require prospective validation, clear clinical benefit, and demonstrable safety before broad guideline incorporation.

The Lead Episode 157: A Discussion of Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Sarcoidosis Using a Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Model

Q: What additional questions do you think future studies should address for multimodal AI risk prediction?

Future work should focus on prospective external validation, comparisons with current guideline-based decision pathways, and integrating AI tools into clinical workflows with standardization of imaging protocols to ensure generalizability across centers.

The Lead Episode 157: A Discussion of Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Sarcoidosis Using a Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Model

Q: In your opinion, how does this study impact clinical practice for managing SCD risk in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis?

It emphasizes that EF alone is insufficient; clinicians should consider broader data like MRI LGE and various clinical factors, and AI-based tools may help stratify risk better, though external validation is needed before guideline changes occur.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently dives into cutting-edge electrophysiology topics, with episodes built around analysis of recent publications, trial results, and emerging technologies. Conversations are hosted by practitioners who unpack study design, methods, and real-world implications, often contrasting device therapies, pharmacology, and lifestyle interventions. A standout pattern is the mix of clinical rigor and practical context, including safety signals, integration into patient care, and the role of wearables and novel pacing strategies. The format tends to feature expert panels and multiple guests, delivering actionable takeaways for clinicians, researchers, and decision-makers evaluating new therapies or tools.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. This Week in Cardiology
2. Eagle's Eye View: Your Weekly CV Update From ACC.org
3. Cardionerds: A Cardiology Podcast
4. NEJM This Week
5. EHRA Cardio Talk

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 174 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sana Al-Khatib
2. Wei Hua
3. Chris Kowalewski
4. Marco Perez
5. Christian Sohns
6. Pierre Jaïs
7. Kenneth Ellenbogen
8. Prashanthan Sanders

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