In this episode of Awareness, I sit down with my best friend Phil “Philly” Esposito to share his powerful journey. Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at just 20 years old, Philly has spent the last 22 years managing the condition. After his health took a serious turn earlier this year, he spent five months in the hospital, undergoing LVAD surgery to keep him alive while waiting for a heart transplant. He was finally discharged just two weeks ago.

We talk about what it’s like to live with a chronic illness, the emotional and physical challenges of spending months in the hospital, and what it means to step back into life outside those walls. Through our conversation, Philly also shares how he tries to help others facing similar battles, encouraging them not to lose hope. He reflects on resilience, gratitude, and why organ donation matters so deeply to him and to so many others waiting for a second chance at life.