February 26, 2025 • 7 mins
Paul Corvino sits down with The Heart Foundation Chairman, Mark Litman. His life was forever changed on December 7, 1995, when his best friend Steve Cohen died of a sudden heart attack when they were both 35. Determined to prevent similar deaths and keep the memory of Steve alive for his two young daughters, Mark and some of Steve’s family and friends established The Heart Foundation. Mark has been the driving force behind the foundation since its inception in 1996 and continues to serve as its Chairman. Mark has been married for 36 years and has two sons.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is CEOs you should know. With division President of iHeartMedia,
Paul Corvino. Today I have the honor of speaking with
Mark Littman, the chairman of the Heart Foundation, an organization
that's dedicated to fighting heart disease and promoting heart health.
Welcome Mark, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
First of all, let me just say this, Paul, I
can't tell you how much I appreciate being here. The
Heart Foundation has been around for almost twenty nine years now,
and to have iHeartMedia and the Heart Foundation during American
Heart Month, it can't be more perfect.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
So I'm so grateful for that. All logos will look
good together.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Then exactly, let's keep it going, is the way what
I have to say.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So yes, well, welcome. So how did it start? Where
did you grow up?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I grew up, born and raised here in LA And
it started really when I was thirty five years old
and thought I knew everything and yeah, all right, and unfortunately, tragically,
my best friend thirty five years old, also playing a
game of basketball, died in the middle of the game.
(01:05):
Five year old girl, two year old little girl. And
we were best friends. And was she had a shape?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Was he heavy or was just.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
It's a great question. The answer is no, he was
in good shape. He just didn't have himself checked out
and that was a sad part. And from that tragedy,
the Heart Foundation was born. Even though I'm here talking
to you, it really was a group of family and
friends who got together and wanted to really create a
legacy for Steve. His name is Steve Cohen. Because he
(01:33):
was no celebrity. We had a great group of volunteers.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Do you go out and get an office? Do you
go to people for money? What's the process? Didn't work?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
The one thing I definitely learned people give to people.
There's so many amazing Yeah, there are amazing causes out there.
So it's really who you know. And we were so
fortunate to join forces with Cedars Sinai Heart Institute at
the SMIT Heart Institute and.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Joint How did that come about? How did you get
to them? That's great.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
We started at one of the universities, and the process
to try to say to these people, you know, we're
in our thirties and I'm sure this happens all the time.
When someone dies suddenly people want to do something and
give the steps we had to go through to the university,
give them money was very difficult. Seaters made it so
easy for us, and we sat down with their community relations.
(02:25):
We met the doctor P. K. Shaw, who's a brilliant cardiologist,
and the collaboration that they that they gave us, the
support that they gave this young group of because we're
all in our thirties right, I mean we're not elderly,
you know, with a lot of money. It was how
do we do it? And they gave us that support.
We started it with them and then we became our
(02:46):
own nonprofit five oh one C three, but they're the
ones who helped us launch it. We continue to support
their programs over their doctor Shaws and his lab. And yes,
now how we do it is yeah, we continue knock
on doors. We have a golf tournament that iHeart Radio
supports is Galpin Motors Golf Classic presented by.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
First It last year. But I will be on the
course of issue, I hope.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So it's at Sherwood Country Club. My twenty handicap and
I'll be there. You'll be one of the better golfers
if that's it. So the idea of being at Sherwood,
you know, and it's now been I believe twenty six
we're going on our twenty seventh year of the Sherwood
the Galpin Motors Tournament.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I'll know your association with Galpin. How did that come about?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Again? It just was knocking on doors. We went over there.
I knew a great organization, the best, and it was
the Bachman's that really made this happen. Bert was amazing
Jane Backman when they both were alive. I was so
generous with us. And when I walked into Bert's office
asking him if he would support the Heart Foundation's golf tournament.
(03:55):
I told him the story about Steve. He listened intently
and then at the end he goes, Mark, I don't golf,
And I said, Bert, I don't golf, but there's a
lot of golfers out there. Anyway, fast forward twenty six
years later, Bo Bachmann and the whole group continue to
support the Heart Foundation, and like I say, we're starting
a twenty seventh year golf tournament.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So tell me what does the Heart Foundation do? What
sets you guys apart from other organizations.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, we are a boutique powerhouse, is what I like
to say. We have a presence on social media, We
have Hannah with the Heart Foundation here and you can
find us on social media just with the Heart Foundation.
And it's about awareness, Paul, for us to sit here,
you're in great shape. I'm in decent shape. But at
(04:42):
the end of the day, if we're not aware of
our heart health, to me, it's a tragedy because, like
I say, being the number one cause of death, if
you're not aware of it, there's a problem. Steve wasn't
aware of it. If he was, I wouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
How would he have been made aware of it? What
does he need to do? I mean, I got I've
got my Saturday morning pickup game. I think I'm afraid
to go this Saturday. It's a helly What I need
to do?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
It's so simple, It really is so simple. The first
thing is to be aware of it, right, find out
about your family. Do you have heart disease in the family.
That's so simple, right. Eighty percent of all deaths from
heart disease are preventable, and how you do that is
starting off with your family history. The next is simple,
go to a doctor. How many people are afraid of
(05:33):
going to a doctor, where all you have to do
is go and ask the questions. Find out if you
have high cholesterol. Definitely, don't smoke, find out what your
blood pressure is. Ask these kind of questions. Actually, if
you go to the Heart Foundation that we give a
whole list of questions to ask your doctor. As a
(05:54):
matter of fact, Paul, that was our number one viral
video when Hannah put that up there, more than anything
else that went viral with the seven questions to ask
your doctor about heart disease.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
The Heart Foundation is more about prevention and education.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Early detection, prevention, and then of course supporting research with
doctor Shaud's.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
And all of our listeners that are on right now.
If they want to donate or get involved with your organization,
how do they contact you? Really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
It's just the Heartfoundation dot org, the Heart Foundation dot org.
They can follow us on just the Heart Foundation on
all of the social media platforms.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Mark Littman, the chairman of the Heart Foundation, I appreciate
you coming on and so one more time let our
audience know how they can contact you.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Sure, it's the Heart Foundation dot org and that's our
website where you can find all sorts of answers and
questions that you want to find on that website as
well as follow us on any of the social media platforms.
You'll see Hannaut with the Heart Foundation and Paul. I
could talk all day about it. I can't thank you enough.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Well thanks again. This is Paul Corvino, Division president of
iHeartMedia in Los Angeles, California, Hoping that you enjoyed this
segment of CEOs you Should Know.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Listen to CEOs you Should Know on the iHeartRadio app.
This is CEOs you should know. With division President of iHeartMedia,
Paul Corvino. Today I have the honor of speaking with
Mark Littman, the chairman of the Heart Foundation, an organization
that's dedicated to fighting heart disease and promoting heart health.
Welcome Mark, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
First of all, let me just say this, Paul, I
can't tell you how much I appreciate being here. The
Heart Foundation has been around for almost twenty nine years now,
and to have iHeartMedia and the Heart Foundation during American
Heart Month, it can't be more perfect.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
So I'm so grateful for that. All logos will look
good together.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Then exactly, let's keep it going, is the way what
I have to say.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So yes, well, welcome. So how did it start? Where
did you grow up?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I grew up, born and raised here in LA And
it started really when I was thirty five years old
and thought I knew everything and yeah, all right, and unfortunately, tragically,
my best friend thirty five years old, also playing a
game of basketball, died in the middle of the game.
(01:05):
Five year old girl, two year old little girl. And
we were best friends. And was she had a shape?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Was he heavy or was just.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
It's a great question. The answer is no, he was
in good shape. He just didn't have himself checked out
and that was a sad part. And from that tragedy,
the Heart Foundation was born. Even though I'm here talking
to you, it really was a group of family and
friends who got together and wanted to really create a
legacy for Steve. His name is Steve Cohen. Because he
(01:33):
was no celebrity. We had a great group of volunteers.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Do you go out and get an office? Do you
go to people for money? What's the process? Didn't work?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
The one thing I definitely learned people give to people.
There's so many amazing Yeah, there are amazing causes out there.
So it's really who you know. And we were so
fortunate to join forces with Cedars Sinai Heart Institute at
the SMIT Heart Institute and.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Joint How did that come about? How did you get
to them? That's great.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
We started at one of the universities, and the process
to try to say to these people, you know, we're
in our thirties and I'm sure this happens all the time.
When someone dies suddenly people want to do something and
give the steps we had to go through to the university,
give them money was very difficult. Seaters made it so
easy for us, and we sat down with their community relations.
(02:25):
We met the doctor P. K. Shaw, who's a brilliant cardiologist,
and the collaboration that they that they gave us, the
support that they gave this young group of because we're
all in our thirties right, I mean we're not elderly,
you know, with a lot of money. It was how
do we do it? And they gave us that support.
We started it with them and then we became our
(02:46):
own nonprofit five oh one C three, but they're the
ones who helped us launch it. We continue to support
their programs over their doctor Shaws and his lab. And yes,
now how we do it is yeah, we continue knock
on doors. We have a golf tournament that iHeart Radio
supports is Galpin Motors Golf Classic presented by.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
First It last year. But I will be on the
course of issue, I hope.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
So it's at Sherwood Country Club. My twenty handicap and
I'll be there. You'll be one of the better golfers
if that's it. So the idea of being at Sherwood,
you know, and it's now been I believe twenty six
we're going on our twenty seventh year of the Sherwood
the Galpin Motors Tournament.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I'll know your association with Galpin. How did that come about?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Again? It just was knocking on doors. We went over there.
I knew a great organization, the best, and it was
the Bachman's that really made this happen. Bert was amazing
Jane Backman when they both were alive. I was so
generous with us. And when I walked into Bert's office
asking him if he would support the Heart Foundation's golf tournament.
(03:55):
I told him the story about Steve. He listened intently
and then at the end he goes, Mark, I don't golf,
And I said, Bert, I don't golf, but there's a
lot of golfers out there. Anyway, fast forward twenty six
years later, Bo Bachmann and the whole group continue to
support the Heart Foundation, and like I say, we're starting
a twenty seventh year golf tournament.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So tell me what does the Heart Foundation do? What
sets you guys apart from other organizations.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, we are a boutique powerhouse, is what I like
to say. We have a presence on social media, We
have Hannah with the Heart Foundation here and you can
find us on social media just with the Heart Foundation.
And it's about awareness, Paul, for us to sit here,
you're in great shape. I'm in decent shape. But at
(04:42):
the end of the day, if we're not aware of
our heart health, to me, it's a tragedy because, like
I say, being the number one cause of death, if
you're not aware of it, there's a problem. Steve wasn't
aware of it. If he was, I wouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
How would he have been made aware of it? What
does he need to do? I mean, I got I've
got my Saturday morning pickup game. I think I'm afraid
to go this Saturday. It's a helly What I need
to do?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
It's so simple, It really is so simple. The first
thing is to be aware of it, right, find out
about your family. Do you have heart disease in the family.
That's so simple, right. Eighty percent of all deaths from
heart disease are preventable, and how you do that is
starting off with your family history. The next is simple,
go to a doctor. How many people are afraid of
(05:33):
going to a doctor, where all you have to do
is go and ask the questions. Find out if you
have high cholesterol. Definitely, don't smoke, find out what your
blood pressure is. Ask these kind of questions. Actually, if
you go to the Heart Foundation that we give a
whole list of questions to ask your doctor. As a
(05:54):
matter of fact, Paul, that was our number one viral
video when Hannah put that up there, more than anything
else that went viral with the seven questions to ask
your doctor about heart disease.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
The Heart Foundation is more about prevention and education.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Early detection, prevention, and then of course supporting research with
doctor Shaud's.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
And all of our listeners that are on right now.
If they want to donate or get involved with your organization,
how do they contact you? Really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
It's just the Heartfoundation dot org, the Heart Foundation dot org.
They can follow us on just the Heart Foundation on
all of the social media platforms.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Mark Littman, the chairman of the Heart Foundation, I appreciate
you coming on and so one more time let our
audience know how they can contact you.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Sure, it's the Heart Foundation dot org and that's our
website where you can find all sorts of answers and
questions that you want to find on that website as
well as follow us on any of the social media platforms.
You'll see Hannaut with the Heart Foundation and Paul. I
could talk all day about it. I can't thank you enough.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Well thanks again. This is Paul Corvino, Division president of
iHeartMedia in Los Angeles, California, Hoping that you enjoyed this
segment of CEOs you Should Know.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Listen to CEOs you Should Know on the iHeartRadio app.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com