Alexander Audit is a former chemical engineer turned integrative clinician, trained in traditional Chinese medicine and nutritional medicine. As Chief Scientific Officer of NAD Clinic — a global leader in cellular health and performance medicine operating in more than 40 countries — he bridges hard science with real-world application. His work centers on NAD, the molecule at the heart of cellular energy, brain health, and longevity.

Last week, Alexander Audit joined Kathy at the Global Wellness Summit in Dubai to break down the science of NAD — what it is, why levels begin declining as early as our 30s, and how that shows up as fatigue, brain fog, and accelerated aging. He walked us through the history of NAD therapy, its powerful applications in mental health and addiction recovery, and how methylene blue works alongside it to boost mitochondrial energy. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, it's a great place to start.

This week, the conversation goes deeper into the practical side of longevity. Alexander shares the lifestyle habits that can naturally raise your NAD levels — and the everyday choices quietly draining them. From the surprising cellular cost of a single drink of alcohol to the science behind intermittent fasting and why muscle mass is one of your greatest longevity assets, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

We also explore how NAD Clinic approaches performance optimization through tools like VO2 max breath testing, and what it means to turn data into something you can actually act on. Whether you're new to longevity science or already building your wellness stack, this episode will meet you where you are.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start understanding what your body actually needs to thrive, this episode will give you a science-backed, practical roadmap to get there.

What You'll Learn

• The lifestyle habits that naturally raise NAD levels — and which ones silently deplete them
• Why alcohol costs your body two NAD molecules, plus magnesium, zinc, and B1 — for every single drink
• How sleep deprivation drops NAD levels and drives up inflammation
• Why intermittent fasting triggers autophagy and boosts cellular renewal
• The role of muscle mass in longevity and why both aerobic and anaerobic exercise matter
• What VO2 max testing and breath analysis reveal about your metabolism and performance

Connect with Alexander

• Website: www.nadclinic.com

Resources Mentioned

• NAD Clinic — Global leader in cellular health and performance medicine; nadclinic.com
• PNOE — Breath analysis and VO2 max testing used by NAD Clinic for performance optimization
• Methylene Blue — Mitochondrial energy tool discussed in depth in Part 1; referenced again here as part of the longevity toolkit
• Global Wellness Summit (Dubai) — Where this conversation was recorded

Chapters

• 00:00 — Recap & welcome to Part 2
• 02:57 — Lifestyle habits that naturally boost NAD
• 03:50 — Exercise, muscle mass, and mitochondrial health
• 04:08 — How alcohol depletes NAD and key co-nutrients
• 05:01 — Intermittent fasting and autophagy explained
• 06:03 — Testing NAD levels and optimal ranges by gender and athlete status
• 08:18 — IV vs. oral supplementation — which is right for you?
• 08:43 — Inside NAD Clinic's science-based approach
• 09:08 — VO2 max and breath analysis with PNOE
• 10:35 — Where to start — nadclinic.com

Alexander Audette is a Canadian biomedical researcher and clinician with over 20 years of international experience. He trained in Chemical Engineering at McGill University before completing advanced study in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Beijing University, where he also spent seven years studying martial arts. He is a published author in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and currently serves as Chief Science Officer for NADclinic Japan, where he focuses on NAD+ therapy and cellular energy metabolism.

NAD is one of the most important molecules for your energy, ageing and long-term health, yet most people have never actually tested their levels.

In this episode, Alexander walks us through what NAD is, why it naturally declines as you get older, and what that means for your energy, brain function and overall longevity. You'll learn how supplementation works, the different ways you can take NAD, and why testing your levels first is so important before you begin.

We also explore tools like methylene blue and how it supports your mitochondrial health, especially when it comes to energy production and neurodegenerative conditions.

But this isn't just about supplements. Alexander shares how your daily habits and lifestyle choices play a key role in maintaining healthy NAD levels over time, so you can support your body in a more sustainable way.

If you're looking to improve your energy, think more clearly, and take a more proactive approach to your long-term health, this episode will give you a clear and practical place to start.

What You’ll Learn

• What NAD is and why it matters for your cellular energy and ageing

• Why your NAD levels naturally decline over time

• The most effective ways you can supplement NAD and how they compare

• Why testing your NAD levels before starting is essential

• How methylene blue supports your mitochondrial function

• How NAD relates to brain health and neurodegenerative conditions

• The lifestyle habits that help you maintain healthy NAD levels

Connect with Alexander • Website: nadclinic.com • Instagram: @tokyoalexsensei • LinkedIn: Alexander Julien Audette

Resources Mentioned • NADclinic — nadclinic.com

Chapters

00:00 Understanding NAD: The Science Behind It

02:39 NAD and Longevity: A New Perspective

04:56 Testing for NAD Deficiency

06:29 Methods of NAD Administration

08:58 Choosing the Right Clinic for NAD Treatment

10:15 Methylene Blue: A Complementary Treatment

13:45 The Role of Testing in Supplementation

17:25 Maximizing Health Span with NAD

If you’ve ever felt like your life looks fine on the outside but something still feels missing, this story is for you.

I take you back to a time when I moved across the country, stepped away from my old identity, and found myself searching for purpose while raising my family. I didn’t have a clear plan, but I knew something needed to change.

You’ll hear how I discovered a new style of fitness training that completely shifted my perspective, and how that moment led me to take a leap into entrepreneurship and open my first fitness studio.

At the time, I had no idea that one studio would eventually grow into a multi-location business. What I did know was that I wanted to create something meaningful, something that gave me freedom, purpose, and impact.

But building a fitness business was not as simple as it looked from the outside.

I talk you through what really happened behind the scenes, from wearing every hat in the business, to realizing I couldn’t do everything alone, to learning how to step back and build systems that allowed the business to grow.

If you are thinking about starting your own fitness or wellness business, or you are already in the early stages, this episode will give you a real, honest look at what it actually takes.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• My journey into fitness entrepreneurship
• Opening my first Pilates and fitness studio
• The reality of running a business in the early days
• Why systems and structure changed everything
• How I scaled into a multi-location fitness brand
• What I would do differently knowing what I know now

This is not just a business story. It is a reminder that you do not have to have everything figured out to begin. You just have to start.

And if you are in that season right now, I want you to know, I see you.

Embodied with Kathy Covington is a space for women who are ready to reconnect with themselves and build a life and business that feels aligned, grounded, and fully embodied.

Here, I share my journey of building a multi-location fitness business, alongside honest conversations about identity, purpose, and what it really takes to create something meaningful from the ground up. This podcast is for women who feel the pull towards more, especially in the fitness and wellness space, and are ready to move from uncertainty into clarity, confidence, and action.

If you are in a season of change, rebuilding, or stepping into entrepreneurship, you are in the right place.

Visit my website: www.kathycovington.com

Follow us on socials:

Instagram/@kathyscovington

YouTube/EmbodiedwithKathyCovington

Takeaways

The journey of growth is continuous and requires reflection.

Building a supportive community is essential for success.

Mindfulness in training enhances the overall experience for both trainers and clients.

Hiring for culture fit is crucial for team cohesion.

Personal health and wellness must be prioritized in leadership roles.

Accountability and structure are key to effective team management.

Long-term vision is necessary for sustainable growth.

Embodied leadership connects personal experience with client engagement.

Challenges in leadership require resilience and adaptability.

Time management is vital for balancing business and personal life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Intelligent Fitness and Leadership

02:33 The Journey of Growth and Community Building

05:12 Mind-Body Awareness in Fitness Training

08:01 Leadership and Team Dynamics in Wellness

10:26 Hiring for Culture and Growth Mindset

11:55 Managing Energy and Nervous System in Leadership

13:14 Navigating Challenges in Staff Management

15:08 The Importance of Systems and Processes

16:44 Long-Term Growth and Resilience

18:43 Personal Health and Wellness Journey

20:27 Balancing Work and Personal Life

25:29 Listening to Our Bodies

26:58 The Mantra Method and Mindful Breathing

28:10 Building a Supportive Community

28:39 Team Dynamics and Accountability

29:42 Advice for Aspiring Business Owners

A conversation with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee on neuroaesthetics

In this episode of Embodied, Kathy Covington sits down with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, neurologist, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and founding director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, to explore how beauty, design, art, and environment shape the brain long before we’re consciously aware of it .

Recorded during the Global Wellness Summit in Dubai, this conversation dives deep into neuroaesthetics — the emerging science that explains how our brains continuously decode light, color, shape, texture, movement, and imagery as signals of safety, interest, calm, or activation.

Dr. Chatterjee shares how the field of neuroaesthetics emerged, why beauty was historically overlooked in neuroscience, and how research over the past decade has revealed that aesthetic experiences — including our engagement with art — are not superficial preferences, but central to how humans regulate emotion, stress, and meaning in everyday life .

Together, Kathy and Dr. Chatterjee explore the aesthetic triad — coherence, fascination, and hominess — and how these three elements determine whether a space or experience feels grounding, stimulating, or overwhelming. They discuss why rounded shapes often feel safer than sharp angles, why nature and biophilic design support nervous system regulation, and how thoughtfully designed environments can influence whether we feel at ease, energized, or on guard.

A key part of the conversation turns toward art and presence. Dr. Chatterjee explains how engaging with art can be a practice in awareness and self-discovery — not about knowing art history or “getting it right,” but about noticing sensory qualities, emotional responses, and personal associations. Kathy and Dr. Chatterjee unpack a simple three-step framework for experiencing art: focusing on sensory details, observing emotional responses, and allowing the mind to make meaning through association. This process, they explain, can help reduce stress, deepen presence, and reconnect people with themselves .

The episode also explores how beauty and art intersect with identity, safety, and meaning — and why aesthetic experiences often help us feel more like ourselves. Dr. Chatterjee reflects on how beauty can support healing in clinical settings, why images of nature tend to be calming in high-stress environments, and how biophilic and fractal patterns subtly activate the brain’s reward systems.

As the conversation widens, they examine how culture shapes aesthetic response, how modern environments create mismatches with what our brains evolved to handle, and why awareness of our surroundings — from light and noise to digital overload — is one of the most underused tools for wellbeing today.

The episode closes with a powerful invitation: to pause, pay attention, and begin designing life with intention rather than defaults — whether through spaces, movement, art, or everyday rituals.

In this episode we explore:

• What neuroaesthetics is and why the field has accelerated in recent years
• Why beauty is not a luxury, but part of human biology
• How the brain processes aesthetics before conscious awareness
• The aesthetic triad: coherence, fascination, and hominess
• Why safety and “feeling at home” matter to the nervous system
• How rounded shapes, light, and nature influence mood and stress
• The role of art in presence, self-awareness, and emotional regulation
• A simple framework for engaging with art without intimidation
• How aesthetic experiences connect to identity and meaning
• The difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation
• Why awareness of environment is foundational to living well

About the Guest:

Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, MD is a neurologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the founding director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics — the first research center in the world dedicated to studying how aesthetics shape the brain. He is the author of The Aesthetic Brain and a leading voice in understanding how beauty, art, and design influence cognition, emotion, behavior, and wellbeing .

https://www.pennmedicine.org/providers/anjan-chatterjee

About the Podcast:

Embodied is a podcast exploring the science of living well — mind, body, and connection. Through curiosity-driven conversations, we ask better questions about health, environment, art, and the human experience, and explore how science and lived experience shape the way we live.

In this episode of Embodied, Kathy Covington sits down with Joseph Stern, one of the pioneers who helped build the organic food movement from the ground up. Together, they unpack the truth behind the word organic — how it began, what it really means today, and why our choices in the grocery aisle matter more than we think.

Joseph shares his extraordinary 50-year journey — from hand-tilling virgin soil in the 1970s to sourcing organic ingredients from over 60 countries. Along the way, he reveals how the organic movement became a global force for health, integrity, and environmental healing — and where it’s heading next.

You’ll discover:

• The real meaning behind the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) — and why that label actually matters

• How to spot the difference between marketing buzzwords and true organic integrity

• Why organic farming restores soil health and helps reverse climate change

• The truth about GMOs, pesticides, and “natural” foods

• What foods are worth buying organic — and where you can safely save

• How conscious eating connects your body, your values, and the planet

If you’ve ever looked at an organic label and wondered, Is it really worth it? — this conversation will open your eyes, sharpen your choices, and remind you that every bite is a chance to shape your health and your world.

Together, Kathy and Benjamin explore the intersection of trauma, spirituality, and transformation. They unpack what it means to truly surrender, to heal in community, and to live your elixir — integrating the lessons of profound experiences into everyday life.

This episode isn’t just about psychedelics — it’s about awakening, courage, and embodiment. Whether or not these medicines are part of your path, the principles Benjamin shares — from self-love and creativity to radical honesty — are timeless tools for a more conscious and connected life.

In This Episode

The military to mystic: how trauma led Benjamin to the path of healing

Why psilocybin became his emotional “reset” and the medicine that changed everything

The 10 principles of psychedelia — and how they apply to everyday life

The power of surrender and what it means to truly let go

Healing through community and connection (and the loneliness epidemic)

Living your elixir — how to bring the wisdom of big experiences into your daily existence

Why creativity and play are sacred acts of integration.

Guest Links

Benjamin Forest

Website: www.benjaminforest.com

Instagram: @benjamin.forest.bliss 

Book: Trip of a Lifetime: The Psychedelic Guide to Healing, Loving, and Living - on Amazon

Favorite Quote

“Psychedelics didn’t change me — they revealed me.” — Benjamin Forest

Connect with Kathy

Website: www.kathycovington.com 

Instagram: @embodiedwithKathyCovington

Subscribe & share Embodied with someone ready to live more fully body, mind, and spirit.

Heartbreak can be a catalyst for growth. Kathy discusses lessons from Breakup Bootcamp, community healing, and attachment theory. She explains how solo travel is not about being alone, but about realizing you are enough, and offers practical wisdom on traveling with safety, budgeting, connection, and openness.

“Solo travel isn’t about being alone—it’s about learning you are enough.”

“Healing is not just time—it’s about rewiring.”

“Bravery is born in the act itself. You don’t feel ready before you go—you feel ready because you went.”

Trust your intuition when choosing destinations. Budget realistically and plan ahead. Prioritize safety with reviews and connectivity. Lean on your network and communities. Leave space for spontaneity.

Kathy encourages listeners to view solo travel as a gateway to rediscovering themselves. Whether after a breakup, a career shift, or simply longing for change—book the trip, sign up for the retreat, and step into the unknown.

Her story is one of grit, growth, and inspiration—a reminder that leadership isn’t about a title, it’s about how you show up for yourself and others. Whether you’re building a career, raising a family, or seeking deeper alignment in your own life, this conversation will spark reflection and remind you of what’s possible when you commit to your path.

Takeaways

• Planning is essential for balancing business and fitness.
• Creating a comfortable shopping experience is key.
• Personalized styling helps clients feel confident.
• Packing smartly can simplify travel.
• Time management tools can enhance productivity.
• Building a community around your business is important.
• Tailoring can transform your wardrobe essentials.
• Fashion should be about feeling good and confident.
• The Mantra method focuses on mental well-being.
• Entrepreneurship should be driven by passion.

Visit the following websites to get more information about today’s podcast

https://www.isabelsarasota.co/

https://www.instagram.com/isabelsarasotaa/

https://www.instagram.com/mantra_fitness/

http://www.mantrafitness.com/

To start your own personal transformation and book class visit:

https://mantrafitness.com/

For the latest news follow:

https://www.instagram.com/embodiedwithkathycovington/

https://www.youtube.com/@EmbodiedWithKathyCovington