Brain & Body Things

Longevity medicine is everywhere right now, but what does it actually look like in a doctor's office? This week I talk with Dr. Avinish Reddy, an internal medicine physician who now focuses on longevity, about how prevention-first care works, who concierge medicine is really for, and how to tell useful testing from expensive noise. We also get into the wellness-adjacent side of longevity: the trends, the tools, and the habits that matter more than any of them.

About Dr. Reddy: Dr. Avinish Reddy is a board-certified internal medicine physician focused on longevity and prevention, and the founder of the concierge practice Elevated Medical. His care centers on heart health, metabolic health, brain health, and physical resilience, with a strong emphasis on relationships and social connection as drivers of healthspan.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Reddy!

YouTube link to watch us in this beautiful Venice, CA studio.

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

Can your body's own biology help it heal? This week I sit down with Dr. Danielle Aufiero, a fellow PM&R physician and one of LA's early leaders in regenerative medicine, to talk about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the wider world of orthobiologics. We separate what the evidence supports from the hype, and talk about who's a good candidate, what recovery actually looks like, and where these treatments fit between physical therapy and surgery.

About Dr. Aufiero: Dr. Aufiero is board-certified in PM&R and has more than 20 years of experience as a regenerative musculoskeletal specialist. She has been a partner at the Orthohealing Center in Los Angeles since 2009, and was one of the first physicians in the city to treat stubborn spine pain with PRP. She trained at the Kessler Institute under regenerative medicine pioneer Dr. Gerard Malanga, is well-published in her field with multiple FDA studies and clinical trials under her belt, and is a clinical assistant professor of PM&R at Western University of Health Sciences and adjunct professor of PM&R at Touro University.

Dr. Aufiero just opened a new clinic in Beverly Hills. It is a culmination of everything she believes in and practices, anchored in a functional sanctuary designed to make patients feel safe, regulated, and ready to heal. Check out the Fluid Mosaic Method.

YouTube link to watch us in this beautiful Venice, CA studio.

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

What does a real training week look like when you're a doctor, a business owner, and a mom of young kids? In this AMA, Dr. Natasha Mehta, a double board-certified physician, walks through her actual week of workouts: what she does, why she does it, and how she fits it around clinic, school drop-off, and everything else. No perfect routine. Just the priorities that keep her strong, mobile, and functional for the long haul.

Then in Wellness or Nonsense?, we discuss intermittent fasting. And in Mom Life Prescription, we discuss Exercise Snacks and VILPA (Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity).

YouTube link to watch us in this beautiful Venice, CA studio.

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

This week I sit down with Frank Hawley, founder and head trainer at Verro Training in Venice, CA. Frank built his career on the belief that good training should be measurable — not guesswork. A University of Wisconsin–Madison grad and former research lab assistant at Tufts, he's spent years applying biometric data, velocity tracking, and individualized programming to help everyone from competitive athletes to everyday clients get real, trackable results.

Frank's own story backs up his philosophy: a former USAPL National Powerlifting Champion, he transformed his body composition multiple times — including a 170-pound swing in body weight — in the pursuit of his title. Now he brings that same data-driven rigor to helping aging athletes train smarter, not just harder.

In this conversation, we get into what actually changes in training as we age, why "listen to your body" isn't specific enough, and how pairing training with physical therapy leads to better long-term outcomes.

🔗 Learn more about Frank!

YouTube link to watch us in this beautiful Venice, CA studio.

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

After a long pause, I'm back. This episode explains where I went and why I'm returning to the mic now.

I'm a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, which means I work in the part of medicine most longevity conversations skip: how your body actually moves, holds up, and recovers. Healthspan isn't just lab numbers and supplements. It's whether you can still get up off the floor, carry your own groceries, and keep doing the things you love at 70.

I'm joined by the beautiful Nadia Khan-Singla to introduce two segments you'll hear on AMA episodes all season:

Wellness or Nonsense? takes a trend and tells you what the evidence actually says — first up, mouth taping.

Mom Life Prescription answers the questions we are talking about in our mom circles as we promote healthy living in our children — this time, how much protein your kids actually need.

(Here is the link to the sleep episode I mention in this episode.)

YouTube link to watch us in this beautiful Venice, CA studio.

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

In this episode, host Dr. Natasha Mehta, a physical medicine & rehabilitation physician switches things up by interviewing a business owner. Aryan Rashed is not your average fitness instructor. She started her career in law before finding her passion, and ultimately success, in pilates. She has developed a highly sought after technique which can be found at her Tremble studios currently expanding throughout the country. 

In this episode we discuss:
- Aryan's story.
- The history and development of high intensity pilates.
- The reformer.
- Benefits to pilates, and ways to use it in your own program.
- Words of caution to keep it safe and lower the risk of injury.

This episode wraps season 4! And gives you a taste of a direction you will see in season 5. 

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

Follow Aryan on Instagram, and be sure to check out Tremble.

This episode is not sponsored.

In this episode, host Dr. Natasha Mehta, a physical medicine & rehabilitation physician delves into the intricacies of maintaining a fitness program during pregnancy. Expert OB/GYN Dr. Linbee Sayat covers key topics such as cardiovascular changes, hormonal impacts, and exercise modifications for expecting mothers. The discussion provides actionable tips for safe fitness practices and highlights the benefits of staying active during pregnancy, aiming to empower expectant mothers with knowledge and practical advice. Tune in to learn about the best ways to balance fitness with the physical demands of pregnancy.

00:00 Introduction to the Brain and Body Things Podcast
00:39 Navigating Pregnancy: Mental and Physical Health 
01:36 Meet Dr. Linbee Sayat: Expert Insights on Pregnancy
06:22 Fitness and Pregnancy: Cardiovascular Changes
13:06 Hormonal Changes and Physical Activity
20:13 Exercise Guidelines for Pregnant Women
26:29 Precautions and Special Considerations
30:43 Dr. Sayat’s Personal Fitness Routine
31:56 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up


The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

When a person or individual becomes a patient, their life changes forever. Sometimes it's a one time event, and things go back to what they once were. Other times, a new diagnosis or impairment alters the course of history. 

Meet Lorena. 

We discuss:

- Lorena as an individual and person.
- Her diagnosis.
- Her experience with treatment.
- Her decision to go beyond the treatment she received from her medical doctors in the United States and add in advice from Eastern practices.
- Emotional health & coping.
- How this experience has informed her own care as a clinician.


The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

This episode is not sponsored.

In this engaging episode of the Brain and Body Things podcast, the host delves into the intricacies of brain mapping with QEEG with return guest Dr. Andrew Hill. The episode explores a personal brain mapping session using Qualitative EEG (QEEG) with Dr. Hill, providing detailed insights into attention, executive function, and cognitive health. The host, Dr. Natasha Mehta, underscores the importance of understanding the complex nature of brain functions alongside stress, sleep and overall well-being.

The Neurofeedback interview with Dr. Hill from Season 3 can be found here.

00:00 Introduction
01:01 Receiving the QEEG Equipment
02:06 Brain Mapping Process
03:05 Performance Testing Insights
04:13 Understanding Brain Waves
07:09 Analyzing Attention and Response Control
08:30 Exploring Executive Function
11:58 Interpreting Brain Map Data
29:00 Meditation and Brain Activity
30:48 Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
35:46 Exploring Possible Causes: Migraines and Vestibular Issues
36:11 Brain Wave Speeds and Alpha Synchronization
36:58 Speed of Processing and Memory Recall
38:02 Delta Waves and Sleep Patterns
39:28 Chronic Fatigue and Brain Fog
39:44 Understanding Brain Maps and EEG
48:06 Meditation and Neurofeedback Benefits
51:07 Frontal Lobes and Emotional Balance
57:56 Real-Life Examples and Neurofeedback Success
01:02:19 Final Thoughts and Podcast Conclusion

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Mondays in seasonal chunks. 

Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about.

For more information about me, check out my website, www.natashamehtamd.com.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

Follow Dr. Hill on Twitter and Instagram. Here is the Peak Brain website.

In this episode of the Brain and Body Things Podcast, host Dr. Natasha Mehta interviews Dr. Molly Bachman, a doctor of physical therapy specializing in pelvic health. They discuss the importance and nuances of pelvic rehabilitation, debunk common misconceptions, and explore how pelvic health therapy can address issues such as incontinence, pelvic pain, and post-surgical recovery. Dr. Bachman shares her journey into this niche field and highlights the significant impact pelvic therapists can have on improving patients' quality of life. The conversation also delves into how stress and trauma can influence pelvic health and the importance of comprehensive care.

00:41 Meet Dr. Molly Bachman
01:35 Journey to Pelvic Health
05:55 Understanding Pelvic Floor Therapy
09:06 Muscle Fiber Types in Pelvic Floor
12:23 Common Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
18:00 Gaps in Pelvic Health Care
24:49 Impact of Abdominal Surgeries on Pelvic Health
33:05 Post-Cesarean Care: When to Seek Pelvic Therapy
34:29 The Importance of Early Physical Therapy
37:59 Outpatient Care and Scar Tissue Management
40:13 Pelvic Therapy for Sexual and Mental Health
41:47 Understanding Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction
47:55 Debunking Myths About Pelvic Rehabilitation
56:35 Encouragement for Seeking Pelvic Therapy
58:43 Self-Care and Community Support
01:00:08 Podcast Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The podcast episodes drop weekly on Monday's in seasonal chunks. Subscribe to stay up to date, and tune in when you can! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let me know what other brain & body things you'd like to hear about. 

For more information about me, check out my website.

Follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok @drnatashamehta.

Molly worked with Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation Center , @pelvichealth on Instagram, before moving on to start her PhD. Bravo, Molly!

This episode is not sponsored.