You leave most conferences feeling exhausted, fried by information overload, and too drained to apply a single thing you learned. Fast schedules, poor sleep, junk food, endless sitting, and forced networking can turn even the best events into a slog, destroying focus, energy, and motivation for days afterward.

But what if the structure of these gatherings could actually boost your health, help you remember more, and leave you energized? This episode unpacks how simple shifts in environment and programming, built on real-world science and tested by an “Olympian” in event planning, can transform not just your conference experience, but your return on both health and learning.

David T. Stevens is a Harvard-certified Lifestyle Medicine & Wellness Coach, disrupting the meetings and hospitality industry through wellness-centered event strategy. As co-founder of Olympian Meeting and Club Ichi, he combines two decades of experiential design with science-backed wellness and sustainability. David helps top brands create gatherings that go beyond the ballroom, infusing purpose, social connection, and measurable well-being into every experience.

“You leave tired, you leave your inbox and you are both terribly inflamed, you're sleep deprived… your life is a mess when you leave a conference.” - David T Stevens

In this episode you will learn:

• Why most conferences leave people tired, inflamed, and sleep deprived, and how events can do better.
• How movement, good food options, and mindful schedules can help attendees learn, connect, and feel energized.
• Why programming for natural rhythms and offering agency in choices makes events more effective and inclusive.
• The impact of group movement on belonging, learning, and social connection at corporate events.
• How journaling and closing open loops helps transfer learning to long-term memory and encourages better sleep.
• Why holistic wellness, including movement, meals, meaning, and mindfulness, boosts business results and attendee well-being.

Resources

• Connect with David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidtstevens/
• Listen to David’s podcast, ‘Return On Wellness’: https://tr.ee/5k2GT0rMNX
• Watch ‘Return On Wellness’ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReturnOnWellness
• Explore Olympian Meeting, a “wellness first” meetings and events agency: https://www.eventmarketingauthority.com/olympianmeeting

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

Find the products, practices, and routines discussed on the Alively website:

https://alively.com