
Liv Label Free | Neurodivergent Eating Disorder Recovery
Want to understand the link between neurodivergence and eating disorders? The Liv Label Free Podcast provides you with insights and strategies for recovery through meaningful conversations and stories of lived experience. Your host, Livia Sara, is an autistic ED warrior that now guides other neurodivergent individuals and their loved ones to a life of freedom. Learn more about Livia on her website livlabelfree.com and follow her on Instagram @livlabelfree!
Latest episodes

Sep 15, 2024 • 49min
Our favorite "weird" autistic food combinations! 🍫🥔🍦
Many autistic people enjoy eating food combinations that are considered “weird” by society. Although “disordered” eating can often underlie the creation of odd meals, it’s critical to invite compassion and curiosity before accusing the behaviors of being “the eating disorder talking.”
In today's episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia Sara and her co-host Mike share some of their favorite “weird” food combinations! We also cover past treatment experiences and emphasize how different cultures have different ideas of what’s “normal.”
Get a taste of what we talk about:
Fast Food Memories
A Diabolical History of Potatoes
A Very, Very Autistic Rant on the Semantics of Pancakes
Mike’s Unforgivable Sin Against a Hot Dog
High Class Peanut Butter
A Brief History of Chicken and Waffles
🧑🍳 Grab your copy of Nourishing Neurodiversity
Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS
Connect with Mike:📷 Instagram🌈 Neurodivergent Support Group🧘 Anxiety and Stress Support Group∞ Autism Peer Support Group

Sep 13, 2024 • 11min
Neurodivergent Meditation to Reduce Feeling Overwhelmed
If you're neurodivergent and feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. Navigating a world that wasn't built for you IS overwhelming! Listen to this guided mediation to reduce overwhelm so you can unleash your powerful neurodivergent energy 🌟
Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS
Listen to more meditations for autism, ADHD, and eating disorders here
Music from #Uppbeat (License code: RISQ0ZTSLKKGK3BD)

Sep 8, 2024 • 1h 3min
Invalidation is Trauma with Dr. Megan Anna Neff
Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a neurodivergent psychologist and founder of Neurodivergent Insights, talks about the heightened trauma risk for neurodivergent individuals. She reflects on her own mental health struggles as an undiagnosed autistic child and emphasizes the critical concept of traumatic invalidation. The discussion also touches on parenting neurodivergent children and the need for a supportive environment, as well as the importance of self-validation in healing. Dr. Neff’s insights into communication dynamics between autistic and allistic individuals further highlight the road to understanding.

Sep 2, 2024 • 51min
A Neurodivergent Conversation About Addiction, Travel, and Entrepreneurship w/ Patrick Casale
Can being neurodivergent contribute to addiction? How can you make traveling easier as an autistic and ADHD individual? Why do autistic people make excellent entrepreneurs? In today’s episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia Sara chats with Patrick Casale, an AuDHD Licensed Clinical Mental Health and Addictions Therapist. Patrick is a group practice owner, motivational speaker, international retreat planner, and podcast host that empowers individuals to break the mold, work through their fears and insecurities, and embrace their authenticity. Topics discussed:
Patrick's personal journey with addiction
The impact of neurodivergence on addiction
Letting go of the addicted identity in recovery
Turning personal struggles into a career path in mental health
Strategies for managing sensory challenges during travel as a neurodivergent individual
Prioritizing autistic sensory needs during travel
Patrick's upcoming neurodivergent retreats
🎙️ Get FREE Audio Training on Autism and Eating Disorders
Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM🌐 WEBSITE📚 BOOKS
Connect with Patrick:🍩 INSTAGRAM🌐 WEBSITE🎧 PODCAST

Aug 26, 2024 • 27min
Autism, PMDD, and Extreme Hunger
Is PMDD related to autism and ADHD? How can experiencing extreme hunger in eating disorder recovery lead to PMDD? In today's episode, Livia Sara combines science and lived experience to uncover the intricate connection between extreme hunger, neurodivergence and PMDD. You'll learn:
How I healed hypothalamic amenorrhea and got my period back
The difference between PMS and PMDD
My neurodivergent experience of PMDD
Causes of PMDD including genetics, trauma, and sensitivities
Scientific research on autism, ADHD, and PMDD
📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger📝 Read the blog post of this episode (with sources)
Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Aug 12, 2024 • 52min
The Neurodivergent Experience of Extreme Hunger in ED Recovery
My book “How to Beat Extreme Hunger” is here! In today’s episode, Livia and Mike discuss the experience of extreme hunger from a neurodivergent perspective, highlighting a variety of topics from the book. You’ll learn:
The harmful impact of extreme hunger being diagnosed as binge eating disorder
Using food to stim as an autistic ADHD individual
The frustration of not having mental hunger and physical hunger “match”
Gastroparesis and other digestive issues in ED recovery
Understanding restrictive eating disorders through a trauma lens
No longer being able to restrict in anorexia recovery
Developing ARFID due to sensory discomfort
How to make peace with fullness
Acne in eating disorder recovery
The validity of extreme hunger when you didn’t restrict for that long
Problems with the 2,000 calories a day recommendation
How diet culture has influenced nutrition labels
Is sugar truly more addictive that c0cain€?
The importance of eating a LOT of sugar in ED recovery
👉 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger
Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM🌐 WEBSITE📚 BOOKS
Connect with Mike:📷 Instagram🌈 Neurodivergent Support Group🧘 Anxiety and Stress Support Group∞ Autism Peer Support Group

Jul 30, 2024 • 19min
Understanding Extreme Hunger from an Autistic Perspective
Extreme hunger is SUCH a terrifying part of the recovery process and can be especially confusing when you're also autistic...but extreme hunger is also such an IMPORTANT part of eating disorder recovery, which is why it's essential you learn to recognize it! In today's episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia Sara connects extreme hunger with the autistic eating experience so you can FINALLY stop obsessing over food and exercise! You'll learn:
Why autistic people struggle with recognizing hunger
The correlation between interoception and hunger cues
Why autistic people are more likely to develop eating disorders
What happens when autistic people don't eat enough
Why extreme hunger is so common among autistic individuals
The role of energy deficit and energy debt in extreme hunger
How an autistic person can recognize extreme hunger
How to use your autistic traits to overcome extreme hunger
📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger! 🍩 Ready to BEAT extreme hunger for GOOD? Enroll in my course, Extremely Hungry to Completely Satisfied!📝 Read the blog post of this episode
Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Jul 22, 2024 • 11min
Autistic Overthinking Meditation | Neurodiversity-Affirming Guided Practice
Welcome to this Liv Label Free Neurodiversity-Affirming Guided Meditation, designed especially for those experiencing overthinking and anxiety related to autism. This practice embraces and affirms your unique neurodivergent mind, providing a safe and supportive space to calm your thoughts and find inner peace.
🎙️ Get FREE Audio Training on Autism and Eating Disorders
Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Jul 16, 2024 • 58min
Communication secrets for autistic people with eating disorders and demand avoidance (Q&A with my mom Part 2)
Louise Alexandra, co-host and mother of Livia Sara, shares her poignant insights on supporting autistic children navigating eating disorders. She discusses effective communication strategies that foster trust and autonomy. Louise highlights the emotional toll on parents, emphasizing self-care and the importance of regulating their own nervous systems. The conversation tackles the misconceptions around compliance and resistance, transforming struggles into growth opportunities. It's a heartfelt dialogue on finding purpose in the face of challenges.

Jul 8, 2024 • 57min
Q&A with my mom! Answering your questions about autism, eating disorders, FBT, and more! (Part 1)
Livia Sara and her mom Louise Alexandra answer listener questions about autism and eating disorders. They discuss slow realization of eating disorders, impact of diet culture, harms of FBT, demand avoidance, and rebuilding trust. The podcast also explores coercion in treatment, challenges of FBT, and embracing responsibility and hope.
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