
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

7 snips
Sep 26, 2024 • 48min
Reflecting on my Eating Disorder Through an Autistic Lens
Livia shares her powerful journey through eating disorder recovery while navigating autism. She discusses how mundane life events can trigger overstimulation and the unique challenges of living with others. Insights on coping strategies highlight the interplay between sensory needs and recovery. Livia reflects on the emotional weight of weight gain, addressing all-or-nothing thinking. By connecting her past struggles to everyday mishaps, she emphasizes the importance of compassion in understanding neurodivergent experiences and the path to healing.

Sep 25, 2024 • 2min
What to Expect from The Liv Label Free Podcast 🌈
Do you want to increase your understanding of the link between neurodivergence and eating disorders? If so, you are in the right place! On the Liv Label Free Podcast, autism advocate and eating disorder survivor Livia Sara shares insights and strategies on how to make eating disorder recovery neurodiversity-affirming. You’ll learn how to use your autistic and ADHD traits to your advantage in ED recovery through a combination of science and lived experience. Whether you're here for yourself or to support a loved one struggling with disordered eating, everyone is welcome 🌈 Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date on the latest episodes, leave a positive rating and review if you gain value from my content, and share this podcast with anyone and everyone who you believe would benefit. The connection between autism, ADHD, and eating disorders is incredibly misunderstood, but together, we can break the stigmas and get everyone the help they deserve.
Connect with Livia:💗 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Sep 23, 2024 • 13min
How Much Food is TOO Much in ED Recovery? (Autism Edition)
Livia Sara, an autism and eating disorder recovery coach, discusses the unique challenges faced by autistic individuals in food recovery. She emphasizes that while many believe there are no limits in recovery, setting boundaries can help those with neurodivergent minds. The conversation unveils the significance of understanding extreme hunger, highlighting personal experiences and tailored coaching programs. Listeners will gain insight into navigating the complexities of eating disorders through an autistic perspective.

Sep 18, 2024 • 30min
How I Eat Intuitively as a Neurodivergent Person Recovered From an Eating Disorder
How do I eat intuitively as an autistic person that’s recovered from an eating disorder? This is a question I’ve received so often, and for good reason! I talk all about food freedom, extreme hunger, and honoring your body’s needs, while at the same time talking about how autistic people may struggle with recognizing bodily cues and how many behaviors that may seem restrictive from an eating disorder lens are actually manifestations of autistic traits. So how does honoring hunger fit together with being autistic? Listen to this episode to find out!
Key Topics Discussed:
How lack of interoceptive awareness can complicate intuitive eating for neurodivergent folks
Why the concept of “fear foods” may look different for neurodivergent people in ED recovery
How meal plans can be a helpful tool for autistic people in eating disorder recovery
The role of the nervous system in an autistic person’s ability to sense and respond to hunger cues
How I implement the concepts “logical eating” and “freedom routines” as an autistic person that eats intuitively
Why I don’t always recommend getting rid of the food scale in eating disorder recovery
🧑🍳 Grab your copy of Nourishing Neurodiversity📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger🫶 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here📝 Read the blog post of this episode
Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

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