In her free time, she enjoys stickers & planners, crochet & roller skates, and running around with her pet bunny Rumi.
Building Weirdly Successful’s Knowledge Systems
Livia is the architect behind Weirdly Successful’s knowledge infrastructure — creating the systems that help late-identified neurodivergent adults make sense of their experiences and find language for what they’ve always felt.
She created The Neurodivergent Glossary, an ever-growing encyclopaedia of neurodivergence-related terms designed to help people find answers using everyday words for their experiences—not medical jargon they haven’t yet learned. She also designed the content architecture that powers the entire website: a system that organises content by what someone is experiencing (focus, hearing, time), where they are in their journey (exploring, seeking diagnosis, recently diagnosed), and what they need to know (definitions, validation, practical strategies).
Currently, Livia is building the Weirdly Successful Learning Community: a custom-built peer support platform designed from the ground up for neurodivergent brains. Every element, from the onboarding process to the reaction buttons, has been designed to balance ADHD and Autistic accessibility needs.
Specialist Subjects
- Neurodivergent adaptations for life and work · Dismantling harmful self-beliefs
- Promoting self-compassion
- Creating a life without the hustle
Background: 15 Years in Adult Education
Livia’s neurodivergent-focused work builds on 15 years as a productivity and lifestyle educator in Hungary, where she developed the frameworks, techniques, and teaching approach she now adapts for English-speaking neurodivergent audiences.
Book
That Traffic Light’s Not Getting Any Greener! (XXI. Század Kiadó, 2013; ISBN: 9786155373022) — National bestseller in Hungary, shortlisted for the Libri Golden Book Awards.
Publications
Éva Magazin (2014–2020), HVG Psychology (2019), Glamour (2019), Forbes Hungary (2017), Marie Claire Hungary (2013), Elle Hungary (2013), Cosmopolitan Hungary (2013)
TV & Radio
Livia has appeared as a productivity and lifestyle expert on Hungarian national television, including recurring segments on RTL Klub’s morning programme and appearances on TV2 and Duna World. She has been interviewed on Kossuth Rádió (Hungarian public radio), Klubrádió, and Jazzy.
Talks & Appearances
Livia has spoken at universities including the University of Debrecen, ELTE, Corvinus University, and the Balassi Institute; at professional conferences including the Mfor Marketing Conference, Digital Divas Conference, and Evolution Social Media Conference; and at a Google Ground roundtable on women in business. Her 2013 book tour included venues across Hungary and a reader meetup in London.
Awards
- HVG GoldenBlog, Audience Award for urban:eve blog (2011, won)
- Cosmopolitan Digital Divas, “Best Blog Design” (2012, won)
- Glamour Women of The Year Hungary, “Blogger of the Year” (2014, nominated)
Latest from Livia
References
1↑ Volkow, N.D. et al. (2009). Evaluating dopamine reward pathway in ADHD: clinical implications. JAMA, 302(10), 1084–1091.
2↑ Volkow, N.D. et al. (2010). Motivation deficit in ADHD is associated with dysfunction of the dopamine reward pathway. Molecular Psychiatry, 16, 1147–1154.
3↑ Volkow, N.D. et al. (2012). Methylphenidate-elicited dopamine increases in ventral striatum are associated with long-term symptom improvement in adults with ADHD. The Journal of Neuroscience, 32, 841–849.
4↑ Kolk, S.M. & Rakić, P. (2021). Development of prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology, 47, 41–57.
5↑ Chini, M. & Hanganu-Opatz, I.L. (2020). Prefrontal cortex development in health and disease: lessons from rodents and humans. Trends in Neurosciences, 44, 227–240.
6↑ Crucitti, J. et al. (2022). A systematic review of frontal lobe volume in autism spectrum disorder revealing distinct trajectories. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, 21(2), 57.
7↑ Bedford, S.A. et al. (2024). Brain-charting autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder reveals distinct and overlapping neurobiology. Biological Psychiatry, 97, 517–530.
8↑ Berg, L. et al. (2023). The neuroanatomical substrates of autism and ADHD and their link to putative genomic underpinnings. Molecular Autism, 14.
9↑ Lukito, S. et al. (2020). Comparative meta-analyses of brain structural and functional abnormalities during cognitive control in ADHD and ASD. Psychological Medicine, 50, 894–919.
10↑ Shaw, P. et al. (2014). Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(3), 276–293.
11↑ Beheshti, A. et al. (2020). Emotion dysregulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 20.
12↑ Christiansen, H. et al. (2019). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and emotion regulation over the life span. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21, 1–11.
13↑ Soler-Gutiérrez, A. et al. (2023). Evidence of emotion dysregulation as a core symptom of adult ADHD: a systematic review. PLOS ONE, 18.
14↑ Liu, Q. et al. (2022). Emotion dysregulation in adults with ADHD: the role of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Journal of Affective Disorders.
15↑ Goodwill, A.M. et al. (2023). Meta-analytic connectivity modelling of fMRI studies in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 17, 257–269.
16↑ Gibbard, C.R. et al. (2017). Structural connectivity of the amygdala in young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Human Brain Mapping, 39, 1270–1282.
17↑ Langenbach, B.P. et al. (2024). Autistic and non-autistic individuals show the same amygdala activity during emotional face processing. Molecular Autism, 15.
18↑ Greenfield, M. et al. (2024). Emotional dysregulation and stimulant medication in adult ADHD. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 49, E242–E251.
19↑ Uzunova, G. et al. (2016). Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in autism spectrum disorders: implications for interventions and therapeutics. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 17, 174–186.
20↑ Harikumar, A. et al. (2021). A review of the default mode network in autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Brain Connectivity, 11, 253–263.
21↑ Norman, L. et al. (2025). Cross-sectional mega-analysis of resting-state alterations associated with autism and ADHD in children and adolescents. Nature Mental Health, 3, 709–723.
22↑ Washington, S.D. et al. (2014). Dysmaturation of the default mode network in autism. Human Brain Mapping, 35.
23↑ Yang, B. et al. (2022). Disrupted network integration and segregation involving the default mode network in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders.
24↑ Wang, T. et al. (2025). Developmental functional brain network abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. European Journal of Pediatrics, 184.
25↑ Kernbach, J.M. et al. (2018). Shared endo-phenotypes of default mode dysfunction in ADHD and ASD. Translational Psychiatry, 8.
26↑ Morandini, H.A.E. et al. (2024). Brain iron concentration in childhood ADHD: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 173, 200–209.
27↑ Cortese, S. et al. (2012). Iron and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: what is the empirical evidence so far? A systematic review of the literature. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 12, 1227–1240.
28↑ Wang, Y. et al. (2017). Iron status in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 12.
29↑ Thurnham, D.I. et al. (2010). Adjusting plasma ferritin concentrations to remove the effects of subclinical inflammation in the assessment of iron deficiency: a meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 92(3), 546–555.
30↑ Namaste, S.M.L. et al. (2017). Adjusting ferritin concentrations for inflammation: Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 106, 359S–371S.
31↑ Dignass, A. et al. (2018). Limitations of serum ferritin in diagnosing iron deficiency in inflammatory conditions. International Journal of Chronic Diseases, 2018.
32↑ Murray-Kolb, L.E. & Beard, J.L. (2007). Iron treatment normalizes cognitive functioning in young women. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(3), 778–787.
33↑ Dziembowska, I. et al. (2019). Mild iron deficiency may affect female endurance and behavior. Physiology & Behavior, 205, 44–50.
34↑ Xiao, G. et al. (2024). Association among attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, restless legs syndrome, and peripheral iron status: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15.
35↑ Migueis, D.P. et al. (2023). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and restless leg syndrome across the lifespan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 69, 101770.
36↑ Earley, C.J., Jones, B.C. & Ferré, S. (2022). Brain-iron deficiency models of restless legs syndrome. Experimental Neurology, 356, 114158.
37↑ Hunter, C. et al. (2025). A closer look at the role of nutrition in children and adults with ADHD and neurodivergence. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1586925.
38↑ Remón, S. et al. (2025). Food and nutrition in autistic adults: knowledge gaps and future perspectives. Nutrients, 17(9), 1456.
39↑ Wang, Z. et al. (2020). The association between vitamin D status and autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 13.
40↑ Shvarzman, R. et al. (2022). Reduced basal ganglia tissue-iron concentration in school-age children with ADHD is localized to limbic circuitry. Experimental Brain Research, 240, 3271–3288.
41↑ Effatpanah, M. et al. (2019). Magnesium status and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 274, 228–234.
42↑ Dorani, F. et al. (2020). Prevalence of hormone-related mood disorder symptoms in women with ADHD. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 133, 10–15.
43↑ Broughton, T. et al. (2025). Increased risk of provisional premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) among females with ADHD: cross-sectional survey study. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 226, 410–417.
44↑ Maclean, B. et al. (2025). Women with symptoms suggestive of ADHD are more likely to report symptoms of iron deficiency and heavy menstrual bleeding. Nutrients, 17.
45↑ Kooij, J.J.S. et al. (2025). Research advances and future directions in female ADHD: the lifelong interplay of hormonal fluctuations with mood, cognition, and disease. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 6.
46↑ Osianlis, E. et al. (2025). ADHD and sex hormones in females: a systematic review. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29, 706–723.
47↑ Findeis, H. & Strauß, M. (2025). The effects of psychostimulants in menstruating women with ADHD — a gender health gap in ADHD treatment? Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 137.
48↑ Fiorentino, M. et al. (2016). Blood–brain barrier and intestinal epithelial barrier alterations in autism spectrum disorders. Molecular Autism, 7.
49↑ Kealy, J. et al. (2020). Blood-brain barrier regulation in psychiatric disorders. Neuroscience Letters, 726.
50↑ Dalla, C. et al. (2022). Sex differences in blood–brain barrier transport of psychotropic drugs. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16.
51↑ Nasyrova, R.F. et al. (2023). Genetic predictors of antipsychotic efflux impairment via blood-brain barrier: role of transport proteins. Genes, 14.
62↑ Hwang, Y.K. & Oh, J.S. (2025). Interaction of the vagus nerve and serotonin in the gut-brain axis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(3), 1160.
63↑ Bonaz, B., Bazin, T. & Pellissier, S. (2018). The vagus nerve at the interface of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 49.
65↑ Holingue, C. et al. (2018). Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: a review of the literature on ascertainment and prevalence. Autism Research, 11, 24–36.
67↑ Breit, S. et al. (2018). Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain-gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 44.
68↑ Yap, J.Y.Y. et al. (2024). Critical review of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation: challenges for translation to clinical practice. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14.
69↑ Gerritsen, R.J.S. & Band, G.P.H. (2018). Breath of life: the respiratory vagal stimulation model of contemplative activity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12.
70↑ Mäkinen, T.M. et al. (2008). Autonomic nervous function during whole-body cold exposure before and after cold acclimation. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 79, 875–882.
71↑ Oberman, L.M. & Bhatt, P.P. (2023). Atypical cortical plasticity as a biomarker and core pathophysiological mechanism in ASD. Autism Research, 17, 222–237.
73↑ Erickson, K.I. et al. (2011). Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(7), 3017–3022.
74↑ Szuhany, K.L. et al. (2015). A meta-analytic review of the effects of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 60, 56–64.
75↑ Kempermann, G. et al. (2010). Why and how physical activity promotes experience-induced brain plasticity. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 4, 189.
76↑ Diekelmann, S. & Born, J. (2010). The memory function of sleep. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11, 114–126.
77↑ Xie, L. et al. (2013). Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. Science, 342(6156), 373–377.
78↑ Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9, 568–578.
