Interoception and ARFID, let's understand it better with Kelly Mahler

What if our bodies are sending messages we were never taught to understand?

In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Kelly Mahler, occupational therapist, interoception groupie, and author of The Interoception Curriculum.

Together, they explore the power of interoception, our ability to sense internal signals like hunger, thirst, pain, and emotion, and how this sense is vital for understanding ourselves and supporting neurodivergent children.

You’ll learn why many neurodivergent people have “muted” or “intense” interoceptive experiences, how these impact behaviours (like meltdowns or feeding challenges), and what it means to shift from a behaviour lens to a curiosity lens.

With deep empathy and clarity, Kelly gives parents, teachers and therapists a new way to tune into what’s happening beneath the surface, and why believing the body always matters.

✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days - the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇

🧠 What interoception is, and how it impacts emotion, regulation and daily life.

🧠 The link between interoception and feeding struggles.

🧠 Why some people only recognise hunger, pain or overwhelm at the last minute.

🧠 The difference between muted and intense interoceptive experiences.

🧠 Why “picky eating” is a surface label, and what to get curious about instead.

🧠 How to start modelling and asking curiosity questions like “What is your body telling you?”

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ABOUT THE GUEST 👇

Kelly Mahler is an award-winning occupational therapist, author, and self-described interoception groupie known for her boundless curiosity and empathetic approach. Holding a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, she has served school-aged children and adults for over 22 years.

Kelly is the author of 12 resources, including The Interoception Curriculum, now used in over 30 countries worldwide. She speaks internationally on interoception, neuroaffirming practices, and playful strategies for inner exploration using a lens of curiosity, validation and empathy.

💻 Website: www.kelly-mahler.com
📸 Instagram: @kelly_mahler

ABOUT THE HOST 👇

Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.

She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.

Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.

Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive, whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.