Rashidah sits down with Wendy Ernzen — mom, podcaster, and fierce advocate for families raising loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wendy's daughter Nicola (Nic), 23, has profound autism and bipolar disorder. Wendy shares her decades-long journey through early diagnosis confusion, relentless school battles, a family crisis that spilled into the community, and ultimately finding Nic a safe, supported, and joyful home. This episode is raw, honest, and deeply moving — a must-listen for any parent in the thick of it.
In this episode, we discuss:
0:00 — Intro & Welcome
3:34 — Wendy Joins the Conversation
7:06 — Early Signs & The Road to Diagnosis
11:50 — School Battles & IEPs
15:48 — Watching Peers Move On
19:50 — Bipolar Disorder Enters the Picture
21:58 — First Crisis at 12: Psychiatric Units
26:40 — Planning for the Future
31:16 — Crisis Before Graduation
34:30 — Behaviors Spill into the Community
37:00 — Crisis-Trained Officers
39:54 — Securing Housing: A Two-Month Fight
42:19 — Finding Strength
44:59 — PTSD & Therapy
47:22 — The Birth of Let's Plant Houses Podcast
50:36 — Advice for the Mom Who Feels Completely Alone
55:46 — What Makes Wendy Badass?
58:11 — How to Connect with Wendy
Connect with Wendy:
Let's Plant Houses Podcast —
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-plant-houses/id1724641933
https://open.spotify.com/show/2J8JhQUrkKrXaYxs8JF4Zh?si=0dac5a63b4174d46
Website: www.letsplanthouses.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/letsplanthouses
LinkedIn: Wendy Ernzen
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