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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