Let's Plant Houses

08/12/2025

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04/12/2025

What do you wish family, friends, and the community understood about truly supporting families living with autism?

Michael Pereira shares his thoughts in this clip from Let’s Plant Houses.

For the full episode, please see the comments.

02/12/2025

What happens when one family’s autism journey becomes a lifeline for thousands of others?

In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, you meet Michael Pereira, a husband, father, and advocate who helps families with autism and parenting support. Michael shares how his family first noticed signs with his son Christian and gives parents real hope so they feel less alone in their own autism journey.

Michael talks about the early days when home life changed fast, from skipping restaurants to unplugging blenders, and how friends and family had to learn and grow with them. He also explains why he created The Autism Voyage, a helpful platform built to give parents clear and trustworthy information. Today it includes more than 90 practical blog posts, a national directory of services, and a newsletter that reaches over 2,000 families.

The Autism Voyage blends education, guidance, and real stories that help parents feel supported and understood. If you want honesty, hope, and simple tools that make this journey easier, this is the episode to press play on.

LPH: https://www.letsplanthouses.com/

26/11/2025

18/11/2025

What moment in your life changed everything in an instant?

In this week’s episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Sarah Boes, a nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, author, and “heart mom,” shares the appointment that shifted her entire world. Late in pregnancy, a routine scan revealed that her unborn daughter had multiple complex heart defects. Suddenly, Sarah and her husband were swept into a world of specialists, emergency plans, and love stretched to its very edges.

As Sarah tells her story, you will hear how she and her husband learned to navigate surgeries, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of becoming parents inside a medical crisis. She speaks with honesty about grief, grit, and the unexpected ways community rises around you when life falls apart. This conversation holds moments that will make you hold your breath and others that will lift your spirit. It is a story about the heart in every sense of the word.

LPH: https://www.letsplanthouses.com/

07/11/2025

I did the thing!

I gave my first talk about my lived experience and Let’s Plant Houses. It focused on:

- Why lived experiences matter, including stories from my own family and the families featured on Let’s Plant Houses

- How nonprofits can discover and tell the stories within their own communities to help others understand the families they serve

- Ways to share those stories widely and meaningfully to support goals in advocacy, fundraising, and awareness

I dare say…it was fun! And I’d love to do more of this. If you’re looking for a speaker, please reach out.

05/11/2025

What happens when the services your child needs don’t exist yet?

Judi Uttal faced that challenge when her son Josh was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at age four. She reflects on the early challenges, including the lack of autism awareness and resources in the 1990s, and how her early advocacy, community support—including a pilot program in Irvine and the Orange County Asperger Support Group—and determination helped Josh thrive in film production.

Judi now runs the Orange County Asperger Support Group, helping teens and adults with level one autism improve their quality of life. She also founded the Autism in Entertainment (AIE) Workgroup, a California-based initiative that increases employment opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum in animation, film, and gaming. Through conferences, creator community meetings, and career resources, AIE connects autistic individuals with opportunities in the entertainment industry.

Listen to her fascinating story!

27/10/2025

I’m excited to share that I’ll be presenting at the Incompass Michigan re:con conference in two weeks, where I’ll be talking about the Let's Plant Houses podcast and the power of storytelling to build understanding and connection.

It’s amazing to think it’s already been TWO YEARS years since I began this journey and have had the privilege of sharing 45 family stories. It’s such an honor to talk about that experience and what I’ve learned along the way.

22/10/2025

What’s it really like raising two kids on totally different parts of the autism spectrum, especially when you’re on the spectrum yourself?

In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, Wendy Ernzen chats with Eileen Lamb, a mom, author, photographer, and all-around autism advocate who knows the ups and downs firsthand. Eileen shares stories about her oldest, Charlie, who has profound autism, and her younger son Jude, who has level 1 autism. From the early diagnosis days to battling for the right school and figuring out what actually works, she’s got plenty of honest, real talk about what parenting looks like in her world.

Eileen is the founder of The Autism Cafe blog, author of All Across The Spectrum and Be The One, and the Senior Director of Social Media and Marketing at Autism Speaks. She’s also a podcast host and photographer based in Austin, Texas, where she juggles life with children. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just curious, this episode is packed with practical insights and relatable moments.

LPH: https://www.letsplanthouses.com/

09/10/2025

What would you do if the medicine that saved your child’s life was still considered illegal by the federal government?

In this episode of Let’s Plant Houses, I talk with Michelle Wright, a mother and advocate whose adult son Ian is profoundly autistic. Michelle shares how medical cannabis changed everything for her family, easing Ian’s symptoms and improving his quality of life after decades of struggle.

But while some states allow its use, federal law still stands in the way of research, access, and Ian’s ability to live more independently. Michelle shares why she’s speaking out and how she’s working to legalize medical cannabis for everyone who needs it.

LPH: https://www.letsplanthouses.com/

30/09/2025

How do you know when to trust your gut over everyone else's advice about your special needs child?

On this episode of Let's Plant Houses, Angela O'Brien's story will resonate with every special needs parent who's ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or told their child "doesn't belong." When Casey was born with Down syndrome 21 years ago, Angela had no roadmap and no community. But through connecting with other families and trusting her instincts, she became a trailblazer who literally changed her school district's policies. Angela fought to get Casey into their neighborhood school when administrators said it was impossible - and won. But her story doesn't end there.

Years later, Angela made one of the hardest decisions a parent can make: admitting that what she fought so hard for wasn't working anymore. When Casey developed anxiety in fifth grade, Angela had to set aside her pride and find a different path. Now, with Casey thriving at 21, Angela channels her experiences into helping other families through her organizing business "Your Space Reclaimed" and her podcast "Especially Organized," both designed specifically for special needs families. This episode is packed with practical advice about advocacy, building community, and knowing when to change course - even when it goes against everything you thought you believed.

LPH: https://www.letsplanthouses.com/

16/09/2025

How do you co-parent your special needs child after divorce?

John Goralski's son Jack was diagnosed with autism, it didn't just change their understanding of Jack—it changed everything. The stress of navigating specialists, therapies, and an uncertain future contributed to John and Jack's mom divorcing when Jack was young. But instead of letting that fracture destroy their family, John discovered something powerful: the difference between calling someone "my ex" and calling them "Jack's mom." This simple shift in perspective became the foundation for one of the most beautiful co-parenting stories you'll ever hear.

In this episode, John shares how he learned to help his nonverbal son process complex emotions, the moment he realized his child was trying to protect his sick mother, and how they became true partners in navigating life together. Now, with Jack at 22 and transitioning out of school, John has written "Parenting in Crisis: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Special Needs Home" to help other families find their way through the darkness. This conversation will give you hope, practical strategies, and remind you that sometimes our biggest challenges become our greatest growth opportunities.

LPH: https://www.letsplanthouses.com/2025/09/16/lphs03e07-finding-peace-after-the-storm-john-goralski-on-co-parenting-his-autistic-son-after-divorce/