In this episode of The Billy D’s Podcast, Billy speaks with Wendy B. Correa — a former radio DJ, author, and survivor who has turned her life experiences into a mission for healing and awareness. Her book, My Pretty Baby: Seeking Truth and Finding Healing, explores her journey through childhood trauma, addiction, and recovery.
Wendy and Billy discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how unresolved trauma can shape mental health, addiction, and behavior later in life. Wendy shares her goal of destigmatizing conversations around trauma and emphasizes that understanding how it rewires the brain and body can lead to compassion and collective healing. Together, they talk about how societal stigma still prevents many from seeking help and how awareness can drive better public health decisions and stronger communities.
The conversation also delves into Wendy’s personal path — from growing up in Illinois and finding solace in music to her encounters with artists like Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr, and Hunter S. Thompson. Each connection, she explains, helped restore her sense of self-worth and belonging.
Wendy recounts her battle with addiction, her eventual recovery through AA and spiritual practice, and her embrace of Buddhist and Native American traditions to stay grounded and sober. She stresses the importance of community, self-love, and mindfulness as lifelong tools for healing.
The episode closes with a discussion of her audiobook and her hope that My Pretty Baby will serve as a guidebook for others to face trauma without shame and to find truth, connection, and peace.
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