Bonus Babies
The Anthem Awards-winning BONUS BABIES podcast explores the foster care system through the perspective of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. Hosted by Jayne Amelia Larson, a CASA volunteer herself, the series features firsthand accounts from foster youth, former foster children, caregivers, attorneys, social workers, therapists, adoptees, foster and adoptive parents, and community advocates. It examines the foster care maze by listening to every voice and seeking out every perspective, documenting both heartbreaking failures and inspiring successes. The podcast blends investigative curiosity with compassionate storytelling to educate audiences and amplify the experiences of vulnerable children.
Episodes
Stacy Grenier: Every Security Blanket That I Had Was Gone
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth, adoptive mom, and equine therapist Stacy Grenier. Stacy Grenier is a widow, mother of three, and proud grandmother of three whose life has given her a rare perspective on the child welfare system. She has experienced it a a foster and juvenile child, as an at-risk foster parent, and as the parent of a child who later entered residential
Michael Custos: Just Trying To Make The Best Of It
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with former foster youth, Michael Custos. Michael Custos is a writer and father who grew up in group homes throughout Southern California. His life changed when Kelly, a Court Appointed Special Advocate, entered his case and remained long after her temporary assignment ended. So he wrote a book about her.Michael went on to spend more than a decade in sales while
Traci Gurley-Tomashosky: You Just Have To Be Consistent
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with child advocate and executive director of CASA of the Ninth in Colorado, Traci Gurley-Tomashosky. Traci is a distinguished educational leader and advocate with over 22 years of experience dedicated to the development and success of children and youth. Currently serving as the Executive Director for CASA of the Ninth, Traci combines a deep clinical background
Dana Hargus: And Nobody Is Bothered By This But Me?
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with therapist and founder of Restore Of Ada, Dana Hargus, M.Ed., LPC. Dana is a foster mom and adoptive mom, and now a grandmother of many children. Dana was raised in the Ada area and has a bachelor's in education and special education and a master's degree in school counseling. After successfully working with students with behavioral and development
Jenny Serrano - My Family Needed Intervention
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Jenny Serrano, a former foster youth and now administrator at DCFS. Exiting foster care in the 1990s after spending six years in the child welfare system left an indelible mark on Jenny Serrano. Ill-prepared for the responsibilities that came with living on her own, she struggled.“After I left care, I was homeless, lived in a shelter and remained precariou
Lucretia Taylor: You Don't Have To Change The World In One Day
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Dr. Lucretia “Cre” Taylor, a seasoned strategist and consultant with over two decades of experience leading and supporting organizations across the nonprofit and public sectors. Her expertise spans strategic planning, program design, evaluation, organizational development, and capacity building—particularly for organizations advancing equity, healing, and
Renee Santos : I Never Unpacked My Bag
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia Larson talks with performer and former foster youth, Renée Santos. Renée is a fierce multi-hyphenate performer — actor, writer, comedian — whose work lives at the intersection of raw truth and bold humor. In 2025, she’s been touring nationally with her critically-acclaimed one-woman dramatic solo show, CROSSROADS — a gripping, emotionally honest theatrical journey abo
Mark Daley: How Do We Address The Smoke Rising From Families
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with social activist, entrepreneur, and foster turned adoptive father, Mark Daley. Mark has over two decades of experience in message development, communication strategy, and public policy, including as a communications director and spokesperson for then-Senator Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. He has worked with more than thirty members of Congress
Greg Brake: Foster Warriors 24-Hour Challenge
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Greg Brake, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Foster Warriors. Greg has built companies including a 200+ person legal & technology team that have handled some of the nation's most critical matters such as the World Trade Center disaster. He created the initial model to determine the value of a life lost in 9/11 and handled numerous regulator
Andrew Bridge: Tear It Down
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with attorney, child advocate, and bestselling author Andrew Bridge. Andrew spent 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care, before earning a scholarship to Wesleyan University and graduating from Harvard Law School. He is a Fulbright Fellow and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Writing Resident.His work has garnered coverage in The New York Times, Washington P
Alexis Longmire: I Made Me, Who I Am Today, I Did This
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth Alexis Longmire who is an entrepreneur and fashionista. Lex is a fashion journalist, stylist, traveling wardrobe consultant and a proud Los Angeles native. When she was 10, she discovered her passion for styling and has never looked back! As she gained experience, Lex immersed herself in runway fashion, fashion magazines, cutting edge de
Shimeka Lott: The People Coming In For The Rescue Don't Need to Be Perfect But Need To Operate With A Perfect Heart
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster mom, Shimeka D. Lott. Shimeka is the visionary Founder and CEO of the Ashlynn B. Jackson Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the lives of young people and underserved communities. With over 25 years of experience volunteering and leading community-driven initiatives, Shimeka’s passion for service runs deep. Whether it’s
Greg Rosenmerkel: I Am Glad That I Can Try To Help A Little Bit
Send us Fan MailPart II - Jayne Amelia talks with Colonel (Retired) Gregory J. Rosenmerkel who is a CASA in Colorado and was recently assigned a sibling set of three boys. Rosie grew up in Waukesha, WI and earned his commission and degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988. He spent over 25 years as an Air Force officer/engineer with assignments to 11 different
Nicole Goswami : Your Daughter Will Always Know You
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with foster mom, Nicole Goswami, hoping to adopt a baby who she has raised since weeks old. Nicole does many things but most importantly a foster mom. This is her first time fostering and Jasmyn has filled her heart with so much love and joy. Nicole works in many different fields including marketing and advertising and provides executive support as well. Nicole
Greg Rosenmerkel: Based On Our Life Experience We Tend To Think What The Necessary Elements Are For A Child's Physical and Emotional Safety, And They're Not The Same
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Colonel (Retired) Gregory J. Rosenmerkel who is a new CASA in Colorado and about to start his CASA training. Rosie grew up in Waukesha, WI and earned his commission and degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988. He spent over 25 years as an Air Force officer/engineer with assignments to 11 different locations in the US an
Christine Goddard: I Now Realize Why You Were There Always In My Life
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with CASA Christine Goddard shortly after the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles took the foster home of her CASA kiddo as well as her bio family's home.Christine Goddard, has been a Court Appointment Special Advocate (CASA) for ten years, working on vital tasks like appropriate placements, health care and educational rights for foster youth. While advocating on beh
Danisha Keating: What Purpose Do You Have, What Passions Do You Have That We Can Encourage
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth and now child advocate Dr. Danisha Keating. In this conversation, Danisha shares her challenging journey from being a child in the foster care system to earning her PhD. She discusses the significant obstacles she faced, including experiencing homelessness from ages 18 to 24, moving frequently, and dealing with an unsupportive family. Da
Jeanette Yoffe: You Need To Go Into The Grief, Into The Loss, Into The Trauma To Heal
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Jeanette Yoffe, M.A., M.F.T., who is a therapist specializing in adoption and foster care and the Director and Founder of Celia Center, the non-profit she named after her first mother, Celia. *In this episode we talk about:Treating the Whole Family- Emphasis on the importance of treating the entire family unit, not just the child.- Benefits of a holistic a
Glenda Wright: I Don't Match A Stereotype
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth, advocate and attorney Glenda Wright. Glenda recently graduated from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate in May 2022. Glenda has also earned her Bachelor of Science in Business with a minor in legal studies from Murray State University. While attending law school, Glenda participated in several extr
Dr. Bruce Sogolow: Children Do Everything They Do To Try To Meet A Need
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with therapist Dr. Bruce Sogolow. Dr. Bruce has been a psychotherapist for nearly 40 years. He relates that “There was a kind of inevitability that led to my practice of specializing in ‘walking along side’ of families with children who suffered from attachment challenges.” His most valuable teachers along the way were children and parents whose trust in others
Warren Press: Elizabeth And I Are The Ones Who Are Unbelievably Lucky To Get To Be Their Parents
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with her friend and (very loving and proud) adoptive parent, Warren Press. Warren lives in Los Angeles with his wife Elizabeth Mestnik and their 14-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter. Their journey to parenthood was a tad unconventional and each child took longer to reach their home than the typical gestation period. Warren and Elizabeth traveled to China to
Rachel Elovitz: I Am Going To Do A Damn Good Job Because I Genuinely Care
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with guardian ad litem and child advocate/attorney, Rachel Aliza Elovitz. Rachel has worked as a family law attorney for more than 27 years. In that capacity, she has represented fathers seeking to legitimate children (who were born out of wedlock), grandparents seeking visitation rights with grandchildren, third party relatives seeking custody of children who
Tige Charity: There's No Greater Agony Than Bearing An Untold Story Inside You
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with the powerhouse founder of Kids in The Spotlight, Tige Charity. In Tige's words: As a visionary with a strong faith & a passion for serving others, I have devoted my career to empowering young people in foster care to address and overcome trauma through the power of storytelling. In 2009, I founded Kids in the Spotlight, Inc. (KITS), a 501(c)(3) n
Romi Lassaly and Pat McCabe : One Caring Person Can Make All The Difference
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Romi Lassally and Patrick McCabe, co-founders of Ready To Succeed which has supported college bound students impacted by foster care or “scholars” (as they call them which is fantastic!) by helping them get into school, stay in school, and flourish after school with resources, relationships with passionate professionals, career coaching, and more.From the
Chrisie Morris: I Will Not Let The Darkness Change My Heart
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with artist and animator, and former foster youth Chrisie Morris. Chrisie is a junior at Cal State University Long Beach pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration for Pre-Production. She’s currently working as a Visual Development Artist at Mr. Clown’s Productions through the prestigious Television Academy Foundation Fall 2023 Internship Program. Additio
Gavin Glynn: You Have Get Them To Trust
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with single foster dad and entertainment producer Gavin Glynn. Gavin and his then partner fostered to adopt a young boy, then Gavin went on to foster a foursome sibling set when he was a single dad. In order to keep all the kids in the house, Gavin gave up his lucrative but very demanding career as a producer in the entertainment business and became an educato
Elizabeth Garcia Herrera: I've Got To Do My Part Of Not Repeating The Same Mistakes As My Family
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster alum Elizabeth Garcia Herrera. Liz and her sisters (America's story is Episode 16 of Season 3) were placed in foster care when their mother could no longer look after them. Liz was 17 and spent several confusing years struggling to get on her feet but she put herself through college and now works as a supervisor in child welfare. She's ma
America Gutierrez: I Am Not Going To Be Silenced Anymore
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster care alum America Gutierrez. America is a passionate advocate for mental health, firmly guided by the belief that our voices are our most potent tools. With unwavering determination, she fearlessly shares her personal journey, notably her harrowing experiences within the foster care system. Through her advocacy efforts, she aims to illuminate criti
Georgette Todd: That's When Everything Changed
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth and now child advocate Georgette Todd. Georgette is a speaker, author, and a foster care and child abuse prevention advocate. Georgette spent her teenage years bouncing around from home to home in the broken foster care system before she emancipated at age 18, with no safety net or anyone to depend on. Through sheer determination, Georg
Ron Jenkins: One Of The Reason Kids Don't Get Help Is Because They Don't Learn How To Trust Again
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with child advocate and mentor Ron Jenkins. Ron is a former foster youth who along with his siblings was placed in foster care after his mother died of cancer when he was two years old. He bounced around in foster care for several years until he was adopted by a friend of his mom, but that didn't turn out well for any of the kids in that home. His foster m
Lorry Leigh Belhumeur: What's Happened To You, How Can I Help?
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Dr. Lorry Leigh Belhumeur, a renowned leader in the field of mental health and wellness, with over 30 years of experience serving children and their families. Dr. Lorry’s unwavering commitment to empowering young individuals and the adults who care for them, along with her exceptional leadership skills, has positioned her as a highly respected figure in th
Paul Freese: Who Are You, Why Are You Here, What Will Become Of You, What Impact Will You Have?
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with advocate Paul L. Freese, Jr. Paul has worked as a public interest attorney for more than 25 years and provides consulting on holistic innovations and solutions to poverty, with special focus upon traumatized populations. He specializes in strategic project development to achieve upstream early intervention impact. He has devoted his career to humanizing
Jeremy Buchanan: I Was Thirsty. I Think Anybody Who Wants To Make It... Be Thirsty.
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with creative and foster care alumni Jeremy Buchanan. Jeremy was raised in Illinois, Georgia, and California. He moved around a lot as a kid and attended more elementary schools than he can even count. He was first placed in foster care as a young boy and then again as a teenager when he became a "runner" as he says. Not one of his many foster homes w
Barbara Lane: They Did Everything They Could To Break My Bonds To My Sisters But It Didn't Work
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Reverand Barbara Lane. Rev. Lane is the author of "Broken Water: An Extraordinary True Story." Barbara is the ninth of eleven sisters, abandoned by their birth parents, who were all placed in St. Dominic’s Orphanage in St. Louis, then eventually separated into different homes and finally reunited 43 years later. Her book tells the powerful true
Charity Chandler-Cole: I Am Capable Of Achieving Whatever I Want To Achieve
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Charity Chandler-Cole. Charity is an author, scholar and activist and "... the CEO of CASA of Los Angeles, Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth impacted by the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems. Born and raised in Los Angeles and having harshly endured its child welfare and juvenile justice systems, she has spent over a decade helping to
Mike Wiskar: Music Saved My Life As A Kid, Teenager, Adult...Totally
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with award-winning musician and adoptee Mike Wiskar. Mike is a Leo-nominated composer, songwriter, independent music producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. He was also adopted as a baby and raised in a caring home by a family who loved him very much. Even so, he longed to know his birth family and finally met his bio mom and his extended family only rece
Peter Mutabazi: My Role As A Dad...I Can Do As Much As Momma Can Do
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with adoptive dad to one and foster dad to many Peter Mutabazi. "As a child I ran away from an abusive home and was helped by the kindness of strangers. As an adult I found myself in a position of being able to help foster children, so I began taking children into my home years ago to give back what was so freely given to me. It's my mission to give ba
Steve Pemberton: You Need To Speak To Them In The Language Of Their Dreams
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster care alumnus Steve Pemberton. Steve is a best selling author, philanthropist, businessman and acclaimed speaker. Steve's "story is about defying seemingly insurmountable odds to become a trail-blazing corporate executive, enlightened diversity leader, visionary youth advocate, and acclaimed speaker. His best-selling memoir, A Chance in the
Noah Nash: We All Are Special In Our Own Ways
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Dr. Noah Nash. Noah is a foster care alumnus from very early childhood, as well as an educator and creative web designer-developer who is amplifying stories, products and projects with people, for people — as he says. His portfolio includes work in international children's rights, emerging technologies, social impact and philanthropy. Noah's ethos
Jacqueline Robles: I Saw People Die, I Saw People Get Addicted To Drugs And Fall Victim To The Streets
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Jacqueline Robles, a former foster youth, and a relentless determined powerhouse of a young woman who aged out of the system and made her own way... jumping through hoop after hoop with the hoops always changing and ever higher.Identifying as both Indigenous and Latina, Jacqueline is set on a career to “level the playing field” for communities of color. Jac
Regina Louise: I'm Done With That Carrot-ing Love
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster care alumnus and abolitionist, Regina Louise. Regina is a sought-after speaker, teacher, coach, and author. Recently she was the recipient of the prestigious Christopher Award, given to producers for stories that “affirm the human spirit.” In 2019 she received the Jordan Award for service in transforming foster care through advocacy and the arts; the
Elle Fox: It's So Worth It Even With The Pain That You Feel At The End
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with artist and foster sibling, Elle Fox. Elle, a high school student, has been sketching for as long as she can remember. Growing up in a family that fostered children, Elle draws on her experience of life, love, and loss while sharing her heart and home for a period of time with numerous babies and children. As an author, illustrator, and entrepreneur, Elle la
Adisa: The Tenacity To Live Is Greater Than The Scars From The Struggle To Live
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth, Adisa. Adisa compares himself to a lion cub who had to fight for survival all his young life against the bigger badder lions all so hungry and looking to feed. Born in Long Beach to a single mom who was declared unfit to raise her children, he grew up on the streets of Los Angeles. Adisa and his siblings were removed from her and place
Mimi Savage: Be Of Service...Share...Give
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with therapist Dr. Mimi Savage. In this episode Mimi describes her upbringing: "My parents are not who I am. My mother's a white woman, my father's a black man. I am born of the two of them, a melange, a mixture. But I had to find my way. And it's not just about race. As I say this to your listeners, everyone needs to find their way. And it&ap
Jennifer Stern: I Can't Imagine Anything Worse Than Losing Your Child
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster and adoptive mom, Jennifer Stern. Jennifer and her husband decided to become a foster family after realizing their dinner table was too quiet and knowing they had space in their home and hearts to welcome more children. They wanted to foster after learning how great the need is for foster families who can provide a safe and loving home for children i
Kendra Lukens : I Feel Like I Never Really Had A Childhood
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Kendra Lukens. In her words: “My name is Kendra, I spent my entire life going in and out of the foster system after the death of my father in 2012. This started a spiral of abusive homes, and losing hope in a lot of people. After recently aging out at 18, I started a podcast of my own, HEAR US YELL, where I’m able to bring more people together through a co
Emi Niefeld: So Many Things I Could Not Have Known
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Emi Nietfeld. Emi is the author of the memoir Acceptance, published by Penguin Press. A former foster youth, she graduated from Harvard in 2015 and worked as a software engineer at Google and Facebook. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vice, and Slate, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and noted in The Best American Essays. She lives in New
Breyon Johnson: If I Just Give Up Now Then I'm Letting Them Win
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Breyon Johnson. Breyon is a former foster youth and now a student at Santa Monica college studying to be a storyboard artist and writer. She’s currently working as an intern at Better Youth, a nonprofit that helps youth who face adversity get their foot in the door in entertainment to work in film, video games and animation; and she's also working at
David Ambroz: And Yet Here I Am And I Remain Optimistic
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with activist David Ambroz. David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate, and author of a new memoir “A Place Called Home.” He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Currently serving as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, Ambroz previously led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Tele
Syd Stewart: I Deserve Grace Just Like I Extend Grace
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Syd Stewart. Syd is a poet, actor and filmmaker, and the author of two books of poetry, A Rock and A Hard Place (iUniverse, 2010) and Babylon Graffiti (Zeitgeist Press, 2019). Syd was featured in films Hughes’ Dream Harlem and Everyday People, and has appeared in The New York Times, Variety, and People Magazine. Most recently, Stewart’s work was selected by
Ångela Quijada Banks: I Learned To Really Operate On Reciprocity of Relationships
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Ångela Quijada Banks. Ångela is a former foster youth and an NAACP Image Awards Nominee and American Award-winning author of the Black Foster Youth Handbook. As a certified holistic health coach she supports women impact leaders to get re-energized for life and reconnected to their purpose, passions and personal relationships. She is the founder of Soulfu
Akhim Dev: Hear Me As Loud As I Can Say It
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with filmmaker Akhim Dev. Dev has over 20 years of experience in broadcast television and digital content. His credits include writing and directing on "The 3G of US" for SBS, "Storm Surfers" for Firelight Productions, and "The Final Sacrifice" for Discovery and National Geographic. His new film "The Children In The Pictures&qu
Kimberly Bell: You Took The Time To Invest In Yourself, You Took The Time To Love Yourself
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia Larson speaks with adoptee and survivor Kimberly Bell. Kimberly is an inspirational speaker, minister, mentor, and the author of "The Epitome of Kimmy: Accept & Embrace It All” an eye-opening memoir depicting her true story of a life of abandonment, sexual and physical abuse from a very young age, and her healing journey that followed. She’s originally from S
Jeffrey Jamerson: The Most Powerful In The World Is The Storyteller
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Jeffrey Jamerson. Jeffrey has over 25 years of experience in the public sector serving at-risk youth and families in various capacities, most recently as the Vice President of Programs and Services at Aviva Family & Children’s Services in Los Angeles, CA. Over the past few years Jeff has created a shift in how therapy is conducted with foster children, h
Sana Latrease Cotten: I Learned That She Too Was Trafficked By Her Mom So It Was A Generational Thing
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Sana Latrease Cotten, who was trafficked by her mother and grandmother as a young child, put in foster care and was then adopted but even so never really felt she belonged with her new family. Later, when she learned of her own mother's traumatic past, Sana learned how to forgive her and also to advocate for others in need. "Sana is the Founder of
Jordan Bartlett: Business As A Force For Creating This Community Of People That Can Do Good
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Jordan Bartlett who was adopted at birth by a loving family. As a young college student, Jordan met his biological sister (for the very first time) who'd been placed in foster care, bounced from home to home, and had a very rough time. As a young businessman, he committed myself to helping kids in care as they age out, and he's a CASA too! Jordan
Mary Rathbone: I Will Look Back On It And Say It Was One Of The Greatest Achievements Of My Life
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster parent, Mary Rathbone. Mary, her husband Alan and their daughter Chloe started their foster care journey in 2017. Their very first placement was a sibling group of four, aged 6, 4, 3 and 1. Mary admits that after a month she nearly had a nervous breakdown with the adjustments in lifestyle and mindset fostering requires. Having worked at top hotels i
Lisa Marie Arnett: I Still Hold People 100% Accountable
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia Larson speaks with former foster youth and survivor, Lisa Marie Arnett. Lisa Marie endured 36 placements and horrific abuse from the age of 2 on until she aged out of foster care at 18. She was then homeless for 3 years but even so, she managed to put herself through college and then joined the Army. She's now a helicopter mechanic, and raising a beautiful young d
Raquel Wilson: School Was Literally The Only Thing They Couldn't Take Away From Me
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Raquel Wilson, a former foster youth and now advocate from Compton. Raquel is the the program manager for the Fostering Media Connections Youth Voice program, and has been an advocate for youth affected by the foster care system, juvenile justice system, homelessness, or coined “at-risk” and has dedicated over 10 years to empowering youth and helping them d
Cathy Horan Walker: Just Pay It Forward
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with CASA Cathy Horan Walker. CASA Cathy Horan Walker is from Monterey, California. She promised herself she would become a CASA after her two sons graduated highschool and that’s what she did. Cathy believes it was her calling to become a CASA and her CASA kiddo Ryan Moses says she saved his life many times over. “I was a middle school math teacher for 26 years
Ryan Moses: You're The Only Person Who's Going To Be Able To Turn This Around
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth Ryan Moses. Ryan went into foster care when he was a small child and had 12 placements in 8 different school districts. At 10 he advocated for himself, called the Monterey CASA office and got himself a CASA who changed his life. But he still had to overcome massive challenges including substance abuse that almost took his life; he contin
Allison Lieberman: These Children Become Sexually Exploited Children By Being Sold To Other People
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Allison Lieberman. Allison is a licensed marriage and family therapist, postpartum anxiety expert, mom of 2, and 2x postpartum anxiety survivor. Part of Allison's early training including treating foster kids at emergency shelters and crisis centers where many of the young women and men are very vulnerable to being sex trafficked, and she describes how
Rachel Malley: I Love That I Get To Have Such A Direct Impact
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with CASA volunteer and book publisher, Rachel Malley. Rachel started volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in 2019 when she learned about the power of best-interest advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. During that time she has worked with three wonderful children, and witnessed the ups and downs of Care and Protection cases
Maria Harding: They Picked Up A Kid And Turned Her Into A Functional Adult
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with adoptee Maria Harding. Maria was adopted at birth but always considered a problem child by her mother. Her parents split when she was little and when her mother remarried, she was adopted by her mom's new husband but things only got worse for Maria with her adoptive mother. Her mother put her in foster care when she was 11 , and she was in and out of
Hank Fortener: At The Root Of All Our Societal Causes Is Going To Be An Instability For Our Kids
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Hank Fortener, the founder of AdoptTogether, "who understands the burdensome blessing that is the adoption process". His family fostered 36 children and adopted 6 from 5 different countries while he was growing up. He knows firsthand how painful & euphoric adopting a child can be, and it is this experienced heart for adoption that drives Adopt
Megan Elizabeth Ward: Reunification Is The Priority, However There Comes A Time When Permanency Needs To Outweigh Reunification
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Megan Elizabeth Ward. Megan and her wife, Amanda McMillan, started fostering in the Fall of 2017 as a kinship family via ICPC. Following a successful reunification, Amanda and Megan transitioned to a DFCS partnership home and haven’t looked back since. Fast forward almost 5 years and 40+ placements, Amanda and Megan have provided a loving home to kiddos of
Zaid Gayle: They Treat Us Like We're Broken
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Peace4kids.org Co-Founder and Executive Director Zaid Gayle.During his tenure at Peace4Kids, Zaid has had the opportunity to blend his experience in the film industry as a Coordinator and Assistant Director to ensure that media is an integral part of improving the lives of foster youth. Most specifically, Zaid was the lead in designing and launching the Peap
David Hudson: She Says Keep Driving If You Want To Meet Your Father
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia Larson talks with Dave Hudson who was born in Watts and adopted at birth. Later as an adult, with the help pf Pam Slaton, he met his biological father and siblings but unfortunately his mother had passed before he could find her.David is an Emmy® Award-winning creative executive with more than two decades of experience in creating content for both television and digi
Gay Courter: We Sued The State Of Florida For Improperly Caring For A Child
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with amazing, astounding and ever persistent Gay Courter.Gay Courter is the author of 7 bestselling novels with over three million copies in print worldwide including The Midwife, The Midwife’s Advice, Code Ezra, River of Dreams, Flowers in the Blood, and The Girl in the Box. Her non-fiction works include The Beansprout Book and How To Survive Your Husband’s Mid
Nia Garcia: To Me... That Is Not A Mom
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Nia Garcia. The smart and lovely Nia Garcia is a former foster youth who was abused by her drug addicted mother and stepfather who then threw out of her family home when she was only 13… she ended up living in shelters after several foster homes, then on the streets. She self-harmed for many years and then got addicted to meth to try to numb her pain, but w
Debbie Dullabaun: I Stayed WIth Him, And It Was The Best Thing Ever
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with CASA Debbie Dullabaun who has been of service to her community for close to 30 years.In 1998 after the death of her six year old son, Dale Lee Dullabaun III, Debbie began to work in his memory with several non-profit organizations. Along with volunteering for many years with the American Red Cross and the San Fernando Valley Domestic Abuse Response Team (DA
Kanesha Allison: Her Presence Was Very Strong Because She Was There Everyday
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with the lovely and gracious Kanesha Allison.Kanesha and her five siblings were taken into kinship care with her grandmother when she was a little girl until eventually reunited with her mom five years later, but she was able to see her mom everyday and that made all the difference. Now as an adult and single mom, she has taken in her young nephew who needs spec
Johna Rivers: Hold On And Be Strong
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with powerhouse foster care alumnus, performance artist, and founder of Reel to Reel Global Youth Film Festival, Johna Rivers.Johna Rivers is a 28 year old trailblazer. They are a foster care alumnus from WATTS who was abused, starved, neglected as a child and teenager but turned trauma into triumph. They are the co-founder for Real To Reel Global Youth Film Fe
Dennis Rosenbaum : I Am Talking About Resilience
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with Dennis Rosenbaum who was a school psychologist for 38 years and then became a CASA."I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I grew up in a middle-class Jewish household where the importance of education was emphasized. Yet, as a young person who came of age in the 50’s and 60’s, the racial disparity in opportunity available to some people and not o
Rob Rodriguez: I Take All Of My Trauma, Flip That Around And Create Triumph
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth and LGBTQIA+ advocate Rob Rodriguez.Rob Rodriguez is a proud gay, nonbinary, Latino, born and raised in New York City. Currently residing in Los Angeles, they are now making social impact in the LGBTQIA+ community one movement at a time. They are a survivor of abuse and an inspiring success story of what it takes to survive the foster c
Leslie Nolan: It's Healing When You Connect
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with the powerhouse Leslie Nolan who was trafficked at a young age after fleeing an abusive family; she eventually put her father in jail for his sexual abuse to prevent him from abusing others. "Leslie Nolan is the Design and Wellness Labs Associate Lab Leader at Karana Rising. She assists the Design and Wellness team in the execution of workshops, program
Melanie Velasquez: Okay Let's Take This Bastard to Jail
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with Melanie Velasquez. Melanie is a former foster youth from the San Fernando Valley who was abused by her own family at a very young age, and then as a young adult had the courage to put her father in prison. She’s a brave young lady with a terrible but ultimately triumphant story to tell. She's 24 years old now and living happily on her own. She says: “
Deena Murray: It Does Break Your Heart
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster mom and adoptive mom Deena Murray. Deena serves as a consultant to Million Kids for Development, Events and assisting with Operations. She is the Director and Producer of VIP Events for RCDL Enterprises and is a Certified Meeting Professional. Deena has provided foster parent services for four Southern California counties and has been a foster paren
Daron Bennett: Become The Good
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia talks with crypto kid Daron Bennett. In this episode we discuss his journey from generational poverty to inspiring others. Daron is a foster care alumnus who grew up on the hard rough and tumble streets of Los Angeles. Violence, abuse, and neglect were ever present in his young life but he was determined to break free from the devastating cycle of trauma. At age 11, he
Cody Renegar: Changing The Stars
Send us Fan MailJayne Amelia speaks with foster care alumnus Cody Renegar who is a hairstylist and fine artist, and author of the memoir "Changing the Stars" (2021). We thank him for his frankness, courage, and generous spirit!Here's what Jayne Amelia covers with Cody Renegar in this episode:1. How did Cody overcome a horrific cycle of abuse and neglect to become a healed, caring,
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