Bonus Babies
Jayne Amelia Larson
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
The Anthem Awards-winning BONUS BABIES podcast is the only series of its kind to explore the foster care system through the immersive, 360-degree perspective of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. Through powerful firsthand accounts from foster youth, former foster children, caregivers, attorneys, social workers, therapists, adoptees, foster and adoptive parents, and community advocates, the podcast delivers an unflinching look at the realities of life within the child welfare system.
Hosted and created by Jayne Amelia Larson, a CASA volunteer herself, BONUS BABIES examines the foster care “maze” in much the same way a CASA approaches a case: by listening to every voice, seeking out every perspective, and ensuring that the experiences of vulnerable children are seen, heard, and understood. The series documents both the heartbreaking failures and inspiring successes of the system while fostering open, honest conversations about trauma, resilience, advocacy, and belonging.
By blending investigative curiosity with compassionate storytelling, BONUS BABIES creates a platform that educates audiences, amplifies lived experience, and encourages meaningful social engagement. The podcast has resonated with listeners around the world for its emotional depth, cinematic production quality, and commitment to illuminating stories that are too often overlooked.
Original music is composed by Christina Apostolopoulos. Audio engineering and mixing are provided by Adam Harr of Blue Oak Mastering. Cover art is by John Crowther, and the Executive Producer is Jake Eberle.
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Recent Episodes
S4E16 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…
S4E15 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…
S4E14 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…
S4E13 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…
S4E12 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…
S4E10 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…
S4E9 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…
S4E9 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…
S4E8 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…
S4E7 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…
S4E6 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,…
S4E5 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…
S4E4 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…
S4E3 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,…
S4E2 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…
S4E1 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…
S3E25 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…
S3E24 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…
S3E23 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…
S3E22 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,…
Frequently Asked Questions
Bonus Babies has published 103 episodes since February 2021, covering topics in Documentary, Personal Journals.
Bonus Babies is currently dormant with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 50m.
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