Bonus Babies
The Anthem Award winning BONUS BABIES podcast is the only one of its kind that features the compelling true-life hard-hitting stories of those with a lived foster care experience and the people who care for them––all via the unique 360* lens of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. Through raw first-hand accounts, BONUS BABIES reveals the daunting complexity of the foster care world while documenting the challenges, failures and successes of the system as well as the people and the agencies involved. The creator and host, Jayne Amelia Larson, is a CASA - a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer for youth in foster care. In the same way a CASA works, she explores all things in the foster care maze by talking to kids, parents, caregivers, attorneys, social workers, therapists, adoptees, adoptive parents, members of community and social programs...anybody and everybody who will speak to her to keep the conversation open and the information flowing about all things CASA––to give a forum to help people understand what it's like to have a lived foster care experience. Original music by Christina Apostolopoulos. Emma Karpman is our Social Media Manager. Audio engineering and mixing by Adam "Yukon" Harr of Blue Oak Mastering. Executive Producer is Jake Eberle. Cover art by John Crowther.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 50 minutes
- Episodes
- 100
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Peter Samuelson: It's a Team Sport, I'm a Team Leader
Jayne Amelia talks with producer, entrepreneur, and serial philanthropist, Peter Samuelson. Peter Samuelson is the Co-Founder and President of First Star, and CEO of PhilmCo Media llc.…
Anita: It Was An Entire Family Raising This Child
Jayne Amelia Larson talks with foster parent and adoptive mother, Anita, who when she was single and only 22-years-old welcomed an 11-year-old girl, Ashleigh, into her home thinking it…
Teena Festa: I've Always Loved So Genuinely, So Completely
Jayne Amelia talks with Teena Festa who is a new CASA volunteer and also a former foster youth. After having a very difficult time in foster care, as well as struggling with mental heal…
Tamar: You're Not Alone And You Can Do It.
Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Tamar, who is also a proud and happy young mother. "I’m Tamar and a sophomore student at Orange Coast College. I am in the process of achievi…
Sid Gardner: You Have To Walk The Walk If You're Going To Talk The Talk
Jayne Amelia talks with Sid Gardner who co-parented four biological, step, and adoptive children during the past 50 years. Mr. Gardner is a Southern California native and serves as Pres…
Megan Green: But Of Course As A Kid, When You Don't Know The Story You Make Up Stories
Jayne Amelia talks with the gracious and always growing, Megan Green, Founder/CEO of Motivate Vibe Grow and Crownworkshops all over the world. "Service isn’t one act of kindness," she s…
Diane Martell: You're Going To Be Okay
Jayne Amelia talks with foster care alumnus Diane Martell who has talent and grit too. She's an experienced learning & organizational development consultant, is known for supporting cl…
Wende Julien: The Opportunity To Be In Their Lives Is A Blessing For Me
Jayne Amelia Larson talks with the powerhouse Wendelyn Julien who served as CEO of CASA of Los Angeles from 2016-2021, and is now the Executive Director of the new Probation Oversight C…
Ashleigh Nichols: You're Strong, Crazy Strong.
Ashleigh Nichols is a creative New York-based artist, web designer, developer, and illustrator living in Brooklyn with a penchant for all things creative. Ashleigh grew up in a suburban…
Jaronna Yates: I Know My Mommy Loved Me, I Always Knew That
Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Jaronna Yates. Jaronna has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 22 years, spanning across three major studios, and is currently …
Toni Cunningham: For Me It's About Not Failing, I Refuse To Let Myself To Be Anything Less Than
Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Toni Cunningham. Anthony Cunningham, better known as Toni, is currently in his fourth year in the Recreation Tourism Management program at Ca…
Vaughn Laws: I Finally Reached The Head Of The Snake And The Head Of The Snake Is Telling Me You Called Too Late
Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Vaughn Laws. "My name is Vaughn and I wish I knew where I was headed, but this adventure that has been life left me a husk of who I used to …
Juan Valles: When I Serve These Children, I Can See The Face Of God In Them
Jayne Amelia talks with children's attorney Juan Valles. Juan was born in Downey, California, and grew up in Southeast Los Angeles County. After graduating from the University of Califo…
LaTanya Hill: You Can Fire Me All You Want But I'm Still Going To Be Here
Today's guest is LaTanya Hill. "LT" is a writer with a background in law, education, government, and most recently became a Reiki Master and started her own energy healing business in …
Venus Manuel and Lori Nelson: They Saved Each Other
Jayne Amelia Larson talks with former foster youth Venus Manuel and her case worker Lori Nelson, a former social worker working in the LA County foster care system. Venus spent her adol…
Lori Nelson: Even Though It Took A Toll, You See I'm Not Done
Jayne Amelia talks with Lori Nelson, former social worker working in the foster care system and now with the LA County Probation Department. "Lori was born a crusader with a heart for l…
Venus Manuel: That Started Our Odyssey Through The Foster Care System Of 9 Different Homes In 3 Years
Jayne Amelia interviews former foster youth, Venus Manuel, a shining example of how nurture does not always triumph over nature.
From an early childhood rampant with sexual and physica…
Jaci Cortez: The People That Hurt Me The Most Was My Own Family
Jayne Amelia talks with Jaci Cortez, former foster youth identifying as LGBTQIA and now a foster youth advocate. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Jaci is of Guatemalan and As…
Dorrie Woods: We Call Them Our Bonus Babies
Jayne Amelia introduces the BONUS BABIES podcast and talks with her first guest, foster parent and Peace4kids.org volunteer, Mrs. Dorrie Woods. After a rewarding career in education, Do…
BONUS BABIES TRAILER
This is the trailer for the BONUS BABIES podcast. Jayne Amelia Larson interview kids, attorneys, social workers, caregivers and more, and tracks her experience learning about and navig…