Bonus Babies - podcast cover

Bonus Babies

Jayne Amelia Larsonbonusbabies.org

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.

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Episodes

LaTanya Hill: You Can Fire Me All You Want But I'm Still Going To Be Here

Send us a text 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 Los Angeles – IMREIKINOW. She has been a CASA for over 4 years and is still assisting her very first child in the program. Please see imreikinow.com for more information about LT's healing work. Go to NationalCASAGAL.org to find out more about becoming a CASA anywhere in the US and CASALA.org in Los ...

May 11, 202151 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Venus Manuel and Lori Nelson: They Saved Each Other

Send us a text 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 adolescence and teen years bouncing from foster home to home, and credits one great social worker, Lori Nelson, with saving her life. And Lori says they saved each other. Venus is now an Independent Living Coordinator with the Los Angeles County Probation Department working with foster youth and says, “...

May 07, 202149 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Lori Nelson: Even Though It Took A Toll, You See I'm Not Done

Send us a text 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 lost pets, the kid bullies made fun of and the person to run to and run away with when things were scary and unsafe. Lori’s childhood experiences led her to work in the helping profession in various human services organizations bringing value to clients fostering lasting and positive relationships. L...

Apr 29, 202147 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Venus Manuel: That Started Our Odyssey Through The Foster Care System Of 9 Different Homes In 3 Years

Send us a text 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 physical abuse followed by a string of nine foster care homes, the development of another disillusioned dysfunctional youth seemed tragically imminent. However, the strength, passion and individuality inherent in Venus provided her with the abilities to not only rise above her beginnings, but stand as a tru...

Apr 23, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Jaci Cortez: The People That Hurt Me The Most Was My Own Family

Send us a text 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 Asian Indian descent, and was in foster care from the ages of 4-21. She has a Communications Degree from Rio Hondo College, and now serves as a consultant to nonprofit organizations and programs that serve current and former foster youth. Jaci is working toward her dream of launching her own nonprofit...

Apr 16, 202155 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Dorrie Woods: We Call Them Our Bonus Babies

Send us a text 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, Dorrie retired to a life of family and volunteering with Center of Hope Youth Ministries, Miracle Workers, Carson Foster Parent Association, and Peace4Kids which offers a peaceful respite to children in the system and their families. She’s a Fun Ambassador at the Compton Adult School where one of the ...

Apr 09, 202135 minSeason 1Ep. 1

BONUS BABIES TRAILER

Send us a text 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 navigating through the foster care system…not as someone who has a lived foster care experience… but through the unique lens of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (or CASA) volunteer––the eyes and ears of the court––whose job it is to seek out as much information as possible about the child to whom they’r...

Feb 23, 20212 min0
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