Bonus Babies

Jaksot

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  Traci Gurley-Tomashosky: You Just Have To Be Consistent 12.12.2025 47min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 in special education with a visionary approach to community-based advocacy. Her career is defin...
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  Dana Hargus: And Nobody Is Bothered By This But Me? 12.12.2025 1t 7min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 developmental issues, she returned to earn her degree in counseling. She has been working as a counselor for over twe...
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  Jenny Serrano - My Family Needed Intervention 28.11.2025 1t 12min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 precariously housed until I finished graduate school,” Jenny said. “When I exited care, there were...
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  Lucretia Taylor: You Don't Have To Change The World In One Day 08.10.2025 46min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 access for historically marginalized communities. Dr. Cre is the founder of Strategic Choic...
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  Renee Santos : I Never Unpacked My Bag 21.08.2025 56min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 about her experience growing up in the foster care system. Through powerful storytelling and u...
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  Mark Daley: How Do We Address The Smoke Rising From Families 07.08.2025 43min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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, numerous governors, and other elected officials. He is the founder of One Iowa, the state’s la...
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  Greg Brake: Foster Warriors 24-Hour Challenge 25.07.2025 53min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 regulatory inquiries which include but are not limited to: NYSE & Archipelago, Oracle & Peoplesoft, Ha...
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  Andrew Bridge: Tear It Down 04.07.2025 51min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 Post, Los Angeles Times, Showtime, The Observer, The CBS Early Show, NBC Nightly News, Time Maga...
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  Alexis Longmire: I Made Me, Who I Am Today, I Did This 08.06.2025 51min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 designers, and Instagram influencers. She graduated from the University of Arizona with degrees in...
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  Shimeka Lott: The People Coming In For The Rescue Don't Need to Be Perfect But Need To Operate With A Perfect Heart 11.05.2025 1t 6min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 feeding the unhoused, supporting annual Thanksgiving and Christmas drives, or distributing hygi...
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  Greg Rosenmerkel: I Am Glad That I Can Try To Help A Little Bit 27.04.2025 39min

  Send us Fan Mail Part 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 locations in the US and overseas. He commanded units at both squadron and group level...
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  Nicole Goswami : Your Daughter Will Always Know You 21.04.2025 55min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 has been the Head Coach for the Bennington Marauders Swim Club since 2005 and is passionate...
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  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 16.04.2025 31min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 and overseas. He commanded units at both squadron and group levels and he led team...
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  Christine Goddard: I Now Realize Why You Were There Always In My Life 30.03.2025 47min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 behalf of foster youth in court, along with her bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Juvenile Del...
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  Danisha Keating: What Purpose Do You Have, What Passions Do You Have That We Can Encourage 16.03.2025 1t 2min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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. Danisha recounts her educational journey that began with difficulty completing her bachelor's degr...
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  Jeanette Yoffe: You Need To Go Into The Grief, Into The Loss, Into The Trauma To Heal 02.03.2025 1t 6min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 approach by acknowledging all members and including the constellation of all family in a...
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  Glenda Wright: I Don't Match A Stereotype 08.12.2023 59min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 extracurricular activities, including serving as senior editor of the Northern Kentucky Law Review a...
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  Dr. Bruce Sogolow: Children Do Everything They Do To Try To Meet A Need 27.11.2023 57min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 was deeply wounded in their early lives: through a deep dive into non-violent commun...
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  Warren Press: Elizabeth And I Are The Ones Who Are Unbelievably Lucky To Get To Be Their Parents 13.11.2023 1t 5min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 adopt their daughter while their 14-year-old son was born and adopted a little closer to h...
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  Rachel Elovitz: I Am Going To Do A Damn Good Job Because I Genuinely Care 27.10.2023 55min

  Send us Fan Mail Jayne 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 are being abused or neglected by their parents, parents hoping to protect their child...