Bonus Babies
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.
Bonus Babies
Maria Harding: They Picked Up A Kid And Turned Her Into A Functional Adult
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Jayne 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 foster homes, group homes, and her mother's home for the next seven years. When Maria aged out at 18, she searched for her first father and his wife who she says "took in a troubled and traumatized kid and put her back together."
From Maria : “Four score and seven years ago…. STOP! WAIT… Nope, that’s not my story!
I was born in ‘71 in Vermont. Adopted at 3 days old… and that’s when it starts - my beginnings.
Adopted by my parents… I moved to NY City, Governors Island on day three of my life. Quickly many things happened or became real issues
One, born with a click hip… I had to wear a saddle to let my hips continue to develop. Who new, but I’ve been told this made for a very unhappy baby… I cried a lot due to thisTwo, as the story goes, my mother prophesied that I was nothing but a problem, and would be from that day forward
My parents divorced around kindergarten for me and that is when I started moving houses like many kids did due to divorce. That’s not what was the difference.
The difference was I was throne out of my mothers house for the first time around 5 years old because ‘I was a bad kid’. Off to stay with my dad, that became the punishment for not meeting my mothers expectation.
I grew up a little different that most from here forward. 11 came among and I then moved onto foster home because ‘I was a bad child’ per mothers opinion. I bounced around homes and more homes until I aged out.
The state realized that I was not a bad child and that the issue was my mother but by then I was almost 16/17.
Graduation came and … the state was done overseeing my care! No plans, tools, no nothing … Luckily I had additional family that helped and stepped in to help me become the adult that I am today.
Today I work for a National Builder, on the senior management team in the division, leading a department. … not bad for a ‘Bad Kid’.
BAD by my mother was; dyslexic, can’t spell, didn’t make expected grades and apparently don’t know how to load a dishwasher. All of these things I am ok with.
SO, if you see a punctuation error in this or spelling issues that are not quite right. I’m 100% ok with it … cause it’s me.”
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