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.
Bonus Babies
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
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 teams on deployments to Somalia, Panama, Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan and several other locations.
He's earned a Master of Science in Management from Colorado Christian University, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering/Construction from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Master of National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College in Newport RI.
In his last military assignment, then Colonel Rosenmerkel was the Commander, 11th Mission Support Group, (similar to a City Manager) at Joint Base Andrews, MD. The group was over 1,200-people strong and provided base services to the Andrews community, the Pentagon and over 50 other units in the National Capital Region.
His awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters, Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster, Aghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Korea Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal and many others.
In their 13th move, he and his family settled in Glenwood Springs CO where he was the Engineering, Minerals and Fleet Staff Officer for the White River National Forest from 2013-2022. He led a team of engineers and technicians to provide professional services in support of sustainable operations and multiple-use management of 2.3 million acres of public land.
His wife of 33 years, Linda, is also a USAF Academy graduate and retired AF officer, currently working as a civilian for the Secretary of the Air Force’s office. Their son Ray is a Cadet Second Class (junior) at USAFA and their daughter Allison graduated the University of California in Santa Cruz in 2024.
He is a licensed realtor, works part time as a bridge inspector and mentor for the USFS, teaches sporting clays shooting, and works at Ironbridge Golf Club. He volunteers for the Western Slope Veterans Coalition and the Knights of Columbus as well as being a CASA.
He and Linda enjoy biking, skiing, fitness, golfing and visiting family and friends all over the Country.
*A few things from early life not in this bio--Rosie grew up in the same town as both sets of grandparents, most of his aunts, uncles and cousins and graduated from the same high school as his Mom and Dad. He has two sisters and a brother, and he's #2.
See bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!
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