Best Gavin Herrera Podcasts (2024)

1
Glenda Wright: I Don't Match A Stereotype 59:49

7M ago59:49

59:49

Send us a Text Message. 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…

1
Dr. Bruce Sogolow: Children Do Everything They Do To Try To Meet A Need 57:02

8M ago57:02

57:02

Send us a Text Message. 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 alon…

1
Warren Press: Elizabeth And I Are The Ones Who Are Unbelievably Lucky To Get To Be Their Parents 1:05:21

8M ago1:05:21

1:05:21

Send us a Text Message. 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 ge…

1
Rachel Elovitz: I Am Going To Do A Damn Good Job Because I Genuinely Care 55:00

9M ago55:00

55:00

Send us a Text Message. 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 grandchildre…

1
Tige Charity: There's No Greater Agony Than Bearing An Untold Story Inside You 49:05

9M ago49:05

49:05

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with the powerhouse founder of Kids in The Spotlight, Tige Charity. In Tige's words: As a visionary with a strong faith & a passion for serving others, I have devoted my career to empowering young people in foster care to address and overcome trauma through the power of storytelling. In 2009, I founded Ki…

1
Romi Lassaly and Pat McCabe : One Caring Person Can Make All The Difference 52:29

9M ago52:29

52:29

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Romi Lassally and Patrick McCabe, co-founders of Ready To Succeed which has supported college bound students impacted by foster care or “scholars” (as they call them which is fantastic!) by helping them get into school, stay in school, and flourish after school with resources, relationships with pass…

1
Chrisie Morris: I Will Not Let The Darkness Change My Heart 58:15

9M ago58:15

58:15

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with artist and animator, and former foster youth Chrisie Morris. Chrisie is a junior at Cal State University Long Beach pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration for Pre-Production. She’s currently working as a Visual Development Artist at Mr. Clown’s Productions through the prestigious Television …

1
Gavin Glynn: You Have Get Them To Trust 56:58

10M ago56:58

56:58

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with single foster dad and entertainment producer Gavin Glynn. Gavin and his then partner fostered to adopt a young boy, then Gavin went on to foster a foursome sibling set when he was a single dad. In order to keep all the kids in the house, Gavin gave up his lucrative but very demanding career as a prod…

1
Elizabeth Garcia Herrera: I've Got To Do My Part Of Not Repeating The Same Mistakes As My Family 55:55

10M ago55:55

55:55

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with foster alum Elizabeth Garcia Herrera. Liz and her sisters (America's story is Episode 16 of Season 3) were placed in foster care when their mother could no longer look after them. Liz was 17 and spent several confusing years struggling to get on her feet but she put herself through college and now wo…

1
America Gutierrez: I Am Not Going To Be Silenced Anymore 45:45

10M ago45:45

45:45

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with foster care alum America Gutierrez. America is a passionate advocate for mental health, firmly guided by the belief that our voices are our most potent tools. With unwavering determination, she fearlessly shares her personal journey, notably her harrowing experiences within the foster care system. Th…

1
Georgette Todd: That's When Everything Changed 48:14

10M ago48:14

48:14

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth and now child advocate Georgette Todd. Georgette is a speaker, author, and a foster care and child abuse prevention advocate. Georgette spent her teenage years bouncing around from home to home in the broken foster care system before she emancipated at age 18, with no safety net o…

1
Ron Jenkins: One Of The Reason Kids Don't Get Help Is Because They Don't Learn How To Trust Again 52:57

11M ago52:57

52:57

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with child advocate and mentor Ron Jenkins. Ron is a former foster youth who along with his siblings was placed in foster care after his mother died of cancer when he was two years old. He bounced around in foster care for several years until he was adopted by a friend of his mom, but that didn't turn out…

1
Lorry Leigh Belhumeur: What's Happened To You, How Can I Help? 50:19

12M ago50:19

50:19

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Dr. Lorry Leigh Belhumeur, a renowned leader in the field of mental health and wellness, with over 30 years of experience serving children and their families. Dr. Lorry’s unwavering commitment to empowering young individuals and the adults who care for them, along with her exceptional leadership skil…

1
Paul Freese: Who Are You, Why Are You Here, What Will Become Of You, What Impact Will You Have? 55:29

12M ago55:29

55:29

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with advocate Paul L. Freese, Jr. Paul has worked as a public interest attorney for more than 25 years and provides consulting on holistic innovations and solutions to poverty, with special focus upon traumatized populations. He specializes in strategic project development to achieve upstream early interv…

1
Jeremy Buchanan: I Was Thirsty. I Think Anybody Who Wants To Make It... Be Thirsty. 59:21

1y ago59:21

59:21

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with creative and foster care alumni Jeremy Buchanan. Jeremy was raised in Illinois, Georgia, and California. He moved around a lot as a kid and attended more elementary schools than he can even count. He was first placed in foster care as a young boy and then again as a teenager when he became a "runner"…

1
Barbara Lane: They Did Everything They Could To Break My Bonds To My Sisters But It Didn't Work 56:15

1y ago56:15

56:15

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Reverand Barbara Lane. Rev. Lane is the author of "Broken Water: An Extraordinary True Story." Barbara is the ninth of eleven sisters, abandoned by their birth parents, who were all placed in St. Dominic’s Orphanage in St. Louis, then eventually separated into different homes and finally reunited 43 …

1
Charity Chandler-Cole: I Am Capable Of Achieving Whatever I Want To Achieve 48:35

1y ago48:35

48:35

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Charity Chandler-Cole. Charity is an author, scholar and activist and "... the CEO of CASA of Los Angeles, Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth impacted by the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems. Born and raised in Los Angeles and having harshly endured its child welfare and juvenile jus…

1
Mike Wiskar: Music Saved My Life As A Kid, Teenager, Adult...Totally 53:53

1y ago53:53

53:53

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with award-winning musician and adoptee Mike Wiskar. Mike is a Leo-nominated composer, songwriter, independent music producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. He was also adopted as a baby and raised in a caring home by a family who loved him very much. Even so, he longed to know his birth family and…

1
Peter Mutabazi: My Role As A Dad...I Can Do As Much As Momma Can Do 46:08

1y ago46:08

46:08

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with adoptive dad to one and foster dad to many Peter Mutabazi. "As a child I ran away from an abusive home and was helped by the kindness of strangers. As an adult I found myself in a position of being able to help foster children, so I began taking children into my home years ago to give back what was s…

1
Steve Pemberton: You Need To Speak To Them In The Language Of Their Dreams 1:02:18

1y ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with foster care alumnus Steve Pemberton. Steve is a best selling author, philanthropist, businessman and acclaimed speaker. Steve's "story is about defying seemingly insurmountable odds to become a trail-blazing corporate executive, enlightened diversity leader, visionary youth advocate, and acclaimed sp…

1
Noah Nash: We All Are Special In Our Own Ways 54:36

1y ago54:36

54:36

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Dr. Noah Nash. Noah is a foster care alumnus from very early childhood, as well as an educator and creative web designer-developer who is amplifying stories, products and projects with people, for people — as he says. His portfolio includes work in international children's rights, emerging technologi…

1
Jacqueline Robles: I Saw People Die, I Saw People Get Addicted To Drugs And Fall Victim To The Streets 1:03:50

1y ago1:03:50

1:03:50

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Jacqueline Robles, a former foster youth, and a relentless determined powerhouse of a young woman who aged out of the system and made her own way... jumping through hoop after hoop with the hoops always changing and ever higher. Identifying as both Indigenous and Latina, Jacqueline is set on a career…

1
Regina Louise: I'm Done With That Carrot-ing Love 49:43

1y ago49:43

49:43

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with foster care alumnus and abolitionist, Regina Louise. Regina is a sought-after speaker, teacher, coach, and author. Recently she was the recipient of the prestigious Christopher Award, given to producers for stories that “affirm the human spirit.” In 2019 she received the Jordan Award for service in t…

1
Elle Fox: It's So Worth It Even With The Pain That You Feel At The End 34:09

1y ago34:09

34:09

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with artist and foster sibling, Elle Fox. Elle, a high school student, has been sketching for as long as she can remember. Growing up in a family that fostered children, Elle draws on her experience of life, love, and loss while sharing her heart and home for a period of time with numerous babies and chil…

1
Adisa: The Tenacity To Live Is Greater Than The Scars From The Struggle To Live 54:32

1y ago54:32

54:32

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth, Adisa. Adisa compares himself to a lion cub who had to fight for survival all his young life against the bigger badder lions all so hungry and looking to feed. Born in Long Beach to a single mom who was declared unfit to raise her children, he grew up on the streets of Los Angele…

1
Mimi Savage: Be Of Service...Share...Give 47:59

1+ y ago47:59

47:59

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with therapist Dr. Mimi Savage. In this episode Mimi describes her upbringing: "My parents are not who I am. My mother's a white woman, my father's a black man. I am born of the two of them, a melange, a mixture. But I had to find my way. And it's not just about race. As I say this to your listeners, every…

1
Jeremiah McWright: Sorry You Guys Got To Go 52:14

1+ y ago52:14

52:14

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth Jeremiah McWright. Jeremiah is from Sacramento, California. At 15, his four siblings and he were removed from their family and put into the system. After two years and 15 placements, Jeremiah was shipped to a low-level group home in San Francisco. He started his career at 17 in Sa…

1
Jennifer Stern: I Can't Imagine Anything Worse Than Losing Your Child 47:13

2y ago47:13

47:13

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with foster and adoptive mom, Jennifer Stern. Jennifer and her husband decided to become a foster family after realizing their dinner table was too quiet and knowing they had space in their home and hearts to welcome more children. They wanted to foster after learning how great the need is for foster fami…

1
Kendra Lukens : I Feel Like I Never Really Had A Childhood 37:00

2y ago37:00

37:00

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Kendra Lukens. In her words: “My name is Kendra, I spent my entire life going in and out of the foster system after the death of my father in 2012. This started a spiral of abusive homes, and losing hope in a lot of people. After recently aging out at 18, I started a podcast of my own, HEAR US YELL, …

1
Emi Niefeld: So Many Things I Could Not Have Known 57:18

2y ago57:18

57:18

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Emi Nietfeld. Emi is the author of the memoir Acceptance, published by Penguin Press. A former foster youth, she graduated from Harvard in 2015 and worked as a software engineer at Google and Facebook. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vice, and Slate, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize…

1
Breyon Johnson: If I Just Give Up Now Then I'm Letting Them Win 47:00

2y ago47:00

47:00

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Breyon Johnson. Breyon is a former foster youth and now a student at Santa Monica college studying to be a storyboard artist and writer. She’s currently working as an intern at Better Youth, a nonprofit that helps youth who face adversity get their foot in the door in entertainment to work in film, v…

1
David Ambroz: And Yet Here I Am And I Remain Optimistic 53:20

2y ago53:20

53:20

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with activist David Ambroz. David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate, and author of a new memoir “A Place Called Home.” He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Currently serving as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, Ambroz previously…

1
Syd Stewart: I Deserve Grace Just Like I Extend Grace 38:35

2y ago38:35

38:35

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Syd Stewart. Syd is a poet, actor and filmmaker, and the author of two books of poetry, A Rock and A Hard Place (iUniverse, 2010) and Babylon Graffiti (Zeitgeist Press, 2019). Syd was featured in films Hughes’ Dream Harlem and Everyday People, and has appeared in The New York Times, Variety, and Peopl…

1
Ångela Quijada Banks: I Learned To Really Operate On Reciprocity of Relationships 56:32

2y ago56:32

56:32

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Ångela Quijada Banks. Ångela is a former foster youth and an NAACP Image Awards Nominee and American Award-winning author of the Black Foster Youth Handbook. As a certified holistic health coach she supports women impact leaders to get re-energized for life and reconnected to their purpose, passions …

1
Akhim Dev: Hear Me As Loud As I Can Say It 59:43

2y ago59:43

59:43

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with filmmaker Akhim Dev. Dev has over 20 years of experience in broadcast television and digital content. His credits include writing and directing on "The 3G of US" for SBS, "Storm Surfers" for Firelight Productions, and "The Final Sacrifice" for Discovery and National Geographic. His new film "The Chil…

1
Kimberly Bell: You Took The Time To Invest In Yourself, You Took The Time To Love Yourself 44:35

2y ago44:35

44:35

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia Larson speaks with adoptee and survivor Kimberly Bell. Kimberly is an inspirational speaker, minister, mentor, and the author of "The Epitome of Kimmy: Accept & Embrace It All” an eye-opening memoir depicting her true story of a life of abandonment, sexual and physical abuse from a very young age, and her healin…

1
Jeffrey Jamerson: The Most Powerful In The World Is The Storyteller 55:21

2y ago55:21

55:21

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Jeffrey Jamerson. Jeffrey has over 25 years of experience in the public sector serving at-risk youth and families in various capacities, most recently as the Vice President of Programs and Services at Aviva Family & Children’s Services in Los Angeles, CA. Over the past few years Jeff has created a shi…

1
Sana Latrease Cotten: I Learned That She Too Was Trafficked By Her Mom So It Was A Generational Thing 41:51

2y ago41:51

41:51

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Sana Latrease Cotten, who was trafficked by her mother and grandmother as a young child, put in foster care and was then adopted but even so never really felt she belonged with her new family. Later, when she learned of her own mother's traumatic past, Sana learned how to forgive her and also to advoc…

1
Jordan Bartlett: Business As A Force For Creating This Community Of People That Can Do Good 48:27

2y ago48:27

48:27

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Jordan Bartlett who was adopted at birth by a loving family. As a young college student, Jordan met his biological sister (for the very first time) who'd been placed in foster care, bounced from home to home, and had a very rough time. As a young businessman, he committed myself to helping kids in car…

1
Mary Rathbone: I Will Look Back On It And Say It Was One Of The Greatest Achievements Of My Life 58:49

2y ago58:49

58:49

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with foster parent, Mary Rathbone. Mary, her husband Alan and their daughter Chloe started their foster care journey in 2017. Their very first placement was a sibling group of four, aged 6, 4, 3 and 1. Mary admits that after a month she nearly had a nervous breakdown with the adjustments in lifestyle and …

1
Lisa Marie Arnett: I Still Hold People 100% Accountable 1:04:42

2y ago1:04:42

1:04:42

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia Larson speaks with former foster youth and survivor, Lisa Marie Arnett. Lisa Marie endured 36 placements and horrific abuse from the age of 2 on until she aged out of foster care at 18. She was then homeless for 3 years but even so, she managed to put herself through college and then joined the Army. She's now a…

1
Raquel Wilson: School Was Literally The Only Thing They Couldn't Take Away From Me 41:05

2y ago41:05

41:05

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Raquel Wilson, a former foster youth and now advocate from Compton. Raquel is the the program manager for the Fostering Media Connections Youth Voice program, and has been an advocate for youth affected by the foster care system, juvenile justice system, homelessness, or coined “at-risk” and has dedic…

1
Cathy Horan Walker: Just Pay It Forward 38:56

2y ago38:56

38:56

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with CASA Cathy Horan Walker. CASA Cathy Horan Walker is from Monterey, California. She promised herself she would become a CASA after her two sons graduated highschool and that’s what she did. Cathy believes it was her calling to become a CASA and her CASA kiddo Ryan Moses says she saved his life many ti…

1
Ryan Moses: You're The Only Person Who's Going To Be Able To Turn This Around 48:42

2y ago48:42

48:42

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with former foster youth Ryan Moses. Ryan went into foster care when he was a small child and had 12 placements in 8 different school districts. At 10 he advocated for himself, called the Monterey CASA office and got himself a CASA who changed his life. But he still had to overcome massive challenges incl…

1
Allison Lieberman: These Children Become Sexually Exploited Children By Being Sold To Other People 47:17

2y ago47:17

47:17

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with Allison Lieberman. Allison is a licensed marriage and family therapist, postpartum anxiety expert, mom of 2, and 2x postpartum anxiety survivor. Part of Allison's early training including treating foster kids at emergency shelters and crisis centers where many of the young women and men are very vuln…

1
Rachel Malley: I Love That I Get To Have Such A Direct Impact 47:03

2y ago47:03

47:03

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia speaks with CASA volunteer and book publisher, Rachel Malley. Rachel started volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in 2019 when she learned about the power of best-interest advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. During that time she has worked with three wonderful children, and…

1
Maria Harding: They Picked Up A Kid And Turned Her Into A Functional Adult 41:43

2y ago41:43

41:43

Send us a Text Message. 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 foste…

1
Hank Fortener: At The Root Of All Our Societal Causes Is Going To Be An Instability For Our Kids 51:56

2y ago51:56

51:56

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Hank Fortener, the founder of AdoptTogether, "who understands the burdensome blessing that is the adoption process". His family fostered 36 children and adopted 6 from 5 different countries while he was growing up. He knows firsthand how painful & euphoric adopting a child can be, and it is this exper…

1
Megan Elizabeth Ward: Reunification Is The Priority, However There Comes A Time When Permanency Needs To Outweigh Reunification 49:29

2y ago49:29

49:29

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Megan Elizabeth Ward. Megan and her wife, Amanda McMillan, started fostering in the Fall of 2017 as a kinship family via ICPC. Following a successful reunification, Amanda and Megan transitioned to a DFCS partnership home and haven’t looked back since. Fast forward almost 5 years and 40+ placements, A…

1
Zaid Gayle: They Treat Us Like We're Broken 1:09:22

2y ago1:09:22

1:09:22

Send us a Text Message. Jayne Amelia talks with Peace4kids.org Co-Founder and Executive Director Zaid Gayle. During his tenure at Peace4Kids, Zaid has had the opportunity to blend his experience in the film industry as a Coordinator and Assistant Director to ensure that media is an integral part of improving the lives of foster youth. Most specific…

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