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Jayne Amelia speaks with foster care alumnus Cody Renegar who is a hairstylist and fine artist, and author of the memoir "Changing the Stars" (2021).  We thank him for his frankness, courage, and generous spirit!

Here's what Jayne Amelia covers with Cody Renegar in this episode:

1. How did Cody overcome a horrific cycle of abuse and neglect to become a healed, caring, and strong man?

2. How did Cody's early experiences of compassion and resilience shape his present-day spirituality?

3. What was the transformative moment that enabled Cody to reconcile with his adoptive father after 15 years of estrangement?

 Cody Renegar is an incredibly positive and optimistic survivor of multigenerational trauma and abuse. He currently lives in California with his husband, Terry. He has a son, Levi, who, with his partner, Alaya, has given Cody three grandkids. Cody is the hairstylist of choice for many Hollywood entertainment industry celebrities and A-listers. Los Angeles is his main stage although he also maintains a large clientele in Washington, D.C., and Arkansas. He is a cosmetologist and master barber with twenty-five years of experience with unique cutting styles and techniques, who is a former cutting director for Aveda and Bumble & Bumble, Minneapolis. Cody began his career in 1996 in Arkansas. He moved to José Éber Salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills in 2004, where he had the honor of working alongside José on the main floor and in his own private barber shop, working with many high-profile clients. Cody has been featured in the documentary film Hollywood to Dollywood and the book Rainbow Relatives. A talented artist, Cody's paintings hang in private collections around the world.

His new book "Changing The Stars: A Memoir" is available now on Amazon :
 “A powerful true story about how a boy survived and then overcame his family’s multigenerational cycle of violence, neglect, and sexual abuse: Despite the odds against him, Cody Renegar grew up and became a loving father and husband, successful hairstylist, and respected artist. Fostered, abused, raised by a substance-abusing single mother, at six Cody and his four siblings were placed into the foster care system in Arkansas, leading to a series of placements in homes where he endured unspeakable abuse and neglect. Cody found solace in his bonds with his brothers and sisters and occasional kindnesses from caring adults, such as a neighbor who taught him to paint. When at seven he was adopted by an affluent couple, he hoped at last to receive the love and support of a nurturing mother and father. But his dreams and expectations were betrayed when his new father proved to be a violent disciplinarian. It would be eight years before his rescue by an attentive school nurse, and years more to heal the trauma. The silver lining for Cody was his own resilience and positive outlook. He never stopped reaching for a better life, and his optimistic, gregarious spirit was never silenced or stifled. Cody sees life as an adventure. He believes that we, not fate, are in charge of our destiny. If needed, we can change the stars in the sky.” 

Changing The Stars: A Memoir by Cody Renegar

codyrenegar.com

facebook.com/codyrenegarofficial

IG@hairbycody90210
IG@codyrenegarart

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BONUS BABIES producer Jake Eberle introduces this between seasons bonus episode which includes special moments from Season 1 with Teena Festa (#17), Howie Cohen (#21), and Venus Manuel with Lori Nelson (#5), as well as upcoming excerpts from Season 2 with Daron Bennett and Cody Renegar. Thanks for listening and we will be dropping new episodes soon. Please visit our website bonusbabies.com if you'd like to make a tax-deductible charitable donation to support our work.

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Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Angelo Melendez.  When Angelo was orphaned at the age of 2, he was sent to live in foster care in an all boys group home. Luckily he soon went into the care of loving foster parents, Howie and Carol Cohen, who call him "the one" and wanted to adopt him.  Angelo spent several happy years with them in Beverly Hills until the court decided that he should be sent to live with his biological relatives, whom he didn't know, in the barrio in East LA with eight people living in a one-bedroom apartment. The adjustment was difficult, painful, and confusing. He calls his childhood a journey of riches to rags and rags to riches. But there’s more to the story.  "Art has always flowed through my veins… and I had dreams of becoming a comic book artist...from countless nights at the kitchen table sitting with my brother after dinner to my scribble scrambles in the classroom where I could never pay any attention to the school work. Eventually I found sanctuary in graffiti––coming from a world when I had little control or no recognition––the graffiti world was a chance to reinvent myself. While running the streets with my crew, I began to work the graffiti world in a logistical and thorough way, learning to manage multiple illegal art projects, and even coordinating the restocking of spray paint supplies…and I earned respect and recognition. Oddly enough, this is where I found my talent and passion to lead my team to success. Fast forward: I started in 2008 at one company as a temp laborer, and earned steady recognition for superior effort and performance, moving from operator to supervisor roles. I was able to rise through the ranks by rising to the occasion. Fast forward to the Present: Working as a manager in seafood (microbiology) from around the world, managing and coordinating multiple departments for my company’s distribution center. Future: I am looking now on the near and far horizons for more in life and in search of more challenging endeavors."

Foster Care in CA
National Foster Parent Association
The Village Family Services
AdoptUSKids

Go to NationalCASAGAL.org
to find out more about becoming a CASA anywhere in the US
and CASALA.org in Los Angeles.

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Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth and advocate Alexis Obinna. Alexis is one of the founders and a current member of the Los Angeles Reproductive Health Equity Project Youth Advisory Board.

During Alexis's time in California’s foster care system, volunteering at church was fun and better than staying at home. During college, Alexis was able to grow and learn more about support groups and organizations that are available to youth in foster care. Each year, Alexis helps run an annual event called “Independent City” where younger youth learn how to handle real-life situations. Alexis would like to keep learning and going to school in pursuit of a degree that will lead to helping foster children. Alexis’s main goal one day is to start a non-profit organization that helps with housing in Los Angeles County. Alexis has been volunteering and giving back to various communities since age eight. She started with helping her foster mom watch the daycare children, trash removal at her school, painting her school, planting community gardens, and so much more. In 2019 she graduated with her double associate's in sociology, and child development. She currently attends California State University Los Angeles, where she continues to fight and give back to various communities as a Social Work major. Alexis is a huge social and racial justice advocate and has fought for the rights of many people of color. She has collaborated with many nonprofits such as California Youth Connections, Los Angeles Reproductive Health Equity Program, the Department of Children and Family Services, Independent City, Youth-Led Participatory Action Plan research board, and so many more. She has been with CYC since 2014 and is honored to do great work to improve the child welfare system. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, roller skating, collecting crystals, visiting new places, and making art. She plans on working in a space that provides equitable resources and fair chances that she was denied. She wants to spread hope and positivity, and values working on herself to do so. Thank you for reading her bio and please ask her anything;  having had experienced the child welfare system for over sixteen years, she has many useful and resources.

California Youth Connection
National Foster Youth Institute
Los Angeles Reproductive Health
She Ready Foundation x Ready To Succeed
Foster Club
RHEP for Foster Youth
All That Glitters Isn't Gold - documentary by Alexis Obinna

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Jayne Amelia talks with former foster parent, Howie Cohen. The LA Times dubbed him “A Real-Life Don Draper.” In an advertising career that spanned five decades, Howie Cohen wrote the immortal words for Alka Seltzer, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” and “Try it, you’ll like it” both in the Clio Hall of Fame. Howie got his start as the youngest copy trainee at Doyle Dane Bernbach where he literally learned to write copy on the famous VW Bug campaign. He then moved to Wells, Rich and Greene where he flourished under the tutelage of Mary Wells Lawrence, the most famous woman in advertising. As the agency’s creative director in LA, Howie made waves by blowing up the Jack In The Box clown, which quickly repositioned the fast food chain to adults. And at his own ad agency, Cohen/Johnson, Howie won the hearts of pet lovers with the catchy theme, “Petco, where the pets go.” Howie shared his personal story in his memoir titled, “I Can’t Believe I Lived The Whole Thing” which has a 5-Star rating on Amazon. But Howie and his beautiful wife, Carol, consider their greatest achievement their role as foster parents for youth in the dependency system. One of those kids, Angelo, they met and took into their home when he was orphaned at two and a half-years-old. They are still a constant in his life almost 30 years later. “There’s no greater satisfaction than knowing you made a real difference in someone’s life,” says Howie.

Foster Care in CA
National Foster Parent Association
The Village Family Services
AdoptUSKids
I Can't Believe I Lived The Whole Thing by Howie Cohen

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Jayne Amelia talks with a devoted and talented child therapist, Kylie. Kylie is a School Therapist working for a non-profit organization providing therapy to students ages 5-22 who live in the residences on campus, or come from homes in the nearby community. These are children who need additional support and aren't able to thrive in a general school environment due to many different reasons such as involvement in CPS, past trauma, violent behaviors, learning disabilities and more. Kylie first worked in Hollywood where she was booked live music shows and secured brand deals for celebrities. After four years in the entertainment business and looking for deeper meaning, she obtained a job working with foster children and CASAs which ignited a fire in her.  She knew this was her purpose––working with children. Her next position was as a Behavior Interventionist, providing in-home ABA therapy to children with Autism. While working at that, she realized that to reach her professional goals she would need to go to graduate school, and two years later received her Master’s in Social Work. During school, she interned at a NPS (non-public school) where she was able to connect with children from a variety of backgrounds. Her second year she spent interning as a Medical Social Worker in the cancer department at a hospital where she had the privilege of providing therapy to cancer patients, their families, friends and caregivers. It was very impactful and rewarding work. After graduate school, she immediately secured a job at a psychiatric facility where she worked with patients experiencing acute mental status that warranted an average 3-5 day stay;  most commonly had a desire to harm themselves, harm others, or were so severely disabled that they were unknowingly in grave danger. This was Kylie's last job before her current very fulfilling position as a School Therapist. Although she did a 180-degree career change, Kylie believes that all her early experiences have helped her in becoming the eclectic and authentic therapist she is today. 

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Jayne Amelia talks with producer, entrepreneur, and serial philanthropist, Peter Samuelson. Peter Samuelson is the  Co-Founder and President of First Star, and CEO of PhilmCo Media llc. Mr. Samuelson is a serial pro-social entrepreneur. In 1982 he co-founded the Starlight Children’s Foundation; by 1990 the positive psychological impact of Starlight seeded his next pro-social endeavor, Starbright World, co-founded with Steven Spielberg. 1999 saw the formation of First Star, 2005 EDAR Everyone Deserves a Roof, and 2013 saw him launch ASPIRE, the Academy for Social Purpose in Responsible Entertainment. In the midst of all this Peter has produced 26 films and raised four children. Educated at Cambridge and the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, Peter resides in Los Angeles with his wife Saryl, and continues to fight every day for those less fortunate, chief among them America’s abused and neglected children.


STARLIGHT  Children's Foundation
STARBRIGHT World
FIRST STAR
FIRST STAR ACADEMIES
EDAR - Everyone Deserves A Roof
PHILCO Media
ASPIRE - The Academy for Social Purpose in Responsible Entertainment

FOSTER BOY with Mathew Modine, Louis Gossett Jr, Amy Brenneman, and Shane Paul McGhie

FIXFOSTERCARE - sign the petition

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Jayne Amelia Larson talks with foster parent and adoptive mother, Anita, who when she was  single and only 22-years-old welcomed an 11-year-old girl, Ashleigh, into her home thinking it was for short respite care, maybe a week or a month... and ended up caring for her for years and then adopting her. Anita says: "I would not have been able to do this if I didn't have the support system that I had with my family and friends, I've always been determined, I've always been very motivated, but again, I walked into this, not really realizing the full extent of what I was getting into and, but for my family and friends who were there to help and to, you know...It was an entire family raising this child. I wouldn't have been able to do it alone and also with the, the great social workers and the therapists who were also very much a part of it. It was like we had this huge network of people who were all in it together."

Her daughter Ashleigh Akari Nichols is also a Bonus Babies podcast guest and tells her story in episode 11.

To learn more about becoming a foster parent go to
National Foster Parent Association
Adoptuskids.org
Pennylane
The Village Family Services
Kidsave.org

Go to NationalCASAGAL.org
to find out more about becoming a CASA anywhere in the US
and CASALA.org in Los Angeles.

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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Jayne Amelia talks with Teena Festa who is a new CASA volunteer and also a former foster youth. After having a very difficult time in foster care, as well as struggling with mental health and addiction as a young adult, Teena persevered and decided to try and help people like her. On top of being a CASA, she is working on her psychology degree with a concentration on child and adolescent development, and plans to work with children in the system. Teena's experience and  history have provided her with unique insight about the struggles children in the system face. She wants to be the voice that she never had for children who don't have one now.

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Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Tamar, who is also a proud and happy young mother. "I’m Tamar and a sophomore student at Orange Coast College. I am in the process of achieving an Associates degree for transfer in Political Science, Communications, Psychology, as well as Liberal Arts. I am an active member on my campus and am involved in programs such as Guardian Scholars, EOPS, CARE, the speech and debate team, and two honor societies. I am passionate about self-advocacy and social injustice activism, and use my voice to uplift others with my story. For me, success means being able to look back one day... as an elder woman... and reflecting on all the many people I've helped throughout my life."

Doing Good Works
Foster Nation
Fostering Media Connections
Guardian Scholars

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