Janeane's first cheerleader...sam Bernstein
This very special man was my father. I lost him December 4, 2015 to stage four colon cancer. When I moved in with him at age 16, I had no idea he had a hilarious repetorie of character voices, which would later inspire me to pursue voice acting. He taught me to find the funny in everyday life, and not to be discouraged by failure. I was blessed because he believed in me more than I believed in myself, and encouraged me to try anything I could imagine. "Someday you'll get your doctorate" he would say. By age 28, I did. His work ethic, drive, spirituality, and tough exterior was nothing compared to the size of his heart.
A special thank you to the NY Times for publishing the story I wrote about my father. If you would like to learn more about Sam, click here.
ABOUT Janeane
Janeane Bernstein, EdD, is a journalist, media host, author, and mental health advocate who believes connection—not information—is what changes people. Her career has been anything but linear, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
As a child, Janeane dreamed of being a radio DJ, listening for hours to WPLJ, while navigating a home life shaped by her mother’s struggles with mental health and substance use. Those experiences, and her own healing journey, became the foundation for her work and advocacy.
She studied voice acting in Boston and Los Angeles, honing skills that would help her professionally as an on-air host. In 2007, Janeane began at KUCI 88.9 FM, hosting a music show called Momz Rock the House, before launching
Get the Funk Out! in 2011—a public affairs program born from personal loss that became a platform for curiosity, resilience, and growth.
During the pandemic, she created Outside the Box, an interactive mental fitness series designed to replace passive programming with meaningful engagement. Her philosophy is simple: students are the engine of change—she provides the framework.
Janeane graduated from Syracuse University, studying at the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the School of Education, and earned a doctorate from Boston University. She was selected for a 2021 Columbia University Journalism Fellowship to attend the Age Boom Academy at the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center. In 2025, she founded Outside the Box Institute, a social benefit organization with a bold mission: ending loneliness, building connection, and inspiring better humans.
She is a proud member of the Television Academy, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Women in Film, and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).
Contact
Press & Media Inquiries:
Press inquiries, author interview requests, book tour information or other media or publicity appearances publicity@posthillpress.com & info@otbseries.com.