The Anna Jinja Show
Anna Jinja
The Anna Jinja show focuses on the stories, issues, and questions connected to adoption and foster care experiences.
The host is an international adoptee with biological roots in Korea and adopted roots in the United States. As you can imagine, her journey and experiences as a transracial adoptee are multifaceted. Her experiences have been with the pain of discrimination and rejection as well as the joys of self-discovery and learning to embrace all aspects of her identity.
Along the way, she has discovered that she is not alone. We’re all – in some ways – adopted into or out of homes, cultures, communities, and relationships as we grow and evolve. This show illuminates the theme of adoption, in all ways, in our lives. And how those experiences create who we are and who we are yet to be.
Her hope is that through engaging with the guests and creative content, we are welcomed home in this world, cradled in the belief that we belong, that we are worthy, and that we are loved.
So stay tuned, and you may discover your own adoption story.
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Top 10 The Anna Jinja Show Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Anna Jinja Show episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Anna Jinja Show for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Anna Jinja Show episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Beth Backes & Cathy Lee
The Anna Jinja Show
09/24/24 • 27 min
Finding Your Way: Adoption, Mindfulness, and Poetry
Unraveling the threads of identity, healing, and self-discovery.
Ever felt lost or disconnected? Join us for a transformative conversation that explores the intersection of adoption, mindfulness, and the power of poetry. In this episode, we delve deep into the experiences of adoptees, the healing practice of mindfulness, and the cathartic nature of creative expression.
Our guests, Beth Backes, a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, and Cathy Lee, an English teacher and occasional poet, share their insights and wisdom on finding peace, purpose, and belonging. Discover how mindfulness can help you navigate the complexities of adoption and foster care, and how poetry can serve as a powerful tool for self-expression and healing.
Don't miss this thought-provoking episode. Tune in now!
Creative Content: Poem by Cathy Lee
Is there grace in the silence?
In the pause between clock ticks,
Or when the second-hand pushes us all forward again,
Is that where grace lies?
Is it in the dancing dust particles
Gleaming in the sunbeam?
Is it in the wordless eyes of the dog
Who looks at your face,
Knowing in ways you cannot know?
Is it in the smell
of fresh-cut grass
And the smell
in the binding
Of dried glue
In an old library book?
Is there grace
in the taste of
Bitter and sweet combined?
Is pure sweetness a lie,
not to be trusted?
Is it in the air pulled deep into our lungs,
The soft whish through the nose,
The lift of the chest,
And then it’s heavy fall back
At the end of our exertion?
Is it in the physical pain
From scabbing our knees on the playground,
From falling off our bikes,
The sore muscles when we’ve pushed to the limit,
that reminds us
we are yet still fully alive?
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Jacob Motta & Nick Kizirnis
The Anna Jinja Show
01/28/24 • 28 min
Come join us for an engaging episode featuring Jacob Motta, a dedicated graduate student with a deep love for sports. Delve into Jacob's distinctive take on leadership, his commitment to continuous self-betterment, and how his varied experiences have honed his ability to adapt on the fly, all while contributing to Anna’s passion project. Don't overlook his profound insights, accompanied by the perfect song with a sports theme selected for Jacob by Nick Kizirnis. Tune in to a conversation that delves into Jacob's advocacy for adoption awareness and his aspirations within the sports sector.
Nick Kizirnis explains why he chose this song for Jacob: The song I chose for Jacob is called "Bustin' Golfclubs" and it's one of the first "surf instrumentals" I ever wrote with two of my closest friends almost 30 years ago. At the time I was recently graduated from college and we were all working very hard at making a living playing music, but things weren't going that well. The three of us took a break from the bands we were in and decided to write something for fun, and this is what came out of that.
I thought of Jacob not as much for the sports connection (the band yells "Tee Off!" ih the middle of the song) but because this song was a problem solver for us - ie "how can we put some fun back into playing music" and as it was a new style of music for, we all figured it out together as we created it.
I'll add that not only did we end up writing almost 3 albums in this style, it's some of the most successful music we ever released, with many songs appearing on early reality TV shows and indie films. Who knew?
The experience I had with my friends working together as a team and challenging ourselves opened up opportunities and positive experiences we never thought possible!
Patty Mitchell & Sarah Schneider
The Anna Jinja Show
07/11/23 • 28 min
What do adoption, art, and creativity all have in common? Tune into a conversation with artist, social entrepreneur, and the founder of Passion Works Studio, Patty Mitchell to find out! Patty discusses how she chooses to empower marginalized populations. Passion Works Studio is a place where no voice, no resource, and no region are abandoned as the studio fosters purpose, connection, and belonging.
Sarah Schneider surprise guest (friend) read a piece that she wrote to honor their friendship and ways that Patty makes a difference for others
Holly Marlow & Nick Kizirnis
The Anna Jinja Show
05/09/23 • 28 min
Holly Marlow is the mother of two children, one biological and one adopted, and an author of Delly Duck, a children's book about adoption. Holly discusses with Anna how she became an author and the beauty of different types of families.
Athens CASA/GAL Program & Adam Remnant
The Anna Jinja Show
11/12/24 • 28 min
On this week’s episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we’re diving into the powerful themes of advocacy, resilience, and creativity. Host Anna Jinja welcomes the inspiring the Athens CASA / GAL Program team. These passionate advocates are voices of hope for children in foster care, providing support, stability, and a sense of belonging in some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
And we’re thrilled to share a very special musical feature by Adam Remnant, a multi-talented musician, songwriter, and Athens native. His song, “Curse of Canaanville,” touches on themes of family, resilience, and finding light amid hardship. This song is a tribute to the inner strength needed to overcome life’s adversities – something that resonates deeply with the work of the Athens CASA / GAL Program and the experiences of the children they support.
Join us as we hear inspiring stories and reflections from CASA/GAL’s Executive Director Tara Huffman and volunteer coordinators Carly Ferguson and Jess Chadwell, who share the impact of their work and the compassion that fuels it. Plus, we’re excited to introduce a special young guest, Jack, who joins the conversation and has agreed to write an original song for an upcoming episode!
Tune in to this heartfelt conversation filled with stories, music, and an important reminder: even in the toughest of times, there’s hope, community, love, and laughter!
Guest Links: https://www.adamremnant.com/ https://www.athenscasa.org/team
CURSE OF CANAANVILLE
by Adam Remnant
my mother’s old lantern tolls a light
through the darkness of the night
beyond the shadows amongst the weeds
where the light of town recedes
and since you’ve been gone
I have found you in the strangest of places
and you have been witness to my heart’s changes
so I am indebted to you and your many faces
lighting the way in a world that’s fading
men overtook these branches to feed our iron tongues
they carved their initials into the trunks
they carted them off leaving nothing but sawdust
now mother, father won’t stop drinking, he’s calling on his kin
he’s naming names spitting blood and cursing Canaan
yeah even the saved are forsaken
so I’m going back to the garden where the trees are in full bloom
I’m shaking off the ashes of brimstone and doom
I’m gonna pick a thousand apples in a single afternoon
so it seems the world can be a nightmare with heaven intertwined
men lower the canary down into the mine
but they’re raising up a raven seven times the size
and since you’ve been gone
I have found you in the strangest of places
and you have been witness to my heart’s changes
so I am indebted to you and your many faces
lighting the way in a world that’s fading
I’m holding a lantern that tolls a light
but you are nowhere within sight
so I’m returning on my own
to the place I once called home.
Xander Karagosian & Raymond Obstfeld
The Anna Jinja Show
01/28/25 • 28 min
Discover the transformative power of belonging in the latest episode of the Anna Jinja Show! Join host Anna, a transnational adoptee, as she delves into the stories of those navigating the complexities of identity and acceptance.
Anna speaks with Xander Karagosian, a Liberian adoptee and student athlete at Ohio University, who grapples with his sense of self amidst societal expectations.
Tune in for a heartfelt conversation featuring insights from renowned poet Raymond Obstfeld, who has co-authored the acclaimed book "Becoming Kareem" with basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and has also contributed to the beloved series "Veronica Mars."
Together, they explore the significance of mentorship, personal growth, and the power of creative expression. Don't miss this poignant episode that celebrates the many paths to finding home within ourselves!
Creative Content: Poem
I look at the world
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
I look at the world
From awakening eyes in a black face—
And this is what I see:
This fenced-off narrow space
Assigned to me.
I look then at the silly walls
Through dark eyes in a dark face—
And this is what I know:
That all these walls oppression builds
Will have to go!
I look at my own body
With eyes no longer blind—
And I see that my own hands can make
The world that's in my mind.
Then let us hurry, comrades,
The road to find.
Guest Links:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2879922/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
https://www.amazon.com/Books-Raymond-Obstfeld/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARaymond%2BObstfeld
https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/roster/xander-karagosian/4655
Jeff Wunderly & Dan Canterbury
The Anna Jinja Show
04/23/25 • 28 min
On this week's episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we explore the profound idea that adoption isn't confined to legal documents; it's a fundamental aspect of the human experience. Every day, we actively "adopt" the people who become our chosen family, the values that guide us, and the experiences that mold our identities.
This episode beautifully illustrates this concept through the deeply moving story of Jeff Wunderly, an adoptee who recently reconnected with his biological family. Jeff's journey, filled with the quiet undercurrent of longing and the eventual joy of discovery, is a powerful reminder of the enduring human need for connection and belonging.
What makes this episode truly special is the serendipitous pairing of Jeff's narrative with the evocative song "Love is Never Lost" by Athens, Ohio's own talented musician, Dan Canterbury. Dan's lyrics explore the timeless nature of love, suggesting that even when it seems lost or dormant, it remains within us, waiting to be found again.
Host Anna Jinja recognized the powerful parallels between Jeff's experiences and the themes in Dan's song, creating a truly unique and emotionally resonant listening experience. From the moment Jeff shared his story of a mother's heartbreaking goodbye to his eventual reunion decades later, the echoes of "Love is Never Lost" resonate deeply.
Jeff's vulnerability in sharing his lifelong journey of uncertainty and his eventual search for his origins is both courageous and inspiring. His description of finding his birth mother and the immediate connection they shared is a testament to the enduring power of familial bonds. Dan's music provides the perfect emotional backdrop to Jeff's story, highlighting the themes of love, loss, and rediscovery. The lyrics about love evolving and never truly being lost beautifully mirror Jeff's experience of a connection that lay dormant for years, only to resurface with profound impact.
This episode is a powerful reminder that the yearning for belonging, and the enduring nature of love are fundamental to the human experience.
Creative Content: Song
"Love is Never Lost: by Dan Canterbury
Love is never lost
She sees fine, with no blind spot
Love is never lost
Read the story, memorize the plot
It’s all there, everything we got
Familiar comforts, chosen lots
At some point we pause and calculate the cost
With no changes in our pockets and change cannot be bought
But I don’t think we ever know what we are doing
Half of life is giving, half is losing
We take for granted what goes well
Lay claim as truth to what we tell ourselves
Waiting on time to pick a side
And wishing never pulls you up a hill or makes for any kind of good and faithful guide
And wishing never drives you down the road to where you really need to go
Never kisses you goodnight
(Refrain)
Love is never lost
Read the story, memorize the plot
Once she catches, we are caught
The burn and then the glimmer, then the drop
To flicker further back there in the thought
That love is never lost
But I don’t think we ever know what we are doing
Half of life is giving, half is losing
Waiting on wrong to tell us right
And wishing never pulls you up a hill or makes for any kind of good and faithful guide
And wishing never drives you down the road to where you really need to go
Never kisses you goodnight (Refrain)
And I don’t think we ever know what we are doing
Susan Ito & Devon Halliday
The Anna Jinja Show
06/26/24 • 28 min
We are thrilled to sit down with the incredibly talented Susan Ito, a literary powerhouse with a lifelong passion for storytelling. Susan's journey began with the magic of reading at just three years old and evolved into crafting captivating narratives by the age of six, leaving a lasting impact on the literary world.
Susan is an accomplished writer and the co-editor of the literary anthology "A Ghost At Heart’s Edge: Stories & Poems of Adoption." Her works have been featured in esteemed publications such as The Writer, Growing Up Asian American, Choice, Hip Mama, Literary Mama, Catapult, Hyphen, The Bellevue Literary Review, and many more.
In this episode, we delve into Susan's rich literary journey and explore the profound impact of her work in the realm of adoption and foster care stories. She shares insights from her memoir “I Would Meet You Anywhere,” discussing the importance of embracing her right to know and tell her own story.
Devon Halliday was invited to provide the creative response to Susan’s story. Devon is the daughter of two poetry professors, who grew up in Athens, OH, and studied Comparative Literature at Brown University. After several years in the New York publishing scene, Devon returned to Athens with her husband. Together, they became co-owners of a small local bakery while Devon pursues a fiction MFA at Warren Wilson and her passion for songwriting. Tune in to hear the amazing song that Devon wrote and performed for Susan!
Don't miss this heartfelt and enlightening episode as we celebrate the power of storytelling and the connections that shape our lives.
Devon's Song
I’d Meet You Anywhere – Devon Halliday
Maybe I remind you of a dark time
Maybe you don’t like my forehead creased in your same lines
Maybe it’s water under the bridge
That I can’t help swimming in
Do I haunt you with my patience
Like a jump scare when I meet you at the station
Maybe I’m crying over the same spilled milk that you wiped away
But I’d meet you anywhere
Lips tripping over last time’s excuse
You know I’d meet you anywhere
I’ll keep on collecting the scraps of your truth
Because I’d meet you anywhere
Gone like a ghost, but I’d still meet you anywhere
I lost years in speculation
Triangulating your laugh from my laugh and your face from the faces of strangers
And you’re not what I thought
You’re better, you’re worse, and you’re all that I want
And I’d meet you anywhere
Lips tripping over last time’s excuse
You know I’d meet you anywhere
I’ll keep on collecting the scraps of your truth
Because I’d meet you anywhere
Gone like a ghost, but I’d still meet you anywhere
(I’d meet you anywhere)
If I’m only a secret at least I’ll be kept
(I’d meet you anywhere)
It’s all right if you leave me, you already left
(I’d meet you anywhere)
You can say you don’t need me but here you are again
(You’d meet me anywhere)
Raheem Durfee & Kim Kaler
The Anna Jinja Show
07/31/24 • 28 min
Have you ever felt lost, only to find your way through music?
In this extraordinary episode, we introduce you to Raheem Durfee, a man whose life journey is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. From his adoption in Athens, Ohio, to the emotional rollercoaster of finding his biological family, Raheem's story is one of resilience and hope.
But it's not just Raheem's story that will move you. Talented songwriter Kim Kaler has transformed Raheem's experiences into a powerful, soul-stirring song. Get ready to be captivated as we witness the magic unfold, from the raw emotions poured into the lyrics to the melodies that will stay with you long after the episode ends.
Join us for a journey of discovery, connection, and music. This is more than just a story; it's a testament to the human spirit. Don't miss this unforgettable episode.
Kim Kaler's Song Lyrics:
Love is Thicker
After two hundred seventy four days in this world
I traveled from her arms to theirs
They held me close -- as an oyster holds its pearl
And there was joy in the air
I spent many hours in the garden – mom and me
And we both loved the voices of Loretta (Lynn) and Dolly
Moving men on a field always caught my father’s eye
But I instead was gazing and paintings of the sky
Whispers echoed through the years, no words were said
I never felt at home in the house where the roots spread
Always felt like a faded hue, in the portrait on the wall
Hoping forrrrr/ some connection, big or small
I soon found solace in a kind older man
(And) spent August days, in the sea and the sand
We ambled through jungles to see what we could/might see
Then shared meals of smiles and kimchi
Many years later, I met a girl that felt like home
She prodded me to search for a truth to call my own
I unearthed some others whose eyes --they looked like mine
And we all started making up for (all the) lost time.
CHORUS:
They say blood is thicker than water
But I say love is thicker than both
Ah, Ah,Ah,Ah,Ah,
Ohh love, is thicker than both.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Anna Jinja Show have?
The Anna Jinja Show currently has 79 episodes available.
What topics does The Anna Jinja Show cover?
The podcast is about Identity, Learning, Adoption, Society & Culture, Creativity, Community, Foster Care, Podcasts, Connection, Arts, Diversity and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on The Anna Jinja Show?
The episode title 'Beth Backes & Cathy Lee' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Anna Jinja Show?
The average episode length on The Anna Jinja Show is 28 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Anna Jinja Show released?
Episodes of The Anna Jinja Show are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Anna Jinja Show?
The first episode of The Anna Jinja Show was released on May 9, 2023.
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