The Anna Jinja Show

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

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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.

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Are you ready for a captivating journey that intertwines personal discovery and creative expression? This episode dives deep into the world of storytelling, unveiling how it can spark creativity in the most unexpected ways! Join us as we introduce two extraordinary individuals who are on a remarkable journey of connection and inspiration.

Meet Drew, a passionate storyteller whose life changed with a simple 3x5 notecard revealing his adoption. This pivotal moment set him on a path of self-discovery, deeply rooted in his Menominee Native heritage. Through dance, writing, and an unwavering commitment to his culture, Drew embodies resilience and creativity. Plus, this episode is extra special—it was Drew’s birthday when we recorded this interview! 🎉

On the other side of this creative spectrum is Ryan, the talented mastermind behind the band Natural Sway. Known for his diverse albums and introspective lyrics, Ryan has taken Drew’s poignant journey and beautifully translated it into a moving song that captures the essence of his experiences. In this episode, you’ll hear firsthand how Drew and Ryan collaborated, the creative process behind the song, and the challenges they faced along the way.

Prepare to be inspired as they share their insights, emotions, and the powerful connection forged through art. And don’t miss the debut of Ryan’s song inspired by Drew’s incredible story! 🎶 Tune in for an episode filled with inspiration, creativity, and a celebration of heritage. It’s a powerful reminder of how our stories can connect us and evoke deep emotions. You won’t want to miss it!

About the Song in Ryan’s words:
My inspiration for this piece led me to create an acoustic guitar instrumental track that features spoken word from Drew. I’ve been interested lately in working on audio-narratives that bridge the gap between story and song. I recorded the guitar on an old reel to reel tape machine. When he and I met last week, I recorded him saying each of his names and mixed it into my composition. So that’s the only “lyrics.” I’d like to send the file to you and/or the engineer to play during part C. of the episode - we could possibly talk briefly about the process and what I hoped to convey with it. Drew’s story and his willingness to share it definitely got my creativity going. I made a second instrumental piece thinking about my meeting with him that I am working on. Thanks for inviting me on your show, looking forward to it.
When I met with Drew, he told me a story about driving a great distance to find his father and almost getting turned away with no answers. Then, the sound of a door and a kind woman walking out to change it all. I imagined being outside of that door and looking in on those crucial moments and I hope my work reflects some of this inspiring story.

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In the latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, host Anna Jinja shares an emotional and deeply moving conversation with Malinda Hamm, the passionate advocate and author behind This Is Mine, My Story, My Life. With over 19 years of experience in social work, Malinda has poured her heart into supporting children and families, fighting relentlessly to keep children connected to their culture, community, and kin.

Malinda opens up about her journey in compiling the raw, unfiltered stories of individuals who’ve endured the foster care system, leading to the creation of the 90/Ten Project. This initiative is more than just a collection of stories—it’s a powerful effort to give back to the youth who’ve been through the system, offering them hope, support, and a voice.

Joining the conversation is Sheniqua, one of the brave contributors to Malinda’s book. Sheniqua courageously shares her personal story, recounting the profound pain of losing her grandmother and the struggles she faced while navigating a system that often felt cold and unforgiving. Now, at 31, Sheniqua is turning her pain into power, using her voice to advocate for change and to ensure that others don’t have to endure the same hardships.

This episode is a powerful testament to the resilience of those who’ve survived the foster care system and a heartfelt exploration of the importance of keeping children connected to their roots. It’s a call to action, urging listeners to join the fight for system change and to support those who are working tirelessly to create a better future for foster youth.

Don’t miss this deeply emotional episode, filled with raw stories, heartfelt reflections, and a powerful message of hope and change. Tune in to The Anna Jinja Show to hear Sheniqua’s story and discover how Malinda’s work is making a life-changing difference in the lives of countless children.
Creative Content:
Things may seem bleak at times....
In difficult times, we are made more aware
Of the resources that we have within ourselves
And therein lies our peace.
Peace is not the absence of conflict.
It comes from the ability to cope with that conflict.
Bear Heart (1918-2008), and Molly Larkin, from “The Wind is My Mother”

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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!

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