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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Fischer Wallace & Stephanie Kendrick
The Anna Jinja Show
10/22/24 • 28 min
Join us on The Anna Jinja Show for a powerful exploration of creativity and connection! This week, photographer Fischer Wallace and Athens' Poet Laureate Stephanie Kendrick share their collaboration journey, blending photography and poetry to tell deeply personal stories.
Discover how their artistic pairing inspired Stephanie’s moving poem, "A Prayer for Distortion," weaving themes of trust, vulnerability, and personal growth. Stephanie Kendrick is the 2023/24 Poet Laureate of Athens, Ohio. She is the author of In Any of These Towns (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2022) and serves as the editor of the local poetry newsletter Periodical Poetry. With a Master’s in Social Sciences from Ohio University, Stephanie is deeply involved in her community, including through her work at the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Her poetry has been published in notable journals such as Gyroscope Review, Still: The Journal, and Poets Reading the News.
Fischer Wallace is a talented photographer and mental health advocate, employed with the Athens Photo Project, where she explores the intersection of art and recovery. Through her work with Recovery Reframed, Fischer harnesses the power of visual storytelling to reframe narratives around mental health, offering new perspectives on healing and resilience. Her photography is deeply personal and reflective, using creative expression as a means to foster connection, challenge stigma, and inspire others on their own recovery journeys.
Fischer's dedication to both her art and advocacy makes her a powerful voice sharing why art works and why it matters. Whether you're passionate about visual or literary arts, this episode will inspire you to see the world—and yourself—through a new lens. Don't miss it!
Creative Interchange:
Poem Dedication: This piece is dedicated to Fischer Wallace with Athens Photo Project.
Prayer for Distortion
I think of you and your lens— how you might capture a memory
How you mish catch all the shadows in this room, blend them to make space for the light.
There is magic here, in this space between you and me, what is created when we sit together-
the solace of shared stor, enutter steady
the air we breathe and the way we share that, too.
I think of you and your lens, consider my own fears of exposure-Have you heard you have a gift?
A composer of every noise that holds a
you are a visual weaver, storyteler, artist.
There is magic here
and by magic I mean trust, and by this I mean I trust you-
to see me, distort me into my own new woman.
Guest Links:
https://www.facebook.com/athenspoetlaureate/
https://athensphotoproject.org/people/bio/fischer-wallace/
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.
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
Rita Soronen, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption & Brad Swiniarski
The Anna Jinja Show
09/17/24 • 28 min
This week, our program brings together two extraordinary people: Brad Swiniarski, a self-taught musician, songwriter, and recording engineer, and Rita Soronen, the President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita has dedicated over three decades to advocating for abused, neglected, and vulnerable children, ensuring they find safe and permanent homes. Under her leadership, more than 140,000 children in foster care across North America have found forever families.
Brad, moved by Rita's life-changing work, composed a song called "My Welcome Mat," which beautifully captures the essence of kindness and compassion fostered through Rita’s groundbreaking initiatives. Her leadership in child welfare, particularly with programs like Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, has made an immeasurable impact on the lives of countless children.
Join us as Brad shares his heartfelt song, followed by an inspiring conversation with Rita about her lifelong mission to create homes for children in need. This episode is a celebration of music, kindness, and the relentless pursuit of justice for our most vulnerable.
Don't miss this meaningful episode where creativity meets advocacy!
Guest Link:
https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/board-staff/rita-soronen/
Song Lyrics:
MY WELCOME MAT by Brad Swiniarski
Seems that my memory, well, it ain't what it once was. I might be a can short of six.
But I'll always remember us living so lowly. We were hungry, dirty and sick.
If you should ask it I'd tell you the story. Spin you that yarn very long.
But as we're constantly told we are dying alone I'm not up for singing sad songs.
If I had a dollar I'd spread it around and share it with everyone else.
No paybacks required. All debts are retired. If I could I'd lend out my health.
(instrumental break)
Strong talk has tempted and taken you over only to hammer you flat.
Don't be one to spare my front door the wear. Come stepping on my welcome mat.
If smart rains fall steady and break down your chevy, The dough boy keeps poking you back.
And you ain't got the power to pull what you've loaded come stepping on my welcome mat.
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.
Sheniqua & Malinda Hamm
The Anna Jinja Show
08/27/24 • 28 min
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”
Joy Castro & Albert Rouzie
The Anna Jinja Show
07/10/24 • 28 min
Join us as we welcome Joy Castro, an acclaimed author whose literary thrillers set in post-Katrina New Orleans have captivated readers worldwide. Joy's personal adoption story and her poignant short story, Giving Jewel Away, featured in the anthology A Ghost at Heart's Edge, offer a deeply moving exploration of longing, love, and the search for origins. Alongside Joy, we are honored to host Albert Rouzie, a multi-talented musician with roots in New Orleans and a life journey that spans North Carolina, Portland, and Texas. Albert, with his diverse musical career and heartfelt connections to adoption through his nieces and nephew, will enchant us with his soulful compositions, including a special performance of his song I Will Never. From the evocative narratives crafted by Joy's pen to the stirring melodies composed by Albert, this episode promises an unforgettable exploration of art and the human experience. Tune in to hear their inspiring stories, their creative processes, and their reflections on how art can foster compassion, understanding, and a sense of belonging. Join us for a journey that celebrates the power of creativity and the connections that unite us all.
I Will Never by Albert Rouzie
I will nevers are piling up
I will never have good standing posture.
I will never go to Transylvania.
I will never
Love another the way I love you.
I will never return to the land of my birth,
Nor see Haley’s comet pass by the Earth,
Never learn to play the jazz guitar, or sight-read music notation.
I hope you never doubt it’s true:
I will never love another
The way I love you.
I’ll never say never when never is all there is.
We may never sing on the same wavelength,
Yet we vibrate so harmoniously,
And I hope you believe
I will never love another
The way I love thee.
Forever I will never. Forever never.
Ever never, never ever, forever
I will never hike the Appalachian Trail,
Run bravely forward as bullets hail.
Never see a socialist head of the States.
What you need I will never naysay.
How can I say no when you look at me that way?
We will lose everything that we’ve got.
Yet our love will roving play,
Like children sent out into the world,
Our love will spread far and wide.
A seed with warmth and water will ever abide.
I hope you never doubt it’s true:
I will never love another
The way I love you.
Guest Links: https://www.joycastro.com/#bio https://albertrouzie.bandcamp.com/album/late-for-the-war
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!
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Anna Jinja Show have?
The Anna Jinja Show currently has 59 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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