The Anna Jinja Show

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.

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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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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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We’re beyond thrilled to welcome Susan Strong—a powerhouse writer and open adoption advocate whose journey will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about family. Her memoir, One Yes at a Time: How Open Adoption Transformed Our Family, reveals the raw, heartwarming, and eye-opening experiences that reshaped her family through love, trust, and openness.

But that’s not all! Susan’s career has taken her from the iconic MTV studios in New York to literary acclaim in Dayton, Ohio, with over 40 years of powerful storytelling under her belt. Now, she’s ready to share the secrets behind forming real connections with her kids and their birth families, the incredible lessons learned along the way, and how her media-savvy background shapes her unique perspective.

And there’s more—Colin, our talented audio engineer and musician, selected the perfect song, Dog, by his band, Goth Dad, which captures the loyalty and connection that define Susan’s adoption journey.

Don’t miss this episode packed with heart, art, and transformative stories that will leave you inspired!
Creative Content/Song
Dog by Goth Dad
i wanna walk with you
go wherever you tell me too
cause you know just what i need
we don't even have to speak
always come running when you call
you know i'll be there like your dog
i'll be your something new
you don't deserve what you've been put through
our feet pressing on the concrete
we don't even have to speak
always come running when you call
you know i'll be there like your dog

credits

released December 21, 2019
Recorded at Blue Sky Studios in Jackson, MS
Engineered/Produced by Will Foley
Mix/Mastered by Will Foley

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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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