The Anna Jinja Show
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.
Episodes
Full Circle: A Mother, Son, and the Music of Belonging
This week's episode features both Diane and her son Levi Merrill for an intimate conversation about adoption, identity, and what it really means to create family through choice and unconditional love. Levi, a gifted singer-songwriter, producer, and guitar teacher, opens the episode with a performance of Dan Bern's "Jerusalem"—a quirky, vulnerable song that e...
What does it mean to truly change the world? Sometimes it starts with creating spaces where people belong.
Join us on The Anna Jinja Show as we sit down with Aidan Curran—a video producer, community builder, and passionate advocate for connection. From his work at the University of Dayton to co-advising the Asian American Association and serving on the Virtual Engagement Committee for The Park Adoption Community Center, Aidan embod...
Have you ever felt caught between two worlds—not quite belonging to either, yet somehow belonging to both?
This episode of The Anna Jinja Show explores this profound experience through a conversation with Dr. Susan Branco and Meredith Francom.
What you'll hear: Dr. Branco, a Colombian adoptee, licensed counselor, and researcher, shares her personal journey alongside her professional insights. The conversation centers on the &...
The Unexpected Path to Family: A Story of Patience, Faith & Perseverance
In a world that often moves too fast, Kreig and Jillian Prior's story is a powerful reminder that some of life's greatest blessings arrive on their own timeline.
After learning in 2005 that they couldn't have biological children, Kreig and Jillian didn't immediately pursue adoption. Instead, they hosted 15 international exchange student...
From Struggling to Thriving: The Power of Choice in Your Adoption Story "
Single mom struggle. I'm just going to struggle. This is going to be my story."
Until one day, Rebecca Del Pozo said: "Nope. It can be different."
In this deeply personal follow-up conversation, Rebecca Del Pozo shares how she transformed her mindset from scarcity to abundance—and how you can too.
In this episode, discover:
- Why bei...
"Where Am I From?" A Conversation About Belonging, Identity, and Home
"Where are you from?" It's one of the most common questions we ask when meeting someone new. But for adoptees, for those in mixed-race families, for anyone who doesn't fit the "traditional" mold, this seemingly innocent question can feel like an interrogation—a challenge to prove your belonging.
In the latest episode of T...
"I Am Here": A Conversation on Adoption, Heritage, and Cultural Identity
How do we honor stories that some would prefer to erase? What does it take to raise children across racial lines in America? And how can art preserve what history tries to forget?
In this episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we explore these profound questions with two guests whose personal and professional missions are deeply intertwined with heritage, ...
The Anna Jinja Show brings together adoptees across generations for a powerful discussion on surviving—and thriving through—life's most difficult transitions
There's a moment in every young person's life when the world feels like it's consuming them whole. The pressure to fit in. The confusion about who you are. The rage at being different. For adoptees, these universal struggles carry an added weight.
Ell Pyle is...
When an 11-Year-Old's Courage Inspires a Country Song This episode will restore your faith in the next generation!
Her story begins with heartbreak. When Saily was just 11, she experienced two consecutive days of racist bullying at her Des Moines school. A group of boys said things so hurtful that she broke down. Her mother, Rohey, received a call from the principal. Both mother and daughter were heartbroken. But what happen...
You know those conversations that start in one place and end up somewhere completely unexpected—somewhere even more profound than you imagined? That's exactly what happened when the host, Anna Jinja, brought together Dan Smith (Cleveland Adoption Network's 2019 Volunteer of the Year) and Nashville singer-songwriter Milly Raccoon.
Here's what you need to know: This episode is about adoption—but it's also about s...
Picture this: You're driving to Cleveland to meet your girlfriend's new foster baby. You walk up the stairs, knock on the door, and when it opens, the two-month-old LEAPS from her arms into yours. That's exactly what happened to Yvan Demosthenes 25 years ago. And it changed everything.
This episode is special for three reasons:
1. It shows how connections happen in unexpected places The introduction that led to th...
What does Wi-Fi have to do with hope?
Everything, as it turns out.
Host Anna Jinja sits down with three incredible changemakers who are quite literally connecting foster youth to their futures. Laurie McKnight, Jeremy Jenkins, and Tim Henderson are bridging the gap between young people aging out of the foster system and life-changing careers in the broadband industry.
Here's what will blow your mind: ✨ Jobs starting at $40K-$6...
Sometimes the most powerful episodes come from the most unexpected sources. This week, we're thrilled to share a special episode guest-curated by 11-year-old musician Jack Healey. After his mother, Tara Huffman (Executive Director of Athens County CASA/GAL), appeared on our show, Jack volunteered to write a song and select guests for his own episode.
Meet Jack's Guests: Gabe and Abby Miller Jack chose his 5th grade teac...
Rebecca Del Pozo's Journey from Adopted Child to Millionaire Real Estate Mom Sometimes the most beautiful stories begin with what looks like an accident. At 18, Rebecca Del Pozo applied for non-identifying information about her biological family - standard procedure for adoptees in Canada. What came back was supposed to be scrubbed of any identifying details. But someone forgot to remove one crucial piece: her biological mothe...
From Foster Care to Father of 10
Some songs are written to be heard. Others are written hoping they'll somehow travel through the airwaves to reach someone who may never know they exist.
Joe Toles wrote "Dreamin'" as the second kind - a lullaby from a boy in foster care to a mother he'd never met, hoping his voice might somehow find her across the distance and let her know he was thinking of her.
When Stories Become Data: How Two Researchers Are Uncovering the Transformative Power of Adoption Narratives
That's exactly what Dr. Melissa Rizzo and Dr. Joe Bianco are exploring in their new research project—a qualitative analysis of The Anna Jinja Show’s episodes focusing on adoption and foster care experiences.
In this episode, they discuss:
- How they're analyzing guest narratives to identify themes around i...
"Light and Shadow: Cooking Up Bright Futures for Foster Youth" It started with a simple question Tom Stevenson asked the host: "Do you remember a time when you made a dish for somebody, something really special that you were connected to? And then you shared that with someone else?" Anna Jinja told him about her love for baking: she brings chocolate chip cookies to those she asks for a favor, explaining that the...
Sometimes the most profound stories are told in the simplest words. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Boyle shares not just her adoption journey, but the raw, beautiful poem she wrote one week after meeting her birth mother for the first time.
"Reunion Day" begins: "I watched her like a silent movie and picture photograph, trying to memorize the way she spoke and the throaty way she laughs." Those words, written by a ...
From Sleepless Nights to Healing: When Adoption Parenting Feels Impossible "It's a very isolating life. You almost feel like you're not worthy, that you're the one doing everything wrong." - Liz Garcia
If you've ever found yourself lying awake at 3 AM wondering if you're failing as an adoptive parent, you're not alone. In our latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we dive deep into the raw ...
Full Circle, Full Moon: An Adoption Story
How three remarkable women turned a foster-to-adopt journey into a song that celebrates the unexpected beauty of non-linear love
In a world that often expects stories to follow straight lines, the latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show reminds us that the most beautiful narratives often move in circles – complete, perfect, and exactly as they should be.
The Song That Says It All: "On...
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