The Anna Jinja Show

In this deeply moving episode, host Anna Jinja sits down with Anna Sheffield, a young adoptee from Iowa City, and her mother, Kristin Cotterell Sheffield, to explore the layers of identity, belonging, and love that define adoption.  

The conversation flows between mother and daughter perspectives—offering both honesty and tenderness—as they recount their family’s adoption journey, challenges of transracial adoption, and the resilien...

Finding Home in Two Worlds: Max's Journey from China to Minneapolis and Beyond: A Story of Courage, Identity, and Belonging  

What does it mean to belong when you're caught between two worlds? In this deeply moving episode of The Anna Jinja Show, host Anna Jinja sits down with Max, a Chinese-American adoptee whose story challenges everything we think we know about family, identity, and home.  

Adopted from Northern China at...

From Heartache to Hope
In our latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, host Anna Jinja brings together three extraordinary voices for a conversation that will change how you think about adoption, family, and resilience.

Meet Lane Igoudin, the author whose memoir "A Family Maybe" chronicles his and partner Jonathan's journey through the Los Angeles County foster care system - the largest in the nation with ...

Simon Benn's Vision: How Your 250 Words Can Transform Adoptee Lives | 

The moment that changes everything often looks ordinary. For Simon Benn, it was learning at age 40 that his childhood teddy bear came from his birth mother. "A volcano of anger erupted," he shared on The Anna Jinja Show. That moment launched him into a journey that would eventually help thousands of adoptees thrive. Now, Simon is asking for somethi...

Step by Step, Bit by Bit: How Two Women Created a Community of Love for 30+ Children

What started as children visiting friends turned into something extraordinary. Linda Sistrunk and Lish Greiner never intended to become unofficial foster parents. But when children in their community needed safety, love, and stability, their home became a haven.

Over the years, more than 30 children have found refuge in their converted six-bedroom ho...

An Adoptee’s Story of Courage, Connection, and Coming Full Circle 

Kristina's journey isn't just about going back to Kazakhstan – it's about the universal human need to understand where we come from and how that shapes who we become. 

Her story begins in a baby house in Taldikorgan, moves through multiple placements, and eventually lands in Ohio, where she was adopted by Signe Denbow at age eight.  

The Weight of Multip...

Like Dandelions: How Two Women Redefine Belonging and Family
The Anna Jinja Show welcomes Meredith Jensen and Sydney Roberts for a conversation that blooms with unexpected wisdom

There's something magical about discovering that your family story isn't what you expected—it's better. In our latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we sit down with communication professional Meredith Jensen and her cousin Syd...

Finding Home in the Journey: When Life Takes Unexpected Turns 

The latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show proves that some of the most profound conversations happen when strangers discover their stories are beautifully intertwined.  

An Unlikely Connection 

Host Anna Jinja brought together two guests who had never met but shared remarkably similar experiences of early family disruption and the journey to find belonging.  

Roxanne Malè-B...

The Five-Minute Bond: Part 2 – Unraveling the Threads of Fate  

The story of Shannon and Jan captivated listeners in Part 1, leaving us with the warmth of a bond formed in just five powerful minutes. But what happens when the hidden threads of fate begin to unravel, revealing even deeper connections?  

In Part 2 of "The Five-Minute Bond," we delve further into the incredible journey of Shannon and her birth mother Jan, expl...

The Five-Minute Bond: A Story of Serendipity and Family  

What would you do with five minutes that could define a lifetime?  

In our latest episode, we share the remarkable story of Shannon, who discovered that her 16-year-old birth mother made one powerful demand before signing adoption papers: five minutes alone with her newborn daughter. Just five minutes - but in those moments, a bond was formed that would reshape two families fo...

Crown Up: A Journey of Self-Love and Identity with Levia Hartman  

Join host Anna Jinja for an inspiring conversation with motivational author and poet Levia Hartman, whose extraordinary journey from foster care survivor to published author embodies the true meaning of resilience and self-acceptance. After moving through five different foster homes from age 11 to 18, facing rejection and instability while navigating life without her...

Complicated Love: A Military Family's Journey Through Three Adoptions 

Join us for an emotionally enriching episode of the Anna Jinja Show, where we delve into the universal experience of adoption and how it shapes our identities. Hosted by international adoptee Anna, this episode features special guests Jay and Kate, who share their unique journey of adopting three children while navigating the challenges of life in the milita...

This episode of the Anna Jinja Show showcases a powerful creative collaboration between photographer Richard Dickerson and singer-songwriter Don Baker. Born from Anna Jinja's innovative storytelling workshop, the episode reveals how artistic expression can transform personal narratives into vehicles for healing and connection. 

Richard bravely shares his journey through addiction and recovery, which Don masterfully translates i...

Finding Purpose Through Music and Empathy  

This episode welcomes musician Levi Merrill and guest Finn for a heartwarming conversation about the search for belonging. Levi's performance of "Drive-In Movie" by Ellis Paul provides the backdrop for a discussion about the places and experiences that shape us.  At a CASA event, Anna was inspired by a presentation given by a young person who had benefited from CASA's s...

Out of Touch, Into Belonging: Lily Sager’s Adoption Journey 

In our latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we delve into the profound themes of identity, belonging, and the multifaceted nature of family through the remarkable story of Lily Sager. 

A Journey Across Continents and Cultures 

Adopted from South Korea at just six months old, Lily's life journey began with a transcontinental flight into the arms of a loving white famil...

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...

Here at "The Anna Jinja Show," we believe that belonging isn't just found, it's actively created. It's in the connections we forge, the values we embrace, and the experiences that shape us. And sometimes, the most profound sense of belonging comes through the power of story.  In our latest episode, host Anna Jinja welcomes a truly remarkable voice: Kari Gunter-Seymour, the Poet Laureate of Ohio and an Acade...

In our latest episode, we are thrilled to introduce Anna Sheffield, a captivating guest whose story showcases the beauty of self-discovery and the importance of community. As an adoptee and the first Black member of her family, Anna has navigated the complexities of identity, belonging, and empowerment throughout her life.

 Growing up, Anna found solace in music, performing in church choirs, and eventually pursuing her passion for f...

In this episode of the Anna Jinja Show, we delve into the emotional depths of identity, loss, and discovery through the lens of the song "Skylight" by Pinegrove. This week, we are joined by Cat Powell-Hoffmann, a published fine artist, writer, and Moth Mainstage storyteller, who shares her powerful story of learning about her parents' death via email—a revelation that profoundly shaped her identity as an adoptee.

Cat’...