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 30,000 children. Lane's raw, honest account reveals the emotional rollercoaster of emergency placements, court battles, and the painful uncertainty that foster families endure.
Meet Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation, who brings decades of expertise to explain why Lane's story matters and what needs to change in our child welfare system.
And meet Bruce Dalzell, the gifted musician who was so moved by Lane's story that he composed an original song titled "Future" - a haunting tribute to the universal experience of parenting and hope.
Why This Episode Will Move You
This isn't just another adoption story. It's a masterclass in resilience that reveals:
•The shocking realities inside America's largest foster care system
•How love persists despite institutional barriers
•Why advocates say the system hasn't changed since 2006
•The creative power of storytelling to drive social change
Lane's memoir reads "like a made-for-TV story" according to Rita, filled with layers of family history, cultural identity, and the complex intersection of LGBTQ+ adoption rights. Yet it's painfully real - a testament to the thousands of families fighting for permanency every day.
The episode includes Bruce's original song "Future," inspired by Lane's words: "In our children's laughter, we hear our future." It's a moment that will leave you breathless.
Who Should Listen
•Prospective adoptive parents seeking honest insights beyond textbook training
•Current foster families who need to know they're not alone
•Social work professionals wanting to understand the family perspective
•Anyone who believes in the power of love to overcome systemic challenges
•Music lovers who appreciate how art can transform personal stories into universal truths
This episode proves that adoption stories aren't just about the children - they're about the adults who choose to open their hearts despite uncertainty, and the communities that must support them.
Listen now and discover why Anna Jinja believes we all experience adoption in our lives - actively choosing the people, values, and experiences that create who we are.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.