The Anna Jinja Show

Send us Fan Mail 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 insig...

Send us Fan Mail Linnea's story is a beautiful blend of nature, arts, and a heart full of passion. Linnea encountered the concept of belonging in the most incredible way – through the Anna Jinja Show! The motif of belonging that runs through the show resonated deeply with Linnea, drawing her into a world where she felt connected and understood.   What makes Linnea truly extraordinary is her c...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on an emotional journey as we delve into an extraordinary life story, narrated by a daughter (Madeleine White) and her mother (Jo Renton). Madeleine, born in Germany with roots in Canada and the UK, is not only a magazine publisher and editor but also the author of 'Mother of Floods' and a poignant poetry collection titled 'The Horse And The Girl.' Both...

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Send us Fan Mail Join us for an inspiring journey with David Bynum, a man whose life story is nothing short of extraordinary. Born and adopted in Columbus, OH, David began his search in 2018 and is currently in reunion with both sides of his biological family. A married father of three and grandfather of six, David is a U.S. Army Veteran and Retired Correctional Officer. Recently retired from coac...

Send us Fan Mail  Introducing Maggie Giansante, an extraordinary student reporter for the Post, driven by a mission close to her heart. Join us as Maggie's dedication to storytelling takes the spotlight, delving into the world of adoption in our upcoming episode. What inspired Maggie to focus on this story? Adoption transcends a mere word; it's a rich tapestry of unique stories. With a s...

Send us Fan Mail Iowa-based artist, advocate and mentor, Jill Wells (she/her) has firmly situated herself within art and advocacy work. A 2005 graduate of Drake University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, she is well known for her dynamic, colorful, and tactile multimedia works investigating race, history, stereotypes, accessibility, and human experiences. By exploring the powerful alignment b...

Send us Fan Mail  | Introducing our remarkable guest, Dr. Joy Stuewe Hoffman, whose superpower is empathy. She passionately believes in the potential for human growth and the profound impact of storytelling. With a diverse background as an educator, loving mom, devoted partner, Korean transracial adoptee, and aspiring baker, Joy brings a unique perspective to our show.  Joy takes pride in being th...

Send us Fan Mail About a week after returning home from a transformative service trip in Honduras, our host received a heartfelt surprise from her stepdaughter - a friendship bracelet and a touching note that read: "I'm so glad that you're now not only part of the Mather family but part of our Honduras family as well." This touching note confirmed her beliefs about adoption – h...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an emotionally stirring and uplifting conversation featuring the host's beloved little sister and the exceptionally talented musician, Milly Raccoon. Together, they'll lead us on a journey celebrating the unbreakable bonds that tie us together, be it by blood or by choice. This episode is a heartfelt testament to the extraordinary power of family, friendship,...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to be captivated as we introduce you to the host's husband, a masterful storyteller who fearlessly plunges into the profound depths of family bonds, the intricate tapestry of identity, and the life-altering connections that sculpt our destinies. In a truly poignant moment, he skillfully recites Mary Oliver's mesmerizing poem, 'The Journey,' seamlessly...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Iris Anderson, a student at Columbia University, Class of 2026, who's on a mission to unravel the mysteries of biology and psychology. But Iris isn't just about hitting the books; she's a passionate writer, weaving narratives inspired by her own life's twists and the fascinating people who surround her. Iris penned an eye-opening article titled, "I Wa...

Send us Fan Mail Writer and poet Rebecca Christain talks with Anna about milestone moments, aging gracefully, and shares her poem written for Anna's adoption story.  The poem was written for the host after Rebecca heard her discuss the questions about her own origin story after hearing other adoptees find out theirs were lies. Rebecca's poem:   Searching for Esau  We all have our book of...

Send us Fan Mail Michelle Madrid, an adoptee empowerment coach who has lived both sides of the adoption experience, shares her the insights that led to Let Us Be Greater , the first book to explore the sense of loss, abandonment, and pain experienced by adoptees to help them heal.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  Do you ever get that feeling deep in your gut that you just can't ignore? A hunch, an instinct, a gut feeling that guides you in unexpected ways?  This is Cathy's adoption story of how her gut instinct led her to finding her biological family. Her story is a testament to the power of intuition and the strength that comes from trusting your gut.  The song "All the S...

Send us Fan Mail Constance Iannetta, #FosterStrong is a foster care alumna, foster/kinship/adoptive parent, and national child-welfare advocate. After aging out at eighteen to many struggles, she found healing in peer-support and purpose in helping others. She is “heart-driven” in making improvements to the system that has impacted her family for many generations.  In 2014, she founded FosterStron...

Send us Fan Mail A Mother (Kim) and daughter (Natalyn) share their adoption story and discuss a few of the annoying questions that people ask adoptees. In 1979, Kim graduated from Iowa State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. At age 40, she returned to school to get her master’s degree in human relations with an emphasis in counseling from the University of Oklahoma. As Kim comes to the end o...

Send us Fan Mail Marian Mathews Clark, author of These Doors and Sixty-Something and Flying Solo , shares how, in the University of Iowa’s Writers Workshop, Marian took a revision class from Jane Smiley, where the participants wrote four drafts of their stories. Marian worked on a story about a foster sister but couldn’t pin it down. With each version, instead of getting closer to pinning it down,...

Send us Fan Mail  Dr. Erin Morgenstern's conversation centers on adoption, defined as the transitive verb to take by choice into a relationship. Erin shares her thoughts about the family we are assigned and the family we adopt into our lives. She shares her passion for the pursuit of higher learning and a community that was once a source of pain. Tune in to find out how Erin came to accept an...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the story you've believed your entire life turns out to be a lie?   For 40 years, Amanda Assalone Cho believed she was given up for adoption because her birth mother was young and financially unable to raise a child. Then she received an email that changed everything.   The truth? She was adopted from Seoul, South Korea simply because she wasn't born a...

Send us Fan Mail Bruce Dalzell was raised in Athens County Ohio and he describes himself as a child of clashing cultures. Where the Appalachian coal fields meet a large state university and its citizens of Cleveland and Cincinnati, one part hillbilly one part crooner, he invests more in songwriting and creating a supportive environment for songwriters than promotion. James Taylor, Bruce Cockburn,...

Send us Fan Mail Wendy and Emily are mother and daughter who help the host connect to her middle name "Jinja" in a unique way. Anna has struggled with her middle name because it has been a source of embarrassment and discomfort. The name Jinja was assigned to her by the international adoption agency and her adopted parents kept it as her middle name. She included the name in her show as...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Frank Gaertner is the Senior Associate Director of Academic Advising at the Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Anna and Dr. Gaertner discuss his 35 years career in academic and student affairs where he works primarily with South Korean students, and how it informed his dissertation. Kim Hanken, a previous guest, serves on the board of Korean Cultural Connection of Iowa. Kim s...

Send us Fan Mail 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, connecti...

Send us Fan Mail What do an earthquake, the San Andreas Fault, pizza, and an opera singer who is an adoptee have to do with our guest, Debra Rentz, and Athens Poet Laureate, Stephanie Kendrick? Tune in and find out! Support the show