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.
The Anna Jinja Show
Lane Igoudin & Bruce Dalzell
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.