Dan Smith & Milly Raccoon

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 so much more. It's about the universal human experience of searching for where we belong while learning to appreciate where we already are.  

Dan's Story: Dan walked into his first adoption support group meeting and couldn't even drive home afterward. He sat in his car, overwhelmed with tears, knowing he had to return. That meeting became the catalyst for his journey into both finding his birth parents AND becoming a dedicated volunteer who now facilitates support groups himself. His wisdom about taking your time in the search process is something everyone needs to hear (whether you're touched by adoption or not).  

Milly's Music: Then there's Milly Raccoon, who wrote "The Fine Art of Taking It Slow" while performing on an empty street, imagining a diamond buried in the earth that no one knows is there. Her Patsy Cline-esque vocals and soul-searching lyrics created the perfect soundscape for this conversation.  When Dan heard the song for the first time during our recording, his reaction was pure magic.  

The Surprise Guest: And here's where it gets even better—we had a surprise third guest, Beth Miller, whose story about a stranger whispering "please don't give up" at an adoption conference will absolutely wreck you (in the best way).   

What You'll Learn: Why rushing to find biological family can be a harmful experience ·  The non-physical similarities that bring the most joy in reunion ·  How helping others becomes its own healing journey ·  Why playing to an empty street taught a musician about presence ·  The wisdom of the "adoption constellation" and how it applies to all of us  

Why This Episode Matters: Whether you're directly touched by adoption or simply someone who's ever felt like you're searching for something you can't quite name, this conversation will resonate. It's about learning to slow down, to appreciate what's right in front of us, and to recognize that we all carry diamonds within us—even when they feel buried in darkness. 

 Creative Content  

The Fine Art of Takin it Slow Song by Milly Raccoon  

A diamond has been hiding, buried in the earth
 And under constant pressure since the moment of her birth
 Miners try to find her to behold her precious gleam
 But darkness overtakes them and she was but just a dream  Time is passing like a freight train through some lonely country town
 We can watch from behind our windows, wondering where it might be bound
 Or you could lie beside me, darling, in the candle's dancing glow
 Where the secret's just a gentle touch and the fine art of takin it slow  We all keep our list of reasons to extinguish a burning love
 Fire's wild and needs constant tending; nothing ever is enough
 And we cannot know the future until the moment's past
 Take me back to the night I met you, before the spell was cast  Time is passing like a freight train through some lonely country town
 We can watch from behind our windows, wondering where it might be bound
 Or you could lie beside me, darling, in the candle's dancing glow
 Where the secret's just a gentle touch and the fine art of takin it slow