The Unexpected Path to Family: A Story of Patience, Faith & Perseverance

In a world that often moves too fast, Kreig and Jillian Prior's story is a powerful reminder that some of life's greatest blessings arrive on their own timeline.

After learning in 2005 that they couldn't have biological children, Kreig and Jillian didn't immediately pursue adoption. Instead, they hosted 15 international exchange students over the years—an experience that unknowingly prepared them for their true calling.

In this episode of The Anna Jinja Show, they share: → How hosting Thai students led to a life-changing trip to Thailand → Navigating international adoption at ages 43 and 39 (when age limits made it "now or never") → Building bonds across language and cultural barriers → Supporting children with different attachment styles and special needs → Creating a family united not by biology, but by profound, enduring love

Key takeaway: "Don't let fear stop you. To see these kids grow and thrive is such a gift. The way they have grown me and changed me is a gift from God."

Whether you're considering adoption, navigating family challenges, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation offers wisdom about patience, faith, and the many forms family can take.

And Musician and pastor Chris Smith shares his creative perspective through song.

Guest Links:

https://www.ohio.edu/ucm/about/staff/smithc25 https://www.holtinternational.org/thailand-older-child-adoption/

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From Struggling to Thriving: The Power of Choice in Your Adoption Story "

Single mom struggle. I'm just going to struggle. This is going to be my story."

Until one day, Rebecca Del Pozo said: "Nope. It can be different."

In this deeply personal follow-up conversation, Rebecca Del Pozo shares how she transformed her mindset from scarcity to abundance—and how you can too.

In this episode, discover:

• Why being rooted in truth and love creates an unshakeable foundation
• The surprising connection between trust and financial success
• How to "act as if" you're already the person you want to become

The simple question that changed everything: "Is that really true?"

Whether you're an adoptee, in the foster care system, or simply someone who's ever felt like they don't belong—this conversation will remind you that you have the power to choose your story.

"We have so much power in the way we think about ourselves and in the way that we approach other people. We have choice to decide—today's going to be different than yesterday."

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"Where Am I From?" A Conversation About Belonging, Identity, and Home

"Where are you from?" It's one of the most common questions we ask when meeting someone new. But for adoptees, for those in mixed-race families, for anyone who doesn't fit the "traditional" mold, this seemingly innocent question can feel like an interrogation—a challenge to prove your belonging.

In the latest episode of The Anna Jinja Show, host Anna Jinja explores this complex question with Jade Amez, an Asian-American children's book author whose debut work, "Where Am I From?", transforms her personal adoption journey into a story that validates experiences rarely represented in children's literature.

More Than a Place: Understanding Home Jade's journey began in high school when she started exploring her roots, eventually connecting with her birth mother years later. But her story isn't simply about finding biological connections—it's about redefining what family means and creating space for children to understand their own complex feelings about identity and belonging.

"We shouldn't be defined by where we live or where we grow up," Jade shares in the episode. "While those may be parts of how we identify ourselves, we're so much more than that."

A Creative Interchange: When Music Meets Story What makes this episode particularly special is the creative collaboration at its heart. Music therapist Caitlin Kraus, LPCC-S, and musician Brad Swiniarski came together for their very first songwriting collaboration to create an original song inspired by Jade's book—also titled "Where Am I From?"

The song's lyrics beautifully capture the complexity of identity: "Less of a place than who keeps me company" "All that meets the eye, more than what you see" "All that's in-between—and that's where I'm from" "I wanted her to feel like it honored her story," Caitlin explains. "The idea of home and the idea of family can mean so many different things to different people, and it's important to ask questions in an intentional way."

Why Representation Matters Growing up, Jade rarely saw books featuring adoption, mixed-race families, or the full spectrum of emotions that adoptees experience. This absence inspired her to write the book she wished she'd had as a child.

Asking Better Questions So how do we ask about someone's origins without making assumptions or causing discomfort? Jade suggests reframing the question entirely: "Where's home for you?" "Where did you grow up?" "What would you like me to know about you?" These alternatives open conversation without presupposing answers or invalidating someone's experience.

Listen Now Whether you're an adoptee, a parent, an educator, or simply someone who wants to create a more inclusive world, this conversation offers insights into fostering belonging for everyone. Jade's book is available at whereamifrombook.com and wherever books are sold. And yes—there are hidden dumplings throughout the illustrations.

About the Guests: Jade Amez is an Asian-American children's book author, traveler, hockey and soccer player, and self-proclaimed dumpling enthusiast. Her debut book addresses topics absent from her own childhood reading.

Caitlin Kraus is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Board-Certified Music Therapist whose work encompasses therapy, songwriting, and community music-making.

Brad Swiniarski is a musician, father, and creator of The Bozniak Radio Extravaganza show on Radio Free Athens (WOUB 1340AM), with over 30 years of songwriting experience.

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"I Am Here": A Conversation on Adoption, Heritage, and Cultural Identity

How do we honor stories that some would prefer to erase? What does it take to raise children across racial lines in America? And how can art preserve what history tries to forget?

In this episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we explore these profound questions with two guests whose personal and professional missions are deeply intertwined with heritage, justice, and belonging.

David Butcher, Executive Director of the Tablertown People of Color Museum, shares his family's journey from slavery to freedom in Ohio, and offers invaluable wisdom as a father of two adopted children navigating questions of race, identity, and belonging.

Paisha Thomas, artist and founder of Land of the Freed nonprofit, uses music and activism to reclaim her ancestors' story—freed people who were violently denied 3,200 acres of land they rightfully inherited in 1846.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The challenges white parents face raising Black children and how to address them honestly
• Why cultural immersion is essential, not optional
• The power of museums and art to preserve what systems try to erase Resources for families, educators, and anyone committed to antiracism work

David shares a profound story about his white friend who adopted Black children and couldn't stop crying the first time he attended their biological family's church—the moment he finally felt what his children had been experiencing for years.

Paisha reminds us that so much of American culture originates from Black communities yet gets rebranded and its origins erased. Her song and her nonprofit work are declarations of presence and resistance.

This conversation offers wisdom for adoptive families, educators, museum professionals, and anyone who believes that knowing our full histories—the beautiful and the painful—is essential to creating a more just future.

Guest Links: https://tablertownmuseum.org/ https://www.paishathomasart.com/

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The Anna Jinja Show brings together adoptees across generations for a powerful discussion on surviving—and thriving through—life's most difficult transitions

There's a moment in every young person's life when the world feels like it's consuming them whole. The pressure to fit in. The confusion about who you are. The rage at being different. For adoptees, these universal struggles carry an added weight.

Ell Pyle is a young adoptee, talented singer, and barista at Donkey Coffee. For this episode, members of the local band Basket Case prepared something special: they selected one of their own songs for Ell and recorded a message explaining why.

The song? "Eaten Alive."

"I wrote this song about feeling like I was kind of being eaten alive by all these emotions and all these changes," explains Izze Kaukonen, vocalist for Basket Case and herself an adoptee. "If you don't take a second to take a step back, it really can eat you alive and it can be all-consuming."

But why this song for Ell?

Izze continues: "A lot of that feeling of being eaten alive was feeling like kind of other, like another. And a lot of that definitely came from being, you know, a minority, being adopted, just having a unique life experience in contrast to your peers."

The Advice That Transcends Age

What emerges from this conversation is wisdom that applies far beyond the adoptee experience or teenage years.

On owning your difference:

"You got to own that you are different than the people around you, because that is an awesome thing, truly," Izze shares. "I used to be so ashamed of it. But then I started just being myself. And it makes you so happy to just be yourself."

On accepting love during difficult times:

Cass Wilhelm, Basket Case's other member featured in the episode, reflects on their own turbulent teenage years: "The only really advice that I can think of is to try your hardest to fall back on that love and to accept the love... I think that for anyone that's in that state, lashing out and feeling really frustrated and pissed off, I think that it's easy to forget how important love is."

On finding community:

When asked what advice she'd give to struggling adoptees, Elle offers this: "Their inner circle is called an inner circle because there are more circles that you can go out and branch out to. If you feel alone, you can find your community."

The Universal in the Specific

While this episode centers adoptee experiences, its themes are universal. Who hasn't felt different? Who hasn't lashed out at the people who love them most? Who hasn't wondered if they'll survive the transition to the next phase of life?

As host Anna Jinja notes, "This song is timeless for how life can feel like you're going to be eaten alive, but we can get through it if we can get through it together."

Why This Matters

In a world that often isolates us in our struggles, episodes like this remind us that connection is the antidote. Whether through music, conversation, or simply being seen by others who understand, we find our way forward.

Elle's closing message to her parents captures the heart of the episode: "Thank you for being my parents. My real parents raised me, took care of me, punished me when I did stupid things. And you stick by me even through the highs and lows."

And to adoptees everywhere, she offers: "You're not alone."

Why you should listen:

Whether you're 16 or 60, adopted or not, this conversation speaks to the universal experience of feeling "other" and the power of community to help us through. It's honest, vulnerable, and ultimately hopeful.

Plus, the song absolutely rocks.

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When an 11-Year-Old's Courage Inspires a Country Song This episode will restore your faith in the next generation!

Her story begins with heartbreak. When Saily was just 11, she experienced two consecutive days of racist bullying at her Des Moines school. A group of boys said things so hurtful that she broke down. Her mother, Rohey, received a call from the principal. Both mother and daughter were heartbroken. But what happened next is remarkable.

From pain to purpose With the support of her family, Saily wrote a speech processing her feelings. Then came illustrations. Then, despite her initial resistance ("I'm 11. I'm not going to write a book"), she created "Rise mindfulness and finding their voice.

A song inspired by courage In our latest episode, recorded in my home state of Iowa at KHRY studio, I did something special. I introduced Saily to 18-year-old country musician Neva Alden and asked Neva to write an original song inspired by Saily's story. Neva read the book over 20 times. The result? "She Spoke Anyway"—a haunting ballad that Neva performed live in our studio: "She wasn't made for silence. She wasn't built to break. Turned every wound into something she could make."

This episode features a powerful intergenerational conversation:

Saily sharing how she continues to face backlash for speaking up

Her mother Rohey (who immigrated from Gambia, West Africa) processing her own childhood experiences with discrimination

Her grandmother Tracy reflecting on raising a Black daughter and granddaughter in Iowa

Neva opening up about being "different" in high school The wisdom these young women share will stay with you. As Neva says: "She was literally 11 years old when she wrote a book and decided, oh, I'm going to make a difference. It should be a sign for people not to just give up."

Why this matters Saily's message isn't just for children facing bullying. It's for all of us:

• Anyone who's ever felt too small to make a difference Parents supporting children through difficult experiences
• People who've responded to others' success with jealousy
• Anyone needing a reminder that our voices matter

As Saily beautifully puts it: "There will always be someone trying to bring you down... But the thing that I always tell people is that you need to use your voice because you have a strong, powerful voice."

This episode will make you cry, inspire you, and remind you why young people are often our greatest teachers. And if you know a young person who needs to hear this message—or an adult who does—please share this with them.

P.S. Saily Bah's book "Rise Above: How to Turn a Negative Situation into a Positive One" is available on Amazon. It's a powerful resource for any young person navigating challenges—and for the adults supporting them.

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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

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Picture this: You're driving to Cleveland to meet your girlfriend's new foster baby. You walk up the stairs, knock on the door, and when it opens, the two-month-old LEAPS from her arms into yours. That's exactly what happened to Yvan Demosthenes 25 years ago. And it changed everything.

This episode is special for three reasons:

1. It shows how connections happen in unexpected places The introduction that led to this interview? It came from a conversation about napkins between two colleagues. (You'll have to listen to hear the full story, but trust me—it's delightful.)

2. It redefines what family means Yvan and his wife Linda (who he'd known since age 10!) weren't even married when Michael came into their lives. Six years passed before they wed, but the family bond was instant and unbreakable. Today they have three children and a relationship built on choice, not just biology.

3. It offers wisdom we all need As someone serving on 13 nonprofit boards with a Doctorate in Education, Yvan brings incredible perspective to parenting, leadership, and community building.

His advice for prospective adoptive parents? "Allow yourself to be in the moment. Use the enthusiasm to begin and get yourself through the journey."

We also featured something super cool: Lori Bauer joins the conversation to share how she accidentally became the connector who made this episode possible. It's a beautiful reminder that we never know the ripple effects of our relationships. The episode includes a stunning poem about connection that will make you think differently about every person in your life.

As poet Kadambari Madhok writes: "We all are connected, isn't that great? We can hold hands and heal each other in despair and in pain."

Why this matters to YOU: Whether you're adopted, considering adoption, or simply navigating relationships in your life, this conversation offers powerful insights about:

• Recognizing the families we choose
• Showing up consistently through challenges
• Embracing unexpected opportunities
• Building connections that transcend biology

Michael is now 25 with his own girlfriend, navigating young adulthood while his dad watches proudly (and admittedly keeps tabs on where he lives!).

The love, humor, and honesty in Yvan's storytelling will stay with you long after you finish listening.

Guest Links:

https://www.hamiltondemo.com/about
https://eyesopeninternational.org/yvan-demosthenes/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-bauer-5905661b/

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