At eighteen, Anna receives an envelope that changes everything. Her adoption records. Inside: names, a letter from her mother, and the first clues in a decades-long search for identity and connection. As always, the episode closes with a touch of relaxing music to lighten the day.

Anna sits down with songwriter John Kirby in this introspective and quietly playful episode, to explore the structure and rhythms that shape his songwriting, the art of revisiting unfinished work, and the transformative power of self-kindness. From spreadsheets to sea shanties, they unpack what it means to return to something with new eyes, and why sometimes, the second, third or fourth drafts hold the real magic.

In this richly layered episode, host Anna Blair sits down with Canadian musician Bill Wood, whose career spans decades, from fronting 70s pop-punk band The Oh No's! and 80s alt-pop act Eye Eye to leading the soulful, roots-rock collective Bill Wood & the Woodies. Bill opens up about the mystery and magic of songwriting, his daughter’s brief but powerful musical chapter, and the soulful resonance of songs born from real-life heartbreak and hope. He shares how his experiences, from addiction recovery to two decades of volunteer work with marginalized youth, have shaped not only his music but the man behind it. The episode wraps with a playful rapid-fire round and a moving performance of “Tumbleweeds,” a song rooted in Bill’s deep connection to the street-involved youth he’s worked with. A testament to the enduring link between lived experience and lyrical truth.