nci: Recent Episodes
VoiceAmerica
Responsibility connects your life to a bigger story. To gain responsibility is to gain awareness. Joven Hundal and Kenneth Jeon read chapters from Be the Star You Are!® (www.CynthiaBrian.com/books) and then interview the leading voice on the power of the “go the extra mile” message, Shawn Anderson. In 2009, in order to symbolize the "go the extra mile" message, Shawn Anderson (a non-bicyclist) pedaled 4,000 miles ocean-to-ocean, interviewed 200 people along the way whom had been identified as having gone the extra mile, and then gave $10,000 of his own money to the people and organizations whose stories most inspired him. The momentum of this unique day has continued to build each year since, and on November 1, 2018, 552 mayors and cities made the "Extra Mile Day" declaration and recognized the value of the extra-mile volunteers who were making a difference in their community. Be responsible for yourself and others and go the extra mile.
Would you love your family to feel more relaxed, centered, and grateful? Joven Hundal and Jack Pawlakos interview Deborah Myers, an energetic Acupressurist and Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner who has taught thousands of adults and kids self-help acupressure. The Daily Clean Your House Flow is an easy to use flow that is effective for reducing stress, providing pain relief and strengthening the immune system. Deborah created an animated video of the Daily Flow to address a need for youth of all ages to enjoy more stress-free lives. (www.deborahmyerswellness.com) The Gift of Gratitude from the new book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World is read and discussed. Kenneth Jeon brings another installment of a film that exemplifies thankfulness.
Wishing everyone a Thanksgiving filled with joy, health, and gratitude. Thank you from the STAR Team at Express Yourself! and Voice America Kids network.
When Alise Cortez shares her information, the world is motivated! Jack Pawlakos and Siri Phaneendra host a program that begins with the Gift of Radio chapter by former Express Yourself! host, Henna Hundal from the book by show producer, Cynthia Brian, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers.(Buy copies with FREE shipping at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store) Alise Cortez (www.alisecortez.com) enlightens audiences with her astute insight into building a life of purpose, at home, at play, and at work. The teens learn how to find their passion and purpose to be their best unique selves with guidance from coach Alise. Jack wraps up the hour with his Trends without Ends segment by talking about trends that can help us be more purposeful and productive such as implementing the “Two Minute Rule”. If you are looking to be inspired to find your passion and discover your purpose, you have come to the right place. Join our hour of power!
In her American debut, English teen pop star, Lydia Singer, chats with Express Yourself! hosts, Jack Pawlakos and Joven Hundal about her journey into the music world. Inspired by the trials and tribulations of teenage-life, 16-year-old Lydia inspiringly put together this EP, Rebellious Teen, while studying for her exams, and sings about the roller coaster of feelings she has experienced. We listen to her single, Out of Control. Jack, an accomplished harmonica player, reads the chapter he wrote for the new book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, about his legendary performance at age 12 playing music with some of the world’s leading harmonica musicians at a mega event. Siri Phaneedra weighed in about the benefits of listening to music to distress, focus, and be healthier. Tune to listen to Lydia Singer as a young English chanteuse is born as a USA sensation. Express Yourself! launches a teen STAR in Lydia Singer.
Joven Hundal, Jack Pawlakos, and Kenneth Jeon don their invisible cloaks to dive deeply into the motivations behind scary movies, Halloween history, and Trick or Treat trends. Kenneth Jeon brings us his 20/20 Vision with insight about Night of the Living Dead plus three funny, light-hearted films including Shaun of the Dead, What We Do in the Shadows, and TV show, Gravity Falls. In World Watch, Joven goes back in history to the origins of Halloween in Celtic Ireland where costumes were made out of animal skins and animal heads as masks. In Trends without Ends, Jack brings us the current Halloween costume trend: “Ugly Halloween Sweaters”, a one off of the “Ugly Christmas Sweaters” tradition. Halloween is big business with costumes, decor, anf candy. This year it is predicted 185 million people in the United States will be celebrating Halloween, and the total spending for decorations, costumes, and treats for this frightening fun ends up at a whopping nine billion dollars!!
With anything you attempt, you can become competent in as few as 20 hours, or achieve excellence in 10,000 with practice. Jack Pawlakos and Joven Hundal host an insightful program on the importance of positive practice. The chapter of The Gift of Practice by Brigitte Jia from the book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. Brigitte recounts the consequences of not preparing for an important audition. Award winning author and nurturing writing coach Dallas Woodburn reads her chapter, The Gift of Gentleness, then offers advice for young aspiring writers as she shares personal experiences with being gentle and positive with creatives. Dallas helps people give birth to the books that are burning inside them through her acclaimed 90-Day Book Breakthrough Program (www.yourbookbreakthrough.com In Trends without Ends, Jack provides the research on the necessity of practice. The biggest hurdle to mastering any skill is yourself!
Work/life balance is the hot topic these days as so many working people burn out after years on a job they hate. What’s the answer? More play time! Hosts Jack and Siri read chapters from two books in the Be the Star You Are! series penned by Cynthia Brian that will pump your energy and get you singing happy times. In Trends without Ends, Jack shows us studies on play that offer six skills that are built when we play. Joven chimes in suggesting that our favorite ways to “play” could be in sync with a potential career option.Surround yourself with playful individuals who tap into their inner clown. Give yourself permission to invite leisure and purposeless pleasure into your routines. No matter how old you are, incorporate play as an integral part of your daily life, both at home and at work, and you’ll find yourself happier, healthier, and a beacon of positivity. Being earnest and being playful are not antonyms. To be successful, we need both traits. Take a break. It’s recess time.
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill
We can view our glass as half empty or half full. We will all have days that we just want to crawl under the covers and hide our heads. Joven Hundal and Jack Pawlakos set the tone by reading Cynthia Brian’s chapter, The Gift of Optimism from the newly published book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers . Author Lehman Riley who writes books for kids to help them overcome difficult situations with his Papa Lemon series joins the conversation. A racially diverse group of caring kids travel back in time to learn about our nations heritage and their own importance in the world. Kenneth Jeon talks about optimism, in relation to one of his favorites movies: The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Accept the rockiness of life. Make the best of your happy moments and they will get you through as they replay in your mind. Smile and look up!
? Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.? Albert Einstein
The choices each individual makes every day contribute to the health or the sickness of our earth. One of the most important things we can do for ourselves and for our children is to bring nature into our daily routines. hosts Joven Hundal and Jack Pawlakos read the Gift of Nature by Cynthia Brian from Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating the Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. They then interview Day Schildkret, founder of Morning Altars to discuss the connection of nature with art. Day has built nature-based art installations at festivals and venues globally. He works weekly with teens and believes they are the most important generation and the most burdened. Kenneth Jeon looks at nature through the lens of a camera with informative tips on how to capture the emotion inside the photo. Nature is the way into the new world.
Hosts Joven Hundal and Jack Pawlakos launch the eye-opening third installment in the Be the Star You Are!® book series, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. Cynthia Brian answers questions about how the book was created to bridge the gap in the generations. Joven reads the two chapters that he wrote for the book, The Gift of Appreciation and The Gift of Community. Jack reads his chapter, The Gift of Music. Kim Carlson, a contributor to Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS joins the group to read her chapter, The Gift of Re-Discovery. To hear each author read his/her chapter brings the words to life. Contributors to this book herald from many races, religions, regions, and political viewpoints. All believe that challenges lead to growth, Buy books now at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store with 100% of the proceeds outreach projects of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 including the radio broadcast, Express Yourself!
Is there a secret to longevity? Hosts Joven Hundal and Jack Pawlakos investigate how to live a long, meaningful life. They interview the award-winning author, Mack Borgen who talks about Volume I in his book series Dead Serious and Lighthearted -The Memorable Words of Modern America,1957 to 1976. The books will help lift the spirit of our country to lessen the discord and rancor of our national conversation.while enticing readers to study history. In the chapter on Longevity from the new book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers we learn that, although there are no guarantees in life, by embracing a healthy lifestyle filled with love, laughter, hobbies, recreation, friends, and family we can decrease the cellular deterioration leading to premature aging caused by stress. In Trends without Ends, Jack looks at the aging population and prospects for the future with advances in gene therapy, technology, medicine, and artificial intelligence.
Increasing and improving literacy is a mission of Be the Star You Are!® Joven Hundal hosts this program launching the show with the chapter, The Gift of Literacy by Kimberly Morgan from the new book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers (buy autographed copies at www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store) 36-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 5-time GrandSLAM champion, bestselling author, and award-winning teacher, Matthew Dicks, provides perspective on the power of storytelling in his book,Storyworthy. Storytelling is a skill that helps us in every aspect of our lives. Matthew encourages finding a story in the simple moments of living. Reporter Kenneth Jeon talks about the importance of pictures and visuals to increase literacy as they are generally more accessible and easy to understand. He asserts that Videos and pictures provide an alternative, probably more appealing medium to which people can relate the words they read and from which people can practice their analytical skills.
Joven Hundal hosts a lively hour focused on leadership. He reads and dissects chapters on leadership from new book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomer as well as the first book in the series, Be the Star You Are! 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference. Father/daughter co-authors of two books, Dave and Jessie Gerber, offer insights on leadership strategies for all ages. Their goal is to help kids, parents, and families stay safe while having the ability to talk about a difficult subject with more ease…and see actually how to get it done! Leadership means being responsible for yourself and your charges. Successful leadership skills don't just happen; they come as a result of a determination to earn them. A leader's job is to inspire, to motivate, to make it easy to do the right thing. A good leader knows how to gather the most intelligent and knowledgeable people for the task at hand, then get out of their way and let them create magic.
Siri Phaneendra hosts this broadcast focusing on language. Language is how we communicate. Reporter of 20/20 Vision, Kenneth Jeon, reminds us that languages aren’t just limited to spoken or written words. He brings us examples of film language. Guest authors Wayne Kealohi Powell in Hawaii and Patti Miller in British Columbia, Canada cultivate the spirit of Aloha with their book Hawaiian Shamanistic Healing. Aloha refers to the divine spirit of love that flows through all things. Caitlin Sim offers that language is how we communicate with one another, and how we express our desires and wants. She dissects the 1960s, Flowers for Algernon, showing the struggle between intellect and emotion, between being considered “smart” and having meaningful relationships with others.
“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savour their songs” - Nelson Mandela
Host Katie Choo introduces our newest host, Siri Phaneendra who begins the show by talking about how kindness knows no boundaries. She gives examples how teens can offer acts of kindness in small ways to express gratitude and caring. The organization she began to help terminally ill children is called You and I Give. Guest author, Ann Todhunter Brode explains how to discover how to listen to, understand, respect, and work with our body’s innate wisdom in everyday living with A Guide to Body Wisdom. Learn how to deepen your intuition and spirituality, enhance your creativity and personal power, become more emotionally savvy, and heal old wounds. Joven Hundal rounds out the hour with a fascinating segment of World Watch focused on diplomacy Joven believes that diplomacy is analogous to kindness in that it is a way to promote peace, cooperation, respect, acknowledgment, and kindness.
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Mother Teresa
While maintaining a healthy diet and exercising is crucial to a healthy lifestyle, studies have proven that being joyful is just perhaps even more crucial. Not only does it reduce stress, but having a positive attitude actually makes you far more productive. Hosts Jack Pawlakos and Katie Choo discuss the difference between happiness and joyfulness, offering personal thoughts on how they find joy in their life. It can be playing with your dog, watching the stars, listening to crashing waves, baking a cake. The hosts read two chapters, the Gift of Joyfulness and the Gift of Integrity from the anthology, Be the Star You Are!® Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World by Cynthia Brian. Siri Phaneendra shares how nature and meditation brings joy to our lives. We need to get away from social media and electronics to balance our daily life through allowing nature to be our teacher. Step outside and feel the joy!
Integrity is being honest and showcasing strong moral principles, even when no one is looking. Hosts Katie Choo and Jack Pawlakos interview reporter Siri Phaneendra and author Alice Boyes to delve into reality of having integrity. Siri believes that we must reflect on our behavior and speech every single day and be truthful. Dr. Alices Boyes offers simple strategies to get out of your own way and enjoy your life more with her newest book, The Healthy Mind Toolkit. She helps us overcome self-sabotaging habits in domains including thinking and self-talk. self-care, organization, money, work, and relationships. Jack ends the hour discussing the recent decline in people’s integrity attributed to increased usage of social media and electronics making it easier to get away with actions that are not moral. A positive example of integrity was with the recent rescue of the boys and coach trapped in a flooding cave in Thailand. Everyone worked together for the common benefit of all.
Is there a balance between foresight and hindsight. Are we stuck in the past? Can we learn from our mistakes, move on, and improve our futur? Hosts Katie Choo and Joven Hundal interview Jan Mundo who shares her powerful, personalized, comprehensive program to relieve migraines in The Headache Healer’s Handbook. In step-by-step instructions, she helps readers discover and prevent the triggers and patterns that perpetuate their headaches and migraines stop their pain and transform their lives. In her caring and compassionate voice, she makes her techniques accessible to both occasional headache sufferers and those who have long felt misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Reporter Siri Phaneendra provides insight into hindsight as an opportunity to get to know yourself, to be patient with yourself, and to ultimately love yourself. Debuting as a reporter, Kenneth Jeon brings a new segment called 20-20 vision by talking about the special way films provide an avenue for reflection.
Host Joven Hundal deals with the topics of Independence as well as Summer to celebrate both the beginning of summer as well as the Fourth of July. Joven reads the chapter by Express Yourself! producer Cynthia Brian and explores her journey to find the true meaning of freedom and as she goes behind the Iron Curtain in the USSR, Latvia, and Poland. Next, Joven interviews authors Helga Hedgewalker and Estelle Daniels, who have come out with the book Color a Magic Spell: 26 Picture Spells to Color and Manifest. They talk about what exactly magic and spells are, how similar they are to positive thinking and reinforcement, and how to best tailor your experience with their coloring book to improve your well-being. Finally, reporter Caitlin Sim brings back her segment Ode to Literature where she talks about the classic novel Their Eyes were Watching God. She discusses the themes behind the novel, the novel's relevance today, and the context in which it was first published.
Health is a diverse topic with many nuances to explore. Hosts Joven Hundal and Jack Pawlakos do just that in a Gift of Health edition of Express Yourself! The teens start the program with an edition of Jack's segment Trends without Ends, where they discuss both positive and negative health trends regarding teenagers and the general populace. They go on to interview HIIT pilates instructor and wellness coach Melanie Kotcher as she discusses her line of work and how she first got into it. They learn how pilates can affect all aspects of one's life, and how to improve their own well-being through different coaching processes that Kotcher champions. They also discuss how to best motivate people, especially teens, to exercise and yearn to improve themselves. Finally, Joven and Jack interview new reporter Siri Phaneendra about the art of meditation and how to best tailor one's own meditation experience to meet their desired needs.
“For it is in giving that we receive.” ― Francis of Assisi
Sometimes our wishes and fate connect while the universe does the rest of the work. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal start the program by reading former host and multi-talented teen journalist’s chapter, The Gift of Giving from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, They share their experiences with being generous, giving, and helping the less fortunate. We then travel to Greece to hear of the synchronistic experiences of American novelist Alysia Helming as she unveils the first book in the Protogenesis Book Series. In Protogenesis: Before The Beginning, cultural fiction and ancient mythology converge in modern-day Greece. Before Alysia traveled to Greece for research she found a photo online of a man for whom who protagonist is modeled. Coincidently she meets the man, Kostas Martakis, an award-winning Platinum Greek Recording Artist.
“Grace is what picks me up and lifts my wings high above and I fly! ― C. JoyBell C.
What is grace? Is it as the dictionary defines the noun as a smooth movement or goodwill? Is it politeness or a divine allotment of talent or blessing? Host Joven Hundal tackles this ethereal subject with grace! Brand new reporter, Siri Phaneendra describes her life with dancing the Bharatnatyam. She says that “with my hand gestures, I can depict anything from a lion to the feeling of superiority to a lotus or even an elephant.” Siri shares information about her nonprofit, You and I that provides services for terminally ill children and her A.I. app. Joven reads two chapters about grace, both written by Cynthia’s. Cynthia Cheong wrote a chapter for the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers, and Cynthia Brian wrote the chapter for the original book in the series, Everyday brings opportunities for grace — open your heart and let grace shine in.
“For it is in giving that we receive.” ― Francis of Assisi
Sometimes our wishes and fate connect while the universe does the rest of the work. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal start the program by reading former host and multi-talented teen journalist’s chapter, The Gift of Giving from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, They share their experiences with being generous, giving, and helping the less fortunate. We then travel to Greece to hear of the synchronistic experiences of American novelist Alysia Helming as she unveils the first book in the Protogenesis Book Series. In Protogenesis: Before The Beginning, cultural fiction and ancient mythology converge in modern-day Greece. Before Alysia traveled to Greece for research she found a photo online of a man for whom who protagonist is modeled. Coincidently she meets the man, Kostas Martakis, an award-winning Platinum Greek Recording Artist.
When is being gentle a strength and when, if ever, is it a weakness. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo tackle this big question with reporters Joven and Henna Hundal. We hear the chapter, The Gift of Gentleness, by Dallas Woodburn from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® Millennials to Boomers read by Brigitte and Katie who recall coaches who were critical and hurtful. Many times the tiny voice in our heads is cruel to ourselves. In World Watch, Joven focuses on the negativity we encounter daily from news sources and encourages us to subscribe to positive, truthful journalism. Henna recounts her volunteer work at a Children’s Hospital where it is critical to treat infants with tender care. We all need to embrace gentleness, compassion, and understanding while offering words of encouragement and support to others. And of course, give yourself the same courtesy and love.
If you ate today, you have a farmer to thank. As of the last census, only one percent of Americans are farmers. With the global population expected to exceed nine billion by 2050, farmers will have to grow sixty percent more food to feed the masses. Who and where will these additional farmers come from?
From a farming family, Henna Hundal returns from Harvard University to co-host with Brigitte Jia about this crucial topic. The program begins with a reading from the forthcoming book, Be The Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers: Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices written by Cynthia Brian and continues with the thoughts of our hosts on the importance of re-introducing our technological society to the graces of an agrarian life. Farmers are disappearing. Henna was raised on an almond farm in central California and the pride that her family takes in feeding the world. Brigitte offers an insightful look at farming through Art Attack.
If you want to eat, grow your own food!
Brigitte Jia hosts a fascinating episode focusing on the benefits of communication. Courtney Cheng’s chapter, The Gift of Communication from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers by Cynthia Brian sheds light on the challenges communicating via text, email, and other tech sources can be, especially when navigating relationships. Author of numerous books, Dr. Tina Tessina, plus the 4th edition of How to Be a Couple and Still Be Free, joins Brigitte for a fun discussion on how to create open and honest communications with others by first knowing exactly what you want out of every experience. Dr. Tessina encourages couples to work together to create a loving, sustainable, healthy, and equal partnership to be treasured. Brigitte ends the hour by offering tips on staying in touch with friends from school during breaks or after graduating through establishing connection networks, both social media and closed platforms. Cherish the face to face time and be real!
“The more of me I be, The clearer I can see.” Rachel Archelaus
Do you have clarity of purpose and direction? Host Brigitte Jia launches the program with the chapter on Clarity pennedby Bud Bilanich from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers by Cynthia Brian. Your definition of success is what’s right for you – not anyone else. Bud advises to take time and think about your clarity of purpose. How do you define success for yourself? Keep that purpose and definition of success in mind as you make life and career decisions. The book “Bye, Bye Black Skin” by Janae Washington touches on the challenges young black women and girls have encountered and have to overcome. It’s an uplifting story about a young Black girl who goes to a predominantly other race school and is teased because she looks different. Her mother shows her how to overcome bullying and love herself and the skin she’s in. We may look different, but we are the same inside. Clarity is beautiful!
Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal start the show with Zahra Hasanian’s Hope Heals segment to discuss her activism implementing diversity at her school through her EquiTeam program. Zahra works passionately to move the campus forward with a progressive empathetic vision. Author and blogger, Lee Wind joins the conversation with his soon-to-be published (October 2018) crowd funded book that was too controversial for traditional publishers, Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill. It’s the book Lee wanted to read when he was a teen. “To fix his life, a bullied and closeted 15-year old boy goes public with real historical evidence that Abraham Lincoln was in love with another guy—triggering a backlash and media firestorm that might destroy everything he cares about.” A snippet of Maria Wong’s chapter, the Gift of Diversity is read explaining how she grew up Chinese Mexican. Diversity is essential. Different passions, interests, and beliefs are what will make the world a better place
“When ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls.” Anais Nin
Joven Hundal hosts a fascinating program that speaks to the elements of escape. He reads Malika Demings chapter from the new book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World where she writes about escaping from a turbulent childhood environment and her dreams of the future. J. Finn Wake joins Joven with her first novel, Cry of the Seals, which is all about communicating with our friends under the sea and how that would change our lives. Scientific research has recently been conducted on how dolphins speak to one another, and the idea of possibly communicating with these marine mammals is potentially transformative. In World Watch, Joven examines the plight of refugees as millions upon millions of people are displaced from their family homes. Be encouraged that escape is possible. Enjoy an escape under the sea.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” - Martin Luther King Jr
“Any instance of inequality is worth writing about, sighing about, crying about, even laughing about,” writes Zahra Hasanian in the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers that host Joven Jundal reads and discusses in this important episode about equality. Joven interviews author Mary DeMocker about her book The Parent’s Guide to Climate Revolution, 100 ways to build a fossil-free future, raise empowered kids, and still get a good night’s sleep. Mary shares dozens of ideas and activities to be part of this necessary revolution to reduce impact on the earth. In Ode to Literature, Caitlin Sims talks about how people use books as a platform to convey a message about society, specifically exploring the social inequality in Harper E. Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
Family IS everything! Today’s episode of Express Yourself! with hosts Joven Hundal and Katie Choo brings the importance of family to the forefront. They first read the chapter by former EY host Asya Gonzalez from Cynthia Brian’s forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!-Millennials to Boomers Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World then interview the energetic award winning author of several books, Dorothea Jensen. Her newest book is A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, and “buss” means a kiss from the historical figure Lafayette. Her first historical novel for kids, THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM, is still being used in classrooms around the U.S. Dorothea regales listeners with fascinating stories of her life as a writer of fun family historical fiction. In the final segment Joven and Katiue read a heart wrenching story published by radio host Brigitte Jia about parents stratospheric expectations of their children and how children attempt to live up to them.
“There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid. “ L .Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Courage is not just physical bravery. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal launch this episode by reading the chapter, The Gift of Courage by Afsana Rahman from the forthcoming book, Be the Star you Are! Millennials to Boomers Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World by Cynthia Brian. Afsana writes about the courage of speaking up about any injustice. We cannot stay in silence. Author Rebecca Donovan guests to share her passion for writing for teens to give them a voice. Her newest stand-alone novel is What If. What if you had a second chance to meet someone again? What choice would you make? Rebecca Donovan advocates for young people to be able to express themselves with courage. There are different types of courage, ranging from physical strength and endurance to mental stamina and innovation. Be courageous!
“The vision is that people should have the ultimate in convenience. Being able to get the things they care about.” Bill Gates
Millennials don’t remember a time without all of the tools of expediency. We are steeped in comfort and convenience while waiting anxiously for the next exciting invention that will enhance and augment expediency. Hosts Joven Hundal and Brigitte Jia read Cynthia’s Brian’s chapter, The Gift of Convenience form the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers and theyinterview dating and makeover expert Kim Seltzer to help people work on image, charisma, and flirting. Everyday is different as she works with clients to boost their self esteem. She does virtual makeovers helping men and women all over the world unveil their most attractive self. Whether it’s updating your image or transforming your dating life, her philosophy is simple… work from the inside-out to achieve your goals and boost your self-confidence.
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
It’s a time of rebirth. A renaissance of nature. Winter has waned and spring has sprung. Cherry blossoms, daffodils, and warmer weather are finally here. Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal begin th program with Robert Frost’s poem, “A Prayer for Spring”. Then read Cynthia’ Brian’s newspaper article, “Spring Forward” as they converse about what springs means for them. They also discuss political events of spring and a world view of what’s occurring. Katie Choo brings “Aim to Shoot” talking about college visits during spring break, standardized school testing, stresses that await, and most of all what it means to her¬¬––archery season.
Whatever springs means to you, listen to the croaking frogs, inhale the fragrant air, and take pleasure in this time of year!
Pick up a copy of Cynthia Brian’s newest book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener for a happy dose of spring tips at http;//www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store
Do you live in a big city or a small town? Consider the constants in your life that are unique to your community. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo read and discuss Joven Hundal’s chapter The Gift of Community from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! for Millennials and Boomers. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a nation to build that village, and a world to found that nation. Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of numerous books, graces the broadcast with boundless amounts of humor, hope, and optimism as he retells stories of people warding off death and living fully. When you need inspiration, buy any of his books that reflect his love for people and animals. In the final segment, Katie suggests that the careers we choose and the work we do in our fields and jobs have a huge impact on community development and success. “The greatness of a community is most accurately measure by the compassionate actions of its members.” Coretta Scott King
By any proper civilized standard (but what does that mean now?) we are objects of horror. But our nerves are completely steady. And we are still alive.” ― Pat Barker, The Ghost Road
• Is post traumatic stress disorder really a disorder or is it an illness? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo interview Rosemary Sword, co-author of The Time Cure” to find out what PTSD is and what can be done to overcome the challenges. Post-traumatic stress disorder affects as many as 25 million Americans. Whether the scars come from living through war combat, a natural disaster, a tragic accident, or childhood abuse, people with PTSD struggle daily; and often, traditional therapies don't work. The exciting new approach detailed in The Time Cure, rooted in Dr. Philip Zimbardo's Temporal Theory and developed by Dr. Richard and Rosemary Sword, helps PTSD sufferers stop living in the negatives of the past, look forward to a more positive future, and enjoy the present.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
When you shut your eyes and ponder the future of our globe, what does it look like? Hosts Joven Hundal and Katie Choo investigate technology and trends that seem like science fiction today but could be reality tomorrow. Author of Monople, Bailey Stone Barnard, explores this theme metaphorically in the novel through the hero's persistence in building his machine, a monopolopic inductor able to send matter through space and time. He also explores the idea of being unable to hold onto life’s perfect moments while immersed in them, and the artist’s constant battle to balance contentment with fulfillment. If nothing else, writing the novel has taught the author to pick his battles carefully, so as not to let life’s perfect moments disappear. Brigitte Jia shares art attack with a look at the future of art.
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” —Thomas Merton
• What is art? Do you think of paintings, sculptures, animation, or museums? What about music, dance, acting, cooking, voice, nature? Culinary arts and performing arts are definitely forms of art. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal notice the small things influence what we all consider as art. Brigitte also reads from her chapter, The Gift of Art, from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® for Boomers and Millennials. Joven finds that history and art are connected. Brigitte recounts her phenomenal and unique experiences playing violin with Davies Symphony, touring in the UK and Chicago, playing alongside Ariel Horowitz and Amos Yang, recording for Torchlight, playing at Carnegie Hall, and more exciting artistic adventures. Appreciate art for what it is: creativity, skill, and expression. Yes, Express Yourself!
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu
If love is all we need, then learning how to develop satisfying and enriching relationships needs to be at the top of our list. Host Brigitte Jia, a brilliant artist and violinist who has just returned from performing a concert in Carnegie Hall, (yes, the way to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice!) interviews Dating and Relationship Expert and Coach, Christine Bumgartner on the intricacies of finding the perfect mate.. Christine offers concrete ways for online dating and mating while being honest and truthful. Brigitte reads the Gift of Love excerpted from Cynthia Brian’s best selling book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference (www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store)and entertains with a segment of Art Attack focused on an exhibition from the Summer of Love. As Goethe said, “Love is the reward of love.”
Are you aware of your world, the people, and the opportunities around you? Debut host, Jack Pawlakos, and host Katie Choo tackle the topic of awareness from many different perspectives. They read the chapters, The Gift of Awareness, from two Be the Star You Are!® books, both with varied takes on what awareness is and how we can see more clearly. From Cynthia Brian’s chapter in the book, Be the Star You are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference, (www.CynthiaBrian.com/books) they unveil the mysteries of the world around us and the enormity of the universe. From Tristan S.. Boardway’s chapter in the forthcoming Be the Star You Are!® for Boomers and Mlllennials, they look at awareness as being more in tune with telepathic energies in order to communicate. Katie uncovers unusual career opportunities in her Aim to Shoot segment and they also talk about social and political awareness,
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” ― Nathaniel Branden
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ― Voltaire Through stories of their experiences, host Joven Hundal’s grandparents have instilled in him fundamental values. He is appreciative of all that his family has endured in order to make the lives of their children better. He reads his chapter The Gift of Appreciation from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials. Energetic guest, Jennipher Walters, CEO and co-owner of Fit Bottomed World, was one of the first on-line companies to promote positive body image. Jennipher discusses her inspirations, struggles, and motivations with humor and simple tips for healthy living. Brigitte reads Cynthia Brian’s chapter on Appreciation from Be the Star You Are!® 99 gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference. Both Brigitte and Joven consider themselves extremely lucky and privileged to be growing up in America with a strong support system. btsya.org
“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Immanual Kant Humans and animals are one family. Katie Choo brings us a plethora of information about the numerous careers available and they are not all vet related. In World Watch, Joven Hundal focuses on domestic wild animals such as sea otters, seals, and sea lions, cougars, bison, crocodiles, alligators, eagles and megafauna. Hosts Katie and Brigitte interview animal advocate, Heather Brittany, who wrote the chapter, The Gift of Animals, for the Be the Star You Are! for Millennials series. Heather reminds us that animals don’t judge, they love unconditionally, teaching us to be responsible, patient, and caring. Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ― Anatole France
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” ― Denis Waitley
Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo, both independent, creative, and confident teens, explore the importance of helping youth discover their own abilities and face their own struggles. Does independence suit some kids more than it does others? Do other cultures parent differently? Parents are a major influence in career development. The duo interview Dr. Donald Moses, co-author of the book, Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids. Dr. Moses explains clearly the importance of allowing kids to fail as well as helping them develop skills that will assist them to be fully functional adults rather than resorting to self-destructive behaviors. He talks about drugs and salaries in a no nonsense manner. Every teen and every parent needs to tune in to this episode of Express Yourself! as challenges are always on the horizon and this conversation has lots of answers.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead
Change comes only with the will of the people, and our actions as individuals contribute to the strength of a collective force that has the power to drive the world in a fresh new direction. Express Yourself! launches a new year with hosts and reporters Brigitte Jia, Joven Hundal, Henna Hundal, and Caitlin Sim conversing about what activism means to them and how they perceive it in their daily lives. Brigitte reads a chapter she wrote for the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! for Milliennials. Joven gives his perspective on what’s happening globally with World Watch, Henna recounts activities at Harvard with student activism, and Caitlin shares activism in literature. Activism is sticking up for anything that is unjust. Stand up for others. Show empathy. The voices of youth are strong and vibrant. Listen. Heed. Act.
For last year's words belong to last year's language / And next year's words await another voice.” ― T.S. Eliot
Hello 2018! It’s a brand new year and we all get a fresh start. Hosts Joven Hundal and Brigitte Jia interview author Deborah Blake with her book, A Year and a Day of Everyday Witchcraft, 366 Ways to Witchify Your Life. “Witchify” may not be a “real” word but her daily tips are fun, productive, and will easily make your life more magical today and every day of the year. Joven’s segment WorldWatch offers pointers on making and keeping New Year’s resolutions and Brigitte’s Art Attack segment encourages listeners to bring art into their everyday lives. Get your life on track with a bit of magic and mystery. Tune in to Express Yourself! and start your journey.
“Moon and stars are giving light. With gifts of nature’s giving, we complete the cycle of living. Let us give from our mind, hands, and heart to the world.” Chitrabhanu
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, or nothing at all, December is a month of joyfulness. Host Brigite Jia doesn’t celebrate Christmas as her family honors the Chinese New Year. Past/Present Reporter Chelsea Pelchat admits that Christmas is her FAVORITE time of the year, and Hope Heals Reporter, Zahra Hasanian honors the lunar calendar so despite not celebrating December traditions, enjoys the light, love, happiness, good will, and yes, hope that prevails. Producer Cynthia Brian rings the bells of Christmas with fun ideas on how to decorate for any holiday with greenery or recycled items. It’s the day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in merry ole’ England. Come party with us. Light up your celebration with hope and love! It's the season of giving. Give BIG. Donate to www.BetheStarYouAre.org
“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Immanual Kant
Everyone needs to find a safe place and in today’s episode host Katie Choo interviews Marlene Richter, Executive Director of Noah’s Animal House, the first animal sanctuary to be built onsite with a domestic violence shelter in the United States located in Nevada. Noah’s Animal House allows victims of abuse to find shelter and protection while bringing their beloved pets with them. Noah’s Animal House is a model for what the world needs now…humans and their animal families sheltering together. Katie reads the chapter, The Gift of Animals by Heather Brittany from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! for Millennials and also offers intriguing careers for those interested in becoming a social worker or animal welfare coordinator. Noah’s Animal House shows us how unconditional love creates healing in the most broken situations. We all need to be protected.
“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.” ― Markus Zusak, I Am the Messenger Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanian interview You Tube sensation, Chelsea Crocket who has written a book,Your Own Beautiful. In a culture where media is constantly telling young women they have to look a certain way to be beautiful, there is a lot of pressure to conform to the world’s skewed definition of beauty. Chelsea is one of the biggest names in social media today with more than 1.5 million subscribers on her popular YouTube channel, BeautyliciousInsider, which she started when she was only thirteen years old. In Your Own Beautiful Chelsea expands on the beauty tips and advice featured on her YouTube channel while tackling tough questions. Zahra Hasanian discusses the connection between hope and beauty, both elusive qualities yet attainable. Brigitte talks about make-up artists and make-up to express yourself as a way to be beautiful.
“Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” —Hippocrates
If you could heal yourself from all ailments, would you? Host Brigitte Jia interviews healing medium, Anysia Marcell Kiel, author of Discovering the Healer Within: Use Chakras and Intuition to Clear Negativity & Release Pain. In the interview we discover ways to balance our physical health with our psyche health for a life of well being and centeredness. The healing method developed by Anysia at Soul-Centered Healing, LLC, identifies and clears the root causes and energetic imprints of illnesses, disease, trauma, and repetitive life patterns. Brigitte talks about medicinal innovations including the possibility of curing all cancers by 2050; rainforest plants, the antibiotics crisis, new strains of bacterial infections and viruses, plus the placebo effect! Chelsea Pelchat gives a medical historical perspective from the Middle Ages to the bacterial revolution that saved millions of lives.
Certified Relationship Coach & Award-Winning Diversity Advocate Chris Armstrong joins Brigitte Jia for a lively conversation on the meaning of communication and relationships. He speaks about the correlations between relationships and self-worth/self-esteem and the importance of teaching others about how you wish to be treated. Brigitte talks about the role of self-confidence and individuality in maintaining a good relationship, how to establish boundaries and consent. Zahra Hasanian shares excellent examples of stellar relationships throughout history including those of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as well as Catullus and Lesbia. When you want a positive, life affirming relationship, discover one in yourself first.
It’s hard to believe the Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio has been broadcasting every Tuesday at NOON PT on the Voice America Kids Network since its debut on November 21, 2011. Created by veteran radio host and producer, Cynthia Brian, the program began with two teen hosts and five teen reporters, all volunteers with Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 literacy and positive media message charity, who had zero on-air experience but a deep desire to get their thoughts and viewpoints across to the world. Since that time more than 38 teens have had the opportunity be reporters and many have moved into hosting positions with the privilege to interview authors, celebrities, Olympians, and experts in many fields from around the world. Today several of our hosts and former hosts share their experiences as radio personalities including Youngjoo Ahn, Henna Hundal, Brigitte Jia, Joven Hundal, and Zahra Hasanian.
Also, what’s on the table for Thanksgiving? Gratitude! Thanks for 6 years of listens!
Did you love coloring as a kid? Well why limit your artistic talents to childhood? Hosts Katie Choo and Brigitte Jia interview author of Color and Conjure and Magical Destinations of the Northeast . The book is about manifesting your desires with magic and creativity. Combining simple spells with enchanting symbolic imagery, this innovative book provides 50 spells with colorable images for love, money, protection, health, and much more. Our BTSYA resident artists, Brigitte brings another exciting segment of “Art Attack” and in her segment “Aim to Shoot,” Katie provides insight into the key steps and strategies for manifesting one’s dream career. Manifest your destiny and start coloring!
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke Discover the latest, greatest, and craziest advancements in technology with our Express Yourself! team of Brigitte, Joven, Jack, Chelsea, and Katie. Will cryptocurrency replace our current monetary system? Will self-driving cars be accident proof or prone? What are the newest and most lucrative careers in the fields of technology and digital? Want to know the history of the iphone? What is net neutrality and why do you need to care about it? The world of technology will have already changed by the time you listen! Tune in for the information that will benefit you today and tomorrow.
Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal start off the show with Trends without Ends reporter Jack Pawlakos shares tricks, treats, and tips for a great Halloween. This year around 179 million Americans plan to dress up and celebrate Halloween,. spending will tally more than $9.1 billion! Chelsea Pelchat, reporter for Past Present, takes us on an historical tour of the origins of Halloween. The Celtic festival of Samhain, another word for summer’s end, meant people would light bonfires and wear costumes to scare off ghosts. This was the day which Irish farmers believed that the dead could rise up from underground and walk amongst the living. Glamorous witch, Deborah Castellano encourages listeners to be crafty, cunning, and unafraid to want something fiercely through her book Glamour Magic: The Witchcraft Revolution for Getting What You Want , Glamour is your secret weapon—your guide to finding what you want and getting it, whether it is Halloween or just an ordinary day. Happy Halloween!
“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” ― J.K. Rowling What is it like to live in a haunted house? What if that house was actually a medieval prison that housed witches? Richard Estep and Vanessa Mitchell talk about their book, Spirits of the Cage with hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo covering the haunting of one of England’s oldest prisons for witches where Vanessa lived for three years until she couldn’t take it any longer and Richard’s subsequent investigation into the paranormal activities. Trends without ends reporter, Jack Pawlakos looks into the adventures of ghosting, ghost ships, and the tracking via smarkphones and apps of the paranormal. Brigitte wraps the hour with an Art Attack focusing on ghosts and spirits in art.
What does it mean to be connected? In today’s highly contentious and divided political climate, there’s an urgent need for people of all faiths and cultures to clarify, communicate, connect, and live our values into action. Hosts Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia interview author of the new book, The Forever Letter, Rabbi Elana Zaiman who works to bridge and heal the values divide by helping people of all faiths and cultures to acknowledge, celebrate, and communicate their values, wisdom and love in powerful and lasting ways with the people who matter to them most. Zahra offers insights on how hope and connecting are healing partners and Brigitte takes music to a new level to connect the world. Be the Star You Are!® is collecting donations to help with Operation Hurricane and Fire Disaster Relief. http://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-operation-hurricane-disaste
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”— Milton Berle
A very special program with the debut novel, Swearing Off Stars from Danielle Wong who was a valued volunteer with Be the Star You Are!® charity as a teenager. This show focuses on career building and we honor Danielle for building her career to live her dreams of becoming a published author. Danielle shares her journey¬¬–¬¬the obstacles, and inspirations. Spread across time and place, the story of love found and lost is one of desire, adventure, and ultimately, devotion. Jack Pawlakos researched and divulged trends in careers, especially the innovations in technology than have enabled people to experience working for themselves. In the final segment, hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo read Danielle Wong’s chapter, The Gift of Faith, from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and talk about the trajectory from dreaming as a youth to doing as an adult. A very exciting and inspiration broadcast that you won’t want to miss.
“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Literature is the mapping of our souls. It offers hope. Reporter Chelsea Pelchat starts off the show with a historical look at literature and its ramifications through the ages. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanian discuss a warmhearted comedy of errors set in the world’s harshest place with author Ashley Shelby's South Pole Station, a wry and witty debut novel about the courage it takes to band together when everything around you falls apart. Our hosts later talk about the impact of literature in a personal introspective. What is function of literature in your life? Is it a tool for communication, source of entertainment, way to express oneself, method of creating art, or a way to gain knowledge? Think about it, then pick up a great book and dive in! Reading is power.
What is sexuality? Most people will assume we are talking about engaging in a sexual act, however, sexuality is not just about sex. From birth until death, every person is a sexual being. Sexuality defines our gender and can be a complex aspect of our personality. It is how we feel about ourselves, what you do, but who you are. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo interview Dr. Karen Rayne about her book, GIRL: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You , a growing-up guide for the 21st century by Karen Rayne, PhD—a nationally recognized educator, trainer, author, and expert in sexuality education. Inclusive of all self-identified girls, GIRL is uncensored, unbiased, and jam-packed with what today’s teenage girls want and need to know about healthy sexuality, loving relationships, and gender fluidity. The hosts also read The Gift of Sexuality by Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany from the book Be the Star You Arefor Teens and Katie gives insights about careers involving the study of sexuality.
““True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” How do you stay humble when you are great? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal tackle the virtue of humility by offering examples from their own lives as well as discussing famous people and how they are humble or boastful. When you allow the facts of a situation or experience do the talking, you don’t need to purposely be a show off to stand out. Employ trickle down humility. Find out what billionaires like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, or Mark Zuckerberg do to stay humble while giving back to society. Katie Choo talks about how to be a humble leader. A few tips: a. Be Open to opinions b. Be considerate c. Admit mistakes d. Accept ambiguity e. Self-Reflect f.. Let others do their jobs g. Share the credit
Be humble and you can be proud! More information about BTSYA Operation Disaster Relief Program is found here: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-operation-hurricane-disaste
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ---Leonardo Da Vinci
With so much “fake news” and social media posts, sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s really happening in the world. In this episode focusing on simplicity and journalism, hosts Joven Hundal and Brigitte Jia dissect journalism while focusing on the simple things. Brigitte brings another fascinating Art Attack segment discussing art, artists, and their simplicity. Gust author of Right Where You Left me, Calla Devlin, adds homage to the brave journalists who seek to report the truth, a mother and daughter struggle to build a connection in the wake of a father’s overseas kidnapping. Jack Pawlakos talks trends in digital journalism which is updated constantly. providing the latest information that influences decisions. Sophistication and simplicity are friends and real journalists are heroes.
Labor Day will have come and gone when you listen to our broadcast, but we feel that we all labor every day. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal with reporter Jack Pawlakos talk about the origins of a Labor Day holiday, what the trends are for celebrating, and what are the top destinations for this three day holiday. Donations are requested for the BTSYA Operation Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief. Visit www.BetheStarYouAre.org The conversation gets serious as our hosts discuss the history of workers in the United States and abroad, the terrible working conditions, the low pay, the brutality, and the plight of laborers worldwide. Be grateful that Americans have laws regulating how workers can be treated. What will Be the Star You Are!® teens being doing on Labor Day? Take a break from laboring and tune in.
If health is wealth, why aren’t we taking care of ourselves? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal spend an hour discussing the elements of wellness, not only for our bodies, but for our minds, self-esteem, and spirits. Millennials have been given trophies and awards for participating in everything. Joven questions the benefits of such a practice as it does not encourage intrinsic motivation. Brigitte tackles defining physical and mental health. How do we maintain an active lifestyle, stay fit, get enough sleep, do homework, have a social life, and eat properly while managing stress, disappointments, anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion? They read and discuss the chapter, The Gift of Health, from Cynthia Brian’s award winning book, Be the Star You Are! 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference. The take away is that we have one life to live, in one body. Health is a life-long commitment. Being healthy has a profound effect on your happiness and quality of life.
Welcome to back to school! Can you believe summer is over? Are you ready for a new school year? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal spend an hour with enlightening information to get you ready for this educational season. Sports reporter Katie Lyons asks a pertinent question: “What things am I going to do differently this year?" Fortunately she also offers numerous suggestions to make the following year a great one.
First time author, Fayth Thomas shares real life lessons on positive living including how to provide healthy back to school lunches and snacks with her book, Being the Best You! The book explores diabetes in a way for children to understand and inspires children to strive for career paths that make a difference.
Brigitte gives a list of ways to be artistic with pencil cases, binders, collages, and more in Art Attack.
“Freedom lies in being bold.” ― Robert Frost Are you brave? Are you bold? Hosts Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia introduce medical practitioner turned retail entrepreneur, Lacy Blanc De Quattro who together with her sister took the bold leap to launch the unique mobile clothing store, Cowboy Nonie’s Boutique in honor of their mother. The store offers trendy, Wild West-inspired clothing for women and kids, sporting cute, high-quality jeans and shirts with cowboy slogans for every occasion produced in the USA. Our hosts also chat with reporter Caitlin Sim about the boldness portrayed in the books Odyssey, The Vindication of the Rights of Women, 1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, Fahrenehit 451, Harry Potter, and other great reads. Brigitte brings another of her informative Art Attack segments discussing the braveness and boldness that artists must possess to exhibit their work. Life is short and we have the power to live our dreams as long as we are bold!
Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanian join with reporters Jack Pawlakos, Chelsea Pelchat, and newcomer Jelina Liu to celebrate and honor the importance of family. Jack offers stats on how technology has affected family time negatively.Studies indicate that over 75% of families agree they would rather spend time watching television and 80% would rather play with electronics than engage in a real family activity such as a board game. Chelsea takes us on a history lesson to the 16th century to enlighten about the precarious family ties of the Tudors. Brigitte appreciates the opportunities that her parents presented to her since immigrating to America at a young age. Thanks to her parents’ efforts and sacrifices she’s developed an interest in the humanities as well as a strong mathematics background, New Helping Hands reporter, Jelina Liu reviews the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman,the story an ethnic minority Hmong family fleeing Laos. Family Matters.
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” ― T. S. Eliot Much of the world was mapped between the 1440-1600’s because of the three “G’s”- God, gold, and glory. Past/Present reporter, Chelsea Pelchat, shares a history lesson on how nations across the world became an interconnected web of commerce and communication. New Reporter of Trends without Ends, Jack Pawlakos, reports on how recent innovations in technology with virtual reality allow us to explore the entire world without ever leaving our living room. Lifelong explorer and photographer, Greg DeBree, tells stories from his life of traveling, hunting, fishing, diving, climbing, and firefighting from Indiana to the Sonoran desert, from the Sea of Cortez to the California Sierras, from Hawaii to Antarctica.
What's on your adventure bucket list?
The Gift of Dreams “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt Dr. Christopher Sowton, a naturopath and author of Dreamworking, joins hosts Katie Choo and Joven Hundal as they discuss the relevance and meaning of dreams. Do dreams provide guidance? Why are dreams chaotic and bizarre? Do we receive messages from our dreams?Christopher leads the team through a dreamworking session to find the meaning of a dream. Chelsea Pelchat offers views from history on the interpretations of dreams and Katie Choo discusses how dreams can be a pathway to careers. A fascinating program about a subject that most of us don’t understand while we are all dreaming. Check it out.
Teachers are some of the greatest people with whom we will ever cross paths. Hosts Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia interview triple threat actor, producer, and coach, Natalie Mitchell about her evolution from working as a child actor in the movie Jack with Robin Williams to becoming an acting coach, producer, director, and founder of her own production company, Emergence Films. Her insights on teaching and the entertainment industry are grounded in values and empowerment. Report of Music Magic, Seo Young Kim discusses how music fits as a unique type of strategy for teaching because it’s collaborative, offering the opportunity to express opinions and relate to the listener. First time reporter of Ode to Literature, Caitlin Sim shares a very point that not every book that teaches is a philosophical or a political book. Many fiction novels are more frequently read than “non-fiction” books. Several book are discussed including Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesdays with Morrie. Teach On!
“Innovation is change that unlocks new value.” --Jamie Notter Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal brainstorm what innovation means to them and how innovations have changed our world. For example, can young people imagine a world without a smartphone? What about running water, electricity, or GMO’s? Chelsea Pelchat brings her interesting Past/Present segment starting with the advent of steam engines and railroads, which kick started the industrial revolution in the 18th century and brings innovations to today’s world with driverless automobiles and artificial intelligence. Brigitte showcases the influence of art in innovation and Joven talks about educational innovation and the philosophy of common core and the importance of being focused on putting kids in the school environments where they will excel. Without innovation we’d still be living in caves without fire. Push the boundaries. Innovate.
Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal discuss Independence Days around the world, including what they enjoy on the 4th of July-BBQ’s, fireworks, parades, family, and freedom. They interview Dr. Eric Maisel, author of Overcoming Your Difficult Family, 8 Skills for Thriving in Any Family Situation. Dr. Maisel shows how to stay sane when family isn’t, providing practical strategies that can be implemented immediately. Overcoming Your Difficult Family is a “field guide” to common types of dysfunctional families, and a big helping of real life success stories that are dinner table tested and approved. You’ll learn to maintain inner peace in the midst of family chaos and maybe even create a better life for your whole family. Chelsea Pelchat talks about the historical significance of the 4th of July and some shocking statistics revolving around the birth of this great nation.
America is in love with their animals who are most like family. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal bring the life of our pawed, feathered, and finned friends to radio. Brigitte currently volunteers in an animal shelter and busts myths about a variety of household pets. All around us, animals are acting as our therapists, trainers, mentors, and gurus- but only if we pay attention. Through their “misbehaviors”, challenges, and unwavering love, animals are conscientiously guiding us to the next step in our personal journey. Animal Lessons, by Danielle MacKinnon, shows you how to understand and benefit from this incredible phenomenon. Our hosts engage in a lively and fun discussion on what it means to have animals as teachers. In the final segment, Joven describes the African Paradox revolving around megafauna and their disappearance from the Americas. If you are an animal advocate, you won’t want to miss this episode where the animals rule!
Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia host an informative program about sexual assault awareness and prevention among teenagers. From discussing the novel, "Accused: A Retaliation Novel #2" by Yasmin Shiraz that focuses on the rampancy and consequences of sexual assault among teenagers on college campuses in Segment 1 to talking in depth about Brigitte Jia's article, "Roots of the Juvenile Court System" in Segment 2, Maria and Brigitte elicit and raise awareness of what sexual assault is, why it occurs, and college administrations's support towards sexual assault victims. In Segment 3 and 4, Javier Lopez, a preventive educator from the Community Violence Solutions and facilitator for the Male Ally Program, talks to Maria and Brigitte about preventive measures, the importance of consent, and educative programs for sexual assault awareness and prevention. Remember, if you are a victim of sexual assault, know that you are not to blame. Call 911 immediately.
Katie Choo and Brigitte Jia discuss how the meaning of “the end of school “changes as one grows older as well as summer plans, volunteering, road trips, and what the next year will be. Inspirational guest author, Emily Esfagabu Smith encourages cultivating purpose throughout one’s life by staying grounded and focused on strengths and talents. In a culture obsessed with happiness, her book, The Power of Meaning, points the way toward a richer, more satisfying life striking a profound chord in anyone seeking a life that matters. Joven Hundal debates whether a long summer break is the best course for parents, teachers, and students as research has shown that a full month of math prowess is lost. A rigorous year round school with one month interval breaks may be more productive for the student. Whatever you do this summer, get off the couch, turn off the gadgets, go outside, pick up a book, take a class, go to a seminar, relax and enjoy summer but do keep your mind on your education.
“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Elliot
One thing is certain in life- no matter who you are, where you are from, or how much money you make, you will face challenges. How you overcome them is another matter. Hosts Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia interview best selling author, Ellen Hopkins about her newest book, The You I’ve Never Known. Ellen shares a personal snippet of how the book was based on an event in her life. Writing two books a year, Ellen is a master storyteller, unafraid to shed light on issues that matter. Brigitte and Maria read The Gift of Challenges from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference to showcase the generational differences of challenges. In segment four, Katie Choo tackles the challenges of choosing a career-how do you find it, receive guidance, and defeat fear of failure. Don't shy away from challenges. Be motivated to be the star you are!
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” ---John F. Kennedy. • To focus on the meaning of Memorial Day, host Brigitte Jia analyzes the meaning of The War Prayer by Mark Twain and discusses the over glorification of war in history. • She interviews award-winning author of Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin, a compelling coming-of-age novel with a trio of sisters at its center. Calla shares her journey of writing and how her childhood on road trips from San Diego to Ensenada inspired her novel. She began writing short stories that have a beginning, middle, end, and a point of transformation and graduated to novels.
Celebrate our troops, be patriotic, and enjoy a great Memorial Day.
“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” Shauna Niequist
Rachel Glass returns to host with Brigitte Jia on the topic of growth. Personal growth and maturing go hand in hand at different life stages. Choices, decisions, situations, experiences, etc. provide important life lessons that we will remember. Author of Teach Me to Forget, Erica Chapman, writes dark, emotional novels with a burst of humor, and lighter contemporaries with smart-ass protagonists. Erica shares information about suicide prevention while talking about her life as a writer. Our purpose in discussing the topic of suicide in a segment on growth is to shine a light of awareness on the dangers and the struggles teens experience, mirroring the purpose of the novel in delving into these subjects. In Book Smart, Maria Wong reviews her favorite coming of age novel series, Jenny Han’s, To All the Boys I Ever Loved, where horizons are expanded through experiences.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. “Martin Luther King Jr
Hosts Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia interview award winning author, Kathleen Rooney about her book Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk based on the true-life story of one of the most talented and successful ad women for R.H. Macy’s in the 1930s, Margaret Fishback. It took an immense amount of faith in herself and in humanity to be the plucky, outspoken and curious woman she was as she walked her way through New York. Maria and Brigitte also read Dani Wong’s touching and emotional chapter, The Gift of Faith, from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. It is critical to have faith in oneself. When we stay positive, everything works out in time. Faith takes courage and determination to make the impossible possible. In life, faith helps us overcome the biggest obstacles. The sun is going to shine tomorrow.
“Of all of the gifts that life has to offer, a loving mother is the greatest of them all” Anonymous • Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong host a program dedicated to the amazing women who give birth or raise children around the world, sacrificing of themselves to offer their children a better life. Special guest is author of We Were the Lucky Ones, Georgia Hunter, tracked her grandfather, his parents, and his siblings - a family of Polish Jews - as they scatter at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive - and to reunite. In 2000, a family reunion opened her eyes to the astounding war stories of her grandfather and his family. Brigitte Jia traces the importance of the Mother/Child relationship through art. In nature, the bond between mother and child is one of the strongest possible. Your mother brought you out into the world, and she defines it throughout your early years. A mother helps to shape the individual as a person. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s of the World!
“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” Thomas Aquinas
Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong read the chapters on friendship from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference recounting her life-long friendship with an Irish penpal. (Buy books at www.StarStyleRadio.com/store) A discussion on the importance of friendship and how to be a friend ensues. In segment two and three, author of Young Knight’s of the Round Table, King’s Ransom, Cheryl Carpinello discusses her book and the themes of friendship and loyalty. The book focuses on three friends, three quests, and three mysterious predictions. Kids love Arthurian tales and her books show the importance of having a friend. (http://www.cherylcarpinello.com) To find friends, hosts advise being open, interested in others, empathetic. Share a smile “Earn a friend by being a friend” Cynthia Brian
What is morality and do countries value morals? Hosts Maria Wong and Joven Hundal explore the meaning of morality in our world as they look at history. They discuss the Nazi regime of Hitler and his complete disregard and persecution of the “degenerate races” that characterized his immoral rule devoid of values and humanity.
Special guest author, Colonel Charles Causey, continues the theme with his work of nonfiction, The Lion and the Lamb: The True Story of A Powerful Nazi Leader and A Dutch Resistance Worker, focusing on the stories of Albert Speer and Corrie ten Boom in Nazi Germany. Their contrast of characters clearly indicates what morality is and is not.
Joven wraps up the show with a fascinating look into GMO’s, biotechnology, and asteroid mining while asking the question “How do we regulate the moral issues revolving around technology and the exploration of space?”
“Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality.”Mahatma Gandhi
What are values? The dictionary states that values are the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. Or a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life. Host Maria Wong tackles the subject of values with personal perspectives as a teen who deciding on the next step towards college choices. Your values are things that you prioritize and think are important in defining your life and work. Maria interviews Robin Roe with her novel, A List of Cages, who has written a raw, emotional, powerful novel with a strong message of kindness. Robin discusses her writing process, how she writes, her love for her former students, and her upcoming novel. Maria provides a Book Smart segment about her all time favorite book, Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, a book that shaped many of her personal values and helps readers reflect on how experiences, family, culture, and location shape one’s value system.
Spring has sprung and a time to celebrate the re-birth of nature is upon us. Host Asya Gonzalez reads producer, Cynthia Brian’s article aptly titled Flower Fever that sets the tone for this program celebrating spring, empathy, and Easter. (http://www.cynthiabrian.com/gardening-articles) Author of There is No good Card for This, Kelsey Crowe adds to the conversation discussing her illustrated guide to effective compassion that takes you, step by step by step, past the paralysis of thinking about someone in a difficult time to actually doing something (or nothing) with good judgment instead of fear. Her empathy menu offers support with confidence, no matter the situation. In the final segment, Asya talks about her family traditions for spring including fun activities for an Easter or spring break filled with joy, adventure, and playfulness.
Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong host a lively discussion about our relationship with emotions. Technology has falsely convinced us that we are developing communication through apps, smartphones, and social media, when in fact to really express an emotion, face to face contact is necessary. Yoga instructor and competitive gymnastics coach, Catie Jarvis, joins the discussion with her first novel, The Peacock Room. The Peacock Room tells the coming of age story of Jonis and Lizzy: a young man with a mysterious medical condition that causes one leg to grow far too long, and the frustrated musical savant who falls in love with him. The novel inspires emotional responses. In our Book smart segment, Maria reviews The God of Small Things, a book that perfectly captures the Gift of Emotion because throughout the novel, the characters display a wide array of emotions ranging from jealousy, sadness, fear, and joy. Emotions make us human. Get emotional
“Thinking; the talking of the soul with itself.” ― Plato Odyssey of the Mind is an international, creative problem-solving competition. It has also been an intellectual quest that has challenged the creativity and sharpened the wit of host Maria Wong. Maria and co-host Asya Gonzalez discuss how young people’s participation in Odyssey of the Mind inspire creative solutions in school, at work, and at home. Collaborating promotes creative thinking.
If you're looking for a "do over" in life, let motivational speaker and author, Shawn Anderson, coach you to go the extra mile with his book, Amicus, A Better Life: An Inspiring Story About Starting Over. Twenty-one powerful lessons reveal the secrets to starting your new life of purpose, passion, success, and vibrancy. Whatever you truly want, you can have.
In Music Magic, Seo Young digs deeper into how certain lyrics can make one think. Music is a loyal best friend. The music is always there for you as you can make music yourself.
“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
That’s why the hosts and reporters of Express Yourself!™ are writing a new book, Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials scheduled for release later this year! In the meantime, the team are busy interviewing, reporting, and gathering life skills. This week hosts Asya Gonzalez and Katie Choo interview seventeen year old award winning actress and screenwriter, Mandalynn Carlson about her meteoric career, her screenplays, and what she’s learned working in show business. Katie Lyons joins the conversation to share her love of writing indicating that she’s been crafting stories since before she could write. The young ladies greatly admire writer JK Rowlings who rose from homelessness to being the most famous writer in the world. The message is to believe in your dreams, work hard, never give up, and write on!
Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Do you speak another language? Is communicating important to you? Host Brigitte Jia leads a lively conversation with reporters Zahra Hasanian, Joven Hundal, and Katie Choo around the topic of the cultural connections of languages. Learning a second language is actually linked to various health benefits. For example, a study a few years back covered by National Geographic concluded that learning and speaking a second language can stave off Alzheimer's’ and dementia for four more years. Language gives people hope, whether for propaganda or poetry. Technology offers another hurdle as our communications are not face to face. Employers are looking for people who can not only speak English well, but also have a somewhat diverse knowledge of languages. Whether it’s sign, music, art, or dance, we are surrounded by language. How you communicate will determine how high you bounce in life.
New York Times and USA Today best selling author of Reign, An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, Chanda Hahn joins hosts Asya Gonzalez and Katie Choo for a lively conversation about flexibility. Chanda discusses her writing process and how she has several books in her writing queue simultaneously. Asya talks about how challenging it can be to be flexible as a regimented college student. Always have a Plan B she recommends. Katie’s Aim to Shoot segment focuses on how flexibility applies to one’s workplace, majors, and careers. Whatever you do in life, you need to be flexible because curve balls thrown your way will be a reality.
Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Not that curiosity can make everyone 21st century Albert Einstein’s, but curiosity is a must for a successful life. Asya Gonzalez interviews bubbly debut novelist, Katherin Arden, author of The Bear and the Nightingale as she relates her journey from being a student living in France and Russia and her escape to Hawaii where she decided to write her first book. The praise for her book is ubiquitous and she has two more in the works. Joven Hundal focuses his segment on millennial curiosity, or the lack thereof, in the fields of politics and the sciences. Katie Choo shows us how curiosity plays a role in every career and life choice. how curiosity can play a role in your career or professional future. Keep asking “why” and “why not?”.
What is feminism? Does it refer to a diverse variety of beliefs, ideas, movements, and agendas for action? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian share their views on gender equality, the roles of parents in our shaping our viewpoints, and the importance of being true to yourself. Past Present Reporter Chelsea Pelchat gives us a historical perspective as she talks about history and society’s outlook on women through the ages, as well as their place in shaping our modern world. Best selling author and producer, Cynthia Brian, prefers to include both men and women in this narrative as we are all humans in training. Instead of employing labels, how about empowering one another to greatness regardless of gender, race, religion, politics, or other biases? Perhaps once we do that, we won’t need ‘isms!
Cupid is aiming his arrow your way and our Express Yourself!¡ teens have super ideas on how you can spend a stupendous Valentine’s Day, with or without a significant other. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez along with Maria Wong offer fun and inexpensive tips to have a memorable day of love. Open your heart to send a sweet thank you to our men and women in the armed forces. Or bring Valentine’s to shelters. Give the gift of books and homemade cookies, crafts, and caring other things. Tons of great creativity and love pour forth with this program along with links to websites to help you enjoy a special Valentine’s Day. Make a tax-deductible donation in the name of someone you love. Visit www.BetheStarYouAre.org. And don’t forget to love yourself first! “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance." - Oscar Wilde
Equality brings the passion out in our teen reporters and hosts. Asya Gonzalez focuses on women’s equality at home, in the workplace, and in society and doesn’t like the term “women’s lib” because it insinuates inequality. Brigitte wants to see more equality in entertainment with lead roles depicting people from all nations as well as in education. Zahra wants to see every individual treated with respect as she discusses equality versus equity, oppression versus privilege. Maria Wong concentrates on the book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson. highlighting the inequality in the Alabama justice system, and the need for equality -- which can be achieved through justice and mercy. Dictionary Reference defines Equality as “The state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability: promoting equality of opportunity in the workplace”. We all have red blood. Everyone is equal. Equality equals freedom.
Do you surround yourself with people who are just like you or are you are person open to the multiplicity of the world? Accepting differences and acknowledging the fact that we are all human is a critical point to living happily in this world no mater our race, sexual orientation, religion, culture, political awareness, or any other thing. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez passionately lead discussions with Hope reporter, Zahra Hasanian and Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong. Is diversity race, skin color, opinions, or viewpoints? Diversity encapsulates how we all are different even beyond the surface level whether it’s our different occupation, passions, or perspectives on life. Don’t worry about being politically correct. Be open to a global world. How do you relate to diversity? “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” -Dr. Seuss
“The world is but a canvas to our imagination..” Henry David Thoreau What is art? Why do we utilize art to express ourselves? What are careers in art? What is creativity? Can art be healing? Is art stress-relieving? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez, both artists, dig into their favorite subject as they share personal experiences and talk with reporters Henna Hundal and Katie Choo. Art is a powerful outlet to release anxiety and promote relaxation that can have untold health benefits. Art is a potent tool for finding, shaping, and sharing an identity. Art is fueled by our creative intellectual juices and interpretations of life. Whether you do art for a career or for a hobby, art is good for the soul. Start doodling!
What is perception? Perception comes from the Latin word “perceptio” which means receiving, collecting, an action of taking possession with the mind or senses. Perception is an intuitive understanding of something, the understanding of an impression. Or is it, as a Google definition proclaims, a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression?” Is “perception” synonymous with “judgment” or “belief”? Does it have an unmistakable subjective, even illusory, quality? Join Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Henna Hundal as they dissect, debate, and discuss this mode of communication. In Health Rap, Alex Pawlakos examines how a person’s perception of their own health and health risks has important implications for their actual health.
It’s a New Year and already we are stressed. Our Express Yourself!™ STAR team has you covered with tips for helping you sit back, take a breath, and find out how you can be more relaxed and calm. Hosts are Brigitte Jia and Henna Hundal who lead the conversations with our very chill reporter, Katelyn Darrow who talks about ways to relax; Health Rap Reporter, Alex Pawlakos, with evidence based science on the importance of sleep and relaxation, and our Lion Roar Reporter, Katie Lyons with her important information for athletes. And then of course, Henna shares her “Pomodoro” method that deserves your full attention. Don’t know what “Pomodoro” is? You’ll need to tune in to our Relaxation Show to start your 2017 in the right direction! Take a deep breath, exhale, and chant, “I am relaxed!”
“Be yourself; everyone else is taken” Oscar Wilde It’s challenging being a young person today. “Finding yourself” could become a national pastime. Maria Wong, Brigitte Jia, and Henna Hundal dive into what makes an individual unique, positive, and productive. Maria thoroughly enjoyed attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference in Washington, D.C. as a national youth correspondent and encourages teens to step outside of their comfort zone to discover their dreams. Brigitte and Maria read the chapter, The Gift of You, by Cynthia Brian from the book Be the Star You Are!®, an inspiring push to embrace your originality and look at yourself as a gift. Henna encourages listeners to BE THE STAR YOU ARE, not the star that you could be, that you might be, but the star that you already are -- that light inside you that’s unlike any other. We each have a unique collection of talents and attributes that we can offer the world. Henna continues “It’s not selfish to be self-loving.”
Grab your bag of popcorn, find a seat, and enjoy an hour of movie magic with the Express Yourself!™ teens. Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia host this lively discussion with reporters Katie Lyons, Seo Young Kim, Katie Choo, Joven and Henna Hundal. Katie Lyons focuses on movies revolving around sports where we root for the underdog. Seo Young relates how music is really the driver for most movies, while Katie Choo gives us an inside look at careers in the film industry. Joven and Hunna Hundal indicate that movies have the ability to unify people towards a common, benevolent goal by drawing people’s attention to a pertinent issue. We all love films, so enjoy the movie mania!
Traditions allow us to go back to family memories and reminisce about the good ol’ days. Asya and Brigitte read a chapter from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be The Star You Are for Teens: Simple gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, Learning and Leading. Asya discribes the unique traditions she’s celebrated with her family. While traditions fade, memories do not. Katie Choo gave us another Aim To Shoot segment talking about the differences of traditional and non-traditional careers and how they are both important. What will a traditional careers could look like in the future? Brigitte Jia provided an insightful segment of Art Attack expressing art as the embodiment of traditions and showing how art is produced from traditions themselves. “You are the reason for the season! Celebrate and honor your traditions.” Cynthia Brian
What do you think of when you hear the word “ingenuity”? For reporter, Joven Hundal, stars of the tech, gaming, motion pictures, and animation industry shine brightly. For Asya Gonzalez, she thinks about young teens who have become mega business successes. Brigitte Jia immediately conjures up images of the great artists of the world. The chapter, The Gift of Ingenuity, from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens sparks a lively conversation about ways to be inventive and creative. A good way to learn ingenuity is to imagine how life might be without certain things. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to think of more than one way to get something done.
Life is better when it’s simple. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia read Jacqueline Tao’s chapter from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens then interview Jacqueline about her views today on simplicity. Reporter Katelyn Darrow encourages a more minimalist lifestyle. Listen for tips to help you enjoy more balance. Take a moment and drop all the materials from your hands. Temporarily abandon your computer, smart phone, TV, iPod, etc. Go to an open space outside, and observe all the simple privileges and joys that are available to you: the fresh air, good weather, nice view, quietness/excitement, food to eat, and a place to call home. Relish nature. Take note of these things and learn to appreciate the simple things. Life is simply super when we eliminate the complexities and enjoy the simple gifts. “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” Hans Hoffman
Did you know that music heals body, mind, and spirit? Health Rap reporter Alex Pawlakos talks with hosts Zahra and Brigitte about studies that show that music is more effective than drugs. Reporter Courtney Cheng’s chapter, The Gift of Music, from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. Seo Young Kim, our newest reporter on Express Yourself!™ begins a segment called Music Magic. Seo Young believes that music tells stories, relives memories, creates special moments in our lives. Did you know that it is known that by 4000 BCE the Egyptians had created harps and flutes, and by 3500 BC lyres and double-reeded clarinets were made? Asya Gonzalez is obsessed with music. The hosts and Asya have a lively conversation about their favorite artists and genres. Aim to Shoot Reporter Katie Choo provides a wide variety of careers available to everyone, ranging from singers and music producers to radio DJs and music directors. Turn on the music, grab your earbuds, sing, dance, and rock out. Music is life!
On this 242nd original radio program, the teen hosts and reporters of Express Yourself!™ celebrate FIVE years of weekly broadcasting on the Voice America Kids Network. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong share the stage with Katelyn Darrow who has been a host and reporter for four of the five years. Henna Hundal chimes in with her appreciation for the opportunities gained and World Watch reporter, Joven Hundal, speaks of the past year’s accomplishments of outstanding teens all around the world.
All of the young adults express their sincerest gratitude to the Voice America Kids Network, Be the Star You Are!, Cynthia Brian, their radio colleagues, and the listeners around the world for the incredible growth experiences that being part of this stellar team have endowed upon them as individuals.
Congratulations to the inspiring, engaged, and entertaining STARS of Express Yourself!™ on five years of excellence.
Speak up, Speak out, and Be Heard at Express Yourself! ™ Teen Radio
Is gratitude a part of your daily life? Former Express Yourself!™ host and reporter, Katelyn Darrow returns to the program to challenge listeners to create a gratitude journal and offer thanks for the little things in life every day. Health Rap reporter Alex Pawlakos takes the opportunity to share tips for a safe Thanksgiving, including how to safely cook a turkey. Did you know that Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday of the year because of home fires? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia interview Christian author Lee Ann Mancini about her multiple award winning series of children’s books, the Adventures of the Sea Kids. It’s an hour of gratefulness in preparation for the big day of appreciation-Thanksgiving.
Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hassanian as well as reporter Joven Hundal offer a full hour of youthful insights on today’s national election and how peace can be attained in the world. Joven provides an historical perspective on the political mudslinging of campaigns. Polls of millennials indicate disillusion with this “R-rated election.” An avid student of Latin, Zahra digs into the ancient wisdom of peace, providing correlations between the past and present. Artist Brigitte paints a picture of peace through the visuals of art, cartoons, and the Impressionist movement. It’s a lively, peaceful discussion with very bright and informed teens who care deeply about who is in power and how peace can be attained.
The Be the Star You Are!® teens are gifted writers as well as radio reporters. Hosts Zahra Hasanain and Brigitte Jia share their personal poems and essays as well as talk with reporters Maria Wong and Katie Choo about writing. As avid readers and writers, they the chapter on writing from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS by Cynthia Brian. With the enormous talent of our Express Yourself!™ Star Team, these reporters may soon be contributing to the next Be the Star You Are!® empowerment book bound for publication. Maria talks about the various ways to express oneself through writing via journaling, exhanging letters with penpals in foreign countries, or penning poems and songs. Katie discusses avenues to careers in writing which can begin with writing for the school newspaper, yearbook, designing a website, or blog then lead to jobs in the field. If you love to write, write on! It is a gift to all.
Halloween is THE favourite holiday for many teens and our hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia are among those who love October. Today they interview two fascinating authors around the theme of Halloween: the King of Witches, Devin Hunter, whose new book is The Witches Book of Power and Australian author and gamer, Brewin’ with his supernatural horror, The Dark Horde. Instead of being dark and frightening, Devin’s book empowers readers to ignite the fire within. He discusses the importance of being unique and reaching your magical potentials. Part thriller and part crime-fiction, Brewin’s, The Dark Horde tells of the return of an ancient evil that is neither stoppable nor comprehensible. Brewin’ is also the creator of the sci-fi games, Gamebooks Adventures. The hosts were very excited about downloading the series immediately to start playing. Both authors were questioned about their Halloween experiences and what they’ll be doing on this next hallowed eve. An entertaining hour of G ra.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Gandhi Hosts Brigitte Jia and Maria Wong along with reporters Asya Gonzalez, Katie Choo, and Joven Hundal talk about what volunteering means to them. They read the chapter, The Gift of Volunteerism, from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. Volunteering with Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself!™ has been an amazing experience that benefits others and benefits the volunteers. Asya shares information on how to help stop human trafficking via volunteering, Katie offers job opportunities in non profits and Joven discusses how to help with the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. -Be the Star You Are!® has launched Operation Disaster Relief-Hurricane Matthew. Help the cause at www.BetheStarYouAre.org- Give of yourself and you will be rewarded. Volunteering offers you the opportunity to change people’s lives. 'The paradox of life is that the more we serve others, the more we serve ourselves.' Cynthia Brian
Do you believe that you are one of kind? If not you need to discover the star that shines brightly within. Hosts Maria Wong and Zahra Hasanian read the chapter on Uniqueness from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and have a lively discussion with Asya Gonzalez on the importance of being your best self. The discussion gets fascinating when author of more than 30 books, Nick Redfern joins the conversation with his newest book, Nessie, Exploring the Supernatural Origins of the Loch Ness Monster. Nick travels the world investigating the unique creatures and phenomena of the world. This is a fascinating journey into the paranormal, exploring ideas that go far beyond ordinary. Be unique!
Latin student and host Zahra Hasanian says condemnant quod non intellegunt 'They condemn because they do not understand' . First time host Maria Wong understands the importance of communication and is excited to host this program. Jack Pawlakos starts off the show with HealthRap as when it comes to your health, understanding of your medical condition or illness, and your understanding of the treatment for that condition is paramount. The fun begins when actor, director, and anime voice talent Chuck Huber visits with his numerous impressions, voices, and insights on working in films, TV, plays, voice-overs, video games, and Japanese anime. Despite his substantial contemporary works, he’s a big fan of Shakespeare. Reporter Joven Hundal shares fascinating facts about the many geniuses who weren’t understood during their time such as Vincent Van Gogh. Do you think there are many talented individuals living today who are not compensated but will one day be a legend?
“Do not trust the horse, Trojans! Whatever that is, I fear the Greeks, even when bearing gifts.” Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia head up this installment of Express Yourself!™ about trust. Thirteen year old Jack Pawlakos debuts filling in for his older brother Alex in Health Rap relating the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Cryptozoologist and field investigator for the Centre for Fortean Zoology, Ken Gerhard, lights up the airwaves with his true tales of A Menagerie of Mysterious Beasts, including Big Foot, Nessie, and more. Pat Present reporter, Chelsea Pelchat, compares Machiavelli with Richard III as we look at the past to understand today. Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong, looks at the book of a former guest Lies I Told by Michelle Zink to discuss the gift of trust. The take away from today’s program indicates that trust is a very crucial element of the human relationship but it is gift to be earned, not given.
“The difference between try and triumph is a little ‘umph’.” Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia host a triumphant show bringing us the tools to overcome adversity. The ladies discuss triumph over fears, negative experiences, stress, school, family and friend troubles. In Health Rap, Alex Pawlakos gives us the power to triumph over illness by building a strong immune system through exercise, healthy eating, and plenty of sleep. Our newest reporter is Chelsea Pelchat debuts her segment Past Present focusing on how our past contributes to the experiences of our present and future. Today she discusses her role as the Teen Event Coordinator for Be the Star You Are!®, the struggles and triumphs of learning to be a leader. In Aim to Shoot, Katie Choo gives us the steps to adopting a mindset for success. Spoiler alert-it helps to LOVE who you are and what you do. Take charge, go into action, and be triumphant.
Horace wrote “carpe diem quam minimum credula postero” which translates to “seize the day, and believe as little as possible in tomorrow.” Today’s show is all about today-the choices we make, the people we impact, the technology we employ. Hosts Brigitte and Zahra interview a most inspirational guest, former NFL football great Mike McMoy. McCoy’s passion is empowering youth and helping them develop a larger vision for their lives. Mike delivers a faith-based message of hope and encouragement to students that helps them make good decisions, overcome challenges and deal with peer pressure to develop the self-confidence to achieve true success. Faith, family, and friends are critical to happiness and decisions determine our destiny. World Watch reporter, Joven Hundal takes us on a journey of technological advances over the past 16 years showing us why we need to appreciate the gift of “today”. In Aim to Shoot, Katie Choo covers numerous opportunities for careers in a variety of fields
What a special broadcast this is! Who would have thought that in 1998 when Cynthia Brian was in the processing of founding Be the Star You Are!® charity, that this empowerment non-profit would be evolving and going strong in 2016? Be the Star You Are!® volunteers and radio personalities Alex Pawlakos, Asya Gonzalez, Brigitte Jia, Henna Hundal, and Joven Hundal talk about their involvement in BTSYA and how they have become better people because of the opportunities for personal growth offered by the charity and Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio. Alex discusses the health issues surrounding being 18 years old. Asya and Brigitte interview Founder of BTSYA, Cynthia Brian to find out how the non profit has grown and how it is making a difference in the world. Henna Hundal offers her gratitude to Cynthia Brian for being a mentor and guide to success, while Joven investigates the legitimacy of large non-profits while advocating support of small, grass root non profits. www.BetheStarYouAre.org
'The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.' Brigitte started off the show with another segment of Art Attack, explaining the connection between time and art. It takes time to create a work of art, and that art plays a major role in any piece. Asya and Brigitte then talk about the importance of time management and how to achieve a little organization. New fads are popping up all the time, but staying true to yourself is timeless as Asya and Brigitte discuss the new trends that pop up throughout generations. Maria Wong reviews 'Everything I Never Told You' by Celeste Ng. This suspenseful read shows that time heals all wounds. Ironically, our author guest had to postpone her appearance because of lack of time.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” --Nelson Mandela Brigitte Jia starts off the show with styling up your school supplies. Sharpies, pretty paper, and lyrics are your best friends as you incorporate art into your daily life. Host Asya Gonzalez provides positive tips on how to prepare for back to school without procrastination plus tons of success strategies that will help school and college be really fun and rewarding. Maria Wong, Book Smart Reporter, focuses on finding a good balance between focusing on books for school and also reading for fun. Reading is influential on how one views the world, thus choosing one’s own books offers a different perspective. World Watch Reporter, Joven Hundal talks about the importance of computer science in today’s world, and why we must increase our exposure of it to K-12 students. Joven advocates for coding to be an accepted foreign language for school credits. Good luck with the new school year!
'The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but the most difficult to play.' Are you a talker? Do you know how to communicate effectively? Veteran reporter of Health Rap, Alex Pawlakos, joins hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia about how important it is to communicate with your doctor. A doctor can correctly diagnose your symptoms, arrive at a conclusion and a course of treatment, but only if you TALK to him or her. In a world where actions speak louder than words, Artist Jenna Rose Simon proves that the healing act of art and the written word can speak volumes when seen through the eyes of those in need of healing. Jenna’s message is that even if you can’t change the world, you can help the life of one person. As an athlete, Reporter of Lion Roar, Katie Lyons considers talking and communicating to be one of the most important components of sports. Communication between athletes and coaches is necessary for improvement, feedback, and strategizing. Talk Back!
Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia welcome Health Rap Reporter, Alex Pawlakos and Book Smart Reporter, Maria Wong as well as special guest Dr. Kyra Mesich to talk about survival. Alex focuses on the health benefits of happiness, meditation, humor, support of friends, walking in nature, and prayer as part of survival strategies. After receiving her doctoral degree, Kyra Mesich, PsyD went on a quest to understand sensitivity from a truly holistic perspective leading her to study extensively in the field of integrative health. She is the author of The Strength of Sensitivity. Maria shares her favorite summer read, Lily King’s novel, Euphoria, which primarily focuses on the struggle to survive by three anthropologists in the 1930’s in Papua New Guinea. The standard dictionary definition of survival is the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances. Trust your gut. Persevere. Bounce back. Be a survivor.
Psychic and author, Sherrie Dillard, joins host Asya Gonzalez to talk about getting support through any confrontation, situation, life journeys. In her book Discover Your Authentic Self, Sherrie shows you how to live more fully and according to your passions. Health Rap reporter, Alex Pawlakos offers powerful statistics on the importance of a support person for any person with an illness. People who did not have strong social support were 50 percent more likely to die from illness than those who had such support. The newest member of the Express Yourself! Radio Team, Joven Hundal brings his World Watch segment with the topic of the game that is taken the world by storm, Pokémon GO, next chapter of Nintendo’s wildly successful Pokémon franchise. The app has been widely acclaimed for encouraging fitness and offering support by requiring players to get up and walk around. Good luck in catching them all. Be supportive!
Have you always been interested in the entertainment industry? Did you know that acting happy will change your emotions to being more cheerful? Asya Gonzalez and Briggite Jia interview actor, producer, writer, and coach, Cynthia Brian, who offers strategies on avoiding scams and achieving success. Her book is The Business of Show Business, A Comprehensive Career Guide for Actors and Models. Eric Pawlakos provides an upbeat look at the relationship between acting and health in Health Rap. Science has proven that if we act happy, we will become happy because our body chemicals change. Career Reporter, Katie Choo gives a first rate synopsis of what it takes to be an actor. All acting is reacting, so get real and start acting as the star you are.
It’s summer, the busiest time of the year for traveling by air, sea, car, train, bike, and other modes of transportation. Health App Reporter Alex Pawlakos joins hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia for two segments to discuss the health hazards of travel with suggestions ion critical items to pack like your medical history and RX. Alex cautions us to use hand sanitizer as germs linger everywhere on airplanes and in hotel rooms, especially on tray tables, blankets, light switches and remote controls. In Art Attack, Brigitte explains how artists draw inspiration from travel sparking creativity while bringing back the sights, battles, and experiences from exotic lands. Asya testifies to road trips as being her favorite way to trade, offering tips on packing, phone charging, potty breaks, playlists, and more. Take advantage of the great exchange rates abroad, visit places you've only dreamed of, stay safe, healthy, and don’t forget the duct tape. Make memories. Happy Trails!
HealthRap’s Alex Pawlakos launches the program with a discussion of interesting and rewarding careers in sports medicine, nutrition, physical therapy, and more. Art Attack Reporter, Brigitte Jia delights in sharing the connection between sports and art. The beauty of the human body which has been the subject of artworks from the beginning of time, is exemplified in sports. Host Asya Gonzalez reads the chapter from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens, The Gift of Sports, and with co-host Brigitte, talk about sports they love. Leadership and good sportsmanship are the themes for Lion Roars Katie Lyons. Sports help us learn valuable life lessons no matter what sport you choose. Participating in a sport increases self-confidence and selfworth, builds positive body images while decreasing racism and school drop out rates. Play ball!
Our Express Yourself!™ team are proud to be Americans as hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian celebrate freedom of speech and living in the USA. They interview best selling author, Mary Roach with her newest book, Grunt, discussing the military life not portrayed in movies. On a daily basis, soldiers fight more esoteric battles against less considered adversaries—exhaustion, shock, panic, disease, extreme heat, cataclysmic noise, gastrointestinal distress, and assorted waterfowl. In Health Rap, Reporter Alex Pawlakos celebrates America by taking a look at medical research accomplishments.When it comes to medical innovation, the United States is the world leader.
“ Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” -inscription on the Statue of Liberty
Happy 240th birthday America.
“Whatever you choose to do, we will support you!” How fortunate could a teen be than to hear these words every day? Asya Gonzalez interviews rising Canadian teen singer, Brettyn Rose about how the support she has received since she was five years old and discovered her love of music and singing. Brettyn has offered fans a taste of her voice by sharing a selection of cover-songs on her YouTube channel and you’ll hear her original single, Everything’s Fine, on this show. Lion’s Roar reporter, Katie Lyons talks about the necessity of support in sports. An athlete depends on support from coaches, parents, fans, friends, and team mates and without support, athletes can not thrive. Asya also shares the support she’s received from family as well as strangers when she launched her company, StinkyFeet Gurlz.com. Offer your support to others and you’ll be supported.
What is success and how do you define success for yourself? Are you happy with your life, your relationships, and your accomplishments? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia interview Margaret Ann Lembo-Author of The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing, Color Your Life with Crystals, and nine spoken audio CDs to discover her secret to success. We learn the significance of totems, crystals, and aromatherapy in helping us be happier and healthier. In Art Attack, Brigitte’s core message is that money doesn’t matter when we are talking art because if your goal is to really enjoy the art you create, then you can be successful no matter how much money you make. The hosts also read the chapter, The Gift of Success penned by Dr. Bernie Siegel, best selling author and founder of ECAP (Exceptional Cancer Patients) from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. If you want to be successful, find your purpose and be happy!
What is slam poetry? Meet four-time National Poetry Slam champion, Taylor Mali as he talks about falling in love with nouns to tell your truths with hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian. Mali says that we enter other’s people’s truths through the objects surrounding them and he gives real life examples from classes he is teaching. Taylor Mali is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the original poets to appear on the HBO series "Def Poetry Jam." Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong, compares novels with poetry indicating that they both express something, often something meaningful, often sharing a new perspective with the reader or reinforcing values. Yet they are very different. Is poetry given attention in your school? Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.”~Edgar Allen Poe
What do zombies, hiphop, and sleep have in common? Hosts Asya and Brigitte were thrilled to welcome star of The Blind Side and The Walking Dead, IronE Singleton to Express Yourself!™ to share his inspirational rising, his message for teens, and a sneak preview of his new album, Hip Hopcrisy, a sixteen-track musical compilation infused with messages of hope, humor, and crafted life reflections. Health Heals reporter joins hosts Asya and Brigitte to discuss the importance of sleep from evidence and science based sources and Book Smart Reporter, Maria Wong, goes into depth on the role of sleep in the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Written in 1889, this novel has been regarded as one of the first feminist works of all time as it focuses on a housewife’s self liberation from a controlling marriage and societal constraints. The reason why we sleep is still unknown; however, scientific research has established that sleep is essential to a healthy life, and that inadequate sleep can cause.
What is sexuality? Most people will immediately assume we are talking about engaging in a sexual act, however, sexuality is not just about sex. From birth until death, every person is a sexual being. Host Asya Gonzalez interviews Christian author, Heather Letto, about her Ascension series first book, Impervious. The residents of Impervious survived the War of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in its corners. This Beast—a mysterious and terminal illness—has killed off most of Generations One, Two and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death becomes a cultural rage. Sexuality is dealt with subtly and innocently in her novel. The Gift of Sexuality by Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany is read by Asya from the best seller, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and Asya also reads the review of Impervious.
Life is full of wonderful surprises! Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez meet Japanese anime voice actor, Vic Mignogna as he discusses his serendipitous route to becoming an anime star after years of stage acting. Vic is also theexecutive producer of the award winning web series “Star Trek Continues”, where he is not only directing, but fulfilling a childhood dream of playing the iconic role of Captain Kirk. Health Rap reporter, Alex Pawlakos, shares serendipity in the medical field when a scientist is trying to discover a new medical treatment, then, unexpectedly, discovers something else that he wasn’t seeking that cures another disease. In Art Attack, Brigitte and Asya, both lovers of art talk about the inspiration that chance provides to artists. Serendipity happens when you least expect. Be aware of all the possibilities. Chance happens.
Deepen your spiritual connection to the earth and rejoin the community of nature when Asya and Zahra interview artist and author Lupa for her newest book, Nature Spirituality from the Ground Up. As she explores nature, Lupa risked all to keep grounded. The Gift of Risk penned by Libby Gill from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS, offers real life exercises to stretch and grow daily. Art Attack Reporter, Brigitte Jia brings another fascinating monologue on the risks that artists take to reveal their inner spirit with their works. Why did Andy Warhol paint tomato soup cans? “It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It's because we dare not venture that they are difficult.”-Seneca
You are responsible for your behavior, actions, and results. After reading The Gift of Responsibility from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens, hosts Asya and Zahra interview Diane Bush and Kiran Kaur about Safe Jobs for Youth Month. Diane Bush directs the Young Worker Project at the Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at the University of California, Berkeley and Kiran is one of LOHP’s Teens Lead @ Work peer educators. The Labor Occupational Heath Program and California Partnership for Young Worker Health and Safety have projects dedicated to young workers with the goal of helping prevent California’s young workers from being injured or killed on the job. They work to train teens about their rights and responsibilities on the job and raise community awareness about child labor law protections and workplace health and safety issues. Be empowered, be responsible, know your rights.
Resilience is the key to a healthy life. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian talk with Health App reporter, Alex Pawlakos who provides studies and tips on how to be more resilient. From a health standpoint, the better you handle the pressures and stresses of life, the better off you will be physically, mentally, and emotionally. To be resilient means to bounce back quickly. Our hosts interview Mary O’Connor, an actor who lost her ability to walk after a devastating injury in 2014. With her optimistic and determined struggle to regain her ability to walk, she is on a mission to encourage the entertainment industry to cast disabled actors in projects. Mary recently studied with James Franco and was part of an independent film she and her classmates created with Mr. Franco. Asya and Zahra read a humorous story from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS that illustrates the importance of recovering from mishaps and turning negatives into positives to move forward.
“You’re too tall, you’re too short, you’re too pretty, you’re too ugly, you’re too young, you’re too old, your hair is too blonde, your hair isn’t blonde enough, your eyes are too blue, your eyes need to be brown, you have too much experience, you’re not experienced enough.” No matter who you are, you will face rejection in life so it’s time to embrace it and move forward. Asya Gonzalex hosts the program beginning with chapter, The Gift of Rejection” by Cynthia Brian from the book Be the Star You Are!® for Teens followed by a lively conversation with The New Yorker copy editor, Mary Norris. Norris expertly guides readers through the most common and confusing grammatical issues in her book, Between You and Me, Confessions of a Comma Queen. She reveals her rejections throughout her career and why it’s important to keep on keeping on. An informative and fun interaction with two women who love words and repel rejection.
“Reality is merely an illusion; albeit a very persistent one.” ~Albert Einstein Two fantastic guests are interviewed by host Asya Gonzalez in today’s program focusing on reality. Both guests have become accidental celebrities. Alice Abruzzini, AKA Nonie, and now referred to as Vanna 2, made TV history by being the first person other than Vanna White to share the stage with Pat Sajak as he ends Wheel of Fortune. At 87 years young, being “Vanna” on a reality game show was living her dream. Venezuelan born Michelle Poler began a school project of 100 Days without Fear that has become a life changing experience .. In efforts to become a braver person, Michelle completed a project where she faced one fear a day for 100 days. She recorded herself on each challenge and posted them daily to YouTube. What she didn’t expect was get 4.5 followers! Asya wraps up the show by discussing her charity, She is Worth It, and the efforts to stop the reality of sex trafficking in the United States.
”To be a leader, your must be a reader. Read, lead, succeed!” This is the motto of Be the Star You Are!® charity. Hosts Asya and Zahra talk with Book Smart reporter in NYC, Maria Wong about her love of reading and some of her favorite books for young adults. Multi-award winning author Geoffrey Saign joins the conversation with his book series, Whipeye Chronicles, thrillers about love, nature, wildlife, intuition, and trusting yourself. Aim to Shoot Reporter, Katie Choo discusses occupations that would involve reading or being part of publishing. A book is like a garden in your pocket. Pick up a book and find the wonder.
Do you believe in possibilities? Host Asya Gonzalez interviews the inspirational founder and member of the largest wheelchair dance group in the nation, recently seen on the Sundance TV show "Push Girls” Chelsie Hill. At the age 17 Chelsie was tragically injured in a car accident leaving her T-10 Paraplegic. With the help of her dad, she launched a foundation, Walk and Roll, to educate others about the possibilities for a full life after an accident. Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong delves deeply into the young adult novel, You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis that focuses not only on the endless opportunities available in life but also on family life, secrets, and the glamour of NYC. Asya shares the story by T.J. Hoisington, The Gift of Possibiiity, from the book Be the Star You Are!® for Teens which encourages everyone that “YES, you CAN!”
Guest author of “How to Heal Yourself When No One Else Can”, Amy Scher, offers numerous tips on how to be calm, stress-free, and focused as well as healing yourself through positivity. Amy’s energy and enthusiasm sparked the admiration of hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia who chimed in with their personal experiences in how being positive boosted happiness. Health Rap Reporter, Alex Pawlakos offered scientific studies and examples indicating that positivity increases heart health, reduces pain, decreases crisis recovery time, and adds to general wellness. Asya read Ivan Burnell’s chapter, The Gift of Positivity, from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens encouraging everyone to say YES to life. Lower your blood pressure, heal your self, and be positive!
‘Tis a lesson you should heed. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.' Edward Hickson Two hosts who are currently attending Harvard join together for an exhilarating program celebrating the importance of perseverance. Henna Hundal and Ryan Sim are not only hosts and reporters on Express Yourself!, but, they have taken their experiences from Express Yourself!™ to launch a new talk show on Harvard radio and, in addition, Henna spins as a DJ for a program of blues. They read a chapter by Cynthia Brian from Be the Star You Are!™ for TEENS which illustrates the importance of never quitting. Today’s guest, exuberant Kamil McFadden, a Disney star on “K.C. Undercover”, inspires listener with his dedication to perseverance despite the odds, his belief that it is critical to be kind to everyone, and his gratitude for his mom, family, friends, TV colleagues, and everyone who has been a ladder in his life. “Paralyze resistance with persistence.” -Woody Hayes Never GIVE UP on your dreams!
We live in a disposable society and almost everyone collects too much junk. Rather than wearing things out, we either throw them away or jam them in a closet creating more clutter. Being unorganized creates a life of chaos. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Jennifer Lee tackle the bedlam. Cynthia Brian’s chapter, The Gift of Organization, is read and discussed from the award winning book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens followed by energetic and enlightening conversations with Health Matters producer and host, Heather Brittany. Heather shares multiple tips on how we can all organize our lives and environments with small simple steps to clear the clutter and be more productive. The show ends with a soulful rendition of Rihanna’s “Stay” sung by our Express Yourself!™ teen host chanteuse, Jennifer Lee. Grab the broom and dustpan. Clear out your locker. Create space and a place for everything. Shine up your life by eliminating clutter. There is meaning in cleaning.
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill Optimism doesn't mean life will be perfect, just that we can imagine positive outcomes. Given a choice, we all have the power to write our own personal happy ending. Dr. Bud Bilanich, the Common Sense Guy, leadership consultant, career success coach, motivational speaker, bestselling author, and influential blogger, joins hosts Asya Gonzalez and Jennifer Lee in an uplifting romp through the power of hopefulness. The program ends with Jennifer singing “Put Your Records On”. Be an optimist and take advantage of the opportunities to accomplish that which you thought you could not.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow’s a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why we call it “the present”! Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Caiseen Kelly focus on the now with an uplifting interview with author of A Short Path to Change, Jennifer Mannion, who found her passion when she healed herself from a chronic disease. The hosts also read the chapter, “The Gift of Now” by Davis Lunsford from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens emphasizing the importance of living in the present. Finally, our career reporter, Katie Choo, takes her Aim to Shoot segment to one of the top ten jobs of today, software analysis. Your preparation today leads to your success tomorrow. Be now.
Leaders are not born, they are made. It’s hard work and diligence that grows a leader. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian conduct a vivacious and impactful conversation on the meaning of leadership. They read the chapter by Sujin Park on Leadership from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens, then spend two segments sharing their personal stories on how they are developing their leadership skills. The hosts talk about the importance of failure to learning to succeed. The issues about the Presidential election are discussed with the focus on the importance of electing a responsible leader. Reporter of Lion Roars, Katie Lyons, talks about leadership by offering quotes by the famous sports coach, Vince Lombardi. The leaders of the 50th SuperBowl with the Denver Broncos is also featured.Teamwork is essential to leadership and great leaders instill a sense of camaraderie. Leaders must motivate, know what they want, and make it happen.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace”-Jimi Hendrix Express Yourself!™ shares the love with hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanaian as they interview two authors who know a lot about amour. First up is Jennie Lee, healing yoga therapist and author of True Yoga, an inspirational guide through the Yoga Sutras outlining how to create enduring happiness, overcome life's challenges, and experience the Universal Love that is available through meditation. Numerologist Michelle Arbau, author of The Energy of Words, shows us how the numbers are never wrong as she offers predictions for 2016. Whatever your question, love is always the answer.
Nature photographer, Carol Freeman, joins Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia for a fascinating program on the passion of learning. Carol reveals how she never set out to be a photographer and how she learned to love the craft as she is happiest when she is outdoors, investigating prairies, wetlands, nature preserves, examining endangered species, and discovering new ways to make a difference. Her Walk in Beauty series educate, enlighten, and inspires people to connect with and learn to appreciate nature. the Asya shares the differences in learning applications that happen from high school to college. In Art Attack, Brigitte discusses the value that illustrators bring to visual learners. Immerse yourself in learning for life. and you’ll live your dreams.
Opportunities for laughter are everywhere, in everything, everyday. Laughing is a healing drug with no side effects. And it's free! Hosts Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia bring laughter to the show with a reading from the chapter The Gift of Laughter by Jill Byington from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. Zahra conveys her Hope Heals segment with a conversation on how genuine laughter can help hopelessness. Numerous medical studies indicate that the deep breaths we take and the chemicals our body releases when we laugh hasten healing and reinforce the body's immunity. In Art Attack, Brigitte shows how Manga artists use a variety of different techniques to make people laugh through their drawings. Asya Gonzalez joins the discussion with her view that spreading laughter is the same thing as spreading kindness, you are giving someone an experience that gives them joy.
Make time to laugh every day. Humor is food for the soul. . You don't stop laughing because you grow old.
With the return of our host, Henna Hundal, who is currently going to Harvard, Express Yourself!™ boasts three fabulous hosts for this important show on tolerance, Asya Gonzalez, Zahra Hasanian, and Henna Hundal. Henna provides an update on her Harvard experiences and the new radio network she’ll be working with at the university as the ladies chat. The hosts also discuss their personal viewpoints of what tolerance and intolerance mean to them. Prolific author of YA novels, Paullina Simons brings her fascinating insights about tolerance and how she writes her characters. Paullina grew up in Russia where she never saw a person of another race or color. When she came to America, she went to a school that was 80% Latin and African American. She advocates defining what tolerance is to you and surround yourself with people who feel positive and have beliefs that are similar. Be open-minded. Be respectful. We may disprove of what someone says, but everyone has the right to say it.
Kindness is a gentle powerful act. It is the quality of being pleasant, friendly, and concerned for others. Hosts Courtney Cheng and Zahra Hasanian read Cynthia Brian’s Gift of Kindness from the book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference. New reporter, Katie Choo joins the team with her segment, Aim to Shoot, focusing on college professors today. In Hope Heals, Zahra restores our trust and faith in humanity as she shares her experiences of kindness as courageous acts. Courtney brings us a recap of a best selling novel in her Book It segment revealing a character lacking kindness. We may not remember what people say to us in life. We will remember what they did to us and how they made us feel. Kindness is a virtue that manifests from our deepest being. It is who we are and what we become. Ask yourself what you can do to be kind today. Create peace on the planet through kindness and empathy. Do you dare to care?
Have a dream and follow it. Have a plan and stick to it. Have a goal and achieve it. Every January, people make resolutions to lose weight, earn more money, sleep more hours, travel to distant lands, and spend more time with loved ones. By the beginning of April, most of those great intentions have been long forgotten. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia show us how to create goals and make them achievable, whether it be in business, art, school, or relationships. Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong discusses the book, Willow, whose main character has the goal of stopping self-harm. Make a goal to be there for your friends. A new sports reporter is introduced today, Katie Lyons with her segment Lion Roars. Katie discusses setting specific goals as an individual and as a team and gives easy ways to do just that. Remember, don’t have to break records. Goals are best when they are challenging yet also achievable.
What do you hope for? What is hope? How can we instill more hope in ourselves and others? Asya Gonzalez, Katelyn Darrow, Maria Wong, Zahra Hasanain, and Brigitte Jia offer variations on the theme of hope. You’ll hear about how volunteering with a charity offers hope to those less fortunate, books with themes of hanging on to hope, how to heal from the inside out with hope, and the association of hope and art. Personal perspectives, youthful insights, and phenomenal passion is our gift of hope to you. Offer hope to others and you’ll find it in yourself.
Imagination is the inspiration for ingenuity. Asya Gonzalez and Katelyn Darrow host an invigorating conversation with author, lawyer, translator, and programmer, Ken Liu, about his debut novel, The Grace of Kings, the first in a silk punk epic fantasy series. Zahra Hasanian reads the chapter, The Gift of Imagination from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference to glean the importance of parents encouraging the wild imaginations of children. Brigitte Jia explores the links between art and imagination, specifically with abstraction. Don’t play it safe in life. Allow yourself the time to dream, to look up at the stars, and to believe in the unbelievable. We are never too old to invent a playful approach to living. Imagination is the beginning of reality.
You can dream, and you can plan, but faith is the crucial catalyst that creates the reality. Cynthia Brian
We can exist without faith, but we can’t live without it. What is faith? How do we find it? How do we keep it? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Gia discuss the gripping, coming of age, and engaging story in the book, Queen of Water, with Book Smart Reporter, Maria Wong. The conversation highlights how even through terrible, heart and spirit breaking conditions one can be faithful, strong, and survive. Dani Wong’s story, The Gift of Faith from Cynthis Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens is read and analyzed by Asya showing us how even in the darkest times, faith is a beacon of light. In Art Attack, the hosts tackle the role of faith in creating great art, despite setbacks and criticisms.
“Faith invigorates our souls, energizes our minds and shapes our dreams.” Dani Wong
Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Peanuts are alive and well! Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanian interview Hadley Belle Miller, the voice of Lucy, in the new peanuts movie.
They also read Joel Goodman’s story, The Gift of Humor, from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and talk about what constitutes humor. In Hope Heals, Zahra shows us the healing effects of laughter. Instead of from “grim and bear it” adopt an attitude of “grin and share it.” Laughter and humor are the best medicine. http://www.peanutsmovie.com/
Being a volunteer for Be the Star You Are! 501 c3 charity offers major benefits to the individual. Hosts Jennifer Lee, Zahra Hasanian and Courtney Cheng reminisce about how they have grown as people because of their involvement. As hosts and reporters of Express Yourself!™, they have learned to be spontaneous, timely, and prepared as they interview guests. You’ll hear about the early years of this teen radio broadcast, how to be grateful for all the little things in life, and plans for a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. Reporter Asya Gonzalez credits Express Yourself!™ with helping her to win her national award as one of America’s top teen entrepreneurs as she runs her design business, Stinky Feet Gurlz. Make a donation today to Be the Star You Are!® charity at http://www.bethestaryouare.org/donate.htm. It’s obvious that gratitude works. Be grateful and enjoy a happy Thanksgiving!
What is the meaning of care, and how do you heal both inside and out? Hosts Brigitte Zia and Zahra Hasanain read from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens the chapter, The Gift of Healing by prominent physical therapist, Arlyn Van Dyke about his childhood accident that lead to him becoming a healer. They then travel across the pond to the Emerald Isle with a fascinating interview with author of The Summer King, Orla Melling. Melling’s books of young adult fantasy weave spiritual themes with high adventure in the tradition of her favourite author, C.S. Lewis. Her bestselling series The Chronicles of Faerie was listed among the American Library Association’s Top Ten Fantasy Books for Youth and Top Ten Youth Books for the Environment. Art can be very calming and serene and in our last segment, Art Attack reporter, Brigitte shows us the power of healing art.Each and every one of us harbors a doctor within. Heal thyself!
What is the meaning of joy, and what is true happiness in life? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Caiseen Kelly investigate cheerfulness. They read the chapter, The Gift of Happiness by MJ Ryan from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS written by Cynthia Brian. Health Rap reporter Alex Pawlakos brings the research indicating that happiness strengthens our immune system, combats disease, disability, while reducing stress. Zahra Hasanaian, our Hope Heals reporter discusses the importance of passion for a truly happy life. If you want to live long and blissfully, think happy. Pharrell Williams has it right-happiness is the truth.
Skeletons, pumpkins, and ghosts! Oh my! It’s Halloween and the favorite holiday of our hosts Asya Gonzalez and Caiseen Kelly. After a fun discussion about creating costumes and childhood pranks, Art Attack Reporter, Brigitte Jia, takes us back in history to discover how Halloween came about. Special guest is Disney star, Sophie Reynolds. Sophie Reynolds is one of the newest members of the Disney family as the sweet and fun-loving ‘Ashley’ on “Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything” with Cameron Boyce. She also talks about her upcoming Halloween movie to be shot in Canada. Make this a spooktacular Halloween. Be safe and have a scary night!
Remember Kermit, the Frog moaning about the difficulty of being green? In today’s show, host Asya Gonzalez looks at what it means to be green in a variety of ways. She kicks off the program reading the chapter, The Gift of Green by Cynthia Brian from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS and follows up with numerous ways to be pro-active stewards of our earth. Economics Tune-Up Reporter, Alex Pawlakos looks at being environmentally astute from the viewpoint of our wallets. Save the environment and save cash. “Go green to save green.” Our special guest, Good Morning America producer, Mary Pflum Peterson, shares her love of Kermit with her compassionate and eye opening memoir, White Dresses, an exploration of a complex family history. She discusses her deep bond with her intelligent mother, a former nun, and gives us a peek into the underlying ailment of hoarding.
"Every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.”
Individuality is more important than imitation. But how can you express your individuality? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia talk about how teens can find their true identity. They read the chapter, the Gift of Individuality by Cynthia Brian, from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS which focuses on marching to the tune of your own drum. Author of more than 50 books, Elizabeth Lenhard is interviewed for her newest book, Flirt-Our Song. Elizabeth has always been a full-time writer starting at a newspaper then moving to ghost writing and her own books. She advises people who want to write to just write, be unique, and not worry about getting published. Brigitte excites us with her Art Attack segment focusing on amazing examples of individuality in the history of art, including The School of Athens and Rafael. Your actions and decisions are powerful, and impact both you and the people around you. Be proud of yourself and your individuality, and remember that you are a star!
What is friendship and how do we create life long relationships? Hosts Caiseen Kelly and Brigitte Jia discuss the meaning of real friendship. The Gift of Friends by Erica Miner from the book Be the Star You Are!® for Teens is read with tips on how to be a friend. The ladies then interview author, Erin Bow with her newest YA science fiction novel, The Scorpion Rules, that reveals how friends help one another survive. In Art Attack, Brigitte shares information on how movements in art were begun because of the friendship between friends, including Impressionism and Cubism.
“Choose your friends wisely. Then be there for each other. That is a gift that has no price: the gift of a lifetime.”
What is fortitude and do you have the strength to keep on keeping on? New host Brigitte Jia examines fortitude for a full hour beginning with reading the Gift of Fortitude by Cynthia Brian from the book, Be the Star You Are! for TEENS. In our 2nd and 3rd segment, Brigitte introduces Rachel Caine, the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling author of more than 45 novels that span the categories of horror, suspense, urban fantasy, science fiction, media tie-in, historical, and young adult. Rachel discusses her first novel in The Great Library series, INK AND BONE, while giving insights on how to get started as a teen writer. In Art Attack, Brigitte profiles artists with immense courage, who faced obstacles and challenges to complete their works and maintain their craft. What does Fortitude mean? Fortitude entails strength, guts, resilience, courage, staying power, stamina, endurance, and determination.
When someone does you wrong, it can be hard to forgive. Without forgiveness, we can’t move on. Host Asya Gonzalez reads the chapter, The Gift of Forgiveness, from both books, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference where we learn that time spent blaming and complaining is totally wasted. We are the winners, not the losers, when we forgive and let go because it means that we can also forgive ourselves. Co-host Caiseen Kelly joins Asya to interview mega best selling author Mary Nethery about why she writes about forgiveness in her forthcoming novel, Nabbed in New Orleans. Mary Nethery deals with a band of friends on an adventure in post Katrina New Orleans in which they discover love, friendship, and find forgiveness. Finally, our teen hosts discuss how forgiveness has moved them forward in their own lives and how teens can embrace this virtue. Forgive and forge ahead.
What is financial literacy and why is it important to understand starting at a young age? According to the dictionary, financial literacy is the ability to understand how money works in the world; how you earn it, how you manage it, how you invest it, how you use it to help others aka donating. Producer, Cynthia Brian, sits in the hosting seat to interview teen reporters Zahra Hasanian, Eric Pawlakos, and Asya Gonzalez on what financial literacy means to them, how they are learning, and what are the benefits. The chapter on financial literacy penned by Heather Brittany is read from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens advocating the importance of earning a living to live a life. • • “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Benjamin Franklin
The word “work” often has a negative connotation. Hosts Caiseen Kelly and Asya Gonzalez look at the “whys” of working hard to achieve goals. They interview award -winning author Brooks Olbrys about his book series, The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob. This colorful and inspiring early chapter book series provides young readers with an introduction to timeless principles of achievement. Brooks encourages us to follow our hearts and passions to discover our purpose, then, work will be fulfilling and joyful. Reporter of Book It!, Courtney Cheng, discusses the novel, Motherland, a story about a German mother caught in the middle of WWII and what working meant to her family. Having work could simply be your own way of keeping yourself busy, your mind sharp, your body active. Asya Gonzalez tells how she became a child entrepreneur and how the hard work led to her being awarded one of five top teen entrepreneurs of 2015 and winning the Dan Danner Leadership Award providing an additional $10,000
The word “work” often has a negative connotation. Hosts Caiseen Kelly and Asya Gonzalez look at the “whys” of working hard to achieve goals. They interview award -winning author Brooks Olbrys about his book series, The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob. This colorful and inspiring early chapter book series provides young readers with an introduction to timeless principles of achievement. Brooks encourages us to follow our hearts and passions to discover our purpose, then, work will be fulfilling and joyful. Reporter of Book It!, Courtney Cheng, discusses the novel, Motherland, a story about a German mother caught in the middle of WWII and what working meant to her family. Having work could simply be your own way of keeping yourself busy, your mind sharp, your body active. Asya Gonzalez tells how she became a child entrepreneur and how the hard work led to her being awarded one of five top teen entrepreneurs of 2015 and winning the Dan Danner Leadership Award providing an additional $10,000
Encouragement is the gift of caring and kindness. Without encouragement and support from at least one dedicated cheerleader, it’s difficult to succeed in life. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez read The Gift of Encouragement penned by Billijo Doll from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are! for Teens, then discuss how encouragement has made the difference in their lives. Katelyn Darrow shares how she began she charity, Angels of God Clothing Closet at age 12 with the encouragement of friends and family. Broadcast veteran Paul Sladkus joins the conversation from a Willy Nelson concert in Brooklyn to shed light on good news and peace. Paul is involved with sharing the Good of the people of the world. He created www.goodnewsplanet.com for people to share their stories and events in their lives. And he organized the www.peacedayparty.org to help strengthen the message of the United Nations for the International Day of Peace on September 21.
Knowledge is power. Information is food for the mind. Nourish yourself with education. Show hosts Henna and Asya read the chapter, The Gift of Education by Dr. Don Martin, from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are! for Teens then chat about their own journeys in their pursuit of education. They then welcome Aussie author of 21 books, Sue Lawson, who discusses the life of a writer and her new book Freedom Ride, based on true events. Asya wraps it up with the importance of educating on ourselves on numerous topics including child sex trafficking. She and Henna advise using education and your gut to keep safe. When you learn, you grow. An education is a treasure that pays big dividends for a lifetime. Educate yourself today!
The Gift of Dreams No matter who you are or where you come from, you have the power to dream. Imagine the life you want to live. Host Jennifer Lee jumpstarts our dreams with a rendition of “Imagine” followed with host Henna Hundal and Jennifer offering ways to do what you love and love what you do as they read the chapter, The Gift of Dreams from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. Why do we dream? HealthRap Reporter Alex Pawlakos sheds light on the science behind dreaming. Often the imagery in a dream may be connected to a real-life problem in a more visual way. In our REM dreams, we are re-processing emotional experiences that happen in our waking life. But, because of the reduced levels of stress chemicals, we are able to re-processing these experiences in a more stress-free environment. Ilana Harkavy, an LA-based recording artist/songwriter and entrepreneur with a passion for female empowerment debuts her first solo EP
You’re unique, one-of-a-kind, an original. The vitality of life springs forth when we learn to not only rejoice in our commonalities but also appreciate our differences. Hosts Jennifer Lee and Henna Hundal discuss different strokes for different folks with Express Yourself!™ reporters Courtney Cheng, Maria Wong and Zahra Hasanain. The chapter, The Gift of Differences penned by Anna Meyers from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens is read and talked about by the hosts followed by a conversation with Book It! reporter, Courtney about how internet sites can be both welcoming and alienating when it comes to being different. Maria Wong’s Book Smart segment focuses on social class inequalities in the Mombai centered characters of The Space Between Us. Hope Heals reporter, Zahra Hasanain, finds that · Conformity and differences are complementary. A world without uniformity and commonality would be chaos where no one could come to a consensus to agree about anything.
Do you often wonder what your future holds? What incredible things you stand to accomplish? Where you’ll end up in 10 or 15 years? The answers, as many would say, are in the stars. First time host, Jennifer Lee, joins experienced host Henna Hundal to sing the song “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson that says a lot about what destiny means. Following up on the topic, in Health with Henna, Henna offers concrete tips on how to create a healthy future through exercise. Both hosts read the chapter, The Gift of Destiny from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens which leaves us with the message that serendipitous opportunities seem to find us when we are making other plans. If you want to predict your future you have to create it yourself, however, keeping in mind that you can never push the river. It just flows. Art Attack reporter, Brigitte Jia illustrates how fate and destiny are two subjects that artists have struggled with for countless eras, spitting out in the process works
Can eating dark chocolate before going on a date help you be more relaxed? Find out in today’s Express Yourself!™ with hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez as they chat with regular reporters, Alex Pawlakos, Courtney Cheng, and Brigitte Jia. Alex offers many anxiety relief tips in his segment of Health Rap that will be helpful not only for dating opportunities but for all encounters. Courtney’s Book It! report explores the ups and downs of dating through two movies, The F Word and Everything Before Us that portray relationships between teenagers, young adults, and adults in a realistic manner. Asya and Henna engaged in a discussion about trust, connection, values, morals, and kindness regarding dating. The ebullient Brigitte’s report of Art Attack is specifically about her top five favorite art pieces created in the spirit of romance and passion. Let love reign.
What does it mean to be daring? It’s time to step out of your comfort zone, take on a new challenge, be bold, be strong, become the best you! Hosts Rachel Glass and Henna Hundal chat with author Lee Kelly, author of City of Savages, a former high profile attorney who dared to become a writer. After the Red Allies turn New York City into a POW camp, two sisters must decipher the past in order to protect the future in this action-packed thriller with a dual narrative. Rachel reads her chapter of Daring from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and shares how her daring adventures have evolved in the six years since her story was published. Reporter of Art Attack, Brigitte Jia, explores the boldness and tenacity of the French artists Monet, Renoir, Sisley, and Bazille who dared to explore the innovative style that began a new and vivid movement, impressionism.
The rich earth is filled with marvels in every nook and cranny. Don’t merely accept this grandeur, but rather seek it out. Strive to be curious. Host Henna Hundal discusses how being curious and creative sets us free and offers unlimited possibilities in all realms. Alex Pawlakos brings his new segment HealthRap to Express Yourself!™ with the curious and exciting happenings in the medical arena. Reporters and writers are high on the list of professionals who need to be curious. Former newspaper reporter turned travel guidebook writer, author, and radio host, Fran Silverman shares how curiosity has shaped her career. Co-host Asya Gonzalez talks about how curiosity leads to self-discovery and without curiosity nothing in life would be accomplished or achieved. Put on your thinking cap, view the world through an inquisitive lens. Your life will never be the same. Be curious.
The Gift of Curiosity is based on a chapter from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS
Do you take your freedom for granted. Growing up in the free world, especially in the United States, it is easy to get complacent. As our day of independence approaches, our star hosts and reporters, Henna Hundal, Asya Gonzalez, Katelyn Darrow, and Brigitte Jia weigh in on what freedom means to them and what they are doing to celebrate this gift of life manifestation. Katelyn talks about her work with Amnesty International and the importance of participating in peaceful protests. Asya expresses her sincerest gratitude that she is able to freely discuss her thoughts and ideas on this uncensored, unedited teen forum of Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio. Just think how many people around the world have their voices squashed? Henna brings tips to graduates moving on to the next phase of their life with the freedom of choices while encouraging healthy habits. Brigitte looks at the true freedom art gives in the form of Art is so effective that it is restricted by some totalitarian governments who don’t believe in freedom of expression.
Wake up, inhale the brilliant air. Do you feel that wonderful energy pumping through your veins? Today’s a new day. And you’re FREE to make the best of it. Freedom is a gift. Have you embraced your present yet? Express Yourself!
Communication is the key to effectively communicate our ideas, visions, and desires in order to reach a higher state of mutual understanding. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez interview relationship specialist Milton Quibner, host of the podcast Get Over Yourself! The Milt ‘n Mia Show! Milt is the author of How High Should I Jump: The Satirical Guide to Pleasing Today's Woman. He shares his philosophy on living life to the fullest with honest, straight forward communication skills. The newest member of our Express Yourself!™ crew, Maria Wong, begins a new segment called, Book Smart. She highlights the importance of communication through a discussion of the book, To All the Boys I Ever Loved by Jenny Han. Reporter for Art Attack, Brigitte Jia, shares how a picture really is worth a thousand words. Art says something to people, about people. The artist who’s created the work is sharing a message, and this message can be interpreted by others according to their emotions and backgrounds. Learning to communicate effectively is a gift and in today’s hour of Express Yourself!™, you’ll be introduced to novel ideas on how to engage.
Life is about choices. We can choose to be happy, we can choose to be sad. We have the power. Host Henna Hundal examines the benefits of choosing a life of integrity, honesty, bravery, and empowerment, while inspiring others to do the same. Henna interviews two thrilling authors, Natalie Richards and Anita Telle. Natalie is the author of the YALSA Teens’ Top Ten nominated psychological thriller, Six Months Later, and the newest thriller Gone Too Far. She discusses the choices she has made to live her passion as a writer and she encourages youth to go for their dreams.
Challenges are our greatest teachers. Out of each challenge you emerge a stronger, wiser, and more well-equipped human being. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez examine how you can embrace your struggles and see them as opportunities for growth. They interview world-renowned scientist of artificial intelligence, Dr. Steve Omohondro, a scientist, professor, author, software architect, and entrepreneur doing research that explores the interface between mind and matter. He published the book Geometric Perturbation Theory in Physics, designed the programming languages StarLisp and Sather, wrote the 3D graphics system for Mathematica, and built systems which learn to read lips, control robots, and induce grammars. Dr. Steve discusses the challenges humans will face in the next ten years as the world powers strive to be the first to control AI. Our Hope Heals Reporter, Zahra Hasanain encourages everyone to keep pushing because it is only through challenges that we grow as individuals. Challenges build character. Don’t be afraid to take on any curve balls you’re thrown…even if it’s a robot tossing the ball!
The cost of illiteracy to American taxpayers and businesses is 225 billion dollars for crime, loss of tax revenue due to unemployment wages, unemployment, welfare and other government assistance. In addition, low literacy adds 230 billion to the annual cost of delivering healthcare in the United States. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez investigate the growing epidemic of illiteracy causing irreparable damage to our society. They interview career strategist, Carol Christen, author of What Color is Your Parachute for Teens? to find out how young people can discover their strengths, design a promising future, and plan for a dream job. The 3rd edition of the book features fresh updates on the specific challenges of today’s job-market and advice on information interviewing, social media, internships, and more. Reading and researching are key ingredients to this success. Low literacy and communication skills have been identified in studies as major contributors to general conduct disorders, psychiatric disorders, criminal behavior, and adolescent suicide.
Building a beautiful life is all about building amazing memories. Memories are treasures. They’re moments of time that we tuck away safely in a little pocket of our hearts. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez spend three segments sharing the importance of remembering as they examine how to use memories as sweet reminders of the journey traversed through life. Art Attack reporter, Brigitte Jia brings her unique artistry to the conversation by illustrating how works of art are used to communicate the most ephemeral moments, fleeting snapshots frozen forever. Remembrance isn’t about fame. Remembrance is about connecting with the people around you. Live life fully, spreading love, creating memories. You might not be a household name, but celebrated Grandpa Joe gets as much love at the dinner table as Leonardo Da Vinci, if not more. Be a memory architect! “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” Gerard Way
What is beauty? Why is beauty such a concept that is so misunderstood? Could there be one absolute definition of beauty Billboards feature models with perfect, golden skin tone glows. Magazines sprawl open with images of stick thin celebrities without a blemish or flaw in sight. In a world that is so fixated on outer appearances, it’s time to redefine beauty and our teen hosts and reporters offer ways to make you feel beautiful from the inside out. Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez have lively conversations on the meaning of beauty and self confidence. They encourage listeners to tap into their inner beauty by smiling, standing up straight, thinking positive thoughts, and celebrating what you have instead of what you lack. Our talented singer and Back Story Reporter, Jennifer Lee, sings Carole King’s song, Beautiful which emphasizes that anyone is as beautiful as he/she feels. New reporter, Brigitte Jia, brings us her first segment of Art Attack, looking at the beauty of Japanese anime and manga.
Be the Star You Are! and Express Yourself! congratulate Asya Gonzalez for being honored as one of five top teen entrepreneurs in the USA with her company Stinky Feet Gurlz.
The quote by Roald Dahl sums up the theme of beauty, A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. Be Beautiful and remember you are a STAR! BE the STAR You Are!
Attitude, attitude, attitude. We decide whether it’s positive or negative and our choice affects everyone. Host Henna Hundal interviews two authors, Brooks Olbrys and Dani DePirro, dedicated to helping their readers enjoy a positive, uplifting attitude. As a lifelong student of achievement philosophies, Brooks Olbrys was inspired by his young son to empower children in a storybook series he created, called The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob. The series fuses both entertainment and education giving kids the valuable message that a great attitude and a great work ethic can lead to great achievement! Brooks also shares insights into writing his latest book in the series, The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob-A Challenging Series. Brooks is also a dedicated benefactor of Be the Star You Are!® charity, donating books to instantly help children affected by disasters.
Dani DePirro joins Henna in a lively upbeat conversation about her inspirational book, The Positively Present Guide to Life which is an adjunct to her web site PositivelyPresent.com. The book provides specific, action-oriented advice for embracing positive thinking in everyday life to, create a nurturing home, build a fulfilling career, develop great relationships, appreciate true love, and embrace change.
Join our power-packed discussion and shift your attitude to gratitude and positivity.
This week, we learn to ASK for what we want. Ask and you shall receive! Children are incredible with unquenchable curiosity. They inquire, about small things and big things, wanting to know more about the world around them. It’s time to be a child again, and bring back the ability to inquire. Hosts Henna Hundal and Katelyn Darrow interview four authors in this broadcast. First up is author Michelle Zink who writes Young Adult Fiction, and is the award-winning author of six published novels and six novellas. Her first series, Prophecy of the Sisters, was one of Booklist’s Top Ten Debut Novels and a Booklist Top Ten YA novel.
In segments two, three, and four, our hosts interview a trio of Christian ministers who are breathing new life into the importance of being a father with their book Daddy Look. Authors Reggie Watts, Todd Battle, and Darrell Sanders tackle weighty parenting questions in their tremendous book destined to change the lives and make a difference in the lives of all who read it. Daddy Look outlines how to become a godly father by focusing on five important virtues: -Being a Godly Man -Being a Man of Character -Being a Teacher -Being a Provider and -Being a Protector. Ask yourself-are you a Daddy that Looks? If not, why not? Start today.
Ask and you shall receive!
With this week’s theme –– The Gift of Appreciation –– we here at Express Yourself!™ have a lot to appreciate! We have interviewed amazing guests, we have a first class crew, and we are a top rated program! In this program, we examine how you can recognize all the gifts that life affords you every day!
Whether it’s having a new pair of shoes, a hot cup of coffee, a warm blanket, or a hug from a friend, we all have little things in our life to be thankful for. Never forget to let that gratitude show!
Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez are honored to introduce an incredibly inspiring individual, Pulitzer Prize winner John McQuaid, with his newest book, Tasty. Tasty Explores how deliberate manipulation of flavor influences virtually every aspect of the human experience, from pleasure to pain, from joy to sorrow. John has written about topics such as city-destroying super-termites, the slow collapse of fishing communities, hurricane levee engineering, mountaintop removal coal mining, and the global flower business for major publications.
Henna and Asya end the program with simple tips for everyone to be more appreciative by being grateful, performing kind acts, writing notes, and many other ways to show appreciation.
When the days get longer, the times get tougher, and life in general becomes stressful, finding little ways to amuse yourself is the key to being a happy you. Teen hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez help you release stress and follow your passions with their exciting guests.
First up are the rocking Mother/Daughters country trio, Lucy Angel with Mom Kate and daughters Lindsay and Emily ! They star in the docu-series, “Discovering Lucy Angel” on AXS TV and their newest single “Crazy Too” airs on this program. Rocking writer, Mindee Arnett is next up with her two young adult series: The Arkwell Academy Series, a contemporary fantasy from Tor Teen (Macmillan), and Avalon, a sci-fi thriller from Balzer+Bray (HarperCollins). She talks about the fun as well as the heartaches of being a young writer. And finally, Game Boys reporter Sam and Eddie Casey talk about how they are hooked on video games and also love family time, especially the trips to their family cabin on a lake in Maine where they can boat and fish.
Smile, Have Fun, and Be Wild and Crazy!!! That’s StarStyle® and Express Yourself!™ motto!
It’s important to feel validated and appreciated. Affirmation is a fundamental need of all humans. Hosts Henna Hundal and Katelyn Darrow share their personal experiences and interview a former international model and actress turned sell-esteem magazine publisher. Detail Description It’s important to feel validated and appreciated. Affirmation is a fundamental need of all humans. Hosts Henna Hundal and Katelyn Darrow share their personal experiences with ways they offer affirmation to themselves and others. They also interview CEO of BYOU Magazine, author of Beauty’s Secret, A Girl’s Discovery of Inner Beauty, and former international model and actress, Debra Gano. After a series of life-changing incidents, including a near-fatal car accident, Debra’s perspective shifted from one of superficial external-focus to a deeper inner awareness that "it's what's inside that counts." As a single mother of a twelve-year-old daughter, Debra discusses her passion for helping females find and live their most authentic, empowered selves. Henna loves working with Be the Star You Are!® charity providing platforms for expression and promoting positive media. She says, “ we’re equipping young people with the confidence they need so that they can get out there and take the world by storm.” She also is a Teen Ambassador for You are Valued where the message is “Grant yourself permission. Give yourself affirmation and define yourself.” Besides volunteering with Be the Star You Are!®, Katelyn launched a new campaign with her charity, Angels of God, called Angel Deeds which encourages people to spread kindness and help others through every day, simple deeds. “Small actions make a big difference,” says Katelyn. The following is excerpted from the chapter, The Gift of Affirmation from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference. “We underestimate how our own personal agenda affects people we know and don't know. Smiling is an incredibly effective affirmation. Even when you feel down, just making yourself smile will improve everyone's mood, including your own. “Help people notice the good in themselves. When they feel special, they will be special.” Cynthia Brian
Do you abide by the status quo? Do you live inside the box? Are you imprisoned by routine? Life’s too short to be trapped by the world’s expectations and our hosts, Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez invite you to find your own adventure! Meet sixteen year old founder of the lip balm company, Blamtastic, Lily Sandler, who has been on the adventure of a growing company while being a teen. Author of Even in Paradise, Chelsey Philpot, captures the intensity, the thrill, and the heartbreak of our too-brief friendships and loves in her stunning debut novel that is a cross of The Great Gatsby meets Looking for Alaska. Hope Heals reporter, Zahra Hasanain, shares tips on how to be adventurous with tips and strategies. As James Dean said, “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today. Go have an adventure and check off another item on your bucket list!
Life is full of conflict and challenges, yet we humans are full of resilience. Whenever we find ourselves in trying times, we grow, we change, we acclimate, we adapt. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez navigate the topic of adapting to change with Global Talk reporter, Ryan Sim who uses the current California drought as an example of adapting to different scenarios. Henna and Asya also interview author Sandy Goldsworthy with her books Aftermath and Aftershock, as she talks about how adaptation has registered in her writing and her personal life. Henna and Asya share an in-depth look at what it means to be ready and willing to accommodate new conflicts and challenges by offering concrete tips including: keep a gratitude journal pay attention to your life be a victor, not a victim choose positive attitudes and actions learn to relax and breathe set smart goals Change is important, it teaches us new lessons in life. How can we grow if we don't experience change? Strategies that allow us to adapt to change help us live happier, healthier lives. Give yourself the gift of adaptability.
Every week, Express Yourself! will bring you a stimulating program based on a chapter from our award winning book Be the Star You Are! for Teens. (http://starstyleradio.net/Store.html)
Winning that football game after months of tough training. Advancing in the science fair after years of research. Earning a promotion at your part-time job. No achievement is insignificant. If you've worked hard for your success, you deserve to be proud. In this show about the gift of achievement, host Henna Hundal speaks with high school student Jennifer Lee, who sings a lovely rendition of "Almost There". Natalie Alyn Lind, who shines on the hit ABC comedy series "The Goldbergs," discusses her journey in acting and her commitment to making a difference in people's lives. Haley Tju, a star of Nickelodeon's "Bella and the Bulldogs", speaks about her passion for her work and her desire to serve as a role model. With a line-up of sparkling guests, this show leads listeners through an exploration of what it truly takes to achieve our dreams.
Even superheroes have flaws, even great literary characters have foibles. We have to learn to accept both our strengths and our weaknesses in order to live fulfilling lives. In this powerful show, hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez give you the tools you need to appreciate the gift of acceptance. The teens interview entrepreneur and actor Jake Johnson, who started his first family business venture at age eight. Now in high school, Jake was recently named the winner of Warren Buffett's "Grow Your Own Business" challenge. In addition, Diana Zimmerman, an author, businesswoman, humanitarian, and performer known as the "World's Foremost Lady Magician", gives insight on how to break free of insecurities and embrace your uniqueness. With star guests and stimulating conversation, this show sheds light on the importance of knowing yourself, being yourself, and accepting yourself.
Beginning this week, Express Yourself!™ will bring you a stimulating program based on a chapter from our award winning book Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. (http://starstyleradio.net/Store.html) This week’s theme is The Gift of Ability where we examine ways to harness your potential to positively impact the world.
We all have a talent. And when we use our abilities in ways that bring light to our lives and joy to others, we achieve our true purpose. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez interview two talented teens starring in current hot TV series. Brooke Sorenson is a budding young actress and songstress who can bee seen on Modern Family, Disney XD’s “Might Med,” Disney’s “Austin & Ally” and Nickelodeon’s “Haunted Hathaways”. She talks about how she got started what abilities she utilizes to grow.
Gavin MacIntosh, a Tucson, Arizona native, is making waves as ‘Connor’ on the hit ABC Family series “The Fosters.” He’s also seen in “Parks and Rec” and numerous TV commercials. Although he loves acting, his dream is to go to dental school.
The youngest reporter on Express Yourself!™, Sam Casey, joins the girls to talk about what abilities are necessary to play video games.
Our talents are gifts and we have a responsibility to use our abilities to serve the world and ourselves.
Conversations are limitless. When two or more individuals get together, magic happens as they discuss the weather, sports, fashion, books, movies, school, challenges, and life in general. There is power in a conversation. The conversation flow freely in today’s show as hosts Henna Hundal and Katelyn Darrow interview two authors, Christy Whitman and Rachel Wilson. New York Times best-selling author of three books including Taming Your Alpha Bitch, Christy Whitman, just released her latest book, The Art of Having it All: A Woman’s Guide to Unlimited Abundance. She is the CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Coaching Academy, a 12 month Law of Attraction coaching certification program, and the creator of the Enlightened Kid Program. With Christy, the conversation revolves around our belief systems and the choices we make to live the dream. From rising star Rachel M. Wilson comes a powerful, moving debut novel, Don’t Touch, a tale of friendship and love. Originally from Alabama, Rachel received her MFA in writing for children and young adults and now teaches, acts, and writes in Chicago. She and the teen hosts converse about the creative writing process with tips on how teenagers with a goal of being a writer can get started. In today’s program, Express Yourself!™ you’ll understand how talking provides the power of true expression. Start a conversation!
Young or old, male or female, student or professional, if you’ve ever faced a deadline in your life, you know the allure of procrastination. Due dates always seem to defy clock, bombarding us relentlessly. The quest to use our time most effectively is a universal struggle. Hosts Henna Hundal and Katelyn Darrow with reporter, Asya Gonzalez lead a discussion on the necessity of time management. Some of their tips include: -Use an organizer -Know your deadlines -Learn to say “No” to some opportunities -Target to be punctual and early for your engagements -Find what distracts you and weed it out of your life -Don’t fuss about unimportant details -Prioritize and delegate - “Work smarter, not harder” Henna and Katelyn also interview college student creative author, Pema Donyo who inspires us with her ability to balance school and publishing. You’ll also meet the adorable star of the new Amazon series, “Just Add Magic”, Olivia Sanabia. Olivia enchants us with her bubbly, positive outlook and very grown up ways in which she manages her time for acting, studying, and play. Make sure to vote before February 15th for Olivia and Just Add Magic at Amazon.com. Use your time wisely.
When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of hearts, red roses, cupid, and love. Love is magical, transformational, the essence of life itself. Hosts Henna Hundal and Youngjoo Ahn interview author and astrologer, Jessica Shepherd, about her books "A Love Alchemist’s Notebook: Magical Secrets For Drawing Your True Love Into Your Life" and "Venus Signs". Jessica advocates thinking bigger when it comes to love and soul mates. Singer/songwriter, Dylan Rouda, releases his new single, Polaroid Picture. Dylan calls his style “East Coast urban rock meets West Coast surf rock”. Dylan’s passion is writing lyrics and singing anywhere and everywhere. We get to hear his single, Polaroid Picture” which was recorded after a breakup. At her first year at Smith, Youngjoo talks about living on her own and how her relationship with her family has evolved in her absence. Reconnect with your inner gifts of passion, purpose, and most importantly, love with Express Yourself!
In our multifaceted, multidimensional world, complicated issues arise every day. With these problems often growing and intertwining with others, it’s important to probe all the linkages to develop effective solutions. In Health with Henna, Henna Hundal provides a brief synopsis and history of HIV/AIDS and dispels common myths. Social Responsibility reporter, Asya Gonzalez offers a balanced insight on guns and violence. Both Henna and Asya interview filmmaker, author, and producer, Yasmin Shiraz who gives us a perspective on teens, guns, violence, and HIV/AIDS. Yasmin masterfully explores those societal issues that are eyesores-uncomfortable and inconvenient for us to address. But, instead of turning our heads away from the matter, Yasmin powerfully reminds us that we need to face these problems with courage and conviction. According to the CDC, almost 10,000 young people ages 13 to 24 in the United States had been diagnosed with HIV by the end of 2010. At the end of 2010, an estimated 1,144,500 persons aged 13 and older were living with HIV infection in the United States, including 180,900 (15.8%) persons whose infections had not been diagnosed. Gun violence is ubiquitous in teen gangs. Asya reminds us that guns are a tool not a toy and must be used responsibly and according to the law. More people are killed by cars than by guns. According to the FBI crime report 32,788 people died from automobile crashes in 2010. In that same year 8,775 people died from gun deaths. We don’t need to ban guns, we need to ban violence against humanity. Responsibility and respect are key. For an enlightening conversation around tough topics, tune into this episode of Express Yourself!
Taylor Swift, John Green, You Tube, Table 58. What do they have in common? Bold fashion styles. Beauty must-haves. The latest songs. The best new gadgets. Let’s face it: trying to stay informed about all the ever-evolving teen trends can be exhausting! Worry not, though – Express Yourself!™ is here to help keep you “in the know”! Under-recognized for their influence in the teen trend world, books are a huge part of young people’s lives, and they have the potential to catch on like wildfire, particularly when they become movies! Think Harry Potter, Twilight, the Hunger Games, The Fault in Our Stars. Whether we’re driving down the highways blaring the latest tunes from inside our cars, or whether we’re sitting in our rooms rocking out to beats from our iPods, music constitutes one of teens’ most valued art forms. It’s hard to imagine what our lives would be like without the solace of music and the influence of our favorite singers. Book It! Reporter, Courtney Cheng chats with our hosts, Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez about the importance and relevance of books and music for teens. DStar of Bubble Guppies on Nick Jr, twelve year old Grace Kaufman talks about her new Amazon series, “Table 58” about a geeky group of unpopular kidswho occupythe odd table in the lunchroom, made up of kids from all different cliques. Whatever trends are in or out, the Express Yourself!™ stars will keep you informed.
Bullying, mocking, deriding, disparaging, taunting, ridiculing, name calling describe exactly the type of social and emotional pain that many kids endure every day. The time is now to nip this negativity in the bud. Our empowered hosts, Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez interview Matt Cubbler, owner of MaxOut Strength Studio that works to create leaders by building the inner strength of its teen clients as well developing their physical strength. The hosts also interview creative writing teacher from Minnesota State, Geoff Herbach, award winning author of the Young Adult novels, Stupid Fast, Nothing Special, I’m With Stupid, and Fat Boy vs. The Cheerleaders, all listed in the year’s best by the American Library Association, The American Booksellers Association, and many state library associations. The Gift of Giving reporter, Katelyn Darrow, talks about why it’s important to choose benevolence amid bullies and always live by the Golden Rule. Our program winds up with a stellar rendition of Taylor Swift’s song “Mean” sung by our own Be the Star You Are!® chanteuse and Back Story Reporter, Jennifer Lee. Today’s program encourages us all to choose kindness and never be a name caller. It doesn’t pay to be MEAN.
“I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold But the cycle ends right now 'Cause you can't lead me down that road And you don't know, what you don't know...
Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city And all you're ever gonna be is mean Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me And all you're ever gonna be is mean Why you gotta be so mean?” By Taylor Swift
Each day brings an opportunity to enliven, inspire, and elevate other people’s lives. The question is, how are you going to find the big and small ways to be caring and helpful? Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez explore what it means to act with altruism, to fulfill our civic virtues, to be our neighbor’s keeper, and to be our most benevolent selves. The Gift of Giving reporter, Katelyn Darrow, shares stories from her life that inspired her to create Angels of God charity and encourages acts of kindness every day. For a fresh perspective on the topic, the youngest person ever to audition for be a reporter on Express Yourself!™, ten-year-old Sam Casey along with his cousin, Eddie, join the ladies with a new segment called Game Boys. Whether playing on-line games is helpful is debatable, so we’ll wait to hear from you. Be helpful. Care, share, and be fair.
A new year brings a new attitude! As we dash hard and strong into 2015, we have the chance to begin another chapter of our lives -- a fresh start. The question is,how will you make the most of this opportunity for renewal? Our hosts, Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez believe in understanding oneself first and foremost and with their positive outlooks interview two fascinating guests. Author of On the Road to Find Out, Rachel Toor, uses scenarios from her own life to help teens become more aware. Astrologer Paul Bogle, demystifies divination tools in down-to-earth language to help all of us enjoy our best year ever with a little guidance from the celestial stars. Reporter Zahra Hasanian encourages us to use smart goals to achieve our resolutions. Dream, hope, believe, and aspire to be your best self in 2015 with the assistance of our stellar Express Yourself!™ teen team. Shoot for the stars and expect to land on them!
Rejoice! It is the season to be filled with gratitude, merriment, and mirth. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez have created a fun and festive program sharing creative ways to make this holiday as joyous as possible. Baking, praying, decorating, giving, laughing, and donating are all part of our December offerings. Father of five children, award winning author, Jeff Gunhus thrills our hosts with his books that feature his children as characters. His first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born starring his other children. What would Christmas be without caroling? Our chanteuse reporter, Jennifer Lee, enlivens the discussion with the funny back stories as well as her vocal versions of two favorite holiday songs, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Santa Baby. As part of our Express Yourself!™holiday gift to you, Be the Star You Are!® charity is offering three of its signature books for sale for the holidays at a discount of 55%. Buy Be the Star You Are!®, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens, or The Business of Show Business for the ULTRA DISCOUNT (55% off) PRICE of $9.99 plus shipping through December 31. Buy ONLY at our STORE and ask for personalized inscriptions. http://starstyleradio.net/Store.html. All monies benefit the charity. Have yourself a holly jolly holiday and may all your dreams for a successful and healthy New Year come true. Celebrate now! keywords: #jack templar, jack templar, Jeff gunhus, holiday celebrations, Christmas, have a merry christmas #express yourself teen radio, express yourself radio, #kidstar, kidstar, #voice America kids network, voice America kids network, #starstyle productions, starstyle productions, #be the star you are, be the star you are charity,
Our most formative years are between birth and the time we leave home around age 18. Young people are impressionable, soft clay ready to be molded. We heed the signposts, mentally taking note about how to navigate our world. It’s during this time that we can learn to acquire the tools, tips, and tricks needed to live a virtuous and successful life. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez share the skills they’ve learned and how they want to embrace life as adults and interview two amazing guests. Author of Bird Face, Mississippi’s Cynthia Toney talks about her admiration for teenagers and the importance of being supportive while gleaning as much proficiency in what matters as possible. Ricky Roberts III is the author of four books, including YOU, What Really Matters. He is a youth advocate, speaker, and visionary who believes that everyone matters and deserves to know it. He is the creator of You Are Valued, a nonprofit organization that inspires youth to see the value in who they are, and appreciate the same in others. As we say at Be the Star You Are!®, “Everyone counts, especially YOU!” Learn something new every day. Having a skill set in whatever is important to you makes a difference in your quality of living.
How do young people launch a business or a non-profit? Entrepreneurial hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez discuss their personal journeys into the business world and give credit to their guides and mentors behind the scenes. Asya’s mom and dad, Tamie and Julian Gonzalez join the ladies, providing a parents perspective on how to support and enrich a child who wants to launch a business in childhood. Margaux Froley, author of Hero Complex and Escape Theory, works in Hollywood with TV networks including TLC, MTV, HGTV, and CW, CMT, and the Travel Channel. Margaux encourages young people to not fear going after their dreams. Become the CEO of your own life. It’s never too early!
On behalf of the entire Express Yourself!™ radio team, we are grateful to be celebrating our third-year anniversary of weekly broadcasts! It’s been a humbling, awe-inspiring, transformational journey filled with teen reporters from across the United States, guests from around the world, and a production team dedicated to making a difference in the world. It is also the season of Thanksgiving as Hosts Henna Hundal and Caiseen Kelly talk with Social Responsibility Reporter, Asya Gonzalez about gratitude. The first Express Yourself!™ teen host and show administrator, Steven Zhou, returns to reminisce about the impact being part of this positive radio program has had on his college life, and our hosts interview the star of Amazon’s new series, “Gortimer Gibbon’s life on Normal Street”, Sloane Morgan Siegel. Tune in for an uplifting hour of Thanksgiving, entertainment, and Anniversary Celebration. For what are you grateful?
Empathy is a form of positive communication. To aid us in cultivating empathetic attitudes, hosts Henna Hundal and Caiseen Kelley welcome three YA authors onto the program who have empathy as a foundation of many of their stories. Social Responsibility reporter Aysa Gonzalez gives us her take on living a nonjudgmental life with examples from her experiences. She also encourages empathy for victims of sexual slavery.
Rebecca Serle is the author of When You Were Mine, The Edge of Falling and her new teen series, Famous in Love. She is an obsessive lover of all things pop culture. She blogs about The Vampire Diaries for New York magazine’s Vulture.
Mary Elizabeth Summer has a BA in creative writing from Wells College. Her debut novel -- Trust Me, I’m Lying -- centers around teenage Julep Dupree, a con artist and a master of disguise who finds empathy in unexpected circumstances.
Denise Jaden’s novels have been shortlisted or received awards through the Romance Writers of America, Inspy, and SCBWI. Her novels include Never Enough and Foreign Exchange. She discusses her Just-Get-To-The-End fast-drafting process.
Be kind, be empathetic. Care, share, and be fair.
Domestic violence happens to men and women, straight, gay, and transgender of all ages. Domestic violence has reached epidemic status in America with teen abusive relationship incident rates rising. Our star hosts, Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez want the nation to rally together against this abusive crime to save one another. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics from the year 2003 to 2012 domestic violence accounted for 21% of all violent crimes with 960,000 occurrences reported annually. Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes. Why is domestic violence so rampant in the United States? What are the signs? What are the solutions? What do we all need to know? Tune in for an eye-opening hour that could save your life and the life of those you love. Are you in an abusive relationship right now? Don’t wait. Help is available. Please call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-32
The season of screams and scares is officially here! Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s time to embrace your inner ghoul. For a skelton’s spooktacular holiday inspiration, Express Yourself!™ gets you into the spirit of Halloween faster than you can say BOO! We celebrate Halloween traditions from around the world with hosts Henna Hundal and Katelyn Darrow as they pepper our trick or treat show with tips on how to enjoy haunted attractions, create gory decorations, carve peculiar pumpkins, cook monster mash, and don unique costumes. Rising star on Nickelodeon’s “Henry Danger”, hilarious and fun loving Sean Ryan Fox, talks about his love of superheroes, superpowers, and his similarities to his crazy character, Jasper. Debuting reporter of Hope Heals, Zahra Hasanain, delves into the history of Halloween while offering the best places and ways to trick or treat. As the chairperson of Be the Star You Are!®’s Trick or Treat for Literacy Campaign, Zahra as well as hosts Henna and Katelyn encourage donations to http://www.bethestaryouare.org/donate.htm to give books instead of candy. No matter what your age, as the skies darken and jack-o-lanterns glow, get your goosebumps on for a walking dead scary Halloween!
Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a group of small, thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Red Ribbon Week was the brainchild of the National Family Partnership in1985 in an attempt to increase drug awareness among Americans. Today the Red Ribbon symbolizes communities mobilizing to educate youth and encourage involvement in drug prevention activities. Host Henna Hundal with Social Responsibility Reporter, Asya Gonzalez, shine the light on ways to stay drug, alcohol, and tobacco free through personal insights, scientific research, parental tips, and peer to peer pacts. Henna offers tips for teens to refrain from getting involved in risky behavior and how to be confident in the conviction to stay clean. Take the Red Ribbon Pledge now and be a part of the creation of a drug free America. WHAT'S THE PLEDGE ABOUT? 1. As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse. 2. We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs. 3. We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription. 4. We will monitor our children's behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected. 5. We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse. I PLEDGE TO SET GUIDELINES TO HELP CHILDREN GROW UP SAFE, HEALTHY AND DRUG-FREE.
No matter how old are, how big you are, or how brave you are, we all have our fears. Some fears we outgrow, but others stay with us for years -- housed in the corners of our minds and the nerve endings of our bodies. Fear come in all shapes and sizes from debilitating fears dominating our daily lives to insignificant qualms that simply make us uneasy. Being scared may be rational or irrational, originating from past experiences, the anticipation of future catastrophes or mere figments of our imagination. What is fear? What makes some of us afraid and others not? To get some answers to these questions our hosts Henna Hundal and Caiseen Kelley have in depth conversations with reporters Katelyn Darrow and Asya Gonzalez. Katelyn discusses Universal Studios terrifying haunted houses, Asya reveals personal secret fears, Caissen delves into the fears surrounding technology, and Henna relates fears in the writing of her new book. Whether your fear is real, imagined, physical, or emotional, you’ll emerge a bit more courageous after listening to our talented teens converse. As Mark Twain said, “Courage is the resistance to fear, not the absence of fear.”
Whether you are young or old, the sky is a source of wonder. The burning ball of fire that lights up our solar system, the moon that casts shadows on a calm, dark night, the heavens are majestic. People often conflate astrology and astronomy, and in today’s show, our hosts, Henna Hundal and Caiseen Kelley, explain the differences and importance of each field with the assistance of our guest astrologer, Jamie Kahl Miller, and aspiring astronomer, teen Shawn Honaryar. Astronomy is the scientific stuffy of stars, planets, and objects in outer space whereas Astrology is the study of how the positions of the stars and movements of the planets influence lives, events, and behaviors. Techy Talk Reporter, Caiseen, also shares the coolest apps for observing the night sky. Express Yourself!™ shoots for the stars and lands on them with this stellar show focusing on Astrology and Astronomy.
Science is everywhere. From the stars that light the night sky to the intricate patterns on a butterfly’s wings, science is at play in all parts of our world and is continually making our lives so great. Hosts Henna Hundal and Courtney Chung discuss how science shapes our perspective on life from cell phones to lawn mowers, from cures for diseases to prosthetic limbs. Global Youth Talk reporter, Ryan Sim, talks about science careers in the United Nations, and how this international community is looking at science innovation to create solutions for the next generation. Special guest Dr. Jonathan Eisen,a Full Professor at the University of California, Davis, with appointments in the UC Davis Genome Center, the School of Medicine, and the College of Biological Sciences focuses on communities of microbes and how they provide new functions - to each other or to a host. Dr. Eisen is entertaining with his study systems of boiling acid pools, surface ocean waters, agents of many diseases, and the microbial ecosystems in and on plants and animals. In Health with Henna, Henna Hundal reports on how we can prevent the negative effects of prolonged sitting. It’s important to take those “stretch breaks” every hour.
Whether it’s writing scientific articles, thoughtful science reporting, or even talking about science on the radio, integrating humanities with science is key to reaching a mass audience.
Do you have a Model United Nations at your school? After listening to our hosts/resporters, Ryan Sim, Katelyn Darrow, and Henna Hundal discuss this simulation of the United Nations, you’ll want to find out how to bring MUN to your area. Students in all age groups spanning all seven continents go to conferences, where they represent their countries crafting solutions to real-life problems like Women’s Rights in the Middle East or HIV in Africa. Teens learn to think and speak in the moment. MUN effectively prepares youth for the real world while teaching communication, research, writing, and speaking skills. You develop research skills and hone your writing abilities. Ryan is President of MUN at his school and he says it becomes a way of life. Listen to the conversation to determine if you have the skills to be a United Nations negotiator.
It's time to go back to school! Our Express Yourself!™ hosts, Courtney Cheng and Henna Hundal along with our reporters, Caiseen Kelley and Asya Gonzalez provide everything you need to rev up the excitement for a new year of learning. They’ll share their bright ideas and personal experiences about getting organized, color coding, finding new apps, staying healthy, shopping for supplies, finding friends, gaining teacher’s respect while balancing school and fun. Back to school can be stressful, but we are looking on the bright side of it all. Whether you’re an anxious student just about to transition into a new school, a high school senior struggling with senioritis already, or stepping into your first days of college, our Express Yourself!™ teens provide the answers you need to calm your back to school jitters. Tune in!
When it comes to thinking about college it is pressure cooker stress time! Whether you’re a high school senior getting ready to fill out those college apps, or whether you’ve still got some time on your hands, our hosts, Asya Gonzalez and Henna Hundal, along with our savvy reporters, Caiseen Kelley, Nicole Eubanks, and Caie Kelley guide you smoothly through the challenges. Techie Caiseen helps you navigate the juggling act with apps for your phone and computer. Health Beat reporter, Nicole, tackles stress and eases your frustrations with the information that there is something for everyone, so just chill. Veteran of the application madness, Caie Kelley, is on her way to Harvard this fall. She provides inside tips on how to just be your best self, write great essays, choose an appropriate school that fits who you are, consider the location, weather, courses taught, and, in the end, know that everything is going to turn out all right. Henna spent six weeks at the University of California at Davis this past summer living in the dorm while taking college classes so she feels prepared to leave the nest, although wonders if her parents are ready for the change. Asya’s dream college would be Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in Los Angeles, but she lives in Colorado and wonders if she can juggle her company, Stinky Feet Gurlz, from California. Lots of food for thought with a talented group of young ladies on the verge of the next chapter in their young lives. Think College-Wise!
And congratulations to everyone involved with Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 charity. Today, September 9th, is our 15th Anniversary. Find out more at http://www.BetheStarYouAre.org.
As we celebrate the 104th birthday of Mother Teresa, it’s appropriate to broadcast a program that focuses on the wisdom of kindness. Hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez with reporter Ryan Sim serve up simple ways to show you care such as · Compliment three people. · Write a hand-written note. · Say good morning to everyone. · Pick up litter. · Place uplifting notes in library books, on restroom mirrors, on someone's locker, or on their computer screen. · Dedicate 24 hours to spreading positivity on social media. · Hold up inspiring signs during rush hour. · Leave a generous tip. · Send flowers to a friend. .Cook dinner for your family. .Help a friend move or clean. .Volunteer at a convalescent hospital .Pamper yourself! Read uplifting, inspiring books, a short chapter at a time such as Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference, or Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS.
After a healthy dose of opportunities for acts of kindness, Henna and Asya interview ten-year-old actress, Ella Anderson, starring as Piper in the Nickelodeon series, Henry Danger. Ella began acting professionally at age five and has worked with Kurt Russell, James Franco, Vince Vaughn, and more. Her two dogs keep her kind and grounded.
As Eleanor Roosevelt commented, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” We are positively or negatively affected by the people around us. It makes sense to choose our friends wisely so that we maintain a high energy level. Hosts Henna Hundal and Ryan Sim interview Social Responsibility reporter, Asya Gonzalez for a riveting report on the importance of upbeat, life affirming relationships. Recipient of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Work in Progress Grant and a two-time participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program, author Tracy Clark unveils her mystical magical book, Scintillate. Dubbed the teen Katy Perry by the UK press, Temara Melek debuts her hit single and video, “Fingerprints” . Temara opened for Demi Lovato’s “Neon Lights Experience.” For a buoyant, empowering, optimistic, yes I can program, tune in to value your worth.
Are you a day tripper? Summer is almost over, but there is still enough time to find a really fun excursion for a day. Our hosts Henna Hundal and Caiseen Kelley each share their takes on fun day trips. Caiseen introduces a new APP that plans a great day for you, while Henna reveals research indicating the benefits of just getting up and going out. Social Responsibility reporter Asya Gonzalez talks about lucky she is to have a family that loves to have fun and adventures on the spur of the moment as she gives us an inside peek at some of their unexpected day trips. Asya also advocates being aware of your surroundings to stay safe in any new venue. Katelyn Darrow, the Gift of Giving Reporter encourages listeners to get involved for just a day with a local charity to make a difference. Soon her charity, Angels of God Clothing Closet will be hosting a day of donating free back packs stuffed with back to school necessities. With all these tips of our young adventurers, you are set for a day of tripping! Have fun!
It’s a trip down memory lane to the days of our childhood with hosts Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez plus an interview with Joey’s daughter on the TV series, Melissa and Joey. The Gift of Giving Reporter, Katelyn Darrow kicks off the show with her summer edition of suggestions for kids to have fun while making a difference. On a more somber note, Global Youth Reporter, Ryan Sim exposes the poverty of over 600,000 people living in the favelas of Brazil within kicking distance of the World Cup and the plight of children forced to survive through prostitution. Spunky pint size actress, Jada Facer talks about her role on the new TV series as well as how she likes to spend her extra time on and off the set. Harken back to the good ole days of your youth and be the kid you always wanted to be!
Two energetic and enthusiastic young ladies, Henna Hundal and Asya Gonzalez star in this one hour program highlighting exciting summer activities. Henna broadcasts from the campus of UC Davis where she is enrolled in a fascinating scientific program. Asya shares her love of Pinterest and the fascinating projects she has gleaned from the site that she encourages anyone to try. The teens discuss making homemade ice cream, lemonade stands, creative businesses, and fun adventures that cost nothing to very little. The sedentary lifestyle of kids and the ubiquitous use of technology is leading to obesity, diabetes, and other diseases and our girls are adamant about changing that scene. They advocate getting up, getting out, and getting active. Ride bikes, hike, walk, run, throw Frisbees, swim, surf, skate! The fragrance of flowers fills up the expanse to the bright blue sky. The grass glistens at the touch of flickering sunbeams. A light breeze blows gently past. It’s an opportunity for enjoying something fresh and different. It’s summertime. Go outside and play!
Is being busy a good or bad thing? Our teens believe that being overwhelmed is bad while doing what you love is great-even if it means being super busy. How do we find the time to do it all? Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Clare Durant lead the discussion on our American obsession with constantly “doing and being so busy!” Techie Talk reporter, Caiseen Kelley shares two apps that have helped her family, friends, and self keep on task while eliminating the stress of a hectic schedule. In The Big Picture, Clare reminds us about the importance of play to avoid burn out. Special guest, six year old actress and rising star, Alyvia Alyn, is excitedly juggling several movies, TV shows, interviews, and home schooling with her passion for her family, dog, singing, dancing, and karate. Catch her in her latest film, Blended, as well as her TV series, Revenge, and daytime soap, The Young and the Restless. Alyvia’s enthusiasm is contagious! Book It! Reporter, Courtney Cheng admits that she is a list maker who writes a list reminding her to write a list, yet she is working on seven habits to be more effective. Remember you are in control of the way you feel and by incorporating enjoyable activities into your life, you will feel more energized. Get busy being alive! Play and do what you love!
Crafting and Scrapbooking seem to be favorite pastimes of young people. Now that summer is here and teens have more time to be imaginative, it may be time to hit the craft stores for a little artistic therapy. Hosts Henna Hundal and Courtney Cheng have different ways of being creative. Courtney’s creativity manifests with music, reading, journaling, writing and making photo chains while enjoys chronicling a healthy lifestyle. The Gift of Giving reporter, Katelyn Darrow provides ways to make original and beautiful masterpieces, including hosting a scrapbook party with friends to share materials and the fun. Joseph Reilly, a Starshine Academy high school senior, chats with our hosts about his plans to join the military following in the footsteps of his father who also was a radio DJ after he graduates and is married. His creativity is exhibited as he dabbles as a Tv/radio reporter and producer covering school events. Whether you scrapbook, photograph, craft, draw, paint, write, or play music, be your innovative, original self. In other words, always be the star you are and shine!
High school and college are times full of new experiences and discoveries and there are ways to have fun yet stay safe. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Clare Durant interview award winning author, director, and producer, Yasmin Shiraz, to find out ways that young people can avoid danger while enjoying themselves. Yasmin writes and produces content that deals with serious issues in an entertaining way because ultimately, it may save a few lives.
In her new book Accused, Yasmin focuses on the prevalence of date rape and sexual assaults on campus offering numerous ways to be alert and protect yourself as well as the important steps to immediately take if you suspect you’ve been drugged or assaulted. In her new segment, The Big Picture, Clare explains the new bill passed in California’s legislature that gives colleges legal grounds to address and handle reports of sexual assaults through an “affirmed consent” clause. Nicole Eubanks opens our eyes in Health Beat with alternative ways to drinking, driving, drugging, and participating in other risky behavior. The take away is that it is possible to celebrate safely. Be aware!
Special guest is 14 year-old Mandalynn Carter, an actor, singer sassy stand-up comedian, and an outspoken advocate for anti-bullying. She stars in the feature film debuting this summer, A Horse for Summer with Dean Cain. Mandalynn also starred as Annie in The Dead Kid, which tells a bullying story from her perspective, a film currently on the world film festival circuit. She travels extensively for her work as an actor and was the series lead in Brenda Forever, a guest star on Scandal, a co-star on CSI-NY, a recurring character on Totally, as well as a supporting role in Machine Gun Preacher. She is touring Southern California schools with the troupe from Music is My Language promoting anti-bullying and her favorite place to work is Arizona.
Summertime is here and that means traveling. It’s time to leave your comfort zone, explore, experiment, and enjoy exciting new destinations. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Henna Hundal talk about their summer travel plans while offering tips and tricks for a healthy, happy vacation, whether it be to a foreign country or around the block. Health Beat Reporter, Nicole Eubanks, couldn’t be on the show but she gave her helpful trip tips to the hosts to share.
Whatever your summer plans, make sure to add travel to your itinerary. Discover new atmospheres find yourself in new adventures. Not only will your body get to enjoy a fresh and healthy change in scenery, but you’ll find yourself having a really awesome experience as well.
Summertime is here and that means traveling. It’s time to leave your comfort zone, explore, experiment, and enjoy exciting new destinations. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Henna Hundal talk about their summer travel plans while offering tips and tricks for a healthy, happy vacation, whether it be to a foreign country or around the block. Health Beat Reporter, Nicole Eubanks, couldn’t be on the show but she gave her helpful trip tips to the hosts to share.
Special guest is 14 year-old Mandalynn Carter, an actor, singer sassy stand-up comedian, and an outspoken advocate for anti-bullying. She stars in the feature film debuting this summer, A Horse for Summer with Dean Cain. Mandalynn also starred as Annie in The Dead Kid, which tells a bullying story from her perspective, a film currently on the world film festival circuit. She travels extensively for her work as an actor and was the series lead in Brenda Forever, a guest star on Scandal, a co-star on CSI-NY, a recurring character on Totally, as well as a supporting role in Machine Gun Preacher. She is touring Southern California schools with the troupe from Music is My Language promoting anti-bullying and her favorite place to work is Arizona.
Whatever your summer plans, make sure to add travel to your itinerary. Discover new atmospheres find yourself in new adventures. Not only will your body get to enjoy a fresh and healthy change in scenery, but you’ll find yourself having a really awesome experience as well.
June heralds in the last days of school and for high school seniors, graduation. It is a bitter-sweet time as friends part for the summer while embarking on new adventures. Our Express Yourself!™ teens, Youngjoo Ahn, Jane Fessenden, Henna Hendal, and Asya Gonzalez and high school senior guest, Amelia Glass, share their school experiences, friendships, goals, dreams, and fears. You’ll also hear about the summer learning loss that transpires during the long break with tips on how to keep mentally astute for the Fall semester. In addition, the girls discuss blossoming friendshps and how to maintain them with all ages throughout high school and into college. Congratulations to all the graduating seniors. Hats off!
Everyone has to eat, but not everyone knows how to cook. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Asya Gonzalez are kids in the kitchen as they interview a young baker/candle maker, LAFD firefighter/cook, and Health Beat Reporter, Nicole Eubanks. Nicole admits to always being starving when she gets home from school and dishes up simple ways to cook up batches of nutritious, delicious foods to have ready to munch. Asya’s youngest brother, Nolan, loves to bake and prefers to be in the kitchen making his Chum Bucket Candles or baking cookies instead of being on the radio talking about cooking. Los Angeles Firefighter, Brian Rankin, serves hot ideas from the fire station grill while encouraging the teens to start flaming the fires of their cooking desires. It’s a tasty show and you’ll be hungry. Time to cook up some fun and channel your inner chef.
There is no question that YouTube and Instagram are two of the most popular programs today, especially for teens. YouTube has launched careers (think Justin Bieber and contestants on The Voice) and created online celebrities who have gone one to create companies based on their videos. If you own an ipad, iphone, ipod touch, or any smart phone, Instagram is a fast, beautiful, easy and FREE way to share your pictures and life with your friends and family. You can take a picture or video, post to Instagram, and then share to Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, and more! And with 150 million monthly users, it’s a whole new way to see the world! Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Asya Gonzalez talk about their favorite people, channels, topics, mentors, and influences. Techie Talks reporter Caiseen Kelley explains how ordinary folks become YouTube stars and how they monetize their concepts as YouTube partners. Health Beat reporter, Nicole Eubanks likes the health, fitness, and beauty channels in her quest to live a healthier lifestyle and recommends helpful videos. Youngjoo likes to blog and shoot photos but she doesn’t make her own videos yet. Artistic Asya is in the process of developing a unique teen advice column and welcomes an Instagram following at CityRouge. All agree that both YouTube and Instagram are mainstays in their every day life as their source of information, entertainment, advice, and fun insights. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/Bethestaryouare
Teens are super savvy when it comes to the internet. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow chat with Techie Talks Reporter, Caiseen Kelley and Social Responsibility Reporter, Asya Gonzalez who offer a plethora of ideas for successful web building and social media connecting for non profits, causes, businesses, students, and personal use. The discussion includes information on HTML, coding, brand awareness, browsers, scheduling posts, consistency, creativity, and connecting. With proper web site development and informative, entertaining blogs and posts, these Be the Star You Are!® ladies believe that relationships are formed and bonds enhanced. For four different yet complimentary opinions on how to be successful with internet marketing, tune in to this episode of Express Yourself.
The word “hero” conjures up images of daring, real-life superheroes putting themselves in harms way for the protection of innocent bystanders or civilians. Todays programs honors the everyday heroes living amongst us. Can you imagine living through the Holocaust? Survivor of the horrendous Nazi death camps of World War II, Anita Schorr, shares her stories with our hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Henna Hundal as she advocates the importance of standing up to injustice, not tolerating bullying, or abuse. Anita’s experience is chronicled in the book, Be a Hero, Anita’s Piano by Marion Stahl. Techie Talks reporter Caiseen Kelley encourages girls to be leaders in science and technology with her report on how women are breaking the barriers. In Health with Henna, you’re given the power to be a hero of your own health, a hero for yourself, a hero who honors your own body by making smart and healthy lifestyle choices. As Anita Schorr states, “Step in. Don’t stay silent. Speak out. Be a Hero”
A common thread with the teens of Be the Star You Are! and Express Yourself! Teen Radio is that they CARE-for themselves, for each other, and for total strangers. Co-hosts Alex Lee and Henna Hundal along with reporters Katelyn Darrow and Asya Gonzalex offer numerous tips on how everyone can show kindness every day in small ways. In the Giving of Giving, Katelyn gets excited about “Angel Deeds”, doing special things anonymously “just because”. Social Responsibiity Reporter, Asya Gonzalez is passionate about visiting nursing homes to give the elderly a listening ear. In Health with Henna, Henna Hundal shares research on the benefits to oneself for being a caring, compassionate, kind individual. Great tips on how to write special encouraging notes, be fair and considerate in on-line conversations, and ways to volunteer with organizations that help you step out of yourself and into another’s shoes. The paradox of life is that the more we care for others, the more we care for ourselves. Like happiness, kindness is a choice. Pay it Forward.
Dividing, labeling, and categorizing, in other words, stereotyping. We know it’s rude; we know it’s insulting; and we know it creates embarrassment. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Henna Hundal dive deeply into this hurtful, prejudice-driven act. Social Responsibility Reporter Asay Gonzalez advocates for the youth sex slaves that are stereotyped as prostitutes. Educator and the 10th annual Be the Star You Are!® essay contest winner, Pamela Lewis reads her award winner Being American: A Hard-Won Identity while she discusses the brutal road that Afro-Americans have traveled via stereotyping, the ugly offspring of ignorance and close mindedness. Best selling author of forty books, Lisa T. Bergren explores the issue in relation to her fictional character, Andriana, in her newest YA novel, Remnants, while discussing how we can all learn acceptance from reading fiction. In Health with Henna, we discover the negative effects that stereotyping has on our health and well being including higher levels of aggression, a greater lack of self-control, a difficulty thinking rationally, and a tendency to over-eat. It is time that we accept people for who they are, instead of automatically resorting to disrespectful and damaging stereotypes based on color, race, religion, sex, culture, or occupation.
When you hear the words “spring break”, lounging on warm beaches and raucous youth comes to mind. Students around the world look forward to this final break before the summer vacation. What is done with this free time is the topic by our Express Yourself!™ teen ladies. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow interview reporters Courtney Cheng and Asya Gonzalez for an entertaining, fascinating, and shocking look at what, how, where, and when we celebrate. Courtney kicks off the show with Book It! taking time to relax, hike, read, watch movies, and enjoy a concert with friends. Katelyn, our Gift of Giving reporter, advocates an alternative spring break of helping others and volunteering locally or abroad. Our Social Responsibility Reporter, Asya, warns us about the dangers lurking when we lose control or trust strangers. More people are abducted in human sex trafficking ventures during spring break than any other time. Youngjoo lightens the load with her Artsy Gift segment on fun activities, including creating poetry T-shirts, experimenting with new food, and even shopping for furniture. Have fun during your break but be safe and constructive.
Being young doesn’t exempt you from stress. Between rigorous academics, extracurricular exercises, homework, family, friends, and other activities, teens are not living life on easy street. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Alex Lee lead a discussion about how young people can find relief from everyday school pressures. Hear about stress in the life of celebrities with our What’s Poppin' reporter, Caie Kelley, about the stress technology causes with our Techie Talks reporter, Caiseen Kelley, and the statistics about the deterrent to our health induced by stress when we talk with Henna Hundal, our Health contributor. The teens offer tips to manage the tough times and reduce social anxiety with stress from school and life. No matter who you are or how much money you have, stress knows no boundaries but with mindfulness, it can be controlled. Relax, Sit Back, Breathe
What is cultural diversity and how do you define it? Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Ryan Sim explore the multicultural experience through Ryan’s Global Youth Talk report based on data analysis of the multicultural map of the world. The teens engage in an exciting interview with international best selling prolific YA Seventeen Magazine Summer Club author, Amalie Howard who grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, lived in five other countries, and travels the world searching for stories. Amalie discusses her newest novel Alpha Goddess as well as her other books, all with a global influence of integrated cultures. In Health with Henna, Henna Hundal reveals that when a person’s sense of human dignity is violated, there are physiological consequences, especially in the teen years. Embrace the cultural diversity around us and celebrate all cultures on the planet. By enjoying our differences we realize our sameness. We are all one. Rejoice!.
One thing is for sure–today’s teens are jugglers. They have so much on their spinning plates that they are rapidly learning to prioritize, make lists, eliminate some activities, and constantly be vigilant on the stress meter. Rachel Glass and Youngjoo Ahn co-host this very informative segment on balancing school and life. This is a coveted peek inside the chaotic and busy schedules of today’s youth. Book It! Reporter Courtney Cheng is sure that she’s read a book or seen a movie that relates to what she is experiencing, but then again, perhaps her life is a film! Social Responsibility reporter, Asya Gonzalez juggles being an entrepreneur with school, sports, and being the founder of a charity that protects girls. Youngjoo compares her life to a circus and Rachel indicates that after years of working out the kinks, she is now ahead of her goals of being to top of things. All of our reporters share important tips and tricks to living healthily and happily as a teen while keeping all the balls in the air.
What do you do to have fun with your family? What kinds of activities do you enjoy? Does spending time together create lasting memories and strong bonds? Host Youngjoo Ahn interviews teens Caie Kelley, Hannah Li, Hart Main, and Henna Hundal to get the inside scoop on the value of familial adventures . What’s Poppin reporter, Caie, communicates on celebrity families, Fashion Forward guru, Hannah, shares her experiences having fun when parents are divorced, while athletic Hart hones in on sports as an important family time. Health with Henna hinges on the heart to heart conversations that are critical to relationships to maintain wellness and positivity. One thing is certain, whether you play games, go for walks, cook together, or just relax in the sunshine, our families are our teachers and having a good time together is essential for happiness.
How do you keep active in winter. Do you snowboard, ski, ice skate, snow mobile, bob sled, play basketball, do yoga or pilates. Do splash in mud puddles or sit on the couch and watch TV. Studies show that we burn more brown fat in cold weather. In fact, 15 minutes of outdoor exercise in cold temperatures utilizes calories equivalent to one hour of an indoor work out. Hosts Rachel Glass and Youngjoo Ahn interview Henna Hundal about the health benefits of winter exercise while sports reporter Hart Main discloses the cities who may compete for the Winter Olympics in 2022. In eight years these teens will be adults well on their way to successful careers. Don’t pass up the opportunity to work out during wintertime! There are so many ways to engage in fun wintertime activity, from building snow men to surfing to just taking a walk outside. Put down the popcorn, get off the couch, and try anything that keeps you up and out when the cold weather hits. If you want to shave off some extra calories, its time to give winter exercise a shot.
The 2014 Olympic Winter Games awed the world February 7 -23, 2014. This was the first time that the Russian Federation played host to an Olympic event. The Soviet Union hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. Winter Olympics XXII in Sochi, Russia, boasted 87 countries and featured 12 new events in addition to the skating, skiing, bob sleighing, luge, curling, ice hockey, and biathalon. Host Youngjoo talks about indulging in regional foods and saving souvenirs, Sports Reporter Hart Main provided the back story on how countries and cities are chosen, Nerd Word Reporter Jane Fessenden looks at the history of the Olympics beginning in Greece, and Katelyn Darrow discusses her admiration for the Olympics in spreading joy, peace, and a united world. No matter what country you rooted for, every individual athlete is to be applauded for the dedication, hard work, and athletic prowess brought to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Olympics is a time for the globe to celebrate our shared humanity alongside a healthy competitive spirit.
It’s time to get healthy, get in shape, and our teen reporters don’t disappoint. At a time when about 12.5 million American kids are dealing with obesity, and schools' physical education programs are being eliminated, the Center for Disease Control released findings that less than 25% of America’s youth ages 12-15 are getting even 30 minutes of exercise a day. Hosts Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn gets us ready for balanced eating and exercising regimes. Katelyn, who is an advocate of volunteerism, discovered a fantastic app called Charity Miles that helps you stay on task while earning money for specific charities. New health and fitness reporter, Henna Hendal encourages everyone to find an activity that is enjoyable and stick with it…dancing, skating, jogging…anything that gets you moving. Rachel Glass is getting toned and healthy with her pescatarian diet and regular exercise. Health Beat reporter, Nicole Eubanks doesn’t eat cafeteria food and warns about the high amounts of fat, sugar, and oils in pre-packaged and fast food meals. It’s a new year and health is wealth. Get up, get out, and be healthy.
If you are like most of us, you have asked yourself this inevitable question: “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass discuss their interests, their curriculum paths, and their dreams of professions. Teen writer and health advocate, Henna Hundal, talks about her desire to help young people lead healthy, happy lives while they are considering their options for their future work experiences. Caie Kelley, the What’s Poppin’ reporter, gives insights into celebrities who took a risk to become the stars they are. The girls chat about their classes, goals, and how they can get real world experience while they are still young. What will you be and do when you grow up?
February is the month of love and Americans buy 58 million pounds of chocolate to flaunt their cupids. The Express Yourself!™ hosts and reporters, Youngjoo Ahn, Rachel Glass, Caisseen Kelley, Hanna Li, and Nicole Eubanks share their ideas on successful dating. Topics covered included how to staying connected via social networking, impressing by dressing appropriately and authentically, embracing healthy eating and exercise habits, going on active excursions, and crafting original artsy gifts. When not in a romantic relationship, it’s important to savor happy platonic relationships with friends and family. The girls bring a refreshing slant to young love and they all agree loving and being loved makes us glow from the inside out. And that is a reason to get up in the morning! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Advertisers pay over $4 million for a 30 second spot. Approximately $400 million is added to the host city coffers. And 4 ½ million pizzas are ordered from pizza chains. What's the big event? The Super Bowl, of course, where players from The American Football Conference vie with players from the National Football Conference to become the champions of the National Football League. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow learn from sports reporter, Hart Main, notable events from past Super Bowls, while social media reporter Alex Lee recalls famous tweets and posts. In Economic Tune-Up, Alex Pawlakos puts a dollar value on the game and Book-It Reporter, Courtney Cheng offers ways for football widows to enjoy the day without watching the tube. It’s an American tradition but not every teen is tuned in.
Human trafficking is a $32 billion industry annually, second only to drugs. The perpetrators are violent kidnappers and pimps who steal children, sometimes from their front years, and force them into sex slavery. Most of these children are never recovered. Host Youngjoo Ahn interviews Asya Gonzalez, teen creator of She Is Worth It, a Preventative Awareness campaign against Child Sex Trafficking and backlogged rape kits. Asya shares pertinent information on this tragic epidemic-the who, what, where, and how. New Techie Talks reporter, Caiseen Kelley, reveals how seemingly safe popular teen apps such as Snapchat could put youth in danger, and What’s Poppin’ reporter, Caie Kelley talks about the celebrities who make headlines with their efforts to combat human trafficking. America needs to take a stand against sex slavery. Human trafficking is happening in the USA at truck stops, in neighborhoods, and major venues such as the Super Bowl, Olympics, and sporting events. Tune in to find out how to recognize and stop forced sexual slavery. Our children depend on us for protection against predators.
Do you listen to audio books? The growing audio books industry offers unique rewards and challenges for performers. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow interview critically acclaimed narrator of over 700 audio books, Simon Vance. Simon is the winner of forty-seven AudioFile Earphones Awards, and a ten-time Audie Award recipient including the 2012 Audie Award for Best Solo Male Narration. The brother,sister duo Becca and Alec King of This Boy That Girl are on the show have been storming through Hollywood and blazing up Indie radio stations coast to coast with their hit single "Music is My Language!" Their music already scored 9 Indie Music Channel 2013 Nominations including… Best Teen Band, Best Teen Recording, Best Teen Pop Song, Best Teen Wrap song. Book It Reporter, Courtney Cheng chimes in with her reading/listening favorites as the three girls discuss what’s on their reading and listening lists for 2014
Every one has faced a challenge in life from moving to an entirely new place, making new friends, overcoming health issues, conquering that impossible class, or even picking out which shade of nail polish would look best with that pair of shoes. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Ryan Sim interview Book It! reporter, Courtney Cheng who has suffered from scoliosis, twins Jamala and Jasmine Davis who were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as kids, and teen heart throb, Matt Ryan King who had surgery for a heart defect at age three. Each individual is an inspiration as they strove to overcome any roadblock to being the stars they were born to be.
Courtney is an accomplished musician, book review coordinator with Be the Star You Are!, and student at CAL Berkeley. Twins, Jamal and Jasmine Davis launched a movement to flaunt your illness called ChronicGirlz and IllnessGang. On their 21st birthday they met with the OMG Girlz
Whatever your obstacle, you can overcome it. Remember everything is a blessing and a lesson if we grow and learn from it. Here’s to Being the Star You Are!
Happy New Year! Can you believe that we already are in 2014? Youngjoo Ahn and Alex Lee co-host a program filled with great ideas for making goals and completing your resolutions. Guests include teen authors/entrepreneurs, Jordan Williams and Brandon Iverson who wrote Who Needs an Allowance? A Teens Guide to Starting Their Own Business. They started their first company at age 15 and encourage teens to become business oriented. Hart Main, our newest sports reporter, interviewed personal trainer, Nichelle Harris. He shares tips on how to exercise and stay healthy. Finally, Book It! reporter, Courtney Cheng, discusses the movie New Year’s Eve, and shares resolutions.
When talk centers around the holiday season, teens get excited. Christmas, Channukah, Winter Solstice, New Year, Kwanza-whatever the celebration, youth around the world are participating. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Alex Lee mingle with reveler reporters Jane Fessenden, Asya Gonzalez, and Sara Trail in this Yuletide extravaganza. You’ll learn about the history of the various traditions, both religious and secular, the favorite moments, tree decorations, home made gifts, yummy treats, and the special family traditions that make holiday festivities unique. The New Year is upon us and as the ball drops in Time Square, what will you be doing and thinking? Deck the halls, grab a cup of hot cocoa, jingle the bells, and join our party! Happy Holidays to one and all. Ho, ho, ho!
Teens have been talking and expressing their viewpoints for 100 shows on Express Yourself! Teen Radio. Two original reporters, Rachel Glass and Courtney Cheng describe the importance of a platform for allowing young people to speak, debate, and express themselves. Co-hosts for our 100th program celebration, Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass interview thirteen-year-old actor and philanthropist, Jonathan Morgan Heit who has starred in Shawn Levy’s "Date Night," Garry Marshall’s "Valentine's Day" and Adam Shankman’s "Bedtime Stories” as well as Disney's feature "The Search for Santa Paws” and “Super Buddies”. In TV, Jonathan played the lead role in “Granite Flats” and guest starred in Nickelodeon’s “Deadtime Stories”. Other TV credits include "Monk," "How I Met Your Mother," "ER," "General Hospital" and "Close to Home." His voice over roles include Cubby in "Jake and the Never Land Pirates," “Escape from Planet Earth” and over 20 “Family Guy” episodes, among others.
Are you grateful for what you have or are you someone who complains about what you don’t have? Are you a bully or have you ever been bullied? Today host, Youngjoo Ahn speak with outstanding teens making a difference in different arenas about their views on gratitude–country music star, Josie Milner; founder of an anti-bullying social network, Connor Finley; and a Girl Scout Gold award winner, Jane Fessenden also on the show she nominated for Most Promising Youth Artist at the 2013 Independent Country Music Association awards, Josie Milner is a teen country music artist, national honor student, and anti-bullying advocate standing up for what she believes in, and delivering her message to the world via country music.
Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley reminisce about the last two years while discussing how they have changed and grown as reporters, hosts, and individuals because of their participation. Two original reporters, Rachel Glass and Courtney Cheng, as well as a recent addition to the team, Alex Pawlakos round out the show with their thoughts about technology, Be The Star You Are, Voice America Kids, and being part of the journalistic community.
Are you ever too young to be an entrepreneur? Not according to our co-hosts Younghoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow and their special teen guest, Hart Main. Katelyn explains how she founded The Angels Clothing Closet charity at age 12 and it’s going stronger than ever. Hart Main, currently age 16 began his successful company, Man Cans at age 13, making candles that have scents that are interesting to men. All of the candles are made inside a recycled soup can; the can is first purchased by the business and donated to soup kitchens and homeless shelters across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and into West Virginia. Hart has been able to donate 65,000 cans of soup, expand his product line of scents, hire three part time employees besides himself, and expand his sales from online to 130 stores, catalogs, fundraisers and corporate marketing merchandise. He’s been on several TV shows and the subject of much media publicity, including receiving a commendation letter from Mrs. Obama.
In the 1970’s, Do It Yourself projects for teens and young adults were all the rage from making bead necklaces, tie-dyed clothes, and more. Lots of parents called these creative kids “hippies”. Today, DIY is considered hip, cool, and one of the great ways to be a success. Our two teen hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley interview two ultra successful entrepreneurial teens who are also making a difference for other young people. Sara Trail is a sophomore at University of California Berkeley majoring in social welfare and a nationally published author of two titles, Sew with Sara and Cool Stuff to Sew with Sara, she is a licensed designer for Simplicity Patterns, Inc. and Fabri-Quilt Fabrics with her patterns, fabrics and books are sold worldwide. Sara is featured in a 90-second program on The Disney Channel where she teaches a recycled denim clothes project. SewSaraSew.com Stinky Feet Gurlz© was established in 2010 by 13 year old designer (now 16), Asya Gonzalez.
We discuss journeys and also interview major players who are doing exactly what they want to do. First up is Kimmy Veklero, a sophomore at Cal Berkeley who writes a blog, Murmurs from the Bathroom Wall for the Daily Californian that has been called the "coolest blog in college media" by College Media Matters, an official partner of the Associated Collegiate Press. Former beauty editor for the New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl!, and Seventeen., Melissa de la Cruz, talks about her journey from being a journalist to becoming a NY Times best selling author of numerous adult and YA novels including the Blue Bloods series (with three million copies in print), the Au Pairs series, the Ashleys series, and more. Her Witches of East End series has just been made into a TV series on the Lifetime Channel and she released her newest fantasy thriller for teens, Frozen.
What are your plans for your future? Where do you see yourself in five years? If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Veteran host Youngjoo Ahn welcomes #Hashtag reporter, Alex Lee, to the co-hosting chair on this episode of Express Yourself!™. Both hosts discuss their differing future dreams and aspirations. The duo interview fifteen year old entrepreneur, speaker and nationally recognized expert in youth entrepreneurship, Lily Sandler who founded Blamtastic, When Lily was just 10 years old, she was having trouble finding her lip balm. She said, "Mom, where's my lip blam?" Lip BLAM? Brilliant. Lily's mom said that would make a great name for a lip balm company. BLAMtastic® was born. Nerd Word reporter, Jane Fessenden joins the conversation with information on the possibility of teleportation. If you are a Star Trek fan, you’ll love what she has to say. Go back to the future and let your imagination soar with possibilities on this episode of Express Yourself!™.
Have you ever stopped to really think about what it means to be an American? The 10th Annual National Essay contest from Be the Star You Are!® charity is focused on this theme so the teens of Express Yourself!™ decided to expound on the idea by listening to the thoughts of other young people following their American dreams. You’ll hear from Keenan Todd, a San Francisco State University student. spoken word artist, poet, and entrepreneur who founded the clothing company, CaliExclusive as well as a sophomore at Cal Berkeley, Valerie Cordier Rice who is studying to be an astrophysicist with a goal of working with NASA. Nature Calls Reporter, Isaiah Rankin recounts his vision of what America represents to him by explaining the history of the national animal, the regal Bald Eagle. Co-hosts Caie Kelley and Youngjoo Ahn lead the discussions and also converse about their Asian heritage and how being American offers the resources to carve one’s own identity while still sharing values and tolerating differences.
The best gift you can give to another is a wonderful relationship with yourself! When you love yourself, you have the capacity to love others. The Express Yourself!™ teen team brings different perspectives on relationships with hosts Caie Kelley and Youngjoo Ahn as they talk with reporters and a track star. Caie talks about how every person has a different need for connection while Youngjoo emphasizes the importance of being yourself. #Hashtag reporter, Alex Lee denounces posting relationship status on social media and Book it reporter, Courntey Cheng discusses different types of relationships including romantic, familial, and friendship correlating each with a specific book. The featured guest is Jasiri Black, a scholarship awarded college track star from “the hood” of Richmond, California who offers hope and inspiration as she sets goals and develops connections through education. A great relationship with the world begins with yourself! Are you ready to love and be loved?
What is responsibility and how do we interpret it? Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow believe that being responsible means being dependable, accountable, having integrity, walking your talk, and exhibiting the authority to act. Global Youth Reporter, Ryan Sim talks about the international security and human rights norms known as the “Responsibility to Protect” or “R2P” with the moral responsibility to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. #Hashtag reporter Alex Lee, talks about the physical, mental, and sociological responsibility that individuals of being a social networker. Our youth hosts interview our special guest, 17 year old recording artist, Roxie Bardo, who shares her discipline and responsibility ways of doing business in the recording world. Originally from Tennessee, currently residing in Los Angeles, Roxie is a professional songwriter as well as the owner of Roxie Bardo Entertainment (P) 2013.
It’s a delicious show on Express Yourself!™ when our hosts and reporters talk about their favorite foods, food experiences, and food plans. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass welcome back former host, Steven Zhou, who talks about what it’s like to eat at college. Chef and Let’s Eat Reporter, Tanner O’Dell, gives a lively break down on America’s favorite dishes as well has his newest healthy living company, Kor 180. Steven interviews college student and culinary artist, Yuki Siegrist, a sushi chef with years of cooking experience at the upscale Marin County restaurant, Sushi 69. From pizza, mac ‘n cheese, to burgers, bites, hemp seed, sushi, or spirulina, you’ll want to get into the kitchen (or school cafeteria), and chow down!
School is back in session and students return with that "new school year, new you" cool…new haircuts, a different wardrobe, flashy backpacks, or totally different looks and goals. Everyone wants to re-define themselves. Our teen hosts and reporters have lots to report on staying healthy, making a difference, getting the right supplies, managing time appropriately, joining clubs, prioritizing homework assignments, getting enough sleep, finding the best apps for honor roll style, and much more. Rachel Glass, Youngjoo Ahn, and Katelyn Darrow host, report, and converse with Nerd Word reporter Jane Fessenden offering insights into great cool tools that you may never have heard about but will definitely want to implement. Floridian Health Beat reporter couldn’t be on the program but sent in her tips on organizing your day and getting enough sleep. If you want to major in success, you want to tune in to today’s Express Yourself!™ and get ready for some team spirit.
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Depression/Anxiety
Over 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide According to the World Mental Health Survey conducted in 17 countries, 20 people have reported episode of depression in the previous year. Depression leads to mental deterioration, and, at its worst, can cause individuals to commit suicide, which result in an estimated 1 million deaths every year. Our teen reporters and hosts share information, tips, and more that help us recognize depression and reduce our stress. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow lead the discussions with Global Youth Reporter, Ryan Sim tells us to reach out for help. #Hashtag reporter, Alex Lee, believes that social networking leads to increased depression and encourages listeners to distance themselves from technology more often. Special guest is the 19 year old You Tube rising star, Joshelyn Smith, who writes songs on her guitar and piano and posts about life, beauty, fitness & wellness, motivation, and anything that tickles her fancy.
The parents of teens today didn’t grow up with cell phones, and although we seem to not be able to live without them, there are risks involved. Hosts for today’s program are Rachel Glass and Katelyn Darrow who interview others with differing opinions. The Health Beat reporter in Florida, Nicole Eubanks provides startling statistics: each month, girls send on average 4050 texts and boys send 2539! Car accidents have risen and radiation from cell phones can cause brain tumors, sleep disorders, and more. Katelyn shares the upsides of the smart phone apps that can help others through volunteering in her Gift of Giving segment. Youngjoo Ahn talks about apps that boost creativity to help people write, draw, photograph, and play. She says she can’t live without them. Social Networking reporter, Alex Lee loves his IPHONE 5 but cautions listeners that although it can do many things, it is still a phone, meant to be used for interaction with other humans, and not through Facetime.
Is it right to keep secrets? Is it wrong to blab about something that was told in confidence? Privacy is critical to confidence and sometimes being too truthful can be hurtful. In today’s Express Yourself!™ our teen hosts, Courtney Cheng and Rachel Glass delve into the dark shadows of secret keeping. What’s Poppin’ Reporter, Caie Kelley shares a few not so secret secrets concerning celebrities, Rachel talks about the importance of trust, integrity. and being able to not be a blabbermouth, and Courtney reviews a magical book, Dragon Drop that deals with keeping important secrets and being a true friend. A special guest joins the teens, fourteen-year-old Sierra Ackerman, daughter of the late Jerry Ackerman, author of the young adult novel, Dragon Drop. Jerry wrote the character of Lily based on his daughter and today Sierra channels Lily, inhabiting the life of the heroine of the book as she invites a dragon named Py into her home.
Are you an optimist or pessimist? Do you find yourself being up or down? Positivity is a choice. We have the power to be happy or the power to make ourselves sad. Positive people lead happier lives and research indicates they live longer as well. In Express Yourself!™ today, hosts Rachel Glass and Hannah Li focus on the ability to bring more positivity into our daily routine. Rachel talks about the importance of looking at our glass as half full as opposed to half empty. Hannah dresses in bright colors and expresses the idea that wardrobe is important to creating an optimistic mood. What’s Poppin’ reporter, Caie Kelley, offers up quotes from famous people who have been instrumental in turning bad situations into wins and New York Times best selling author and radio producer, Cynthia Brian shares her optimistic viewpoint on how to become the positive star you were meant to be.If you’ve been down lately, this program will up your happiness and positivity quotient.
No matter who you are or where you are going to school, college is a scary thing. Transitioning to university life is a huge stepping stone to becoming an adult . Hannah Li co-hosts for the first time with college student and segment one co-host, Rachel Glass, who offers simple tips from her own experience about preparing for life after high school. Caie Kelley joins Hannah in co-hosting in segment two by interviewing Artsy Gifts reporter, Youngjoo Ahn, with her creative suggestions on home made care packages for your college colleagues. Segment three tackles the SAT’s as both Hannah and Caie offer helpful tips about this stressful test. New reporter, Jennifer Lee, joins the girls in segment four with Backstory, a fun segment of interesting facts from behind-the-scenes stories concerning songs, movies, and other trivia. If you or someone you know is headed to college, this is program will inspire, comfort, and motivate.
Summer is what you make it. It’s your choice whether you have a fun, productive summer, or three months of absolute boredom. From catching up on pop culture to health and exercise, summer is a great time to do the things you never seem to have time for during a busy school year. Our hosts Caie Kelley and Youngjoo discuss what has kept them energized and excited this summer from traveling to work. Book It! reporter, Courtney Cheng talks about making a summer reading list as well as catching up on movies and TV series that are missed during the school year. Rachel Glass gives examples of how to use summer to do positive things for your self such as exercising, flossing, chilling, and getting healthier. Katelyn Darrow catches us up on all of her traveling, conferences, and preparation for the new school year. A wide array of fabulous fun pportunities for entertainment are available including lots of freebies for students.
What is peer pressure and how does it affect us? Peer pressure is the influence of the social group on an individual. If you have ever felt like someone was trying to get you to do something that you didn’t want to do, you have experienced peer pressure. Peer pressure is JUST THAT-pressure. Just because “everyone else” is doing it, is not a reason to do “it”. In fact, lots of things people say they are doing, they really aren’t. They are just bragging and trying to get others pressured into doing something. On Express Yourself!™ today, our co-hosts Caie Kelley and Rachel Glass interview four reporters with various viewpoints pertaining to peer pressure. Isaiah Rankin, reporter for Nature Calls, shares the delicacy of eating tarantulas in Cambodia, also #Hashtag and information on the social networking buzz plague, #YOLO. Bruce Lee was right when he said, “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”
In our Going GREEN program we feature four fabulous teen hosts and two amazing guest stars from around the country who are truly living eco. In segments one and two, hosts Katelyn Darrow (New Jersey) and Caie Kelley (California) interview Mario Jr. (Florida),the first President of KidsStar and host of the Voice America Kids Radio show, Mario Jr. Alive and Green. In segments three and four, Youngjoo Ahn (California) and Clare Durant (Indiana) go on an exciting journey with Alison Teal (Hawaii) adventurer and film maker of the series, Alison’s Adventures. As an environmental activist, he is President of TEAM ECO JR a non-profit providing opportunities to kid's of all backgrounds. Alison travels the world looking into the secrets to survival, sustainability, and happiness. Alison Tealcan be seen on a brand new Discovery Channel series "Naked & Afraid" where Alison's survival skills are tested.
The relationship between age and driving behavior has interested highway safety researchers and administrators for many years. It is generally acknowledged that the greatest risk of traffic crashes is among teenage drivers. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers across the United States. For both men and women, drivers aged 16 to 19 years of age have the highest average annual crash and traffic violation rates of any other age group. In this episode of Express Yourself!™ our teens, Youngjoo Ahn, Katelyn Darrow, Nicole Eubanks, Caie Kelley, and Steven Zhou chime in with their personal experiences with learning to drive.
The most common scams are probably still computer hacking, there are a lot of types ranging in seriousness. Veteran host Youngjoo Ahn welcome first time co-host, Clare Durant, as they interview Global Youth Talk reporter Ryan Sim with his information on scholarship fraud and author Ashley Elston with her book The Rules for Disappearing that discusses fake identities and the Witness Protection Program. The hosts also offer tips on how to protect yourself from internet stalking as well as other scams. Whether it be a friend hacking your Facebook for fun or a thief stealing your social security ID or someone in a foreign country trying to get access to your credit cards or bank accounts, scams are on the rise. Some of the most common scams according to the FBI include the Nigerian Letter, telemarketing fraud, identity theft, advanced fee schemes and health care fraud.
What do cobra snakes and brain waves have in common? Both are affected by music. In today’s Express Yourself!™ hosts Katelyn Darrow and Caie Kelley learn the scientific research behind the music that can help us study, be happy, or sad with Health Beat reporter, Nicole Eubanks. We travel to India and Eypgt in segment two with Isaiah Rankin as he charms cobras with the sounds of a wind instrument in Nature Calls. (Well actually he doesn’t do the hypnotizing, but he shares his knowledge of the art.) Our first teen host and radio administrator, Steven Zhou, returns for a behind the scenes tour of being a sound engineer. Steven wrote the Express Yourself!™ theme song and played the guitar. Our East Coast/West Coast hosts wind up the hour with their personal favorite music, bands, and tips for concert essentials. It’s an hour of rocking fun and rolling infotainment. Tune in for a bit of music madness!
There is no doubt that people in America pamper their pets. Pet services is one of the fastest growing industries with gourmet treats, spas, pet hotels, designer clothing, massage therapists, and fancy retirement homes. Our Express Yourself!™ teens share animal tales of how their four legged, feather, furred, finned, slithery and shelled pets impact their lives. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow are joined by Nature Calls reporter, Isaiah Rankin and What’s Poppin’ reporter, Caie Kelley. Isaiah loves his reptiles and Caie gives us the scoop on celebrity pets. Katelyn discusses animal adoptions and fostering to save the five to seven million pets in shelters each year. It’s a pet party today and you can join our barking, cooing, meowing and other animal sound fun.
Summertime and the living is easy! Summer can be a time of kicking back or revving up and our Express Yourself!™ teen reporters have a variety of ideas of how to spend the summer. Youngjoo Ahn, Katelyn Darrow, Hannah Li, Caie Kelley, and Courtney Cheng offer suggestions from volunteering to studying abroad to being major productive to doing absolutely nothing and taking a break. One thing is for sure-warm weather, swimming pools, and barbecues are on the agenda! What are your plans?
This broadcast is our 75th consecutive broadcast of Express Yourself!™ and in honor of this momentous occasion we are dreaming BIG! People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state. Without dreams and goals, we can never achieve anything. Our hosts, Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn, are living their dreams by being part of this radio broadcast. Book It Reporter, Courtney Cheng (who helped launch this show and was on our first show) looks into the big dreams of Rapunzel in the movie, Tangled, and says that Express Yourself!™ is a dream come true. Our youngest reporter, twelve-year-old Isaiah Rankin brings us a BIG Nature Calls with his report on the Komodo dragon. Our special guest is Jamie Charoen, an artist on the rise of Thai and French descent whose music signifies the importance of empowering women and never giving up on a dream.
Blogging is the newest form of self-expression available to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Our Express Yourself!™ teens are avid bloggers and have tons of information to share with Voice America Kids Network listeners! Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn discuss their blogs as well as tips and techniques on how to start a blog, how to keep it going, writing etiquette, whether to keep it private or public, how to get followers, how to vlog, (video blogging), and more. Courtney Cheng discusses the movie Easy A with Stone Emma then talks about her blog on Tumblr. Hannah Li writes a lifestyle blog with four other contributors which takes about two hours a week to accomplish and talks about the rewards of collaborating. It’s a fun show that will get you started writing your own blog. And don’t forget that writing is a reflection of your thinking. Be clear, succinct, and convincing and you will differentiate yourself from the masses and become a valuable asset to the world of blogs and vlogs.
Every day teens are making an impact in the world as they grow to become our future leaders. Besides programs like Express Yourself!™ where teens get to work as writers, hosts, and reporters, many young people develop leaderships at youth conferences. I developed many of my leadership skills at youth conferences. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn talks about her experience at the national High School Journalism Convention and co-host Katelyn Darrow shares her numerous involvement at conventions and conferences, most notably the Presidential Inauguration in Washington DC. Reporter Ryan Sim develops solutions for world problems as part of the MUN Youth Conference, Model United Nations. Sixteen-year-old Indiana guest, Lora Margerum, has participated in six conferences from the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. All agree that being a representative at a conference or convention is an opportunity for learning, growth, and real world experience.
In today’s Express Yourself!™ our hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow interview two award winning authors, Soman Chainani and Joanne Rocklin of young adult fiction. In our first segment, Youngjoo shares her childhood favorite books and characters. Soman Chainani is a graduate of the MFA Film Program at Columbia University, and the recipient of the school’s top prize, the FMI Fellowship. His films have played over 150 international film festivals, won over 30 jury and audience awards, racked up over 1,000,000 YouTube hits, and secured distribution in over 100 territories. In addition, his writing awards include honors from Sun Valley Writer’s Fellowship, and the coveted $100,000 Shasha Grant, awarded by a jury of international film executives. His first book in his epic fantasy series is The School for Good and Evil.Joanne Rocklin is the author of many middle grade novels, including the award-winning One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street.
Express Yourself’s theme today is a nod to that wonderful woman who gave us life, hosted by Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow. Our Economics Tune Up reporter, Alex Pawlakos will give an economic look at how American’s show their appreciation to their moms on this Mother's Day by spending more than $84 million. Health Beat reporter, Nicole Eubanks brings us low key, fun, and healthy ways to show our love. Youngjoo celebrates the homemade gift idea for those personal touches, especially on a budget. Katelyn’s mom plays the part of both mom and dad in the household, so Katelyn and her sisters serve up unusual and abundant treats not only to their mom, but to abused women in a shelter. To round out the show, we have a special audition with our youngest new reporter, Isaiah Rankin who brings us into the wild with his segment, Nature Calls. An old proverb says, “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.” Amen! Mothers deserve a special day every day!
Choosing a college is definitely one of the most significant life events that a teen will encounter. All the work accomplished through the beginning of senior year including grades, extracurriculars, volunteering, sports, music - everything leads up to this important decision. Express Yourself!™ teen hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow, who are juniors and sophomores, speak with experienced teens-high school senior, Lora Galoyan and college teens Courtney Cheng and Alex Pawlakos. Lora discusses her current application, Courtney shares college admissions from the viewpoint of movies and TV ((High School Musical, Glee, and Legally Blonde) from her dorm room at CAL Berkeley, and Alex talks about the financial ramifications for college applicants.
Sibling rivalry is very common in families. Statistics show that we spend over thirty percent of our time with our siblings, and during that time, we don’t want to be constantly calling each other names, wrestling, or plotting revenge. Today on Express Yourself!™ our teen reporters examine their experiences in dealing with brothers and sisters. Host Youngjoo Ahn is an only child without siblings so she hosts solo today for the first time joined by reporters Courtney Cheng sharing sibling characters from books and movies, Clare Durant provides dating advice, and Lora Galoyan talks about the cultural differences in families. Producer Cynthia Brian, who grew up in a family of seven, offers tips on how to get along and develop better relationships. We are all family and blood is thicker than water...or so it’s said!
Superheros exist beyond the comic books and movies. Many of us consider sports figures, celebrities, or rescue workers in our list of heroes. But there are heroes amongst us…everyday people who go above and beyond to make this world a better place for others. We encounter them every single day! From our parents and school teachers, to firemen and police force - heros come in many different ways.
In today’s Express Yourself!™ program, teens Youngjoo, Katelyn, Lora, Caie, and Mason tell us what it is to be a hero and offer insights into the unheralded good works of ordinary individuals who are truly champions and deserve to be recognized. Many teens are truly unsung super heroes. Find out how and why!
What does it take to be a professional model? How do celebrities make fashion choices? Does blogging influence the modeling and fashion world? Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow are joined by reporters Caie Kelley and Hannah Li to delve into the glamour, glitz, ups, downs, and “photoshopping” of models as well as the fashion blogs that are providing ordinary individuals an opportunity to shine. UK fashion sensation and Elton John protégée, Tallia Storm is the special guest from Scotland talking about her unique fashion choices styled by her sister that are landing her on the cover of major magazines worldwide. Tallia is turning the world of fashion upside down and literally taking the teen styles by storm. From Cynthia Brian’s book, The Business of Show Business, you’ll learn some concrete tools that are required for the modeling profession.
Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow are feminists believing that both genders are equal and deserve to be treated equally in every situation. The male-female pay gap is still unequal with women earning 72 cents for every dollar that a man earns doing the exact job. Reporter Alex Pawlakos suggests that more women ar being recognized in the economic arena today. You Can! Reporter, Lora Galoyan gives an historical perspective asking if Gender roles are reconstructed by society itself, or are they a biological construction? In our final segment a big surprise appearance by the Sir Elton John’s prodigy rising super star, Tallia Storm. Dubbed ‘Tiny Chancer’ by the UK press, Tallia Storm had been singing for some 3 years when she was propelled to the international limelight last year when Sir Elton asked her to open his concert in Falkirk Football Stadium to a sold out audience of 17,000 people at the tender age of 13 yrs.
Stress is something we all experience, but in today’s fast paced techno-centered world, teens are topping the charts with stress levels. In a study conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, the top five sources of stress for teens were: school work, parents, romantic relationships, friends' problems, and younger siblings. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Courtney Cheng tackle the stressors with hands on, practical ways to reduce this epidemic. Reporter Rachel Glass adds her personal experiences from the University of Oregon in Eugene, and high school junior, Hannah Li chimes in on the stresses of summer. Do young adults ever get a break? Tune in to Express Yourself!™ for remedies, true tales, and plain old common sense from young people who are living in the now! Breathe…tomorrow is another day!
Have you ever been to the zoo? Have you ever wondered why male peacocks have such pretty feathers? Why the male birds sing with a special oomph? As humans, we have our ways of showing interest but they’re a little more complicated. If you are interested in dating, this episode of Express Yourself!™ will tickle your senses. Co-hosts Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn interview young adult author, Lauren Bjorkman with her novel, Miss Fortune Cookie, about a teenage advice columnist. Youngjoo uncovers a very alarming web site and app that rates guys, and reporter Clare Durant launches a new segment, Dump ‘Em or Date ‘Em!
Since the dawn of cinema, there has always been pressure for movie stars to project the right image, especially women, but in the last quarter century the demand to look great at Hollywood Red Carpet events, premiers, and award shows has become almost a full time job. TV is littered with award shows showcasing outrageous fashions and fabulous faces. Our hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow take a look behind the scenes of the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Oscars, Grammies, and more to see what designers don the red carpet and what’s in the goody bags. Talent manager, Alexis Reusser, who has major stars on GLEE, CSI, House and more, gives us an inside tour of back stage Hollywood. Invoke your golden goddess or glamour god and keep your eyes on the Prize with this episode of Express Yourself!™
Ryan Sim and Youngjoo Ahn co-host a program centering on lessons of success and courage. First up is Economics Tune Up reporter Alex Pawlakos who talks about the economics of success with the concept of opportunity cost. International best selling author and motivator T.J. Hoisington, of If You Think, You Can! Thirteen Laws that Govern the Performance of High Achievers, If You Think You Can! for Teens, and The Secret of the Slight Edge shares success strategies that stick. One of the teens favorites is that achieving success is not a matter of “if” but “when”. Author of Merminia, Emm Cole talks about creating courageous and powerful female characters in her books. Ryan launches his Global Youth Talk segment with a story centering around the brave fifteen year old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai , who was shot in the head for wanting an education. If you are looking for success tips, have the courage to tune in and be inspired.
Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow bring Green and Peace to Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio with their enticing segments plus interviews with two extraordinary guests. At age 12, Charles Orgbon, founded Greening Forward, a non profit offering mini-grants, recognition, civic engagement curricula, skill-building workshops, and an online platform for idea sharing for other young environmental change makers.
A common and disturbing issue that happens with teenagers concerns addictions and self-harm. According to the World Health Organization, 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, which often leads to self-harm and addiction. According to the National Institute of Mental Health eighteen million of these cases are happening in the United States and are rising. Co-hosts Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn along with reporters Rachel Glass and Caie Kelley tackle these tough subjects while discussing personal stories as well as those of celebrities. Caie talks about Justin Bieber and Demis Lovato. Celebrities can play a big role in stopping cutting, addictions, and other self harm by immediately speaking out about these inappropriate dangerous actions.They interview two special guests, Dr. Steven Farber, author of As Sick as our Secrets who discusses recovery from addictions and fifteen year old author of All that is Red, Anna Caltabiano.
Whether you love the idea of Prom or Senior Ball or not, it’s almost a high school rite of passage. For girls, maybe the most anticipated thing is either dolling up or getting asked by some special guy. Girls start thinking about prom months and years in advance, planning dresses, hair, make-up, and dates. Most guys seem to take it less seriously. They say they follow a routine of getting flowers, find a tux to match whatever color their date wants, book a limo, and have fun. Our hosts Courtney Cheng and Youngjoo Ahn as well as field reporters Rachel Glass and Youngjoo Ahn bring us every detail about preparing for prom from how to creatively ask a person to go with you, what to wear, when to shop, and how to have the night of your life. The girls survey two of our male reporters for their opinions and it’s fascinating how everyone has a different experience. Are you going to Prom or Senior Ball this year? Tune in for the tips about everything for Prom or Senior Ball.
Be the Star You Are!® Operation Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief. Special thanks goes out to members of Club Be the Star You Are!® and the Leo Club for collecting dollars and books to give to individuals, shelters, and families. Economics reporter, Alex Pawlakos, looks at the economic damages that were incurred by the hurricane, as well as the costs to repair those damages. Hurricane Sandy has left behind at least $65.6 billion worth of damage in her wake. Book It! Reporter, Courtney Cheng talks about how celebrities made a difference in the recovery effort. To get everyone's mind off such disasters, On the Ball reporter Mason Windatt reports on the Super Bowl possibilities, including the fun and great TV commercials surrounding this very touted sports event. Be the Star You Are!® is continuing to accept donations for Operation Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief. Donate Today at www.BTSYA.org
Be the Star You Are!® six most prolific public speakers share their expertise, stories, and experiences with our radio friends on Express Yourself!™ Youngjoo Ahn and Steven Zhou co-host with Katelyn Darrow from New Jersey, Caie Kelley and Lora Galoyan from California, and Tanner O’Dell from Nebraska, via Texas. Topics include speaking at TedX, how to craft a presentation, how to get rid of nerves and fear, as well as information on celebrities who started public speaking as teens. For anyone who wants to be able to present themselves with passion and clarity, this is an awesome insight into what’s available for teens around the country
Living and studying in a foreign country is a highly recommended endeavor by our guest experts and hosts on Express Yourself!™ Today Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley take us on a trip around the world touching down in Norway, Ireland, England, Belgium, France, Holland, Hong Kong, and Korea. Special guests include Irish born, Nora Nordan in Norway, Eileen Goodis who studied in France, and Cynthia Brian who was an exchange student to Mexico and teen ambassador to Holland. Caie shares stories of her parent’s adventures from Hong Kong and Youngjoo describes growing up in Korea and the differences encountered living in America. This is a traveler’s dream show and a great impetus for all young people to apply to live and study abroad
Hosts Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn are joined by reporters Caie Kelley and Rachel Glass discussing the incredible influence women have whether a mom, a celebrity, or company CEO. President of Starstyle® Productionss, LLC, Founder of Be the Star You Are!® charity, and producer of Express Yourself!™, Cynthia Brian (www.Star-Style.com) is interviewed by the teens. Katelyn also talks about the super woman of the New Jersey Assembly, Pamela Lampitt. Girls of all ages have the ability and strength to influence society around the globe. Empowering females to reach for the stars is the goal of Be the Star You Are!® Women Rule
Happy 2013! Another year, another resolution. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass celebrate New Year’s Day with fellow teen reporters who offer their individual takes on what goals to set for 2013. Although Floridian teen, Nicole Eubanks says she has never fully succeeded in achieving her New Year goals, she does have some very excellent health tips. University of Oregon co-ed Rachel Glass stresses the importance of living in the moment and making the most of each day, while Stanford student encourages, Jacqueline Tao encourages everyone to take more “me” time, reach out to family and friends, and connect the dots using Steve Jobs recipe. A new audition from Armenian born, Lora Galoyan empowers us to be the talented, beautiful person we were born to be. Happy New Year and may your life be happy, prosperous, and exciting! Make your dreams come true
It’s Christmas Day around the world and our Express Yourself!™ teens have a special program bringing joy and good cheer to all our listeners. Hosted on the West Coast by Youngjoo Ahn and on the East Coast by Katelyn Darrow, you’ll be treated to Caie Kelley’s Christmas traditions in What’s Poppin’, the music of a fifteen year old singer/songwriter from Long Island, Jillian Rae, Katelyn’s Gift of Giving for the season of giving, and holiday quips from Campus Calling’s, Jacqueline Tao. Jillian Rae, the 15 year old singer and songwriter from Long Island, has been writing lyrics since she was seven and has been playing the acoustic guitar for two years. Jillian was a finalist on the NBC TODAY Show kids edition of The Voice. Jillian sings Mistletoe by Colbie Caillat live.
DONATE TO OPERATION HURRICANE SANDY DISASTER Relief at http://www.btsya.com/hurricane_sandy_relief.html
The Ninth Annual National Essay Contest is underway. Enter today! http://www.BTSYA.org
It’s teen tech talk today on Express Yourself!™ as our tech savvy hosts and reporters discuss technology and social networking. Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow co-host as well as report. Katelyn talks about how we can use social networking for the social good. Youngjoo launches her Platform for Good technology blog by embracing the technological revolution. Economic Tune-Up Reporter, Alex Pawlakos shows us how technology and economics are related while our pop culture pro, Caie Kelley brings blogging and participation from Pinterest, Tumblr, Facebook, and You Tube to What’s Poppin’.
Read the Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio technology blog at http://www.aplatformforgood.org/teens/blog/entry/express-yourself-where-teens-talk-and-the-world-listens.
Check out the new Express Yourself!™ blog at http://btsya.tumblr.com
Dogs may be man’s best friends but too many of our furry friends go into shelters and never come out. Hurricanes are considered Acts of God, and today our co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow talk to two passionate animals lovers who founded the non profit, An Act of Dog. Katelyn reports on safety for pets during disasters in her Gift of Giving segment. Reporter Izzy Fasheh shares a fascinating look at French Realist Artist, Rosa Bonheur who painted animals. Mark Barone and Marina Dervan founded An Act of Dog to protect the lives of animals by ensuring that all of America’s shelters adopt the “No Kill Equation”. Using art for social change, Mark is painting 5500 shelter dogs. These ambassadors strive to raise $20 million to create a Memorial Museum to those animals who are euthanized. They have been featured in USA TODAY, OPRAH’S Magazine “O,” FOX, ABC, HUFFINGTON POST, as well as many other publications, and will be featured in a new book by National Geographic.
Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelly interview Russian Artist, Vladimir Kush whose credo is “To reflect the world in the mirror of the metaphor.” We’ll journey with Vladimir around the world as hereflects the complexities of modern life through his paintings. New audition by Isabella Fasheh who will discuss the life of Frido Kahlo in her segment “An Artist a Week!” Veteran radio host, Steven Zhou returns with his artistic viewpoints. Vladimir Kush was born in Russia, in a one-story wooden house near the Moscow forest-park Sokolniki. At the age of seven Vladimir began to attend art school until late evening where he became acquainted with the works of great artists of the Renaissance, famous Impressionists, and Modern Artists. Artist, Vladimir Kush, is the founder of Metaphorical Realism, his goal … to reflect the world in the mirror of the metaphor.
BangIt’s Game Day on Express Yourself!™. Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow interview the World and US Champion Scrabble player, Conrad Bassett Bouchard. In the first segment, the ladies talk about intolerance in organizations and share support for the Moraga Boy Scout, Ryan Andresen who was denied his Eagle Award because of being gay. Reporter, Ryan Sim interviewed California’s State Champion Chess Player, Benjamin Tong and brings us highlights of his championship strategies. Although Conrad Bassett Bouchard began playing scrabble with his family at age 3, he began tournament playing at 14. He found it fun and rewarding and by age 17 was in the top 20 in the US and by 21 in the top five. He first played a tournament abroad in November 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand where he beat the current National/World Champ Nigel Richards in the finals ranking Conrad number one in the World English Scrabble Players Association.
WOW! Thanksgiving Day, November 22, is the anniversary of our first broadcast of Express Yourself!™so we decided to bring our original reporters back for a Thanksgiving Anniversary Reunion. Hosted by our first lead host of Express Yourself!™, Steven Zhou, and our current main host, Youngjoo Ahn, this is a celebration of gratitude and frivolity as our veteran teens share stories of the past 365 days and talk about how being a reporter on Express Yourself ™ has impacted their lives. Joining Youngjoo and Steven are Book It! reporter, Courtney Cheng, currently at CAL Berkeley; Making a Difference Reporter Rachel Glass at University of Oregon in Eugene; Say What? reporter, Vivien Lee, also at CAL Berkeley singing Dream a Dream from Les Miserables; and winding up our fun-filled hour is Campus Calling Reporter, Jacqueline Tao at Stanford. Smart savvy teens making a difference-that’s a year of Express Yourself.
Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley interview author and self-publisher, Sheri McGuinn who writes about resilient people who are dealing with major crises, hopefully worse problems than the average reader will ever have to encounter. Youngjoo shares her fascinating experiences in becoming a writer, reporter, and President of Club Be the Star You Are!® in high School. Tanner O’Dell, our Texas Teen Chef brings us more of his tantalizing treats and helps us create individual homemade cookbooks
It’s an election year and the Express Yourself!™ teens may be too young to vote, but they certainly have opinions on what they would like to see happen in our country. In our ELECTION special, Pro Parlay Reporter, Ryan Sim joins host Youngjoo Ahn with a discussion on the state of the union. Our fun What’s Poppin/ reporter, Caie Kelly shares interesting historical perspectives on the election process. Auditioning as our economic reporter, Alex Pawlakos discusses outcomes for the economy based on the voters. And what would politics be without a victory meal? Teen Chef Tanner O’Dell cooks up the perfect celebratory feast for our newly elected officials.
Enjoying the beauty of the autumn season, the On-Air STAR team is live at the Pear and Wine Festival thanks to sponsorship of The Lamorinda Weekly Newspaper with a history lesson about the celebration and superstitions surrounding Halloween. They interview two little girls who are experiencing the festivities and having a great time preparing their costumes for trick or treating. Sisters Vivien and Jennifer Lee sing a charming duet and Steven Zhou stops by to say hello. Fall tradition is the topic for Caie’s What’s Poppin’ segment as the girls share stories of family fun surrounding this favorite holiday. Singer and volunteer Lora Galoyan stops by to talk about adventures in voice training, growing up in Armenia, and offers a touching tribute to a beloved local teen, Bret Olson. Get ready to carve a pumpkin, paint your face, and be thrilled and chilled by the BTSYA Halloween Spooktacular!
The on-air team of Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself!™ set up a remote radio tent at the Pear and Wine Festival. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley introduce a Club BTSYA school President, Lora Galayon who sings Adele's Rolling in the Deep plus I Give My Love. Lora grew up in Armenia and talks about the differences in cultures. Robbie Sadre plays a mean guitar and shares how he conceived of the idea to create Club Be the Star You Are!® in high schools. Fourteen year old Jennifer Lee sings Call Me Maybe and If I Die Young by the Band Perry. Jennifer is the enthusiastic new event coordinator for the BTSYA organization. Yougjoo discusses the variety of activities and opportunities that Club BTSYA offers to anyone who wants to be creative and become a leader. Everyone has a terrific time at the festival with the food, booths, and one another. It's a bright autumn day with plenty of pears, singing, music, and expression!
Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley offer a living organically episode. The Gift of Giving Reporter from New Jersey, Katelyn Eystad shares ideas on how to help feed the hungry and our hosts audition a new reporter from Texas, Tanner O’Dell with his segment, Live to Eat-Happy, Healthy, and Hungry Reporting. Tanner will tell us why eating fresh and organic is better. Celebrity hairstylist, Kate Pierovich, shares how she became a success in Hollywood working with the stars of GLEE, Teen Wolf, MTV, and awards shows, then left the red carpet world to live clean and green in Oregon. It’s a healthy, hearty, heartwarming show on Express Yourself!™
Host Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley interview Ellen Hopkins, the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of eight young adult novels, including Crank, Glass, Fallout, and Perfect, as well as the adult novel Triangles. Hopkins’ second adult novel Collateral will be published in November 2012. Ellen Hopkins currently lives with her family in Nevada. Be sure to visit her online at ellenhopkins.com; myspace/com/ellenhopkins; and twitter.com/ellenhopkinsYA. Pro Parley Reporter interviews a librarian for his segment, and Youngjoo talks about making homemade books in Artsy Gifts
Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Eystad interview the magical lady who invented illusions for David Copperfield and Lance Burton, Diana Zimmerman, author of Kandide.Vanishing avocados, mega-million dollar conferences, haute couture jewels, and enigmatic beings, all part of Diana S. Zimmerman’s amazing life. Like her best selling, award winning fantasy adventure novel, “Kandide and the Secret of the Mists,” her role in the performing arts, as well as the business world, transcends the ordinary. She has been a performer, entrepreneur, and businesswoman since the age of eight when she invested all of her resources into a small magic trick. With a total capital outlay of 47 cents, she parlayed her investment into a spectacular 25-year stage and television career as the "World’s Foremost Lady Magician.”
Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley interview Dr. Don Martin to get a first person glimpse of the admission process to college and grad school and his take on going to community colleges. Road Map for Graduate Study: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students, by Dr. Donald C. Martin, is the first comprehensive book about graduate school. A career insider, Dr. Martin takes readers from A to Z with respect to the Graduate School experience. He starts with doing research on graduate programs/institutions, then covers the application process, and ends with how to succeed once enrolled. A must read for anyone thinking about earning a masters or doctoral degree. This fall, Idealist is bringing hundreds of graduate schools to 17 cities across the country. If you’ve been thinking of applying, this is a great opportunity to meet in person with admissions staff from a variety of programs.
Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass co-host the fourth episode in our Tough Talk Series in collaboration with Youth Voice in San Diego. Braving Gravity Reporter from Indiana, Today’s subject is peer abuse, peer pressure, and teen bullying with 17 year old guest, Joseline Suarez, a peer educator for Gang Reduction, Intervention & Prevention. Joseline was one of three young ladies honored in San Diego county as a positive role model. Clare Durant, reports on peer pressure and her first days of college in Indiana. When peers abuse their peers, the damage is long lasting and deeply impactful. With the many layers of Peer Abuse via technology, emotionally, verbally, physically, and sexually, the FEAR in a youth's "reality" can affect their relationships on many levels, including their peers, families, neighbors, teachers, coaches, and inhibit their capacity to heal.
Co hosts Steven Zhou and Youngjoo Ahn along with reporters Katelyn Eystad in New Jersey and Rachel Glass in Oregon welcome actor, musician, skydiver, and philanthropist Justin Tinucci to Express Yourself!™ Justin Tinucci is a thirteen-year-old actor, musician, and philanthropist. He became interested in acting after appearing on TV shows for a unique sport he is involved in – indoor skydiving. He and his sister, Kayla, were the first kid indoor skydiving team in the world to compete against adult skydivers in wind tunnels, sparking national media attention. He is known for his roles on popular television shows Big Love and iCarly, plus The Muppet Movie. He is passionate about volunteering and helping kids not as fortunate as he is to help make a difference in their lives. In the Gift of Giving, Katelyn offers great ideas to get teens involved with causes, and in Making a Difference, Rachel shares views on the fun and connections of volunteering and the importance of giving back.
Our talented teen co-hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Steven Zhou, are not only great at broadcasting and writing, they are caring individuals who give back to the world. This past summer both donated their time to teach English in Korea and China. A full hour of their travels, experiences, funny stories, and ticklish banter will entertain and motivate. Steven and Youngjoo discuss their adventures as well as the challenges of living and working in another country. There were language barriers, weird food, hilarious videotaping, crazy clothing, sleeping on the floor, broken rules, and fascinating excursions. They bonded with their students and staff and both agreed that teaching is really difficult, yet completely rewarding.
Mega author superstar, Meg Cabot joins hosts Steven Zhou, Youngjoo Ahn, and field reporters Clare Durant and Caie Kelley to give her take on the college campus hijinx and the perils of pop. Meg Cabot is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages. After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series. First there was SIZE 12 IS NOT FAT ?Then, there was SIZE 14 IS NOT FAT EITHER ?You demanded BIG BONED… ?And now, Meg Cabot makes a triumphant return to her reader-favorite “Heather Wells” mystery series with… ?SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK.
Up and coming stars in music, cosmetics, and broadcasting are the focus of today’s Express Yourself!™ with co-hosts Courtney Cheng in California and Rachel Glass in Oregon. Clare Durant, a broadcast hopeful going to university in Indiana, auditions as a reporter for Braving Gravity, a newly launched Iowa band currently on a US tour and playing in New York City, We Are Jocelyn debuts their original music, and a new make-up artist for film, art, and fashion from Boston, Alexandra Angelone, jump off the Express Yourself!™ launch pad.
Co-hosts Vivien Lee and Courtney Cheng bring author and editor, C. Hope Clark on Express Yourself!™ to discuss how to make money writing and what it takes to pen both fiction and non-fiction books. New Jersey reporter, Katelyn Eystad offers her Gift of Giving with her newest service project, “Be a Backpack Angel.” Courtney and Vivien discuss famous authors who were rejected nunerous times before being published in Book It! and Say What? C. Hope Clark is founder of FundsforWriters, awarded Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers for the past 12 years. Her newsletters centered around markets and funding opportunities for writers, reach 44,000 readers each week. She is also a mystery novelist, with a recent release of Lowcountry Bribe, A Carolina Slade Mystery and author of the non-fiction, The Shy Writer. She lives in central South Carolina where she pens her mysteries and works on a new nonfiction book for writers.
It’s a mash up as co-hosts Courtney Cheng and Vivien Lee welcome the New York rock band, Honor Society, named one of the breakout bands to watch by Rolling Stone Magazine and identified as a Buzzworthy band by MTV. They chat about their upcoming tour. Radio personality and recent college grad, Heather Brittany shares tips on how to be successful and enjoy your first weeks of university life. Health Beat Reporter, Nicole Eubanks offers stress busters for back to school and Caie Kelley, What’s Poppin’ reporter talks about the effects of TV and pop culture on educational pursuits.
Hosted by Youngjoo Ahn and Courtney Cheng, today focuses on the impact of drunk driving and underage drinking. Reports include Ryan Sim with Pro Parley, Artsy Gifts with Youngjoo, and Book It with Courtney. Joseline Suarez, a teen from Youth Voice in San Diego shares personal experiences and information to prevent teens from drinking. Alcohol related accidents kill someone every 30 minutes and injure someone every two minutes. Nearly one-third (31%) of driver deaths ages 16-20 were drinking drivers. Joseline discusses drinking promotions, how teen drinking affects relationships, and what can be done to curb this epidemic of underage drinking. Weeping Willows is a true story about a young girl's journey after tragically losing one of her siblings from a drunk driver when she was 15. Written by twenty-something Michelle Scavarda of Yorktown Heights, New York, this beautifully written and poignant story tells about how one young girl struggled through an unspeakable tragedy
Hosted by Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass, this episode focuses on the impact of violence in teen relationships and audition two new reporters, Katelyn Eystad from New Jersey(The Gift of Giving) and Caie Kelley from California (What’s Poppin’?)Teenage Relationship Violence impacts millions of youth globally. With the three types of abuse (emotional, verbal, and sexual), one in five will experience teenage relationship violence. Research shows 80% of these individuals remain in abusive relationships. Awareness and community education are critically important.Eighteen-year-old Itza Perez, a leader with Youth Voice in San Diego is passionate about social justice and human rights and driven by her experiences and community outreach. Itza has been a Youth Voice member for several years and was the Founder and President of Hoover Dreamers at her high school. Sharing her original poetry, she impacts audiences with her passionate resolve to create a better world.
YA Best Selling Author Talks Writing & Publishing Hosted by Steven Zhou and Youngjoo Ahn with Youngjoo’s Artsy Gifts segment and a farewell to Steven as he leaves to work in China. Our hosts audition a new field reporter, Ryan Sim, presenting interviews from professionals with a segment called Pro Parlay. Move over, zombies, vampires, and werewolves, and make way for witches. Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs and Blue Bloods series. Today she releases, The Serpent’s Kiss, the newest novel in the New York Times bestselling Witches of East End. Melissa has worked as a fashion and beauty editor for The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
This episode of Express Yourself is hosted by Youngjoo Ahn and producer, Cynthia Brian with teen reporter Nicole Eubanks talking about culture and food in Health Beat and Youngjoo offering Artsy Gifts from our heritage. President Obama changed the immigration laws on June 15th to allow individuals thirty and under who meet certain criteria to get their Green Card and eliminate deportation. A young teen leader with Youth Voice from San Diego, California, Elia Ramirez shares her experiences on how immigration issues have impacted her life, what she is doing to help other kids, and how this new law will impact the young immigrants. Youth Voice members are peer educators by sharing imperative knowledge in their community. Elia Ramirez has been a youth leader for several years. Part of Youth Voice Ensemble, Elia has presented at Gang Summits, Teenage Relationship Violence, Graffiti Paint-Outs, and Civic Engagement opportunities.
Everyone fantasizes about being BFF with the pretty girl next door. But in the case of up-and-coming Hollywood based pop/rock trio Y i Yell, it actually came true.Y i Yell consists of brothers Michael and Demitri Lerios and their literal girl-next-door neighbor/frontwoman Gaby Symons. If you're looking for a comparison, Gaby's voice is a dead ringer for Gwen Stefani during her early No Doubt days, with a dash of Hayley Williams from Paramore and Gracer Slick from Jefferson Airplane thrown in for good measure. Guitarist Michael and drummer Demitri (who was in elementary school when they began!) provide a tight backdrop for Gaby's infectious vocals. Y i YELL ! is on a mission to define the expression of a young generation. They sing TWO songs LIVE on the program! `Find at more and watch videos at their web site.
Live broadcast from the Moraga Faire featuring Steven Zhou, Vivien Lee, Youngjoo Ahn, producer Cynthia Brian, sponsors, and guests. Our show features passerby's from the local Moraga Fair as they discuss their experiences at the fair, the various booths featured, and their opinions. At the same time, we take advantage of the portable sound studio set up at our booth to do professional-quality music and commercial recordings. This week's show features Joe Torbatt of Orinda Auto Detail, sponsor of BTSYA at Moraga Fair, Sal Captain winemaker at Captain Vineyards, and Ellen Beans Founder of the Moraga Faire and Moraga Citizen of the Year. LIVE performances by the musical stars on our Teen Radio team with Steven Zhou on guitar and Vivien Lee's vocals driving the force behind these recordings. Tune in for LIVE fun at the Moraga Fair! Thanks to the sponsors of the Faire booth, Orinda Auto Detail, Minute Man Press and Keigan Productions.
When Diane Ferlatte arrives on stage, you can’t help but be carried along with her charismatic style of telling that includes music, sign-language, movement, humor and song. She carries a stick and a treasure trove of stories, some with homespun wisdom, some with rhythm and rhyme, all with heart and life. Diane tells true-life personal & historical stories, as well as folktales, legends, myths, and fables. Besides passing on history & culture, Diane believes that storytelling helps to promote reading-readiness, visual imagery, imagination, and character/moral development. She has performed in virtually every state in the U.S. & has toured internationally many times. All of her recordings have won honors including awards from Parents’ Choice, American Library Association, National Parenting Publications, Storytelling World, iParenting Media, as well as a Grammy Nomination. Steven Zhou and Courtney Cheng host this storytelling hour.
Many of our teen reporters are graduating high school this June. We’ll find out how it feels to be at the end of a high school career and what’s next. Graduating senior, host Steven Zhou co-hosts with sophomore Youngjoo Ann. Youngjoo interviews Steven Zhou about his favorite things in life, putting him on the other side of the microphone for a change. Nicole Eubanks brings us a Health Beat party and Youngjoo’s Artsy Gifts celebrates graduation. Let’s get the party started! Woo Hoo
Live broadcast from the Moraga Faire featuring Steven Zhou, Vivien Lee, Mason Windatt, Youngjoo Ahn, producer Cynthia Brian, sponsors, and guests. Our teens interview a cross section of people of all ages to talk about their summer plans, dreams, hopes, and travels.Hear what people have to say about summer vacation. The Express Yourself!™ booth is sponsored by Orinda Auto Detail, Minuteman Press, and Keigan Productions
What is it like to be in the Olympics and have a Disney blockbuster movie about your Olympic exploits? Steven Zhou and Youngjoo Ahn interview Devon Harris, Captain of the legendary Jamaican Bobsled Team that captured the hearts of the world at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Cool Runnings was based on the amazing story. At the heart of Devon’s message are the lessons of the power of persistence over obstacles in order to live one's best life. His mission is to bring this message of how everyone can keep on pushing and working for their dreams every day of their lives. The Keep On Pushing Foundation which he founded in 2006 aims to support and enhance the education of kids in disadvantaged communities around the globe. He is the author of the motivational children’s book, Yes, I Can! and Keep On Pushing: Hot Lesson From Cool Runnings. Field Reporters Youngjoo Ahn and Mason Windatt bring their savvy insights to this Olympic presentation
Co-Hosts Steven Zhou and Jacqueline Tao bring a show about technology and change through interviewing the two first place winners of the 8th Annual National Be the Star You Are!® Essay Contest. Health Beat Reporter, Nicole Eubanks and Book It! reporter, Courtney Cheng add their excellent technology research to the program.
The judges have made their decisions and the winners of the 8th Annual National Essay Contest sponsored by US Bank are announced with the first place winning entries read by the authors. The topics this year included “The World at Your Fingertips” and “Hear me Out!”. The first place winners are Pamela Lewis from New York and Dana Allen from California! Tune in to hear their essays read and meet these lovely ladies. Second place went to Carl David with Honorable Mention awared to Elizabeth Mroz and Miss Mary Sue Wickham. Congrats
Steven Zhou and Jacqueline Tao host this program all about being positive. Youngjoo Ahn, our Artsy Gifts reporter, gives us a segment on how to create a positively fun container for ourselves. Mason Windatt puts a positive spin on his sports segment, On the Ball. Our guest is Mr. Positive, AKA, Ken Bossone, President of the World Positive Thinkers Club. He tells us how positive living makes for a happy and fulfilled life and gives teens an inspirational push to surround themselves with upbeat people
Express Yourself!™ delves into the creative world of art with renowned fine artist and computer games specialist, Armand Cabrera currently living and working in Virginia and Leslie Swartz, a California resident who began her art career in South Africa which teaching children. Field reporter Nicole Eubanks discusses the benefits of art for healthy living in her segment, Health Beat. Reporter Rachel Glass talks about the various types of creativity that can make a difference. Hosted by Steven Zhou and Jacqueline Tao, you’ll learn how art is within all of us.
It’s a dream song fest on Express Yourself!™ today. Hosts Steven Zhou and Courtney Cheng are serenaded by the two winners of The First Annual South Bay Teen Idol competition as well as our own Express Yourself!™ chanteuse, Vivien Lee. Artsy Gifts reporter, Youngjoo Ahn crafts unique gifts for the musicians in your life and Courtney Cheng morphs nto Radio Junkie with insights into the American Idol contestants. Performing live, Casey Rico, the first place winner sings a riveting rendition of “It will Rain” by Bruno Mars and Sanjana Shukla sings “Sway” by The Pussycat Dolls. Express Yourself!™ reporter, Vivien Lee croons “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. Tune in, sing along, applaud, or just be WOWed by the star teen talent.
Courtney Cheng and Vivien Lee co-host a girls rule program with an interview with New York Times best selling YA author of the Gallagher Girls, Ally Carter whose books have sold more than 1.8 million copies in fifteen territories worldwide. Our hosts also interview a teen concert promoter of heavy metal bands, Victoria Payne, who has been going to concerts since the age of 12 and talked her way into a promotion job. Youngjoo Ahn, a teen prospective field reporter auditions for her place on the Star team with her segment, Artsy Gifts. Jacqueline Tao explains how dorm rooms are allocated at Stanford University in Campus Calling.
Express Yourself!™ embarks on global teen travel treat. Host Steven Zhou welcomes Hong Kong born, Henry Eu, Vice President of Educational Services International. He recruits young people to teach conversational English in eleven countries.New field reporter, Mason Windatt, shares his segment On the Ball to talk about how sport teams travel. Health Beat reporter Nicole Eubanks gives us the six top reasons that teens should travel, and Rachel Glass reports on Making a Difference in the world through experiencing other cultures and being an ambassador of peace. Henry came to Boston from Hong Kong for high school via Europe at 16. He attended Stanford University for his undergraduate and UCLA for his MBA. His goal is to help young adults travel with passion and purpose. He frequently travels to England, Singapore, and Honolulu to visit his family. www.teachoverseas.org. If a picture is worth a thousand words, traveling is worth a thousand memories.
Around the world with Express Yourself!™ Hosts Steven Zhou and Courntey Cheng travel across the big POND to interview London’s entrepreneur, Danny Tyler, who launched Tyler Tours with his brother for visitors to see an inside look at the city. They’ll continue across the Channel to France to meet global nomad, Saturn Range in Paris to learn about her gypsy lifestyle living in many cities and learning new cultures. Eric Pawlakos brings us a travel emergency app for our smart phones and Vivien Lee entertains with her comical customs travel segment, Say What?
All girls for a full hour. Vivien Lee co-hosts with Chan Dara Paschal plus field reporters Courtney Cheng with her review of The Hunger Games in Book It! and Jacqueline Tao talks about females being objectified in Campus Calling. The girls introducie and audition thirteen-year old Nicole Eubanks from Florida who is interested in becoming a health field reporter on Express Yourself!™. Nicole believes that healthy choices in food and lifestyle are critical to the lives of teens. Her audition segment is called Health Beat. Vivien has been performing for several days in a big musical production and sings her solo, On My Own, from Les Miserables. The team bids farewell to Chan Dara as she relinquishes her hosting posting to move on to full time college courses and full time working. An hour of girl power with book reviews, health, song, fun, and goodbyes.
OPINIONS DURING THIS SHOW DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF VOICE AMERICA AND OR WORLD TALK RADIO PLEASE CONSULT A CRISIS PROFESSIONAL. Every fifteen minutes someone commits suicide. Suicide claims more than a million lives each year and leaves more than five million to mourn them. Its victims are drawn by drugs, depression, disease, sexual confusion, bullying, peer pressures, feelings of desperation. The only way to thwart this unforgiving beast is to confront it by raising levels of awareness Talking about teen suicide in youth is a necessity in order to stop it. Steven Zhou hosts our show focusing on these tough issues with award winning essay writer and author, Carl David, whose mission is to save lives. His latest book, "Bader Field; How My Family Survived Suicide" is the emotional story of our family's struggle to survive after his older brother at age 22 took his life. Courtney Tran and Rachel Glass share personal experiences with Radio Junkie and Making a Difference.
Be the Star You Are!® is a literacy charity dedicated to empowering women, families, and youth. Express Yourself!™ is committed to developing opportunities and showcasing young people who are bringing the gift of reading and writing to others. In today’s show, our hosts Steven Zhou and Chan Dara Paschal introduce us to thirteen year old Megan Mettler who created a program to bring books to low income communities and Tony Award Wiinner, Beau Sia, who discuses his work as a poet, and how he believes that teens should be able to express their feelings and emotions through writing. Our field reporter, Courtney Cheng, shares reviews of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and the Inkheart series by Caroline Funke in Book It and Oregon co-ed, Rachel Glass talks about giving back.
The Brits are back! Steven Zhou interviews British teen living in Italy, Joeleen, with her new CD, Welcome to My World and both Steven and Chan Dara Pashal talk with London/Lagos raised poetry/hip hop star, Karl Nova. Reporters Jacqueline Tao and Eric Pawlakos chime in with Campus Calling and The App Rap. Watch Joeleen: http://joeleenworld.com/Home.html. Watch Karl Nova: http://www.youtube.com/KarlNova JOELEEN, was born in the east end of London, and spent most of her teenage years in Swansea (Wales). She moved to ITALY and worked as a singer, songwriter for various Recording Studios and Record Companies such as: DB One music, Disco Più, and Five Records. Having fallen in love with poetry and Hip Hop at a young age, Karl Nova delivers poetic lines in his unique, witty and energetic style. Born and raised in London and Lagos, whether it’s in rap format or spoken word poetry Karl Nova seeks to give voice to the search for meaning.
Chan Dara Paschal and Courtney Cheng host today’s music program featuring band major, Mackenzie Dimler. Radio Junkie Reporter, Courtney Tran offers more musical commentary. In the Tough Talk segment, Chan Dara and Courtney discuss the prevalence of kids being forced to sing, dance, and perform. Mackenzie Dimler has been playing music since he was in the 4th grade. He plays the clarinet, the bass clarinet, the guitar, the bass guitar, the trumpet, and the drums, but his main instruments are the bassoon and the contra bassoon. He is in the Young People's Symphony Orchestra and has been for nearly three years. He plans on majoring in musical performance and education at a major university .
Reproductive health professional, Heather Brittany joins our hosts Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou to discuss teen sexuality. Field reporters, Vivien Lee and Courtney Cheng add their research and opinions on the subject with Say What? and Book It! Heather Brittany is a reproductive health professional specializing in teen sexuality. Heather has been bringing her research, enthusiasm, and healthy living tips to millions since 2004. With a passion to help young adults make informed decisions, Heather co-wrote the chapter on Sexuality with author Cynthia Brian in the best selling book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS. Heather offers advice on communication, resources, birth control, HIV and disease prevention, and being in control of your own body. Get informed, get the correct knowledge. Heather's goal is to get parents and teens talking honestly and frankly about that scary three-letter word- S-E-X.
Hollywood’s celebrity numerologist, Glynis McCant, joins our hosts Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou for our Valentine’s Day Love Special. Teen field reporters, Courtney Tran, Courtney Cheng, and Jacqueline Tao bring their unique voices to the topic of relationships with their segments of Radio Junkie, Book It, and Campus Calling. Lots of humor, singing, joking, and numerology on this Valentine’s Day Love Special. Celebrity Numerology Glynis McCants helps you discover your true desires when it comes to love, and gives you advice on how to attract a healthy, loving relationship. As seen on Dr. Phil, The Today Show, and in People Magazine, Glynis will teach us what our Life Path Numbers are, and what Personal Year Cycles we have entered into this New Year 2012. Visit http://www.Numberslady.com.
PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Gender Issues
As part of our Tough Talks series, our hosts, Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou interview experts on gender issues including health educator from the University of California at Berkeley, Sarah Gamble and Orange County/Long Beach Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League and GLSEN, Kevin O’Grady. Topics discussed include gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual topics as well as discrimination and ways to eliminate it. The Live Your Legacy campaign continues with a reading of Playing for Change, a story about bringing peace to the world through music as a universal language. Teen reporter, Rachel Glass, comes to us from Oregon with simple small tips to helping you make a difference in the lives of those around you. Tech personality, Eric Pawlakos, discovers a running app in App Rap to help us get outside and get moving
Most youth have aspirations of being in the spotlight, whether it’s as a sports figure, politician, or movie star. Hollywood acting dreams is the focus of Express Yourself!™ Courtney Cheng reviews the acting bible, The Business of Show Business in Book It! Sarah Jean Allen, a 21 year-old actor from San Jose, has been on stage since the age of six, currently studying Theater Arts in college. What sets Sarah apart from other actors is her 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and weaponry expertise. Her makeup business is Purrfect Airbrush Makeup. With a unique voice, thirteen-year old Erin Greider from Los Angeles, has been acting and performing for seven years. Erin works on-camera and in print and has found a love for theater with Magic Mirror Productions. She studies voice-over, singing, dancing, and continues to attend acting classes. Chan Dara Paschal offers a Tough Talk segment on issues that are challenging for teens in the entertainment industry.
Jacqueline Tao co-hosts with Chan Dara Paschal as Steven Zhou is playing prosecutor in a mock trial. Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society. Our two guests, Helice Bridges and Roberto de la Pena bring us the facts about bullying-the causes, effects, and ways to eradicate it. Our segment Radio Junkie with Courtney Tran presents musicians including Pink and Taylor Swift, who sing about bullying, differences, and discrimination through the lyrics in their popular songs. Helice “Sparky” Bridges is the founder of Difference Makers International, a non profit organization and creator of the “Who I am Makes a Difference® Blue Ribbon Acknowledgment System. Roberto De La Pena is a warrior in the fight against bullying. He was elected president of High Tech High School based on a platform of unconditional love. Also Eric Pawlakos with his Shake It- App Rap.
Hosts Chan Dara Pascal and Steven Zhou focus on the game that is uniquely American-football. They interview two stars-one a high school senior, Mason Windatt whose underdog Campolindo Courgars went all the way to the state championships and a professional, multi million dollar earning football player, defensive lineman, Demetric Evans who played for the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49’ers, and the Washington Red Skins. Both advocate dedication, hard work, putting in the time, showing up, and getting the good grades to be successful. Cynthia Brian shares powder puff football and cheerleading memories while Say What! field reporter, Vivien Lee has us laughing in the stadium with her football trivia and funny facts on the sport. How many pigs does it take to make a pigskin? Come play a game with us, find out, and get inspired, too!
Happy 2012 and welcome to an hour of stimulating teen talk as co-hosts Steven Zhou and Chan Dara Paschal introduce the stellar team of Express Yourself!™. Meet a sampling of our field reporters as producer and creator of Express Yourself! TEEN Radio, Cynthia Brian introduces Courtney Cheng, Vivien Lee, Eric Pawlakos, and Jacqueline Tao.
Cynthia Brian is also the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!™ 501 c3 charity and host of Starstyle®-Be the Star You Are!® Radio heard on sister network, World Talk Radio. She will discuss the path she as taken to being a teen advocate via being an actor and New York Times best selling author.
Every teen needs to know how to manage money. In our show today, our hosts Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou interview two experts plus two teen field reporters with big dollar news. Eric Pawlakos shares two great apps in The App Rap with Borrowing for College and the Student Loan Calculator. If you are on your way to university, you need to hear this segment. Ron Melvin, Manager of US Bank in Lafayette, California, gives practical tips on managing finances, opening bank accounts, and putting away pennies in that piggy bank. Bare Bones Biz President, Ellen Rohr lights up the airwaves with super simple strategies to prosperity and wealth. Her book, “Where Did the Money Go?” is a great guide for youth to start saving. University of Oregon freshman field reporter, Rachel Glass talks about fundraising for charity and the importance of putting money where your mouth is.
Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou interview a renowned hip hop orchestra conductor, a radio program director/former DJ, and hear from two field reporters. Welcome to our newest on-air field reporter, Courtney Tran who presents an inside look at the music of Glee Courtney is also the beautiful voice behind our theme song for Express Yourself!™ The award-winning documentary “Hip Hop Maestro” is the behind the scenes story of Double GG, AKA Geoff Gallegos, and daKahas they went from the street to symphony hall. GG is a fascinating guest as he talks about beginning his professional career at 15, attending Berklee College of Music, and gigging his way around the world. Perry Damone is the Program Director for Voice America Kids Network. He grew up in the entertainment biz, first in Italy with his mother, actress Pier Angeli, then moved to Beverly Hills with singer father Vic Damone. He is the founder of KidStar, an organization that has empowered youth through radio since 1987
What is branding and how can it help you launch your products, services, and self? Our hosts, Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou interview experts on branding.
Jacqueline Tao brings us the latest news from life at Stanford University with Campus Calling.
Co-chair of the Orinda Teen Advisory Council and a competitive speaker, Alex Glazer, is a high school senior who wants to pursue a career in communications and business. /Alex discusses her 5 day intensive camp where she and three other teens learned to create, launch, and brand a business called Juice Box.
The stars are the limit with Cynthia Brian’s Starstyle®. Stars are the brand as Cynthia talks about how she came upon her slogan of “Be the Star You Are!®” and how she is known as The Star Lady, branding Starstyle® and Be the Star You Are!® charity with stars
How do you find your purpose in life? Do you know how to identify your special gifts? Chan Dara Paschal and Steven Zhou interview experts on the subject. Courtney Cheng, field reporter for Book It! shares the latest good read by Mary e. Pearson. Brooks Olbrys, author of the children’s picture book series, Blue Ocean Bob, provides insights on how children and youth find their purpose and their passions.from dramatic performances to video production, which is what Donna Zilka, Director of College Services at Aristotle Circle, an education consulting service talks about working with students to discover what path will be best for them. Vivien Lee, field reporter of Say What? has the team laughing with her funny facts and finds.
Music through ages in today’s show plus tech field reporter, Eric Pawkalos, shares a great free app for music lovers, Soundhound.
Dana Messing, founding member and the only “original” member of The Fabulous Cruisetones shares his band career beginning in the 1960’s through today. He has appeared in concert with War, Muddy Waters, Flash Cadillac & the Continentral Kids, the Tubes, Sugarloaf, Bo Diddley, Delbert McClinton, the Drifters, Stephanie Teel & Maria Muldair to name a few.
Daniel Kriozere, who goes by DJ, is a high school senior part of the leading student band at the school. He and his band mate, Bryant Chow talk about having a high school band.
Courtney Tran, the star singer of the theme song for Express Yourself!™ joins Steven Zhou, who wrote the theme music to talk about being a singer. She sings a verse a cappella for us followed by Steven sharing his love of studio time.
Co-hosts Steven Zhou and Chan Dara Paschal broach the subject of what life is like after high school. Field reporter, Jacqueline Tao will chronicle what her first few weeks have been like attending Stanford University as a freshman with Campus Callling.
Rachel Glass, field reporter in Eurgene, Oregon, shares her impressions of college, sororities, and activities at the University of Oregon.
Michael Chickering is a special guest who attends Interlochen Arts Academy all the way in Michigan. This prestigious private boarding school specializing in the arts.
Welcome to the first hour of stimulating teen talk as co-hosts Steven Zhou and Chan Dara Paschal introduce the world to Express Yourself!™. You’ll meet the five field reporters who will be providing exciting content that entices teens everywhere. Courtney Cheng: Book It! Rachel Glass: Making a Difference Vivien Lee: Say What! Eric Pawlakos: The App Rap Jacqueline Tao: Campus Calling In addition, Courtney Tran is the teen voice on our theme song that was written and composed by host Steven Zhou. Special guest is creator and producer, Cynthia Brian, who is also the founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!™ 501 c3 charity and host of Starstyle®-Be the Star You Are!® Radio heard on our sister network, World Talk Radio. Cynthia will share her journey from being an actor and acting coach to becoming a New York Times best selilng author and teen advocate. Come Express Yourself!™-an on-air global community where teens talk and the world listens.