Express Yourself!

Express Yourself! is an entertaining adolescent fusion program where passion, productivity, and possibility populate the airwaves. Produced by Starstyle Productions, LLC as an international outreach program of Be the Star You Are! charity, the radio program, Express Yourself! is a show for, by, and about teens. Hosted by teens and teenage field reporters from around the country, Express Yourself! is THE destination for teens to be heard. Within the walls of the young adult community, listeners are uplifted and encouraged to be the stars of your own life. Through collaboration and conversation, a global campus of young people express their views. Topics include anything that kids talk about-books, music, making a difference, technology, school, art, humor, writing, tough talks, health, sports, films, family, friends, foes, fashion, and fun. Come play in STAR country and Express Yourself!, Sundays at 3 PM Pacific on VoiceAmerica Empowerment.

Thanksgiving and Gratitude 11/20/2025

How Teens Preserve Their Culture 11/14/2025

Preparing for College Applications 11/07/2025

Teens and Gun Control 10/31/2025

How Teens Have Grit 10/16/2025

Human Rights for Women and Girls 10/10/2025

Human Rights for Women and Girls “I know nothing of man’s rights, or woman’s rights; human rights are all that I recognize.” Sarah Moore Grimke With global conflict rising, human rights violations demand attention, especially abuses against women and girls. Host Julia begins the broadcast with an investigation of “The Myth of the Perfect Victim”. She asks, “Why do we know Gabby Petito’s name, but not Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, a 17-year-old Indigenous girl who went missing the same year? Who gets a multi-episode special, and who gets a paragraph at the bottom of a local news site?” The “Missing White Woman Syndrome” describes how the media overwhelmingly covers cases of young, white, conventionally attractive women while overlooking missing Black, Latina, Indigenous, and trans girls. If equality means anything, it means that every girl, every person, every background, every zip code, deserves to be searched for, fought for, and remembered. Julia then interviews Valentina Casas-Sayek, who provides historical examples showing how nations either failed to act or courageously opposed injustices. Women face unique abuses that limit their societal participation, educational access, healthcare, and bodily autonomy, affecting global progress. She talks about the Stolen Babies of Spain in the Franco era and looks at how different societies handle violence against women. Understanding why some communities take action on women’s rights while others stay silent gives us key insights for creating fairer societies and preventing future harm worldwide. Women’s rights are human rights. Bio: Valentina Casas-Sayek is a high school senior from Dallas, Texas, who is passionate about history and human rights. She has conducted research, written articles, presented her work at national symposiums, and created a podcast, Untold History, focusing on hidden parts of history. Valentina is also involved in her school community as an Honor Council member and a member of the lacrosse and field hockey teams. In her spare time, Valentina enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Follow us: Sign up for FREE Newsletter: Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: Or Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at Or /episode/index/show/c2b51079-5849-4ee9-92a3-8aea211be894/id/38519505

Ultra-Processed Foods 10/03/2025

Are Teens Affected by Climate Change? 09/26/2025

What Concerns Teen Most 09/12/2025

What Concerns Teen Most “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”— Mother Teresa In today’s episode, host Julia with new reporter Hanna talk about what concerns teens the most…mental health, the climate crisis, waste, eco-anxiety, and more. Julia dives into “doomism”, doom-scrolling, and advocates for her generation that has lived through “historic” tragedies: terrorism, endless wars, “orange alert” paranoia, the 2008 financial crash, the pandemic, cost-of-living crises, natural disasters, and the climate emergency. Studies show empathy levels plummeted after 2000, but this generation of youth is pushing for political accountability. She believes that cynicism doesn’t have to mean paralysis. Julia introduces our new reporter on Express Yourself Teen radio, Hanna. Hanna’s segment is called Political Philosophy, and in today’s broadcast, she discusses upcycling, donating, and even selling secondhand. These aren’t just eco-friendly actions, they’re ways of living out our responsibility to others and to the future. Studies show that over 50% of young people say climate change makes them very worried, and almost half say it impacts their daily lives. Upcycling means taking something old or “useless” and transforming it into something new, valuable, or beautiful. Unlike recycling, it doesn’t require breaking things down—it just reimagines them. The U.S. generates 292 million tons of trash every year. The fashion industry alone creates 92 million tons of textile waste. Making a single cotton t-shirt takes 700 gallons of water. Every time you upcycle—or even keep something in circulation instead of tossing it—you’re saving resources and reducing harm. Hanna offers ways to make a difference. In the final segment, Julia and Hanna engage in a conversation about moral obligations to to future generations, questions about justice, fairness, and responsibility to others globally, ways to live sustainably, and ethical responses to big problems like climate change. Teens care about everything! Have hope! Bio: Hanna Yu is a high school senior from the Bay Area who is passionate about political philosophy. She has conducted research with university professors, written articles, and presented her work at national symposiums. Hanna is also a dancer, debater, and sculptor, whose work brings together art and political thought. In her spare time, Hanna pursues her passion for sustainable fashion by leading closet swaps and secondhand clothing sales. Follow us: Sign up for FREE Newsletter: Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: Or Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at Or /episode/index/show/c2b51079-5849-4ee9-92a3-8aea211be894/id/38184755

Galactic Getaway 09/05/2025

How Teens Can Stay Healthy 08/22/2025

Is Democracy Dying? 08/08/2025

Helping to Educate Schools in Other Countries 08/01/2025

Staying Fit for Summer 07/25/2025

Sun Protection 07/16/2025

Traveling 07/11/2025

The Big Hop and Aeronautics 07/04/2025

Our Earth, Our Responsibility 06/27/2025

Summer! 06/13/2025

From First Job to Career and Big Data 06/06/2025

From First Job to Career and Big Data In segment two, host Saanvi is honored to interview Steven Zhou, PhD, with his book, From First Job to Career, which blends real-life first-job stories with expert insights from vocational psychology. This engaging guide helps readers navigate the complex, non-linear world of modern work, offering inspiration, research, and practical tools to build a meaningful career path. Steven was the first radio host of Express Yourself!™and helped shape the early vision of the program in 2011 and even wrote and played the guitar for the iconic theme music you hear at the beginning of every show! Fast forward to today, and Steven has taken that same spirit of creativity, leadership, and impact into everything he does. (Read his bio) Steven recommends visiting to discover where your skills and interests may be for a career. But before interviewing Steven, Saanvi dives into big data, data analytics, and space in segment one. Big data is a huge amount of information. Think satellite images, temperature readings, rocket sensor logs, or even social media trends. Data analytics is the magic process of finding patterns, insights, and answers in all that information, so we can make smarter decisions. Every day, satellites orbiting Earth collect terabytes of data, monitoring climate patterns, tracking urban development, and even predicting natural disasters. This cosmic influx isn't just for astronauts or astrophysicists; it's a goldmine for data analysts, researchers, and curious minds ready to make an impact right here on Earth. Whether you're gazing at the stars or crunching numbers on Earth, remember that the skills you develop today can propel you into exciting, uncharted territories. Embrace the data, explore the unknown, and let your curiosity guide your career journey. Data isn’t just numbers—it’s a story waiting to be told. Bio: Steven Zhou completed his PhD in organizational psychology at George Mason University and is an incoming Assistant Professor of Psychology at Claremont McKenna College. His primary areas of research include leadership, psychometrics, and quantitative methods (including the application of LLMs and machine learning algorithms), careers and calling, and science communication. During his time at Mason, he published over 20 peer-reviewed articles, brought in almost $40k in external research funding, and taught almost a dozen course sections at both undergraduate and graduate levels in both psychology and business. Steven also has several years of full-time corporate experience in HR, data analytics, and leadership development. His book is From First Job to Career. Social media: , , Follow us: Sign up for FREE Newsletter: Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at /episode/index/show/c2b51079-5849-4ee9-92a3-8aea211be894/id/36857105

Creating a Five-Year Plan 05/30/2025

The Truth about Teen Driving 05/23/2025

The Positive and Negatives of Social Media 05/16/2025

How Leadership in Youth Impacts Your Future Professional Life 05/02/2025

Movies and Media for Teens and Tweens 04/25/2025

Movies and Media for Teens and Tweens Effervescent teen host, Julia Howe, orchestrates a lively radio broadcast focused on movies and interviews two radio reporters from KIDS FIRST. Julia says that teen movies shape the way teens think about growing up, relationships, and offer a sense of identity. The movies she highlights have been a mirror to high school lives and, at times, an escape from them. From Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Clueless to Mean Girls, Lady Bird, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, High School Musical 2, and more, today’s teen films are breaking new ground. Julia then interviews Ashleigh and Kinsley, two KIDS FIRST film critics. They talk about how their backgrounds in debate and acting have helped them be KIDS FIRST reporters. They also offer their opinions on what they’d like to see changed or modified in the entertainment industry. KIDS FIRST empowers youth to navigate today's media through film-based learning, developing critical thinking, communication, and cultural understanding. Ashleigh and Kinsley discuss how they have grown from their involvement with KIDS FIRST. Bios Ashleigh C. (20), of Virginia, is a researcher at George Mason University, studying Youth Participatory Action research and an advisor for Bridge USA’s High School Program for retooling civic/political discourse in today’s youth. She teaches STEM to girls through a female-led, non-profit named Posse Empowerment. She loves sharing her opinions about entertainment through KIDS FIRST! She loves the film, Just Go With It because it’s fun, inspiring actors and has a clear message. She admires Chris Evans, for his acting and his contribution to ending political discourse, just like Captain America. Danai Gurira is her favorite actress, for portraying a strong African American female in The Walking Dead. She is a Speech & Debate Champion and President of her high school speech and debate team. Kinsley H. (age 13) lives in Missouri. She joined KIDS FIRST! because she wants to be more involved in the entertainment industry. Her favorite actress is Millie Bobby Brown, because she plays characters that are strong role models. Kinsley enjoys musical films such as 13: The Musical and Matilda the Musical and has performed in many of them at her local community theater. Recently, she played HeeShe in Giants in the Sky: A New Children’s Musical,Ballet Girl in Freckleface Strawberry and Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island. Her biggest accomplishment was being cast as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, Jr., which was her first role in the big theater. She intends to pursue an acting career and perform on Broadway. When not performing or working for KIDS FIRST!, she spends her time ice skating. * * * * * * Follow us: • • • Sign up for FREE Newsletter: Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: Find out more about Express Yourself! at Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at /episode/index/show/c2b51079-5849-4ee9-92a3-8aea211be894/id/36289160

Earth Gratitude and Healing the Planet 04/18/2025

Earth Gratitude and Healing the Planet Hosts Saanvi Phaneendra and Keerthi Eranivan weigh in on how teens can save the planet while being grateful for our glorious planet earth. Saanvi starts off the discussion with her Space Spotlight segment. While today’s conversation is rooted in healing our planet, we can’t ignore the skies above us-because what happens in space impacts Earth more than we realize. She shares that over 100 million pieces of debris orbit our planet-ranging from inactive satellites to tiny fragments from past collisions, all traveling at speeds over 17,000 miles per hour. This growing cloud of space junk poses serious risks to Earth-monitoring satellites, which are critical for tracking climate change, wildfires, sea level rise, and weather patterns. Keerthi and Saanvi then interview Natalie Pace who founded the Earth Gratitude Project which features sustainability tips from the most respected experts and visionaries on the planet, including H.M. King Charles III (when he was H.R.H. The Prince of Wales), H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Sia, Elon Musk, H.M. Queen Diambi, Deepak Chopra and more. She also talks about teens and financial freedom. College students can use Natalie Pace’s information to get a better degree for half the cost. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why she is enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker and Main Street families. Natalie recommends that students take a gap year between graduating from high school and going to college. In the final segment, Keerthi shows how teens are the final defense to healing and saving the planet. She advises teens to: 1.Embrace Your Inner Eco-Warrior 2. Use Your Voice. And Maybe Your Megaphone. 3. Get a Squad: Saving the planet is way more fun with friends. 4.Make Sustainable Trendy 5. Think Bigger: Earth is our only home! The choices we make now—what we eat, buy, share, and say—will shape the future we all live in. Every choice we make ripples across its forests, oceans, skies… and even space. May the forest be with you! Tune in and heal our planet! Bio: Natalie Pace Natalie Wynne Pace is the author of The Power of 8 Billion: It’s Up to Us and The ABCs of Money for College (and other bestsellers) and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude project. The Project features sustainability tips from the most respected experts and visionaries on the planet, including H.M. King Charles III (when he was H.R.H. The Prince of Wales), H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Sia, Elon Musk, H.M. Queen Diambi, The Duchess of Northumberland, XPRIZE.org, Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, , the NRDC, Global Green, WildlifeDirect, Unify, Ron Finley, Lynne Twist, Green Our Planet, Living Homes, Master Sha and more. Watch the free 5-part docuseries on Food & Soil, Kids, Animals & Conservation, Everyday Sustainability and the Power of Gratitude at . She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Visit NataliePace.com Follow us: • • • Sign up for FREE Newsletter: Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: Find out more about Express Yourself! at Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at /episode/index/show/c2b51079-5849-4ee9-92a3-8aea211be894/id/36212160

Spring Break 03/28/2025

The Importance of Teen Volunteerism 03/21/2025

The Importance of Teen Volunteerism “Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry Not all volunteer experiences are created equal. Julia hosts a program about teen volunteerism. Reporter, Armine, joins the conversation in segment two. Julia discusses mandatory volunteerism, whereby many schools require many hours of community service to graduate. Julia says, “On one hand, it pushes students out of their comfort zones, gives them valuable skills, and might even spark a lifelong passion for helping others. On the other hand, forcing someone to be "selfless" kind of defeats the purpose, and if done wrong, it could turn students off from community service entirely. What’s the solution? Both Julia and Armine agree that a middle ground is the way to go. Instead of requiring a set number of hours, schools could strongly encourage volunteering while offering meaningful, engaging opportunities. Instead of a graduation requirement, tie volunteerism to extra credit or special recognition. Armine states that being a volunteer helps a teen be proactive, compassionate, and willing to invest in the community. There are tangible benefits of volunteering, and it also shapes character. Volunteering fosters empathy, responsibility, and the ability to connect with others. These qualities are important for healthy, happy living. Being a teen volunteer inspires confidence and leadership while helping teens communicate about complex environmental issues. As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Be a Volunteer! Follow us: • • • Sign up for FREE Newsletter: Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: Find out more about Express Yourself! at /episode/index/show/c2b51079-5849-4ee9-92a3-8aea211be894/id/35783655

Learning Critical Life skills and Developing Them 03/14/2025

Self-Care and Healthy Relationships 03/07/2025

Express Yourself!

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