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.

Social Media Phenomena and Rhetoric 04/24/2026

AI on the Moon and Mars? 04/17/2026

The Artemis Space Mission 04/10/2026

Cancer Awareness 04/03/2026

When AI Takes Over Earth, Humanity Reaches for the Stars 03/27/2026

Stress Relief 03/20/2026

Self-Care and Empathy 03/12/2026

Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health 03/05/2026

Cancer Awareness 02/27/2026

Confidence Versus Comparison 02/20/2026

Leading with Kindness 02/06/2026

What it Means to be an American 01/30/2026

KBG Syndrome and Using AI to Write Songs 01/23/2026

KBG Syndrome and Using AI to Write Songs “I think every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine.” - Neil Armstrong Some people use their heartbeats to make noise. Others use them to make meaning. In today’s broadcast, host Julia interviews someone who does exactly that through music. Rachel Schaub is an emerging 17-year-old pop songwriter and artist from the Detroit area whose music is playful, expressive, and deeply personal. Her songs move easily from bright, bouncy pop anthems to more reflective, emotional moments, all rooted in real experiences, friendships, and dreams. Rachel was born with KBG Syndrome, a rare genetic condition, and she also lives with autism, anxiety, and Pathological Demand Avoidance. While KBG can involve significant physical challenges for some people, including seizures, Rachel has been fortunate not to experience those complications. Her journey has instead involved navigating learning differences, attention and processing challenges, and anxiety, all of which influence how she creates and communicates. Julia talks to Rachel about her process, challenges, and successes. BIO Rachel Schaub Rachel Schaub is an emerging 17-year-old teen pop songwriter and artist living in the Detroit, Michigan area. Pop music has always been her favorite genre. She was inspired most by Triple Charm, a pop singing group composed of three sisters who perform, dance, and write their own songs. Other favorite musicians include Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift. Born with KBG Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, she was diagnosed with autism, anxiety, and Pathological Demand Avoidance in 2018 and KBG Syndrome as the underlying genetic condition in 2021. Despite these challenges, she has overcome so much and has found her true passion ... songwriting. Rachel began writing pop songs in March 2025 and now has 14 songs and 3 EPs to her name. She uses AI to create the melodies for the lyrics she writes and is hoping to write her own melodies soon without AI. Her goal is to create an album and perform shows in the Detroit area featuring her songs. She is happiest when singing and dancing to her own pop songs. YouTube: 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/39820705

How Curiosity Leads to Success 01/16/2026

Goals for the New Year! 01/09/2026

Holiday Celebrations with Julia Howe 12/19/2025

Exploring the Existence of God 12/12/2025

Exploring the Existence of God “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.” Voltaire Does asking whether God exists help teens think about bigger questions like what gives life meaning? What makes something right or wrong? Who or what do I look to when I’m trying to understand my purpose, my identity, my relationships, or the challenges? Host Hanna talks about the fact that even teens who don’t believe in a higher power often care deeply about justice, fairness, compassion, dignity, and the desire to be part of something meaningful. Many of those values were born of religious traditions long before they were written into constitutions or taught in classrooms. Hanna interviews third-year Ph.D student in the Department of Philosophy, Joe Schmid, who provides an argument for and against God's existence. The cosmological argument for God's existence posits that everything in the universe has a cause. Arguments against God's existence center on the Problem of Evil, how an all-good, all-powerful God allows suffering. He then discusses Pascal’s Wager. Blaise Pascal, the 17th-century philosopher and mathematician, argued that we should believe in God and act as if God exists because it is the best bet. The existence-of-God question is more than a question of belief. It’s a doorway into understanding culture, history, psychology, community, creativity, and the human need for meaning. Dive deeper into the existence of God and decide for yourself! Bio: Joe Schmid Joe is a third year Ph.D. student in the Department of Philosophy with research interests in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of mind. He earned a B.A. in philosophy from Purdue University in 2022 (Boiler Up!). Joe has published papers in Mind, Noûs, and The Journal of Philosophy, co-authored the SEP entry on Ontological Arguments, and co-authored a book published by Springer. He also runs the philosophy YouTube channel Majesty of Reason. When he’s not doing philosophy, you’ll find him either playing soccer or cuddling with his overwhelmingly cute dog (or both). 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/39363970

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

Express Yourself!

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