Express Yourself!

"Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Andersen Music has a unique power to tap into our emotions in a way that almost nothing else can. Hasini hosts a program focusing on the positive impact music has on our lives. Music transports us and changes our emotions. Hasini is a singer and also plays a traditional Indian instrument, the veena. She finds playing music meditative. Studies have...

Parade, Party, Pear and Wine Festival Keerthi hosts this program with Be the Star You Are!® to discuss the parade, Pear and Wine Festival on September 28. Sean, our videographer joins Keerthi to talk about why he became the photographer and videographer for BTSYA. He is excited to create more media at the parade and festival. Ella is chairing the parade entry and the 25th-anniversary party to be h...

"Story, as it turns out, was crucial to our evolution -- more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to." - Lisa Cron He sued Donald Trump and won? So begins the conversation teen host, Julia, has with the best-selling author and winner of numerous Moth GrandSLAM Championships, Matthew Dicks as they discuss his newest book with strategies to grow b...

Grandparents are both our past and our future. In some ways, they are what has gone before, and in others, they are what we will become. —Fred Rogers Hosts Julia and Keerthi talk about the superpowers of grandparents. They possess the unique ability to turn every mundane event into an epic adventure. Each one is a treasure trove of adventure, mystery, and, quite often, questionable fashion choices...

"The cinema has no boundary; it is a ribbon of dream." - Orson Welles Are teens accurately represented in films and TV shows? Host Keerthi and reporter Hasini don't think so. They tackle this issue and agree that teens are often written by adults who have forgotten their teen years and played by older adults. There is a focus of focus on stereotypes (like the nerd, the jock, the mean girl), but no...

"Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first." –Matthew Jacobson Our parents are like our first influencers. They were there before social media, showing us how to navigate life. Host Julia discusses how our parents shape our views on pretty much everything—money, relationships, education, and life. She shares personal stories of growing up and the advice she wa...

When we think about animals, we often imagine them as playful companions or majestic creatures in the wild. Host, Keerthi tells us that animals also play a crucial role in our health. Animals are far more than just pets or wildlife. They are our companions, our helpers, and our sources of comfort. Whether offering emotional support, assisting with daily tasks, or simply being a part of our lives,...

Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.— Chinese Proverb Teens are often told to think about the future. This is a challenging and overwhelming task at that age. Host Hasini shares her personal dreams, goals, and struggles as she is evolving. She gives us permission to enjoy the process. She then interviews vivacious and unapologetically authentic influencer, Skylar Sork...

Want to know what teens think about the 2024 elections and the nominees? Join hosts Julia and Hannah as they both provide election history as well as their personal thoughts. They interview guest teen Viranshi Vira who discusses the inequities in healthcare, specifically the disparity with racial maternal mortality. She and her peers organized a school walkout to protest the overturn of Roe v. Wad...

"A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles." – Tim Cahill Returning just hours before the broadcast from a phenomenal choral tour of South Africa, jet-lagged and seasoned teen host, Julia, enthusiastically talks about the new friends she made on her journey and welcomes three other teen reporters to discuss the joys of international travel. Two reporters, Diya and Armine, are making...

"You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart."-John Ford Does your stomach turn into circles if you must give a speech? How do you react when you must debate someone? Our two teen hosts, Julia and Keerthi, are accomplished speakers and debaters and they have plenty of useful tips to keep you from "dying." Julia recently gave a Tedx talk that had her jittering in her boo...

"Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it." – John Adams Our Express Yourself!® hosts are traveling, so producer, Cynthia Brian, is jumping behind the microphone to interview reporter, Kirpa about the meaning of freedom. Kirpa also offers what freedom means to her and how it relates to what is happening i...

"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself." - Coco Chanel We all know the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but does that truly describe the meaning of true beauty? Host Charvi shares how our perceptions of beauty change as we grow older, amplified by social media, celebrities, and marketing companies in segment two. She first interviews reporter, Kevin Choo, with his segmen...

Sharanya and Keerthi host a program about a critical topic that affects Americans: gun control. Reducing gun violence is challenging because of the polarization around the issue. Keerthi talks about advocating for the Second Amendment while also requiring safety for gun storage. They interview teen activist, Amelia Vander May, who led a youth team to successfully lobby an ordinance in Santa Barbar...

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."- J.K. Rowling Teen host Sharanya shines light on substance abuse. Addressing teen substance abuse requires a collective effort to raise awareness, promote prevention strategies, and provide support for those affected. Education campaigns aimed at dispelling myths surrounding substance use, promoting healthy coping mechanisms, an...

"Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." – Hippocrates Host Julia is a fifteen-year-old female teen athlete, competing nationally in multisports including triathlon and aquathlon. She offers tips on personalizing one's eating habits to stay healthy. There is no one-size-fits-all. Diet trends and fads don't last, but our body is with us to the end. Julia interviews author, Sandy...

Today we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and proclamations. The four hosts share their...

Today we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and proclamations. The four hosts share their...

Today we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and proclamations. The four hosts share their...

Not all who wander are lost. - J.R.R. Tolkein Do you like to experience adventures or are you afraid of new trails? Host Keerthi navigates the realm of adventures. Keerthi states that we are all called to adventure in our unique ways. Sometimes it comes as a whisper, a gentle urging to explore beyond the familiar. Other times, it arrives as a thunderous roar, impossible to ignore. But regardless o...

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." – Dolly Parton." In the constantly evolving landscape of the 21st century, adaptability has emerged as a crucial skill set, indispensable for success and survival. As we step into the year 2024, the need for adjustment and flexibility has never been more pronounced. Sharanya hosts a full hour discussing the importance of adjusting and adapt...

In the deepest sense the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is a search for ourselves. - Carl Sagan, an American astronomer and planetary scientist Welcome, cosmic explorers, to this week's edition of Space Spotlight, with host Saanvi Phaneendra! UFO sightings have been a source of fascination and mystery for decades, sparking the imaginations of enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Reports of un...

We are at the dawn of a new era in human history. New technologies have the potential to change the life of every person on the planet in profound ways." - Francis Collins Would you like to birth children that look like Barbie and Ken? It may be possible in the not-too-distant future. In today's broadcast, host Saanvi discusses something that sounds like it's straight out of a sci-fi novel but is...

"When your mental health becomes impacted by social media then it is time for a detox." — Germany Kent Are you indulging in social media? How do you feel? Host Keerthi, who loves social media, navigates the negatives and positives of various platforms. She advocates for embracing imperfection and showcasing authenticity as well as digital detoxes. Keerthi also encourages celebrating other's succes...

"Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly ever acquire the skill to do difficult things easily." — James J. Corbett Skills and abilities? They sound like synonyms…but are they. An ability is defined as the capability to do something - while a skill is the ability to do something WELL. Host Julia discusses the differences between skills and abilities. Abilities are something y...