Express Yourself!

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 i

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 great

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 creatin

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 wi

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 competiti

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-pac

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 sto

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 lesso

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!