Express Yourself!

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. ,

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.