Episodes

“The vision is that people should have the ultimate in convenience. Being able to get the things they care about.” Bill Gates Millennials don’t remember a time without all of the tools of expediency. We are steeped in comfort and convenience while waiting anxiously for the next exciting invention that will enhance and augment expediency. Hosts Joven Hundal and Brigitte Jia read Cynthia’s Brian’s chapter, The Gift of Convenience form the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boome...

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” - Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina It’s a time of rebirth. A renaissance of nature. Winter has waned and spring has sprung. Cherry blossoms, daffodils, and warmer weather are finally here. Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal begin th program with Robert Frost’s poem, “A Prayer for Spring”. Then read Cynthia’ Brian’s newspaper article, “Spring Forward” as they converse about what springs means for them. They also discuss political events of spring and a world view ...

Do you live in a big city or a small town? Consider the constants in your life that are unique to your community. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo read and discuss Joven Hundal’s chapter The Gift of Community from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! for Millennials and Boomers. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a nation to build that village, and a world to found that nation. Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of numerous books, graces the broadcast with boundless amounts of humor,...

By any proper civilized standard (but what does that mean now?) we are objects of horror. But our nerves are completely steady. And we are still alive.” ― Pat Barker, The Ghost Road • Is post traumatic stress disorder really a disorder or is it an illness? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo interview Rosemary Sword, co-author of The Time Cure” to find out what PTSD is and what can be done to overcome the challenges. Post-traumatic stress disorder affects as many as 25 million Americans. Whether t...

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt When you shut your eyes and ponder the future of our globe, what does it look like? Hosts Joven Hundal and Katie Choo investigate technology and trends that seem like science fiction today but could be reality tomorrow. Author of Monople, Bailey Stone Barnard, explores this theme metaphorically in the novel through the hero's persistence in building his machine, a monopolopic inductor able to send matter...

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” —Thomas Merton • What is art? Do you think of paintings, sculptures, animation, or museums? What about music, dance, acting, cooking, voice, nature? Culinary arts and performing arts are definitely forms of art. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal notice the small things influence what we all consider as art. Brigitte also reads from her chapter, The Gift of Art, from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® for Boomers a...

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu If love is all we need, then learning how to develop satisfying and enriching relationships needs to be at the top of our list. Host Brigitte Jia, a brilliant artist and violinist who has just returned from performing a concert in Carnegie Hall, (yes, the way to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice!) interviews Dating and Relationship Expert and Coach, Christine Bumgartner on the...

Are you aware of your world, the people, and the opportunities around you? Debut host, Jack Pawlakos, and host Katie Choo tackle the topic of awareness from many different perspectives. They read the chapters, The Gift of Awareness, from two Be the Star You Are!® books, both with varied takes on what awareness is and how we can see more clearly. From Cynthia Brian’s chapter in the book, Be the Star You are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference, (www.CynthiaBr...

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ― Voltaire Through stories of their experiences, host Joven Hundal’s grandparents have instilled in him fundamental values. He is appreciative of all that his family has endured in order to make the lives of their children better. He reads his chapter The Gift of Appreciation from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials. Energetic guest, Jennipher Walters, CEO and co-owner of Fit B...

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Immanual Kant Humans and animals are one family. Katie Choo brings us a plethora of information about the numerous careers available and they are not all vet related. In World Watch, Joven Hundal focuses on domestic wild animals such as sea otters, seals, and sea lions, cougars, bison, crocodiles, alligators, eagles and megafauna. Hosts Katie and Brigitte interview animal advocate, Heather Brittany, who wrote the chapter, The Gift of...

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” ― Denis Waitley Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo, both independent, creative, and confident teens, explore the importance of helping youth discover their own abilities and face their own struggles. Does independence suit some kids more than it does others? Do other cultures parent differently? Parents are a major influence in career development. The duo interview Dr. Donald Moses, co-a...

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead Change comes only with the will of the people, and our actions as individuals contribute to the strength of a collective force that has the power to drive the world in a fresh new direction. Express Yourself! launches a new year with hosts and reporters Brigitte Jia, Joven Hundal, Henna Hundal, and Caitlin Sim conversing about what activism means t...

For last year's words belong to last year's language / And next year's words await another voice.” ― T.S. Eliot Hello 2018! It’s a brand new year and we all get a fresh start. Hosts Joven Hundal and Brigitte Jia interview author Deborah Blake with her book, A Year and a Day of Everyday Witchcraft, 366 Ways to Witchify Your Life. “Witchify” may not be a “real” word but her daily tips are fun, productive, and will easily make your life more magical today and every day of the year. Joven’s segment ...

“Moon and stars are giving light. With gifts of nature’s giving, we complete the cycle of living. Let us give from our mind, hands, and heart to the world.” Chitrabhanu Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, or nothing at all, December is a month of joyfulness. Host Brigite Jia doesn’t celebrate Christmas as her family honors the Chinese New Year. Past/Present Reporter Chelsea Pelchat admits that Christmas is her FAVORITE time of the year, and Hope Heals Reporter, Zahra Hasanian hono...

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Immanual Kant Everyone needs to find a safe place and in today’s episode host Katie Choo interviews Marlene Richter, Executive Director of Noah’s Animal House, the first animal sanctuary to be built onsite with a domestic violence shelter in the United States located in Nevada. Noah’s Animal House allows victims of abuse to find shelter and protection while bringing their beloved pets with them. Noah’s Animal House is a model for wha...

“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.” ― Markus Zusak, I Am the Messenger Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanian interview You Tube sensation, Chelsea Crocket who has written a book,Your Own Beautiful. In a culture where media is constantly telling young women they have to look a certain way to be beautiful, there is a lot of pressure to conform to the world’s skewed definition of beauty. Chelsea is one of the biggest names in social media tod...

“Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” —Hippocrates If you could heal yourself from all ailments, would you? Host Brigitte Jia interviews healing medium, Anysia Marcell Kiel, author of Discovering the Healer Within: Use Chakras and Intuition to Clear Negativity & Release Pain. In the interview we discover ways to balance our physical health with our psyche health for a life of well being and centeredness. The healing method developed by Anysia at Soul-Centered...

Certified Relationship Coach & Award-Winning Diversity Advocate Chris Armstrong joins Brigitte Jia for a lively conversation on the meaning of communication and relationships. He speaks about the correlations between relationships and self-worth/self-esteem and the importance of teaching others about how you wish to be treated. Brigitte talks about the role of self-confidence and individuality in maintaining a good relationship, how to establish boundaries and consent. Zahra Hasanian shares exce...

It’s hard to believe the Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio has been broadcasting every Tuesday at NOON PT on the Voice America Kids Network since its debut on November 21, 2011. Created by veteran radio host and producer, Cynthia Brian, the program began with two teen hosts and five teen reporters, all volunteers with Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 literacy and positive media message charity, who had zero on-air experience but a deep desire to get their thoughts and viewpoints across to the world. Sin...

Did you love coloring as a kid? Well why limit your artistic talents to childhood? Hosts Katie Choo and Brigitte Jia interview author of Color and Conjure and Magical Destinations of the Northeast . The book is about manifesting your desires with magic and creativity. Combining simple spells with enchanting symbolic imagery, this innovative book provides 50 spells with colorable images for love, money, protection, health, and much more. Our BTSYA resident artists, Brigitte brings another excitin...

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke Discover the latest, greatest, and craziest advancements in technology with our Express Yourself! team of Brigitte, Joven, Jack, Chelsea, and Katie. Will cryptocurrency replace our current monetary system? Will self-driving cars be accident proof or prone? What are the newest and most lucrative careers in the fields of technology and digital? Want to know the history of the iphone? What is net neutrality and...

Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal start off the show with Trends without Ends reporter Jack Pawlakos shares tricks, treats, and tips for a great Halloween. This year around 179 million Americans plan to dress up and celebrate Halloween,. spending will tally more than $9.1 billion! Chelsea Pelchat, reporter for Past Present, takes us on an historical tour of the origins of Halloween. The Celtic festival of Samhain, another word for summer’s end, meant people would light bonfires and wear costum...

“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” ― J.K. Rowling What is it like to live in a haunted house? What if that house was actually a medieval prison that housed witches? Richard Estep and Vanessa Mitchell talk about their book, Spirits of the Cage with hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo covering the haunting of one of England’s oldest prisons for witches where Vanessa lived for three years until she couldn’t take it any longer and Richard’s subsequent investigat...

What does it mean to be connected? In today’s highly contentious and divided political climate, there’s an urgent need for people of all faiths and cultures to clarify, communicate, connect, and live our values into action. Hosts Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia interview author of the new book, The Forever Letter, Rabbi Elana Zaiman who works to bridge and heal the values divide by helping people of all faiths and cultures to acknowledge, celebrate, and communicate their values, wisdom and love ...