Episodes

“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Elliot One thing is certain in life- no matter who you are, where you are from, or how much money you make, you will face challenges. How you overcome them is another matter. Hosts Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia interview best selling author, Ellen Hopkins about her newest book, The You I’ve Never Known. Ellen shares a personal snippet of how the book was based on an event in her life. Writing two books a year, Ellen is a mas...

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” ---John F. Kennedy. • To focus on the meaning of Memorial Day, host Brigitte Jia analyzes the meaning of The War Prayer by Mark Twain and discusses the over glorification of war in history. • She interviews award-winning author of Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin, a compelling coming-of-age novel with a trio of sisters at its center. Calla shares her journey of writing and how her childhood on road trips from...

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” Shauna Niequist Rachel Glass returns to host with Brigitte Jia on the topic of growth. Personal growth and maturing go hand in hand at different life stages. Choices, decisions, situations, experiences, etc. provide important life lessons that we will remember. Author of Teach Me to Forget, Erica Chapman, writes dark, emotional novels with a burst of humor, and lighter contemporaries with smart-as...

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. “Martin Luther King Jr Hosts Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia interview award winning author, Kathleen Rooney about her book Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk based on the true-life story of one of the most talented and successful ad women for R.H. Macy’s in the 1930s, Margaret Fishback. It took an immense amount of faith in herself and in humanity to be the plucky, outspoken and curious woman she was as she walked her way throug...

“Of all of the gifts that life has to offer, a loving mother is the greatest of them all” Anonymous • Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong host a program dedicated to the amazing women who give birth or raise children around the world, sacrificing of themselves to offer their children a better life. Special guest is author of We Were the Lucky Ones, Georgia Hunter, tracked her grandfather, his parents, and his siblings - a family of Polish Jews - as they scatter at the start of the Second World War, det...

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” Thomas Aquinas Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong read the chapters on friendship from Cynthia Brian’s book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference recounting her life-long friendship with an Irish penpal. (Buy books at www.StarStyleRadio.com/store) A discussion on the importance of friendship and how to be a friend ensues. In segmen...

What is morality and do countries value morals? Hosts Maria Wong and Joven Hundal explore the meaning of morality in our world as they look at history. They discuss the Nazi regime of Hitler and his complete disregard and persecution of the “degenerate races” that characterized his immoral rule devoid of values and humanity. Special guest author, Colonel Charles Causey, continues the theme with his work of nonfiction, The Lion and the Lamb: The True Story of A Powerful Nazi Leader and A Dutch Re...

What are values? The dictionary states that values are the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. Or a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life. Host Maria Wong tackles the subject of values with personal perspectives as a teen who deciding on the next step towards college choices. Your values are things that you prioritize and think are important in defining your life and work. Maria interview...

Spring has sprung and a time to celebrate the re-birth of nature is upon us. Host Asya Gonzalez reads producer, Cynthia Brian’s article aptly titled Flower Fever that sets the tone for this program celebrating spring, empathy, and Easter. (http://www.cynthiabrian.com/gardening-articles) Author of There is No good Card for This, Kelsey Crowe adds to the conversation discussing her illustrated guide to effective compassion that takes you, step by step by step, past the paralysis of thinking about ...

Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong host a lively discussion about our relationship with emotions. Technology has falsely convinced us that we are developing communication through apps, smartphones, and social media, when in fact to really express an emotion, face to face contact is necessary. Yoga instructor and competitive gymnastics coach, Catie Jarvis, joins the discussion with her first novel, The Peacock Room. The Peacock Room tells the coming of age story of Jonis and Lizzy: a young man with a m...

“Thinking; the talking of the soul with itself.” ― Plato Odyssey of the Mind is an international, creative problem-solving competition. It has also been an intellectual quest that has challenged the creativity and sharpened the wit of host Maria Wong. Maria and co-host Asya Gonzalez discuss how young people’s participation in Odyssey of the Mind inspire creative solutions in school, at work, and at home. Collaborating promotes creative thinking. If you're looking for a do over in life, let motiv...

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison That’s why the hosts and reporters of Express Yourself!™ are writing a new book, Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials scheduled for release later this year! In the meantime, the team are busy interviewing, reporting, and gathering life skills. This week hosts Asya Gonzalez and Katie Choo interview seventeen year old award winning actress and screenwriter, Mandalynn Carlson about he...

Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Do you speak another language? Is communicating important to you? Host Brigitte Jia leads a lively conversation with reporters Zahra Hasanian, Joven Hundal, and Katie Choo around the topic of the cultural connections of languages. Learning a second language is actually linked to various health benefits. For example, a study a few years back covered by National Geographic concluded that learning an...

New York Times and USA Today best selling author of Reign, An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, Chanda Hahn joins hosts Asya Gonzalez and Katie Choo for a lively conversation about flexibility. Chanda discusses her writing process and how she has several books in her writing queue simultaneously. Asya talks about how challenging it can be to be flexible as a regimented college student. Always have a Plan B she recommends. Katie’s Aim to Shoot segment focuses on how flexibility applies to one’s workplace, ...

Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Not that curiosity can make everyone 21st century Albert Einstein’s, but curiosity is a must for a successful life. Asya Gonzalez interviews bubbly debut novelist, Katherin Arden, author of The Bear and the Nightingale as she relates her journey from being a student living in France and Russia and her escape to Hawaii where she decided to write her first book. The praise for her book is ubiquitous and she has two ...

What is feminism? Does it refer to a diverse variety of beliefs, ideas, movements, and agendas for action? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian share their views on gender equality, the roles of parents in our shaping our viewpoints, and the importance of being true to yourself. Past Present Reporter Chelsea Pelchat gives us a historical perspective as she talks about history and society’s outlook on women through the ages, as well as their place in shaping our modern world. Best selling autho...

Cupid is aiming his arrow your way and our Express Yourself!¡ teens have super ideas on how you can spend a stupendous Valentine’s Day, with or without a significant other. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez along with Maria Wong offer fun and inexpensive tips to have a memorable day of love. Open your heart to send a sweet thank you to our men and women in the armed forces. Or bring Valentine’s to shelters. Give the gift of books and homemade cookies, crafts, and caring other things. Tons of ...

Equality brings the passion out in our teen reporters and hosts. Asya Gonzalez focuses on women’s equality at home, in the workplace, and in society and doesn’t like the term “women’s lib” because it insinuates inequality. Brigitte wants to see more equality in entertainment with lead roles depicting people from all nations as well as in education. Zahra wants to see every individual treated with respect as she discusses equality versus equity, oppression versus privilege. Maria Wong concentrate...

Do you surround yourself with people who are just like you or are you are person open to the multiplicity of the world? Accepting differences and acknowledging the fact that we are all human is a critical point to living happily in this world no mater our race, sexual orientation, religion, culture, political awareness, or any other thing. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez passionately lead discussions with Hope reporter, Zahra Hasanian and Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong. Is diversity race, ...

“The world is but a canvas to our imagination..” Henry David Thoreau What is art? Why do we utilize art to express ourselves? What are careers in art? What is creativity? Can art be healing? Is art stress-relieving? Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez, both artists, dig into their favorite subject as they share personal experiences and talk with reporters Henna Hundal and Katie Choo. Art is a powerful outlet to release anxiety and promote relaxation that can have untold health benefits. Art is ...

What is perception? Perception comes from the Latin word “perceptio” which means receiving, collecting, an action of taking possession with the mind or senses. Perception is an intuitive understanding of something, the understanding of an impression. Or is it, as a Google definition proclaims, a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression?” Is “perception” synonymous with “judgment” or “belief”? Does it have an unmistakable subjective, even illusory, quality? ...

It’s a New Year and already we are stressed. Our Express Yourself!™ STAR team has you covered with tips for helping you sit back, take a breath, and find out how you can be more relaxed and calm. Hosts are Brigitte Jia and Henna Hundal who lead the conversations with our very chill reporter, Katelyn Darrow who talks about ways to relax; Health Rap Reporter, Alex Pawlakos, with evidence based science on the importance of sleep and relaxation, and our Lion Roar Reporter, Katie Lyons with her impor...

“Be yourself; everyone else is taken” Oscar Wilde It’s challenging being a young person today. “Finding yourself” could become a national pastime. Maria Wong, Brigitte Jia, and Henna Hundal dive into what makes an individual unique, positive, and productive. Maria thoroughly enjoyed attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference in Washington, D.C. as a national youth correspondent and encourages teens to step outside of their comfort zone to discover their dreams. Brigitte and Maria r...

Grab your bag of popcorn, find a seat, and enjoy an hour of movie magic with the Express Yourself!™ teens. Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia host this lively discussion with reporters Katie Lyons, Seo Young Kim, Katie Choo, Joven and Henna Hundal. Katie Lyons focuses on movies revolving around sports where we root for the underdog. Seo Young relates how music is really the driver for most movies, while Katie Choo gives us an inside look at careers in the film industry. Joven and Hunna Hundal indicate ...