Episodes
July 5, 2016
Celebrating America
Our Express Yourself!™ team are proud to be Americans as hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian celebrate freedom of speech and living in the USA. They interview best selling author, Mary Roach with her newest book, Grunt, discussing the military life not portrayed in movies. On a daily basis, soldiers fight more esoteric battles against less considered adversaries—exhaustion, shock, panic, disease, extreme heat, cataclysmic noise, gastrointestinal distress, and assorted waterfowl. In Health Rap...
June 28, 2016
The Gift of Support
“Whatever you choose to do, we will support you!” How fortunate could a teen be than to hear these words every day? Asya Gonzalez interviews rising Canadian teen singer, Brettyn Rose about how the support she has received since she was five years old and discovered her love of music and singing. Brettyn has offered fans a taste of her voice by sharing a selection of cover-songs on her YouTube channel and you’ll hear her original single, Everything’s Fine, on this show. Lion’s Roar reporter, Kati...
June 21, 2016
The Gift of Success
What is success and how do you define success for yourself? Are you happy with your life, your relationships, and your accomplishments? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia interview Margaret Ann Lembo-Author of The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing, Color Your Life with Crystals, and nine spoken audio CDs to discover her secret to success. We learn the significance of totems, crystals, and aromatherapy in helping us be happier and healthier. In Art Attack, Brigitte’s core ...
June 14, 2016
Poetry
What is slam poetry? Meet four-time National Poetry Slam champion, Taylor Mali as he talks about falling in love with nouns to tell your truths with hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian. Mali says that we enter other’s people’s truths through the objects surrounding them and he gives real life examples from classes he is teaching. Taylor Mali is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the original poets to appear on the HBO series Def Poetry Ja...
June 7, 2016
Sleep and Walking Dead Star, IronE
What do zombies, hiphop, and sleep have in common? Hosts Asya and Brigitte were thrilled to welcome star of The Blind Side and The Walking Dead, IronE Singleton to Express Yourself!™ to share his inspirational rising, his message for teens, and a sneak preview of his new album, Hip Hopcrisy, a sixteen-track musical compilation infused with messages of hope, humor, and crafted life reflections. Health Heals reporter joins hosts Asya and Brigitte to discuss the importance of sleep from evidence an...
May 31, 2016
Sexuality and Impervious
What is sexuality? Most people will immediately assume we are talking about engaging in a sexual act, however, sexuality is not just about sex. From birth until death, every person is a sexual being. Host Asya Gonzalez interviews Christian author, Heather Letto, about her Ascension series first book, Impervious. The residents of Impervious survived the War of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in its corners. This Beast—a mysteri...
May 24, 2016
The Gift of Serendipity
Life is full of wonderful surprises! Hosts Brigitte Jia and Asya Gonzalez meet Japanese anime voice actor, Vic Mignogna as he discusses his serendipitous route to becoming an anime star after years of stage acting. Vic is also theexecutive producer of the award winning web series “Star Trek Continues”, where he is not only directing, but fulfilling a childhood dream of playing the iconic role of Captain Kirk. Health Rap reporter, Alex Pawlakos, shares serendipity in the medical field when a scie...
May 17, 2016
The Gift of Risk
Deepen your spiritual connection to the earth and rejoin the community of nature when Asya and Zahra interview artist and author Lupa for her newest book, Nature Spirituality from the Ground Up. As she explores nature, Lupa risked all to keep grounded. The Gift of Risk penned by Libby Gill from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS, offers real life exercises to stretch and grow daily. Art Attack Reporter, Brigitte Jia brings another fascinating monologue on the risks that artists take to re...
May 10, 2016
The Gift of Responsibility
You are responsible for your behavior, actions, and results. After reading The Gift of Responsibility from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens, hosts Asya and Zahra interview Diane Bush and Kiran Kaur about Safe Jobs for Youth Month. Diane Bush directs the Young Worker Project at the Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at the University of California, Berkeley and Kiran is one of LOHP’s Teens Lead @ Work peer educators. The Labor Occupational Heath Program and California Partnership f...
May 3, 2016
The Gift of Resilience
Resilience is the key to a healthy life. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian talk with Health App reporter, Alex Pawlakos who provides studies and tips on how to be more resilient. From a health standpoint, the better you handle the pressures and stresses of life, the better off you will be physically, mentally, and emotionally. To be resilient means to bounce back quickly. Our hosts interview Mary O’Connor, an actor who lost her ability to walk after a devastating injury in 2014. With her op...
April 26, 2016
The Gift of Rejection
“You’re too tall, you’re too short, you’re too pretty, you’re too ugly, you’re too young, you’re too old, your hair is too blonde, your hair isn’t blonde enough, your eyes are too blue, your eyes need to be brown, you have too much experience, you’re not experienced enough.” No matter who you are, you will face rejection in life so it’s time to embrace it and move forward. Asya Gonzalex hosts the program beginning with chapter, The Gift of Rejection” by Cynthia Brian from the book Be the Star Yo...
April 19, 2016
The Gift of Reality
“Reality is merely an illusion; albeit a very persistent one.” ~Albert Einstein Two fantastic guests are interviewed by host Asya Gonzalez in today’s program focusing on reality. Both guests have become accidental celebrities. Alice Abruzzini, AKA Nonie, and now referred to as Vanna 2, made TV history by being the first person other than Vanna White to share the stage with Pat Sajak as he ends Wheel of Fortune. At 87 years young, being “Vanna” on a reality game show was living her dream. Venezue...
April 12, 2016
The Gift of Reading
”To be a leader, your must be a reader. Read, lead, succeed!” This is the motto of Be the Star You Are!® charity. Hosts Asya and Zahra talk with Book Smart reporter in NYC, Maria Wong about her love of reading and some of her favorite books for young adults. Multi-award winning author Geoffrey Saign joins the conversation with his book series, Whipeye Chronicles, thrillers about love, nature, wildlife, intuition, and trusting yourself. Aim to Shoot Reporter, Katie Choo discusses occupations that...
April 5, 2016
The Gift of Possibility
Do you believe in possibilities? Host Asya Gonzalez interviews the inspirational founder and member of the largest wheelchair dance group in the nation, recently seen on the Sundance TV show Push Girls” Chelsie Hill. At the age 17 Chelsie was tragically injured in a car accident leaving her T-10 Paraplegic. With the help of her dad, she launched a foundation, Walk and Roll, to educate others about the possibilities for a full life after an accident. Book Smart reporter, Maria Wong delves deeply ...
March 29, 2016
The Gift of Positivity
Guest author of “How to Heal Yourself When No One Else Can”, Amy Scher, offers numerous tips on how to be calm, stress-free, and focused as well as healing yourself through positivity. Amy’s energy and enthusiasm sparked the admiration of hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia who chimed in with their personal experiences in how being positive boosted happiness. Health Rap Reporter, Alex Pawlakos offered scientific studies and examples indicating that positivity increases heart health, reduces pai...
March 22, 2016
The Gift of Persistence
‘Tis a lesson you should heed. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.' Edward Hickson Two hosts who are currently attending Harvard join together for an exhilarating program celebrating the importance of perseverance. Henna Hundal and Ryan Sim are not only hosts and reporters on Express Yourself!, but, they have taken their experiences from Express Yourself!™ to launch a new talk show on Harvard radio and, in addition, Henna spins as a DJ for a program of blues. They read a chapter by Cy...
March 15, 2016
The Gift of Organization
We live in a disposable society and almost everyone collects too much junk. Rather than wearing things out, we either throw them away or jam them in a closet creating more clutter. Being unorganized creates a life of chaos. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Jennifer Lee tackle the bedlam. Cynthia Brian’s chapter, The Gift of Organization, is read and discussed from the award winning book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens followed by energetic and enlightening conversations with Health Matters producer and ...
March 8, 2016
The Gift of Optimism
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill Optimism doesn't mean life will be perfect, just that we can imagine positive outcomes. Given a choice, we all have the power to write our own personal happy ending. Dr. Bud Bilanich, the Common Sense Guy, leadership consultant, career success coach, motivational speaker, bestselling author, and influential blogger, joins hosts Asya Gonzalez and Jennifer Lee in an upl...
March 1, 2016
The GIFT OF NOW!
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow’s a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why we call it “the present”! Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Caiseen Kelly focus on the now with an uplifting interview with author of A Short Path to Change, Jennifer Mannion, who found her passion when she healed herself from a chronic disease. The hosts also read the chapter, “The Gift of Now” by Davis Lunsford from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens emphasizing the importance of living in the present. Finally, our career reporter...
Feb. 23, 2016
The Gift of Leadership
Leaders are not born, they are made. It’s hard work and diligence that grows a leader. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Zahra Hasanian conduct a vivacious and impactful conversation on the meaning of leadership. They read the chapter by Sujin Park on Leadership from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens, then spend two segments sharing their personal stories on how they are developing their leadership skills. The hosts talk about the importance of failure to learning to succeed. The issues about the Presidenti...
Feb. 9, 2016
The Power of Love
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace”-Jimi Hendrix Express Yourself!™ shares the love with hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hasanaian as they interview two authors who know a lot about amour. First up is Jennie Lee, healing yoga therapist and author of True Yoga, an inspirational guide through the Yoga Sutras outlining how to create enduring happiness, overcome life's challenges, and experience the Universal Love that is available through meditation. Numerolo...
Feb. 2, 2016
The Gift of Learning
Nature photographer, Carol Freeman, joins Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia for a fascinating program on the passion of learning. Carol reveals how she never set out to be a photographer and how she learned to love the craft as she is happiest when she is outdoors, investigating prairies, wetlands, nature preserves, examining endangered species, and discovering new ways to make a difference. Her Walk in Beauty series educate, enlighten, and inspires people to connect with and learn to appreciate na...
Jan. 26, 2016
The Gift of Laughter
Opportunities for laughter are everywhere, in everything, everyday. Laughing is a healing drug with no side effects. And it's free! Hosts Zahra Hasanian and Brigitte Jia bring laughter to the show with a reading from the chapter The Gift of Laughter by Jill Byington from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. Zahra conveys her Hope Heals segment with a conversation on how genuine laughter can help hopelessness. Numerous medical studies indicate that the deep breaths we take and the chemicals...
Jan. 19, 2016
The Gift of Tolerance
With the return of our host, Henna Hundal, who is currently going to Harvard, Express Yourself!™ boasts three fabulous hosts for this important show on tolerance, Asya Gonzalez, Zahra Hasanian, and Henna Hundal. Henna provides an update on her Harvard experiences and the new radio network she’ll be working with at the university as the ladies chat. The hosts also discuss their personal viewpoints of what tolerance and intolerance mean to them. Prolific author of YA novels, Paullina Simons brings...