Episodes

The relationship between age and driving behavior has interested highway safety researchers and administrators for many years. It is generally acknowledged that the greatest risk of traffic crashes is among teenage drivers. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers across the United States. For both men and women, drivers aged 16 to 19 years of age have the highest average annual crash and traffic violation rates of any other age group. In this episode of Express Yourself!™ ou...

The most common scams are probably still computer hacking, there are a lot of types ranging in seriousness. Veteran host Youngjoo Ahn welcome first time co-host, Clare Durant, as they interview Global Youth Talk reporter Ryan Sim with his information on scholarship fraud and author Ashley Elston with her book The Rules for Disappearing that discusses fake identities and the Witness Protection Program. The hosts also offer tips on how to protect yourself from internet stalking as well as other sc...

What do cobra snakes and brain waves have in common? Both are affected by music. In today’s Express Yourself!™ hosts Katelyn Darrow and Caie Kelley learn the scientific research behind the music that can help us study, be happy, or sad with Health Beat reporter, Nicole Eubanks. We travel to India and Eypgt in segment two with Isaiah Rankin as he charms cobras with the sounds of a wind instrument in Nature Calls. (Well actually he doesn’t do the hypnotizing, but he shares his knowledge of the art...

There is no doubt that people in America pamper their pets. Pet services is one of the fastest growing industries with gourmet treats, spas, pet hotels, designer clothing, massage therapists, and fancy retirement homes. Our Express Yourself!™ teens share animal tales of how their four legged, feather, furred, finned, slithery and shelled pets impact their lives. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow are joined by Nature Calls reporter, Isaiah Rankin and What’s Poppin’ reporter, Caie Kelley. Isai...

Summertime and the living is easy! Summer can be a time of kicking back or revving up and our Express Yourself!™ teen reporters have a variety of ideas of how to spend the summer. Youngjoo Ahn, Katelyn Darrow, Hannah Li, Caie Kelley, and Courtney Cheng offer suggestions from volunteering to studying abroad to being major productive to doing absolutely nothing and taking a break. One thing is for sure-warm weather, swimming pools, and barbecues are on the agenda! What are your plans?

This broadcast is our 75th consecutive broadcast of Express Yourself!™ and in honor of this momentous occasion we are dreaming BIG! People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state. Without dreams and goals, we can never achieve anything. Our hosts, Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn, are living their dreams by being part of this radio broadcast. Book It R...

Blogging is the newest form of self-expression available to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Our Express Yourself!™ teens are avid bloggers and have tons of information to share with Voice America Kids Network listeners! Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn discuss their blogs as well as tips and techniques on how to start a blog, how to keep it going, writing etiquette, whether to keep it private or public, how to get followers, how to vlog, (video blogging), and more. Courtney Cheng discusses the movie E...

Every day teens are making an impact in the world as they grow to become our future leaders. Besides programs like Express Yourself!™ where teens get to work as writers, hosts, and reporters, many young people develop leaderships at youth conferences. I developed many of my leadership skills at youth conferences. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn talks about her experience at the national High School Journalism Convention and co-host Katelyn Darrow shares her numerous involvement at conventions and conferences...

In today’s Express Yourself!™ our hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow interview two award winning authors, Soman Chainani and Joanne Rocklin of young adult fiction. In our first segment, Youngjoo shares her childhood favorite books and characters. Soman Chainani is a graduate of the MFA Film Program at Columbia University, and the recipient of the school’s top prize, the FMI Fellowship. His films have played over 150 international film festivals, won over 30 jury and audience awards, racked u...

Express Yourself’s theme today is a nod to that wonderful woman who gave us life, hosted by Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow. Our Economics Tune Up reporter, Alex Pawlakos will give an economic look at how American’s show their appreciation to their moms on this Mother's Day by spending more than $84 million. Health Beat reporter, Nicole Eubanks brings us low key, fun, and healthy ways to show our love. Youngjoo celebrates the homemade gift idea for those personal touches, especially on a budget....

Choosing a college is definitely one of the most significant life events that a teen will encounter. All the work accomplished through the beginning of senior year including grades, extracurriculars, volunteering, sports, music - everything leads up to this important decision. Express Yourself!™ teen hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow, who are juniors and sophomores, speak with experienced teens-high school senior, Lora Galoyan and college teens Courtney Cheng and Alex Pawlakos. Lora discuss...

Express Yourself

Sibling rivalry is very common in families. Statistics show that we spend over thirty percent of our time with our siblings, and during that time, we don’t want to be constantly calling each other names, wrestling, or plotting revenge. Today on Express Yourself!™ our teen reporters examine their experiences in dealing with brothers and sisters. Host Youngjoo Ahn is an only child without siblings so she hosts solo today for the first time joined by reporters Courtney Cheng sharing sibling charact...

Superheros exist beyond the comic books and movies. Many of us consider sports figures, celebrities, or rescue workers in our list of heroes. But there are heroes amongst us…everyday people who go above and beyond to make this world a better place for others. We encounter them every single day! From our parents and school teachers, to firemen and police force - heros come in many different ways. In today’s Express Yourself!™ program, teens Youngjoo, Katelyn, Lora, Caie, and Mason tell us what it...

What does it take to be a professional model? How do celebrities make fashion choices? Does blogging influence the modeling and fashion world? Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow are joined by reporters Caie Kelley and Hannah Li to delve into the glamour, glitz, ups, downs, and “photoshopping” of models as well as the fashion blogs that are providing ordinary individuals an opportunity to shine. UK fashion sensation and Elton John protégée, Tallia Storm is the special guest from Scotland talki...

Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow are feminists believing that both genders are equal and deserve to be treated equally in every situation. The male-female pay gap is still unequal with women earning 72 cents for every dollar that a man earns doing the exact job. Reporter Alex Pawlakos suggests that more women ar being recognized in the economic arena today. You Can! Reporter, Lora Galoyan gives an historical perspective asking if Gender roles are reconstructed by society itself, or are t...

Stress is something we all experience, but in today’s fast paced techno-centered world, teens are topping the charts with stress levels. In a study conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, the top five sources of stress for teens were: school work, parents, romantic relationships, friends' problems, and younger siblings. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Courtney Cheng tackle the stressors with hands on, practical ways to reduce this epidemic. Reporter Rachel Glass adds her personal experiences from the Univer...

What do Ferragamo, Guess, Prada, Louis Vitton, Fendi,Chanel, Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Valentino, and many more have in common? If you said they are all high profile fashion designers, you’d be right. Fashion is a favorite topic at Express Yourself!™, and today’s entire show is focused on the trends. Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow speak with a real fashion designer, Brittany M. Davidson from BM Designs. Katelyn talks about her press junket to NYC for Fashion Wee...

Have you ever been to the zoo? Have you ever wondered why male peacocks have such pretty feathers? Why the male birds sing with a special oomph? As humans, we have our ways of showing interest but they’re a little more complicated. If you are interested in dating, this episode of Express Yourself!™ will tickle your senses. Co-hosts Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn interview young adult author, Lauren Bjorkman with her novel, Miss Fortune Cookie, about a teenage advice columnist. Youngjoo uncovers...

Since the dawn of cinema, there has always been pressure for movie stars to project the right image, especially women, but in the last quarter century the demand to look great at Hollywood Red Carpet events, premiers, and award shows has become almost a full time job. TV is littered with award shows showcasing outrageous fashions and fabulous faces. Our hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow take a look behind the scenes of the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Oscars, Grammies, and more to see what de...

Ryan Sim and Youngjoo Ahn co-host a program centering on lessons of success and courage. First up is Economics Tune Up reporter Alex Pawlakos who talks about the economics of success with the concept of opportunity cost. International best selling author and motivator T.J. Hoisington, of If You Think, You Can! Thirteen Laws that Govern the Performance of High Achievers, If You Think You Can! for Teens, and The Secret of the Slight Edge shares success strategies that stick. One of the teens favor...

Co-hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow bring Green and Peace to Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio with their enticing segments plus interviews with two extraordinary guests. At age 12, Charles Orgbon, founded Greening Forward, a non profit offering mini-grants, recognition, civic engagement curricula, skill-building workshops, and an online platform for idea sharing for other young environmental change makers.

A common and disturbing issue that happens with teenagers concerns addictions and self-harm. According to the World Health Organization, 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, which often leads to self-harm and addiction. According to the National Institute of Mental Health eighteen million of these cases are happening in the United States and are rising. Co-hosts Katelyn Darrow and Youngjoo Ahn along with reporters Rachel Glass and Caie Kelley tackle these tough subjects while dis...

Whether you love the idea of Prom or Senior Ball or not, it’s almost a high school rite of passage. For girls, maybe the most anticipated thing is either dolling up or getting asked by some special guy. Girls start thinking about prom months and years in advance, planning dresses, hair, make-up, and dates. Most guys seem to take it less seriously. They say they follow a routine of getting flowers, find a tux to match whatever color their date wants, book a limo, and have fun. Our hosts Courtney ...