Episodes

“ The environment is no one’s property to destroy; it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect.” - Mohith Agadi · In most cultures around the globe, the planet Earth is portrayed as a powerful female god, a nurturer, and a creator. These powerful symbolisms and beliefs remind us that the natural world provides humans with the necessities, tools, and well-being for survival. Diya hosts a program about the responsibility of humans to care for Mother Earth as our planet takes care of us. This interde...

Summer “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald Keerthi and Julia offer a fun-filled sunshine show about summer. Keerthi starts off with a hysterical riff on how she is now a senior citizen at the old age of 16 with all the wisdom that entails. With oodles of humor with concrete ideas on how to spend a productive sum...

In segment two, host Saanvi is honored to interview Steven Zhou, PhD, with his book, From First Job to Career, which blends real-life first-job stories with expert insights from vocational psychology. This engaging guide helps readers navigate the complex, non-linear world of modern work, offering inspiration, research, and practical tools to build a meaningful career path. Steven was the first radio host of Express Yourself!™and helped shape the early vision of the program in 2011 and even wrot...

On today’s Express Yourself!™, teen host Julia provides a guide to making a five-year plan that doesn’t require spreadsheets, stress, or having your entire life figured out. Whether you're dreaming big or just trying to survive high school, this two-part speech helps break down the future into something real, doable, and actually kind of exciting. Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAc...

Host Julia is on the road to talk about something that’s both super exciting and slightly terrifying: teen driving. She talks about peer pressure and the importance of having rules for safety. Julia also advocates for being fully awake when behind the wheel as teens are perpetually sleep deprived. Follow Julia’s advice, and you can keep your car insurance rates lower while you, your family, and friends enjoy a safe ride. Driving is a privilege, not a right—earn it! Follow us: https://www.starst...

There has always been a large debate on if social media is positive or negative because there are so many opinions about this topic. On one hand, your friends might be telling you to download these apps and post some pictures, and on the other hand your parents might be telling you to measure your time spent on social media. Host and Reporter, Diya, gives the low-down on the positive aspects of being on social media and also the truly negatives things that transpire. How much are you on social ...

“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.”— Nelson Mandela Youth leader and radio host, Keerthi, discusses her leadership jobs from kindergarten to high school. What she’s learned is that leadership teaches time management. She’s learned to be calm under pressure, how to communicate effectively, how to delegate, and of course, to fake it until you make it. Youth leadership shapes your future. It makes you bold. It makes you curious. It teaches you that even when things go completely off-...

Effervescent teen host, Julia Howe, orchestrates a lively radio broadcast focused on movies and interviews two radio reporters from KIDS FIRST. Julia says that teen movies shape the way teens think about growing up, relationships, and offer a sense of identity. The movies she highlights have been a mirror to high school lives and, at times, an escape from them. From Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Clueless to Mean Girls, Lady Bird, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, High...

Hosts Saanvi Phaneendra and Keerthi Eranivan weigh in on how teens can save the planet while being grateful for our glorious planet earth. Saanvi starts off the discussion with her Space Spotlight segment. While today’s conversation is rooted in healing our planet, we can’t ignore the skies above us-because what happens in space impacts Earth more than we realize. She shares that over 100 million pieces of debris orbit our planet-ranging from inactive satellites to tiny fragments from past colli...

“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, bring your own sunshine” – Anthony D’Angelo Woohoo! It’s Spring Break! For young people and families, this is a favorite time of year to travel. Sharanya hosts a program full of fantastic ideas about where to go in the United States and what to do. From hidden gems to nature refuges to fun in the sun, Sharanya shares an experience for every taste. Sharanya wraps up with tips on using this free time to sharpen your writing skills—without making it feel li...

“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry Not all volunteer experiences are created equal. Julia hosts a program about teen volunteerism. Reporter, Armine, joins the conversation in segment two. Julia discusses mandatory volunteerism, whereby many schools require many hours of community service to graduate. Julia says, “On one hand, it pushes students out of their comfort zones, gives them valuable sk...

“Skill is the unified force of experience, intellect and passion in their operation.” - John Ruskin What is a life skill and how do you develop one? Host Diya with reporters Kirpa and Milan tackle these critical questions for teens. A life skill will help you throughout life whether it is something very important, or something simple. It can be learning how to cook, manage money, or how to be a good friend. Critical thinking and emotional intelligence are essential for problem-solving and decisi...

Self-care is the art of nurturing your mind, body, and soul to achieve inner harmony. Host Diya talks about one of the most important actions that play into everyday life: the practice of self-care and building healthy relationships. Some ways to create healthy relationships include having open communication, respect, and most importantly trust. Having meaningful communication opens our minds so that we understand the world from different perspectives. It is also important to set healthy boundar...

"AI is not a threat, but a tool—one that amplifies human ingenuity and expands the boundaries of what’s possible." — Satya Nadella Host Saanvi Phaneendra tackles one of the most debated and mind-blowing topics in the world of technology; Artificial Intelligence. Reporter Milan provides the benefits of A.I. and also the negatives. Deep fakes are a problem and hacking is increased with artificial intelligence. He discusses how students use A. I. and how he uses it. Saanvi then takes us to outer s...

“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you."— Brian Tracy Host Julia Howe starts by discussing teen health and doctor appointments. She offers these tips: Prioritize mental health by finding a support system and knowing when to ask for help. Build habits that future-you will be grateful for, like staying active, eating well, and actually sleeping at a reasonable hour. Be aware of relationships—whether that means friendships, dating, or...

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” —Mother Teresa Julia Howe hosts a program focusing on love. We are celebrating Valentines day. It’s that time of the year, outside it’s freezing cold, yet we’re talking about red hot LOVE! In segment 1, Julia talks about situationships, what they mean for teenagers, and why they are impossible. In segment two, she dives into the history of Valentines, why it’s commercial, as well as SUPER romantic traditions f...

Teen hosts were under the weather for today’s broadcast, so producer, Cynthia Brian, interviewed reporter Milan about plans for 2025. It’s been 25 years since the millennial celebration, many years before our young volunteers were born. A quarter of a century is a long time! Milan talked about resolutions that most people make and offered a few of his own. Cynthia is working a new book, her 12th, but her main goal is to bring great radio to our Voice America listeners on our new platform, Libsy...

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." – Marcel Proust Imagine this: a powerful ancient civilization, built on advanced technology and opulence, suddenly disappearing beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, leaving behind only mysterious legends and unanswered questions. Hosts Saanvi Phaneendra and Julia Howard dive deeply into the histories and mysteries that have fascinated experts, scientists, and explorers for centuries. From watery At...

"The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever." · Host and reporter of Space Spotlight, Saanvi Phaneendra, embarks on a journey beyond our planet to explore sustainability in the universe. Whether it’s surviving on Mars, creating self-sufficient space stations, or even living on an exoplanet, sustainability is a critical element. Space missions teach us valuable lessons that we can apply here on Earth, promoting a circular economy, reducing waste, and pushi...

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” – JFK Host Keerthi travels back to the inauguration of George Washington to give a humorous, yet informative history of Presidential inaugurations in the United States. She even talks about the fashions, frills, and forgettable faux pax, including the lessons from the 2021 storming of the Capitol with the not-so-peaceful transfer of power. The most important thing we all need to remember about the presidential in...

A recent Gallup poll indicates that “ approximately 85% of employees are unhappy in their jobs”. STEM fields play a crucial role in addressing global challenges, including technological advancements, medical breakthroughs, environmental protection, sustainability, and even living in outer space! Host Saanvi Phaneendra and reporter Armine investigate the future of STEM and environmental jobs truly to give today’s students ways to prepare for careers that may not even exist! Whether you’re passion...

The best way to spread cheer is singing loud for all to hear. — Elf (attributed to Buddy the Elf, written by David Berenbaum) Express Yourself! teen radio host, Julia Howe, is part of a Grammy-winning choral group who have recently been nominated for Best American Roots Song and Best American Folk Album for the 67th Grammy Awards as we were featured on folk artist Aoife O' Donovan's recent album All My Friends. Julia begins the program by talking about the history of Christmas caroling. The word...

“The joy of brightening others’ lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays” WC Jones Have you ever spent the holidays in a different part of the world from your home? Sharanya and Diya share fun places where they have traveled for Christmas and where they plan to go this year. Diya also talks about other holidays that she wants to celebrate and funny traditions. Sharanya talks about books that she enjoys reading during the holidays including The Tale of Two Cities and Hannukah Miracle. Trave...

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” –Hamilton Wright Mabie Ah, the holidays. For some, it's the most magical time of the year—twinkling lights, cozy nights, and the smell of cookies baking in the oven. But if you’re a teenager? Let’s be real—the holidays can be a bit...complicated. Join host, Julia and guest Steffi as they discuss the joy and angst teens face during the holiday season. Steffi shares the psychology of the season. When you're a kid, the h...