Episodes

“Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” –Matthew Jacobson Our parents are like our first influencers. They were there before social media, showing us how to navigate life. Host Julia discusses how our parents shape our views on pretty much everything—money, relationships, education, and life. She shares personal stories of growing up and the advice she was given. She shares behaviors that children learn from parents, both positive and negative. Work eth...

When we think about animals, we often imagine them as playful companions or majestic creatures in the wild. Host, Keerthi tells us that animals also play a crucial role in our health. Animals are far more than just pets or wildlife. They are our companions, our helpers, and our sources of comfort. Whether offering emotional support, assisting with daily tasks, or simply being a part of our lives, animals play a crucial role in our health and happiness. Appreciate the humor, the love, and the dow...

Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.— Chinese Proverb Teens are often told to think about the future. This is a challenging and overwhelming task at that age. Host Hasini shares her personal dreams, goals, and struggles as she is evolving. She gives us permission to enjoy the process. She then interviews vivacious and unapologetically authentic influencer, Skylar Sorkin, who is the Founder of the podcast, Regardless, and an Account Executive at Influential. Skylar s...

Want to know what teens think about the 2024 elections and the nominees? Join hosts Julia and Hannah as they both provide election history as well as their personal thoughts. They interview guest teen Viranshi Vira who discusses the inequities in healthcare, specifically the disparity with racial maternal mortality. She and her peers organized a school walkout to protest the overturn of Roe v. Wade and advocate for reproductive rights. Hasini enters the conversation and states that even though y...

“A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill Returning just hours before the broadcast from a phenomenal choral tour of South Africa, jet-lagged and seasoned teen host, Julia, enthusiastically talks about the new friends she made on her journey and welcomes three other teen reporters to discuss the joys of international travel. Two reporters, Diya and Armine, are making their debut segments. Diya shares the suspense she experienced in the cenotes of Mexico, Mayan ruins...

“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”-John Ford Does your stomach turn into circles if you must give a speech? How do you react when you must debate someone? Our two teen hosts, Julia and Keerthi, are accomplished speakers and debaters and they have plenty of useful tips to keep you from “dying.” Julia recently gave a Tedx talk that had her jittering in her boots. Keerthi is spearheading the Be the Star You Are!® debate collaboration with Eloquence. Both advi...

“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.” – John Adams Our Express Yourself!® hosts are traveling, so producer, Cynthia Brian, is jumping behind the microphone to interview reporter, Kirpa about the meaning of freedom. Kirpa also offers what freedom means to her and how it relates to what is happening in the world today. Cynthia reads the Gift of Freedom chapter from her book, Be the Star You Are!® fo...

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” - Coco Chanel We all know the saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, but does that truly describe the meaning of true beauty? Host Charvi shares how our perceptions of beauty change as we grow older, amplified by social media, celebrities, and marketing companies in segment two. She first interviews reporter, Kevin Choo, with his segment “A.I. and Us,” which talks about how A.I. can and does affect our lives. He discusses the use of A...

Sharanya and Keerthi host a program about a critical topic that affects Americans: gun control. Reducing gun violence is challenging because of the polarization around the issue. Keerthi talks about advocating for the Second Amendment while also requiring safety for gun storage. They interview teen activist, Amelia Vander May, who led a youth team to successfully lobby an ordinance in Santa Barbara that requires firearms to be stored in a locked container and disabled by a trigger lock. Amelia s...

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”- J.K. Rowling Teen host Sharanya shines light on substance abuse. Addressing teen substance abuse requires a collective effort to raise awareness, promote prevention strategies, and provide support for those affected. Education campaigns aimed at dispelling myths surrounding substance use, promoting healthy coping mechanisms, and fostering resilience can empower teens to make informed decisions and resist peer pressure. Sharan...

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates Host Julia is a fifteen-year-old female teen athlete, competing nationally in multisports including triathlon and aquathlon. She offers tips on personalizing one’s eating habits to stay healthy. There is no one-size-fits-all. Diet trends and fads don’t last, but our body is with us to the end. Julia interviews author, Sandy Robertson, with the 2nd edition of her book, Why Am I Eating This? Is This the Nourishment I Need? ...

Today we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and proclamations. The four hosts share their experiences with volunteering for Be the Star You Are!® and being radio reporters/hosts on this int...

Today we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and proclamations. The four hosts share their experiences with volunteering for Be the Star You Are!® and being radio reporters/hosts on this int...

Today we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and proclamations. The four hosts share their experiences with volunteering for Be the Star You Are!® and being radio reporters/hosts on this int...

Not all who wander are lost. - J.R.R. Tolkein Do you like to experience adventures or are you afraid of new trails? Host Keerthi navigates the realm of adventures. Keerthi states that we are all called to adventure in our unique ways. Sometimes it comes as a whisper, a gentle urging to explore beyond the familiar. Other times, it arrives as a thunderous roar, impossible to ignore. But regardless of its form, the call to adventure beckons us to step outside our comfort zones, to embrace the unkno...

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Dolly Parton.” In the constantly evolving landscape of the 21st century, adaptability has emerged as a crucial skill set, indispensable for success and survival. As we step into the year 2024, the need for adjustment and flexibility has never been more pronounced. Sharanya hosts a full hour discussing the importance of adjusting and adapting. From technological advancements to socioeconomic transformations, from global crises to individ...

In the deepest sense the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is a search for ourselves. - Carl Sagan, an American astronomer and planetary scientist Welcome, cosmic explorers, to this week’s edition of Space Spotlight, with host Saanvi Phaneendra! UFO sightings have been a source of fascination and mystery for decades, sparking the imaginations of enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Reports of unidentified flying objects range from mysterious lights zigzagging in the night sky to detailed encou...

We are at the dawn of a new era in human history. New technologies have the potential to change the life of every person on the planet in profound ways.” - Francis Collins Would you like to birth children that look like Barbie and Ken? It may be possible in the not-too-distant future. In today’s broadcast, host Saanvi discusses something that sounds like it's straight out of a sci-fi novel but is actually happening in labs around the world. It's called CRISPR, short for Clustered Regularly Inter...

“When your mental health becomes impacted by social media then it is time for a detox.” — Germany Kent Are you indulging in social media? How do you feel? Host Keerthi, who loves social media, navigates the negatives and positives of various platforms. She advocates for embracing imperfection and showcasing authenticity as well as digital detoxes. Keerthi also encourages celebrating other's successes, big or small, and showing kindness to strangers. Keerthi then interviews high school junior, Ni...

“Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly ever acquire the skill to do difficult things easily.” — James J. Corbett Skills and abilities? They sound like synonyms…but are they. An ability is defined as the capability to do something - while a skill is the ability to do something WELL. Host Julia discusses the differences between skills and abilities. Abilities are something you can just do. To accomplish a skill, you need the ability to do the thing. She shares the story of...

“It’s rough being a teenager in this day and age.” ? Kay Panabaker Express Yourself! examines teen life and a free program for tutoring by teens. Nerd extraordinaire, Keerthi, starts the show with a humorous segment on a journey through teenhood and an accurate biography of teen lives! She announces, “Ladies, gentlemen, and the indescribable enigma that is high school lunchroom mac 'n' cheese—I stand before you today as the humble ambassador of Teenhood, the grand connoisseur of awkward encounte...

“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants” ? Coco Chanel What are the pressures society puts upon teenage girls? Teen hosts Julia and Keerthi have a lively discussion about their struggles and experiences with peers, parents, and social media encounters, including posts of unrealistic body images and beauty standards. They then converse with guest author, Chelsey Goodan, with her book, Underestimated. It is obvious that Chelsey honors teen girls and really listens and cares about thei...

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.” ? Martin Luther King Jr. Julia hosts a fascinating and insightful hour about the wrongful convictions of young people. She begins by citing the incarceration of Kenneth Hovland, who faced four decades of wrongful conviction. She also highlights DNA testing. The emergence of DNA technology has not only enabled us to identify perpetrators with unprecedented accuracy but has also served as a beacon of hope for those w...

Artificial intelligence is the brush that paints the canvas of possibility, blending innovation with imagination to craft a future limited only by our dreams. - Chat GPT Education is critical to success. Host Julia and reporter of “A.I. and Us,” Kevin, talk about how A.I. can and does affect our lives and can be used in the classroom. Almost two centuries ago, what was taught was math, science, reading, writing, history, and foreign languages, and that hasn’t changed at all, not even what aspect...