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Express Yourself!

Cynthia Brian, Producer, The Express Yourself! STAR On-Air Teen Team,
Express Yourself!
Latest episode

705 episodes

  • Express Yourself!

    Can the Courts Save Democracy

    14/08/2026 | 22 mins.
    "Where you see wrong, inequality, or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy." – Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
    Courts are one of the most important institutions protecting American democracy, but if our entire strategy for preserving democracy is basically, "Hopefully the Supreme Court figures it out," then we have a much bigger problem. Keerthi Eraniyan hosts an important informational program focused on maintaining a democratic country and how the courts play a part. She posits that the real question isn't, "Can the courts save democracy?" but the better question is "Are we giving the courts a democracy worth saving?"
    America's foundation is built on democracy. It is up to each of us to save it.
     
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    Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/
    Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
     Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
  • Express Yourself!

    Issues Facing Teens

    07/08/2026 | 33 mins.
    "Ignore those who tell you which way to go without first understanding where you are." - James Pierce
     
    Teens are facing numerous challenges, and in this episode of Express Yourself!™ host, Diya and reporter Allison are talking about the issues surrounding academics, friendships, family, social media, A.I., and more! In Allison's segment, The New Classroom, she shares the statistics that the U.S. is home to upwards of 5.3 million multilingual learner students, representing more than one in ten school-aged students. Yet their reach extends even beyond that proportion: 55% of educators teach at least one multilingual learner. A.I. can be helpful, yet can also hinder, because A.I. is not culturally neutral. Critical thinking skills are fundamental for language development.  A.I. should serve as a scaffold, not a crutch.
    Diya tackles social media and friendships. Whether it's TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook, many teenagers struggle with the idea of when to stop scrolling. Some ways to cope with social media addictions are enforcing time limits, finding other hobbies, setting phone-free times, using websites or ad blockers, or seeking out a trusted adult. Along with making sure you are spending the right amount on social media, balancing your academics is truly necessary. Keeping friendships in your teenage years can sometimes be a struggle. It is also important to choose friends who are supportive, respectful, and encourage positive choices.
    Remember, there aren't problems without solutions, even for teens!
     
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    Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/
    Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
     Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
  • Express Yourself!

    Financial Literacy

    31/07/2026 | 51 mins.
    Impact of Financial Literacy
     
    "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." – Benjamin Franklin 
     
    Were you taught about finances when you were a teen? The majority of schools don't teach financial literacy, which is a critical skill for life success. Host Julia Howe interviews teen, Sahishnu (Sai) Manivannan, who discusses how financial literacy, combined with early educational intervention and opportunity access, is the key individuals need to build stable financial habits to be passed down for generations. He started a free platform, Finlingo, to help students learn about finances. His goal is to have this program integrated into elementary schools in five states within five years. Julia investigates side hustles. What are they? Why have they become so popular? Which side hustles are actually good ideas for teenagers? Which ones pay far less than they appear to? And which ones are simply scams? She provides statistics and important information on the side hustle economy and how these correlates to financial literacy.
    INVEST in learning how to make informed, responsible financial decisions. Financial literacy is imperative to independence.
     
    BIO: Sahishnu (Sai) Manivannan
    Sahishunu is a rising senior at The Davidson Academy of Reno, Nevada. They are interested in behavioral economics, finance, and legal studies. They just completed a free Google extension named Finlingo, which works like Duolingo but for financial literacy. Check it out in the store if you would like to see some of their work firsthand! In their free time, they love to play tennis, snowboard, and read up on the latest financial news! https://www.Finlingo.org
     
     
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    Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
    Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/
    Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
     Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
  • Express Yourself!

    What Will the Future Look Like?

    24/07/2026 | 35 mins.
    "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." — Malcolm X
    Radio host Saanvi Phaneendra welcomes Express Yourself's newest reporter, Allison Lu as they discuss what the future will look like. Saanvi talks about AI data centers in space in her segment Space Spotlight, while Allison discusses equality in educational systems in her segment, The New Classroom. Saanvi talks about the earliest chapter of what could become a totally new kind of space race. Not a race to the moon or to Mars, but a race to build the computers that will power our future in the sky above us. Allison explores what schools are currently doing for refugee and multilingual students, where support still falls short, and what a truly equitable classroom of the future would look like. The goal is not simply to help students adapt to a new environment; it should empower them to thrive within it.
    Whether it's a data center orbiting Earth or a classroom trying to give every student a fair shot, the future is being built right now by people who choose to prepare. This is our future!
     
    Bio Allison Lu
    Allison is a rising senior in Houston, Texas. Besides running her non-profit organization, Allison can be found swimming competitively, playing the violin with her orchestra, and listening to her favorite artist, Noah Kahan. She also enjoys to co-leading her school's Student Affairs Council and East Asian Affinity Group. In her segment, The New Classroom, she will be reporting on educational equity in the United States, with a primary focus on refugee and multilingual students. Instagram Handle: allisonzlu
     
     
    Follow us:
    https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio
    https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself
    https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/
    https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/
    https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/
    Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/
    Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/
    Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
    Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/
    Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
     Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
  • Express Yourself!

    Learning to Negotiate

    17/07/2026 | 28 mins.
    What is the difference between arguing and negotiating? Host Keerthi, (our Be the Star You Are!® queen of debate) interviews Ryan Chang about how teens can learn to negotiate to better approach problems and collaborate for the best results. Negotiation is a commonly misunderstood idea. Most believe it is a method to win. But in reality, it is a mutually beneficial compromise made to resolve a conflict. When people change their mindset, negotiation becomes a vital asset in everyday life, especially for teenagers. In this episode, Keerthi explores why negotiation is so challenging, ways to make negotiation easier, and what not to do in a negotiation. Negotiation is one of the most useful—and most underrated—skills you'll ever learn. Tune in and learn to negotiate for collaborative solutions!
    Bio: Ryan Chang is a high school sophomore and has participated in Model United Nations (MUN) for the past 5 years. Ryan has won many awards for negotiation and public speaking. Currently, Ryan is the Under-Secretary-General for his school's MUN team and advisor/mentor to his middle school's MUN club. Ryan also created a curriculum and program to teach negotiation to middle/elementary school kids. For Ryan, negotiation is more than just speaking to others or trying to win in a conflict – negotiation is about coming to a compromise in which all parties benefit. 
     
    Follow us:
    https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio
    https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself
    https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/
    https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/
    https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/
    Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/
    Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/
    Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
    Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/
    Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
     Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
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About Express Yourself!
Express Yourself! is an entertaining adolescent fusion program where passion, productivity, and possibility populate the airwaves. Produced by Starstyle Productions, LLC as an international outreach program of Be the Star You Are! charity, the radio program, Express Yourself! is a show for, by, and about teens. Hosted by teens and teenage field reporters from around the country, Express Yourself! is THE destination for teens to be heard. Within the walls of the young adult community, listeners are uplifted and encouraged to be the stars of your own life. Through collaboration and conversation, a global campus of young people express their views. Topics include anything that kids talk about-books, music, making a difference, technology, school, art, humor, writing, tough talks, health, sports, films, family, friends, foes, fashion, and fun. Come play in STAR country and Express Yourself!, Sundays at 3 PM Pacific on VoiceAmerica Empowerment.
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