Express Yourself!

On August 5^th, 2012, when Express Yourself!™ teen, was a toddler, he, his brother, and his mother stopped for three minutes at a gas station on their way to their Sikh temple. Those three minutes saved their lives as a gunman began a mass shooting. Today, host Kirpa and reporter Milan discuss gun control and what teens think about it. There are an estimated 400...

"I've learned you are never too small to make a difference." Greta Thunberg

With college deadlines looming and pressure mounting, this week's broadcast turns inward, toward the grit it takes to be a teenager in a world obsessed with perfection. Host Julia opens the show with a commentary on the myth of effortless success, breaking down how real grit isn't gold stars o...

"I know nothing of man's rights, or woman's rights; human rights are all that I recognize." Sarah Moore Grimke

With global conflict rising, human rights violations demand attention, especially abuses against women and girls.  Host Julia begins the broadcast with an investigation of "The Myth of the Perfect Victim". She asks, "Why do we know Gabby Petito's name, but not Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, a 17-year-o...

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are." – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Host Julia and reporter Hanna tackle the topic that we chew on every day: ultra-processed foods. Hanna asks if it is ethical to sell food that is unhealthy just to maximize profits at the expense of our long-term well-being. What is the price of health? Whose responsibility is it? What is the future of...

"Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the threat of terrorism." - Anonymous

The answer is YES! Host Keerthi starts off the show with this message: "We are concerned. You know why? Because we live here! You can't just order a new planet from Amazon Prime." The concern is real. Studies show that over 70% of teens say climate change makes t...

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."— Mother Teresa

In today's episode, host Julia with new reporter Hanna talk about what concerns teens the most…mental health, the climate crisis, waste, eco-anxiety, and more. Julia dives into "doomism", doom-scrolling, and advocates for her generation that has lived through "historic" tragedies: terrorism, endless wars, "orange alert" paranoia, the 2008 ...

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." Norman Vincent Peale

Host Saanvi Phaneendra take you on a journey into the world of rockets, space, and the story of her nonprofit, Galactic Getaway. Her Eagle Scout project turned into a mission: bringing museum-quality rocket exhibits into libraries and universities across the San Francisco Bay Are...

"Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel." – Eleanor Brown

Host, Julia, is an athlete and a healthy teen. In today's program, she talks about how teenagers can stay healthy. She highlights student researchers who are part of the Hitting the Wall Curriculum project that she founded in 2023. Hitting the Wall is a movement dedicated to fostering p...

"Democracies may die at the hands not of generals but of elected leaders—presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power. " - Steven Levitsky

Host Keerthi brings substance and humor to a very serious topic: democracy. Democracy is a mess. It's a beautiful, chaotic, meme-worthy mess. Democracy has made mistakes. Big ones. But she's...

"To every child – I dream of a world where you can laugh, dance, sing, learn, live in peace, and be happy" - Malala Yousafzai

Host Sharanya Roy doesn't believe brilliance is limited by borders. She recently returned from Africa where she witnessed children eager to learn and study, with a profound quest for knowledge. Learning is freedom. It's power. And it deserves to be shared. To bring...

"The body achieves what the mind conceives!" Napoleon Hill

Julia and Kirpa host a program about how to stay fit during the summer and beyond.

Repo...

Ah, summer. The season of beach days, barbecues, road trips, and popsicles that melt faster than you can eat them. But while you're out there living your best summer life, the sun is doing its thing too, shining bright and sending down those sneaky UV rays. Host Kirpa and reporter Milan discuss ways to have fun in the sun while protecting your skin and body.Your eyes, skin, and immune system can all be affected by sun exposure.  Su...

"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."

— Anonymous

Travel is more than just moving from one place to another—it's a doorway to discovery, growth, and wonder. Every journey, no matter how short or far-flung, carries the potential to shift perspectives, awaken the soul, and spark adventure in the most unexpected ways.

Reporter ...

"In 1919, when the world was grounded by war and pandemic, a few brave souls looked up—and dared to fly into history." – inspired by The Big Hop by David Rooney

In 1919, in Newfoundland, four teams of aviators raced to be the first to fly, non-stop, across the Atlantic. Only one team, after a death-defying flight, made it to Ireland. Host Saanvi Phaneendra interviews author, David Rooney, a...

" 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...

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 hyste...

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 Ex...

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. 

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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 famil...