“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 financial crash, the pandemic, cost-of-living crises, natural disasters, and the climate emergency. Studies show empathy levels plummeted after 2000, but this generation of youth is pushing for political accountability. She believes that cynicism doesn’t have to mean paralysis. Julia introduces our new reporter on Express Yourself Teen radio, Hanna.

Hanna’s segment is called Political Philosophy, and in today’s broadcast, she discusses upcycling, donating, and even selling secondhand. These aren’t just eco-friendly actions, they’re ways of living out our responsibility to others and to the future. Studies show that over 50% of young people say climate change makes them very worried, and almost half say it impacts their daily lives. Upcycling means taking something old or “useless” and transforming it into something new, valuable, or beautiful. Unlike recycling, it doesn’t require breaking things down—it just reimagines them.

The U.S. generates 292 million tons of trash every year. The fashion industry alone creates 92 million tons of textile waste. Making a single cotton t-shirt takes 700 gallons of water.

Every time you upcycle—or even keep something in circulation instead of tossing it—you’re saving resources and reducing harm. Hanna offers ways to make a difference.

In the final segment, Julia and Hanna engage in a conversation about moral obligations to to future generations, questions about justice, fairness, and responsibility to others globally, ways to live sustainably, and ethical responses to big problems like climate change.

Teens care about everything! Have hope!

Bio: Hanna Yu is a high school senior from the Bay Area who is passionate about political philosophy. She has conducted research with university professors, written articles, and presented her work at national symposiums.  Hanna is also a dancer, debater, and sculptor, whose work brings together art and political thought. In her spare time, Hanna pursues her passion for sustainable fashion by leading closet swaps and secondhand clothing sales.

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“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 Area to inspire kids, teens, and adults about the future of space exploration. Over the next half hour, she shares the vision behind Galactic Getaway, the rockets she chose, how she researched and curated their specifications, where the exhibit has traveled, the impact it has made, and where she hopes to take it in the future. To learn more about the project or how to bring the exhibit to your community, visit galacticget.org.

Space exploration is unfolding, and it starts with the curiosity we inspire today. Saanvi’s hope is that every child who sees these rockets will believe: ‘That could be me someday.’

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“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 positive change within the teen-girl endurance sports community, empowering healthier and happier athletes. The research program, in collaboration with SFUSD schools, UCSF researchers, professional athletes, and coaches, is committed to elevating underrepresented perspectives in women’s athletics, advocating for the complexities of girlhood and sport, and amplifying the voices of women in the athletic community. Sports provide incredible benefits, including strength, stamina, teamwork, and mental toughness. Yet, the risks include severe injuries. Tune in to Express Yourself!™ for this informative special with Julia that will help you be a healthier and more active teen.

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“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 evolving. Citizens should be worried about voter suppression, disinformation overload, political polarization, cynicism, and apathy. Democracy isn’t perfect because people aren’t perfect. When this country was founded, there was one clear goal: No kings. Because, despite all the chaos…

• More young people are voting than ever before.
• More women and people of color are running for office.
• Protest movements—from climate to racial justice to gun reform.

Democracy isn’t dying, but it is up to us to protect it.

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"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 computer science education to underprivileged societies, Be the Star You Are!® teenager, Sharanya, founded the organization PlotLyft.  She is currently working with the young Maasai students in Ngorongoro, Tanzania. She says, “We have so much to learn from each other. Real impact doesn’t come from giving things. It comes from listening. From sharing. From showing up, and staying committed.”

If you’d like to help bring education to the Maasai in Africa, please visit

https://www.gofundme.com/f/together-lets-bring-classrooms-to-the-maasai

You can also email [email protected] for more information or to get involved in the program.

Africa didn’t just teach Sharanya how to help others. It taught her how to be grateful and be a better human.

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“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.

Reporter Milan talks about ways to exercise, participating in sports, enjoying healthy foods, and having fun. Kirpa shares that summer is a great time to switch up your fitness routine and take advantage of the outdoors. To stay motivated, she encourages exercising with a friend, joining a summer fitness challenge, or even mixing in fun outdoor sports can keep you accountable and inspired. Summer heat can pose real risks during physical activity. Overheating or heat exhaustion happens when your body can’t cool down fast enough. Kirpa also tells us that sleep is just as important as your workouts and nutrition. Julia chimes in with important intel about the darker side to the idea of staying fit, “winter arcs” and “summer bodies,” and what that means for everyone. Our bodies aren’t seasonal products. They don’t need to be “summer ready” or “bikini approved.” The “summer body” mindset is problematic. Every BODY is a summer body!

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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.  Sunscreen, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat are critical when spending time in the sun. An umbrella will help with sun protection. Slather on the SPF. Go for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, all year around, even on cloudy days. Stay away from tanning beds. Keep your water bottle close and sip throughout the day. Coconut water, fruity mocktails, and watermelon are also great! You don’t have to hide from the sun to enjoy summer—you just have to play it smart. Protect your skin now, and Future You will be smooth, happy, and forever grateful.

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“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 Kirpa Gill hosts her very first episode of Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio with a topic of traveling. She shares how, beyond the thrill and excitement, travel deepens our understanding of the world and ourselves. We begin to see how diverse, yet connected, humanity truly is. She then interviews her cousin, reporter Milan Bains, who talks about their recent vacation in Greece, which included amazing cuisine and historical places, and antiquities.

Traveling expands our horizons and deepens our understanding of the world and ourselves. Where will you go next?

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“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, about his book THE BIG HOP, the inspiring story of the pathbreaking journey and the aviators who risked their lives to make history. In segment two, Saanvi flies from the edges of the solar system to the pulse of distant planets. She dives into the incredible stories behind six spacecraft that didn’t just leave Earth, they rewrote how we understand the cosmos and our planet. They aren’t just metal and machinery floating in space… they’re storytellers, detectives, and explorers. These missions show that space exploration isn’t just about reaching the stars. It’s about understanding where we come from, how our planet is changing, and what’s still waiting out there. History isn’t just in the past. It’s in every takeoff, every challenge, and every leap we make.

Bio: David Rooney is a British historian and museum curator. He was born in north-east England and moved to London in 1995 to take a traineeship at the Science Museum, where he encountered—and was later responsible for—the airplane flown across the Atlantic in 1919, the subject of his book, THE BIG HOP. www.davidrooney.uk

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“ 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 interdependence among the living organisms and our planet impacts our daily lives. Reporters Kirpa and Milan join the discussion. Kirpa focuses on climate change, environmental impacts, biodiversity, and ways that young people can contribute to protecting the Earth. Milan talks about what can happen when we don’t take action. He encourages reducing, reusing, and recycling while making a case for saving our most precious resource: water. Together, we can reduce our carbon footprint and take responsibility for this beautiful home we call EARTH.

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