Express Yourself!

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." —Thomas Merton • What is art? Do you think of paintings, sculptures, animation, or museums? What about music, dance, acting, cooking, voice, nature? Culinary arts and performing arts are definitely forms of art. Hosts Brigitte Jia and Joven Hundal notice the small things influence what we all consider as art. Brigitte also reads from her chapter, The Gift of Art, from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® for Boomers and Millennials. Joven finds that history and art are connected. Brigitte recounts her phenomenal and unique experiences playing violin with Davies Symphony, touring in the UK and Chicago, playing alongside Ariel Horowitz and Amos Yang, recording for Torchlight, playing at Carnegie Hall, and more exciting artistic adventures. Appreciate art for what it is: creativity, skill, and expression. Yes, Express Yourself!

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." ― Lao Tzu If love is all we need, then learning how to develop satisfying and enriching relationships needs to be at the top of our list. Host Brigitte Jia, a brilliant artist and violinist who has just returned from performing a concert in Carnegie Hall, (yes, the way to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice!) interviews Dating and Relationship Expert and Coach, Christine Bumgartner on the intricacies of finding the perfect mate.. Christine offers concrete ways for online dating and mating while being honest and truthful. Brigitte reads the Gift of Love excerpted from Cynthia Brian's best selling book, Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference (www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store)and entertains with a segment of Art Attack focused on an exhibition from the Summer of Love. As Goethe said, "Love is the reward of love."

Are you aware of your world, the people, and the opportunities around you? Debut host, Jack Pawlakos, and host Katie Choo tackle the topic of awareness from many different perspectives. They read the chapters, The Gift of Awareness, from two Be the Star You Are!® books, both with varied takes on what awareness is and how we can see more clearly. From Cynthia Brian's chapter in the book, Be the Star You are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference, (www.CynthiaBrian.com/books) they unveil the mysteries of the world around us and the enormity of the universe. From Tristan S.. Boardway's chapter in the forthcoming Be the Star You Are!® for Boomers and Mlllennials, they look at awareness as being more in tune with telepathic energies in order to communicate. Katie uncovers unusual career opportunities in her Aim to Shoot segment and they also talk about social and political awareness, "The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance." ― Nathaniel Branden

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." ― Voltaire Through stories of their experiences, host Joven Hundal's grandparents have instilled in him fundamental values. He is appreciative of all that his family has endured in order to make the lives of their children better. He reads his chapter The Gift of Appreciation from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials. Energetic guest, Jennipher Walters, CEO and co-owner of Fit Bottomed World, was one of the first on-line companies to promote positive body image. Jennipher discusses her inspirations, struggles, and motivations with humor and simple tips for healthy living. Brigitte reads Cynthia Brian's chapter on Appreciation from Be the Star You Are!® 99 gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference. Both Brigitte and Joven consider themselves extremely lucky and privileged to be growing up in America with a strong support system. btsya.org

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." Immanual Kant Humans and animals are one family. Katie Choo brings us a plethora of information about the numerous careers available and they are not all vet related. In World Watch, Joven Hundal focuses on domestic wild animals such as sea otters, seals, and sea lions, cougars, bison, crocodiles, alligators, eagles and megafauna. Hosts Katie and Brigitte interview animal advocate, Heather Brittany, who wrote the chapter, The Gift of Animals, for the Be the Star You Are! for Millennials series. Heather reminds us that animals don't judge, they love unconditionally, teaching us to be responsible, patient, and caring. Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ― Anatole France

"The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence." ― Denis Waitley Hosts Brigitte Jia and Katie Choo, both independent, creative, and confident teens, explore the importance of helping youth discover their own abilities and face their own struggles. Does independence suit some kids more than it does others? Do other cultures parent differently? Parents are a major influence in career development. The duo interview Dr. Donald Moses, co-author of the book, Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids. Dr. Moses explains clearly the importance of allowing kids to fail as well as helping them develop skills that will assist them to be fully functional adults rather than resorting to self-destructive behaviors. He talks about drugs and salaries in a no nonsense manner. Every teen and every parent needs to tune in to this episode of Express Yourself! as challenges are always on the horizon and this conversation has lots of answers.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ― Margaret Mead Change comes only with the will of the people, and our actions as individuals contribute to the strength of a collective force that has the power to drive the world in a fresh new direction. Express Yourself! launches a new year with hosts and reporters Brigitte Jia, Joven Hundal, Henna Hundal, and Caitlin Sim conversing about what activism means to them and how they perceive it in their daily lives. Brigitte reads a chapter she wrote for the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! for Milliennials. Joven gives his perspective on what's happening globally with World Watch, Henna recounts activities at Harvard with student activism, and Caitlin shares activism in literature. Activism is sticking up for anything that is unjust. Stand up for others. Show empathy. The voices of youth are strong and vibrant. Listen. Heed. Act.

For last year's words belong to last year's language / And next year's words await another voice." ― T.S. Eliot Hello 2018! It's a brand new year and we all get a fresh start. Hosts Joven Hundal and Brigitte Jia interview author Deborah Blake with her book, A Year and a Day of Everyday Witchcraft, 366 Ways to Witchify Your Life. "Witchify" may not be a "real" word but her daily tips are fun, productive, and will easily make your life more magical today and every day of the year. Joven's segment WorldWatch offers pointers on making and keeping New Year's resolutions and Brigitte's Art Attack segment encourages listeners to bring art into their everyday lives. Get your life on track with a bit of magic and mystery. Tune in to Express Yourself! and start your journey.

"Moon and stars are giving light. With gifts of nature's giving, we complete the cycle of living. Let us give from our mind, hands, and heart to the world." Chitrabhanu Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, or nothing at all, December is a month of joyfulness. Host Brigite Jia doesn't celebrate Christmas as her family honors the Chinese New Year. Past/Present Reporter Chelsea Pelchat admits that Christmas is her FAVORITE time of the year, and Hope Heals Reporter, Zahra Hasanian honors the lunar calendar so despite not celebrating December traditions, enjoys the light, love, happiness, good will, and yes, hope that prevails. Producer Cynthia Brian rings the bells of Christmas with fun ideas on how to decorate for any holiday with greenery or recycled items. It's the day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in merry ole' England. Come party with us. Light up your celebration with hope and love! It's the season of giving. Give BIG. Donate to www.BetheStarYouAre.org

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." Immanual Kant Everyone needs to find a safe place and in today's episode host Katie Choo interviews Marlene Richter, Executive Director of Noah's Animal House, the first animal sanctuary to be built onsite with a domestic violence shelter in the United States located in Nevada. Noah's Animal House allows victims of abuse to find shelter and protection while bringing their beloved pets with them. Noah's Animal House is a model for what the world needs now…humans and their animal families sheltering together. Katie reads the chapter, The Gift of Animals by Heather Brittany from the forthcoming book, Be the Star You Are! for Millennials and also offers intriguing careers for those interested in becoming a social worker or animal welfare coordinator. Noah's Animal House shows us how unconditional love creates healing in the most broken situations. We all need to be protected.