Express Yourself!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. "Martin Luther King Jr Hosts Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia interview award winning author, Kathleen Rooney about her book Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk based on the true-life story of one of the most talented and successful ad women for R.H. Macy's in the 1930s, Margaret Fishback. It took an immense amount of faith in herself and in humanity to be the plucky, outspoken and curious woman she was as she walked her way through New York. Maria and Brigitte also read Dani Wong's touching and emotional chapter, The Gift of Faith, from Cynthia Brian's book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. It is critical to have faith in oneself. When we stay positive, everything works out in time. Faith takes courage and determination to make the impossible possible. In life, faith helps us overcome the biggest obstacles. The sun is going to shine tomorrow.

"Of all of the gifts that life has to offer, a loving mother is the greatest of them all" Anonymous • Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong host a program dedicated to the amazing women who give birth or raise children around the world, sacrificing of themselves to offer their children a better life. Special guest is author of We Were the Lucky Ones, Georgia Hunter, tracked her grandfather, his parents, and his siblings - a family of Polish Jews - as they scatter at the start of the Second World War, determined to survive - and to reunite. In 2000, a family reunion opened her eyes to the astounding war stories of her grandfather and his family. Brigitte Jia traces the importance of the Mother/Child relationship through art. In nature, the bond between mother and child is one of the strongest possible. Your mother brought you out into the world, and she defines it throughout your early years. A mother helps to shape the individual as a person. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's of the World!

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." Thomas Aquinas Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong read the chapters on friendship from Cynthia Brian's book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference recounting her life-long friendship with an Irish penpal. (Buy books at www.StarStyleRadio.com/store) A discussion on the importance of friendship and how to be a friend ensues. In segment two and three, author of Young Knight's of the Round Table, King's Ransom, Cheryl Carpinello discusses her book and the themes of friendship and loyalty. The book focuses on three friends, three quests, and three mysterious predictions. Kids love Arthurian tales and her books show the importance of having a friend. (http://www.cherylcarpinello.com) To find friends, hosts advise being open, interested in others, empathetic. Share a smile "Earn a friend by being a friend" Cynthia Brian

What is morality and do countries value morals? Hosts Maria Wong and Joven Hundal explore the meaning of morality in our world as they look at history. They discuss the Nazi regime of Hitler and his complete disregard and persecution of the "degenerate races" that characterized his immoral rule devoid of values and humanity. Special guest author, Colonel Charles Causey, continues the theme with his work of nonfiction, The Lion and the Lamb: The True Story of A Powerful Nazi Leader and A Dutch Resistance Worker, focusing on the stories of Albert Speer and Corrie ten Boom in Nazi Germany. Their contrast of characters clearly indicates what morality is and is not. Joven wraps up the show with a fascinating look into GMO's, biotechnology, and asteroid mining while asking the question "How do we regulate the moral issues revolving around technology and the exploration of space?" "Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality."Mahatma Gandhi

What are values? The dictionary states that values are the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. Or a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life. Host Maria Wong tackles the subject of values with personal perspectives as a teen who deciding on the next step towards college choices. Your values are things that you prioritize and think are important in defining your life and work. Maria interviews Robin Roe with her novel, A List of Cages, who has written a raw, emotional, powerful novel with a strong message of kindness. Robin discusses her writing process, how she writes, her love for her former students, and her upcoming novel. Maria provides a Book Smart segment about her all time favorite book, Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, a book that shaped many of her personal values and helps readers reflect on how experiences, family, culture, and location shape one's value system.

Spring has sprung and a time to celebrate the re-birth of nature is upon us. Host Asya Gonzalez reads producer, Cynthia Brian's article aptly titled Flower Fever that sets the tone for this program celebrating spring, empathy, and Easter. (http://www.cynthiabrian.com/gardening-articles) Author of There is No good Card for This, Kelsey Crowe adds to the conversation discussing her illustrated guide to effective compassion that takes you, step by step by step, past the paralysis of thinking about someone in a difficult time to actually doing something (or nothing) with good judgment instead of fear. Her empathy menu offers support with confidence, no matter the situation. In the final segment, Asya talks about her family traditions for spring including fun activities for an Easter or spring break filled with joy, adventure, and playfulness.

Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong host a lively discussion about our relationship with emotions. Technology has falsely convinced us that we are developing communication through apps, smartphones, and social media, when in fact to really express an emotion, face to face contact is necessary. Yoga instructor and competitive gymnastics coach, Catie Jarvis, joins the discussion with her first novel, The Peacock Room. The Peacock Room tells the coming of age story of Jonis and Lizzy: a young man with a mysterious medical condition that causes one leg to grow far too long, and the frustrated musical savant who falls in love with him. The novel inspires emotional responses. In our Book smart segment, Maria reviews The God of Small Things, a book that perfectly captures the Gift of Emotion because throughout the novel, the characters display a wide array of emotions ranging from jealousy, sadness, fear, and joy. Emotions make us human. Get emotional

"Thinking; the talking of the soul with itself." ― Plato Odyssey of the Mind is an international, creative problem-solving competition. It has also been an intellectual quest that has challenged the creativity and sharpened the wit of host Maria Wong. Maria and co-host Asya Gonzalez discuss how young people's participation in Odyssey of the Mind inspire creative solutions in school, at work, and at home. Collaborating promotes creative thinking. If you're looking for a do over in life, let motivational speaker and author, Shawn Anderson, coach you to go the extra mile with his book, Amicus, A Better Life: An Inspiring Story About Starting Over. Twenty-one powerful lessons reveal the secrets to starting your new life of purpose, passion, success, and vibrancy. Whatever you truly want, you can have. In Music Magic, Seo Young digs deeper into how certain lyrics can make one think. Music is a loyal best friend. The music is always there for you as you can make music yourself.

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ― Toni Morrison That's why the hosts and reporters of Express Yourself!™ are writing a new book, Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials scheduled for release later this year! In the meantime, the team are busy interviewing, reporting, and gathering life skills. This week hosts Asya Gonzalez and Katie Choo interview seventeen year old award winning actress and screenwriter, Mandalynn Carlson about her meteoric career, her screenplays, and what she's learned working in show business. Katie Lyons joins the conversation to share her love of writing indicating that she's been crafting stories since before she could write. The young ladies greatly admire writer JK Rowlings who rose from homelessness to being the most famous writer in the world. The message is to believe in your dreams, work hard, never give up, and write on!

Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Do you speak another language? Is communicating important to you? Host Brigitte Jia leads a lively conversation with reporters Zahra Hasanian, Joven Hundal, and Katie Choo around the topic of the cultural connections of languages. Learning a second language is actually linked to various health benefits. For example, a study a few years back covered by National Geographic concluded that learning and speaking a second language can stave off Alzheimer's' and dementia for four more years. Language gives people hope, whether for propaganda or poetry. Technology offers another hurdle as our communications are not face to face. Employers are looking for people who can not only speak English well, but also have a somewhat diverse knowledge of languages. Whether it's sign, music, art, or dance, we are surrounded by language. How you communicate will determine how high you bounce in life.