Express Yourself!

Grab your bag of popcorn, find a seat, and enjoy an hour of movie magic with the Express Yourself!™ teens. Maria Wong and Brigitte Jia host this lively discussion with reporters Katie Lyons, Seo Young Kim, Katie Choo, Joven and Henna Hundal. Katie Lyons focuses on movies revolving around sports where we root for the underdog. Seo Young relates how music is really the driver for most movies, while Katie Choo gives us an inside look at careers in the film industry. Joven and Hunna Hundal indicate that movies have the ability to unify people towards a common, benevolent goal by drawing people's attention to a pertinent issue. We all love films, so enjoy the movie mania!

Traditions allow us to go back to family memories and reminisce about the good ol' days. Asya and Brigitte read a chapter from Cynthia Brian's book, Be The Star You Are for Teens: Simple gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, Learning and Leading. Asya discribes the unique traditions she's celebrated with her family. While traditions fade, memories do not. Katie Choo gave us another Aim To Shoot segment talking about the differences of traditional and non-traditional careers and how they are both important. What will a traditional careers could look like in the future? Brigitte Jia provided an insightful segment of Art Attack expressing art as the embodiment of traditions and showing how art is produced from traditions themselves. "You are the reason for the season! Celebrate and honor your traditions." Cynthia Brian

What do you think of when you hear the word "ingenuity"? For reporter, Joven Hundal, stars of the tech, gaming, motion pictures, and animation industry shine brightly. For Asya Gonzalez, she thinks about young teens who have become mega business successes. Brigitte Jia immediately conjures up images of the great artists of the world. The chapter, The Gift of Ingenuity, from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for Teens sparks a lively conversation about ways to be inventive and creative. A good way to learn ingenuity is to imagine how life might be without certain things. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to think of more than one way to get something done.

Life is better when it's simple. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia read Jacqueline Tao's chapter from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens then interview Jacqueline about her views today on simplicity. Reporter Katelyn Darrow encourages a more minimalist lifestyle. Listen for tips to help you enjoy more balance. Take a moment and drop all the materials from your hands. Temporarily abandon your computer, smart phone, TV, iPod, etc. Go to an open space outside, and observe all the simple privileges and joys that are available to you: the fresh air, good weather, nice view, quietness/excitement, food to eat, and a place to call home. Relish nature. Take note of these things and learn to appreciate the simple things. Life is simply super when we eliminate the complexities and enjoy the simple gifts. "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." Hans Hoffman

Did you know that music heals body, mind, and spirit? Health Rap reporter Alex Pawlakos talks with hosts Zahra and Brigitte about studies that show that music is more effective than drugs. Reporter Courtney Cheng's chapter, The Gift of Music, from Be the Star You Are!® for Teens. Seo Young Kim, our newest reporter on Express Yourself!™ begins a segment called Music Magic. Seo Young believes that music tells stories, relives memories, creates special moments in our lives. Did you know that it is known that by 4000 BCE the Egyptians had created harps and flutes, and by 3500 BC lyres and double-reeded clarinets were made? Asya Gonzalez is obsessed with music. The hosts and Asya have a lively conversation about their favorite artists and genres. Aim to Shoot Reporter Katie Choo provides a wide variety of careers available to everyone, ranging from singers and music producers to radio DJs and music directors. Turn on the music, grab your earbuds, sing, dance, and rock out. Music is life!

On this 242nd original radio program, the teen hosts and reporters of Express Yourself!™ celebrate FIVE years of weekly broadcasting on the Voice America Kids Network. Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Maria Wong share the stage with Katelyn Darrow who has been a host and reporter for four of the five years. Henna Hundal chimes in with her appreciation for the opportunities gained and World Watch reporter, Joven Hundal, speaks of the past year's accomplishments of outstanding teens all around the world. All of the young adults express their sincerest gratitude to the Voice America Kids Network, Be the Star You Are!, Cynthia Brian, their radio colleagues, and the listeners around the world for the incredible growth experiences that being part of this stellar team have endowed upon them as individuals. Congratulations to the inspiring, engaged, and entertaining STARS of Express Yourself!™ on five years of excellence. Speak up, Speak out, and Be Heard at Express Yourself! ™ Teen Radio

Is gratitude a part of your daily life? Former Express Yourself!™ host and reporter, Katelyn Darrow returns to the program to challenge listeners to create a gratitude journal and offer thanks for the little things in life every day. Health Rap reporter Alex Pawlakos takes the opportunity to share tips for a safe Thanksgiving, including how to safely cook a turkey. Did you know that Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday of the year because of home fires? Hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia interview Christian author Lee Ann Mancini about her multiple award winning series of children's books, the Adventures of the Sea Kids. It's an hour of gratefulness in preparation for the big day of appreciation-Thanksgiving.

Hosts Brigitte Jia and Zahra Hassanian as well as reporter Joven Hundal offer a full hour of youthful insights on today's national election and how peace can be attained in the world. Joven provides an historical perspective on the political mudslinging of campaigns. Polls of millennials indicate disillusion with this "R-rated election." An avid student of Latin, Zahra digs into the ancient wisdom of peace, providing correlations between the past and present. Artist Brigitte paints a picture of peace through the visuals of art, cartoons, and the Impressionist movement. It's a lively, peaceful discussion with very bright and informed teens who care deeply about who is in power and how peace can be attained.

The Be the Star You Are!® teens are gifted writers as well as radio reporters. Hosts Zahra Hasanain and Brigitte Jia share their personal poems and essays as well as talk with reporters Maria Wong and Katie Choo about writing. As avid readers and writers, they the chapter on writing from the book, Be the Star You Are!® for TEENS by Cynthia Brian. With the enormous talent of our Express Yourself!™ Star Team, these reporters may soon be contributing to the next Be the Star You Are!® empowerment book bound for publication. Maria talks about the various ways to express oneself through writing via journaling, exhanging letters with penpals in foreign countries, or penning poems and songs. Katie discusses avenues to careers in writing which can begin with writing for the school newspaper, yearbook, designing a website, or blog then lead to jobs in the field. If you love to write, write on! It is a gift to all.

Halloween is THE favourite holiday for many teens and our hosts Asya Gonzalez and Brigitte Jia are among those who love October. Today they interview two fascinating authors around the theme of Halloween: the King of Witches, Devin Hunter, whose new book is The Witches Book of Power and Australian author and gamer, Brewin' with his supernatural horror, The Dark Horde. Instead of being dark and frightening, Devin's book empowers readers to ignite the fire within. He discusses the importance of being unique and reaching your magical potentials. Part thriller and part crime-fiction, Brewin's, The Dark Horde tells of the return of an ancient evil that is neither stoppable nor comprehensible. Brewin' is also the creator of the sci-fi games, Gamebooks Adventures. The hosts were very excited about downloading the series immediately to start playing. Both authors were questioned about their Halloween experiences and what they'll be doing on this next hallowed eve. An entertaining hour of G ra.