Express Yourself!

Are you grateful for what you have or are you someone who complains about what you don't have? Are you a bully or have you ever been bullied? Today host, Youngjoo Ahn speak with outstanding teens making a difference in different arenas about their views on gratitude–country music star, Josie Milner; founder of an anti-bullying social network, Connor Finley; and a Girl Scout Gold award winner, Jane Fessenden also on the show she nominated for Most Promising Youth Artist at the 2013 Independent Country Music Association awards, Josie Milner is a teen country music artist, national honor student, and anti-bullying advocate standing up for what she believes in, and delivering her message to the world via country music.

Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley reminisce about the last two years while discussing how they have changed and grown as reporters, hosts, and individuals because of their participation. Two original reporters, Rachel Glass and Courtney Cheng, as well as a recent addition to the team, Alex Pawlakos round out the show with their thoughts about technology, Be The Star You Are, Voice America Kids, and being part of the journalistic community.

Are you ever too young to be an entrepreneur? Not according to our co-hosts Younghoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow and their special teen guest, Hart Main. Katelyn explains how she founded The Angels Clothing Closet charity at age 12 and it's going stronger than ever. Hart Main, currently age 16 began his successful company, Man Cans at age 13, making candles that have scents that are interesting to men. All of the candles are made inside a recycled soup can; the can is first purchased by the business and donated to soup kitchens and homeless shelters across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and into West Virginia. Hart has been able to donate 65,000 cans of soup, expand his product line of scents, hire three part time employees besides himself, and expand his sales from online to 130 stores, catalogs, fundraisers and corporate marketing merchandise. He's been on several TV shows and the subject of much media publicity, including receiving a commendation letter from Mrs. Obama.

In the 1970's, Do It Yourself projects for teens and young adults were all the rage from making bead necklaces, tie-dyed clothes, and more. Lots of parents called these creative kids "hippies". Today, DIY is considered hip, cool, and one of the great ways to be a success. Our two teen hosts, Youngjoo Ahn and Caie Kelley interview two ultra successful entrepreneurial teens who are also making a difference for other young people. Sara Trail is a sophomore at University of California Berkeley majoring in social welfare and a nationally published author of two titles, Sew with Sara and Cool Stuff to Sew with Sara, she is a licensed designer for Simplicity Patterns, Inc. and Fabri-Quilt Fabrics with her patterns, fabrics and books are sold worldwide. Sara is featured in a 90-second program on The Disney Channel where she teaches a recycled denim clothes project. SewSaraSew.com Stinky Feet Gurlz© was established in 2010 by 13 year old designer (now 16), Asya Gonzalez.

We discuss journeys and also interview major players who are doing exactly what they want to do. First up is Kimmy Veklero, a sophomore at Cal Berkeley who writes a blog, Murmurs from the Bathroom Wall for the Daily Californian that has been called the coolest blog in college media by College Media Matters, an official partner of the Associated Collegiate Press. Former beauty editor for the New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney's, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl!, and Seventeen., Melissa de la Cruz, talks about her journey from being a journalist to becoming a NY Times best selling author of numerous adult and YA novels including the Blue Bloods series (with three million copies in print), the Au Pairs series, the Ashleys series, and more. Her Witches of East End series has just been made into a TV series on the Lifetime Channel and she released her newest fantasy thriller for teens, Frozen.

What are your plans for your future? Where do you see yourself in five years? If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Veteran host Youngjoo Ahn welcomes #Hashtag reporter, Alex Lee, to the co-hosting chair on this episode of Express Yourself!™. Both hosts discuss their differing future dreams and aspirations. The duo interview fifteen year old entrepreneur, speaker and nationally recognized expert in youth entrepreneurship, Lily Sandler who founded Blamtastic, When Lily was just 10 years old, she was having trouble finding her lip balm. She said, Mom, where's my lip blam? Lip BLAM? Brilliant. Lily's mom said that would make a great name for a lip balm company. BLAMtastic® was born. Nerd Word reporter, Jane Fessenden joins the conversation with information on the possibility of teleportation. If you are a Star Trek fan, you'll love what she has to say. Go back to the future and let your imagination soar with possibilities on this episode of Express Yourself!™.

Have you ever stopped to really think about what it means to be an American? The 10th Annual National Essay contest from Be the Star You Are!® charity is focused on this theme so the teens of Express Yourself!™ decided to expound on the idea by listening to the thoughts of other young people following their American dreams. You'll hear from Keenan Todd, a San Francisco State University student. spoken word artist, poet, and entrepreneur who founded the clothing company, CaliExclusive as well as a sophomore at Cal Berkeley, Valerie Cordier Rice who is studying to be an astrophysicist with a goal of working with NASA. Nature Calls Reporter, Isaiah Rankin recounts his vision of what America represents to him by explaining the history of the national animal, the regal Bald Eagle. Co-hosts Caie Kelley and Youngjoo Ahn lead the discussions and also converse about their Asian heritage and how being American offers the resources to carve one's own identity while still sharing values and tolerating differences.

The best gift you can give to another is a wonderful relationship with yourself! When you love yourself, you have the capacity to love others. The Express Yourself!™ teen team brings different perspectives on relationships with hosts Caie Kelley and Youngjoo Ahn as they talk with reporters and a track star. Caie talks about how every person has a different need for connection while Youngjoo emphasizes the importance of being yourself. #Hashtag reporter, Alex Lee denounces posting relationship status on social media and Book it reporter, Courntey Cheng discusses different types of relationships including romantic, familial, and friendship correlating each with a specific book. The featured guest is Jasiri Black, a scholarship awarded college track star from "the hood" of Richmond, California who offers hope and inspiration as she sets goals and develops connections through education. A great relationship with the world begins with yourself! Are you ready to love and be loved?

What is responsibility and how do we interpret it? Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Katelyn Darrow believe that being responsible means being dependable, accountable, having integrity, walking your talk, and exhibiting the authority to act. Global Youth Reporter, Ryan Sim talks about the international security and human rights norms known as the "Responsibility to Protect" or "R2P" with the moral responsibility to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. #Hashtag reporter Alex Lee, talks about the physical, mental, and sociological responsibility that individuals of being a social networker. Our youth hosts interview our special guest, 17 year old recording artist, Roxie Bardo, who shares her discipline and responsibility ways of doing business in the recording world. Originally from Tennessee, currently residing in Los Angeles, Roxie is a professional songwriter as well as the owner of Roxie Bardo Entertainment (P) 2013.

It's a delicious show on Express Yourself!™ when our hosts and reporters talk about their favorite foods, food experiences, and food plans. Hosts Youngjoo Ahn and Rachel Glass welcome back former host, Steven Zhou, who talks about what it's like to eat at college. Chef and Let's Eat Reporter, Tanner O'Dell, gives a lively break down on America's favorite dishes as well has his newest healthy living company, Kor 180. Steven interviews college student and culinary artist, Yuki Siegrist, a sushi chef with years of cooking experience at the upscale Marin County restaurant, Sushi 69. From pizza, mac 'n cheese, to burgers, bites, hemp seed, sushi, or spirulina, you'll want to get into the kitchen (or school cafeteria), and chow down!