https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/fresh-water-insecurity-due-to-climate-disasters/ Climate change is intensifying. Sea levels are rising. Droughts, extreme rainfall, heatwaves, and fires are increasing and unpredictable. Food and water insecurity cause massive human displacement. Radio host Allison Lu tackles these threats and discusses how freshwater scarcity worsens hunger and poverty, creating vulnerable refugees. In segment two, she talks about “risk

https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/leadher-up-and-female-empowerment/ Confidence doesn't just happen. It must be rebuilt after being bullied, criticized, excluded, or made to feel like you're not good enough. Radio host Kirpa Gill discusses the importance of empowering girls and maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit. She talks about the platform she created to do that, LeadHer Up, focusing on female empowerment, mental health awareness, confidenc

https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/sports-and-the-effects-of-nil-name-image-and-likeness-espys-and-hitting-the-wall/ “Sports are a great place to show that equality can happen.”— Venus Williams NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), is the policy that allows collegiate athletes to make money through endorsements, sponsorships, and social media without losing their athletic eligibility. This has created a rippling effect throughout college sports. Host Julia How

MIRACLE MOMENTS® “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by human beings for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison people because they are different from others.” President Lyndon B. Johnson https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/the-right-to-vote? A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN Cynthia Brian On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. The need for the law was explained in its full

https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/can-the-courts-save-democracy “Where you see wrong, inequality, or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy.” – Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall Courts are one of the most important institutions protecting American democracy, but if our entire strategy for preserving democracy is basically, “Hopefully the Supreme Court figures it out,” then we have a much bigger problem. Keerthi Eraniyan hosts an impor

Issues Facing Teens “Ignore those who tell you which way to go without first understanding where you are.” - James Pierce Teens are facing numerous challenges, and in this episode of Express Yourself!™ host Diya and reporter Allison are talking about the issues surrounding academics, friendships, family, social media, A.I., and more! In Allison’s segment, The New Classroom, she shares that the U.S. is home to upwards of 5.3 million multilingual learner students, represent

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." – Benjamin Franklin Were you taught about finances when you were a teen? The majority of schools don’t teach financial literacy, which is a critical skill for life success. Host Julia Howe interviews teen, Sahishnu (Sai) Manivannan, who discusses how financial literacy, combined with early educational intervention and opportunity access, is the key individuals need to build stable financial habits to be passed down for g

https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/what-will-the-future-look-like "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." — Malcolm X Radio host Saanvi Phaneendra welcomes Express Yourself’s newest reporter, Allison Lu as they discuss what the future will look like. Saanvi talks about AI data centers in space in her segment Space Spotlight, while Allison discusses equality in educational systems in her segment, The New Classroom. Saanvi talks about the earliest chapter of what

What is the difference between arguing and negotiating? Host Keerthi, (our Be the Star You Are!® queen of debate) interviews Ryan Chang about how teens can learn to negotiate to better approach problems and collaborate for the best results. Negotiation is a commonly misunderstood idea. Most believe it is a method to win. But in reality, it is a mutually beneficial compromise made to resolve a conflict. When people change their mindset, negotiation becomes a vital asset in eve

In this episode of Express Yourself!, host Hannah Sahota reflects on a Fourth of July trip to San Francisco that sparked a deeper conversation about the future of artificial intelligence. After witnessing the city's streets overwhelmed with traffic, she explores how autonomous vehicles are transforming transportation and what that means for society. From safety and public health to privacy, employment, and the future of public transit, Hannah examines the opportunities and ch

The 250th Anniversary of America “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”. President John F. Kennedy The 4th of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in America. This year, the USA celebrates 250 years of this American experiment in democracy. Join host Hannah and reporters Jatin and Milan as they share historical and personal perspectives on this semiquincentennial event. Can democracy survive? Teens weigh

“There's a danger in the internet and social media. The notion that information is enough, that more and more information is enough, that you don't have to think, you just have to get more information - gets very dangerous.” Edward de Bono Imagine receiving a video message from a celebrity, politician, or even a family member. They look real. They sound real. They seem completely authentic. But what if it never happened? That’s the reality of deepfakes. Join host Kirpa and

https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/the-womens-reproductive-rights-in-the-united-states “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” - Michelle Obama In this episode of Empowerment and Equality, host Hannah Sahota examines the state of women's reproductive rights in America and the social forces shaping the national debate. Through historical context, policy analysis, and thoughtful commentary, the program explores how access to reproductive healthcare (including

“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter” George Washington. Imagine if every time you wanted to say something, a tiny government elf popped up on your shoulder and said, “Hmm… approved… denied… or maybe rephrase that in a way that makes me emotionally comfortable.” Host, Keerthi, talks about the importance of free speech. With her naturally comedic flair, Keerthi examines a topic that is critical to democracy. Fre

Conservation “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” · Robert Swan Why is conservation critical? Host Diya asks us to imagine life without clean water or wildlife. Conservation is one of our strongest defenses against climate change. Forests, oceans, and wetlands absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, helping regulate Earth’s temperature. The food we eat depends on healthy soil, clean water, pollinators like bees, and stab

“Become an active citizen through your wardrobe.” Livia Firth Today we're not talking about a bill, a ballot measure, or a party platform. We're talking about your closet. The fashion industry generates 92 million tons of textile waste annually. Host Julia Howe and reporter Hanna Yu tackle the tragedy of fast fashion and its environmental impact. Hanna focuses on the philosophy of this conspicuous consumption. Whose fault is it? Julia talks about TikTok Shop. What makes TikT

In this episode, “When AI Takes Over Earth, Humanity Reaches for the Stars,” Saanvi Phaneendra explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and space exploration, and what it means for the future. As AI continues to transform industries such as coding, banking, and creative fields, she raises an important question: what role will humans play in an increasingly automated world? She emphasizes that uniquely human qualities like imagination, curiosity, and the drive to e

Mental health is a part of being human. We are not only our eyes, ears, voice, and body parts, but we are also our emotions. These emotions affect how we feel, react, and portray ourselves to the world. Kirpa hosts a program with reporters Milan and Jatin, with an open discussion defining mental health and how we define it to ourselves and to others. Educate yourself, create safe places, and choose kindness and empathy. No one should struggle alone. Follow us: https://www.s

“Cancer is just a chapter in our lives and not the whole story.” — Allie Moreno Host Keerthi begins the show with a bold and true statement: “ Teenagers are some of the most powerful people on the planet.” She believes that teens need to be involved in cancer advocacy. Cancer isn’t just a medical issue. It’s a human issue. It’s about funding research.It ’s about supporting families.It ’s about making sure treatments are accessible.It ’s about early detection.It ’s about menta

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt Are you confident in your abilities? Do you compare yourselves to others? Host Julia dives into the importance of confidence and reframes how to think about comparison. She interviews reporter Jatin, who shares how comparison negatively affects confidence. He talks about the effects of social media and AI. Reporter Milan then speaks with Julia about how our personal growth can be impacted when we compare ourselves with