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Empowering Women, Families, and Youth since 1999

“We are an impossibility in an impossible universe.”  Ray Bradbury   Radio hosts Julia Howe and Saanvi Phaneendra take us to outer space via AI. Today, we are diving into one of the most exciting things happening in space exploration. Humanity is not just visiting other worlds; we are planning to live on them. And AI is right at the center of making that happen. NASA is not trying to repeat Apollo. The explicit goal is to go to the Moon and stay there, building up to a perma

"We choose to go to the Moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard." — President John F. Kennedy, 1962   Apollo planted a seed. Artemis is the tree. For the first time in over 50 years, humans are flying to the Moon. Not in a textbook. Not in a movie. Right now. NASA's Artemis program was officially established in 2017, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology. Host Saanvi Phaneedra breaks down the Artemis mission into three segments in this broadcas

“With joy and poetry, sunshine feels cozy. Spring is blooming with the power of posies.” Cynthia Brian Do you remember holding hands with friends, walking in a circle, singing the children’s nursery rhyme, “Ring-a-round the rosie, a pocket full of posies?” The origin of the song is unknown, but it has been attributed to the Bubonic Plague or Black Death beginning in 1347. A posy (also spelled posie) is a small bunch of flowers given as a gift. In the Victorian era, the select

In this episode of Express Yourself! , host Hannah Sahota leads her segment “Empowerment and Equality” with a powerful and accessible conversation on cancer awareness, breaking down what cancer is, how it develops, and why early detection and prevention are critical. The segment explores key warning signs, screening methods, and lifestyle factors, while also highlighting the role of vaccines and environmental exposures in cancer risk, especially how systemic inequalities disp

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

MIRACLE MOMENT® “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” Michelle Obama Thanks for reading StarStyle® Empowerment! This post is public, so feel free to share it. Share A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN Women are leading the change and shaping the future. The month of March is dedicated to honoring women’s contributions to history, society, and gender equality. Our country will be celebrating its 250th birthday in 2026, yet women have had the priv

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." — William James What is stress, why do we experience it, and what can we do to relieve anxiety? Host Hannah Sahota and reporter Kirpa Gill tackle this complicated subject that affects everyone. There are three types of stress: acute, episodic, and chronic. The youth discuss techniques to overcome stress, including deep breathing and talking with a trusted person. Reducing and acknowledging

"You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself." — John Steinbeck    According to the Stanford Medical Health Center, by including teens as full participants in self-care, they’re more likely to choose healthy behaviors during their lives. Hannah Sahota hosts this important program focusing on empathy and self-care with reporters Diya and Jatin.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is described as “The ability of individuals, families and

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

MIRACLE MOMENT® “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”  Hamilton Wright Mabie  (1846–1916). StarStyle® Empowerment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/conspiracy-of-love A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN In the midst of winter, February is perceived as a bleak and boring month. However, February honors m

“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

·       "Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness." – Maya Angelou What is kindness? How can we lead with kindness? Host Sharanya along with reporters Milan and Jatin offer their insights into how kindness improves happiness, positive emotions, and social connections while reducing anxiety. Being kind to others manifests kindness for ourselves. Sharanya finishes the episode with notes on her passion of making data science equitab

“I think every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine.” - Neil Armstrong   Some people use their heartbeats to make noise. Others use them to make meaning. In today’s broadcast, host Julia interviews someone who does exactly that through music.   Rachel Schaub is an emerging 17-year-old pop songwriter and artist from the Detroit area whose music is playful, expressive, and deeply personal. Her songs move easily from bright, bouncy pop ant

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein   Brothers, Jatin and Milan, reporters on Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio, talk about how being curious leads to success in all things. Jatin discusses how curiosity helped some people become famous for their inventions. Milan reads a poem and encourages teens to explore and be curious. Producer, Cynthia Brian, hosts the program and reads the chapter from her book, Be the Star You Are! for Teens calle

“Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change ourselves.”~ Mahatma Gandhi     It’s a brand-new year, and Express Yourself!™ teen reporters, Milan and Jatin, share their suggestions for creating goals and resolutions. Producer, Cynthia Brian hosts, providing a few insights into planning for success. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/goals-for-the-new-year     Happy 2026…Sparkle and Shine! LISTEN LIVE:...

What the world needs now! MIRACLE MOMENT® “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” – Benjamin Franklin A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN Are we on the verge of World War III? The chaos, corruption, and cover-ups that are happening in government circles concerning the takeover of countries and their resources are extremely disconcerting to most Americans. Here at Be the Star You Are!®, our main focus

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." – Norman Vincent Peale.  In this holiday episode, Host Julia explores what the season really feels like for teenagers: balancing stress, shifting family dynamics, and the pressure to enjoy a “magical” time of year, while learning how to make the holidays meaningful on our own terms. Julia reflects on practical, honest ways teens can enjoy the season without clichés, perfection

“ If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him. ” Voltaire   Does asking whether God exists help teens think about bigger questions such as what gives life meaning? What makes something right or wrong? Who or what do I look to when I’m trying to understand my purpose, my identity, my relationships, or the challenges? Host Hanna talks about the fact that even teens who don’t believe in a higher power often care deeply about justice, fairness, compassion, dignity,

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”— Maya Angelou A family-friendly Thanksgiving program with host Kirpa and her cousins Milan and Jatin as they celebrate gratitude, food, music, travel, and joy.  Thanksgiving is a time of connection, a time to apologize, and forgive. Kirpa advises that life doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful — and that’s the heartbeat of Thanksgiving. Have gratitude for the sunshine and the rain and even the rainbow

“If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it.” by Johan Huizinga Culture is not only about connecting the past to the present, but it is also a way we form our identity; it is a part of the puzzle in our lives. Host Julia and reporter Milan discuss the importance of studying culture and keeping one’s heritage and culture alive. Milan talks about how culture forms our identity and shares how teens can illustrate the importance of traditions through events, soc