On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday, we discussed Apple Strudel, Mascots, and Crocodiles; plus, who am I trivia. Here’s what we talked about.
WHO KNEW FACT CHECK– Crocodiles can go through over 3,000 teeth in their lifetime! As soon as one falls out a new one starts growing in its place.
NATIONAL APPLE STRUDEL DAY – The longest Apple Strudel ever made measured over 2,004 feet and was baked in Vienna in 2015.
NATIONAL MASCOT DAY – The word Mascot comes from the French word “Mascotte” which means lucky charm.
WORLD CROC DAY – Some crocodiles can reach lengths of up to 20 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds. They also have a long lifespan, with some individuals living for more than 70 years.
WHO AM I?
I was born June 17, 1943, in New York City and grew up in Brooklyn
In the 1960s, I started my career as a commercial jingle writer and singer.
In 1969, I helped co-write and produce music under the band name “Featherbed”
By 1975, I had my first #1 hit with the single, “Mandy”
In December of 2010, I performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway
I am Barry Manilow! Congratulations to Rhonda from Fredericktown for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!
Join Brock tomorrow for Praise Thursday! Thanks so much for listening! – Daniel
What if a concert tour was about more than the music?
For Ben Fuller, his recent Black Sheep Tour became a place where lives were changed, people were baptized, and many made decisions to follow Jesus. Now he’s giving fans a chance to experience those moments again with his new live album, Black Sheep Tour: Songs from the Road.
Recorded during his headlining tour earlier this year, the 13-track collection features live versions of fan favorites like “Black Sheep,” “Who I Am,” “If I Got Jesus,” “Turn,” and “Walk Through Fire.” Each song also includes a live video component that captures the energy and impact of the performances.
The tour reached 28 cities, welcomed more than 26,000 attendees, and saw over 130 people commit their lives to Christ. Ben says he’s continually amazed by what God is doing through his ministry and hopes these songs remind listeners that it’s never too late to experience God’s love and grace.
Have you ever wondered what might happen if just one more person heard the Gospel?
That question became the inspiration behind Patrick Mayberry’s new EP, Anybody Else, available now. The title track was inspired by a powerful moment during a visit to Louisiana State Penitentiary with the prison ministry God Behind Bars.
After a pastor shared the Gospel and invited inmates to respond, one man stepped forward to be baptized. In that moment, Patrick felt God prompting him to ask a simple question: “Is there anybody else?” Two more men responded and gave their lives to Christ.
That unforgettable experience became the foundation for the song “Anybody Else,” which celebrates the life-changing power of the Gospel and encourages believers to boldly share what God has done in their lives.
The six-song EP also comes on the heels of a big season for Mayberry. His song “Lead On Good Shepherd” recently reached No. 1 on Christian radio and earned a K-LOVE Fan Award nomination for Worship Song of the Year.
Patrick says “Anybody Else” started as a question but became one of the most important songs he’s ever written, reminding listeners that the redeemed of the Lord were never meant to stay silent.
I (Daniel) Felt kinda tired today, after a bit of research and a quick diagnosis, I’ve got a case of the Mondays…
The highs of this past weekend, watching movies, spending most of yesterday with live butterflies at a conservatory, and spending a lot of time with my Girlfriend, but then coming to work today has been a bit of a challenge, but that’s okay.
You see, Jesus highlights the perfect cure for the Mondays and any other days of weariness
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Later on in Matthew, while Jesus was carrying the cross, Simon came in to help carry the burden.
Matthew 27:32 “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.”
If you’re feeling a rough case of the Mondays or whatever day, then look to God, look to others to help carry the burden of the day.
Find rest with Jesus and kneel down to pray.
My (Joe) Monday motivation today comes from John 3, which is a very familiar passage to most people because it’s where we find John 3:16, but there’s also verse 17…
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
The most important issue that we face in our lives is whether we will accept or reject Jesus and His identity as truth. Nicodemus, in this passage, was a member of the Jewish ruling class. And so their conversation is so significant to our faith because Jesus talks about the concept of being born again. And so what are some lessons we can pull from John 3?
1. That God loves us infinitely and unconditionally, regardless of what we may have done in the past, no matter how much we’ve rebelled against him, God still seeks us in love.
2. God demonstrated his love by giving His Son for us. That’s a profound truth. God did this for us while we were still in rebellion against him. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8b
3. That we must believe in Jesus in order to receive God’s forgiveness and enter his kingdom. Believing in Jesus means trusting in him for forgiveness and eternal life, and accepting that through his death, he paid in full the debt of your sins and my sins. And by that resurrection, he assures us of eternal life.
Mystery Monday
Name something that little kids eat that leaves telltale evidence on their faces.
Chocolate/Candy (55)
Ice Cream (18)
Tomato Sauce (7)
Cookies (6)
Hot Cocoa (4)
Milk (3)
Congratulations to Kirsten from Mount Vernon, who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.
Praise the Lord, it’s Friday! Here’s this week’s countdown:
10. Jamie MacDonald – Ain’t No Way 9. Zach Williams – Wait for Me 8. Andrew Ripp – I’d Do It Again 7. Phil Wickham – Homesick for Heaven 6. Elevation Worship – Alleluia 5. CeCe Winans – Worthy Of It All (Worthy medley) 4. Peter Burton – Where Would I Be? 3. ELEVATION RHYTHM – WASHED 2. MercyMe – Make It Well 1. Matthew West – Good (4th week at #1)
New Music Friday – songs added today to the WNZR playlist
If I’m (Brock) being honest, prayer hasn’t always come easily for me. It’s not because I don’t know what to say—I think sometimes I put so much pressure on myself to pray the “right” way that I end up not praying at all. And usually, I regret it later.
That’s why Romans 8:26 has been such an encouragement to me. It says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
I love that reminder because it shows us that we’re never alone in prayer. Even when we don’t have the words, when we’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure what to say, God’s Spirit is right there, interceding on our behalf.
So if you’re struggling to find the words today, be encouraged. We serve a God who meets us in our weakness and gives us His Spirit to help us. Even when we can’t pray the prayers we want to pray, we’re still covered in prayer—and that’s something worth praising God for.
Joe’s Devotional:
Inspiration comes in the most unexpected places sometimes. For me, this week it was in an algorithm!
One of our favorite TV shows was always The West Wing, starring Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlett. Every once in a while, a West Wing clip will show up in my Facebook feed. Last night, it just so happened that the clip was of actor Martin Sheen singing a hymn on his podcast. That hymn was ‘On Eagle’s Wings,’ composed by Father Michael Joncas in the 1970’s.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
The inspiration is the reminder that we find our strength in God rather than relying on human endurance. We can trust in God and help overcome life’s exhaustive moments.
Congratulations to this week’s Name That Tune winner – Rodney from Gambier!
He correctly guessed this week’s song, “demons” by Josiah Queen!
We’re starting a new Praise Thursday tradition!
Every week, we will play “I Saw The Light” by David Crowder Band before starting the second hour of the Afternoon Drive! We hope it’s a reset and reminder to praise Jesus!
On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday, we discussed Talking Slowly, Iced Tea, and Egg Rolls; plus, who am I trivia. Here’s what we talked about.
WHO KNEW FACT CHECK– Tea leaves can help keep mosquitoes at bay
NATIONAL TALK SLOW DAY – Slowing down benefits the listener and communicator, as it allows you to breathe, be calm, and relax.
Fried spring rolls with vegetables and shrimps, served with spicy sauce and chopsticks over white wooden background. Overhead view
NATIONAL ICED TEA DAY – The first place to sell and grow iced tea in America was South Carolina in 1775.
NATIONAL EGG ROLL DAY – Origins of the egg roll aren’t completely clear. Some stories say it was New York chef Lung Fong who invented the delicacy back in 1925. Others credit chef Henry Low of the restaurant Port Arthur in New York City.
WHO AM I?
I was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and began performing as a child alongside my sisters.
I became a global star playing Dorothy in the classic film ‘The Wizard of Oz.’
I sang the iconic song ‘Over the Rainbow,’ which won an Academy Award.
Despite personal struggles, I made a celebrated comeback with concerts in the 1960s, including performances at Carnegie Hall.
My daughter, Liza Minelli, was also an accomplished performer and actress.
I am Judy Garland! Congratulations to Jim from Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!
Join Joe and Brock tomorrow for Praise Thursday! Thanks so much for listening! – Joe and Daniel
If you’re a fan of Crowder, there’s some exciting news coming this fall! He’s heading back out on the road for the Crowder LIVE! Tour, and if his past tours are any indication, it’s going to be a night full of worship, celebration, and a whole lot of energy.
You’ll get to hear some of his biggest songs, including “Good God Almighty,” “Grave Robber,” and “Somebody Prayed,” plus Crowder says these nights are all about gathering as the family of God, singing truth, finding encouragement, and celebrating what God is doing in our lives.
He’s also bringing some great friends along for the tour. Rend Collective will be joining him on every stop, with Lost & Found and Benjamin William Hastings appearing on select dates.
Tickets go on sale June 12, and luckily for Ohio residents, Crowder will visit both Columbus and Cincinnati this October! So, if you’re looking for a concert to attend, you definitely don’t want to miss this!
Tree63 may be a new name to some listeners, but they’ve been making an impact in Christian music for nearly three decades. The South African rock band first formed in 1996 and quickly gained international attention with songs like “Treasure” and “Look What You’ve Done.”
Led by singer and songwriter John Ellis, Tree63 went on to win a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year and scored major hits including “Blessed Be Your Name” and “King,” songs that helped shape Christian radio and worship music in the early 2000s.
After the band stepped away in 2009, Ellis returned to South Africa and focused on solo projects. But now, after years apart and more than a decade since their last full season together, Tree63 is back.
With a refreshed lineup and a renewed sense of purpose, the band began writing and recording new music in 2025, leading to their upcoming album, Voyage. It’s a project that reflects both the band’s history and the faith journey that has guided them through the years.
The new album arrives later this month, marking an exciting new chapter for a band that has already left a lasting mark on Christian music.
CeCe Winans sends a kind message to Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs after he chose her song “King of Glory” as his walk-out song! Check it out:
Sometimes on this journey
I get lost in my mistakes
What looks to me like weakness
is a canvas for Your strength
Congrats to this week’s song poetry winner, Cheyenne from Mount Vernon, for correctly guessing The Father’s House by Cory Asbury!
James 1:2–4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Did you have joy in your trials this weekend? I really struggled to find it! The storm and resulting power outages Saturday and Sunday were certainly a trial for many, including me.
James tells us to consider trials “pure joy”—not because they’re easy, but because they produce perseverance. Patience isn’t natural; it’s developed under pressure. Trials are not interruptions to your growth—they are the pathway to it.
I know not having power for 27 hours, trying to get back the house Saturday night, and having to throw out almost everything in the fridge seems like a trial. And it’s not the first time we’ve had to do it. But big picture? It was a chance to reset, slow down and think, despite an initial measure of impatience.
Our prayer? God, help me not to resist the process. Grow perseverance in me so I may become mature and complete.
Name a food or drink that you smell outside a restaurant in the morning.
Bacon (35)
Coffee (35)
Eggs (16)
Bread (5)
Donut (5)
Congratulations to Pam from Newark, who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.
Praise the Lord, it’s Friday! (and First Friday)…Here’s this week’s countdown:
10. Zach Williams – Wait for Me 9. Elevation Worship – Alleluia 8. Blessing Offor – Lift Me Up 7. Andrew Ripp – I’d Do It Again 6. Phil Wickham – Homesick for Heaven 5. CeCe Winans – Worthy Of It All (Worthy medley) 4. ELEVATION RHYTHM – WASHED 3. MercyMe – Make It Well 2. Peter Burton – Where Would I Be? 1. Matthew West – Good (3rd week at #1)
New Music Friday – songs added today to the WNZR playlist
Brandon Lake and Nick Jonas – The Author
Thank you for listening! – Joe (and the Big Blue Crew)
Driving Notes 