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The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

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What a Time to be Alive!!

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we talked about National Nurses Day and National No Diet Day. Plus we did our Who Am I trivia and gave away tickets for MTVarts To Kill a Mockingbird! Here’s what we talked about:

WHO KNEW FACT CHECK– National Nurses Day is the first day of National Nursing Week, which concludes on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. 

National Nurses Day– In the U.S., nurses outnumber doctors roughly three-to-one

 

National No Diet Day. Mary Evans Young created the day after struggling with her own body image and witnessing others experience similar issues. She is also the director of the British anti-diet group, “Diet Breakers”. 

Who Knew Fact Check: National no diet day isn’t picked on a random day. It’s on the founder’s birthday.

  

MTVarts are presenting To Kill A Mockingbird Friday May 8th 7:30pm – 9:30pm at the Woodward Opera House, 107 S Main St, Mt Vernon, OH 43050. It is a school performance, but it does contain language, violence, and racism. It is important and relevant, but it can be emotionally intense and may not be suitable for younger viewers. Tune in during The Morning Thing and Afternoon Drive to win tickets! Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to win tickets!! Congratulations to Ben of Mount Vernon for taking home a pair of tickets!

WHO AM I? 

  1. I was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, and I grew up in a family involved in television and entertainment. 
  1. I got my big break playing Dr. Doug Ross on the TV show ER, which helped launch my acting career. 
  1. I’ve starred in movies like Ocean’s ElevenGravity, and Michael Clayton, earning several awards along the way. 
  1. I’ve also worked as a director and producer, including directing films like Good Night, and Good Luck
  1. Outside of acting, I’m involved in humanitarian work and co-founded organizations to raise awareness about global issues like human rights. 

I am…George Clooney!! Congratulations to Linda of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Joe and Gabriella!

Thanks to much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

Choose humility!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we gave inspiration tied into scripture and did a fun a giveaway! Plus, we did our family feud style question for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: It’s easy to get anxious and fearful when we hear about the news. I use the “Pour Over” app to get my news because it gives the news in a general format and then gives you a prayer you can say at the end. In Philippians 2:3-8 calls Christians to adopt the humble, selfless mindset of Jesus Christ by valuing others above themselves, avoiding selfish ambition, and serving others even at personal cost. It presents Jesus’ incarnation and crucifixion as the ultimate example of humility—giving up divine privilege to serve

Joe’s Motivation: Marcy and I lost our brother in law over the weekend. This year has been filled with so much lost and it’s just getting harder to grieve. We are human and we are supposed to love and care about others. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) instructs believers not to grieve over deceased Christians like those without hope, as death is temporary “sleep”. It promises that because Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with Jesus those who have died when He returns. So, do not worry you will see them again.

MTVarts are presenting To Kill A Mockingbird Friday May 8th 7:30pm – 9:30pm at the Woodward Opera House, 107 S Main St, Mt Vernon, OH 43050. It is a school performance, but it does contain language, violence, and racism. It is important and relevant, but it can be emotionally intense and may not be suitable for younger viewers. Tune in during The Morning Thing and Afternoon Drive to win tickets! Congratulations to Laura of Mount Vernon for taking home a pair of tickets!

Name a bird that would make a disgusting meal. 

1 – Crow (15) 

2 – Vulture (14) 

T3 – Buzzard (13)/Pigeon (13) 

5 – Seagull (7) 

T6 – Penguin/Parrot/Parakeet (5) 

Congratulations to Eric of Fredericktown for guessing the top two answers correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday with Ethan and Xander!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

Faithful in Prayers!!

Today on Praise Thursday we gave devotions and talked about updates on our website wnzr.fm! Plus, we played Name That Tune in the 2nd hour! Here’s what we talked about:

Brook Abella’s Devotion: On Monday during chapel the speaker said something I wasn’t so sure about. I spent days trying to figure out what the truth was and as it turns out the speaker wasn’t far off from the truth. I challenge you to dive into the word of God and take note on what is being said especially geographically. I think God likes to see his kiddos diving into his word and being curious!

Gabriella’s Devotion: As Karen was cleaning out her great grandma’s house she found a prayer book. The apostle Paul wrote to the early church, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). In his letter he talked about having others pray to God for him. Prayer empowers us to live in a way that “overcomes evil with good” (12:21). Though we may not always see the outcome, it creates a legacy of faithfulness for generations to come.

Joe’s Devotion: Psalm 23 has been on my mind lately and since Ben Fuller’s song just played it reminds me of the speaker at Chapel on Monday. He said in order to get things done we have to get off our butts and do something. The same thing goes with growing closer to God. We need to be focused and bring people closer to God. God is here to restore your soul and lead you. Let Him.

MTVarts are presenting To Kill A Mockingbird Friday May 8th 7:30pm – 9:30pm at the Woodward Opera House, 107 S Main St, Mt Vernon, OH 43050. It is a school performance, but it does contain language, violence, and racism. It is important and relevant, but it can be emotionally intense and may not be suitable for younger viewers. Tune in during The Morning Thing and Afternoon Drive to win tickets!

This week’s Name That Tune was “Gods not done with you” by Tauren Wells! Congratulations to Erica of Utica for guessing the artist and song title correctly and taking home 2 $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe 🙂

God is our Armor!!

Today on Monday Motivation we gave motivation tied into scripture and we also did a fun giveaway! Plus, we did Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: Anxiety is an inconvenience many people deal with on regular basis, but while I was getting ready for a formal I was anxious. I was frozen with anxiety and I didn’t know what to so I called my mom. After the call I knew my mom would tell me to pray about it and that’s exactly what I did. I sat down and prayed about it and just like that the weight was lifted off my shoulders. Instead of thinking about anxiety as a negative emotion think of it as a “check engine light” signal. Put your trust in the lord and let that motivate you to break the fear. Pray about everything good and bad. Let God replace your worries with gratitude.

Joe’s Motivation: Anxiety ties into fear, but we don’t really think about how being protected by armor can get you in trouble. Psalm 23 has gotten me into trouble in the past and sometimes we need to pray that God will guide our mouth. With different songs like “No Fear” and “Still Waters” we don’t really think about being overconfident. It’s important to know God your spiritual armer, but it’s also important to be humble and have humility. If you think you’re overconfident I strongly advise you to pray about it and remember to be calm.

Crowder is coming to Akron, Ohio!

There’s something special about hearing great songs in a room that was practically made for them, and that’s exactly what Crowder’s spring tour delivers. And he’s bringing along special guests Seph Schlueter and Patrick Mayberry! This Sunday, May 3rd at E.J. Thomas Performance Hall at the University of Akron, 198 Hill St, Akron, OH 44325. The doors open at 6pm and the concert starts at 7pm. Listen to The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive the week of April 27th for your chance to WIN tickets to this concert! Congratulations to Karen of Mount Vernon for taking home a pair of tickets!

Mystery Monday – Name something you start wearing again in spring. 

1 – shorts (42) 

2 – sunglasses (26) 

3 – light jacket/windbreaker (14) 

4 – rain boots (11) 

5 – sandals (7) 

Congratulations to Karen of Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Resturant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Gametime Tuesday with Xander and Ethan!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

Who Doesn’t Love Jelly Beans??

On this weeks Who Knew Wednesday we talked about jelly beans and did our Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Who Knew Fact CheckIs it true over 1 billion people in more than 190 countries participate in Earth Day? Yes. Earth Day is considered the world’s largest civic-focused day of action, with more than 1 billion people in over 190 countries participating annually! 

Who Knew Fact: Did jelly beans go to space? YES. President Reagan was fond of jelly beans and sent them aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. Astronauts were filmed enjoying the candies in zero gravity, turning the sugary treats into floating, bite-sized snacks. 

Jelly bean dad jokes: What do you call a group of jelly beans singing? A jam session.

How did the jelly bean get good grades? He was on a roll.

Happy National Jelly Bean Day!!

WHO AM I? 

  1. I was born today, April 22nd, 1904 in NYC, and passed away on February 18, 1967. 
  1. I was an American theoretical physicist and known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” 
  1. I served as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project during World War II, and led the team that developed the first nuclear weapons at Los Alamos Laboratory. 
  1. After World War II, I became a prominent voice warning about the dangers of nuclear weapons and advocating for international control. 
  1. I have a movie about me! I was portrayed by Cillian Murphy, alongside a cast of Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr. 

I am… Robert Oppenheimer! Congratulations to Mark of Utica for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

It’s a Marathon NOT a Sprint!!

On this weeks Praise Thursday we gave devotions through scripture and played Name That Tune! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Devotion: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Mark—a marathoner and a dedicated pastor who served two churches over the span of thirty-five years—recently retired. One gift presented to him was a pair of new running shoes. I ran with Mark once over twenty years ago, but throughout his life, he’s run the 26.2-mile race in numerous cities across the country. At his retirement celebration, people from the community and the churches he served also expressed their appreciation for Mark’s faithfulness. Because of God’s power and grace, Mark finished well.

Life’s more like a marathon than a sprint. At times we experience fatigue and we feel like giving up. Yet God’s grace and strength are unending for those who trust Him. As the imprisoned apostle Paul neared the finish line of life (2 Timothy 4:6), he encouraged his protégé Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (v. 7). Life’s paths take us to different places. But regardless of where we are on life’s journey, it’s always good to remember that faith-filled endurance is essential and rewarding (v. 8); that God is the source of our strength (v. 17); and that, by His grace, he “will bring [us] safely to his heavenly kingdom” (v. 18). Click HERE to read more!

Join Ben with special guest Band Reeves, on Ben’s “Black Sheep Tour”. 
This will be a special night for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re too far gone, the one God rescued anyway. It will be full of worship, raw honesty, and full of hope! This Sunday at Fairfield Christian Church, Lancaster, Ohio. The VIP Doors open at 5PM, Early Entry Doors at 6PM, General Admission at 6:15PM, show begins at 7PM. Congratulations to Eli of Plain City for being caller #3 and taking home a pair of tickets to see Ben Fuller!

This week’s Name That Tune was Happy Day by Jesus Culture! Congratulations to Joseph from Mount Vernon for guessing the song and artist name correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe 🙂

We Are Full!!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we gave Easter themed motivation and played Mystery Monday with a family feud style question. Here’s what we talked about:

Joe’s Motivation: This past week was filled with many darkness times. It’s important in this time we focus on the light. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We need to find the joy and the light in harsh times. It’s easy to wallow in our sadness and it’s not what we should be doing.

Gabriella’s Motivation: John 15:5 says that we should “abide” in Him. To abide in Christ means we “live, dwell, and remain” with Him. It’s important we pray through the good and the bad. In order to be full we have to lean on Christ as His disciples did during the Last Supper. We may try to be self-sufficient, but it will never consistent without Him.

Name something cats and men have in common

  1. Love sleeping (11) 
  1. Being lazy (11) 
  1. Sneaky (10) 
  1. Hairy/whiskers (10) 
  1. Finicky/stubborn (7) 
  1. Like petting (6) 

Congratulations to Tracy of Howard for guessing the top two answers and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Gametime Tuesday with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

Devil Get Behind Me!!

On this week’s Praise Thursday we shared devotionals tied to our Lifeline 2026 Theme and played a game of Name That Tune! Here’s what we talked about:

Brook Abella’s Devotion: When I was on my spring break I was having such a great time. I went to my favorite beach and spent time with my friends. I thought it was so much fun and that it couldn’t get any better than this. When we were on vacation we found out our family cat died. We’ve had her for 15 years and it was a hard thing to come back to. This reminded me of Ecclesiastes 3:4 “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance”. I understood that there is a time to weep and now I have to focus on my future and present.

Gabriella’s Devotion: 1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” The God of all Grace. May the God of all grace settle you. May the God of all Grace strengthen you. May the God of all Grace establish you and make you perfect. May the God of all Grace make you whole. May the Lord God give you strength to overcome, and conquer every tactic and weapon of the enemy.

Joe’s Devotion: In class we talked about the three C’s of our department and one of the things that led to was a talk on identity. Everyone has struggled with who they are or want to be, but as Christians we are God’s chosen people. We are his children. We are made in his perfect image. You are completely accepted (Titus 3:7), you are extremely valuable (Ephesians 2:10), you are eternally loved (Hebrews 2:11), you are forgiven (Romans 8:1), you are fully capable (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

This year’s Theme – “God Did It!” by Micah Tyler

This year’s Theme Verse is Psalm 115:1 (NIV)- “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Our Name That Tune was Worthy of It All by CeCe Winans! Congratulations to Heather of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella, Brook Abella, and Joe 🙂

Spring FEVER!!

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we talked about spring centered who knew facts and did our Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Who Knew Fact: Are birds more vocal during spring? Spring is the breeding season, causing birds to sing more to attract mates and warn rivals. 

Who Knew Fact: National awkward moment day! Embrace and laugh off the cringeworthy, embarrassing social stumbles we all experience.

Who Knew Fact: “Spring fever” is a real thing? Yes. The increase in daylight and sunlight triggers the release of serotonin in the brain, which makes people feel happier and more energetic. 

Who Knew Fact: The Lifeline challenge is back for 2026? We are looking for 250 individuals to take on the lifeline challenge by giving $25 per month! Will you take one the challenge?

  1. I was born on March 18, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. 
  1. I am best known as the lead singer and frontman of the pop-rock band Maroon 5. 
  1. Before Maroon 5, I was in a band called Kara’s Flowers, which later evolved into Maroon 5 after a style change. 
  1. I gained widespread popularity not only through music but also as a coach on the TV show The Voice. 
  1. I am also known for my distinctive tattoos, many of which cover my arms and torso and often have personal meanings. 

I am… Adam Levine! Congratulations to Nicole of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Joe, Brook Abella, and Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella 🙂

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