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Do You Love Guacamole?

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we talked about our national holidays and gave updates on where we’ll be over the weekend! Plus we played our Who Am I trivia in the second hour! Here’s what we talked about:

National Play-Doh Day: Did you know play doh was orginally wallpaper cleaner? Yes!- It was invented in the 1930s by Kutol Products in Cincinnati, Ohio, to clean coal soot off wallpaper. It was saved by a teacher when homes switched to clean gas and oil heat, sales dropped. A nursery school teacher named Kay Zufall used the cleaner for art projects and suggested marketing it as a toy!

National Guacamole Day: Did you know avocados from Mexico was illegal to transport in the USA? It was! From 1914 to 1997, importing Mexican avocados into the U.S. was illegal due to fears of agricultural pests, severely limiting authentic guac stateside until the ban lifted in the 1990s. It was also known as The “Alligator Pear” in the early 20th century- avocados were marketed under this unappealing name because of their bumpy, green skin!

You have chances to win THIS WEEK!

Sonfest Trivia â€“ THIS WEEK on The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive will have trivia about this year’s event and past Sonfests. If you are the first person to answer correctly, you win two tickets to Sonfest 2026!
Tune into The Morning Thing at 7:30am or The Afternoon Drive at 4:50pm. Congratulations Polyene of Mount Vernon for guessing our trivia correctly and taking home tickets for Sonfest!!

Who am I?

  1. I was born on September 16, 1992, in Dallas Texas.
  2. I am a singer, songwriter, actor, and musician.
  3. I am one of three members of the Jonas Brothers, along with my brother Kevin and Joe.
  4. I began preforming on Broadway as a child before becoming famous as a musician.
  5. I married actress Priyanka Chopra in 2018, and we have a daughter together.

I am… Nick Jonas! Congratulations Tracy of Howard for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Resturant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel and Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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Fredericktown Tomato Show!!

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we went On The Road With Big Blue Live with Marcy! Plus, we played Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Look for Big Blue in downtown Fredericktown and say Hi, e are beside the municipal court!

Make sure to stop by and register for a prize. We have prize baskets for everyone in the family. You can register at the Fredericktown Tomato Show HERE

Adults, 18 and older, can register to win a WNZR Prize Basket full of goodies

KIDS of EVERY age can WIN at the Fredericktown Tomato Show! 
We’ll have a Kid’s ultimate activity prize basket to give away Wednesday through Saturday –that’s FOUR incredible baskets.  
Kids (10 and under) can register at the festival or HERE 

  1. I was born September 9, 1890 in Henryville, Indiana 
  1. I served as a railroad man and even a lawyer for a while in Arkansas 
  1. My famous chicken recipes and the launch of my food empire started at a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky 
  1. When the new interstate bypassed my business, I closed it and pitched my recipe to others. 
  1. I never held the rank of Colonel, but it was an honorary title from the state of Kentucky. 

I am… Colonel Sanders! Congratulations to Mike of Howard for guessing our Who Am I Trivia correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella 🙂

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Fall is Here!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we shared encouragement through scripture and played our Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: Motivated by Mission

If we view life through a lens that is only concerned with ourselves, we’ll get tired of our circumstances and disappointed by our hard work. But if we view life through a lens of worshipping God, then nothing in this life will give us more joy than serving Jesus Christ!

The best kind of motivation is always fueled by a desire to lead yourself and others closer to Christ. If everything becomes about Him, then everything is worth doing well. If we’re Christians, then our lives belong to Jesus.

Our whole world becomes about honoring God. When we do everything with Him in mind, He never fails to bless us with His peace, hope, and love.

So as you think about the work God has put in front of you, consider what it would mean to do everything for the Lord. And then ask yourself: “in what ways will I honor God and inspire others today?” 

Joe’s Motivation: Junk files

Does your phone or your computer ever remind you that you need to delete some junk files? None of us like getting nagged by our devices, but we also know that if we clean out those files, we’ve got more space for the things that really matter. Author Adam Holz reminds us, that yes, junk files on our phones or computers are easy to delete, but what about the junk files in our souls? Like our phones, our souls can be clogged with the stuff that keeps us from being able to flourish in our relationship with Jesus. The author of Hebrews understood this reality, encouraging us to pay close attention to anything that trips us up in our walk with God. Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

If we fix our eyes on Jesus, He alone can help us identify and delete those junk files hindering our life in him. Our prayer today is, “father, please give us the wisdom and courage to throw off the sin that so easily entangles.”

Name a word or phrase that starts with the word “BREAK”.

  1. Break A Leg (32)
  2. Breakfast (11)
  3. Breakup (10)
  4. Breakdance (9)
  5. Break It Up (8)
  6. Breakdown (5)

Congratulations to Satarah of Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers correctly and taking home TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday with Brock!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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Coconut is a Fruit NOT a Nut?!

Happy Wednesday! On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday, we talked about World Coconut Day and local Who Knew Facts! Plus, we played “Who Am I?” in the second hour. Here’s what we talked about:

World Coconut Day: “A coconut is a nut?” FALSE 

Botanically: it’s a fruit, specifically a type of drupe—the same general fruit category as peaches, plums, and cherries. 

The confusion comes from its hard outer shell and the fact that the edible seed inside is commonly called a “nut.” In fact, the name coconut comes from the Portuguese and Spanish word coco, referring to the three “eyes” on the shell. 

You can love coconut and hate shredded coconut. That’s not contradictory—it’s like loving potatoes but not liking mashed potatoes. Same food, completely different texture and experience! 

And there’s another interesting distinction: young coconut vs. mature coconut. Young coconut meat is soft, almost jelly-like, while mature coconut meat—the stuff commonly shredded—is much firmer and more fibrous. 

Last First Friday for Mount Vernon: This Friday is Mount Vernon’s last First Friday for the 2026 season! First Friday happens this week on the public square 6pm-9pm. There will be Live Music, Food trucks, Community Spotlight, School Spirit-themed photo booth, Activities Zone, Touch-a-Truck, and so much more. Show your school pride as Downtown Mount Vernon turns into a community pep rally. Wear your school colors, cheer on local students and educators, and enjoy a back-to-school celebration full of spirit and hometown pride. 

Who Am I?

  1. I was born on September 2, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon. 
  1. I am a Canadian actor, known for movies such as The Matrix and John Wick. 
  1. I grew up mainly in Toronto, Canada. 
  1. I began acting professionally as a teenager and appeared in films such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. 
  1. I also play bass guitar and have performed with the rock band Dogstar. 

I am… Keanu Reeves  congratulations to Connie of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow with Daniel for Praise Thursday!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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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 Eleven, Gravity, 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 🙂

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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 🙂

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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 🙂

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Fashion Fades… Denim is Forever!!

Today on Who Knew Wednesday we talked about National Denim and Zipper Day! Plus, we played our Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Who Knew: National Denim Day! Did you know your favorite pair of blue jeans has roots in France? The word “denim” actually comesfrom fabric made in Nîmes—“serge de Nîmes,” meaning “from Nîmes!” 

Who Knew: And here’s another one—early jeans didn’t even have zippers! When Levi Strauss first made them for Gold Rush workers, they used buttons because they were tough and reliable. 

Who Knew: National Zipper Day! Speaking of zippers… the modern version we use today was perfected by Gideon Sundback in the early 1900s—but they weren’t originally for jeans. They first showed up on boots!   

Who Knew: So how did zippers and denim finally come together? During World War II, zippers became more common in clothing—and eventually made their way into jeans for added convenience.  👖🔗 Today, whether you’re rocking a classic button fly or a zipper, you’re wearing a little piece of history. 

Who Knew: The zipper was invented in 1893 by Whitcomb Judson, but his version wasn’t very reliable. A better version came later from Gideon Sundback, who designed the modern zipper in 1913. The name “zipper” came from the sound it makes—popularized by the B. F. Goodrich Company when they used it on rubber boots in the 1920s.  

Who Knew: Early zippers were first used on boots and tobacco pouches—not clothing! 

WHO AM I?

  1. I was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. 
  1. I became a leading figure in the “outlaw country” movement, with artists like Waylon Jennings.  
  1. I wrote classics like “Crazy,” famously recorded by Patsy Cline, “Always on My Mind,” and “On the Road Again” 
  1. I am known for my distinctive voice, long braids, and my well-worn guitar named “Trigger.”  
  1. I’m also an actor, author, and activist, known for co-founding Farm Aid to support American farmers. 

I am… Willie Nelson!! Congratulations to Gidget of Mount Vernon for guessing our Who Am I 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 🙂

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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 🙂

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