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Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

The Winter Jam 2026 Tour Lineup is Announced!!

Today on Artist Newsday and Gametime Tuesday we talked about Rend Collectives tour and our giveaway along with the Winter Jam 2026 tour lineup!

Saturday, January 24th – in Columbus. Saturday, February 21st – in Cincinnati. Friday. March 27th – in Cleveland (Specific venues and times coming soon). The Winter Jam 2026 Tour Lineup: Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Katy Nichole, Emerson Day, Hulvey, Disciple, and Newsong. At the Pre-Jam Party: Jeremy Rosado, Heath Brothers, and Cliff Preston. Plus speaker: Zane Black.

Go to www.jamtour.com for information on tickets, Jam Nation – the fan experience and the Winter Jam app!

Don’t miss our NEW Contest – Ring for Rend Collective. Listen to The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive this week! Listen for the short clip of the song Hallelujah Anyway and be Caller #3. You can win a pair of General Admission Tickets to The Rend Collective Folk! Fall Tour at MVNU on 11/14!  Tickets are valued at $26 each! Congratulations to Alana of Mount Vernon for being caller #3 and taking home a pair of tickets to Rend collective!

Watch the animation for “Gobble Gobble” by Matthew West! It was released yesterday and is so much fun!

Here were this week’s lyrics for Song Poetry!

The truth of its nature
It’s always give and never take
It flows with that freedom
Surrendering itself away
Carves canyons through stone
Tells the rivers to run home

This week’s Song Poetry was a stumper! If you think you know the song title and artist of these lyrics, tune in next week for a chance to win THREE $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thank you for listening!
– Gabriella Stanley

Endless Stream of Goodness!!

We love getting to start our week off with some Monday Motivation for you! We took a look at some encouraging and uplifting songs during The Afternoon Drive! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Monday Motivation was Cochren & Co. with Running Home. The song conveys that instead of facing anger and punishment, a person who returns to God will find an open, welcoming embrace and unconditional love. It speaks to overcoming a past filled with mistakes and finding redemption, peace, and freedom by “running home” to faith. 

Joe’s Monday Motivation was Matt Redman’s Ten Thousand Reasons. When you feel like there’s no reason to be blessed, this song shows there’s many reasons to be blessed. Even Matt said “ten thousand reasons to be blessed is an understatement.”

Don’t miss our NEW Contest – Ring for Rend Collective. Listen to The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive this week! Listen for the short clip of the song Hallelujah Anyway and be Caller #3. You can win a pair of General Admission Tickets to The Rend Collective Folk! Fall Tour at MVNU on 11/14!  Tickets are valued at $26 each! Congratulations to Rhonda of Fredericktown for being caller #3!

What superhero would you never hire as a babysitter? 

  1. Incredible Hulk (38 votes)
  1. Wolverine (25 votes) 
  1. Spiderman (21 votes) 
  1. Iron Man (8 votes) 
  1. Batman (8 votes) 

Congratulations to Bob of Howard for guessing our 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 🙂

NZ Top 10 for 10/31/2025

Here is your top 10 countdown for this final week of October!

10. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah
9. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now
8. Elevation Worship f/Brandon Lake – I Know A Name
7. Emerson Day – Get Behind Me
6. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors
5. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus
4. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River
3. Crowder – STILL
2. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God (previously #1 for 12 weeks)
1. Josiah Queen f/Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy

New Music This Week:

Phil Wickham Homesick For Heaven

Brook Abella & Citizen Way – Zion

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

Live with Full Faith!?!

On this beautiful Praise Thursday, we shared inspiring worship music, gave devotions, shared updates, and played a fun game of NTT! Check out our website wnzr.fm!

It’s important for your relationship with Christ to understand yourself. You can’t have any type of long lasting relationship when you don’t put effort in to make it work. It’s important to know that go one can be Christ but we can do our best to be Christ-like. Some people may hold a Christ-like character than others, but that’s why we are Christians, to help and accept others as Christ did for us. Put your full faith in God in his ability to help.

You never know what someone is going through and even the little things matter. Complimenting someone on the sidewalk or in the hallways go a long way. Joel Smallbone, a member of For King & Country, gave a lady a bus ticket and he found out that she only had $30 to her name. Do what you can for people. We all are creations in Christ no matter our separate opinions we are not called to judge. We are called to serve.

This week’s Name That Tune was a stumper, BUT come back next week for a chance to win TWO $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!

– Ethan and Gabriella 🙂

The Prince of Peace!?!

Who Knew Fact Check: National Oatmeal Day! You can celebrate by eating oatmeal in new and creative ways, like trying a savory recipe with cheese, making overnight oats, or baking oatmeal cookies. Try an oatmeal face mask for skin rejuvenation!

Who Knew Fact Check: National Cat Day! You can spend quality time with your own cat by playing or grooming, give treats and new toys, or support cats in need by donating to a local shelter or becoming a foster. You can also share photos and stories of cats online, learn more about cat welfare, or adopt a cat if you’re ready!

Who Knew Fact Check: A snail can sleep for three years? Yes! Some snails can sleep for up to three years by entering a state of dormancy called estivation (to survive heat/drought) or hibernation (to survive cold). They seal themselves inside their shells with a mucus layer to stay moist and protected, slowing their metabolism to survive harsh conditions.

October is almost over, BUT there’s still time to show your pastor appreciation. This Friday during the morning thing is the last drawing along with our GRAND drawing. Go to wnzr.fm to nominate your pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month!

Who am I?  

  1. I was born Oct. 29th, 1942, in Daytona Beach, Florida 
  1. I had a PBS television show, “The Joy of Painting”, which aired in 1983-1994
  1. I am known for my soothing voice, gentle personality, and calm demeanor 
  1. I served our country in 1961 for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force 
  1. My most expensive painting is “A Walk in the Woods,” which is valued at $9.85 million

I am… Bob Ross! Congratulations to Kari 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 Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

Jamie MacDonald Announces Her First Studio Album!

We dug into the weeds a little bit on this week’s Artist News Day. We talked about Jamie MacDonald’s first upcoming studio album, as well as the details regarding MercyMe’s second debut to the silver screen, I Can Only Imagine 2.

Jamie MacDonald, recently signed onto Capitol CMG, announced her first ever album that will be coming out early next year! This self-titled album is scheduled to release on January 23rd, 2026 and will feature well-known favorites heard on WNZR like Desperate and Left It In The River.

You can expect this album to be full of honesty, faith, and healing as we see the story it tells. Jamie is telling listeners, “For over a decade, I’ve held onto God’s promise that I would one day write songs that would first heal me, and then bring healing to others. That time is now.”

You can find her taking some of the songs on her new record while she’s on the road this fall and upcoming spring! She’ll be coming to Ohio with:

  • Benjamin William Hastings on his At The Heart Of It Tour in Pickerington, Ohio on Friday, November 14th
  • Chris Tomlin on his Christmas With Chris Tomlin tour in Grove City, Ohio on Friday, December 19th
  • Phil Wickham on his Song Of The Saints Tour in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, April 17th

If you want to see Jamie live at any of these events, you can get tickets by going to the Concerts page on our website here!

We talked about MercyMe’s sequel to their box office hit, I Can Only Imagine last week, and earlier last week we got to take a look at their movie as they released the first trailer to I Can Only Imagine 2.

In this trailer, we see some of the struggles Bart goes through as he becomes a father. We also get a look at Bart’s new mentor, Tim Timmons, some struggles that he deals with, and how God uses him to help Bart as he learns how to be a good dad to his son Sam.

The full synopsis is found on their website here!

All of that and more is seen on their new trailer!

Here were this week’s lyrics for Song Poetry!

The truth of its nature
It’s always give and never take
It flows with that freedom
Surrendering itself away
Carves canyons through stone
Tells the rivers to run home

This week’s Song Poetry was a stumper! If you think you know the song title and artist of these lyrics, tune in next week for a chance to win two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thank you for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

He’ll Never Let us Down!!

We love getting to start our week off with some Monday Motivation for you! We took a look at some encouraging and uplifting songs during The Afternoon Drive! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Monday motivation was Mighty Name of Jesus by Hope Darst: When feeling weak, remember that God’s power is shown in weakness.

Joes Monday Motivation was Won’t Start Now by Seph Schlueter: He has never failed in the past and will not fail them in the future.

We also played Family Feud for our Mystery Monday!

If Batman went broke, what Bat-item would he sell?

  1. Batmobile (81)
  2. Batcave (9)
  3. Batcopter (2)
  4. Batcycle (2)
  5. Batplane (2)

Congratulations to Brylan of Mount Vernon 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 🙂

NZ Top 10 for 10/24/25

Praise the Lord It’s Friday! Here is this week’s countdown:

10. Zach Williams – Jesus Loves
9. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now
8. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River
7. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors
6. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus
5. Elevation Worship f/Brandon Lake – I Know A Name
4. Crowder – STILL
3. Emerson Day – Get Behind Me
2. Josiah Queen f/Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy (4th week at #2)
1. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God (12th week at #1)

New Music This Week:

Terrian – Testimony

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

Truly Trust in God’s Path!!

On this beautiful Praise Thursday, we shared inspiring worship music, gave devotions, shared updates, and played a fun game of NTT! Check out our website wnzr.fm!

Many people have been in a difficult position. You can’t control what people say or do, but you can control how you react. As followers of Christ, it’s our duty to not fight fire with fire. Kindness triumphs when those who’ve received it from God share it generously with others as the Spirit helps them. 1 Peter 3:8-12 (NIV): “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.”

Most of us have heard “don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” the same is true in your relationship with God. God has a plan for us, but most of us try to go on our own path. God’s path’s are trustworthy, for He loves us and has our best interests at heart. Psalm 32:6-11 (NIV): “I will instruct… you in the way you should go… with my loving eye on you.”

To read more click HERE!

This month is a time to honor our local pastors and their commitment to families in our community. Tell us why you love your pastor. Go online to wnzr.fm and click on the “Clergy Appreciation Month” banner. Nominate your pastor at www.wnzr.fm TODAY!

This week’s Name That Tune was “The Love I Have For You” by Colton Dixon. Congratulations to Jennifer of Centerburg for taking home TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for The NZ Top 10 with Joe and Ethan!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Ethan and Gabriella 🙂

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