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Praise The Lord! He is with is in the pit.

We had some motivation to start your week off strong! We dove deeper into some songs we listen to on WNZR, them being Tasha Layton’s “Thank You Isn’t Enough” ft. The Choir Room, and “Raise A Hallelujah” from Bethel Music!

Tasha Layton’s newest one reminds us we always have so much to be thankful for! “Thank You for the air that I’m breathing, thank You for a life full of meaning” is something we can be thankful for on the mountain, and in the pit. If we still have air in our lungs, we know God’s not done with us!

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

“Raise A Hallelujah” is such a beautiful anthem of praising God anywhere. Whether it be on top of the highest mountain, or deep in the lowest of valleys, raising a hallelujah to God makes a huge difference. We were made to worship God, and what He wants us to do is worship through whatever we’re going through, as we see in Psalm 40: 4Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

Today we played Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here was our prompt for today:

Besides Thanksgiving, name a holiday when people eat too much.

  1. Christmas (64 votes)
  2. Easter (16)
  3. 4th Of July (8)
  4. Memorial Day (4)

Congratulations to Greg from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing the top two answers, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Artist Newsday, and a game of Song Poetry!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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249 years of America!

We are just ONE YEAR way from the 250th birthday of the United States of America!

We are celebrating with the July First Friday tomorrow (on a Thursday) with Experience Mount Vernon, and then fireworks all around the county on Friday night, including Mount Vernon’s celebration at Ariel-Foundation Park!

We are going to be giving away a Grab a Sip, Take a Dip, Turn It Up prize basket, featuring a $15 Happy Bean gift card, a Family 4 Pack of One-Day Passes to the Hiawatha Water Park and Pool, a WNZR Bluetooth Speaker, and stuffed with many WNZR goodies as well! Find us at Big Blue next to the Dog Fountain at the Mount Vernon Public Square, and you can get registered to win!

Today is also Made in the USA Day!

Joel Joseph of the Made in the USA Foundation created Made In The USA Day in 1989. The biggest reason for founding this day was to signify American-made products and support the domestic manufacturing sector!

This establishment helped in more ways than just one. First, it would signify the importance of American manufacturing to the economy, and it would also encourage consumers to support American goods production. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also plays a key role in this observance. That’s because the agency regulates the labels and marks that signify the country of origin.

So what are some products you wouldn’t have expected to be American-made? Well for starters, the classic No. 2 pencil is still made in the USA, since the 20th century. The red SOLO cup is also made in the U.S., along with Charmin and Angel Soft toilet paper as well!

Today we played a game of Who Am I?. Here are the five biographical questions about our mystery, patriotic, famous person:

  1. I was born on July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland.
  2. After I was denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School due to segregation, I graduated first in my class from Howard University School of Law in 1933.
  3. I founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which became a powerful legal arm in the fight for civil rights.
  4. In Brown v. Board of Education, I served as lead attorney, and successfully argued this landmark Supreme Court case, which ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
  5. President Lyndon Johnson appointed me as the first African American Supreme Court Justice, where I served until 1991.

I am… Thurgood Marshall! Congratulations to Kathy from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing me correctly, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune into the Afternoon Drive tomorrow for Praise Thursday, where we take time to worship God and read some encouraging devotionals!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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TobyMac is bringing a very special tour to Ohio!

Today is a very special Artist News Day! We’ve got news from TobyMac, a unique tour from him, Seph Schlueter, releasing his first full length album and announcing a full tour along with it, and news from Stars Go Dim as well!

Last week, TobyMac announced the Heaven On My Mind Start To Finish Tour, and it’s a little different from other tours he has taken. He’s stopping at the Akron Civic Theatre in Akron, OH on November 6th, which is one of five states he will be visiting on this tour! This is an intimate, more personal concert, where TobyMac will be performing his entire latest record live from start to finish, as the name suggests! Not only that, he’ll also be performing other great hits from his earlier records as well!

Ticket sales go live tomorrow, Wednesday, July 2nd and if you want to buy tickets, click HERE! The concert is on November 6th, at 7PM!

TobyMac’s latest record is called “Heaven on My Mind”, where TobyMac is on the other side of grieving the tragic loss of his son, Truett. This record is deeply honest, and as the record title says, after everything TobyMac has gone through, he has Heaven on his mind, keeping his “eye on the prize”, so to speak. He is counting on God, and he’s diving in even deeper into his trust in God!

Seph Schlueter is coming out with a his first ever full-length album on July 11th! It will have a whole 17 songs on it, and includes collabs with the likes of Matt Maher and Essential Worship. Alongside this album release, he’s going on tour with this record and all of his other songs, so you’ll get to hear songs like “Counting My Blessings”, “Running Back To You”, and many more! He’s coming to Cincinnati, OH with bodie to bring you a fun, worship-filled night! If you want to order tickets for this concert, click HERE!

Stars Go Dim is releasing a full length album called Roses on July 11th! Check it out HERE!

Today we played Song Poetry! Here were the lyrics we took from a song we’ve heard during today’s show:

I will not be afraid
In the end, you will lose
I will dance on your grace
With the one who buried you.

Today’s song was “Oh Death” from MercyMe! Congratulations to Kelly from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing the song and artist correctly, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Who Knew Wednesday!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

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Some truths to start your week!

We’re starting the week off with Monday Motivation with some truths to bring you some encouragement, and songs you hear on WNZR to go along with them.

You are not alone! You are loved, valued and created with a purpose.

This simple truth reminded us of Kari Jobe’s “I Am Not Alone”.

Speak life, be kind, shine bright! The world needs your light today.

This truth reminded us of TobyMac’s song “Speak Life”, and verse found in Proverbs 18:21. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

Today we played Mystery Monday, where we ask you a Family Feud-style question, and you get to call in and give us the top two answers! Here was today’s prompt:

Name a job where people get wet.

Diver or swimmer (50 votes)
Lifeguard (27)
Firefighter (9)
Plumber (5)

Congratulations to Samantha from Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers correctly, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in on Tuesday for a very special Artist Newsday announcement with TobyMac, and a special tour he just announced, and a game of Song Poetry!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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NZ Top 10 for 6/27/25

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

10. Brandon Lake f/Jelly Roll – Hard Fought Hallelujah
9. We Are Messengers – A Thousand Times
8. Micah Tyler – God Did It
7. Matthew West – Unashamed
6. ELEVATION RHYTHM – Goodbye Yesterday
5. Phil Wickham – The King Is In The Room
4. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate [formerly #1 for 7 weeks]
3. MercyMe – Oh Death
2. TobyMac – a lil Church
1. Jon Reddick – No Fear [5th week at #1]

New Music Friday Adds This Week:

Josiah Queen f/Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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Festival time again!

Today we’re back On the Road with Big Blue at the Centerburg Heart of Ohio USA Days Festival! Ethan, Sue and Zoey were live with us – remember this event runs through Saturday!

The Heart of Ohio USA Days Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a weekend packed full of excitement, flavor, and hometown pride.

Make sure to stop by and register for to win a Family 4 Pack of One-Day Passes to the Hiawatha Water Park and Pool ($36 value)! Registrations will only be accepted at the festival, NO online registrations. You do NOT need to be present to win.  

WNZR will broadcast tonight until 8 and on Saturday 6/28 from Noon – 2pm.  We will also be in the parade Saturday morning at 10!

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We also shared some wise words from Tauren Wells from his devotional book, Joy Bomb:

Burying your feelings isn’t the same as surrendering them.

And what you bury doesn’t die. It lives just beneath the surface.

Quiet. Unresolved. Controlling your joy from the shadows.

But when you invite God into your fears, confusion, and sadness?

You open the door to a joy that’s rooted in something deeper than your mood. Not a surface-level smile. But soul-level peace.

#1: Pause the performance. Stop trying to prove you’re okay. God isn’t scared by your emotions.

#2: Feel your feelings with faith. You don’t have to choose one or the other. Invite God into your emotions. Let him speak peace over your pain.

#3: Don’t go solo. Your healing wasn’t meant to happen in isolation. Open up in community — whether that’s by sharing in a church small group or calling a friend.

Congratulations to Linda from Gambier, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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Happy Reserves Day!

Reserves Day is a vibrant celebration dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of reservists who balance civilian life with military duties.

These individuals commit their time to serve in the Reserve Forces and are ready to support national security whenever needed. This day highlights their role and brings recognition for their dedication and service!

We got to talk with Faith West today, who is a recent graduate of MVNU and an intern with the Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau! In her senior year at MVNU, she was able to balance being a student, finishing senior projects, being an intern, and serving as an Air Force Reservist. Her decision towards becoming a reserve stemmed from a heart of wanting to serve, and her family, who is also involved in the military, helped her get involved, and they helped her get involved!

You can find us on the road with Big Blue this weekend in Centerburg! You can catch us on site and broadcasting on the air in studio on Thursday 5-8pm and on Saturday Noon-2pm! We’ll be giving away Family 4 Packs of One Day Passes to the Hiawatha Water Park and Pool while we’re there. To get signed up, find Big Blue at the festival!

Here were today’s 5 biographical facts about our mystery person:

  1. I was born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903, in Motihari, British India.
  2. I later adopted a pen name for my writing.
  3. I am best known for the dystopian novels 1984 and Animal Farm.
  4. I served in the British Imperial Police in Burma (now Myanmar) and later fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.
  5. I died of tuberculosis on January 21, 1950, at age 46. My work remains highly influential in literature, politics, and discussions about surveillance and personal freedom.

I am… George Orwell. Congratulations to Tim from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing me correctly, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday and a game of Name That Tune!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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Forever Jesus Shall Reign!

Today we talked about some of the songs we get to listen to on WNZR, and highlighted the songs “Hymn of Heaven” by Phil Wickham and “When I Fall” by Katy Nichole.

In Phil Wickham’s song, we worship Jesus for Him and who He is. We know and remember in this song that Jesus is forever victorious and all-powerful, regardless of our circumstances, or what may be going on in the world right now.

Katy Nichole expresses through her song how we desperately need God’s help. Whether we’re on a high mountaintop or the lowest of valleys, we need Jesus. This song is Katy Nichole’s cry for help, and we related this song to the Scripture in Matthew 11:28-30, where it says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” He wants us to come to Him as we are. He is faithful to give us rest for us.

Today we played Mystery Monday! Here was the prompt we had this week, with the top four answers:

Name a common item people forget to take with them when leaving the house.

  1. Keys (50)
  2. Phone (25)
  3. Wallet (15)
  4. Sunglasses (10)

Congratulations to Pat from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing the top two answers correctly, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Song Poetry!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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NZ Top 10 for 6/20/2025

Happy Friday and Summer Solstice Day! Here is this week’s countdown:

10. Micah Tyler – God Did It
9. We Are Messengers – A Thousand Times
8. ELEVATION RHYTHM – Goodbye Yesterday
7. Phil Wickham – The King Is In The Room
6. Brandon Lake f/Jelly Roll – Hard Fought Hallelujah
5. Matthew West – Unashamed
4. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate [formerly #1 for 7 weeks]
3. MercyMe – Oh Death
2. TobyMac – a lil Church
1. Jon Reddick – No Fear [4th week at #1]

New Music Friday Adds This Week:

Big Daddy Weave – I’ve Just Seen Too Much

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

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