Search

Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

Open Search
Tag

Who Knew Wednesday

Big Dreams and Hygiene!!

Who Knew Fact: Is there a day to celebrate dreaming? YES, today is National Dream Day, where we promote that any of our aspirations and dreams should be pursued with perseverance. 

Who Knew Fact: Should you wash your nose? YES. Daily? YES. Washing out the nose hasn’t always been a very common practice for everyone, but it should be. Most people don’t realize how many germs, allergens, and other icky invisibles can be present inside the nose just from daily living. Practicing daily nose washing helps to support the body’s defenses as the nasal passages work to rid themselves of irritants. 

Who Knew Fact: Is March named for a Roman god? YES. For Mars or Martius, the Roman god of war and a mythical ancestor of the Roman people. In Roman times March signaled people that it’s time to fight since soldiers paused fighting during the winter. Which is why March is named after the God of war!

Today is also national prom-posal day!! As prom approaches it’s time to start thinking about who and how you’re going to ask someone to prom!!

Who Am I? 

  1. I was born on March 11, 1931, in Melbourne, Australia, son of a newspaper publisher.
  2. When my father died in 1952, I inherited The News, a small newspaper in Adelaide. 
  3. I expanded the company and eventually started News Corp.  which became one of the world’s largest media companies. 
  4. In the late 1980’s, I launched the Fox Broadcasting Company and then Fox News, significantly shaping television and news media in the United States.
  5. I stepped down as chairman in 2023 and my son took over. 

I am…Rupert Murdoch. Congratulations to Bonnie 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 so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

What Is Your Favorite Snack?

Today on Who Knew? Wednesday, we learned that today is National Snack Day and National Dance The Waltz Day!

What is your favorite snack? Today is National Snack Day!

We are blessed to be able to enjoy snacks of all kinds, like granola bars, chips, fruit, veggies, and as Ethan shared on The Afternoon Drive today, candy bars!

Give this day a celebration by enjoying one of your favorite treats!

Here are a couple of suggestions to get you started:

  • Apples
  • Potato Chips
  • Oranges
  • Chocolate Bar
  • Bananas
  • Ethan Hershberger’s Pick: Mr. Beast’s Feastable Peanut Butter Cups

There are so many snacks we get to enjoy! What do you usually munch on while listening to The Afternoon Drive?

Learn more about National Snack Day HERE!

Today is also National Dance The Waltz Day!

This dance originates back to the Tyrol region of Austira. Since it’s creation back in 1748, it has exploded in popularity all around the world.

You typically dance the waltz in a 1-2-3 rhythm with graceful turns, and it has grown to be very common in ballroom settings.

To celebrate National Dance The Waltz Day, we listened to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song Cinderella.

Learn more about National Dance The Waltz Day HERE!

Do you remember reading this verse last year? YouVersion announced that the verse Isaiah 41:10 was “the most engaged-with verse throughout 2025.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

What an encouraging verse to remind us to not rely on our own strength, but cling to God and depend on His strength alone!

Read more HERE!

Today’s Who Am I? mystery person was a famous actres!

Here were this week’s five biographical hints:

  1. I was born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Canada, and I grew up in a large family. I recently passed away this year, on January 30, 2026.
  2. I got my start in comedy as a member of Toronto’s Second City improv troupe, which helped launch my career in television and film.
  3. I became widely known for my work on the sketch comedy show SCTV, where I played many different characters and earned critical acclaim.
  4. I am best recognized for my role as Kate McCallister in Home Alone.
  5. Throughout my career, I worked extensively as a voice actress, including roles in several animated films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride.

I am… Catherine O’Hara!

Congratulations to Wid from Fredericktown for calling in and correctly guessing this week’s mystery person! He will be taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in on Thursday with Ethan Hershberger for praise, worship music, and inspiring devotionals for Praise Thursday on The Afternoon Drive!

Thank you for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

0

Chocolate Covered EVERYTHING!!

Today on Who Knew Wednesday we gave some out of pocket Who Knew Facts and our Who Am I Trivia! Here’s what we talked about!

Who Knew Wednesday: Inconvenience yourself day – Go out of your way to do something!

Who Knew Wednesday: I can only imagine 2 IN THEATERS NOWW!!!!!

Who Knew Wednesday: National Chocolate Covered Nuts Day – What’s your favorite? Peanuts, almonds, cashews, maccadamia? Click HERE to read some of our dad jokes we shared!

You have one more chance to win a pair of tickets tomorrow, on The Morning Thing! Be prepared to be the first caller to call in and tell us your blessing!

Who am I? 

  1. I was born today, in 1963, in Columbus, Ohio. 
  1. I made my Major League Baseball debut in 1985 with the Cincinnati Reds. 
  1. I am best known for playing right field for the New York Yankees from 1993 to 2001, where I was a key part in their championship teams. 
  1. I won five World Series championships: 1 with the Reds (1990) and four with the Yankees (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000). 
  1. After retiring in 2001, I became a television broadcaster and analyst for the Yankees on the YES Network.

I am… Paul O’Neil!! Congratulations to Steve of Mansfield 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 and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

Happy Ash Wednesday!!!

Dad Jokes from Joe: What did the finger say to the thumb? I’m in Glove with you! Why is Yoda a good gardener? He has a green thumb!

Who Knew? National crab stuffed flounder day! Crab stuffed flounder is a one-of-kind dish is composed of a stuffing made with crab meat, bread crumbs, butter, and seasonings, which is stuffed into the whole flounder or rolled up into the fillets and baked. Why wouldn’t we have a National Food Day to celebrate it?

Who Knew? Ash Wednesday! Ash Wednesday signals the beginning of Lenten season for Christians. It takes place 46 days before Easter and the day after Shrove Tuesday. During this religious celebration, worshippers receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of mortality, grief for sins, and a commitment to spiritual renewal.

Who Knew? I can only imagine 2 this weekend! MercyMe’s sequel to “I Can Only Imagine” will be in theater’s this weekend! Stay tuned for the rest of this week during The Morning Thing and Afternoon Drive for a chance to win movie passes! Check out our website wnzr.fm for more information!

We will play MercyMe Name That Tune and give you a chance to win passes to see the movie I Can Only Imagine 2. We are also giving away the book “Even If – Trusting God Through The Fire” – the Official Book for I Can Only Imagine 2, written by Lead Singer Bart Millard and his wife Shannon Millard.

We will give you a chance to win with MercyMe Trivia. Even If is the inspiration behind the major motion picture I Can Only Imagine 2. This true story of heartache and hope from MercyMe’s lead singer, Bart Millard, and his wife, Shannon, shows us how even our deepest wounds can become doorways to God’s grace.

TheMorningThing.com and wnzrdrive.com. Even If is the inspiration behind the major motion picture I Can Only Imagine 2. This true story of heartache and hope from MercyMe’s lead singer, Bart Millard, and his wife, Shannon, shows us how even our deepest wounds can become doorways to God’s grace. This true story of heartache and hope from MercyMe’s lead singer, Bart Millard, and his wife, Shannon, shows us how even our deepest wounds can become doorways to God’s grace. Purchase Even If now at a great price wherever books are sold https://davidccook.org/books/even-if/ 

Congratulations to Bekah of Howard and Jen of Howard for winning our contests today!

Who am I? 

  1. I was born on February 18, 1968, in Roseville, California. 
  1. I began acting as a child and was a cast member on the TV sitcom The Facts of Life before becoming a film star. 
  1. I became one of the most recognizable members of the “Brat Pack” after starring in 1980s teen classics like The Breakfast Club (1985), Sixteen Candles (1984), and Pretty in Pink (1986). 
  1. I frequently worked with director John Hughes, who helped shape my image as a defining teen actress of the 1980s. 
  1. In addition to acting, I’m also a published author and have released jazz music, including the album Except… Sometimes (2013). 

I am… Molly Ringwald! Congratulations to Wendy 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 Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe.

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

Olympics and Valentines Day!!

Today was a fun Who Knew Wednesday with lattes, new friends, Olympics, and Valentine’s Day! Here’s what we talked about:

National Latte Day:

A latte is a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. The term as used in English is a shortened form of the Italian café latte, caffeate or Caffe latte, which means “milk coffee”. National Latte Day was created in celebration of the tastiness and wakefulness promoting qualities of coffee!

National Make A New Friend Day:

Friends serve a vital role in everyone’s lives. They are one of life’s most valuable assets. New friends can broaden our horizons by helping us to see new perspectives, challenging us to try something different, or connecting us to opportunities. Meeting new people can help sharpen our social skills and keep us from becoming lonely.

Valentine’s Day:

Chocolate Boxes: Richard Cadbury produced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in 1861. Roses by the Millions: Approximately 250 million roses are grown annually specifically for the holiday. Candy Hearts: Conversation hearts originally started as medical lozenges before a machine was invented to print messages on them in the late 1800s. Pet Love: The Bugbee Senior Center says Americans are estimated to spend over $700 million on Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets each year. 

Olympics- Whats the difference between Milan and Cortina?

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially named Milano Cortina 2026, are uniquely split between two primary, geographically distinct hubs, separating urban “ice” sports in Milan from mountain “snow” events in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Situated about 400 km (250 miles) apart, Milan hosts indoor sports like hockey and figure skating, while Cortina hosts Alpine skiing and sliding events, creating the most spread-out Winter Games in history.

You could win a fabulous prize from February 2nd through 12th! Each day of the contest, our DJs will select Valentine’s gifts to put in the WNZR Valentine’s box. During The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive, the DJs will give a cue to call 740-397-WNZR (9697). Caller #5 gets the chance to answer a Valentine’s question to win a prize. PLUS, every winner this year gets entered into a drawing for one of our 3 grand prizes! Congratulations to Cathy of Mount Vernon for participating and taking home a $10 gift card to Burrata Woodfired and to Grace of Mount Vernon for taking home two “you pick two” vouchers from Panera Bread!

Who am I?

  1. I was born today, February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. I passed away on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey. 
  1. I had very little formal schooling, was homeschooled by my mother, and educated myself. 
  1. After countless failures prior to success, I am most famous for inventing the light bulb. 
  1. I am also known for inventing or improving major technologies like the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the carbon microphone. 
  1. I pioneered the first industrial research lab in Menlo, New Jersey, which coined my nickname, “The Wizard of Menlo Park”.

I am… Thomas Edison! Congratulations to Eric of Fredericktown 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 Joe, Brook Abella, and Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

Sweater Weather!!

WHO KNEW FACT CHECK-  National Homemade Soup Day 

WHO KNEW FACT CHECK-  Thank a Mail Carrier Day 

WHO KNEW FACT CHECK-  National Sweater Day 

You could win a fabulous prize from February 2nd through 12th! Each day of the contest, our DJs will select Valentine’s gifts to put in the WNZR Valentine’s box. During The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive, the DJs will give a cue to call 740-397-WNZR (9697). Caller #5 gets the chance to answer a Valentine’s question to win a prize. Congratulations to Krista Hottinger for winning a $10 gift card to Burrata Woodfired and to Brody for winning a “pick 2 voucher” to Panera!

Who am I? 

  1. I was born today, January 28, 1981 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
  1. I started my acting career at a young age in the early 1990s, with notable roles, like Mike in Radio Flyer and Mark Evans in The Good Son. 
  1. My most famous role is for playing Frodo in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 
  1. I am also a voice actor, most notably voicing Mumble in Happy Feet and Spyro in The Legend of Spyro video game series. 
  1. I co-founded the production company SpectreVision, which focusses on independent and genre films. 

I am… Elijah Wood! Congratulations to April of Mount Gilead. for guessing correctly and taking home TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Brookabella and Gabriella!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

Get a hug in your cheesy socks!

Today is one of those wacky celebration days on two fronts:

1- National Hugging Day! (from DaysofTheYear.com)
The best way you can celebrate this holiday is by hugging people! Hug your mom, your dad, your grandparents, your kids – hug everyone you know. You also might want to raise awareness of why National Hugging Day is so important. It is an opportunity to push back against fear and isolation and join together as communities. Everyone agrees that there’s a need for more love and compassion in the world.

Hugging helps to break down both physical and emotional barriers between people.

2 – National Cheesy Socks Day!
It wasn’t that long ago that socks were simply a utilitarian accessory that had no other purpose than keeping those feet warm. But in this modern day, socks have become a fashionable way for people to express themselves. And the more outrageous the better.

For King & Country was announced as The Ohio State Fair’s Christian artist in their concert lineup! You can see them at the Celeste Center on August 3rd at this summer’s fair!

This week, we have been giving away Beat The Box Office tickets by playing for King & Country Name That Tune!

Anna from Mount Vernon was today’s winner for our giveaway on The Afternoon Drive. Keep listening on The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive on Thursday for your chance to win!

For King & Country will be seen at the Ohio State Fair, in the Celeste Center, so don’t forget this date: This summer, August 3rd! Regular ticket sales go live on Friday!

For more information, go to our Facebook post HERE!

  1. I was born January 21, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio.
  2. I played football and golf at Ohio State, eventually settling on golf.
  3. I was AP’s Athlete of the Decade for the 1970’s.
  4. I won 18 major championships, including 6 Masters tournaments!
  5. I now stay involved hosting the Memorial Tournament and designing courses.

I am… Jack Nicklaus!

Congratulations to Keryn from Mount Vernon for calling in and correctly guessing correctly, taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

If you tune in from 4-6pm on Thursday, you’ll have one more chance to win a pair of WinterJam 2026 passes and a pair of Beat The Box Office tickets to see for King & Country at the Ohio State Fair! And of course, we will be singing worship music and sharing devotionals throughout the show.

We’ll see you here tomorrow!
– Joe and Ethan

0

Holy Night with Candy Canes!!

Who knew fact checks: Candy canes were always red and white j-hooks? NO! Candy canes began as simple white sugar sticks in Europe in the 1600s. Hard candy sticks were popular then, and over time the idea of bending them into a hooked shape emerged — possibly to resemble a shepherd’s staff or simply to make them easier to hang on Christmas trees

Who knew: Story behind O Holy Night. “O Holy Night” began not as an English carol, but as a French poem titled Minuit, chrétiens (“Midnight, Christians”). In 1843, the poet Placide Cappeau wrote the words at the request of his parish priest to celebrate a newly restored church organ in Roquemaure, France.The song didn’t become popular in the English-speaking world until 1855, when John Sullivan Dwight, a Unitarian minister and abolitionist, translated it into English. Dwight was especially moved by a verse that speaks of breaking chains and declaring all people brothers, which resonated powerfully in the years before and during the American Civil War

Who knew: Wright Brother’s Day. One important day that changed the world was the day when a man was able to fly through the air in the style of a bird! Not only was this unprecedented, but it set the stage for a whole host of other ideas and inventions that have contributed to the advancement of technology as well as the adventure into space.

Who am I? 

1. I was born on December 17, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts. 

2. I led the same orchestra for nearly 50 years, longer than almost any major conductor in American history. 
3. I believed classical music should be for everyone, not just concert halls and critics. 
4. I helped turn an orchestra into one of the best-selling recording acts of its time. 
5. I made free outdoor concerts a beloved American tradition—especially on the Fourth of July. 
• I was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for my impact on American culture. 

 Arthur Fiedler, legendary conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. 

Congratulations to Amanda of Mount Vernon and Richard for being caller #9 and participating in our Christmas Gift Exchange! Tomorrow is the last day to participate and the winners will be announced THIS FRIDAY!

Thank you for supporting the 44th annual Food For The Hungry drive!
Thank you for supporting the annual Food for the Hungry drive! Our current total is $346,854.32 and 15 Truckloads of Food! (as of 5:00pm 12/16/2025)

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella

0

Rudolph or Rollo?!?

Who knew: Jingle Bells wasn’t even written for Christmas? It was actually a Thanksgiving song! But hey… it’s hard to resist a good sleigh ride in December

Who knew: Before plastic trees, the first artificial Christmas trees were made in Germany from green-dyed goose feathers. Yep — goose feathers. Festive… and probably a little fluffy

Who knew: Rudolph almost had a different name. Early drafts called him Rollo or Reginald. Imagine singing ‘Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer’… doesn’t quite land

Who knew: The first electric Christmas lights? Totally a marketing stunt. Thomas Edison’s team wired them up in the 1880s just to show off the power of electricity

Who am I?…

  1. I was born today, December 3, 1937, in Miami, Florida, and passed away on November 9, 2024, in Mooresville, North Carolina. 
  1. I was a central member of the famed “Alabama Gang,” a group of racers based in Hueytown, Alabama. This group was known for dominating NASCAR from the 1960s—1990s. 
  1. I won the 1983 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, driving for Di Gard Racing. 
  1. I earned 84 official NASCAR Cup Series wins, tying me for fourth on the all-time wins list. 
  1. My career effectively ended after a near-fatal crash in 1988 at Pocono Raceway, which resulted in major head injuries and forced my retirement from driving. 

I am… Bobby Allison! Congratulations to Tomi of Mount Vernon for taking home 2 $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Congratulations to Dennis of Utica and Bob from Mount Vernon for being caller #9 and playing our Christmas Gift Exchange! For more information about our fun exchange click HERE!

Thanks for listening!

Tune in for Praise Thursday with Eric!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑