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Who Knew Wednesday

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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Did You Know This About Summer?

Did you know young sunflowers move with the sun and follow it during the day to get as much sunlight as they can so they can grow big and strong? That’s so cool!

For Who Knew Wednesday today, we went over some super fun facts about summer as the season kicks off with the Summer Solstice on Friday, June 20th!

The Summer Solstice is when the Earth is tilted closest to the sun, making it the longest day of the year! To celebrate this day, you can watch the beautiful sunrise or sunset on Friday, and if the sky is clear, you can stargaze at the beautiful stars. If you look closely, you might be able to spot some planets up there in the sky as well, like Venus and Mars!

– Image Credit: Redbubble

Do you like to eat popsicles on a hot summer day? Did you know popsicles were created by accident? That’s right! In 1905, a man named Frank Epperson accidentally left a mixing stick in water and a soda mixture outside in the cold night, and came back to it, and it had become a frozen and delicious treat! He called it the ‘Epsicle’, which would be renamed later to the ‘popsicle’ after his kids came up with the name! It’s so cool to see what God can use out of a happy accident like that!

We played Who Am I? today! This is where you get five biographical facts about a famous person born today, and you try to guess who it is! Here were the facts:

  1. I was born today in a small town in Oklahoma and wrote my first song when I was just 15 years old.
  2. I’ve won 10 CMA awards, 6 ACM awards, and I’ve had over 25 No. 1 country hits.
  3. I was a longtime coach on NBC’s The Voice, where I led multiple contestants to win the competition!
  4. I’m married to the pop star Gwen Stefani, who was also a coach on NBC’s The Voice, and we released a few songs together.
  5. I became a Grand Ole Opry member in 2010!

I am… Blake Shelton.

Congratulations to Brandon from Danville for guessing me correctly! He won that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Name That Tune!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

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Son and moon? Who knew?

SonFest is back this fall at MVNU and it will look different!

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to announce updates are in store for SonFest 2025, MVNU’s premier one-day Christian music festival. Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, SonFest will now be held in the newly renovated R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium, making it a rain-or-shine event for the first time.

The 2025 lineup features a powerful lineup of worship, alternative rock, and faith-driven performances, headlined by ELEVATION RHYTHM. Also taking the stage are acclaimed artists John Mark McMillan, Citizens, and central Ohio favorite Rock City Worship, with more artists to be announced.

ELEVATION RHYTHM is the youth expression of Elevation Church (Charlotte, N.C.), crafting music for the next generation to sing, dance, and worship.

Tickets are on sale now at mvnu.edu/sonfest. Due to venue capacity, concert tickets are limited. A full festival schedule will be released soon.

  • General admission: $40
  • Limited availability VIP admission: $75 (includes a Meet-and-Greet with artists and early entry)
  • Group sales (10 to 50 tickets) or Children ages 4-10: $25
  • Children 3-and-under: Free (must sit on a lap)

In true SonFest tradition, the event will feature outdoor activities throughout the day, free and open to everyone. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of food trucks and a vendor tent for shopping and refreshments. Please note: Concert entry requires a ticket; outdoor festivities are free and open to all.

For the latest updates, visit the link above or follow @mvnu1968 on social media. CLICK HERE to hear Xander’s conversation with Ben Slater and Zoe Bricker!

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Last night, the United States witnessed a stunning celestial event: the Strawberry Moon climbed into the night sky. Named after the wild strawberry harvest, this June full moon offered more than just seasonal charm—it broke expectations by appearing at its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere in nearly two decades. This rare alignment, known as a major lunar standstill, won’t happen again until 2043.

Time Magazine and the London Times reported that the moonrise began just after sunset on the evening of June 10. Peaking at 3:44 a.m. Eastern Time, it hovered near the southeast horizon on the U.S. East Coast. Its proximity to the horizon amplified its size—thanks to the “moon illusion”—and its color shifted to soft golden-orange, tinted by atmospheric scattering

As the first full moon after the summer solstice approaches, its Sagittarius backdrop and energetic feel have inspired celebrations of renewal and growth.

Check out this photo from the BBC!

I was born on June 11, 1913, to an Italian-American family and grew up in a tight-knit Catholic household.

I played college football at Fordham University, where I was one of the famed “Seven Blocks of Granite” on the offensive line.

I became head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1959 and led the team to five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls I and II).

I was known for my tough, inspirational leadership and for my famous quote, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

After my death in 1970 from cancer, the Super Bowl trophy was renamed in my honor.

Who Am I? Vince Lombardi. Congratulations to Phillip from Fredericktown, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Who Knew Cats Like Hugs?

Well, maybe some do… others maybe not so much. Today is Who Knew Wednesday, and we talked about some of the national days that land on June 4th!

Today is National Hug Your Cat Day! Whether you’re a dog or cat person, this day is sure to bring some smiles to these playful and flexible house pets. Let me know in the comments if you’re a dog or cat person, and what breed it is! It’s so cool to see all of the different types that God has made!

So how can you celebrate this day? Why, just simply give your cat a hug if you have one. If you don’t have a cat, I suppose a dog or even a friend will suffice! See how long you can hug your cat can go until they get bored or try to squirm away. Deep down they’ll know you love them.

Today is also National Cheese Day! I’d love to hear your favorite cheese in the comments. Mine has got to be mozzarella just because of how good it tastes on pizza and as stuffed crust! I’m interested to hear what you like the most!

You can celebrate this today by trying a new kind of cheese, or scour your fridge, grab all the cheese, and have yourself a feast trying all the different kinds!

On top of all of that, it’s National Christian T-Shirt Day! Put on your favorite artists’ merch, or make your own t-shirt to celebrate! People might ask you about your shirt if you go out with it. You could come across a great opportunity to tell someone about Jesus, who may not know much about Him yet!

Who knows… maybe if you have a t-shirt from your favorite artist, you could run into them in public, and it would be a really cool encounter!

Today we played a game of Who Am I?, which is where we give you five biographical facts about a person, and you guess who it is! Here were the five facts:

  1. I was born today, in 1975 in Los Angeles California, and previously married to Brad Pitt.
  2. I gained major recognition for my role in “Girl, Interrupted”, which earned me an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
  3. I became an international actions star by portraying Lara Croft, the video game heroine in Tomb Raider, and I was in the movie in 2001.
  4. I also portrayed the iconic Disney villain Maleficent, which reimagined the classic “Sleeping Beauty” story from the villain’s point of view.
  5. I served as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and later as a Special Envoy, focusing on refugee and humanitarian crises.

I am… Angelina Jolie. Congratulations to Ester from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing me correctly, and winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

If you want a chance to win that $5 gift card, tune in tomorrow for a game of Name That Tune. Listen to a clip of a song with us and be the first caller to guess the song and artist. We’ll see you there!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

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The Great Burger Controversy, Briskets & Who Am I Trivia

For this Who Knew Wednesday, we celebrated BOTH National Burger Day and National Brisket Day! It’s a perfect time to fire up the grill, which is easily the best way to celebrate these May 28th Holidays! We also talked about the controversial origin of the hamburger, and whether Otto Krause or Louis Lassen were the first inventors of the beloved sandwich. Here are the two theories:

The first theory is that the name comes from Hamburg, Germany and is said to be named by Otto Krause in 1881. Supposedly, Otto was a cook who decided to fry Hamburg steak in butter, topped with an egg, and placed on a bun. The burger was then popularized in the United States after sailors brought over the idea, scrapping the egg. However, the most believed and widespread theory is that it was created by Louis Lassen, a Danish Immigrant to the United States back in 1900. One day while working at his restaurant, New Haven eatery, a businessman in a rush requested something that could be made fast, and eaten on the go. Louis then put some grilled ground steak between slices of toast, and thus the hamburger was created. 

What do you think? Team Otto or Team Louis? Let us know!

National Brisket Day not only celebrates one cut of meat, but all of them! It’s all about getting creative as you cook them. The most popular recipe for brisket is Texas BBQ, but we encourage you to come up with your own unique recipe!

We also played “Who Am I?” Trivia! We gave five facts about a person born on this day in history. The facts included:
1. This person is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who is referred to as the “Empress of Soul”
2. This person gained fame as the lead vocalist of a soul and R&B group in the 1950s, which was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
3. This person starred in the sitcom Charlie & Co. in the mid-1980’s.
4. This person competed in the 14th season of Dancing with the Stars at 68 years old, making it to the top eight.
5. Lastly, this person is behind “License to Kill”, the title theme song to the 1989 James Bond film of the same name.

The person we described is… Gladys Knight! Congratulations to Charla of Utica for guessing Gladys Knight and winning a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks so much for listening!
-Traven & Zoey

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Ice Cream, Tea and Yoda?

Today we celebrated National Tea and National Talk Like Yoda Day!

I’m sure you’re wondering ‘How on earth do I celebrate National Talk Like Yoda Day?’ Well to align yourself with Yoda grammar, just flip around your nouns and verbs when you speak sentences, and pretty soon, you’ll be speaking exactly like this little green humanoid. Speak like Yoda you can!

We also celebrated National Tea Day! Now, celebrating this today is a very simple task. All you need to do, is just enjoy your favorite kind of tea… OR try a brand new kind of tea! If you’re not a tea person, well maybe give tea one last wholehearted attempt at redemption today! If it doesn’t deliver, then maybe coffee or hot chocolate are a good close second for today.

We shared some fun facts about an upcoming On The Road With Big Blue event– The Utica Ice Cream Festival! We’re going to be in the parade, throwing out candy and frisbees, and giving out gift cards all afternoon long! There’s so much to do during the festival, you can click here to check out the parade route, the schedule, and the plethora of activities you can enjoy all weekend!

We played a Who Am I? today, where we give you five clues about a mystery person. See if you can guess who this is:

  1. My birth name is Laurence Tureaud. I was born on May 21, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois.
  2. I served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman and was awarded the title of “Top Trainee of the Cycle” during basic training.
  3. I am best known for the catchphrase “I pity the fool!,” after my role as Clubber Lang in the film Rocky III.
  4. I also gained widespread fame playing B.A. Baracus on the hit 1980’s TV series The A-Team.
  5. I am easily recognized by my Mohawk hairstyle and by wearing large amounts of gold chains and jewelry.

I am… Mr. T! Congratulations to Tammy from Fredericktown for calling in and correctly guessing, winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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Biscuits, doggies and chicken dances?

Yes – the most random headline you could have addresses all of these celebrations today – May 14th!

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
We’re not really sure why today was decided to recognize these delicious golden cakes of bread. What we do know is you can celebrate simply by eating one! There are so many different ways to enjoy one– You can slap on some butter and jelly for breakfast, or throw in some chicken and have yourself a dinner feast!

International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
On this day, we celebrate these little energetic pups! This international day was established five years ago, by former Miss British Columbia, Nadia Alterio. She was the proud of a little chihuahua, named Teaka! Our favorite way of celebrating this day was to get on the couch with your furry friend, and watch movies featuring chihuahuas, like “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”.

National ‘Dance Like a Chicken’ Day
The origins of this song date back to the 1950s! A Swiss accordionist named Werner Thomas, and this goofy, fun melody was heard a lot amongst social gatherings. The original inspiration for the name of this song was when Thomas was watching skiers with their arms tucked in, kind of how a bird carries its wings. While we don’t know why today is National Dance Like A Chicken Day, we’re gonna celebrate it because we love to dance like a chicken!

  1. I was born on May 14, 1944, in Modesto, California.
  2. I studied cinematography at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
  3. I am known for films like American Graffiti, but my biggest film released in 1977 and was about a group of rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire.
  4. My production company is responsible for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and the pioneering visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).
  5. I sold the production company that carries my name to The Walt Disney Company for over $4 billion in 2012.

I am… George Lucas! Congratulations to Kari from Newark who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Ethan and Joe

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Thanksgiving Eve and Kettle Kickoff!

The Salvation Army hosted their 2024 Red Kettle Kick-Off yesterday.
We shared the conversation between Mount Vernon Captain Christine Moretz and our own Sue MacDonald how the red kettles impact the ministry of the Salvation Army throughout the year.

You can find the red kettles this year at Walmart, Kroger, Big Lots and Baker’s IGA.
Time: 9am and 8pm, Monday – Saturday
2024 Goal: $75,000

Find the full conversation at our SoundCloud link here!

They are still looking for volunteers. Ringing continues through Christmas Eve.
Register at www.registertoring.com
You can choose your time and location.

(L to R) Capt. Moretz and Cadet Jalicia Smalley

A few Thanksgiving fun facts from Good Housekeeping magazine:

Question: How much did the world’s largest pumpkin pie weigh?

Answer: 3,699 pounds

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the pie, made by New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio on September 25, 2010, weighed almost 3,700 pounds and was 20 feet in diameter. It was made with 197 cans of pumpkin, over 200 dozen eggs, 100 gallons of evaporated milk, 525 pounds of sugar, three pounds of pumpkin pie spice, seven pounds of salt and 12.4 pounds of cinnamon.

Question: What state raises the most turkeys?

Answer: Minnesota.

According to the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Minnesota has “long been” the turkey capital in the United States and has consistently ranked #1 in turkey production, raising 40 to 42 million birds a year.

  • I was born November 27, 1701 in Uppsala, Sweden.
  • My father was an astronomy professor and my uncle was a botanist
  • I chose physics and astronomy as my areas of emphasis
  • I created a temperature scale that now bears my name
  • I originally scaled 0 degrees as boiling and 100 degrees as freezing, but that was eventually reverted
  • I also participated in an expedition to the Arctic Circle to measure the shape of the earth

Who Am I? It’s a STUMPER. Join Judah next Wednesday and see if you can figure it out.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Cake? Or Pie? Who Knew?

Boston Cream Pie? Is it? Today America celebrates one of the tastiest, but confusing desserts out there!

Is it pie? Or is it cake? Anne Byrn’s boonk, ‘American Cake,’ says Boston Cream Pie was created in 1856 by Armenian-French chef Mossburg Sanzian at the Parker House Hotel in Boston. The cake consisted of (from the menu) two layers of French butter sponge cake filled with thick custard and brushed with a rum syrup; its side was coated with the same custard overlaid with toasted sliced almonds, and the top coated with chocolate fondant.

So, what’s your favorite cake? What’s the worst? Here is a summary of what you told us!

BEST:
Chocolate cake donuts
Devil’s Food with caramel, brown sugar, or peanut butter icing
Carrot cake with buttercream or cream cheese icing
White wedding cake with buttercream or chocolate icing
German Chocolate cake
Red Velvet cake
Red Velvet cheesecake
4-layer black walnut cake
Boston Cream Pie
Pineapple upside-down cake
Dairy Queen Ice Cream cake

WORST:
boxed fruit cake
vanilla cake with vanilla icing
urinal cakes LOL (that’s from former WNZR DJ Patrick)

  • I was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa
  • I showed an early interest in entertainment, performing magic tricks and ventriloquism during my childhood.
  • I attended the University of Nebraska and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
  • After the war, I returned and earned a degree in radio and speech.
  • I gained national prominence as the host of “The Tonight Show” on NBC for 30 years!
  • In my career, I won six Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.

I am Johnny Carson! Congratulations to Ken from Newark, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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