Start Your Day Positive

In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good stories, and conversation starters to help you start your day positive.
✅ Where Are the Most Generous People in America?WalletHub crunched the numbers on charitable giving across all 50 states, looking at volunteer hours, income donated, and charities per capita. One state stood out in a big way — and Ohio makes a strong showing too.
✅ A Powerful Christmas Message About Compassion and Peace
✅ Why a Nintendo Switch Might Be the Best Christmas GiftIf someone in your house unwrapped a Nintendo Switch, science says that’s actually great news.... some games help reduce stress. 
✅ National Thank You DayWe take a moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you — because gratitude never goes out of style.
✅  Whistle While You Win It’s time to play Whistle While You Win! Len whistles a tune, and you guess the song name by heading to startyourdaypositive.com. One correct guesser will win a $50 gift card to the restaurant of their choice, thanks to Wyatt Works.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Wyatt WorksNortheast Factory DirectUniversal Windows Direct
 

In This Special Episode:
 It’s our Christmas Eve edition, and we’re doing something a little different. Instead of our usual format, Len and Sara each sit down with their families for some fun, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud conversations.
We ask everyone:
What’s one Christmas tradition they never want to change?
What’s the most memorable gift they’ve ever received?
And… who is the hardest person in the family to shop for (and why)? 
From meaningful moments to unexpected answers, this episode is a reminder of what Christmas is really about — connection, memories, and the people we love most.
Cozy up, grab a cup of something warm, and join us for a Christmas Eve conversation that feels like home.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 
SPONSOR PARTNER: Northeast Factory Direct
 

In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good, and interesting updates
✅ Christmas Lyrics We Think We KnowPlay along as Len quizzes Sara on some familiar favorites and see if you know the lyrics
✅ The Facebook Photo Glam Trend Everyone is TryinSo much fun! With the right prompt, you can look like the classic album cover 
✅ Confident Gift Giving
Our communications expert, Tommie Jo Brode, reminds us that good gifts come from our hearts, not our wallets
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Universal Windows Direct • Northeast Factory Direct and Tommie Jo Brode
 

In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good, and interesting updates
✅ The Man Behind So Many Christmas SongsMeet Johnny Marks, the songwriter responsible for some of the most beloved holiday classics of all time — chances are, you’ve been singing his songs for decades without realizing it.
✅ This Food  Is Having a MomentMove over kale — this food is officially cool. We share what food experts are calling the 2026 food of the year! 
✅ Cleveland Named One of the Best Christmas Towns in America - we share all the details! 
✅ A Christmas Moment from SpaceA look back at Apollo 8, what astronauts famously read while orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve — one of the most awe-inspiring holiday broadcasts ever.
✅ Good News That SticksA heartwarming story involving Baltimore Ravens players quietly serving others ...reminding us what the season is really about.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:• Hartville Marketplace• Universal Windows Direct• Northeast Factory Direct
 

In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good, and interesting updates to start your day positive
✅ A historic space mission paused for safetyBlue Origin scrubbed its latest launch at the very last minute after engineers spotted an issue during final checks. The mission is still expected to make history and we share why... 
✅ SpongeBob takes over Burger King (just a little longer)Burger King is extending the SpongeBob fun with a special BOGO deal today only for Royal Perks members. The Krabby Whopper is back — complete with bright yellow, square buns — celebrating the release of the new SpongeBob movie.
✅ A Christmas music upset no one saw comingFor the first time ever, All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey has been knocked out of the top spot on Billboard’s Global 200. We share the new holiday chart leader! 
✅ Today is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day — And we are here for it! Sara has some thoughts on why they're so popular... 
✅ What song does Len whistle today?Guess correctly and enter on our website for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a favorite restaurant.
THANK YOU to The Whistling Plumber — Wyatt Works
🎉 Special thanks to our sponsors:Wyatt Works Plumbing • Northeast Factory Direct • Mosack’s Christian Gifts & Books
 

In This Episode
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear
✅ Social Media Reality Check - New study points to good news... 
✅ Food News Worth Celebrating - Taco Bell is bringing back a cult-favorite nationwide this Friday — just in time for the holidays.
Giveaway TimeWe’re doing another Squeaky Clean NEO Housecleaning Giveaway — because nothing feels better than a fresh, clean home during a busy season.
💬 Real Talk: Setting Holiday BoundariesWe’re joined by communications expert Tommie Jo Brode to talk about a very timely topic:With so many gatherings and social obligations, how do you set boundaries and communicate your limits without coming across as rude or ungrateful? Practical advice you can actually use this season.
This Day in HistoryA quick look back at a meaningful moment from this day — and why it still matters.
Coming SoonWe’re getting ready to announce details for our next trip for end of April.... Be sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter so you don’t miss it.
Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors:• Universal Windows Direct• Elyria Jewelers• Tommie Jo Brode
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In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Holiday faith, feel-good headlines, and a little Christmas hope
✅ Holiday Movie Fun — Yes, a Pickleball Christmas movie is on this weekend!  🎄🏓
✅ Viral Recipe Sara Tried — Loaded Dill Pickle Charcuterie Nachos! So so good… and dangerously good for holiday gatherings.
✅ Faith & Christmas News - Hobby Lobby is giving away 500,000 free copies of The Case for Christmas. 
✅ Holiday Shopping Insight - WalletHub reveals the Top 10 Most Popular Gift Cards this holiday season!

In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good, and fun updates to start your day positive
✅ Behind-the-Scenes Christmas Movie Moment — Sara shares what it was like being an extra filming a Christmas movie at Punderson State Park 🎄🎬
✅ Today in History — A quick look at what happened on this day
✅ Movie Fun Facts You’ll Love — Behind-the-scenes trivia from Elf that makes this Christmas favorite even better
✅ Google’s U.S. Hum-to-Search List — Wait until you hear what made the list!
✅ The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe — Sara shares a food scientist recipe for the  perfect chocolate chip cookie
✅ Stuck on a Christmas Gift for a Guy? — Thanks to a viral TikTok, this type of sweater is having a moment...
 
📲 Follow Sara on Instagram @saracarnes4
📲 Follow Len on Instagram @lenhowser
🎉 Special thanks to our sponsors:Elyria Jewelers, Northeast Factory Direct, Sweetie’s Candy
 

In This Episode:
✅ News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good, and fun updates to start your day positive
✅ Home Alone: More Than a Christmas Movie — Why the movie is going viral again and the deeper lessons fans are rediscovering
✅ A look at This Day in History
✅ Christmas movie fans are traveling to real-life Hallmark & Lifetime movie towns... and why it’s becoming a holiday tradition
✅ New research challenges the idea that eating sweets makes you crave more sugar
✅ Would you rather live in the past, present, or future? The results of a new survey might surprise you
 
📲 Follow Sara on Instagram @saracarnes4
📲 Follow Len on Instagram @lenhowser
🎉 Special thanks to our sponsors:Hartville Marketplace, Universal Windows Direct, Sweeties Candy
 

In This Episode:✅  News You’ll Actually Want to Hear — Pop culture, feel-good, and fun updates to start your day positive
✅  A look at This Day in History
✅ Sara shares her "Favorite Things Party"
✅  Why smiling makes a difference...
✅ How airports could look different in the future... 
✅ What song does Len whistle on today's podcast? Guess correctly and enter on our website. You could win a $50 gift card to a favorite restaurant. THANK YOU TO THE WHISTLING PLUMBER WYATT WORKS
✅ Win a totally candy-stuffed Christmas stocking and a $50 gift card to Sweeties Candy
📲 Follow Sara on Instagram @saracarnes4
📲 Follow Len on Instagram @lenhowser
🎉 Special thanks to our sponsors:    Northeast Factory Direct, Harville MarketPlace, Sweeties Candy