Start Your Day Positive

Could ordinary dish soap be more powerful than we give it credit for? Researchers put it up against 70% alcohol and a professional-grade disinfectant — and the results might make you look at that bottle by your sink a little differently.

Plus, Chili’s is having a major comeback, with five straight years of sales growth and plans for more restaurants — including possible expansion in Ohio. And if you noticed Al Roker suddenly disappear from TODAY, we finally know where he went. Spoiler: he had a pretty good excuse.

Also today:

It’s National Coffee Day! We’re sharing the very American reason coffee got a boost after the Boston Tea Party — and Len puts Sara to the test with a Price Is Right–style coffee game.

Today in History: Confucius was born, the five-day workweek begins to take shape, and we look at how much the workweek has changed over the years.

Win the Day: Len shares what he says is the best cure for the hiccups.

And as always, we’ll end the morning with a little encouragement and prayer.

Everything you need to know. None of the doom. Start your day with Sara & Len!

Thanks to our sponsors Northeast Factory Direct and Liberty Healthshare

Two little words could change the way your entire workplace treats each other... and researchers say there’s a reason it works.

Today’s Daily 3: the surprising ripple effect of saying “thank you,” why Gen Z may be bucking the trend when it comes to faith, and Meta’s new animated AI assistant that can actually get things done for you. Plus, Sara goes to her first Banana Ball game, Ted Williams’ record that still hasn’t been matched, and a memorable final moment on the mound for Justin Verlander.

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Thanks to our sponsors Universal Windows Direct and Liberty Healthshare

Taylor Swift’s new song “Cleveland!” is out, and we’re using it as a reason to celebrate the city — including Cleveland’s connection to rock and roll, Superman and Monday Night Football, along with the surprising number of songs that have mentioned Cleveland through the years.

We’re also talking about Meta’s latest vision for smart glasses, including camera-free Ray-Bans, new VR glasses and an AI assistant called MUSE. McDonald’s is planning an $8.5 billion global makeover, with more emphasis on chicken, breakfast, specialty drinks, AI-assisted drive-thrus and even higher-protein menu ideas.

And could exercise work nearly as well as over-the-counter medication for some types of pain? A huge analysis involving more than 220,000 people found significant pain relief from exercise 

Today in History: The beginning of the five-day work week with no reduction in pay.  We’ll also test your age radar with birthdays for Will Smith, Scottie Pippen, Heather Locklear, Mark Hamill, Anson Williams and Cheryl Tiegs.

And it’s National One-Hit Wonder Day! We count down a listener-favorite list - What is America's all time favorite One Hit Wonder?  

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Taylor Swift just put “Cleveland!” on the track list for her new release — and Northeast Ohio has a few questions.

We’ll tell you about that, plus the unusual new findings near Mount Ararat that have researchers taking another look at a formation some believe could be connected to Noah’s Ark.

Then, some genuinely encouraging news about teen mental health from the CDC’s latest national survey. Plus, we run through 10 popular home remedies for headaches — and what doctors actually say about which ones may help.

And in Today in History: Babe Ruth’s incredibly heavy bat and the surprising place the very first KFC franchise opened.

Plus something to send you into the day on the right foot.

Thanks to our sponsors Liberty Healthshare and Universal Windows Direct. 

McDonald’s Monopoly is coming back, Northeast Ohio could be in for a beautiful fall color season, and a new survey shows just how overloaded many Americans feel by the everyday “mental load” of life and how we can help share the load.

Plus, in Today in History, we look back at the debut of The Jetsons and how many of the shows futuristic inventions exist today, and on this day Lewis and Clark’s returned from their trip. It was truely providential that they made it back!

It’s also Stump Day, with a chance to win two dozen Daisy Pops.

And Sara talks with her daughter Reagan about Start With Hello Week and the simple but powerful importance of reaching out, including others and choosing kindness.

Capri Sun is going BIG with a giant 24-ounce reusable pouch, and we’re talking about a possible new mystery inside King Tut’s tomb that could lead to hidden rooms — maybe even the tomb of Queen Nefertiti.

Plus, a new study on the best way to spot fake news, Friends turns 32, Abraham Lincoln’s preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, and Len shares a little locker-room encouragement that really stuck with us.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors Liberty Healthshare and Northeast Factory Direct. 

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Our Website: StartYourDayPositive.com

HOSTS:

Sara Carnes  // @SaraCarnes4

Len Howswer // @LenHowser

Fall is officially here, and Ohio is showing off!  We’re talking about two Ohio destinations just named among the best places in America for fall color, plus the comeback of Toys “R” Us and a fun Cleveland connection to the very first Monday Night Football.

Plus, why September 21 will forever belong to Earth, Wind & Fire, a little gratitude for National Gratitude Day… and have you ever wondered what it’s REALLY like to be an Emmys seat filler? Sara’s friend Todd joins us with behind-the-scenes stories about sitting among the stars and what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling.

Thanks to our sponsors today Universal Windows Direct and Liberty Healthshare

Sherwin-Williams has revealed its surprising 2027 Color of the Year, soccer is making a major move among America’s favorite sports, and Merriam-Webster just added 1,400 new words to the dictionary.

Plus, we’re celebrating some big moments in history — from Einstein’s famous equation to the day KISS finally showed their faces. And for National Respect Day, we share a couple surprising facts about Aretha Franklin’s iconic “Respect.”

Then Sara shares a simple 20-second compassion exercise that could completely change the way you talk to yourself when you’re having a hard day.

Thanks to our sponsors Northeast Factory Direct, and Liberty Healthshare. 

Today we’re talking about why “stop expecting YOU from other people” might completely change the way you look at relationships.

Plus, Spider-Man just shattered a box-office record that Star Wars held for more than a decade — and Tom Holland’s payday could be massive.

And are we officially over doing everything through a screen? McDonald’s, Burger King and Starbucks are all putting more focus back on real human customer service.

Also: meet the “kidults”  grown adults buying LEGO sets, plushies, collectibles, Pokémon cards and more. Turns out, sometimes being an adult means buying the toy anyway. 

Thanks to todays sponsors  Liberty Healthshare and Universal Windows Direct. 

Could coffee be linked to more muscle and less belly fat? A new study found an interesting connection.... it's good news if you love coffee. 

Plus, a man breaks a world record by flying 415 paper airplanes in one hour, encouraging job news for young adults without college degrees, Today in History, and Len’s trick for getting your best Wordle score. 

Plus it's Stump Day... Listen to our question of the day and give your answer on StartYourDayPositive.com

Thanks to our sponsors Liberty Healthshare, Northeast Factory Direct and Universal Windows Direct.