Friday is the best day of the week, right? Not anymore. Thursday takes that title now, because that is when the happiest news show hits the air waves. Happy Hour News is a radio show that I cohost with my pal Rachel Long on UNL's online live streaming station KRNU2. On our show we talk about only good news happening in the world, play throwback tunes and sometimes chat with guests.
Since about Sophomore year of high school I have had this idea that I wanted to start some sort of news show that only talks about good stories. You turn on the news now and all you see is "this horrible thing happened here" and "that person did this horrible thing there." Like every time I turn on the news, I am convinced the world is ending. Sensationalized stories and fear sell, so that's what the news reports on and dramatizes. But there are SO MANY incredible things happening in the world today that nobody talks about because it's not what sells, I guess. But the one thing this world freaking needs is to hear about all the good going on. Positivity is my number one Gallup strength (what's a Gallup strength?) and I try to incorporate it into anything I do. Happy Hour News is the project where I get to maximize this strength and share it with people.
In my sophomore year of college, I told this really peppy girl in my class about my dream of having this news show and she was over the moon about it. So over the moon about it that she invited herself to be my cohost dragged me into the radio manager's office and got us a slot on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. (but this semester we're at 10 p.m.). Now, that peppy girl, Rachel, is one of my best pals and I'm so glad to be able to vibe with her and her infinite positivity once a week.
My life motto is "love as He has" and I try to live it every day. I even got it tattooed on my arm as a constant reminder to remember our main purpose on this earth is to love God and in turn, love others. That's what I truly feel like the meaning of life is and Happy Hour News is my way to love on others and let them know strong love still exists in the world and can be seen every day, all we have to do is look. We sign off every show with "We do Happy Hour to bring some positivity to the world. Because no matter your race, religion, gender, political ideology or income we can all be kind. You are valued, loved and important." I wrote that one night while I was all up in my emotions and I think it speaks really true to what Rachel and I want people to get out of listening.
If you're paying attention to all the bad going on in the world, life can get you real down, real fast. As someone who struggles with depression, I have to find the positive in life every day to keep going. To get your weekly dose of positivity and happiness, tune into KRNU2 online every Thursday night at 10 p.m. or follow us on Instagram for an almost daily dose of happy. On our Instagram you'll also find my graphic design handiwork and that's a source of laughter in itself.
Before we got a sweet logo.
Our slogan/mission/vision.