This #MovieStarMonday we visit with Felicia Day, actress and New York Times bestselling author returns with a “stirring, beautifully illustrated hero's journey overflowing with heart and a wicked sense of humor” (Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author) about the lost mythical character of Philonoe—Helen of Troy’s sister. Helen of Troy. Clytemnestra. Timandra. Three sisters, infamously cursed by the goddess Aphrodite to betray their husbands, are known the world over. But few know about the fourth sister: Philonoe. Lost to historical record, ancient texts say she had a different fate than her sisters. But why and how did this happen? New York Times bestselling author Felicia Day and illustrator Rowan MacColl bring Philonoe to vivid life at last, in The Lost Daughter of Sparta.
AVAILABLE: https://amzn.to/41HHUIn
TODAY'S REASON TO PARTY! (special thanks to ListOfNationalDays.com)
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/pineapple-upside-down-cake/
SURVEYS, STUDIES & SUCH
You know those times you get so frustrated that you just have to scream into a pillow to calm down? Turns out, you’re probably making yourself angrier. A 2024 Ohio State University review of 154 studies found that venting doesn’t reduce anger at all…and can even make it worse. Instead, calming activities that lower physiological arousal work best…like slow-flow yoga, deep breathing, mindfulness, and progressive muscle relaxation. Physical exertion like jogging may improve fitness, but they too can spike anger. Simple tactics, such as counting to 10 or taking a timeout, can be surprisingly effective. The key, say researchers, is cooling the body, not just letting off emotional steam. The research was inspired partly by the popularity of “rage rooms”, where people pay to smash objects in hopes of releasing anger.
BIG SCREEN-LITTLE SCREEN
Dan Levy is back in the world of comedic TV. After “Schitt’s Creek” went from “the little show that could” to a massive Emmy-winning success, he’s returned to this realm with the series “Big Mistakes”, which just debuted on Netflix. At last check, the new show had a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s also already #4 on Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” enjoyed a stellar second weekend, soaring past the $300 million mark domestically and $600 million worldwide. The sequel is the first Hollywood pic of the year to accomplish either milestone. It topped the weekend chart with nearly $70 million in domestic ticket sales. Ryan Gosling’s “Project Hail Mary” took in about $28 million in its 4th weekend, followed by “The Drama” in 3rd, leaving the new rom-com “You, Me & Tuscany” with a 4th-place finish at the box office, opening at around $8 million domestically.
Jessica Biel has shared her thoughts on the viral parenting hack that uses her name. The trend involves yelling “Jessica” to confuse and distract a toddler during a tantrum. In a TikTok video, she said: “I’m not really sure how I feel about this Jessica trend with moms and toddlers and now dogs apparently it’s working for – which is kind of amazing, I’m gonna try it on my dogs.” Next, she added: “I feel like half the kids in these videos look petrified.” She also reassured followers: “On behalf of all Jessicas, we are nice people.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/39v7afp5
DID YA KNOW!?
DID YOU KNOW… Not all deserts are hot. Antarctica is the world’s largest desert because it receives very little precipitation. Cold deserts can be just as dry as hot ones.
JOKE OF THE DAY
(FROM
HEIDI)
SCOOP
OF THE DAY
If you know a person who flips out over traffic, emails, or Wi-Fi, chances are, they skipped leg day…or more likely, haven’t even seen the inside of a gym for quite a while. A Brazilian study found that people with below-average fitness face a staggering 775% higher risk of anxiety and anger spikes when stressed. Researchers showed participants disturbing images and tracked emotional responses, revealing that fitter individuals experienced smaller surges. Regular aerobic exercise acts like emotional armor, helping the body manage stress, calm faster, and recover. Fitness also breaks a vicious cycle: exercise lowers anxiety, encouraging more movement, and building resilience for life’s daily frustrations.
For decades, “the munchies” have been treated as a punchline — a side effect of cannabis that leads to raided refrigerators and regrettable snack choices. New research suggests they may be a serious medical tool. In a study led by researchers at University of Calgary and Washington State University, inhaled cannabis caused people to eat significantly more within 30 minutes — even if they weren’t hungry. Similar effects appeared in rats, where cannabis overrode fullness and boosted motivation to seek food. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings show cannabis works through the brain’s reward system, not hunger hormones. That finding could be valuable for patients whose appetite is blunted by cancer treatment, HIV, or eating disorders.
THE MOVIE QUOTE OF THE DAY
If you have a favorite quote.... you can send it to us at the bottom of the page at JohnAndHeidiShow.com
“Be excellent to each other.” — Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure — Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) — 1989
NEWS TO ME
(FROM HEIDI)
FUN
FACT FOR YOU:
Share
this with your friends... they'll think you're really smart!
✓ Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Col. Sanders was born in Indiana.
✓ According to a study, most dogs reach peak cuteness between 6 and 8 weeks old.
✓ All 3 members of Nirvana were kicked out of the release party for their own album “Nevermind” for starting a food fight.
✓ Kangaroos never stop growing.
✓ To graduate from Cornell University, you must first pass a swim test.
WEIRD NEWS
As loneliness rises and some turn to AI for company, a new study suggests texting with real people still works better. Researchers at the University of British Columbia had 296 first-year students either text a stranger, chat with an AI, or journal daily for 2 weeks. Only those who messaged another human felt less lonely. While the chatbot improved mood, it didn’t reduce loneliness. Researchers say true connection comes from mutual support, and that’s something AI can’t fully replicate. Even a quick human check-in seems to help more.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
On average, adults do this 657 times per year. What is it?
Answer: Drink a cup of coffee
SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH HEIDI SMALL
(FROM HEIDI)
THE LIST
SPRING CLEANING TIPS FROM EXPERTS:
⇒ Every time you enter a room, pick up or clean 3 things: This way your home is in a constant state of maintenance. And it eventually becomes habitual — and you won’t even notice you’re doing it.
⇒ Do smaller loads of laundry throughout the week: One Redditor explained that they “do a small load of towels and a small load of clothes during the work week, then the big stuff while I clean on the weekend.”
⇒ Set a timer for 20 minutes every day — and clean as much as you can before the buzzer.
⇒ Break things down into categories, not rooms: Rather than cleaning according to room or floor, try simply cleaning the closets one day, and appliances the next. Move on to other categories, such as toys, decor, pet supplies. It’s a good way to keep stock of what’s scattered throughout the house, and a way to get rid of the things you don’t use anymore.
GOOD NEWS
Strangers
Change Homeless Man’s Life With RV, Job, And A Fresh Start
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news
