A quick tip for living a happier life, the best US cities for renters, and a bald eagle comeback story - Nice News Today

Summary4 min read

Summary of "Nice News Today" Episode: July 14, 2025

Hosted by Case Kenny

1. A Quick Tip for Living a Happier Life

In this segment, Case Kenny shares a practical strategy to enhance personal happiness, drawing on insights from experts in the field of happiness research. Inspired by former Google executive Mo Gowdit and neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, the tip revolves around managing negative emotions effectively.

At 00:45, Kenny explains the technique: when faced with frustration or anxiety, allow yourself 90 seconds to process the emotion. After this brief period, consciously shift your focus to more positive aspects of your life. This method helps prevent getting "stuck" in negative thinking patterns.

Mo Gowdit elaborates on this approach in an interview on the High Performance podcast, emphasizing that "90% of the things that make us unhappy are not even true" (02:15). During the 90-second buffer, Gowdit recommends asking oneself three critical questions:

Is it true?
Can I do something about it?
Can I accept it and still move forward?

By implementing this strategy, individuals can break the cycle of negative thoughts and foster a more optimistic outlook. Kenny illustrates this with a relatable example: after being cut off in traffic, instead of dwelling on anger, one might sing along to a favorite song, leading to an immediate improvement in mood.

2. The Best US Cities for Renters

Housing affordability remains a pressing issue across the United States, but not all cities are affected equally. Kenny highlights the findings of a recent survey by Rent Café, which identified the top cities offering the best value for renters based on 20 key metrics including cost of living, housing expenses, local economy, and quality of life.

At 05:30, it's revealed that McKinney, Texas, ranks as the number one city for renters, praised for its affordability and high quality of life. Following closely are Sarasota, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Austin, Texas, and Huntsville, Alabama. Remarkably, 41 out of the top 50 cities are located in the southern United States, suggesting that the South continues to be a hotspot for affordable and desirable living conditions.

Kenny suggests that renters looking to relocate might consider exploring these southern gems, as they offer a combination of economic opportunities and lifestyle benefits that are hard to find elsewhere.

3. Bald Eagle Comeback Story

A heartening conservation success story, this segment focuses on the resurgence of the bald eagle population in Maryland. Once dwindling due to environmental pollutants, particularly the pesticide DDT, bald eagles have made a remarkable recovery over the past few decades.

At 09:20, Kenny reports that Maryland now boasts over 1,400 breeding pairs of bald eagles, the largest population in the contiguous United States. This resurgence is largely attributed to the 1972 ban on DDT, which had previously caused significant reproductive failures among the birds. In 1985, there were merely 62 breeding pairs in Maryland; today, nests are present in every county, including Baltimore City.

Gwen Brewer, a manager at Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, emphasizes the significance of this achievement: "To recover a species that is so widely distributed and that declined to such a serious level, that is something to celebrate" (10:00). Kenny underscores the importance of continued conservation efforts to sustain and further this positive trend.

4. Elephants’ Intentional Communication

Exploring the intelligence of elephants, Kenny delves into a fascinating study conducted in Zimbabwe, demonstrating that elephants can use deliberate gestures to communicate their desires.

At 12:45, Kenny recounts the experiment where elephants were presented with apples. When given three apples and asked if they wanted more, the elephants used specific trunk gestures to indicate their desire for additional fruit. A researcher from the University of St. Andrews commented to the New York Times, "there's no doubt that the elephants were using their gestures intentionally" (13:10).

This behavior parallels communicative strategies seen in humans and apes, suggesting a higher level of cognitive complexity in elephants than previously understood. While further research is needed to fully grasp the nuances of elephant communication, this study highlights the profound intelligence and social sophistication of these majestic animals.

5. Spreading Gratitude: Ellen Webster’s Inspiring Journey

The episode concludes with a touching story of personal initiative and the transformative power of gratitude. Ellen Webster, a 67-year-old resident of New Jersey, has dedicated the past decade to sending 10,000 handwritten thank you notes, impacting countless lives through her heartfelt messages.

At 16:30, Kenny narrates how Ellen was inspired by John Kralich’s memoir, where Kralich detailed his year-long project of writing 365 thank you notes. Initially approaching the task half-heartedly, Ellen soon found that writing these notes "began to feed her soul" (17:50), leading her to pursue the ambitious goal of 10,000 letters.

Ellen's notes are addressed to a diverse group of recipients, including friends, family, postal workers, ferry operators, customer service representatives, and authors. In each letter, she strives to convey three essential sentiments: I see you, Thank you, and You matter.

Responding to the impact of her efforts, Ellen shares, "I have to like myself enough to think that what I have to say to somebody matters" (19:20). She believes that in a world where many individuals yearn for acknowledgment, her notes serve as both self-care and a meaningful connection to others. Ellen’s initiative encourages listeners to embrace gratitude and consider expressing appreciation in their own lives.

Conclusion

Case Kenny wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to take inspiration from the stories shared, fostering a sense of optimism and proactive positivity in their daily lives. From practical happiness tips and housing insights to remarkable wildlife recovery and personal acts of kindness, this episode of "Nice News Today" offers a rich tapestry of uplifting and motivating narratives.

For more inspiring stories, listeners are invited to follow "Nice News Today" on various platforms and subscribe to their free daily newsletter at nicenews.com.

End of Summary

Loading summary

Transcript1 lines

[00:01]
Case Kenney
Good morning. Welcome to Nice news today, your 10 minute roundup of the week's most positive news. It's July 14th and today I'm diving into a tip that can help you start living a happier life in less than two minutes. I've also got the scoop on the best cities for renters, a bald eagle comeback story, and a woman spreading gratitude to the world 1 thank you Note at a time. I'm your host, Case Kenney. Let's uncover some good together As a self proclaimed optimism enthusiast, I'm all about empowering people to live happier lives. Today I've got a tip that can help you do just that. And it only takes 90 seconds here's what to do when something frustrating or anxiety inducing happens. Allow yourself 90 seconds to feel upset, then shift your focus to other things. This hack was recently shared by former Google exec Mo Gaudit, who spent over 20 years studying happiness. On a recent episode of the High Performance podcast, Gowdit explained that he learned the tip from neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, who found that stress and anger hormones can be flushed from the body and in around, you guessed it, 90 seconds. If you continue to focus on a negative thought for longer than 90 seconds, you subconsciously restart that time frame, creating an emotional trap. But if you pause after 90 seconds, you get a buffer to ask yourself what you're going to do next. Here are the three questions Gowdet asks himself about an upsetting incident during that buffer time. Number one, Is it true? Number two, can I do something about it? And number three, can I accept it and do something despite its presence? Git said that quote 90% of the things that make us unhappy are not even true. So first try to figure out if you're even reacting to reality. Then if you can do something to improve your situation, do it. But if not, accept that you can't and do something else. Like sing along to your favorite song after you've been cut off in traffic and watch yourself become a happier person. If you've got a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark coming up, you'll probably be exchanging your dollars for krona. But the city is accepting another form of currency this summer and it won't fit in your wallet. For the second year in a row, the Copenpay program is offering rewards to folks who make greener decisions, like buying biking instead of driving or spending a few hours helping out an urban garden. That's right, participating in eco friendly activities could get you over 100 different perks, including guided tours, discounted or free admission to top attractions, and free food and drinks. These all sound like fantastic reasons to go to Copenhagen this summer, but soon you may see other spots copying this initiative. According to Denmark's tourism office, more than 100 interested destinations have reached out to Copenhagen about joining the movement. The bald eagle is our national bird, but for almost two decades it was considered endangered in the US thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. They were released from the Protection of the Endangered species Act in 2007. And this month a Northeastern state is celebrating a huge achievement in the species recovery. Maryland. Any Maryland listeners out there now boasts more than 1400 breeding pairs of the birds, the largest population of bald eagles in the contiguous U.S. this accomplishment has been years in the making. Back in 1985, there were just 62 breeding pairs in the state. Scientists largely credit the increase to the banning of ddt, a pesticide that led to reproductive failure in eagles. Before DDT was banned in 1972, the eggs in Chesapeake Bay contained some of the highest amounts of pesticide in the country, and it took years for the population to bounce back. Today, nests can be found in every county in Maryland and in Baltimore City, Gwen Brewer, a manager at Maryland's Department of Natur Resources, said in a news release. Quote to recover a species that is so widely distributed and that declined to such a serious level, that is something to celebrate. Before diving into more good news, I want to talk about today's sponsor, AG1. Building healthy habits can be challenging, especially if you're trying to change too many things at once. But the real secret to building healthy habits is to start small and keep it simple. And and one habit that's easy to stick to is AG1. AG1 is a daily health supplement that supports whole body health. With just one scoop, it's packed with more than 75 vitamins, minerals, pre and probiotics and superfoods that work together to support energy, immune health, digestion and fill any nutrient gaps in your diet. Because, let's be honest, we can't always eat perfectly. It's one of the easiest things you could do for your health. And with AG1's subscription, you'll always be stocked so you'll never miss a day. We ready to give your body the nutrients it deserves? Head to drink ag1.com nicenewstoday to subscribe for less than $3 a day. You'll also get a free welcome kit with a shaker bottle, five AG1 travel packs, and more with your first purchase. That's drinkag1.com nicenews today, the rising cost of rent in cities across the country can feel overwhelming. But there are some hidden gems out there that can offer renters an excellent value. A survey from the apartment search website Rent Cafe identified the US Cities that give renters the most bang for their buck, and it turns out that southern cities top the list. 20 key metrics centered on cost of living and housing, the local economy and quality of life were used to develop the ranking of 150 cities, and the number one spot went to McKinney, Texas. The suburb ranks high in both overall affordability and quality of life. Next on the list are Sarasota, Florida Atlanta, Georgia Austin, Texas and Huntsville, Alabama. In fact, 41 out of the top 50 cities are located in the South. So the next time you're looking to move, you all might want to head to that part of the country. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but it may not keep the elephant away. At least that's what researchers in Zimbabwe discovered. In a recent study, they learned that elephants can make deliberate gestures to convey their desires, like, say, for a crisp Red Delicious. After giving elephants three apples and standing in front of trays with three more, the researchers found that the animals swung their trunks to essentially ask for the rest of the fruit. A researcher from the University of St. Andrews told the New York Times that, quote, there's no doubt that the elephants were using their gestures intentionally. He compared their communication styles to those of humans and apes who use gestures to influence others and achieve their goals. More research is required to understand the complexities of elephant communication, but for now, keep an eye on your apples around those highly intelligent animals. Gratitude can be life changing for yourself and and for those you show appreciation too. And there's one New Jersey resident who especially understands just how powerful it is. Today's inspiring Human is a 67 year old Ellen Webster, who has sent 10,000 handwritten thank you notes over the past decade. It all began when she read a memoir while multiple members of her family were undergoing serious medical issues. The author, John Kralich, had documented his journey of writing365 thank you Notes in a year with which inspired Webster to do the same. She told TODAY that in the beginning she was kind of conducting the experiment half heartedly, but eventually writing thank you notes began to feed her soul. So she kept doing it and set a goal of penning 10,000 letters. She's sent notes to friends, family, postal workers, ferry operators, customer service reps, authors and many more. In each letter she tries to convey three things. I see you, thank you and you matter. Although she's received some responses about the positive impact her notes have made. Webster says she really views them as a form of self care and as her calling. She said, quote, I have to like myself enough to think that what I have to say to somebody matters. I think that we're all sorely looking for people to acknowledge that we're okay, that we're going to be okay, and that we're doing okay. If this leaves you feeling inspired, consider taking a page out of Webster's notebook and sending a few heartfelt thank you notes of your own own and that's it for today's episode. If you loved these stories, please consider giving us a follow on Apple, Spotify and YouTube Music and sharing this episode with a friend. If you want more good news, visit nicenews.com to sign up for our free daily newsletter. Until next time, keep spreading your light and remember there's more than enough good out there to go around. Have a great day.