Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: Nice News Today with Case Kenny

Episode Title: Counting New York’s trees, perfecting beer foam, and 70 years of Guinness World Records
Date: September 1, 2025

Overview

In this uplifting 10-minute episode, host Case Kenny delivers a whirlwind tour of positive news stories, each showcasing the creative, resilient, and optimistic spirit of people and communities around the world. From the ambitious task of counting New York City’s trees, to innovations in beer science, the growth of women’s sports, and the 70th anniversary of Guinness World Records, the episode weaves together inspiring facts, human moments, and a touch of nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Counting New York City’s Trees

[00:35–03:02]

NYC is home to over 7 million trees, providing vital benefits to 8.4 million residents.
Every 10 years, volunteers help count and assess nearly 820,000 street and park trees (excluding private property trees), focusing on species identification, circumference measurement, and health rating.
The process includes not just counting but also grading tree health on a scale from poor to excellent.
Despite advancements in tech, the Parks Department decided to keep humans in the loop for better data and community engagement.
- Notable quote [01:47]:
  
  “Don’t feel like judging the trees. You’re doing this for the health of the tree.”
  — NYC Parks Department staffer, quoting advice during volunteer training

2. Breast Cancer Bowlathon at Rab’s Country Lanes

[03:03–04:07]

Rab’s Country Lanes in Staten Island has hosted the Breast Cancer Bowlathon for 22 years, raising over $763,000 for breast cancer causes.
The owner’s hope: to reach a day where “no family has to hear the words ‘you have breast cancer.’”
- Memorable moment [03:34]:
  
  “Each year we get closer to the day when no family has to hear the words: you have breast cancer. And it’s the support of our community that makes that possible.”
  — Rab’s Country Lanes Owner
The bowling alley is recognized as a community staple, winning Staten Island Small Business of the Year and other accolades.
This year’s fundraiser is scheduled for October 19th, bringing them nearer to the million-dollar mark.

3. Surge in Professional Women’s Sports Leagues

[04:08–05:09]

The new Women’s Professional Baseball League launches next year, following the Athletes Unlimited Softball League and adding to 11 new women’s leagues since 2020.
Growth in investment: from booming women’s sports bars to multi-million dollar endorsement deals and private funding.
- Notable quote [04:50]:
  
  “Women’s sports can be good business.”
  — Director of Research & Insights, Parity platform

4. The Science Behind Perfect Beer Foam

[05:10–06:25]

Recent research in ‘Physics of Fluids’ reveals the complexity behind beer foam and how it’s more than just bubbles.
- For single fermentation beers, higher protein means more stable foam.
- Multiple fermentations result in even more foam stability, regardless of protein count.
Practical applications: Understanding foam mechanics could aid real-world problems like chemical fire prevention in electric vehicles — with great beer pours as a happy bonus.

5. 70 Years of Guinness World Records

[06:26–07:56]

Guinness World Records celebrates its 70th anniversary, reflecting on quirky milestones such as the world’s tallest dog and the largest Winnie the Pooh collection.
The idea originated from a pub debate in 1951, leading to the inaugural edition published in 1955.
Guinness World Records is inviting the public to tackle 70 unclaimed titles, including “Farthest Distance to Bounce a Coin Into a Cup” and “Most High Fives in 30 Seconds.”
- Nostalgic moment [07:07]:
  
  “Who listening has memories of flipping through those massive Guinness World Records books as a kid?”

6. Inspiring Human: Edward Kizukovich, Oldest Open Water Lifeguard

[07:57–09:15]

Edward Kizukovich, 82, has just earned the Guinness World Record for oldest open water lifeguard, boasting a 63-year career in New Jersey and worldwide.
He’s a mentor on the job, passing on knowledge to younger lifeguards.
- Notable quote [08:54]:
  
  “I’m a teacher and I’m a learner. The ocean and nature have something to show you. There’s something to learn every year.”
  — Edward Kizukovich
On his future: He hopes to “get in at least another summer of lifeguarding, maybe two.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Volunteer hesitance in rating trees:
[01:47] “Don’t feel like judging the trees. You’re doing this for the health of the tree.” — Parks Department staffer
Community impact at Rab’s Bowling Alley:
[03:34] “Each year we get closer to the day when no family has to hear the words: you have breast cancer. And it’s the support of our community that makes that possible.” — Owner of Rab’s Country Lanes
Optimism for women’s sports:
[04:50] “Women’s sports can be good business.” — Parity platform Research Director
Lifelong learning from the ocean:
[08:54] “I’m a teacher and I’m a learner. The ocean and nature have something to show you. There’s something to learn every year.” — Edward Kizukovich

Timestamps for Important Segments

Counting NYC Trees: 00:35–03:02
Breast Cancer Bowlathon: 03:03–04:07
New Women's Sports Leagues: 04:08–05:09
Beer Foam Science: 05:10–06:25
Guinness World Records Anniversary: 06:26–07:56
Edward Kizukovich, Inspiring Human: 07:57–09:15

Tone & Takeaway

Case Kenny’s delivery is warm, optimistic, and gently humorous, with a clear focus on highlighting practical hope, community action, and incremental progress. The episode balances bite-sized news with big-picture optimism, perfect for those seeking a boost of positivity and a reminder that good things are happening all around.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:01]
A
Good morning. Welcome to Nice news today, your 10 minute roundup of the week's most positive News. It is September 1st, and today I'm diving into the massive effort to count each and every tree in New York City's parks. I'll also cover the launch of the Women's Professional Baseball League, Guinness World Records 70th anniversary, and the science behind the perfect beer foam. I'm your host, Case Kenney. Let's uncover some good deer together. New York City is a concrete jungle, perhaps the most famous concrete jungle there is. So you might be surprised to Hear that the five boroughs are home to more than 7 million trees, which are essential to making the city livable for its 8.4 million residents. To check in on those trees, volunteers gather every 10 years to commence the New York City trees count. Much like the US Census gathers information about all the people living in the country, the tree count gathers information about how the plants are doing. Thankfully, the participants don't have to log all 7 million. That number includes the trees that are on private property and those outside the purview of the Parks Department. So the count just focuses on the nearly 820,000 street and park trees. In addition to counting, volunteers identify tree species, measure tree circumferences, and take notes on root, leaf and branch health. Then they must grant the tree a rating on a scale of poor to excellent. According to Guardian reporter Julia Carey Wong, who took part in a training for the 2025 count, some participants are hesitant to assign grades on the poor end of the spectrum, leading one of the park's department staffers to offer a bit of advice. She said, quote, don't feel like judging the trees. You're doing this for the health of the tree. This year, parks officials considered just using technology to survey New York's trees, but ultimately decided to keep humans involved in the process, a move that they think will lead to more high quality data while also benefiting the dedicated counters who have come to love the tradition, keeping it in New York. Next up, I have the scoop on a bowling alley on Staten island where a perfect game adds up to far more than 300. For 22 years, Rabs country Lanes has been hosting the Breast Cancer Bolathon, an annual fundraiser supporting local and national causes. And in that time, they've raised an impressive total of over $763,000. The owner told the Staten island advance quote, each year we get closer to the day when no family has to hear the words you have breast cancer. And it's the support of our community that makes that possible. It's no surprise that even beyond the breast cancer initiative, RAPS Country Lanes is a true community staple. It was named Staten Island Small Business of the Year by the NYC Neighborhood Achievement Awards and has been recognized among the top 50 small businesses in the city by a local radio station. This year's fundraiser will take place on October 19th. Here's hoping it inches them closer to that $1 million mark. Earlier this summer, the brand new Athletes Unlimited Softball League kicked off. And just a few later, there's another women's sports league on the horizon. It was announced last week that the Women's Professional Baseball League will begin play next year, a milestone decades in the making. Those are just two of the 11 new professional women's sports leagues that have been launched since 2020, according to the Associated Press, proof that the buzz around women's sports is turning into a full on roar. For years, people have warned that the sector isn't financially viable, but that notion is actively being debunked. Women' sports bars are popping up around the country. WNBA star Caitlin Clark inked a $28 million deal with Nike, and League 1 volleyball secured more than $100 million in funding from private equity groups and individuals. Last year, the director of research and insights for a women's sports marketing platform called Parity summed it up in one line, Women's sports can be good business. This one is for the ale fans out there. Pouring a cold glass of beer may seem rel straightforward, but it turns out there's quite a bit of science behind the process, specifically when it comes to getting that perfect frothy head of foam. Researchers dove into that science in a study published last week in a journal called Physics of Fluid. For a long time, the assumption was that the stability of beer foam has to do with how the bubbles interact and specifically how their protein rich layers interact. But these scientists painted a more complicated picture, finding that the foam mechanics change depending on a particular beer's fermentation. Fermentation. Single fermentation beers were greatly affected by protein count. More protein equaled a more stable foam. But beers that underwent multiple fermentations were less affected by protein and had the most stable foams. Now, the researchers weren't just going about this to create the perfect pour. They're hoping this bubble analysis can inform real world physics problems. For example, a better understanding around the physics of foam could help prevent chemical fires caused by electric vehicle lubricants, which are prone to foaming. Achieving a great pint of beer is just a bonus. Who Listening has memories of flipping through those massive Guinness World Records books as a kid. Believe it or not, the famed institution celebrated its 70th anniversary last week, and it did so by looking back on some of the quirkiest and most impressive achievements from over the decades, like the tallest dog ever, a Great Dane named Zeus, who stood at 44 inches tall and the largest Winnie the Pooh collection. Now for a little history lesson. Guinness World Records roots go back to a pub debate over what the fastest game bird in Europe is. That question inspired the first book, compiled in a room above a London gym and published August 27, 1955. That single volume sparked worldwide curiosity about extraordinary feats, and Guinness World Records has since authenticated thousands of records in sports, technology, the human body, super skills and more. To mark the 70 year milestone, Guinness World Records is now calling on the public to have a go at 70 unclaimed titles, which include the Farthest Distance to Bounce a Coin Into a Cup and the Most high fives in 30 seconds. Consider giving one a try for today's inspiring human I'm going to keep it in the Guinness World records family at 82 years old, Edward Kizukovich recently earned the record for the oldest open water lifeguard. He first started his lifeguarding career in 1962, meaning he's been helping keep New Jersey's waters safe for 63 years. And he's still going. According to NJ.com he's taken on a mentorship role at Bay Head beach, where he currently works. One or two newer guards join him on each of his shifts to learn the tricks of the trade. He's also taking his skills beyond the Garden State, traveling domestically and internationally to lifeguard the championships for the United States Life Saving Association. Edward takes the role seriously. Here's what he said. I'm a teacher and I'm a learner. The ocean and nature have something to show you. There's something to learn every year. As for what the future holds, he said he'd like to get in at least another summer of lifeguarding, maybe two. 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.