🎵 Oh Say, America Has a New Song
Decades after his death, a well-known children’s author adds a new story to America’s bookshelf. Plus, the woman who took on the Appalachian Trail at 80 ... and several stories still percolating across the headlines as we head into the weekend.
“To sing the 50 United States, you have to use your brain. Massachusetts. Minnesota. Missouri and Montana. M-i-s-s-Mississippi. Maryland! Michigan and Maine!”
A recent find at UC San Diego’s Geisel Library will soon reach readers just in time for America’s 250th birthday. Archivists uncovered a complete manuscript along with original sketches created by children’s author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel – known as Dr. Seuss.
The book, Sing the 50 United States!, comes out in June 2026, with 500,000 copies planned for release ahead of the country’s anniversary celebrations.
You can reserve your copy HERE.
Credit: Dr. Seuss Enterprises
🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:
⏰ Circadian Curveball: Opinions may vary about the clocks “falling back” this Sunday, but science says no matter if we gain or lose an hour of sleep, our internal clocks struggle to keep up with time changes – affecting sleep, mood, and metabolism.
🍬 A Sour Stress Tool? Some experts say sour candy can ground you during anxious moments – shifting the brain's focus temporarily. Perhaps a SmartHER tip to keep in mind as open enrollment begins for health insurance.
🐶 Happy Ending: A pup named Penny went missing five years ago in Mississippi. No one knows exactly how, but she traveled more than 500 miles to Central Florida – where a stranger recently found her. Thanks to her microchip, Penny reunited with her family this week.
🛒 Grocery Goodwill: Several delivery companies, including Instacart and DoorDash, announced discounts for SNAP recipients as well as donations to local food banks amid the government shutdown.
🌀 “The ‘center of the sink drain’”: A meteorologist describes flying with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters into Melissa’s eye. We wonder if he flew with this crew? The storm left a path of destruction throughout the Caribbean – here's the latest.
🔌 Power Giants: Austria converts traditional power lines into electrifying works of art. What do you think? 👇🏽
🍾 Messages in a Bottle: While picking up trash on a beach in Western Australia last week, a family found a bottle containing letters written by two Australian soldiers on their way to World War I in 1916.
Credit: Deb Brown / AP
🥂 53%: The share of U.S. adults who say moderate drinking harms their health, according to a Gallup poll released this week. Jenna recently reflected on her 100-day break from alcohol – and the unexpected lessons she learned. P.S. If you're trying to cut back, we love these Recess mocktails. Our tip? Grab the variety pack!
Click above or HERE to watch. Also available on Apple, Spotify & beyond!
🌊 “Death ball”: A newly discovered species of sponge found nearly 12,000 feet below the surface of the Southern Ocean. Its nickname comes from the small hooks it uses to trap prey. In total, marine biologists uncovered 30 new species during the expedition.
🎙️ This Week From Jenna:
Your Cheat Sheet On The Government Shutdown
As the government shutdown nears unprecedented territory, a quick look at what’s going on, why it matters and your own voices on how you feel about it all! Thank you to Amy, Kristina, Jim, and Briana for sending us your thoughts!
Plus:
- Why do we say it’s one of the longest shutdowns in *modern times*? (Why do we need that caveat?)
- Where did this all start? A look at both sides.
- Why does Congress still get paid?
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
🎙️ SCOOP (approx. 59 minutes) SCOOP: High-Stakes and High Seas: What To Know & Why It Matters. Watch or Listen. (SCOOP Insiders can attend this live broadcast once a week and get their news questions answered; they also receive the special video report EXCLUSIVELY delivered to their inbox along with a "cheat sheet" for the week ahead — learn more HERE).
🎙️ SmartHER Interview (approx. 74minutes): Born Lucky: Navigating An Autism Diagnosis To The Anchor Chair. Watch or Listen.
🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week:
Did you catch the bra we shared last weekend over on Instagram?
EBY uses a special underwire technology for support that feels barely there – and we're obsessed!
As we head into cozy season, consider this your permission for a fall bra & underwear drawer refresh. 🍂
Here's our favorites (so far - standby as we test more options 😉) - and don't forget to use code SMARTHER15 for 15% off your entire purchase.👇🏽
“We put all kinds of limitations on ourselves. Sometimes the biggest one is we don’t get up and try it.”
80-year-old Betty Kellenberger after hiking the 2,000+ mile Appalachian Trail, becoming the oldest woman to complete the trek. Despite multiple setbacks – including a concussion, dehydration, and Lyme disease – she achieved the goal she added to her bucket list after retiring from more than four decades of teaching in 2009.
Did You Know? “Only 1 in 4 people who attempt to thru-hike — meaning to hike the trail in 12 months or less — ultimately complete it, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.” (Washington Post)
And that's The Weekend Digest!
❤️,
Jenna and the SHN Team
Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.
