Friday, January 16, 2026

Good Afternoon! Some parents in Illinois are skipping smartphones for now and keeping things old-school with landlines until eighth grade, as we report today. If you hadn't grown up with a smartphone, how do you think you'd be different if you had one? If you had a smartphone as a kid, how different do you think you'd be if you hadn't?

Don't miss today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, where Amy Hess brings you two unforgettable stories you won't find in the edition. From a hockey player who was clinically dead for 16 minutes and says he encountered God, to a 92-year-old stunning competitors by winning a national Scrabble tournament. Watch the full episode now.

Today's sponsor is LeanBliss, a natural weight-loss supplement that claims to help people lose weight and manage blood sugar without injections, high costs, or the common side effects associated with popular drugs like Ozempic.

Double Amputee Climbs World's Highest Peaks

Hari Budha Magar, a British Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan, has become the first double above-knee amputee to summit the highest mountain on each continent.

The 46-year-old reached the top of Antarctica's Mount Vinson on Jan. 6, completing his seven-year mission known as the Seven Summits.

Hari battled addiction, depression, and even a government ban on disabled climbers in Nepal before standing atop Everest in 2023.

The climber now uses his platform to raise awareness for disability rights and veteran causes, saying his mission is to "inspire others to climb their own mountain." Watch a report here.

Parents Swap Smartphones for Landlines

Parents in Illinois are holding the line on smartphones, vowing not to give their kids one until eighth grade, opting for landline phones instead.

The idea, sparked by Meg Kate McAlarney and her husband Kyle, reflects a growing trend of families embracing the Wait Until 8th approach, which encourages delaying smartphones to help preserve childhood.

A video of their 8-year-old daughter using her new Tin Can phone on Christmas went viral on TikTok, drawing over 3 million views.

The retro-style phones let kids call approved contacts without internet or screens. Parents say it's a screen-free, nostalgic way to keep kids connected while pushing back on smartphone pressure in younger grades.

Teddy Bear Toss Fills Ice With 81,796 Toys

The Hershey Bears, a minor league hockey team in Pennsylvania, turned the ice into a sea of stuffed animals on Jan. 4 as fans tossed 81,796 plush toys after the team's first goal—just three minutes into the game.

Now in its 25th year, the Teddy Bear Toss collects toys for kids in need across central Pennsylvania.

One of the event's biggest champions is high school junior Gabby Kerchner, who started a nonprofit called Gabby's Acts of Kindness. Her group has helped collect more than 125,000 bears over the years.

Those toys are now in the hands of local schoolkids, hospitals, and military families, proving that a little mayhem on the ice can make a big difference. Watch the video.

The following story is featured exclusively on The Feel Good Flyover Podcast. Clicking the link will take you directly to this story:

➤ A hockey player was clinically dead for 16 minutes after collapsing on the ice and said he encountered God during the experience. (Hear Story)

➤ At 92, a lifelong word lover stunned competitors by winning a national Scrabble tournament. (Listen Now)

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➤ Despereaux, an extremely rare "dumbo" mouse with oversized ears, was just born at a San Diego mousery, marking what the breeder calls winning the "mega mouse lottery" with only a handful ever documented worldwide. (See Mouse)

➤ A Netherlands mail carrier shared photos of all the creative snowmen she encountered while delivering mail this winter. (See Snowmen)

➤ An Indiana community raised over $22,000 to replace a man's incredibly beat-up Chevy truck with a brand-new Silverado at a dealership celebration. The overwhelmed recipient wept, saying, "God blessed me." (Watch Video)

➤ Adorable "duck libraries" are spreading joy across New York City, where kids follow one simple rule: take a duck, leave a duck. The community project began with one anonymous person and has evolved into a citywide trend. (See Libraries)

➤ Canadian scientists spotted a polar bear mother with an adopted cub, marking only the 13th case in 45 years, as her maternal instincts wouldn't let her abandon the crying cub on the tundra. (Watch Bears)

➤ A father revealed he's been lying for 24 years that manatees are his favorite animal after his 6-year-old gave him a manatee mug. He's choosing to maintain the lie as his now-30-year-old son excitedly prepares their Florida trip to see manatees. (More)

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