The Lighter Side
The Lighter Side

The Lighter Side

@thelighterside

Soaking in a Hot Tub Bestows Surprising Health Benefits, Even More Than Saunas, New Study Says
Favicon 
www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Soaking in a Hot Tub Bestows Surprising Health Benefits, Even More Than Saunas, New Study Says

Saunas are all the rage these days for exercise recovery and longevity, because the increased ambient heat triggers a cascade of effects in the body that can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. But, how many of us have access to a sauna? That’s why researchers from the University of Oregon compared the effects of […] The post Soaking in a Hot Tub Bestows Surprising Health Benefits, Even More Than Saunas, New Study Says appeared first on Good News Network.

Three leaders who are changing what it means to do good in business.
Favicon 
www.upworthy.com

Three leaders who are changing what it means to do good in business.

When Jorge Alvarez arrived at Rutgers University as a first-generation college student, he couldn’t find anyone who looked like him, a Latino man, talking openly about mental health. “I felt very lost,” he later said. So he decided to be that change. He revived the Active Minds chapter at Rutgers and built it into the largest student-run mental health organization on campus, with an intentional focus on creating space for Black and Brown students. He took that same energy online, building a community of over 115,000 TikTok followers through educational content on mental health, generational trauma, and cultural identity. That trajectory led him, in 2022, to the White House, one of just 30 young advocates invited to the first-ever Mental Health Youth Action Forum, where he joined a conversation with Dr. Jill Biden, Selena Gomez, and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to make the case for culturally relevant mental health care. He returned again in 2024. @mtvnews To champion MentalHealthAction, #FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, SelenaGomez, and Surgeon General Dr. #VivekMurthy teamed up with @mtv to amplify the voices of youth activists and chart the path forward. @dometipongo spoke to Gomez about why it’s “OK not to be OK” and more. Head to mentalhealthishealth.us ♬ original sound – MTV NEWS Today, Alvarez is being recognized by Engage for Good as its first-ever Emerging Leader of the Year. Now in its 24th year, the Halo Awards have long recognized the best corporate-nonprofit partnerships in the country. This year, for the first time, the organization is also recognizing the people behind the work: a pioneer who built the field before it had a name, a leader who has made it sharper and more responsive, and a younger voice who is pushing it somewhere new. The Pioneer: Carol Cone In 1983, a small shoe company called Rockport had a problem: nobody knew who they were. Carol Cone had an idea. Link the brand to something bigger than footwear — the emerging walking-for-health movement — and make the company a genuine champion of it. Rockport grew from a $20 million unknown into a $150 million brand. More importantly, Cone had stumbled onto something she would spend the next forty years proving: that a company’s values, done right, are a business strategy.She’s now known as the Mother of Cause Marketing, and the résumé backs it up. Cone founded the nation’s first cause marketing consultancy in 1980, produced more than 30 research reports that helped turn the field into a discipline, and has executed more than 250 purpose programs for some of the world’s leading companies. She’s directed $5 billion toward social causes through initiatives like the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and Aflac’s My Special Aflac Duck. She wrote the book — literally, Breakthrough Nonprofit Branding — hosts the Purpose 360 podcast, now more than 220 episodes in, and has mentored over 1,000 people coming up in the field. Engage for Good is honoring her with its Lifetime Achievement Award. “She didn’t just contribute to this space,” said EFG CEO Muneer Panjwani. “She defined and legitimized it.” The Collaborator: Karen Little What sets Karen Little apart isn’t just what she’s built, it’s how she builds it. The head of Rapid Response at PayPal is known across the social impact sector for bringing people together in moments when most organizations are still figuring out what to do. When wildfires tore through Los Angeles in January 2025, Little didn’t wait for the smoke to clear. She activated PayPal’s financial tools, nonprofit partnerships, and giving infrastructure, moving resources to the organizations that needed them while the crisis was still unfolding. She has since helped write the playbook on strategic disaster philanthropy — the kind other companies can actually follow. Her instinct for convening shows up elsewhere too. Little founded the Bay Area Social Impact Gathering, which started as a dozen peers talking over drinks and has since grown into a network of more than 250 professionals spanning corporate, nonprofit, and foundation sectors. “Her balance between strategy and humanity is what sets her leadership apart,” said Panjwani. She is the inaugural recipient of EFG’s Impact Leader of the Year Award. The Next Generation: Jorge Alvarez Back at Active Minds, Alvarez has built that same personal conviction into a career. As Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships & Engagement, he’s helped raise $6M+ for youth mental health and guided the A.S.K. campaign to reach more than 28 million people. He serves on the board of Youth MOVE National and was recognized as a 2023 Young Innovator in Behavioral Health. “Youth and young adults are eager to lead,” he said when he received the award. “They just need organizations and allies to listen.” What Comes Next Carol Cone built the foundation. Karen Little is strengthening it. And Jorge Alvarez is one of the people who will decide what gets built on top of it. That’s what this year’s Halo Awards are really about, not just celebrating what the corporate social impact field has accomplished, but taking stock of who’s carrying it forward. “Together, they represent a field that is evolving, deepening, and rising to meet a more complex moment,” said Panjwani.All three will be recognized at the Halo Awards Gala during the Engage for Good 2026 Conference, April 21–24 in Palm Springs. The post Three leaders who are changing what it means to do good in business. appeared first on Upworthy.

Long-Time Comedic Rivals Let it All Go to Save Elderly Couple from House Fire
Favicon 
www.inspiremore.com

Long-Time Comedic Rivals Let it All Go to Save Elderly Couple from House Fire

In the 1990s, late-night television garnered millions of viewers every night, and comedy legends were born. Celebs longed to be interviewed by folks like David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Jon Stewart. But if you really wanted to make a splash, Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall were the men to talk to. Although the two competed for ratings for most of the decade, they actually had a pretty great friendship. In his new book, Arsenio: A Memoir, we learn about their close relationship and working together. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arsenio Hall (@arseniohall) Arsenio Hall and Jay Leno Once Saved a Couple from a Burning Building In the New York Times best-selling novel, Arsenio describes the terrifying scene. Arsenio Hall was at Jay Leno’s home when the pair noticed a fire at a neighboring home. They knew they had to act quickly in case anyone was trapped inside. “Jay and I run out the front door and sprint to the burning house,” he shared. “He presses the doorbell, and I pound on the door. No one answers. In tandem, we kick the door and break it down.” Jay and Arsenio got the neighbors’ attention and asked them to call 911 as they worked to get into the home. Of course, AResnio made a hilarious joke before getting inside, even if it wasn’t intended that way. “‘You wake them up,’ I say to Jay. ‘They need to see you first, not a random Black guy standing over them,’” Arsenio wrote. “We wake them up and lead them out of their house. A few minutes later, sirens wail and firefighters arrive.” It was a crazy few moments, and Arsenio admitted that he felt a bit shy about his heroic moment. But he could not help but think to himself, “Tonight Jay Leno and I saved two lives.” This story’s featured image is by Stacie McChesney/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Hoda Kotb Shares Beautiful Words About ‘Today’ Co-Host Savannah Guthrie
Favicon 
www.inspiremore.com

Hoda Kotb Shares Beautiful Words About ‘Today’ Co-Host Savannah Guthrie

Hoda Kotb wants the world to know that her Today co-host, Savannah Guthrie, is the vision of strength and grace as she navigates the kidnapping of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. This week, Kotb and Guthrie united as Today co-hosts for the first time in months. Kotb is currently manning the desk while Craig Melvin is on spring break, and Guthrie has recently returned after taking a two-month break following her mother’s strange disappearance from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1, 2026. On April 15, Hoda Kotb attended the launch party for Today’s Sheinelle Jones’ book, Through Mom’s Eyes: Simple Wisdom from Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans, and spoke to PEOPLE about her recent experience with Savannah Guthrie. Hoda Kotb is Moved by Savannah Guthrie’s Strength and Resilience “It’s been fun holding her hand,” she shared. “I mean, that’s been my favorite part. Just sitting next to her. That’s it. It’s been really beautiful, and I feel privileged to be able to sit there for a little while.”  Guthrie has expressed gratitude to Kotb for “helping her out” while Melvin is away. But Kotb doesn’t believe she is the one who is helping. “I don’t feel that,” she admitted. “I feel like I get to be in the seat to watch what strength looks like. There’s nobody like her.” The Guthrie family has been in the spotlight as the FBI searches for any clues in Nancy’s disappearance. As of today, they have no answers or leads in the investigation. While this is the first time Kotb and Guthrie have worked together in years, Kotb shared an exclusive interview with Guthrie while Guthrie was on leave. “What Savannah has shown in these past 54 days is the most remarkable grace I have ever witnessed,” Kotb said ahead of the interview. This story’s featured image is by Scott Gries/NBC via Getty Images.

Woman Tells a Thief, 'God Loves You' and Stops Her From Stealing a Package
Favicon 
www.godtube.com

Woman Tells a Thief, 'God Loves You' and Stops Her From Stealing a Package

When a woman caught someone attempting to steal a package, she responded with unexpected compassion instead of anger. Her simple words, “God loves you,” stopped the theft and led to a powerful moment of reflection.