“Keeping the LIVE in Alive!”

You know my philosophy: We’re not here just to exist. We’re here to do more’ LIVIN’ while we’re here.

This Wellness Wednesday episode took us all over the place — AI, better sleep, flaming laptops, relationship deal-breakers, lifeguard shortages, extreme travel adventures, SLIME…and a reminder that sometimes the things that go completely wrong become the stories you remember forever.

BUT FIRST…A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PASSING OF DOLLY PARTON

That Dolly – she sure knew how to live!  

Dolly Parton’s passing at 80 after a brief battle with cancer hit me hard. She always made me smile. She was ageless in spirit.

Her whole look was wonderfully unnatural—but inside, she was as natural and genuine as they come.

Dolly came from very little and became a giant—not only because of her extraordinary talent, but because of her enormous heart and how much she gave back.

And she will live on and inspire us all through all she has left us.

It made me think how great the world would be if more people were like Dolly.

You don’t need Dolly Parton’s resources to do more for somebody else. You just need her spirit.

In her honor we should all try and carry a little of Dolly’s legacy forward.

Bring some joy. Help when you can. Make somebody’s life a little easier.

 “Do a Dolly.”

MOVING ON:

I’m Playing the AI Field

I thought ChatGPT and I were getting pretty serious. We spent hours together. Then it started misbehaving — changing my photos, turning me into other people and even giving me an extra finger.

I decided maybe we shouldn’t be exclusive.

Then someone told me, “You should try Claude.”

Mind you I was already involved with Gemini.

So apparently, at this stage of my life, I’m dating multiple AI platforms and refusing to commit.

They all offer something different — and AI is opening possibilities I never imagined.

So maybe technology and dating have the same rule:

Stay curious. Keep your options open. And don’t commit unless you really want to.

Could Two Blankets Save Your Relationship?

The Scandinavians may have figured something out.

One bed. Two people. Two separate duvets.

Because one person is freezing, the other is sweating, somebody steals the covers and eventually:

“I love you. You snore. I gotta go.”

The Scandinavian Sleep Method lets everybody control their own covers without moving into separate bedrooms.

Honestly, this may be cheaper than couple’s therapy

Oh Goody Another Recall

This time somebody recalled alfalfa sprouts.

My reaction?

“If they recall one more thing, I’m just going to gag.”

Check the latest FDA alerts before eating what’s lurking in your refrigerator.

Apparently now we have suspicious sprouts too.

Your Laptop Can Actually Catch Fire

A laptop caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight, sending smoke through the cabin and reminding us that lithium-ion batteries can overheat.

Translation: if your phone or laptop is getting unusually HOT, don’t ignore it.

And maybe stop burying the laptop in a blanket on the couch.

“We gotta change our habits.”

What Counts as Cheating in 2026?

Apparently, physical cheating isn’t the only cheating anymore.

Here’s what counts as cheating in 2026. 

Flirtatious texting. Secret late-night conversations. Dating apps “just to look.” Deleted messages. Secret communication with an ex. Even the infamous “work spouse” raised eyebrows in a recent survey.

My highly sophisticated relationship advice if you want to keep your relationship?

“Don’t do those things.”

Where Are the Lifeguards?

Warm weather isn’t finished just because the calendar says summer is ending.

But lifeguard coverage at some beaches is.

I’ve talked about the lifeguard shortage before because this isn’t just about fun — it’s about safety.

If you’re heading to the beach during these beautiful late-summer weeks, check whether lifeguards are actually on duty before jumping in.

If you want to check out becoming a lifeguard – Lord knows we could all use you.

Adventure Is Great. Vacation Risks Are Not.

A very tragic and sad story about a French tourist who died in the U.S. after being stranded in extreme Death Valley heat was a serious reminder that when we’re someplace unfamiliar, we can’t let vacation brain take over.

Go places. Explore. Take the trip!

But know where you’re going, carry water, understand the conditions and respect Mother Nature.

Please Plan ahead.  

“Whatever Looked Wet on the Postcards — We Were Going There.”

Talking about driving through the desert reminded me of one of my own adventures.

Dave and I were once driving a long stretch through the Mojave Desert in 116-plus-degree heat from Las Vegas heading to an Airbnb in a place called Idyllwild, CA when our Airbnb host called:

Fire.

Don’t come.

So there we were, stranded in the middle of the desert halfway to our destination 3/12 hours in, with no plan B.

We stopped at the Barstow Outlets Travel Welcome Center and developed a new travel strategy:

Whatever looked wet and cool on the postcards — we were going there.

The ride was very long to the cool wet postcard place, and it was VERY hot even at night. When it got very late and very dark and we got very tired, we made a random stop in a place called Needles, California. Located some Carls Jrs. burgers and a motel with a pool that somebody tried to tell me was closing at 11pm.

My response?

“Not tonight, babe.”

We swam until the wee hours of the morning — and years later, that’s one of the memories that still makes me laugh.

Which proves something:

Sometimes the stupidest things that happen become your most unbelievable memories.

And sometimes the giggles stay with you longer than the actual memory itself.

Why Are  Kids Obsessed With SLIME?

My grandchildren need slime. 

More slime.

Blue slime. Gold slime.

Apparently, there is never enough slime. 

But I discovered there’s actually something behind the slime craze: sensory play can be calming and satisfying, similar to fidget toys and stress balls.

Who knew?

I thought slime was just something I didn’t want on my furniture. Fine Fine I’ll buy more slime.

Perfectly Imperfect Works for Me

As I move through each weeks show and we all move through the days, weeks, months and years I keep coming to the same conclusion.

There is no perfection.  

I’m perfectly imperfect. I assume you are too. 

Some of the things we spend years trying to “fix” may actually be the things that make us interesting.

So stay curious. Laugh at the detours. Try something new. Pay attention. Call somebody you love.

And keep collecting stories.

Because we’re not trying merely to stay alive.

We’re trying to Keep the “LIVE” in Alive!

Hope you enjoy this full podcast episode!

— Debbie Nigro

The Debbie Nigro Show | Wellness Wednesday/ WGCH Radio & WGCH.com Listen Live from Anywhere /

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