Category: Berry Interesting

Life advice you didn’t ask for, trends you’ll forget by next week, and feel-good fluff designed to help you stop doomscrolling, at least for five seconds.

Your October Cheat Sheet

October is here, and while we say goodbye to summer and start dodging pumpkin spice everything, there’s plenty to actually get excited about this month. From big-time sports events to major movie releases (and yes, a few bizarre food trends), here are some of the top things happening in October 2025.

Sports Fans, This Is Your Month

If you’re into sports, October is kind of a buffet. Baseball’s postseason is in full swing, with Game 1 of the World Series scheduled for October 24. Over in the NBA, the new season tips off October 21, and hockey fans get their fix starting October 8 when the NHL drops the puck on its new season.

In short, you can basically glue yourself to a couch and not run out of games to watch.

Big Movies (and Big Stars)

The box office is stacked this month. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is back in action with The Smashing Machine, an MMA biopic landing in theaters this Friday. If you’ve missed Daniel Day-Lewis (who hasn’t?), he returns after a seven-year hiatus in Anemone, also out this Friday.

Tron: Ares hits theaters October 10, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein drops in limited release on the 17th (before heading to Netflix), and Jeremy Allen White stars as The Boss in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, coming October 24.

So basically, whether you’re into robots, monsters, or moody musicians, you’re covered.

TV Shows Are Coming Back to Life Too

Streaming fatigue? October’s got some comfort food TV returning to your screen. Abbott Elementary is back, Saturday Night Live returns for its 51st season this weekend, and Grey’s Anatomy and 9-1-1: Nashville premiere October 9. Other dates to circle: Elsbeth and Tim Robinson’s new HBO Max show The Chair Company on October 12, NCIS on the 14th, 9-1-1 (OG flavor) on the 16th, Tracker on the 19th, and The Witcher season 4 wraps it all up on October 30.

So yeah, your DVR (or algorithm) is about to get real busy.

Holidays, Both Big and Bizarre

Obviously, Halloween caps the month off on October 31. But along the way, we’ve also got Yom Kippur starting tonight, and a double holiday situation with Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 13.

Some of the lesser-known holidays are a little more… creative. Like International Beer and Pizza Day (October 9), National No Bra Day (also the 13th, which makes for a fun combo), and National Cat Day on the 29th.

Whether you’re watching baseball, binging TV, or contemplating green spaghetti (we see you, Arizona), October 2025 is ready to entertain.

Gen Z Wants Total Silence While Driving

If your ideal morning commute involves no radio, no podcasts, and no phone calls, congrats – you’re at least young at heart.

A new poll by Ziebart found Zoomers are the generation most likely to crave peace and quiet behind the wheel. 55% of Gen Z adults prefer complete silence when they drive. No podcasts. No playlists. No phone calls. Not even the gentle hum of NPR. Just the sound of rubber meeting road.

The poll looked at how different generations use their time in the car, and it turns out every age group has its own road time rituals.

Gen Z: Total silence

The poll didn’t look at why that’s the case, but here’s a guess. They think the radio is from the 1800s… think music should only be consumed through headphones… and/or they’re 24 and just got their driver’s license at 22. So they need zero distractions to avoid driving into a ditch.

Millennials: Chasing productivity

They’re the most likely to use drive time to plan their day, think about the future, or mentally run through their to-do lists. Basically, their brains are in full Google Calendar mode before they even hit the parking lot. They also listen to more podcasts than any other generation. (Probably ones on how to de-stress.)

Gen X: Still blasting those tunes

If you were born between ’65 and ’80, you’re probably still jamming out to your favorite music. A whopping 89% of Gen X respondents said listening to music is their go-to commute activity. Makes sense from the generation that had to wire a tape deck into their dad’s old Trans Am to listen to their Jane’s Addiction tapes.

Baby Boomers: ???

Boomers weren’t represented in the poll. But you can probably find them lecturing their GPS. Or if anyone from those other generations is riding shotgun, they’ll be reminiscing about when gas was under a dollar.

So whether your commute is a silent think tank, a mobile concert venue, or a motivational seminar on wheels, at least know you’re not alone in your habits. (But seriously, Gen Z. Turn that radio on. It’s free and sooooo throwback ’90s of you.)

The Diet Advice of the ’80s Was Trash

Back in the 1980s, low-fat was king. Sugar? Artificial sweeteners? Heavily processed everything? No big deal!

It all started in 1980 when the U.S. government dropped its first official dietary guidelines, and suddenly fat became Public Enemy #1. So the food industry responded in the worst way possible: by stripping out fat and cranking up the sugar and chemicals. The result? A decade full of supposedly “healthy” foods that, in hindsight, were kind of a nutritional nightmare.

Let’s take a nostalgic (and slightly horrifying) stroll down memory lane with a few of the foods we thought were good for us.

Fruit Juice

OJ may seem innocent, but one cup of orange juice has as much sugar as five whole oranges. That “100% real juice” label was doing a lot of heavy lifting. If you’re craving the good stuff today, fresh-squeezed (in moderation) is your best bet.

Granola Bars

Marketed as wholesome, they were basically candy bars in disguise. Loaded with sugar, preservatives, and way too much sodium. The crunchy sound made us feel healthy, though.

Lean Cuisine

These frozen meals sounded smart: low-calorie, low-fat, quick dinner. But most were also low in protein and sky-high in sodium. They were so tasty, you could accidentally eat three of them and still feel hungry.

Diet Soda

Ah yes, the magic potion with zero calories and all the bubbly sweetness of regular soda. Turns out, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners can mess with your metabolism and actually lead to weight gain. So… not exactly diet-friendly.

Cereal

Cartoon mascots didn’t just sell us breakfast—they sold us dessert in a bowl. Many popular cereals were packed with sugar, artificial colors, and barely a trace of anything whole grain. But hey, they were “fortified” with vitamins, right?

Sports Drinks

Unless you were running marathons or sweating through a football game, there was no need for all that sugar and salt. Still, the ’80s gave rise to Gatorade, which felt like a healthier choice than soda… and we chugged it accordingly.

Milk

Milk was practically medicine in the ’80s thanks to relentless marketing campaigns. It does have calcium… so seriously, keep drinking milk. Just remember, there’s calories in there. For some, it also brings unplanned bathroom breaks. If you said you were lactose intolerant in the ’80s, you almost expected a punch in the face.

Also on the list of former “health foods”: Margarine, low-fat yogurt, rice cakes, veggie patties, SlimFast shakes, brown bread, soy milk, and sugar-free candy.

Somehow, we thought Tang and SnackWell’s were doing us a favor. It’s a miracle we made it out of that decade with functioning organs. Now excuse me, while I pour myself a bowl of TRIX.

The Average American Screws Up Four Major Decisions in Their Life

People say it’s a good idea to live without regrets… but if someone asked you how many wrong decisions you’ve made in your life, how many would you say?

And this is “major” wrong decisions… so not like “eating Taco Bell last night.” More like “my first marriage and my third child.”

According to new research, the average American estimates they have made four wrong major decisions in their life.  31% say they’ve made more.

71% say they wish they had more guidance when it comes to making large life decisions.  But honestly, mistakes are a normal part of life.

54% say they turn to their friends and family for advice when making major decisions. 

But 40% do their own research, usually online.  28% will seek out “industry professionals”… 26% will read informational books… and 25% will look for “informational videos and TV shows.”

Poll conducted by SWNS / OnePoll on behalf of AtomFinance with a panel of 2,000 Americans

10 Things That Happened 10 Years Ago: Sept 28-Oct 4

Caffeinated peanut butter, “Family Feud” isn’t so family friendly, and Trevor Noah debuts on “The Daily Show.” Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.

Trevor Noah debuted on “The Daily Show”

Young people liked it, old people didn’t. “Slate” called Trevor’s debut “a Jon Stewart impression” with “glimpses of something new.” Ratings dropped 37% before rebounding, then cratering to their lowest level ever by 2020. He announced his departure on Sept. 29, 2022, exactly 7 years after his debut. His final show aired that December.

Caffeinated peanut butter?

Yep, caffeinated peanut butter. A company in Massachusetts called Steem came up with it. Shockingly, it was not the huge success they’d hoped it would be. Their website says it’s “no longer in production.”

Hillary Clinton showed up on “SNL”

The presidential hopeful didn’t host (Miley Cyrus did), but appeared in a skit alongside Kate McKinnon. McKinnon played Hillary drowning her sorrows at a bar, while the real Hillary played the bartender. Her opponent Donald Trump did take up full hosting duties that November, prompting protests outside 30 Rock.

“The Simpsons” revealed Smithers was gay

Exec producer Al Jean announced that Mr. Burns’ longtime assistant Waylon Smithers would come out of the closet during the show’s 27th season. He also claimed the show would likely end after its 30th season. (It’s currently in Season 37.) Smithers’ coming out did eventually happen in April 2026 in an episode called “The Burns Cage.”

“Family Feud” wasn’t family friendly

People questioned whether the game show was getting too dirty after Steve Harvey asked contestants to name “the last thing you put your finger in,” and a guy responded with, “My wife!” 👀 “Fox News” called the show “not so family friendly anymore.”

Caitlyn Jenner ducked vehicular manslaughter charges

The L.A. County D.A. opted not to charge her for a crash in Malibu that February that left one person dead. She’d rear ended the person’s car, pushing it into oncoming traffic. Officials determined she did hit the brakes late, but wasn’t speeding.

Honey Boo Boo released her debut single

The reality star’s foray into music was predictably short lived. As you’d expect, her song “Movin’ Up“ wasn’t great. (Honey Boo Boo, aka Alana Thompson, turned 20 this past August, btw.)

“The Martian” was a box office hit

Despite its 2 hour 24 min runtime, the Matt Damon sci-fi flick went on to earn over $630 million worldwide. Meanwhile, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Twin Tower tightrope movie “The Walk” was so realistic, it caused theatergoers to vomit.

Leonardo DiCaprio fought a bear

“The Revenant” wouldn’t hit theaters for another few months, but the official trailer had people saying, “Damn, that bear fight looks intense!” They were correct.

Sean Astin said a “Goonies” sequel would happen

It was just a prediction, not a revelation – he said it wasn’t a question of “if” but “when.” A decade later, that continues to be the question. A recent report suggested the sequel was still “moving in the right direction.”

14% of Gen Z’ers Use More Than 100 Emojis a Day

You probably know at least one person who almost exclusively comments in emojis online… for better or worse.

And it’s probably “for worse” if you don’t like decoding all messages like it’s “Classic Concentration”.

In a recent study by Adobe, 91% of people say emojis make it easier for them to express themselves.

More than half of messages from Gen Z’ers or Millennials include at least one emoji.  And Gen Z’ers estimate that 41% of their messages are only emojis.

14% of Gen Z’ers say they average more than 100 emojis a day.  That declines for older adults.  Only 2% of Boomers are that prolific.

But emojis can complicate communication too. 

More than 70% of Gen Z and Millennials say they’ve received an emoji that did NOT match the emotion a person was trying to convey.  And about two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennials admit that they’ve used emojis differently than their intended meanings. 

Maybe you’re someone who’s somehow still holding out, and refusing to use them. But it would be a lot cooler if you did. 73% of American emoji users think people who use emojis are friendlier, funnier, and cooler than those who don’t.

🤠🏆❤️😍💁🤡🥳🦒👽🙄

What’s “Heavy Soda”?

If you’ve ever chugged a 44-ounce fountain drink and thought, you know what this needs? More syrup… then buckle up. There’s a new trend bubbling up online called heavy soda, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like — soda with extra syrup and maximum sweetness.

The trend is reportedly taking off at gas stations and convenience stores, especially in southern Missouri, where it supposedly got its start. But thanks to TikTok and Reddit, heavy soda is now going viral across the country.

So, what is heavy soda?

At self-serve fountain drink machines, the soda flavor comes from a mix of carbonated water and flavored syrup. Some stores — intentionally or not — have started tweaking that ratio and upping the syrup, creating a sweeter, “heavier” version of your favorite drink.

Some locations are even labeling their machines so customers know which ones are heavy.

Why are people doing this?

Sure, some folks just like their soda tooth-achingly sweet. But fans of the trend say there’s a practical reason too: if you’re grabbing a huge soda in the morning and sipping it all day, the extra syrup helps combat ice dilution. As the ice melts, the drink still tastes normal instead of watery.

From a flavor science perspective, it kind of makes sense. From a health perspective? Not so much. Critics have pointed out the obvious: even regular soda is already packed with sugar, so heavy soda takes things into turbo mode. Not ideal if you’re watching your sugar intake — but hey, it’s your pancreas.

Haven’t I heard this before?

Some people claim McDonald’s fountain drinks have always had a slightly higher syrup ratio than the standard recommendation, which might explain why their Coke hits different. But heavy soda takes that idea and cranks it up way past fast-food levels.

Curious? There are plenty of TikToks and Reddit threads where people are testing it out. Whether you’re intrigued or horrified, one thing’s clear: we’ve officially reached the point where even our beverages are getting algorithmically optimized for sugar content.

@earlypete

Heavy Soda Explained! #missouri #soda #pop #regionalfood

♬ Blurry – Puddle Of Mudd

The Best and Worst Airports in America

While flying still comes with plenty of headaches (hi, baggage fees), it looks like travelers are finally feeling a little better about airports themselves. According to the latest J.D. Power airport satisfaction survey, overall satisfaction is up across North America, with scores climbing 10 points on a 1,000-point scale.

(I don’t know about you, but my airport satisfaction is at an all-time low.)

The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. and Canadian travelers and ranked airports based on things like terminal design, ease of travel, baggage claim, food and retail options, and staff friendliness.

Here’s how U.S. airports performed in 2025, broken down by size. We’ve included only the Top 5 Best and Top 5 Worst in each category — so if you’re looking to avoid a travel meltdown, this is your cheat sheet.

Mega Airports

(More than 33 million passengers per year)

Top 5 Best:

  1. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP)
  2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
  3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
  4. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
  5. Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (LAS)

Top 5 Worst:

  1. Newark Liberty International (EWR)
  2. San Francisco International (SFO)
  3. Miami International (MIA)
  4. Orlando International (MCO)
  5. John F. Kennedy International, New York (JFK)

Large Airports

(10 to 32.9 million passengers per year)

Top 5 Best:

  1. John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)
  2. Tampa International (TPA)
  3. Dallas Love Field (DAL)
  4. Kansas City International (MCI)
  5. Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)

Top 5 Worst:

  1. Philadelphia International (PHL)
  2. Chicago Midway International (MDW)
  3. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL)
  4. LaGuardia Airport, New York (LGA)
  5. Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA)

Medium Airports

(4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year)

Top 5 Best:

  1. Indianapolis International (IND)
  2. Ontario International, California (ONT)
  3. Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)
  4. Jacksonville International (JAX)
  5. Palm Beach International (PBI)

Top 5 Worst:

  1. Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE)
  2. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
  3. St. Louis Lambert International (STL)
  4. San Jose Mineta International (SJC)
  5. Bradley International, Connecticut (BDL)

What Makes a Good Airport?

The airports that landed on top tend to have easier navigation, shorter security lines, better food and drink options, and friendlier staff. The bottom-ranked ones? Think long wait times, packed gates, and fewer services.

So if you’re deciding between layovers or booking a trip out of town, these rankings might save you a few headaches — or at least help you pack some extra patience.

The Internet Responds to a Gen Z Girl Crying After Her First Ever 9-5 Shift

In the latest entry into the “welcome to adulthood” chronicles, a Gen Z woman posted a tearful selfie captioned: “Just finished the first day of 9-5 in my life.” Within hours, the internet did what it does best: roast, relate, and reminisce.

If you’ve ever stumbled out of an office at 5:02 PM like you just completed basic training, this photo probably hit you square in the feels.

Boomers muttered “character building,” Millennials whispered “been there, sis,” and Gen X collectively shrugged while chain-smoking in the parking lot.

The comments section, however, was the real story. Here are some of the highlights:

  1. “Keep your head up, it’s tough now but it only gets worse.”
  2. “There’s a reason we’ve been calling it “happy” hour.”
  3. “It doesn’t get better sweetie.”
  4. “Hey so your soul will die sooner than your physical body so you won’t feel this much pain after 3-5 years or so. Hang in there.”
  5. “Hey quuen! It only feels like this from age 22-26, then you just kinda accept the torture and it’s a lot better. Hope this helps.”
  6. “1 day down, 40 more years to go!”
  7. “Dissociation is key.”
  8. “You go numb after a while babe, it’s okay.”
  9. “Awww don’t worry girlie. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel.”
  10. “Just wait! One day someone will bring in banana bread :)”

Do you remember how you felt after your first full day of work? Hopefully it was better than this poor girl.

If You Do This Stuff, You’re Being “Secretly Judged”

People online have been talking about the things they “secretly judge” others for doing.

There are some classic examples, like people who litter (including cigarette butts)… people who leave the bathroom without washing their hands… jerks who talk down to service workers… and people who abandon items on random shelves at the store.

Here are some others, thanks to Buzzfeed.com:

1.  People who take their dog to the store and leave them alone in the car.  Especially in the heat, and especially when it’s a regular shopping trip, not just running in for one or two items.

2.  People who park at the gas pump when they’re not actively pumping gas or paying inside.  Like people who just sit there, fooling around on their phone.

3.  Spitting in public.

4.  People who put their blinker on AFTER they get in the turning lane or when they’re already mid-turn.

5.  Allowing your child to run around and scream at places they shouldn’t.

6.  People who come in right before a business closes and just leisurely stroll around with their cart.

7.  Loud motorcycles.

8.  People who stand in doorways… usually deep in conversation.  When you do that, you’re keeping people on both sides of the door from moving freely.

9.  “Pen Clickers.”  People who sit there just clicking their pens open and closed as fast as they can.

10. And of course: microwaving fish in the office. For the love of God, people.

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