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Our American Stories

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

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Location:

United States

Description:

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Language:

English

Episodes

George Will on Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and the Summer of ‘41

3/23/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, George Will tells the story of Ted Williams and the son of a San Francisco fisherman, his “Streak,” and steely determination. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

Hollywood Goes to War: George O'Brien

3/23/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, George O'Brien was a Hollywood star, but he left the fame and fortune to fight for his country in WWI, WWII, and Korea! Roger McGrath is here with the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:27:27

From Crack Addict to Inventor and CEO of “My Pillow”

3/23/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, the inventor and CEO of “My Pillow” is here to tell the improbable tale of how a small-town guy with a dream somehow made it a reality. Mike Lindell’s story is a raw, authentic account by a man most people thought would never rise above his addiction-fueled failures. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:38:16

Last Men Out of Vietnam: Evacuating Saigon

3/22/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, in a thrilling, moment-by-moment narrative based on a wealth of recently declassified documents and in-depth interviews, authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin tell the remarkable story of the evacuation of Saigon in Last Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam. This closing chapter of the war would become the largest-scale evacuation ever carried out, as improvised by a small unit of Marines. Bob Drury is here to tell the...

Duration:00:30:17

I Picked Up "Tex" Watson Hitchhiking AFTER the Manson Murders

3/22/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, following the Charles Manson murders, Manson's lead henchman, Tex Watson, stayed in Los Angeles for almost two months before fleeing to Texas where he was arrested. But it’s those two months following the Manson murders, where this story from our listener (Patty Kingsbaker) picks up. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:59

The 1946 Battle of Alcatraz

3/22/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, on this day in History in 1963, Alcatraz closed... The History Guy shares the story about an escape attempt in the infamous Alcatraz Federal penitentiary in San Francisco, California, that led to a standoff. The penitentiary the inmates called "the Rock,” was supposed to be escape-proof, but that did not keep some prisoners from trying. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

Crazy Beautiful: The Story of a 5-Star Steakhouse CEO and an NFL Linebacker

3/22/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Britney Ruby Miller is CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment where she leads a team of more than 500 employees across 7 luxury steakhouses in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Britney is the author of 5-Star Life: The Faithful Fight to Overcome Obstacles and Pursue Excellence. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:27:27

Cyntoia Brown: A Teen's Murder Sentence and Second Chances

3/21/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, when the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral in 2018, Cyntoia Brown was the most popular inmate in the world. She's here to share her story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:38:16

How 2 Engineers Created the Highest-Rated Gag Gift on Amazon

3/21/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, since the company’s inception in 2005, Liquid A** has been a popular product amongst pranksters across the world. The two-pack on Amazon currently has an unprecedented 36,000-plus reviews with a 4 1/2-star rating! [BTW: Read the ratings if you want a good laugh.] So who goes about creating such a spray? Well, a teenager, obviously. Here to tell the story are the co-founders of Liquid A**, Andrew Masters and Allen Wittman. Support the show...

Duration:00:20:18

The Man Who Witnessed the Assassination of Abe Lincoln

3/21/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ford's Theater re-enactor Mike Robinson tells the full unknown story through the eyes of AC Richards, Washington's Superintendent of Police. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:17:58

Candyman: The Story of Jelly Belly Founder, David Klein

3/20/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, this is the amazing true story of David Klein, an eccentric candy inventor from Los Angeles, who is the creator and founder of Jelly Belly jellybeans. David’s eccentric personality and peculiar sense of business led him to leave Jelly Belly just as it was about to explode and grow into a billion dollar enterprise. Here’s David Klein to share the story of how he lost his beans, but kept his soul. Support the show...

Duration:00:30:17

Forgiving My Worthless Father

3/20/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Leslie Leyland Fields tells us about the heart-breaking relationship between her and her father. And it's not what you'd expect. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:59

"How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know How Old You Were?" The Life of Satchel Paige

3/20/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, tells the story of a man many historians consider to be the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball: Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

Batman Through the Years

3/20/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Batman is a household name. His list of comic issues, let alone live action movies, animated films and tv shows, video games, you name it, is nothing short of astounding… but this wasn’t always the case. Andrew Farago, Curator at the Cartoon Art Museum and author of Batman: The Definitive History of the Dark Knight in Comics, Film, and Beyond, is here to tell us the story of the Caped Crusader. Support the show...

Duration:00:27:27

A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day

3/17/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, buried beneath the St. Patrick’s Day symbols of shamrocks, leprechauns, and green beer, lies the story of a man determined to share a message with a people who made him a slave. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:20:18

Busy Mother of Six Befriends Retired Cop

3/17/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Heidi Viars shares about how her life changed when she began showing some neighborly kindness to a grumpy old cop. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:17:59

The Duke: The Life of Duke Ellington w/ Terry Teachout

3/17/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, some believe he was the most important composer of the 20th century, in or out of jazz. Terry Teachout, one of America's best culture writers and author of Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington, tells the story of the jazz legend, his music, his struggles, his triumphs and so much more. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:38:17

The "10 Cent Beer Night"

3/16/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, on June 4, 1974, in Cleveland, trouble was a brewin', the bleachers were loaded, and there was a distinct buzz in the air. Here's the History Guy with the story! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

How Horses Healed and Saved Not One Life But Two

3/16/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dawn Newlan suffered from PTSD after witnessing her husband's suicide. William Lambert suffered from survivors' guilt after a hellish trip overseas. Both we're saved... by horses. Here they are telling their remarkable story of how equine therapy saved their lives. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:27:27

I Was Bored in Grad School-So I Joined the Navy

3/16/2023
On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of Hank Brown, the Senator who began his career as a forward air controller in the Vietnam War. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

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