Our American Stories

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How Fast Food Took Over America Aug 14, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, fast food wasn’t always part of the daily routine. At one point, it was a wild idea. Quick meals without waiters or tables? Unheard of. Adam Chandler, author of Drive-Thru Dreams, explains how it all began. What started with roadside stands and milkshakes grew into an industry that now touches nearly every corner of American life.

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Possum for Supper and Other Memories from the Great Depression Aug 14, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Great Depression, Joy Neal Kidney’s family didn’t eat strange food for fun. They ate what they could find. Sometimes that meant possum. Other times, it meant even less. But in the middle of the hardship, they found ways to stay connected, to laugh when they could, and to keep going. Joy reflects on the meals that got them through and what they taught her.

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Remembering John Defoore, a WWII Veteran Who Lived to 105 Aug 13, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, John Defoore went to war at nineteen. He returned, raised a family, and lived through more change than most people see in two lifetimes. When he sat down with us at 103, he looked back on what had stayed with him. Some memories had softened with age, while others hadn’t moved at all. When he passed away in 2024 at 105, he left behind a story about time, memory, and what it means to live with history.

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Recovery Began When I Stopped Doing It Alone Aug 13, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, addiction kept Ryan Stewart at a distance from nearly everyone around him. For years, he tried to manage it alone, convinced that asking for help meant losing control. But when things began to fall apart, the people around him stayed. Friends, counselors, and even strangers showed up in ways he never expected. Recovery came slowly, marked by setbacks and quiet progress, but each step forward was built on trust and a willingness to let others walk with him.

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I Escaped the Viet Cong as a Kid and Became an American Surgeon Aug 13, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Hoat Hoang was still a boy when his family left their village in the middle of the night. The fall of Saigon had changed everything, and the only way forward was through jungles, border checkpoints, and refugee camps that offered little hope. When they finally reached the United States, nothing about it felt like a finish line. Hoat worked long hours, learned English sentence by sentence, and kept his head down. In this story, Hoang walks us through his journey from Vietnam to becoming a celebrated surgeon in America.

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Faith and Friendship After the 9/11 Pentagon Attack Aug 13, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Jocelyn Green didn’t lose anyone on September 11, but she still felt the weight of that day in ways she couldn’t have predicted. Living just a few miles from the Pentagon, she saw how quickly fear moved through a neighborhood. What surprised her was what came next: people showing up for each other in quiet, steady ways. Over time, she found herself thinking more about how faith fits into grief—and how friendships sometimes grow strongest in the shadow of crisis.

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People Sent Their Children Through the Mail? Aug 12, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Christopher Warren shares one of the strangest chapters in U.S. Postal Service history: the time when Americans actually sent children through the mail. In the early 1900s, families, especially in rural areas, took advantage of parcel post rules to ship their kids across towns, counties, and even state lines. And it didn’t stop there. In one case, an entire bank was sent through the postal system. This bizarre and often hilarious look at early 20th-century mail shows just how far people would go to work around the system and how the Postal Service had to adapt.

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Roberto Clemente’s Legacy Preserved by a Fan Who Never Forgot Aug 12, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, long after Roberto Clemente’s final game, Duane Rieder found himself returning to the images, stories, and memories that surrounded Clemente’s life and career. A photographer by trade, Rieder’s interest in Clemente became a quiet pursuit—scanning negatives, tracking down memorabilia, and sharing what he found with others. Over time, the project grew into a museum. Tucked away in a restored Pittsburgh firehouse, the Roberto Clemente Museum now houses game-used gear, rare photographs, and historic baseball cards. Here's Duane to tell the story.

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How the USS Lexington Became a Floating Symbol of American Resolve Aug 12, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, she was built for war but became a beacon of memory. The USS Lexington (CV-16) launched into battle during the darkest days of World War II and earned her place in history through courage, endurance, and an uncanny ability to survive. Nicknamed the “Blue Ghost” by Japanese forces, she was reported sunk multiple times—but each time, she returned, ready for more. Today, the aircraft carrier serves as a museum in Corpus Christi, offering a tangible link to a pivotal era in naval warfare. Our American Stories contributor Anne Clare walks us through the enduring legacy of the Lexington.

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Frankie Avalon Talks Grease, Billboard Hits, and His Legacy in Hollywood Aug 12, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Frankie Avalon became a household name before he turned twenty. With hits like “Venus” and “Why,” he dominated the Billboard charts during the golden age of American pop. But while many teen idols faded, Avalon evolved. He starred alongside Annette Funicello in a string of beach party films that captured the imagination of a generation. Decades later, he returned to the spotlight in Grease, performing “Beauty School Dropout” as Teen Angel—a moment that introduced him to millions of new fans. In this episode, Frankie Avalon reflects on his music career and how he’s continued performing from the 1950s through today.

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