Our American Stories

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Ida B. Wells: Fighter for the Civil Rights of African Americans to Own Arms Jun 12, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, born into slavery during the Civil War, Ida B. Wells is best remembered as an American journalist who fought tirelessly against lynching during the Jim Crow era. What most people don’t know is that she also defended the right of African Americans to own firearms. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, shares her story.

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The 1st Air Force Pilot at Ground Zero—and the Last to Know What Happened Jun 11, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on the morning of September 11, 2001, Peter Braxton was the first military pilot in the air over the burning Twin Towers—and it was his first day on the job. Peter shares the story of that historic and dark day.

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Caring for My Dying Husband Made Life Worth Living Jun 11, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Tracy Grant, former managing editor at The Washington Post, shares why the days spent caring for her dying husband were the best seven months of her life.

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A 12-Year-Old Girl’s Eight-Hour Car Chase to Get Elvis’s Photo at a Gas Station Jun 11, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, a listener from Colorado shares her remarkable Elvis story—about the time she met the King not once, but twice in an eight-hour span!

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Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and the Summer of ’41 (With George Will) Jun 11, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will tells the story of Ted Williams. He also tells the story of a San Francisco fisherman’s son, Joe DiMaggio—his “streak” of 56 consecutive games with a hit, and his steely determination.

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After 50 Years of Silence, Korean War Pilot Shares His Top-Secret Mission Jun 11, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, between the Korean and Vietnam Wars, U.S. Navy Captain Royce Williams flew more than 220 missions. One mission, however, was classified as Top Secret—and for over 50 years, Captain Williams didn’t tell a soul, not even his wife. No one knew what this 27-year-old South Dakotan did that day in the skies over Korea—until now.

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Liquor and the Law: Taking a Wine Bottle to the Supreme Court Jun 10, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Tennessee officials told Doug and Mary Ketchum they couldn’t run their liquor store in Memphis, they took their case to the Supreme Court—and won. Here they are with their story.

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The Sweet and Surprising History of PEZ Candy Jun 10, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, PEZ found great success in its native Austria but struggled when it first entered the American market. Shawn Peterson, author of PEZ: From Austrian Invention to American Icon, shares the fascinating story of how this quirky manual candy dispenser evolved into a beloved pop culture phenomenon.

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Bruce Wang, All-American: The Chinese Cowboy with a Southern Accent Jun 10, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Bruce may be Chinese born, but as you’re about to hear, he’s all American. Here he is with his unique story.

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The True Story of the Plot to Steal Abraham Lincoln’s Corpse Jun 10, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1800s, body snatching was surprisingly common, but stealing the body of a U.S. president was not. Historian Louis Picone shares the incredible true story of the harebrained scheme to steal Abraham Lincoln’s remains and hold them for ransom.

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