Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

Horse Jumping Was Dull—So They Jumped Mules May 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, everyone knows a horse can jump a good-sized fence—but the folks in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, thought it was much more interesting to see if a mule could do the same. Here’s the story of how their unique competition got started.

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Amelia Earhart: The First Woman Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross May 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, most people know Amelia Earhart for the mystery surrounding her disappearance over the Pacific Ocean—but far fewer know the incredible accomplishments she achieved during her lifetime. In this astonishing story, we'll tell the story of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, the first woman to fly solo coast to coast across the United States, and the first person, man or woman, to fly solo from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii.

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Joplin’s EF-5 Tornado: A Story of Loss, Love, and Hope May 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri, took a direct hit from the deadliest and costliest tornado in U.S. history, an EF-5 that left a devastating scar on the community. But in the years since, Joplin has rebuilt in extraordinary ways. Former KSNF Channel 16 weatherman Jerimiah Cook, and reporter Gretchen Bolander share a powerful story of loss, love, resilience, and hope in the face of disaster.

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Have Pool Cue, Will Travel—The Story of St. Louie Louie, a Local Legend. May 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark O'Brian, a listener of Our American Stories, shares the story of St. Louie Louie—one of the greatest pool players to ever grace the scene—from his rise to his rather untimely fall.

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How a 19-Year-Old Single Mother Built the Largest Female-Owned Trucking Company May 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Marcia Taylor went from being a pregnant teenager to running one of the largest trucking companies in America, Bennett International Group. In this episode, Marcia shares how she pulled the fat from the fire and became one of the most influential female business leaders in the nation today.

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The Case of the Mysterious Senate Candy Desk May 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1965, California Senator George Murphy started a sweet tradition, literally. He began stocking his desk on the Senate floor with candy to share with his co-workers. That desk, now known as the “Senate Candy Desk,” remains a Capitol Hill tradition today. Jesse Edwards shares the history, mystery, and origins behind one of the Senate's most interesting traditions.

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John Brown: The Radical Abolitionist Who Killed Slavery, Sparked a Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights May 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, to Southerners, he was a dangerous villain. To many Northerners, a fanatic. But to himself, he was an instrument of God, sent to end slavery. Bestselling author David S. Reynolds (John Brown, Abolitionist) tells the powerful story of the man who helped ignite the Civil War and laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.

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Arresting Your Boss... a Nazi Commander: The True Story of Pino Lella May 21, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Michael Lella shares the incredible true story of his father, Pino Lella—a teenage hero of the Italian resistance during World War II who helped Jews escape Nazi-occupied Italy and later infiltrated the German High Command. We'd like to thank FEE.org for turning us onto this story.

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From Billy Goats to Zero Turns: The History of Lawn Care May 21, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in just a few centuries, the lawn went from being a status symbol for kings and nobles to a hallmark of the American Dream—and eventually, to something many of us barely think about, aside from when it’s time to mow. The History Guy tells the story of how lawn care came to be.

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Final Thoughts: An Older Brother’s Letter to His Younger Brother May 21, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, George Bryan pays tribute to his older brother, John Bryan, a business leader who ran the Sara Lee Corporation and played a key role in creating Chicago’s Millennium Park.

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