Our American Stories

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The Day I Told My Gang I Was Leaving to Join the Marines Jul 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, born in San Salvador, El Salvador, Carlos Aguilar arrived in Chicago, Illinois, as a refugee after his family fled the country's civil war. By his teenage years, he was caught in gang life and headed down a dangerous path.
Then a Marine recruiter unexpectedly pulled into his driveway. Carlos shares how that chance encounter, his grandmother's unwavering faith, and one heartbreaking promise led him to become a U.S. Marine and transformed his life.

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My Grandmother Crossed the Border Illegally. I Became a Border Patrol Agent. Jul 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Vincent "Rocco" Vargas never expected his family's immigration story to shape his own life so profoundly. After serving as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, he became a U.S. Border Patrol agent, where he often saw reflections of his own grandmother in the people he encountered along the Rio Grande.
Vargas, author of Borderline: Defending the Home Front, shares a deeply personal story about family, service, sacrifice, and the difficult balance between compassion and protecting the country he loves.

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Bill Daniels Didn't Have to Repay His Debts. He Did Anyway. Jul 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1975, Bill Daniels watched his Utah Stars basketball team collapse into bankruptcy, leaving creditors and season ticket holders unpaid. The law said he owed them nothing, but he never stopped thinking about the promises he had made.
Bill Daniels, the pioneer of cable television whose values inspired the Daniels Fund, and others share the astonishing story of why he spent years tracking down every person he owed money to and paid them back with interest, simply because he believed it was the right thing to do.

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How Willis Carrier Changed the Way Americans Live Jul 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, at the turn of the twentieth century, summer heat disrupted factories, spoiled food, and shaped daily life across America. A young engineer named Willis Carrier set out to solve a printing problem in Brooklyn, New York, and ended up creating one of the most important inventions of the modern age.
Salvatore Basile, author of Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything, shares the story of how air conditioning transformed where Americans lived, worked, shopped, and even went to the movies.

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The Most Valuable Gift I Ever Received Came From a Homeless Man Jul 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Larry Crawford bought a new pickup truck, he was proud of it. The leather seats, the diesel engine, the bells and whistles. Like any Texan, he wanted to show it off to his friends. But one chance encounter with a homeless man he knew would change the way he thought about generosity forever.
Weeks after giving the man a ride to the grocery store, Larry encountered him again at Community First Village in Austin. The man had spent weeks saving money to buy Larry a Bible with leather that matched the interior of his new truck. Larry shares the moving story of a gift from a man with almost nothing, and the lesson it taught him about generosity, dignity, and the value of accepting kindness from others.

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He Was Told He'd Never Walk Again. Then He Went Back to Vietnam. Jul 10, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 2, 1968, Master Sgt. Roy Benavidez voluntarily boarded a helicopter and flew into one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War to rescue a trapped Special Forces team. He endured dozens of wounds, saved at least eight lives, and refused to quit. Hear President Ronald Reagan's Medal of Honor presentation alongside Roy's own remarkable account of the battle, his long recovery, and the values that guided him throughout his life.

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The Man Who Paints Rocks to Honor Veterans: The Story Behind the Freedom Rocks Jul 10, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen set out to thank America's veterans with a single painted rock outside a quarry in rural Iowa. More than two decades later, the Freedom Rocks have spread to all 99 Iowa counties, becoming places of remembrance, reflection, and healing for veterans and their families. Ray shares the remarkable stories behind the project and why honoring those who served has become his life's work.

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My Depression-Era Dad Would Do Anything to Save a Dollar Jul 10, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Dennis Peterson's father built his own home, hated debt, and believed almost anything could be repaired, reused, or repurposed. Years of bricklaying alongside his dad taught Dennis that a "make do" attitude could save money, create lasting memories, and occasionally lead to spectacular close calls. Our American Stories listener and regular contributor Dennis Peterson from South Carolina shares this affectionate tribute to a father shaped by the Great Depression.

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How One CEO Beat Workaholism and Saved His Marriage Jul 10, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve Trice spent years chasing success, often leaving home before sunrise and returning long after his children were asleep. Then one conversation with his wife forced him to face a hard truth: if nothing changed, he was going to lose the people he loved most. The founder of Jasco Products shares how stepping away from work helped him build something far more valuable than a business.

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Steve Prefontaine, Phil Knight, and the Birth of Nike Jul 09, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before Nike became one of the world's most recognizable brands, it was a small company founded by a track coach and one of his former runners. Steve Bence was there. As a teammate of Steve Prefontaine at the University of Oregon, he learned from legendary coach Bill Bowerman, met Phil Knight before Nike became a household name, and watched the company grow from an ambitious startup into a global icon.
Bence, author of 1972: Pre, UO Track, Nike Shoes and My Life with Them All, shares remarkable firsthand stories about Steve Prefontaine, the fight to change amateur athletics, Bowerman's relentless drive to solve problems, and what it was like to witness the birth of Nike from the inside.

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