Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

The Transatlantic Cable: How ONE Underwater Cable Changed the World Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, historian John Steele Gordon tells the story of how the telegraph went from Samuel Morse to winning WWI and how one man spearheaded the effort to connect America to Great Britain and, in doing so, the rest of the world. Former CEO of 7-Eleven, Jim Keyes, tells the story of how their company has led countless immigrants to the American Dream.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Transatlantic Cable: How ONE Underwater Wire Changed the World

35:00 - How 7-Eleven Has Helped People Pursue Their American Dream

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A Store Named "Piggly Wiggly" Created the Modern Supermarket Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, meet Ron Brown, a man who grew up in a rough area of Chicago, was practically abandoned by his father, and would mend their relationship later on in life. Clarence Saunders developed “self-service” grocery shopping in his Piggly Wiggly stores at a time when store assistants usually collected products for their customers. By introducing checkouts, clearly priced goods, and itemized receipts, he set the foundations for the supermarkets of today.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Reconnecting With My Absent Father Who Was Presumed Dead

23:00 - A Store Named "Piggly Wiggly" Created the Modern Supermarket

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The Woman Who Stood Up To George Washington Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Revolutionary War, Esther Reed decided the Patriot troops needed a morale boost. Reed, along with other Patriot Women began a campaign to raise money for the cause. When she brought her idea to General Washington, he had another idea of what she should do with the money. At a time when women were only expected to fire up the oven, Annie Oakley fired her way to fame as the world’s greatest sharpshooter. In her personal life she was a sharpshooter as well. She was devoted to both her marriage and to her faith.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Woman Who Stood Up To George Washington

23:00 - Annie Oakley: The Woman Who NEVER Missed Her Shot

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Stalin’s Daughter: American Citizen, Wisconsin Cheesehead?! Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and America’s Cup winner Bill Koch doesn’t like being cheated. Tom Acitelli, author of Pilsner: How The Beer of Kings Changed The World, tells the story of how America's favorite drink came here and stayed here despite a world war and Prohibition. When 85-year-old Lana Peters passed away in 2011 from complications due to colon cancer, the nation seemed to have forgotten the woman who had become a sensation during the Cold War. The History Guy recalls the extraordinary life of the woman whose defection to the United States represented a seminal moment in history.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Man Who Spent $35MM Fighting A $400k Fake Wine Fraud

10:00 - How The Pilsner Arrived, Survived, and Thrived in America

35:00 - Stalin’s Daughter: American Citizen, Wisconsin Cheesehead?!

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One of the Last Navajo Code Talkers Remembers WWII’s “Unbreakable Code” Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, many Americans have heard of the famous Navajo Code Talkers who used their traditional language to transmit secret Allied messages in the Pacific Theater of combat during World War II. This story is told to us by one of these Marines, Peter MacDonald, the President at Navajo Code Talkers Association.

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When Shooting Weddings And Chasing Storms Collide Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. John Marszalek and Eddie Rangel of the Grant Presidential Library tell the story about how Grant went from selling firewood on a street corner, to leading the US Army to victory in the Civil War. Mike Olbinski is an Arizona based photographer. He takes family photos, shoots weddings and also... chases storms.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - A Presidential Sized Comeback: The Story of U.S Grant

35:00 - When Shooting Weddings And Chasing Storms Collide

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The WWII Attack America Chose to Forget Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, because of the devastating nature of the attack, the U.S. government chose to keep the details of the HMT Rhona hushed. Grove City College PoliSci professor Paul Kengor brings us the details through the eyes of Sergeant Frank Bryer. T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt’s humble birth during the presidency of George Washington to his death as one of the richest men in American history. The Commodore helped to launch the transportation revolution, propel the Gold Rush, reshape Manhattan, invent the modern corporation, and create the modern American economy.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The WWII Attack America Chose to Forget

10:00 - The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt

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The Greatest Fighter Pilot in American History, Dick Bong Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, after the United States pulled out of Vietnam, their allies in Indochina were all alone. Faced with the prospect of slavery, torture, and death at the hands of the Communists they fought against, many asked to be resettled in the United States. Robert Ray, the governor of Iowa, stepped up. Here again with his reoccurring series is Andrew Thompson as he continues to share another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language. Richard “Dick” Bong was a hero in an era of heroes. Here’s the History Guy with the story.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Robert Ray: "The Good Governor"

23:00 - “Knock on Wood & Kick the Bucket” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 11)

35:00 - Dick Bong, Ace of Aces: The Greatest Fighter Pilot in American History (History Guy)

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A Crooked Cop, An Innocent Man, And An Unlikely Journey Of Forgiveness And Friendship Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, here again with his reoccurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases author, Andrew Thompson, as he continues to share another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language. It all went down in the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan, in 2006. Andrew Collins was a narcotics officer. Jameel McGee was a new father of a baby boy. This is a story about forgiveness, brokenness, and true reconciliation from two guys who should have been hardened, bitter enemies.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - “Peeping Tom” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions

10:00 - A Crooked Cop, An Innocent Man, And An Unlikely Journey Of Forgiveness And Friendship

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ilene Hall Joined the Army to Search for Her Husband During WWII Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Ilene Hall enlisted in the Army WAC in 1943, she was following her husband, Edward “Ken” Hall to war. When her husband, to whom she was married in March 1943, finished his training and was about to be shipped overseas, the young Canton, Ohio girl decided not to put an ocean between them. Art Burton, author of countless books on African Americans in the West, tells the story of one of the most feared outlaws of the Indian Territory...and the story of his side-crossing father.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Ilene Hall Joined the Army to Search for Her Husband During WWII

23:00 - "I Came Here Not To Talk, But To Die": The Story of Cherokee Bill

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.