Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

The Time a Kid Sued Pepsi for a Harrier Jet Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sean Kernan of Medium tells the story of Leonard v. PepsiCo Inc. (which is now a law school classic that helps kids navigate the curious world of contract law). Nell Chennault Calloway shares the story of her grandfather, Claire Chennault, who was the leader of the "Flying Tigers" in WWII.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Time a Kid Sued Pepsi for a Harrier Jet

10:00 - The American Fighter Pilot Who Fought the Japanese in China

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a UCLA Student in the 70s Saved the Marx Brothers Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, A man named Paul shares the moving story of his older brother and some special prayers he prayed, in hopes of being just like him. Bill Bryk briefly recounts how New York City became the city it is today, as well as his love for its past. Steve Stoliar grew up as the ultimate Marx Brothers fan. He shares his story of how he led the charge to save one of their long-lost movies.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - When Prayers Are Answered

10:00 - A One Man (Abridged) History of the Big Apple

23:00 - How a UCLA Student in the 70s Saved the Marx Brothers

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

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Buck O'Neil's 15 Years of Rejection Before the Hall of Fame Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Christopher Klein tells the story of how our 18th President and Civil War hero, aided by Mark Twain, raced to complete a literary masterpiece that saved his wife from destitution. Hoat Hoang shares the story of his family fleeing Vietnam after Saigon fell to the communists' troops, and how it helped him become an American surgeon. Legendary baseball player, Buck O'Neil, was rejected for 15 years before making it into the Hall of Fame. You'll hear the story of how he handled that defeat and ultimately became the first African American coach in Major League Baseball.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Literary Masterpiece That Saved Ulysses S. Grant's Family

10:00 - The American Surgeon Who Escaped the Viet Cong

35:00 - Buck O'Neil's 15 Years of Rejection Before the Hall of Fame

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They Trapped Polio Patients Inside of Tubes to Save Them Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum tells the story of the iron lung, a device used to keep people with advanced polio alive in the first half of the 20th century. Heather McPherson, Curator of History at the South Carolina Military Museum, shares the story of why she chose her career to honor her great uncle. Roger McGrath tells another "Hollywood Goes to War" story of American screenwriter, Merian C. Cooper. Cooper worked on various cinematic classics, including "King Kong". He also served our country in WWI as a U.S. Air Force and Polish Air Force officer.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Literary Masterpiece That Saved Ulysses S. Grant's Family

10:00 - The American Surgeon Who Escaped the Viet Cong

35:00 - Buck O'Neil's 15 Years of Rejection Before the Hall of Fame

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBA: How a Regional Fascination Became an International Obsession Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy remembers a truly extraordinary Civil War heroine, Mary Edwards Walker. She was the only woman in United States history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Pete Croatto, author of From Hang Time to Prime Time, explains how the NBA became an 8.3 billion dollar entertainment and cultural icon.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Only Woman to be Awarded the Medal of Honor?!

10:00 - How a Regional Fascination Became an International Obsession

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ONLY Photographer Allowed to Photograph the Making of the Atomic Bomb in Oak Ridge, TN Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Cook tells us the story of how in 1943 the town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee was established and went from 58,000 acres of farmland to a town of 75,000 people to beat Germany to the atomic bomb.

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

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The Heavy-Drinking, Congress-Rejected Spendthrift Who Served America to the Fullest Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mary Stockwell, author of Unlikely General: "Mad" Anthony Wayne and the Battle for America tells the story of "Mad" Anthony Wayne and why he is remembered.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Story of America's Pastor, Billy Graham Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Billy Graham took the role of evangelist to a new level, lifting it from the sawdust floors of canvas tents in small-town America to the podiums of packed stadiums in the world’s major cities.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shot Down: A B-17 Pilot's Survival Behind Enemy Lines Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Emerich Juettner tells us how he was an upstanding citizen... for most of his life. Here is the story of how the choice to choose three then-minor league hockey players to play the Hanson Brothers in "Slap Shot" starring Paul Newman was made. Steve Snyder tells us how his father, Howard, managed to return from Europe alive during WWII after he and his crew had been shot down over Belgium.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Best Worst Counterfeiter in American History

10:00 - The Story Behind One of the Most Iconic Sports Films, "Slap Shot"

23:00 - Shot Down: A B-17 Pilot's Survival Behind Enemy Lines

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Angel of the Battlefield: Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Frohlich, author of Aimless Life, Awesome God, tells the story of his German born grandfather William Burtner- a man who helped build the "Arsenal of Democracy" in World War II. Professor Emily Thomas from Nickols College Massachusets tells us the story of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The German-born Man Who Helped the United States Fight His Own Country

10:00 - The Angel of the Battlefield: Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.