Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

The Humble Potato: Idaho's Superstarch and The Four Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tish Dahmen, Executive Director of the Idaho Potato Museum, tells the story of the worlds largest potato chip, a massive baked potato, and the potato innovations that put Idaho on the map. Roger McGrath, author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier, tells us the story of the men known as “The Big Four,” who incorporated the Central Pacific Railroad and helped build the transcontinental railroad.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Humble Potato: Idaho's Superstarch

10:00 - The Four Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How A Stray Cat Exposed a Mother's Heart, These Guys Use Dungeons and Dragons as a Break-through Therapy Tool and A Brief History of Toilet Paper Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons tells us how an unlikely cat revealed a deep love inside of him. Adam Davis and Adam Johns tell us how they met in grad school at Antioch University, and how they've been using table-top games as a tool to encourage personal growth, teamwork, and problem solving. The History Guy gives us the story of toilet paper.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - How A Stray Cat Exposed a Mother's Heart

10:00 - These Guys Use Dungeons and Dragons as a Break-through Therapy Tool

35:00 - A Brief History of Toilet Paper

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Interrupted Odyssey of US Grant and Ely Parker and Visiting a Devastated Town After a Tornado... and Lending a Hand Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Mary Stockwell, author of Interrupted Odyssey: Ulysses S. Grant and the American Indians, tells the story of how the lives of America's first Native American appointed to a cabinet level position and our 18th President intertwined. Listener Paul Kotz shares about his service trip to Mayfield, Kentucky several months after a tornado devastated the town.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Interrupted Odyssey of US Grant and Ely Parker

35:00 - Visiting a Devastated Town After a Tornado... and Lending a Hand

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Duke’s Coach K Was Almost Fired in 1983 and The Unexpected Visitors of Toledo Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Feinstein tells us the story of how Duke University's legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski almost didn't become who he is today. Tedd Long of Holy Toledo History tells the story of three famous and unexpected visitors to Toledo, Ohio.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - How Duke’s Coach K Was Almost Fired in 1983

35:00 - The Unexpected Visitors of Toledo

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Confederate Soldier Who Risked His Life to Aid Union Wounded, The Angel of St. Marye's Heights and Boyhood Dream Turns into Career, Joe Klimchak KNEW He'd Work for the Pittsburgh Pirates Since He Was 7 Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Hood from Valencia, California, takes us back in time to the Battle of Fredericksburg and tells a story about compassion in the midst of America's deadliest war. Joe Klimchak tells us how he was inspired by a Pirates legend to pursue his MLB career dream.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Confederate Soldier Who Risked His Life to Aid Union Wounded, The Angel of St. Marye's Heights

25:00 - Boyhood Dream Turns into Career, Joe Klimchak KNEW He'd Work for the Pittsburgh Pirates Since He Was 7

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pyromaniac's Paradise: Running a Fireworks Tent, The Long Road to Victory and American Independence and The Declaration of Independence Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, we continue our 4th of July celebration. Joel Wegener and his wife who have 10 kids tell us how they found an explosive way during the summer to make a little extra money. Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, and author Nathaniel Philbrick tell the story of how we won our independence against all odds. Our production team comes together to read the document that made America, well, America.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Pyromaniac's Paradise: Running a Fireworks Tent

10:00 - The Long Road to Victory and American Independence

35:00 - The Declaration of Independence

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrating 4th of July with Newly Minted American Citizens, JFK on the 4th of July and OAS Listener tells his life story in 4th of July Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, we’re celebrating the 4th of July. The Our American Stories team attended a naturalization ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee and got to hear the personal stories of new U.S. citizens. The famous 4th of July speech at Independence Hall by John F. Kennedy in 1962 when the it was discovered that the Soviet Union planned to instal missiles in Cuba to attack the United States. We hear from long time listener, Dennis Peterson, about his experiences and memories of Independence Day.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Celebrating 4th of July with Newly Minted American Citizens

25:00 - JFK on the 4th of July

35:00 - OAS Listener tells his life story in 4th of July

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Solomon, Town's Grave Digging Drunk Turned Hero, Wandering Worker: The American Hobo and America Strikes Back After Pearl Harbor Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Kentucky journalist Sam Terry tells the story of the man they called “King Solomon.” Connecticut Shorty of The Hobo Museum shares the story of the American hobo and how they are still celebrated today. Teacher, choir director, organist, and history buff Anne Clare tells the story of the first two major American responses to the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - King Solomon, Town's Grave Digging Drunk Turned Hero

10:00 - Wandering Worker: The American Hobo

35:00 - America Strikes Back After Pearl Harbor: The Battle of the Coral Sea and the Doolittle Raids

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a Corporate Lawyer Found His Mission-Driven Path (Bob Norton) Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bob Norton tells the story of his adventures from picking up nuts and bolts with dad at work, to being a very successful corporate lawyer, to now serving as the General Counsel of Hillsdale College.

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JoyRide, The Car Club Exclusively for Kids with Special Needs and North Carolina Wouldn't Let Paula Smith Sell Her House For Over A Decade Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Blair Cornell tells us how his family navigated raising their neuordivergent son and how they created a non-profit car club to help people with autism. Craig Richardson, Matthew Bryant and Paula Smith tells us about the story of Winston-Salem, North Carolina's unconstitutional MAP Act.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - JoyRide, The Car Club Exclusively for Kids with Special Needs

23:00 - North Carolina Wouldn't Let Paula Smith Sell Her House For Over A Decade

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.