Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

EP320: An "Ordinary" Cloth With An Extraordinary Story, Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women and Family is at the Heart of this Brewing Icon, The Coors' May 24, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Chris Graham of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia tells the story of one of their objects on display with an extraordinary story we're just now finding out. Kate Moore, author of “Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women”, shares the story of the young women who in 1898 began working in radium factories and discovered the chemical element that glows in the dark. Pete Coors and his daughter Carrie of Coors Banquet Beer tells us how his family prides itself on their commitment to faith, family, education, and servant leadership.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - An "Ordinary" Cloth With An Extraordinary Story

12:30 - Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

37:00 - Family is at the Heart of this Brewing Icon, The Coors'

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP319: Eilene Lyon: One Way Or Another, America’s First Real Life Superhero and Homestead Laws Saving Women From Homelessness May 24, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Eilene Lyon shares the story of observing two eagle families that couldn't be more diametrically opposed to one another. Former Air Force Captain and Air Force OSI Special Agent Vince Benedetto shares his story of going to a school to teach students about why we honor our veterans. Dr. Jean Stuntz from West Texas A&M University gives us some history on what it was like before women could own property or make any money of their own.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Eilene Lyon: One Way Or Another

12:30 - America’s First Real Life Superhero

37:00 - Homestead Laws Saving Women From Homelessness

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP318: Magic Side Show Becomes Full-Time Job, Wayne Gretzky Eulogizes His Father and The Dangers and Joys of Having a 'Making Do' Dad May 23, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve Thomas, Oxford, Mississippi's local magician and balloon artist, shares his story with us. Wayne Gretzky tells us how the death of his father, Walter Gretzky, prompted an avalanche of tributes for his genuine, approachable, authentic personhood. For Dennis Peterson's father, "Making Do" meant going to extreme lengths to save a dime...sometimes to his detriment.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Magic Side Show Becomes Full-Time Job

25:00 - Wayne Gretzky Eulogizes His Father

37:00 - The Dangers and Joys of Having a 'Making Do' Dad

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP317: How Johnny Carson Saved Twister, Drinking Done New Orleans Style and Humans are Hardwired for Freedom May 23, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, history geek Christopher Klein to tells the story of how Johnny Carson saved Twister. Liz Williams, founder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, tells the story of whisky, bourbon, absinthe, and pink elephants... done Cajun style. Tina Ramirez shares her passion for religion and how she took it around the world.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - How Johnny Carson Saved Twister

12:30 - Drinking Done New Orleans Style

25:00 - Humans are Hardwired for Freedom

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP316: The Baylor Basketball Incident: An Eyewitness to One of the Biggest Scandals (and Turnarounds) in NCAA History May 20, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, former Baylor Basketball player Matt Sayman, author of The Leftovers: Baylor, Betrayal, and Beyond tells the story behind one of the biggest scandals in college basketball history—along with one of its biggest turnarounds.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP315: The Time A Kid Sued Pepsi for A Harrier Jet and From Marine Core to Playing Chess at Marvel with THE Stan Lee May 20, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sean Kernan of Medium helps us tell the story of Leonard v. PepsiCo Inc. A law school classic that helps kids navigate the curious world of contract law, but in 1999 it was serious business. After a career as a U.S. Marine, Mike Joens tells us how he worked for some of the most successful animation studios such as Hanna Barbera, Filmation, Warner Brothers and Marvel Productions and eventually left Marvel to produce and direct “McGee and Me,” as well as the animated “Adventures in Odyssey.”

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

Time Codes:

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

12:30 - From Marine Core to Playing Chess at Marvel with THE Stan Lee

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP314: The Woman Introducing STEM Careers to Young Girls and Harvard's President Believed Books, Not Schooling, Were the Key To Education May 19, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Nicole Small, the former CEO of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, shares how she is now inspiring young women to pursue careers in STEM. Jon Elfner helps tell the story behind Charles Eliot's claim that, "all a man needs for a good education is a 5-foot bookshelf" and what came to be known as "The Harvard Classics."

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Woman Introducing STEM Careers to Young Girls

37:00 - Harvard's President Believed Books, Not Schooling, Were the Key To Education

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP313: The 6 Brothers Who Gave Their Lives for the Union and A Tattoo Shop with Heart May 19, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Busbee of The Culture Buzz on KFMG 98.9 tells the story of the remarkable sacrifice made by one family in Iowa during the Civil War. Tammy Harris was born to be an artist... it just took a while for him to figure out how to make some money doing it.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The 6 Brothers Who Gave Their Lives for the Union

25:00 - A Tattoo Shop with Heart

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP312: The WWII Tragedy America Chose to Forget, "Run Amuck" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and The Reluctant Memoirist: Leslie Leyland Fields May 18, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul Kengor tells us how the U.S. government chose to keep the details of this WWII attack hushed. Author, Andrew Thompson, shares another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language. Leslie Leyland Fields tells the story of how she came to write her memoir.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The WWII Tragedy America Chose to Forget

12:30 - "Run Amuck" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions

25:00 - The Reluctant Memoirist: Leslie Leyland Fields

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP311: Army Ranger Michael Schlitz Shares His Iraq Story and Harvard's President Believed Books, Not Schooling, Were the Key To Education May 18, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael Schlitz tells us how he enlisted in March 1996 and served in several positions including Rifleman and Platoon Sergeant. While in Baghdad, Iraq on February 27, 2007, Mike and his crew were on a road-clearing mission when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Jon Elfner helps tell the story behind Charles Eliot's claim that, "all a man needs for a good education is a 5-foot bookshelf" and what came to be known as "The Harvard Classics."

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Army Ranger Michael Schlitz Shares His Iraq Story

37:00 - Harvard's President Believed Books, Not Schooling, Were the Key To Education

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.