Our American Stories

Copyright: 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia

Latest Episodes:

EP111: The Incredible Story Of SPAM, The Biggest Chicken In The World? and The President, The Preacher, and the Giant Block of Cheese Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Author of The Book of Spam: A Most Glorious and Definitive Compendium of the World’s Favorite Canned Meat, Dustin Black, tells the story of this often speculated household name product.; Fitzgerald, Georgia, mayor Jim Puckett shares the story of his town building the world's largest topiary chicken; Thomas Jefferson is often known for championing religious freedom in our nation's infancy, but not many people know about how a preacher thanked him in the most unusual way.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Incredible Story Of SPAM

23:00 - The Biggest Chicken In The World?

35:00 - The President, The Preacher, and the Giant Block of Cheese

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP110: The Family The Size Of A Baseball Team, Wayne Gretzky Eulogizes His Father and The World's First Action Figure Museum Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Randy and Kelsey Bohlender have 10 children, 6 of which are adopted. Take a listen to hear their stories of adoption and how they came to found the adoption agency Zoe’s House; Wayne Gretzky tells us about the life of his father, Walter Gretzky known as “Canada's hockey dad,” and how his father's death prompted an avalanche of tributes for a genuine, approachable, authentic person who nurtured his unsurpassed hockey talents; and Kevin Stark of The Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, tells the story of his museum, and his life in toys.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Family The Size Of A Baseball Team

23:00 - Wayne Gretzky Eulogizes His Father

35:00 - The World's First Action Figure Museum

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP109: The Small Town Theater Company Making a Big Difference and Why Led Zepplin Pays Royalties to a Southern Bluesman Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Don Arthurs and Erich Offenburg tell the story of their special needs program, Crown Theater Productions, and how it won Columbiana the title of "Nicest Place in America; and Stephen Davis, author of Hammer of the Gods, and Kirby Ferguson of "Everything a Remix" tell the story of how Led Zeppelin found themselves in a courtroom over a few of their songs...and explain why there are so many "copycats" in the music industry.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Small Town Theater Company Making a Big Difference

35:00 - Why Led Zepplin Pays Royalties to a Southern Bluesman

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP108: The Glorious 25th of November, Evacuation Day, Hometown Hero and Treating More than Cancer Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Bryk brings us the tale of the day British forces evacuated New York City after the Revolutionary War; Vermont historian and journalist Mark Bushnell takes us into the life of Calvin Coolidge in his hometown; and Loma Linda University Health has sought to not see patients as customers, but as individuals, through a focus on whole person care

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Glorious 25th of November, Evacuation Day, when the British left after the Revolutionary War

18:00 - Hometown Hero

27:30 - Treating More than Cancer

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP107: The Time McDonald County Seceded from Missouri and "We Didn't Want to Lose Two People:" A Story of Forgiveness Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dwight Pogue tells the story 1961 story of how McDonald County, Missouri found a unique way to protest their state government. Also check out his book about this historic event. Laura Treppendahl’s life was one worth remembering. After being killed in a drunk driving accident, Laura’s family told the judge that they completely forgave the young man, Gregg, who hit her.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Time McDonald County Seceded from Missouri

10:00 - "We Didn't Want to Lose Two People:" A Story of Forgiveness

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Halloween Special Oct 31, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, we learn about why we participate in these strange celebrations every Halloween season from Lesley Bannatyne, the author of Halloween: An American Holiday, An American Historyand Lisa Morton, the author of Trick Or Treat: A History of Halloween.

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

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Man Grows Pumpkins That Weigh a TON, Halloween - Haunted Attractions and The Man In The Glass Coffin Oct 30, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Joe Jutras shares how he broke the record in 2017 for the largest giant green squash ever grown coming in at 2118lbs; Halloween historian Lisa Morton is going to be unpacking the history of Haunted Attractions (AKA: Halloween Haunted House) which is directly tied into today’s practice of Trick-or-Treating; Chris Siriano tells the curious story about Benjamin Purnell, whom was sealed in a glass coffin in the House of David and how his coffin was robbed.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - This Man Grows Pumpkins That Weigh a TON

23:00 - Halloween - Haunted Attractions

35:00 - The Man In The Glass Coffin

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP106: Making Peace with My Sister’s Killer and The Man In The Glass Coffin Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jeanne Bishop tells us the story of the brutal murders of her beloved family member and how a change of heart changed her life and so many others. Read her book for the full story; and Chris Siriano tells this curious story about Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin being placed in a glass coffin.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Making Peace with My Sister’s Killer

27:30 - The Man In The Glass Coffin

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP105: An Army Moves On Its Stomach... And Lots of Coffee and Meet the inventor of Jelly Belly, David Klein Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz tells a story that one of his friends told him about a coffee incident that took place on the USS Enterprise and David Klein, creator and founder of Jelly Belly jellybeans, shares the story of what led him to leave Jelly Belly just as it was about to explode and grow into a billion dollar enterprise.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - An Army Moves On Its Stomach... And Lots of Coffee

08:00 - Meet the inventor of Jelly Belly, David Klein

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP104: Dog Becomes Best Medicine Through Woman's Cancer Treatments, He Was Stiffed $318,000, But He Still Paid Back Everyone He Owed Money To and Tim Leuliette Went to Business School... at Ford Motor Company Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Rusiniak’s story about his dad’s dog Benny and his mom Doris. From the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Dog; Steve Bell tells his incredible story of integrity in the face of hardship; and Tim Leuliette began his career at Ford Motor Company under the leadership of Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II. He got more than he bargained for... and was thankful for it.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Dog Becomes Best Medicine Through Woman's Cancer Treatments

08:00 - He Was Stiffed $318,000, But He Still Paid Back Everyone He Owed Money To

27:30 - Tim Leuliette Went to Business School... at Ford Motor Company

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.