Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

EP103: How Johnny Carson Saved Twister and Destined For Greatness: The Chuck Long Story Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, History geek Christopher Klein tells the story of how Johnny Carson saved Twister; and Chuck Long tells the story of how he came to be the star quarterback of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 1980's...and how he later came to enjoy coaching more than playing.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - How Johnny Carson Saved Twister

10:00 - Destined For Greatness: The Chuck Long Story

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.

EP102: Kent Nerburn, Letters to My Son, Craig's Lesson, The Shocking Story Behind the Diamond Engagement Ring and The Woman Behind Jack London Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Kent Nerburn, author of Letters to My Son: A Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Life, and Love was surprised, but elated to have a son at the age of 40. But afraid he wouldn't live long enough to see him into manhood, he penned several letters of fatherly advice should the unthinkable happen; Tom Zoellner purchased a diamond engagement ring and proposed. His girlfriend said, "yes" and then, suddenly, walked out of his life making Tom the owner of a used engagement ring. Instead of hitting the self-help shelves of his local bookstore, he hit the road to discover the true worth of this shining gem and then wrote The Heartless Stone; Iris Jamahl Dunkle tells the story of Charmian Kittredge London in the first full length Biography written about her titled Charmian Kittredge: London Trailblazer Author Adventurer.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Kent Nerburn, Letters to My Son, Craig's Lesson

10:00 - The Shocking Story Behind the Diamond Engagement Ring

23:00 - The Woman Behind Jack London

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.

EP101: Pyromaniac's Paradise and How One Desperate Man Revolutionized American Energy Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Joel Wegener and his wife have 10 kids, and because he worked in education, they had to find ways during the summers to make a little extra money; and meet George Mitchell, the unknown hero who lowered our energy costs, carbon emissions, and made America energy independent.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Pyromaniac's Paradise

10:00 - How One Desperate Man Revolutionized American Energy

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.

EP100: The Investing Legend Giving Away ALL His Money and Connecting People Through Salt And Pepper Shakers Oct 21, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Leon Cooperman shares how he grew up in a rough neighborhood of New York City and how he become one of the most successful investors in history. Andrea Ludden, owner of the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, shares the story of how this amazing collection came to be a museum.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The Investing Legend Giving Away ALL His Money

23:00 - Connecting People Through Salt And Pepper Shakers

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.

EP99: There's No Smell Like Home and The Big Four and the Transcontinental Railroad Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Randall Haley shares how the scents from So Delta Candle Company helped alleviate some of her homesickness. Roger McGrath shares the story of the men known as “The Big Four,” who incorporated the Central Pacific Railroad and helped build the transcontinental railroad.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - There's No Smell Like Home

10:00 - The Big Four and the Transcontinental Railroad

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.

EP98: Dawn and Casey's Battle with Themselves and Jimmy John's founder Jimmy Liautaud Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dawn and Casey share how they connected through similar childhood traumas and how they learned to improve their own marriage to break the cycle; and Jimmy Liautaud tells the story of how he created the well-known Jimmy Johns sandwich restaurant.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Dawn and Casey's Battle with Themselves

35:00 - Jimmy John's founder Jimmy Liautaud

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.

EP97: The Penguin Who Wears Shoes and Zero Victim: The Story of James Ward Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Maria Elvin, Zoologist Manager of Birds at the Saint Louis Zoo, tells us about Enrique the penguin who wears shoes and James Ward gives his thoughts and experience during the response to protest on police brutality and what happened when he let his faith guide his response when an officer pulled him over.

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.

EP96: Tyler Spady's Firsthand Account of the Borderline Grill Shooting and Meeting My Absent Father Oct 15, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tyler Spady talks about the mass shooting that took place on November 7, 2018, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the Borderline Bar & Grill, where thirteen people were killed; and Justin Maguire shares the story about meeting his father when he was 23-years-old.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Tyler Spady's Firsthand Account of the Borderline Grill Shooting

18:00 - Meeting My Absent Father

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.

EP95: The 40s "Bombshell" Mind Behind Secure WiFi, GPS And Bluetooth and A Museum Dedicated to Southern Jewish Heritage Oct 14, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, we hear about the Austria-born turned Hollywood movie star, Hedy Lamarr. She was known for her beauty, but her accomplishments go far beyond her appearance. Jane Leavey and Sandy Berman tell the story of the museum they created—The Breman Museum—and tell some stories of Jewish people in the American South.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - The 40s "Bombshell" Mind Behind Secure WiFi, GPS And Bluetooth

35:00 - A Museum Dedicated to Southern Jewish Heritage

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.

EP94: Roller Skating In The House, Our Parents Insisted That Dinner Was Family Time and Lee Habeeb On An Ethics Education From His Father Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Joy Neal Kidney shares the story of her childhood home...and roller skating in it; Dave Van Andel's and Barb Gaby’s touching tribute to their parents…. Jay and Betty Van Andel; and Lee Habeeb shares a story from his childhood on an ethics education from his father that resulted in him not getting money he felt was rightfully his.

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

Time Codes:

00:00 - Roller Skating In The House

08:00 - Our Parents Insisted That Dinner Was Family Time

27:30 - Lee Habeeb On An Ethics Education From His Father

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.