Our American Stories
Our American Stories
Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can ref…Follow the podcast:
Before I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball Spent Years Being Told No
On this episode of Our American Stories, few television comedies have had the lasting impact of I Love Lucy. When the show debuted in the early 1950s, Lucille Ball quickly became one of the most recognizable performers in American entertainment. Her success did not arrive quickly. For years, Ball s…
38:16
Amelia Earhart: The First Woman Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
On this episode of Our American Stories, Amelia Earhart had already crossed the Atlantic by airplane, but in 1928 she had done so as a passenger. Four years later, she climbed into a single-engine Lockheed Vega in Newfoundland and set out alone, battling storms and mechanical trouble before landing…
10:49
The Last Great Gift My Uncle Gave Me
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons traveled to Louisville to spend a final few days with his Uncle Bud, who had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Brent arrived hoping to help his uncle and wondering what they could possibly say to each other with so little time lef…
09:29
Constantino Brumidi: America's Michelangelo
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1852, Constantino Brumidi arrived in New York as a refugee from Rome. He was already an accomplished artist, but in America, he found the work that would consume the rest of his life. For the next twenty-five years, Brumidi climbed scaffolds, painted ceil…
09:59
The Cop Who Refused to Give Up on Skid Row
On this episode of Our American Stories, LAPD Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph walked into a juvenile detention center expecting the kids there to distrust him. Instead of leading with his badge, he told them something they did not expect to hear from a police officer: “I love you.” He kept returnin…
07:59
The Great Arsenal of Democracy: How America Went From Nothing...to Outproducing Every Nation in WWII
On this episode of Our American Stories, America was woefully unprepared for World War II. Our army was about the size of Portugal's, our navy was outdated, and our "air force" was roughly equivalent to what the German Luftwaffe flew on a near-daily basis across Europe. Not only that, but nobody in…
38:19
20,000 Salt and Pepper Shakers and One Remarkable Family Legacy
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrea Ludden’s mother was an archaeologist who began collecting salt and pepper shakers after moving to the United States in the 1980s. What started with a search for pepper mills grew into a collection of thousands as she realized that these ordinary house…
20:18
Titanic Thompson: The Gambler Who Fooled Al Capone
On this episode of Our American Stories, Titanic Thompson could hustle almost anyone. He beat gamblers at cards and dice, golfers on the course, pool players in smoky halls, and even fooled Al Capone with a rigged lemon toss. Born Alvin Clarence Thomas in rural Missouri, he spent decades crisscross…
09:59
Burt Young, the Actor Behind Paulie in Rocky, Shares His Story
On this episode of Our American Stories, Burt Young grew up in Queens, the son of a working-class family, and spent his early years far from the world of film. He boxed professionally, served in the Marine Corps, and worked a series of jobs before ever thinking about acting. That changed when he b…
07:59
Christopher Columbus: The Good, the Bad, and the Four Voyages
On this episode of Our American Stories, Christopher Columbus sailed west in 1492, convinced he could reach Asia across the Atlantic. He was wrong about where he was going, wrong about the size of the world, and yet skilled and determined enough to complete a voyage that would change it forever. Ov…
30:17