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:
What Happened When Buck O’Neil Missed the Hall of Fame by One Vote
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2021, former Negro Leagues baseball player Buck O'Neil was finally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, years after being denied by just one vote, a decision that surprised many of his friends and supporters. Bob Kendrick, president of the N…
10:49
Before Billy Graham, There Was Billy Sunday
On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became evangelist Billy Sunday, William Ashley Sunday played professional baseball in the major leagues, known for his speed and energy on the field. In the 1890s, at the height of his athletic career, he walked away from the game and turned to pre…
19:27
Paul Revere’s Ride: The Poem That Made a Legend
On this episode of Our American Stories, on April 18, 1775, a Boston silversmith set out on horseback with a warning that would travel from town to town in the dark. The ride itself was real, but the version most Americans remember came later, shaped by a poem that gave it a place in the national m…
07:59
George Washington: The Definitive Story of America’s First President
On this episode of Our American Stories, most of us meet George Washington through half-remembered legends: the cherry tree story, his face on the dollar bill, the grand portraits, and the monuments across the country. Before he became the first president of the United States, he spent years trying…
38:15
The SR-71 Blackbird Disaster at 78,000 Feet: How One Pilot Fell from Space and Survived
On this episode of Our American Stories, when an SR-71 Blackbird disintegrated midair at over 2,000 mph, pilot Bill Weaver was ejected at a speed and altitude few humans have ever survived. He thought he was dead, but what followed became one of the most remarkable survival stories in aviation hist…
10:49
From Wall Street Workaholic to Foster Care Reformer: Paul Blavin's Mission
On this episode of Our American Stories, what happens to children when they age out of foster care? For many, it means stepping into adulthood alone, without the support systems most young people take for granted. After learning how often these young adults face homelessness, incarceration, and lim…
27:27
The South Vietnamese Pilot Who Stole a Plane to Save His Family
On this episode of Our American Stories, as Saigon fell during Operation Frequent Wind and thousands tried to escape, one South Vietnamese pilot refused to leave his family behind. With only a small observation plane and no guarantee of survival, Major Buang-Ly took to the air in search of help. W…
10:49
The Kindness of Strangers: A Group Home’s Night Out Ends With a Surprise
On this episode of Our American Stories, a group home’s night out turned unforgettable when two strangers stepped in with a silent gift. Laurie Seibert had brought her group out for a well-earned dinner, never expecting someone across the room to cover the full bill. But that’s exactly what happene…
09:29
The Story of America: Marbury v. Madison and the Power of the Court [Ep. 17]
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Constitution created a Supreme Court, but it did not spell out how powerful that Court would be. In the early 1800s, a political standoff involving William Marbury, outgoing President John Adams, and newly elected President Thomas Jefferson over an undel…
17:58
Inside Atlanta’s Breman Museum: Jewish Life in the American South
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Breman Museum was created to preserve Jewish heritage in the American South, with a focus on Jewish communities in Georgia, Alabama, and beyond. What began as a small archive grew into a museum dedicated to telling the story of Jews in the Southern Unite…
10:49