On this episode of Our American Stories, Karen Thomson and her son Joe Meilink are the definition of determination. Here they are along with Joe’s wife, Vicky, to share their story 

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Karen Thomson and her son Joe Meilink are the definition of determination. Here they are along with Joe’s wife, Vicky, to share their story 
<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">Support the show</a> (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

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 refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our 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 refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;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&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

A Mom and Son Run a Marathon in Every State

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On this episode of Our American Stories, a wagon train heading west might carry dozens of families, hundreds of animals, and almost no formal government. Before setting out, the travelers had to decide who was in charge, how disputes would be settled, and what would happen if someone broke the rules. So they wrote constitutions. In mining camps, prospectors did much the same thing, establishing claims, assembling juries, and creating their own systems of justice when there was no sheriff or courthouse nearby.

For our Rule of Law series, P.J. Hill, rancher and co-author of The Not So Wild, Wild West: Property Rights on the Frontier, shares how Americans built order on the frontier from the ground up.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, a wagon train heading west might carry dozens of families, hundreds of animals, and almost no formal government. Before setting out, the travelers had to decide who was in charge, how disputes would be settled, and what would happen if someone broke the rules. So they wrote constitutions. In mining camps, prospectors did much the same thing, establishing claims, assembling juries, and creating their own systems of justice when there was no sheriff or courthouse nearby. For our Rule of Law series, P.J. Hill, rancher and co-author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sup.org%2Fbooks%2Fbusiness%2Fnot-so-wild-wild-west&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C58acb8b238c1400738ec08df1b1b0525%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639259475088239321%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fPvl7hzY5gAXoLMf%2B9CIHIzsGeaT%2FUTspa1RS2KB184%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">The Not So Wild, Wild West: Property Rights on the Frontier</a>, shares how Americans built order on the frontier from the ground up.
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Why the Wild West Wasn’t So Wild After All

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On this episode of Our American Stories, John Jacob Astor arrived in America in 1784 with little money and an eye for opportunity. He began trading furs, built a commercial empire that stretched across the continent, and then made an even bigger bet on the future of New York City. As Manhattan expanded, the land Astor had quietly accumulated became extraordinarily valuable. By the time he died, the German immigrant who had started with nothing had become the richest man in America.

Here’s the story of how an immigrant fur trader built the first great fortune in America.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, John Jacob Astor arrived in America in 1784 with little money and an eye for opportunity. He began trading furs, built a commercial empire that stretched across the continent, and then made an even bigger bet on the future of New York City. As Manhattan expanded, the land Astor had quietly accumulated became extraordinarily valuable. By the time he died, the German immigrant who had started with nothing had become the richest man in America. Here&rsquo;s the story of how an immigrant fur trader built the first great fortune in America.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

America's First Multi-Millionaire: John Jacob Astor

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/eb6a62e6-54ba-49d0-a229-b4d301655375/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Americans eat roughly 4.5 million tons of bananas every year. They’re cheap, plentiful, and so ordinary that most of us toss a bunch into the shopping cart without giving them a second thought. But getting that banana onto the supermarket shelf required ships, railroads, enormous corporations, and a global trade that helped shape American involvement in Central America. The fruit even gave us the term “banana republic” and one of America’s favorite desserts: the banana split.

Our regular contributor, The History Guy, shares the surprisingly complicated history behind one of America’s favorite fruits.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Americans eat roughly 4.5 million tons of bananas every year. They&rsquo;re cheap, plentiful, and so ordinary that most of us toss a bunch into the shopping cart without giving them a second thought. But getting that banana onto the supermarket shelf required ships, railroads, enormous corporations, and a global trade that helped shape American involvement in Central America. The fruit even gave us the term &ldquo;banana republic&rdquo; and one of America&rsquo;s favorite desserts: the banana split. Our regular contributor, The History Guy, shares the surprisingly complicated history behind one of America&rsquo;s favorite fruits.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How Bananas Changed the World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8a947709-8c47-4a00-9f68-b4d301655374/transcript

A Mom and Son Run a Marathon in Every State

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