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On this episode of Our American Stories, before Danny Trejo became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, known for films like Machete and Heat, he spent years in prison battling addiction and violence. Speaking at the Crossroads Recovery Center's 60th Anniversary Breakfast event in Phoenix, AZ., Trejo shares how sobriety, recovery, faith, and helping others transformed his life and unexpectedly led him from prison cells to movie sets.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Danny Trejo became one of Hollywood&rsquo;s most recognizable actors, known for films like&nbsp;Machete&nbsp;and&nbsp;Heat, he spent years in prison battling addiction and violence. Speaking at the Crossroads Recovery Center's 60th Anniversary Breakfast event in Phoenix, AZ., Trejo shares how sobriety, recovery, faith, and helping others transformed his life and unexpectedly led him from prison cells to movie sets.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

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.

Before Hollywood, Danny Trejo Was Behind Bars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a7c064e9-9855-46db-8781-b449018a710d/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, at 17 years old, Pino Lella was helping Jewish families escape Nazi-occupied Italy by guiding them across the Alps into Switzerland. A year later, after being drafted into the German military, he found himself assigned as the personal driver to one of the most powerful Nazi commanders in Italy.

Secretly working for the Italian resistance and the Allies, Pino used his position to gather intelligence on German troop movements and military defenses. Then, in the final days of World War II, he did the unthinkable: he arrested the very general he had been driving. Michael Lella shares the remarkable true story of his father, a teenage resistance fighter whose courage helped save lives and fight tyranny during one of history's darkest chapters.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, at 17 years old, Pino Lella was helping Jewish families escape Nazi-occupied Italy by guiding them across the Alps into Switzerland. A year later, after being drafted into the German military, he found himself assigned as the personal driver to one of the most powerful Nazi commanders in Italy. Secretly working for the Italian resistance and the Allies, Pino used his position to gather intelligence on German troop movements and military defenses. Then, in the final days of World War II, he did the unthinkable: he arrested the very general he had been driving. Michael Lella shares the remarkable true story of his father, a teenage resistance fighter whose courage helped save lives and fight tyranny during one of history's darkest chapters.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Teenage Spy Who Arrested His Nazi Boss

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5d4d2bff-8e4b-42e6-ad6d-b46d016de605/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Dolly Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" in 1973, she wasn't writing about a romantic breakup. She was saying goodbye to her longtime friend, mentor, and business partner, Porter Wagoner. The song became a country hit, but its journey was only beginning.

Along the way, the song caught the attention of Elvis Presley, whose manager demanded half of the publishing rights before he would record it. Parton refused. Years later, actor Kevin Costner helped introduce the song to Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard, turning it into one of the best-selling singles in music history. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the remarkable story behind a song that transformed the lives of everyone who touched it.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Dolly Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" in 1973, she wasn't writing about a romantic breakup. She was saying goodbye to her longtime friend, mentor, and business partner, Porter Wagoner. The song became a country hit, but its journey was only beginning. Along the way, the song caught the attention of Elvis Presley, whose manager demanded half of the publishing rights before he would record it. Parton refused. Years later, actor Kevin Costner helped introduce the song to Whitney Houston for&nbsp;The Bodyguard, turning it into one of the best-selling singles in music history. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the remarkable story behind a song that transformed the lives of everyone who touched it.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Dolly Parton's Biggest Hit Almost Belonged to Elvis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a3f5e21c-07e3-4f50-aa72-b46d016de60d/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the United States withdrew from Vietnam, many of its allies in Southeast Asia were left behind to face Communist reprisals, imprisonment, and even death. Desperate families fled Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia in search of safety, but few knew where they would go.

Then an extraordinary letter arrived in Iowa. What followed was one of the most successful refugee resettlement efforts in American history. Matthew R. Walsh, author of The Good Governor, shares the story of Governor Robert Ray, the Iowa leader who opened his state to thousands of refugees and helped transform countless lives in the process.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the United States withdrew from Vietnam, many of its allies in Southeast Asia were left behind to face Communist reprisals, imprisonment, and even death. Desperate families fled Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia in search of safety, but few knew where they would go. Then an extraordinary letter arrived in Iowa. What followed was one of the most successful refugee resettlement efforts in American history. Matthew R. Walsh, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F1476669473%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C2c0f5a7e1e1a4d5b0eb408decd7289f5%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639174089020837166%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1Gs5pQsngU0NRzGoEfh2BG5SSeSn0BAxOIiwxJ2A0xs%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" data-ogsc="">The Good Governor</a>, shares the story of Governor Robert Ray, the Iowa leader who opened his state to thousands of refugees and helped transform countless lives in the process.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Iowa Governor Who Saved Thousands of Refugees

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cb50a513-dceb-4020-bc7d-b46d016de614/transcript

Before Hollywood, Danny Trejo Was Behind Bars

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