On this episode of Our American Stories, if you could spend one hour talking with anyone, living or not, who would you choose? For regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak, the answer isn’t a famous figure or historical hero. It’s his parents. In this deeply personal reflection, Rusiniak imagines what he would say, what he wouldn’t say, and why simply being together again would be enough. It’s a quiet meditation on love, loss, gratitude, and the conversations we wish we could have just one more time.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, if you could spend one hour talking with anyone, living or not, who would you choose? For regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak, the answer isn&rsquo;t a famous figure or historical hero. It&rsquo;s his parents. In this deeply personal reflection, Rusiniak imagines what he would say, what he wouldn&rsquo;t say, and why simply being together again would be enough. It&rsquo;s a quiet meditation on love, loss, gratitude, and the conversations we wish we could have just one more time.
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.

If I Could Talk to Anyone for One Hour, It Would Be My Parents

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/76f6de58-0859-443a-991e-b3e1014fbb24/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Alex Berezow remembers his grandfather Dimitri the only way a life like this can be remembered, by telling the story. Born under Stalin, forced into Nazi labor camps as a teenager, and surviving through nerve, charm, and impossible luck, Dimitri escaped the worst regimes of the 20th century and eventually made his way to America. What follows is a portrait of a man who cheated death again and again, lived boldly, laughed loudly, and finally faced a quieter ending that raises hard questions about memory, medicine, and what it means to live well.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Alex Berezow remembers his grandfather Dimitri the only way a life like this can be remembered, by telling the story. Born under Stalin, forced into Nazi labor camps as a teenager, and surviving through nerve, charm, and impossible luck, Dimitri escaped the worst regimes of the 20th century and eventually made his way to America. What follows is a portrait of a man who cheated death again and again, lived boldly, laughed loudly, and finally faced a quieter ending that raises hard questions about memory, medicine, and what it means to live well.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Obituary of a Man Who Escaped Stalin and Hitler

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8844e739-0ad5-4d22-a955-b3e501582597/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Pastor Scott Jones, author of Growing Up Rural, shares a memory from his youth when a small decision and the temptation to bend the truth carried real consequences. What follows is a quiet but powerful reflection on honesty, responsibility, and how the lessons we learn as children can stay with us for life.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Pastor Scott Jones, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGrowing-Up-Rural-Lessons-Lifetime%2Fdp%2F1638148740&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C6315000fcba4455a864708de60263400%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639053914360207242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=xmeiFu9QfCig%2Fj%2FfOnXiHFf1tBjfpylMW5DOXpQNVyQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Growing Up Rural</a>, shares a memory from his youth when a small decision and the temptation to bend the truth carried real consequences. What follows is a quiet but powerful reflection on honesty, responsibility, and how the lessons we learn as children can stay with us for life.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Growing Up Rural: Dangling Feet and the Cost of a Lie

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9f6ba85a-6502-4abb-a6fd-b3e501582596/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Secretariat became a Triple Crown legend, Penny Chenery was a mother of five facing an unexpected turning point. As her father’s health failed, she stepped in to run a struggling Virginia horse farm and entered a male-dominated racing world where she was often dismissed and rarely welcomed.

Filmmaker Randall Wallace, writer and director of Secretariat, shares the story of how Chenery navigated long odds, isolation, and pressure to keep the farm alive, and how her persistence helped lead one extraordinary horse to the historic 1973 Triple Crown.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Secretariat became a Triple Crown legend, Penny Chenery was a mother of five facing an unexpected turning point. As her father&rsquo;s health failed, she stepped in to run a struggling Virginia horse farm and entered a male-dominated racing world where she was often dismissed and rarely welcomed. Filmmaker Randall Wallace, writer and director of&nbsp;Secretariat, shares the story of how Chenery navigated long odds, isolation, and pressure to keep the farm alive, and how her persistence helped lead one extraordinary horse to the historic 1973 Triple Crown.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Secretariat’s Owner: The Remarkable Story of Penny Chenery

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/73d20012-b6fe-4f23-9c92-b3e501582596/transcript

If I Could Talk to Anyone for One Hour, It Would Be My Parents

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