Our American Stories
Our American Stories
Playlist by Our American StoriesOur 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 abo…Follow the podcast:
4,548 clip(s) in playlist
Finding Dave Dinan: A Vietnam War POW-MIA Story
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ed Sykes shares the remarkable story of his friendship with fellow fighter pilot Dave Dinan and the decades-long effort to bring his fallen comrade home. During the Vietnam War, Sykes flew dangerous combat missions in the F-105 Thunderchief alongside a clos…
30:17
An Immigrant Story About Education, Football, and the American Dream
On this episode of Our American Stories, every immigrant story begins with a decision to leave something familiar behind. For Kevin Samy’s father, that meant leaving a village where opportunity was scarce and education was almost nonexistent. Samy shares how that journey to the United States influ…
07:59
A Grandfather, a Farm, and a Life Well Lived
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons, a listener of Our American Stories, shares the story of his grandfather, a quiet man known in the family simply as “Pop Pop.” Vernon Timmons lived a modest life in southern Delaware, working hard, speaking little, and rarely seeking attention.…
10:48
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Pastor Who Tried To Kill Hitler
On this episode of Our American Stories, the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer sits at the intersection of faith, politics, and conscience during one of the darkest chapters of modern history. As a Lutheran pastor and theologian, Bonhoeffer spoke openly against the Nazi regime and later became connected …
27:26
Madam C.J. Walker: America’s First Self-Made Female Millionaire
On this episode of Our American Stories, born on the land of the former plantation where her parents had been enslaved, Madam C. J. Walker married young, became a mother young, was widowed young, and divorced young. Out of necessity, she went on to create a revolutionary hair care product that tran…
30:17
When FDR Warned That Tyranny Begins by Silencing Religion
On this episode of Our American Stories, in his 1939 State of the Union address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt warned that attacks on religion often appear alongside attacks on democracy itself. Speaking at a time when authoritarian regimes were rising overseas, Roosevelt argued that freedom of …
07:59
The Real Saint Patrick Behind St. Patrick’s Day
On this episode of Our American Stories, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world with shamrocks, green clothing, and parades, but the real Saint Patrick lived a life far removed from the holiday that grew up around his name. As a teenager, Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland as a sl…
20:17
The Letter John Bryan Wrote Before Leaving the Family Business for Sara Lee
On this episode of Our American Stories, John Bryan spent decades in the business world leading the Sara Lee Corporation and helping shape one of America’s most recognizable food brands. His leadership also left a mark on Chicago, where he helped bring the vision of Millennium Park to life. But be…
09:59
How the Triple Crown Brought a Father and Son Together Again
On this episode of Our American Stories, for thirty-seven years, no horse won the Triple Crown. Then, in 2015, American Pharoah finally broke the drought and gave horse racing one of its biggest moments in a generation. For former media executive Gary Ginsberg, that win brought back something more…
07:59
Will Rogers: America’s Cowboy Philosopher
On this episode of Our American Stories, few public figures captured the American mood quite like Will Rogers. Raised in "Indian Territory" and shaped by the traditions of the American West, he first gained attention as a rope-twirling performer in vaudeville. From there his career expanded rapidly…
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