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On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Stories host Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel "Big Mitch" Rutledge, who has spent more than forty years serving a life sentence in Alabama. Each call traces the shape of faith, regret, and forgiveness inside a place built for punishment.


Mitch opens with a memory that still sets the tone for how he sees prison: a place where you learn to sleep with one eye open and keep your back to the wall. He talks about the people who shaped him on the inside (both good and bad), and shares poems written in their honor.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Stories&nbsp;host Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel "Big Mitch" Rutledge, who has spent more than forty years serving a life sentence in Alabama. Each call traces the shape of faith, regret, and forgiveness inside a place built for punishment.
 Mitch opens with a memory that still sets the tone for how he sees prison: a place where you learn to sleep with one eye open and keep your back to the wall. He talks about the people who shaped him on the inside (both good and bad), and shares poems written in their honor.
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.

Sunday Mornings with Big Mitch: Ep. 9

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8ef1fd5b-f436-4dce-ab8e-b3b70166952f/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Bass Reeves was born into slavery in Arkansas in 1838. During the Civil War, he escaped bondage and made his way to Indian Territory. Years later, he returned there carrying a badge. For more than three decades, Reeves served federal warrants across some of the most dangerous country in the West, tracking fugitives, working in disguise, and earning a reputation so formidable that some outlaws reportedly chose surrender over facing him.

Professor Art T. Burton, author of Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves, shares the story of the man behind the legend. Burton's own search through court records, newspapers, and family history uncovered a career that had nearly slipped from public memory: an escaped slave who became one of the most respected and relentless lawmen of the American frontier.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bass Reeves was born into slavery in Arkansas in 1838. During the Civil War, he escaped bondage and made his way to Indian Territory. Years later, he returned there carrying a badge. For more than three decades, Reeves served federal warrants across some of the most dangerous country in the West, tracking fugitives, working in disguise, and earning a reputation so formidable that some outlaws reportedly chose surrender over facing him. Professor Art T. Burton, author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F1496233425%3Flv%3Dshuf%26hvlocphy%3D9013748%26hvptwo%3D%26hvnetw%3Dg%26mcid%3D%26hvext%3D372747318757%26hvadid%3D812931974608%26language%3Den_US%26hvpone%3D%26hvlocint%3D%26hvcampaign%3D23946702451%26hydadcr%3D17463_13842071_2502601%26hvpos%3D%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvdvcmdl%3D%26hvocijid%3D1552707620649882661--%26hvqmt%3Da%26hvexpln%3D0%26tag%3Dsmgglusdsadts-20%26hvtargid%3Dkwl-2484167636399%26adgrpid%3D197419379213%26hvrand%3D1552707620649882661%26channelId%3D500%26ref_%3D%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C695024ef91b34ef0da8908df1e5cbce7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639263055812725685%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uLhAZSqDgxQgB5ODVo5HekUq%2B8rloIUJ%2FusuFHfqntE%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves</a>, shares the story of the man behind the legend. Burton's own search through court records, newspapers, and family history uncovered a career that had nearly slipped from public memory: an escaped slave who became one of the most respected and relentless lawmen of the American frontier.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Bass Reeves: The Former Slave Who Tamed the Wild West

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0c1ee580-a6b8-4253-b9f3-b4d40151aeff/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Leuliette was only 23 when he found himself presenting multimillion-dollar proposals to Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II at Ford Motor Company. Working in product planning during the 1970s energy crisis meant long nights, five-minute presentations, and learning how to strip away the fluff and get straight to the facts.

Leuliette, who went on to become a prominent automotive executive and turnaround specialist, remembers the lessons, pressure, and occasional practical joke that made working for Lee Iacocca and Ford one of the greatest business educations of his life.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Leuliette was only 23 when he found himself presenting multimillion-dollar proposals to Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II at Ford Motor Company. Working in product planning during the 1970s energy crisis meant long nights, five-minute presentations, and learning how to strip away the fluff and get straight to the facts. Leuliette, who went on to become a prominent automotive executive and turnaround specialist, remembers the lessons, pressure, and occasional practical joke that made working for Lee Iacocca and Ford one of the greatest business educations of his life.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

What Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II Taught a 23-Year-Old Newbie

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/30a30d49-7f22-4baf-bc0d-b4d40151aefd/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, on March 31, 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson walked into Perth Amboy City Hall in New Jersey to vote on a local charter. Nothing about the election seemed especially historic. But when Peterson cast his ballot, he became the first Black American known to vote under the protection of the newly ratified 15th Amendment.

Historian Elliott Drago of the Jack Miller Center shares the story of Peterson's vote and the larger struggle it represented. In the years after the Civil War, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments forced the country to answer some of its most fundamental questions about freedom, citizenship, and who had the right to participate in American democracy.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, on March 31, 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson walked into Perth Amboy City Hall in New Jersey to vote on a local charter. Nothing about the election seemed especially historic. But when Peterson cast his ballot, he became the first Black American known to vote under the protection of the newly ratified 15th Amendment. Historian Elliott Drago of the <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jackmillercenter.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C695024ef91b34ef0da8908df1e5cbce7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639263055812692823%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Y%2Fx5p8DpxJhr79%2Fe1LFt%2FxnTYN6bpIBFvhqpv4Rw7ps%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Jack Miller Center </a>shares the story of Peterson's vote and the larger struggle it represented. In the years after the Civil War, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments forced the country to answer some of its most fundamental questions about freedom, citizenship, and who had the right to participate in American democracy.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Thomas Mundy Peterson: The First Black Voter Under the 15th Amendment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/345f6555-2332-45e0-b264-b4d40151aeff/transcript

Sunday Mornings with Big Mitch: Ep. 9

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