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On this episode of Our American Stories, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen set out to thank America's veterans with a single painted rock outside a quarry in rural Iowa. More than two decades later, the Freedom Rocks have spread to all 99 Iowa counties, becoming places of remembrance, reflection, and healing for veterans and their families. Ray shares the remarkable stories behind the project and why honoring those who served has become his life's work.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen set out to thank America's veterans with a single painted rock outside a quarry in rural Iowa. More than two decades later, the Freedom Rocks have spread to all 99 Iowa counties, becoming places of remembrance, reflection, and healing for veterans and their families. Ray shares the remarkable stories behind the project and why honoring those who served has become his life's work.
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.

The Man Who Paints Rocks to Honor Veterans: The Story Behind the Freedom Rocks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b4454250-ca00-4a08-9e2f-b482016e0341/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, John Cazale never became a movie star. He never received an Academy Award nomination, and his film career lasted only six years. Yet Al Pacino considered him an acting idol, Meryl Streep fell in love with him, and every one of the five films he appeared in was nominated for Best Picture.

Jonjo Powers, author of A Small Perfection: John Cazale and the Art of Acting, shares the remarkable story of the man who brought Fredo Corleone to life, made some of Hollywood's greatest actors better, and died at just 42 years old with a nearly perfect body of work behind him.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Cazale never became a movie star. He never received an Academy Award nomination, and his film career lasted only six years. Yet Al Pacino considered him an acting idol, Meryl Streep fell in love with him, and every one of the five films he appeared in was nominated for Best Picture. Jonjo Powers, author of&nbsp;A Small Perfection: John Cazale and the Art of Acting, shares the remarkable story of the man who brought Fredo Corleone to life, made some of Hollywood's greatest actors better, and died at just 42 years old with a nearly perfect body of work behind him.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

John Cazale: The Greatest Actor You Don't Know

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/60076e13-8518-4195-8c97-b4a30156eff3/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1967, Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler approached the songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin with an idea. He needed a hit for Aretha Franklin and even had a title in mind: "A Natural Woman."

After putting their children to bed, King and Goffin went to work. By the next day, they had written a song specifically for a singer they had never met. Lee Habeeb shares the story of the unlikely collaboration that gave Aretha Franklin one of the defining songs of her career.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1967, Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler approached the songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin with an idea. He needed a hit for Aretha Franklin and even had a title in mind: "A Natural Woman." After putting their children to bed, King and Goffin went to work. By the next day, they had written a song specifically for a singer they had never met. Lee Habeeb shares the story of the unlikely collaboration that gave Aretha Franklin one of the defining songs of her career.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How Carole King and Gerry Goffin Wrote "A Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/44414ad7-6608-4c17-bed0-b4a30156efd6/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Laura Margolis arrived in Shanghai to help Jewish refugees who had fled persecution in Europe. Then Pearl Harbor changed everything. With the city under Japanese occupation and some 20,000 Jewish refugees now trapped there, Margolis found herself classified as an enemy alien while desperately trying to secure the food and money needed to keep them alive.

For our ongoing The Six Percent series, Deborah Dwork, author of Saints and Liars, shares the remarkable story of how Margolis worked with the Japanese and rebuilt Shanghai’s relief operation, helping thousands of Jewish refugees survive.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Laura Margolis arrived in Shanghai to help Jewish refugees who had fled persecution in Europe. Then Pearl Harbor changed everything. With the city under Japanese occupation and some 20,000 Jewish refugees now trapped there, Margolis found herself classified as an enemy alien while desperately trying to secure the food and money needed to keep them alive. For our ongoing&nbsp;The Six Percent&nbsp;series, Deborah Dwork, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F1324020342%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cda7f5454dfcb4a5e5e8808def7bb1df1%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639220580208985098%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MRG%2F5Fovg4ymt05LaOTp4zXCs5HmTITw8bIfm09kijk%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3" data-ogsc="">Saints and Liars</a>, shares the remarkable story of how Margolis worked with the Japanese and rebuilt Shanghai&rsquo;s relief operation, helping thousands of Jewish refugees survive.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Six Percent: The Woman Who Worked With the Enemy to Save Lives

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/20c47a53-7937-44be-b5c2-b4a30156efd3/transcript

The Man Who Paints Rocks to Honor Veterans: The Story Behind the Freedom Rocks

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