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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the late 1970s, the NBA was struggling to capture America's attention. The league was failing to make money, the talent wasn't great, and storylines were hard to come by. Then two young superstars from remarkably different worlds entered the league and transformed professional basketball forever.

Larry Bird grew up in the tiny town of French Lick, Indiana. Magic Johnson came from Lansing, Michigan. Their fierce rivalry fueled one of the greatest eras in sports history before giving way to an unlikely friendship that changed both men forever. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the late 1970s, the NBA was struggling to capture America's attention. The league was failing to make money, the talent wasn't great, and storylines were hard to come by. Then two young superstars from remarkably different worlds entered the league and transformed professional basketball forever. Larry Bird grew up in the tiny town of French Lick, Indiana. Magic Johnson came from Lansing, Michigan. Their fierce rivalry fueled one of the greatest eras in sports history before giving way to an unlikely friendship that changed both men forever. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story.
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 Rivalry That Saved the NBA and Changed Two Lives: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/286dabc8-f28c-4175-8ecc-b48900bfd60d/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Mary Kay became one of the most recognizable names in American business, she was a divorced mother, a widow, a lifelong saleswoman repeatedly passed over for promotion, and a woman who wasn't even allowed to open a bank account without her husband's permission. At 45, after losing her job and her husband just weeks before launching a new venture, she bet everything she had on a company of her own.

Mary Lisa Gavenas, author of Selling Opportunity: The Story of Mary Kay, shares the remarkable story of faith, perseverance, and entrepreneurial vision behind the woman who built one of America's most iconic companies and forever changed opportunities for women in business.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Mary Kay became one of the most recognizable names in American business, she was a divorced mother, a widow, a lifelong saleswoman repeatedly passed over for promotion, and a woman who wasn't even allowed to open a bank account without her husband's permission. At 45, after losing her job and her husband just weeks before launching a new venture, she bet everything she had on a company of her own. Mary Lisa Gavenas, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F0670015415%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Ce2d8f21b830945c55c3a08dee747fad4%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639202493535325755%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=m9IjAGajE8Iisz8ro%2F2rcwCaXNaR%2BTA8hu6PA7vnnP8%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">Selling Opportunity: The Story of Mary Kay</a>, shares the remarkable story of faith, perseverance, and entrepreneurial vision behind the woman who built one of America's most iconic companies and forever changed opportunities for women in business.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Mary Kay: The Woman Behind the Pink Cadillac Empire

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/59867dc4-8165-42f5-8912-b490016768b5/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in March 1944, Lt. Bill Owen's crew wasn't supposed to make history. Flying one of the Eighth Air Force's secret radar-equipped Pathfinder B-17s, they pressed on toward Berlin after the rest of the bomber stream received a recall order. Through a remarkable twist of circumstance, their Flying Fortress became the first American Flying Fortress to bomb the heart of the Third Reich during WWII.

John O'Neil, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, shares the extraordinary story as first told by his father, John J. O'Neil Jr., the tail and waist gunner aboard that historic mission.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in March 1944, Lt. Bill Owen's crew wasn't supposed to make history. Flying one of the Eighth Air Force's secret radar-equipped Pathfinder B-17s, they pressed on toward Berlin after the rest of the bomber stream received a recall order. Through a remarkable twist of circumstance, their Flying Fortress became the first American Flying Fortress to bomb the heart of the Third Reich during WWII. John O'Neil, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mightyeighth.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Ce2d8f21b830945c55c3a08dee747fad4%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639202493535303242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=LctdNuMrxHpUuZgjW%2F%2FoyOIiMY76prxHeVpbEFKOFXs%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force</a>, shares the extraordinary story as first told by his father, John J. O'Neil Jr., the tail and waist gunner aboard that historic mission.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How One Flying Fortress Accidentally Became the First to Bomb Berlin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a12e7b11-b740-40fb-bdfe-b490016768b6/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, when 16-year-old Hector Boiardi arrived at Ellis Island from Italy in 1914, he couldn't have imagined that his face would one day appear on supermarket shelves across America. After becoming a celebrated chef, he turned his restaurant's most popular takeout meals into one of the country's most recognizable food brands, forever changing the way Americans ate Italian food.

During World War II, Chef Boyardee's factories stopped making food for grocery stores and began producing military rations around the clock, making his company one of the largest suppliers of meals to American and Allied troops. Greg Hengler shares the remarkable story of the real man behind one of America's most familiar brands.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, when 16-year-old Hector Boiardi arrived at Ellis Island from Italy in 1914, he couldn't have imagined that his face would one day appear on supermarket shelves across America. After becoming a celebrated chef, he turned his restaurant's most popular takeout meals into one of the country's most recognizable food brands, forever changing the way Americans ate Italian food. During World War II, Chef Boyardee's factories stopped making food for grocery stores and began producing military rations around the clock, making his company one of the largest suppliers of meals to American and Allied troops. Greg Hengler shares the remarkable story of the real man behind one of America's most familiar brands.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Real Chef Boyardee: The Immigrant Who Fed America

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2eccea5a-9a41-4c47-b32a-b490016768b4/transcript

The Rivalry That Saved the NBA and Changed Two Lives: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

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