On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1850s, William Walker had an extraordinary idea: Why not conquer a country of his own? The Tennessee-born doctor, lawyer, and journalist gathered a small army of Americans, invaded Mexico, and declared himself ruler of a new republic. When that collapsed, he tried again. This time, he set his sights on Nicaragua.

Mark Kawar, author of America, but Bigger, shares the remarkable story of an American filibuster who dreamed of an empire stretching across Central America.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1850s, William Walker had an extraordinary idea: Why not conquer a country of his own? The Tennessee-born doctor, lawyer, and journalist gathered a small army of Americans, invaded Mexico, and declared himself ruler of a new republic. When that collapsed, he tried again. This time, he set his sights on Nicaragua. Mark Kawar, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GX34L3Z7%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cea208cdca7e046fb4d5708def892e543%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639221507021698891%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=EywkmW2%2FsmiuIbveXKw5k7K%2BESQ6ygXB4BwAz%2BqWf5c%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">America, but Bigger</a>,&nbsp;shares the remarkable story of an American filibuster who dreamed of an empire stretching across Central America.
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.

William Walker: The American Adventurer Who Conquered Nicaragua

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ef3db6a5-5c75-4df9-91ff-b4a6017389aa/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in February 2021, a historic winter storm brought much of Texas to a standstill. Tim Hennessey and his wife, Debbie, braved the icy roads to pick up groceries for themselves and some friends. Then, while they were shopping at their local H-E-B, the power went out. The checkout lines quickly filled, but instead of asking customers to wait, employees began waving them toward the doors. Take your groceries. Get home safely. Don't worry about paying.

Tim couldn't stop thinking about what he had witnessed. When he got home, he wrote about it on Facebook in a post he and Debbie called "The Heart of America." Within days, tens of thousands of people had shared it. Tim Hennessey shares how a grocery store, a winter storm, and a simple act of generosity reminded him of the kindness happening every day across America.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in February 2021, a historic winter storm brought much of Texas to a standstill. Tim Hennessey and his wife, Debbie, braved the icy roads to pick up groceries for themselves and some friends. Then, while they were shopping at their local H-E-B, the power went out. The checkout lines quickly filled, but instead of asking customers to wait, employees began waving them toward the doors. Take your groceries. Get home safely. Don't worry about paying. Tim couldn't stop thinking about what he had witnessed. When he got home, he wrote about it on Facebook in a post he and Debbie called "The Heart of America." Within days, tens of thousands of people had shared it. Tim Hennessey shares how a grocery store, a winter storm, and a simple act of generosity reminded him of the kindness happening every day across America.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

 When a Grocery Store Gave Everything Away for Free

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/45cbcff8-3cf5-452f-88d8-b4ba0158c4f1/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1852, Constantino Brumidi arrived in New York as a refugee from Rome. He was already an accomplished artist, but in America, he found the work that would consume the rest of his life. For the next twenty-five years, Brumidi climbed scaffolds, painted ceilings, and covered the halls of the U.S. Capitol with scenes drawn from American history and the ideals of his adopted country.

His greatest work waited 180 feet above the Rotunda floor. There, inside the Capitol dome, Brumidi painted George Washington, known to many as "America's Indispensable Man," rising into the heavens surrounded by Liberty, Victory, Fame, and figures representing the original thirteen states. Our own Lee Habeeb shares how an Italian immigrant came to paint The Apotheosis of Washington, earning a remarkable nickname of his own in the process: “America’s Michelangelo.”

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1852, Constantino Brumidi arrived in New York as a refugee from Rome. He was already an accomplished artist, but in America, he found the work that would consume the rest of his life. For the next twenty-five years, Brumidi climbed scaffolds, painted ceilings, and covered the halls of the U.S. Capitol with scenes drawn from American history and the ideals of his adopted country. His greatest work waited 180 feet above the Rotunda floor. There, inside the Capitol dome, Brumidi painted George Washington, known to many as "America's Indispensable Man," rising into the heavens surrounded by Liberty, Victory, Fame, and figures representing the original thirteen states. Our own Lee Habeeb shares how an Italian immigrant came to paint&nbsp;The Apotheosis of Washington, earning a remarkable nickname of his own in the process: &ldquo;America&rsquo;s Michelangelo.&rdquo;
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Constantino Brumidi: America's Michelangelo

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e6537553-e1cc-442d-88eb-b4ba0158c4f5/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Horst Schulze, co-founder of Ritz-Carlton and author of Excellence Wins, built his career around a simple idea: every employee has the power to define an entire organization in the eyes of a customer. Years ago, before speaking to hundreds of managers at a Chicago bank, Schulze decided to experience the bank's heavily advertised customer service for himself. One encounter with a teller gave him a lesson he would repeat for the next fifteen years.

Schulze shares his simple formula for service excellence, explains the difference between merely completing a transaction and earning a customer's loyalty, and shows why leaders can't afford to let even one employee define their organization through poor service.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Horst Schulze, co-founder of Ritz-Carlton and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FExcellence-Wins-audiobook%2Fdp%2FB07HWY838X%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fadgrpid%3D187381720738%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vgOVE3dQBu4q2CtFS3RD1E5x86PFB1Vs6VexCTwNe7v9jndwaUP1xpqYYjBZe98DGzmOG-iFISeatPr2uzx8CRkxkeAq0lBtlsql4dxc820624cU3aF-HLegwpbuWTO0XZ5-Y143QVEMD68BnUC-xKPeeRiCYGPtbZv4Jdws40Zm-Q7b4BiQyDiM3LwSy145DY7V4sg-2bQ89H_TlZ5AS-S_tPMQDS3yJbMMCPE69yI.WDdc2JmpbkRxcCtBvhTYg36WQTg6HhfO_DhIEcmmlWs%26dib_tag%3Dse%26hvadid%3D779548164433%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvexpln%3D0%26hvlocphy%3D9013748%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvocijid%3D10979832903493856313--%26hvqmt%3De%26hvrand%3D10979832903493856313%26hvtargid%3Dkwd-623124397899%26hydadcr%3D17776_13794481_2332364%26keywords%3Dexcellence%2Bwins%26mcid%3Dfe0aed4cb7e33d109bd765a55c8434b1%26qid%3D1788367213%26sr%3D8-1&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C472350f6d14b4bf76deb08df0915ddb4%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639239661902138479%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1P%2BDHMeFKCbY9ofC3JYsQ58GLwPsTXswmL7%2BzB0HCz0%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Excellence Wins</a>, built his career around a simple idea: every employee has the power to define an entire organization in the eyes of a customer. Years ago, before speaking to hundreds of managers at a Chicago bank, Schulze decided to experience the bank's heavily advertised customer service for himself. One encounter with a teller gave him a lesson he would repeat for the next fifteen years. Schulze shares his simple formula for service excellence, explains the difference between merely completing a transaction and earning a customer's loyalty, and shows why leaders can't afford to let even one employee define their organization through poor service.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How Ritz-Carlton Co-Founder Horst Schulze Defines Excellence

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/576febec-2f02-4c3a-906c-b4ba0158c4f2/transcript

William Walker: The American Adventurer Who Conquered Nicaragua

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