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.
Episodes
On this episode of Our American Stories, before the 1950s, family road trips meant unreliable motels and tired parents hopping from place to place. After one frustrating trip, Kemmons Wilson decided to change that. He created Holiday Inn—the first family-friendly, standardized hotel chain in America. His son, Kemmons Wilson Jr., shares the story of how it all began.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul Bauer, a WCCO 830 listener from Minneapolis, Minnesota, shares two heartfelt Father’s Day stories—one about his father, and the other about his son.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the canon of personal songs, "Leader of the Band" is one of the most treasured. The song is Fogelberg’s loving tribute to his musician father, Lawrence. Here's Dan himself with the story of the song—and the man.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, on November 5, 2021, a funeral service was held for General Colin Powell at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He passed away at age 84 due to complications from COVID-19 while undergoing treatment for cancer. In this moving tribute, his son Michael shares heartfelt reflections on his father’s life and legacy.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Roger Latham, a regular contributor from Fort Worth, Texas, shares the story of his father, a World War II fighter pilot and his personal hero.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, NFL legend Brett Favre reflects on one of the most emotional games of his career. After the passing of his father, Irvin Favre, in December 2003, Brett took the field and threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in a memorable Monday Night Football victory over the Oakland Raiders. During his 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech, he shared the story of that unforgettable tribute to...
On this episode of Our American Stories, for those of us whose fathers did their best to raise and love us, we’re the lucky ones. In fact, the greatest privilege no one in America seems to be talking about may be “The Father Privilege.” For our Father’s Day Special, Lee Habeeb shares the story of his own father.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Ruger is the largest gun manufacturer in the U.S., and it’s not by accident. Here to tell this story is Logan Metesh. Logan is a firearms historian and museum professional who runs High Caliber History LLC.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Union soldiers at Andersonville Prison were near starvation and dehydration when prayer saved thousands of lives. To understand the history of America, it is essential to recognize the significant role the Bible has played in shaping our country. Our Founding Fathers, both Christian and non-Christian, were heavily influenced by the Bible. Here to share another story is Robert Morgan, aut...
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Ilene Hall enlisted in the Army WAC in 1943, she was following her husband, Edward “Ken” Hall, to war. After marrying in March 1943, and with her husband completing his training and preparing to ship overseas, the young woman from Canton, Ohio, decided not to let an ocean separate them. Here she is to tell her story!
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On this episode of Our American Stories, the barcode, technically known as the UPC (Universal Product Code), is a small invention that plays a big role in everyday life. Here’s the History Guy with the story behind it.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Vincent “Rocco” Vargas shares his unique perspective on becoming a Border Patrol agent after his own grandmother came to America illegally. He is now an actor best known for his role as Gilberto “Gilly” Lopez on Mayans M.C., a spinoff of the FX original hit series Sons of Anarchy.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Arizona State University President Michael Crow shares the inspiring story of how he helped transform ASU into one of the most innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking public universities in the country.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Frohlich, a regular contributor to the show, shares the remarkable story of his grandfather—a German-born immigrant who once handled warhorses as a World War I conscript and later helped build America’s "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, he was the dashing lead in The Mark of Zorro and one of Hollywood’s biggest stars during its Golden Era. But at the height of his fame, Tyrone Power gave it all up to serve as a Marine pilot in World War II. Roger McGrath shares the story of how this silver screen icon became a real-life hero in the latest installment of our Hollywood Goes to War series.
On this episode of Our American Stories, born into slavery during the Civil War, Ida B. Wells is best remembered as an American journalist who fought tirelessly against lynching during the Jim Crow era. What most people don’t know is that she also defended the right of African Americans to own firearms. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, shares her story.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, on the morning of September 11, 2001, Peter Braxton was the first military pilot in the air over the burning Twin Towers—and it was his first day on the job. Peter shares the story of that historic and dark day.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Tracy Grant, former managing editor at The Washington Post, shares why the days spent caring for her dying husband were the best seven months of her life.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, a listener from Colorado shares her remarkable Elvis story—about the time she met the King not once, but twice in an eight-hour span!
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will tells the story of Ted Williams. He also tells the story of a San Francisco fisherman’s son, Joe DiMaggio—his “streak” of 56 consecutive games with a hit, and his steely determination.
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