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Our American Stories: Daily Summaries Delivered
by iHeartPodcasts
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.
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- Today10 min
What My Father Taught Me on the Job Site
On this episode of Our American Stories, every summer, Dennis Peterson and his brother went to work with their father, a self-employed brick mason. As young boys, they hauled bricks, cleaned tools, and worked long days on construction sites. At the time, it felt like hard labor. Looking back, it was something much more valuable. Through those hours on the job, Dennis's father taught lessons about the dignity of hard work. Dennis shares a heartfelt tribute to the man who showed him that the true reward of labor wasn't just a paycheck, but also the character built along the way. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Today27 min
Uncle Nearest: The Former Slave Who Taught Jack Daniel How to Make Whiskey
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2016, entrepreneur Fawn Weaver was struggling through one of the most difficult seasons of her life. A disappointing business venture had left her frustrated, and the sudden death of her beloved niece, Brittany, left her heartbroken. Looking for a distraction while traveling overseas, she stumbled across a newspaper article about a little-known figure in American history: Nathan "Nearest" Green, the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey.His story quickly became her obsession. As Weaver dug deeper into the story of Uncle Nearest, she found something she desperately needed: hope. Fawn shares the remarkable story of loss, purpose, and the unlikely chain of events that led her to uncover one of the most important forgotten figures in American whiskey history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Today10 min
How Patrick Henry Saved America from Its First Civil War
On this episode of Our American Stories, long before the Civil War, in 1799, the United States was facing one of the greatest political crises in its young history. With tensions rising between the federal government and the states, some feared the nation could fracture or even descend into civil war. George Washington certainly did, and he turned to one man he believed could help prevent it: Patrick Henry.Historian John Ragosta, a fellow at the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, tells the story of Patrick Henry's final public campaign, George Washington's desperate plea for help, and the little-known constitutional crisis that nearly tore the American experiment apart. We'd like to thank the Jack Miller Center for sending us this story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Today19 min
Brian Wilson: My Friend Behind the Beach Boys
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Brian Wilson passed away in 2025, the world lost one of the most important and influential musicians in American history. As the creative genius behind The Beach Boys, Wilson helped redefine popular music through groundbreaking compositions, intricate harmonies, and a body of work that continues to inspire musicians today. Yet for many people, Brian Wilson's story seemed tragic. In the popular imagination, he was an eccentric recluse whose struggles and personal demons led to a breakdown that removed him from touring with the band he helped create and make great.But David Leaf knew a different side of Brian. For nearly fifty years, he was not only Wilson's biographer and champion, but also his friend. In this moving tribute, originally delivered at Brian Wilson's Celebration of Life, Leaf reflects on the kindness, vulnerability, humor, and musical genius of the man he knew behind the legend, and on a friendship that lasted a lifetime. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Today7 min
The Summer I Got Fired From an Ice Cream Shop
On this episode of Our American Stories, a first job is a rite of passage for many. For Leslie Leyland Fields, it was something more. Hired by a quirky and struggling ice cream shop in New Hampshire, she hoped the job would bring in much-needed money for gas and offer some time away from a difficult home life. Instead, it ended with an experience she never expected: getting fired by her "crazy" manager. At the time, it broke her. After all, she considered herself the "good girl."Years later, Leslie came to see that the job itself mattered far less than the lessons it left behind. She shares this moving reflection on a pivotal moment in her life, a story that also appears in her book Write Your Story, Change Your Life. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Yesterday38 min
The Story of America: The Frenchman Who Wrote About America Better Than Any American [Ep. 23]
On this episode of Our American Stories, In 1831, a young French aristocrat named Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to the United States, ostensibly to study America's prison system. What he was really seeking was something much bigger: an understanding of democracy itself. The result was Democracy in America, a book that remains one of the most insightful works ever written about the United States.As part of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares the story of Tocqueville's remarkable journey and the observations that made him famous and best explained Americans to the world. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Yesterday20 min
How Two Civil Rights Lawyers Ended Red-Light Camera Tickets
On this episode of Our American Stories, when red-light cameras began appearing across Missouri, many drivers saw them as little more than an annoyance. Civil rights attorneys Hugh Eastwood and Bevis Schock saw something else: a system that issued tickets to vehicle owners regardless of who was driving, generated millions in revenue for local governments, and raised serious questions about due process and fairness.Hugh and Bevis share the story of how they challenged the red-light camera industry, took on cities and private contractors, and helped bring an end to one of Missouri's most controversial traffic enforcement programs. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Yesterday9 min
How the Wright Brothers Beat the World to the Sky
On this episode of Our American Stories, before they made history, the Wright brothers were just two mechanics with a theory. Their shop in Dayton kept the lights on, but it was their time on the beaches of North Carolina that changed the world. While others with greater resources failed to get off the ground, Wilbur and Orville studied what moved through the air and why. In 1903, after years of testing and quiet experimentation, they lifted off the sand and became the first men to achieve powered flight, with a journey that lasted just 12 seconds.Our own Lee Habeeb shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
About 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.
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