Our American Stories

Our American Stories

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Steve Prefontaine, Phil Knight, and the Birth of Nike

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Nike became one of the world's most recognizable brands, it was a small company founded by a track coach and one of his former runners. Steve Bence was there. As a teammate of Steve Prefontaine at the University of Oregon, he learne ...  Show more

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Steve Prefontaine, Phil Knight, and the Birth of Nike

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Nike became one of the world's most recognizable brands, it was a small company founded by a track coach and one of his former runners. Steve Bence was there. As a teammate of Steve Prefontaine at the University of Oregon, he learne ...  Show more

The Story of America: When the South Became the South [Ep. 25]

On this episode of Our American Stories, in our 25th episode of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, answers a simple question: When did the South become the South? The answer lies in the rise of King Cotton, the expansion of s ...  Show more

The Real Winnie the Pooh: A.A. Milne’s Story Behind the Bear

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Winnie the Pooh became a Disney character, he was the creation of A.A. Milne, first brought to life in the Evening News on Christmas Eve, 1925. Inspired by his son, Christopher Robin, and a teddy bear named Edward, Milne wrote stori ...  Show more

The Needle That Changed Grandma's Hand Forever

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Great Depression, a simple sewing accident turned into a month-long ordeal for Joy Neal Kidney's grandmother. A broken needle lodged in her hand led to multiple trips to the doctor, surgery, and weeks of recovery at a time when ...  Show more

Mary Surratt: The Woman at the Center of the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the weeks after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, authorities hunted not only John Wilkes Booth but also anyone suspected of aiding him. Among the accused was Mary Surratt, a widowed boardinghouse owner in Washington. Investigators claim ...  Show more