episode-header-image

Today

10m 49s

Patty Hearst: From Kidnapping Victim to ...

About this episode

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1974, Patty Hearst, granddaughter of publishing giant William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army. But what happened next stunned the country: Hearst eventually joined the group and took part in a bank robbery. Our American Stories regular contributor Ashley Hlebinsky shares the remarkable story behind one of the strangest criminal cases in modern American history.

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next

Why a Restaurant Cook Became a Police Officer

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener Jeff Shaw never planned on becoming a police officer. After drifting through jobs, flying lessons, and uncertainty about his future, a conversation at a restaurant changed the course of his life. Shaw shares w ... Show More

“Fatty Fatty Two by Four” to NFL Legend: John Hannah's Story

On this episode of Our American Stories, before John Hannah became a NFL Hall of Famer and one of the most respected offensive linemen in football history, he was a fourth grader being mocked for his weight on the playground. Hannah shares how his father and Alabama’s legendary c ... Show More

“We Got This”: A Daughter Remembers Sgt. Richard Mendez

On this episode of Our American Stories, during his nearly 23 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, Sgt. Richard Mendez served his city, earned multiple college degrees, and built a life centered on family. Just days before his planned retirement, he was killed in the li ... Show More

Recommended Episodes

Episode 2: The Colonel

Johnny Regan's early years were completely dominated by his obsessive mother, Clare, nicknamed "The Colonel", who frowned upon his friendships, didn’t allow him to play sports, and publicly horsewhipped her young son. She was married to Alf Regan, the town drunk, the pair having ... Show More

I Called the Police on My Serial Killer Dad

As a child, April Balascio noticed that people would often vanish. One time it was a labourer working for her dad, another time it was a young couple in town. Then as an adult, April started googling cold cases in her childhood towns. In 2009 she got a match and called the police ... Show More

From a ‘Street Kid’ in Uganda to Foster Dad in America

<p>Peter Mutabazi spent his childhood feeling alone and forgotten in the streets of Kampala, Uganda, until the generosity of one family changed his life forever.</p><p>That family taught Peter about the love of Jesus Christ and what it meant to be loved and affirmed. Now, as a fo ... Show More

In this deeply personal episode, Monica chats with actor and Traitors presenter Alan Cumming, who shares his story of surviving an abusive childhood with a father obsessed with his hair and the lasting impact it left on him. He reflects on the power of speaking openly about his t ... Show More

Minnesota Man Caught in Blind Mule Drug Trafficking Scam

<p>Rodney Baldus, a retired truck driver from Minnesota, believes he is the recipient of a large inheritance belonging to his late wife. The inheritance is in Italy, but he is told he must first fly to Africa to sign papers before going on to Italy. Since his travel expenses are ... Show More

Episode 78: The Chicken Whackers Pt. 1

A man named Luke originally reached out to the show on behalf of his younger brother. His brother Keegan left home to hitchhike and travel the country, which eventually turned into living on the street for years. When the family finally got Keegan off the street, he had many stor ... Show More

#530: Dad fakes it to the border

<p>Dad went out for a carton of milk? Jim and Kathy explore the story of a father and husband who supposedly went missing in a tragic kayaking incident, but as the story unfolds; they discover that things aren't what they seem. A double life is unveiled and the truth is somewhere ... Show More

Catfishing Strangers To Find Myself | With Cory Michael Smith

<p>As a teenager in Finland, Kalle Oskari Mattila was trying to figure out who he was. For help, he turned to Pamela Anderson. Cory Michael Smith ("1985," "Gotham") performed his story live at the Provincetown Film Festival.</p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a hre ... Show More