Women can be legends too. Today we're diving into two "American Demigoddesses," Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, two fascinating characters that represent the American spirit in their own unique way. This is the third and final part of our American Demigods miniseries, a collaboration with students from Brigham Young University where we explore tall tale and real life characters who embody The United States of America as a country in honor of America's 250th anniversary this year.

Meet Calamity Jane, a woman built for the wild west who could hang with the toughest outlaws and cowboys. And get ready for Annie Oakley's origin story as she goes up against her future husband Frank Butler in a shooting competition.

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In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, we are continuing our deep dive into the mythic figures who define the American spirit. This miniseries, American Demigods, is a special collaboration with students from Brigham Young University, exploring the folk heroes who bridge the gap between history and legend.

In Part Two, we spotlight two iconic "Johns" whose legacies are woven into the very fabric of the American landscape: Johnny Appleseed and John Henry.

• Johnny Appleseed (The Gentle Prophet): Meet John Chapman, the real-life frontiersman and Swedenborgian missionary who became an American saint. Eclipsing his historical roots as a savvy businessman, the legend presents a barefoot wanderer with a tin pot for a hat, planting hope in the soil. Discover how he became our "American Dionysus," bringing the gift of cider to the frontier while living in perfect harmony with nature.
• John Henry (The Steel-Driving Titan): Shift from the orchards to the railroads to hear the rhythmic, powerful ballad of the African American folk hero who took on the industrial age. As a man of superhuman strength, John Henry’s race against the steam-powered drill is more than a tall tale—it is a poignant symbol of human dignity, sacrifice, and the fear of a mechanized future.

From the quiet bloom of an apple orchard to the thunderous hammer-strikes in a mountain tunnel, these stories remind us of the persistence and vision that built a nation. One sowed the seeds of peace; the other drove the steel of progress. Both represent the uniquely American struggle to define our place in a rapidly changing world.

Join us as we explore why, 250 years later, we still tell the stories of the man who talked to bears and the man who beat the machine.

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In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, we are setting sail on a brand-new miniseries: The Story Ark Presents: American Demigods.

In a special collaboration with students from Brigham Young University, we explore the larger-than-life figures who define the American spirit. These are the folk heroes and tall-tale legends that ride the line between the human and the divine, embodying the rugged individualism and untamed imagination of a growing nation.

In Part One, we dive into the legends of the Southwest and the Great Northwoods:

• Pecos Bill: The rootin’-tootin’ cowboy raised by coyotes. Discover how he invented the lasso, used a rattlesnake as a whip, and famously rode a Kansas tornado until it rained itself out—creating the Grand Canyon and Death Valley in the process.
• Paul Bunyan: The colossal lumberjack whose first breath rattled church windows and whose appetite required a grain silo for a milk bottle. Hear the mythic account of Paul and his loyal companion, Babe the Blue Ox, as they take on a 200-foot-high logjam on the Wisconsin River.

These aren't just stories; they are "etiological legends" that explain how our landscape was shaped and how our frontier identity was forged. Whether you're looking for a laugh or a deeper look into the American mythology that has endured for nearly two and a half centuries, this episode is a "Texas-sized" treat.

Saddle up, partner—it’s time to meet the demigods who made America wild.

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