Our American Stories
Episodes
The "Slap Shot" Story with Dave Hanson
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the iconic Hanson Brothers from Slap Shot weren’t actors—they were real minor league hockey playe...
"Red Tape & Rule of Thumb" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 19)
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English...
The Ex-Slave Who Joined the Union Army and Became the First Black Medal of Honor Recipient
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Sgt. William H. Carney became the first Black American to earn the Medal of Honor after protecting one of the...
“Hunky Dory & Hedge Your Bets” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 9)
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English...
Weapons of WWII with Stephen Ambrose: Bombers and Fighters
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose was one of America’s leading biographers and historians. Although he passed away in 200...
The Story of the Man Behind Movie Classics "Braveheart", "We Were Soldiers", "Secretariat", and Others — Screenwriter/Director Randall Wallace
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Braveheart continues to capture the hearts of moviegoers around the world. The film was nominated for te...
The Privileges of War? A Green Beret's Story of American Service in Vietnam
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom Ross, a former Green Beret and intelligence officer during the Vietnam War, shares his powerful story of ...
How Coach Bear Bryant Saved and Changed My Life
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Jeremiah Castille played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was on the last team coached by th...
The 1926 Race to the Pole: A Story of Polar Exploration
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy tells the story of the dramatic 1926 race to the North Pole—featuring legendary explore...
Suffering Fueled His Greatness: John Hannah on What It Took to Be the Best Offensive Lineman of All Time
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Sports Illustrated called him the greatest offensive lineman of all time, but he certainly wasn't born with t...
Why Are There So Many Types of Screws?
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the differing fates of the Robertson and Phillips-head screwdrivers demonstrate that innovation is intimately...
The Story of the Runaway Slave Who Helped End the Fugitive Slave Act
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Fugitive Slave Act made all Americans accomplices in the practice of slavery. Here's the story of how its...
They Will Be Remembered: A Letter for All Those Who Served
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the late Tony Dolan, President Ronald Reagan's chief speechwriter and a Pulitzer Prize–winning journali...
This Log Cabin Led to the “Great Awakening”—Which Led to the American Revolution
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to understand the history of America, it's imperative to recognize the role the Bible played in s...
The Greatest Showman: The True Story of P.T. Barnum
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in a big and memorable way, P.T. Barnum changed how all Americans lived. He gave them something to talk about...
The Enslaved Man-Turned-Spy Who Helped Washington Win America's Independence: James Armistead Lafayette
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, for most of his life, James Armistead Lafayette was known simply as James—not Lafayette. That last name...
The Worship Song Birthed in a Brothel
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our own Greg Hengler tells the story of a worship band on a mission trip to Thailand—where an impromptu...
How Faith, Infidelity, and Forgiveness Grew a Family—Not Once, but Twice
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mary Sparks exhibited strength and conviction throughout her life, but it all started with an affair, a stole...
The Story of Israel’s Revenge Against Terrorism at the '72 Olympics
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, was dominated by Mark Spitz, a Jewish American swimmer who won seven go...
Why Are Bananas So Cheap?
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you think of the quintessential American fruit, it’s probably the apple. But apples aren’t our...
The Origins of Basketball: The Christian Gift for Everyone
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Faith and sports go hand in hand. Quarterbacks quote Bible verses in interviews, star players host team Bible...
Did You Know Our East and West Coasts Have Two Different Approaches to Policing?
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, sergeant Bob Alaniz, formerly of the LAPD and the cop who helped catch the infamous “Night Stalker,&rdq...
This Week in History: The Sinking of the Titanic – The First Real-Time Tragedy
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the Titanic was a marvel of her time—883 feet long, 175 feet tall, and over 52,000 tons. She stood...
Calvin Coolidge on the Real Heart of Our Independence
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1926, President Calvin Coolidge strongly encouraged Americans to remember and rekindle the moral foundatio...
Charles Carroll—The Only Catholic to Sign the Declaration of Independence
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, it may be hard to believe today, but Catholics faced widespread discrimination and persecution in colonial Am...
The Story of How One Bad Employee Harmed a Bank's Reputation (Told by the Ritz-Carlton's Founder)
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ritz-Carlton founder Horst Schulze reshaped how service and hospitality are defined in business. Here's Horst...
The WWII Hero Who Became Hollywood’s “Tough Guy”: The Story of Lee Marvin (Hollywood Goes to War)
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lee Marvin made a name for himself as a Hollywood "tough guy"—starring in films such as The Profes...
The Story of America Series: Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Grant, Lee, and Appomattox
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in our 31st episode of the Story of America Series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, tells ...
Who Invented the Internet?
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, no, Al Gore did not invent the internet, but no one man did either. Critically acclaimed biographer and ...
[This Week in History] Winston Churchill: A Master of War—Who Despised It
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Winston Churchill earned his reputation on the battlefield long before he became the man who led Britain thro...
The Character of Thomas Jefferson: America's 'Everyman'
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Jefferson is America’s “everyman” because he has been embraced at one time or anothe...
An Army Moves on Its Stomach... And Lots of Coffee
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz, our regular contributor from Colorado, shares the story of a coffee incident aboard the U...
Was Ben Franklin an Atheist, a Deist, or a Christian? The Story of Franklin's Faith
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Benjamin Franklin was a printer, an inventor, a politician, and an all-around Renaissance man—but did h...
What Happened When A Kid Sued Pepsi for...A Harrier Jet
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Harrier jet might be the pride of the U.S. Marine Corps, but in the 1990s, it became the crux of one of t...
[This Week In History] The Unlikely Story of 'The Godfather' Came to Be
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in honor of Coppola's birthday, we tell the story of how The Godfather came to be—against all...
How Johnny Carson Saved Twister
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, believe it or not, the Milton Bradley game was about to be pulled from the shelves! Author and Our American S...
I Came to New York City Dead: The Story of Sarah Gonzalez's Redemption
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, coping with the loss of her father as a child, Sarah Gonzalez couldn't outrun God's pursuit—even during...
Valerie's Story: From Sexual Abuse to Salvation
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our host, Lee Habeeb, tells his wife's story. Decades after years of sexual abuse and crisis, Valerie leaned ...
Ralph Cox: Last Guy Cut from the 1980 U.S. Olympic "Miracle" Hockey Team
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ralph Cox is a former college hockey star who was squeezed out of arguably the greatest moment in sports hist...
The Rise of Frederick Douglass: From Slave to Freedom Fighter & Beyond
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, he was separated from his mother, never knew his father, and was forced to compete with dogs for food—b...
How a Major League Baseball Game Turned Into the “Ten Cent Beer Night” Riot
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the night game on June 4, 1974, between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Indians was one for the record bo...
Brett Favre on Tough Love, Parenting, and Telling the Truth
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brett Favre's father coached the legendary QB on many subjects—most of which shaped his training, pract...
David McCullough: The Founding Fathers Were Not Like Us
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, renowned historian David McCullough explains why the most extraordinary group of men at the most extraordinar...
"Wild Goose Chase" & "Wrong End of The Stick" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 25)
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English...
[This Week in History] The Short—but Legendary—Ride of the Pony Express
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Pony Express is synonymous with speed, endurance, and the American spirit of getting things done. While t...
The Redemption Story of a Fugitive Whom Duane "Dog" Chapman Refused to Pursue
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bryan Dawson went from being a typical suburban high school football player to becoming such a notorious and ...
The Mom and Son Who Ran a Marathon Together in Every State
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener Karen Thomson and her son, Joe Meilink, are the definition of determination. He...
The Curse of the Hope Diamond and How Diamonds Went from Sears Roebuck Catalogs to Becoming Today’s Rarest Rock
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, simply stated, the Hope Diamond is the world’s most famous diamond, and it's got some lore behind it. T...
I Fell in Love at Lambeau Field (Home of the Green Bay Packers)
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1980s, the Packers stadium had a kids-only section for kids between the 5th and 8th grades. During Jon...
Chief Red Cloud: The Only American Indian in History to Defeat the Army in a War
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin give Chief Red Cloud the recognition he deserves, sharing the story from the...
A Son Discovers His Deceased Mother's Hidden Talent—Poetry
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Texas boys don’t write poetry, and certainly don’t cry. Roger Latham did, though, after discoveri...
The Super Bowl of Sitcoms: The Story of "All in the Family"
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in its heyday, "All in the Family" was watched by nearly one-third of all Americans. Throughout its nine seas...
[This Week in History: Apple Founded] Steve Jobs: A Man at the Intersection of Art and Science
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in honor of Apple's founding this week in history in 1976, Walter Isaacson, author of the biography on S...
The Heart of America: Texas Grocery Store Loses Power, Lets Customers Leave Without Paying
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener Tim Hennessey talks about his viral Facebook post that exemplifies the everyday...
[This Week in History: Jesse Owens Passes Away] A Black Man and a Nazi: A Friendship Forged in Competition & Courage
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of United States Olympic legend Jesse Owens' and Nazi long jumper Luz Long’s friendship demon...
The Story of How Railroads Created America's Time Zones
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, China runs on just a single time zone—but in America, we have four: Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eas...
The Great Arsenal of Democracy: How America Went From Nothing...to Outproducing Every Nation in WWII
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, America was woefully unprepared for World War II. Our army was about the size of Portugal's, our navy was out...
Meeting the Mother of My Foster Child Changed My Life
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Christina Dent shares how her life was forever changed after she became a foster mother. Support the show (ht...
The Forgotten Story of the Black Man Who Was the First to Shed Blood in the Civil War
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Nicholas Biddle died broke, never received a pension, and was never officially recognized as a Union soldier ...
A Nephew Remembers What His Vietnam Vet Uncle Couldn't Forget
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Williams remembers his best friend and uncle (who was just one year older than him) as a "gun guy", and ...
The Woman Who Invented the Mega Church
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the world was changing, and Aimee Semple McPherson certainly took note, becoming one of the first evangelizer...
The Car Repair Shop That's Not Just Changing Tires—But Changing Lives
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Gideon was just a gearhead who loved working on cars and restoring classics (something he thought he cou...
[This Week in History] Jim Thorpe: All-American, All Native American and the Making of Modern Football
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in honor of Jim Thrope, who passed away this week in history in 1953, Sally Jenkins, author of The Real ...
The Story of the Real—and Mostly Unknown—Author of the U.S. Constitution, Gouverneur Morris
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story is told by Dennis C. Rasmussen, a professor of political science at Syracuse University and a ...
The 'Forrest Gump' of Drummers: The Story of Zoro
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, rarely does artistic rhythm rest as it does in Zoro the drummer. Hear from the man behind the great book Mari...
The American Cigar Making Tradition
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Drew Newman, of JC Newman Cigars, tells the story of cigars in the United States Support the show (https://ww...
Last Men Out of Vietnam: Evacuating Saigon
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in a thrilling, moment-by-moment narrative based on a wealth of recently declassified documents and in-depth ...
How B.B. King's Guitar "Lucille" Got Her Name
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Neil Young has "Old Black", Willie Nelson plays "Trigger", and Elvis worked with "The Dove", but perhaps the ...
After Appomattox: Robert E. Lee in the Postwar Years
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Gettysburg Military National Park Ranger Matt Atkinson examines the postwar life of Confederate General Rober...
Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Football Rivalry That Started with a Border War
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio dates back long before the days of football. Tedd Long, curator and fou...
Weapons of World War II with Stephen Ambrose: Barbed Wire, Mines, Guns, and Artillery
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose was one of America’s leading biographers and historians. While he passed away in 2002, ...
The Untold Story of the First Black Woman in the U.S. Coast Guard
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Olivia Juliette Hooker (1915–2018) was born far from the sea—in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to be exact&m...
A 6-Minute Masterclass on the Constitution and Declaration
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Larry P. Arnn, author of The Founders' Key and the President of Hillsdale College explains the ins and ou...
James Madison: Founding Father and Lawgiver
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the President of Hillsdale College, Dr. Larry Arnn, tells the story of our fourth president, James Madison. S...
NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky Memorializes His Father
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Walter Gretzky passed away at the age of 82, prompting an outpouring of tributes for a genuine, approachable,...
The Secret History Inside Cracker Barrel
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, with its classic “old country” theme, Cracker Barrel has been an American favorite for many decad...
How Nike Took a Bet on a College Basketball Player From North Carolina and Won
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, at the time, no one knew just how great Michael Jordan would be in the NBA, but one underdog sneaker company&...
The Untold Story of Steve McQueen: Born This Week in History [1930]
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve McQueen expert, Marshall Terrill, tells the story of the life of the undisputed "King of Cool". S...
From Idi Amin's Uganda to Texas: One Man's Story of Survival and Faith
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Dennis Sempebwa shares how his faith propelled him from war-torn Uganda to America—and beyond. ...
The Surprising Story of Baseball's Most Famous Brothers: The DiMaggio Brothers
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, here to tell the story of the DiMaggio brothers is the 4-times New York Times bestselling author, Tom Clavin&...
The Story of Secretariat’s Owner, Penny Chenery (As Told by the Director of “Secretariat,” Randall Wallace)
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Randall Wallace is the writer and director of films such as Braveheart, We Were Soldiers, The Man in the Iron...
The MLB Pitcher Who Survived a Lightning Strike and Finished the Game
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ray Caldwell put on a Cleveland Indians uniform for the first time that fateful day—and none of the 20,...
The American Sniper Other American Snipers Look Up To
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Chris Kyle wrote American Sniper—later adapted into Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-nominated ...
The Improbable Story of How the Wright Brothers Changed World History
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, much was at stake in this first space race. Nations and top scientists across the globe pursued the elusive g...
"Tie the Knot" & "Black Balled" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 23)
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English...
The Most Famous Abolitionist You Never Heard Of: The Story of Thomas Shipley
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Shipley always sprang into action to defend black men and women from abuses and professional kidnapper...
What I Learned About Freedom After Escaping North Korea
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2007, Yeonmi Park fled North Korea with her family to South Korea—before moving to the United States...
Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice: The Navy’s "Jackie Robinson" (Told by His Granddaughter)
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, his name? Jesse Leroy Brown. There's a movie dedicated to him called "Devotion," based on the book of the sam...
The Turning Point in Abe’s Life: A Wrestling Match
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lincoln was one of the greatest leaders in US history, but before he was elected President of the United Stat...
The True Story of How Curious George Escaped the Nazis
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Louise Borden, author of The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H...
Abigail Adams and Her 7-Year-Old Son John Quincy Witnessed First-hand The Battle of Bunker Hill: 100 Bible Verses That Made America
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to know about the history of America, you must know the role the Bible played in shaping our coun...
"I Was Either Going to Be The Best Drug Dealer or The Best Football Player"
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Melvin Cole, the headmaster of PURE Youth Athletics Alliance in Memphis, tells his astonishing story of going...
Girl with a Gun: The Annie Oakley Story
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Annie Oakley was a shooting star, a magician whose magic wand was a gun. Right-handed, left-handed, on a hors...
A Brief History of Toilet Paper
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy tells the story of everything you've ever wanted to know—and more—about toilet pa...
The Story of the First Black Voter in the United States
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, shortly after ratifying the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibiting a citizen’s ri...
Forgiving My Worthless Father
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor from Kodiak Island in Alaska, Leslie Leyland Fields, shares the story of the heart-br...
"Fair Game" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English...
The Story of America’s Most Famous Metaphor: “A City Upon A Hill”
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to know about the history of America, you must know the role the Bible played in shaping our coun...
How One Man’s Dog Taught Him New Tricks
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor and listener Paul Bauer from Minneapolis, MN brings us a story entitled “Lesson...
The King of Snowboards: How Jake Burton Created An Industry… And An Olympic Sport
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the sport of Snowboarding skyrocketed when a young East Coast college graduate made some innovative designs t...