Our American Stories
Episodes
The Intimidator: Dale Earnhardt's Life In The Fast Lane
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, when one thinks of basketball, one might think of Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, and when one thinks of footbal...
A Baby Boomer’s Battle with Insanity and Fitness
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul, our regular contributor from Minnesota, is here to tell us his weight-loss resolution story. Support th...
Brett Favre (Pt. 5 of 5): Playing in Green Bay, Rehab, and the Shocking Thing That Happened to Him Twice—Which Nobody Ever Knew!
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, much of what’s known about legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre has been kept between the goal posts. So G...
Snowflake Bentley
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Jerry Bergman tells the story of a teenage boy who became interested in snow. On January 15, 1885, at 20 ...
The Apollo 8 Crew’s Message from the Moon... Heard by 1 Billion People: 100 Bible Verses That Made America
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to know about the history of America, it is imperative that you know the role that the Bible play...
The Untold Story of Steve McQueen
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we are about to hear the untold story of Hollywood legend Steve McQueen told by a McQueen expert, Marshall Te...
Her Godmother and a Good School Changed Her Life... and She Now Changes the Lives of At-Risk Kids
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Denisha Allen was born to a teenage mother into poverty in Jacksonville, Florida. Here's her story on how she...
The Story of How One Bad Employee Harmed a Bank's Reputation (Told by the Ritz-Carlton Founder)
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ritz-Carlton founder Horst Schulze reshaped how service and hospitality are defined in business. He tells a s...
Bite the Bullet to Bless You: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
15 Feb 2024
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 Putting the Customer In Charge
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Leven was President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. One of the great hoteliers of a...
Titanic Thompson: The Greatest Cheat of All Time (History Guy)
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Titanic Thompson led a wild life, always chasing the next big score, including cheating the infamous mobster ...
Treating the Cause, Not the Symptons: A Listener's Life-Changing Lifestyle Story
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Hennessy's life was changed by what he chose to do with his deteriorating health issues. Support the show...
Did The Father of The Blues Really Sell His Soul to The Devil?
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, legend has it that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to learn how to play the guita...
The Silver Rush Kings and the "Big Bonanza"
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, straight out of a Horatio Alger novel, the Silver Kings (John Mackay, James Fair, William O'Brien, and James ...
Love's Protector: The Story of Valentine's Day
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Valentine’s Day began as a feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr. So, how...
Why Nine Justices? The Democrat Who Challenged FDR's Supreme Court-Packing Scheme
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, despite being a member of President Roosevelt's New Deal team, Hatton Sumners—a name most people don't know...
The Story of a Miracle from the Man who Brought Us the World's Hottest Pepper
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, “Smokin” Ed Currie is an American chili pepper breeder who is the founder and president of the PuckerButt...
The Grass and the Furious: Ladies, Start Your Lawnmower Engines!
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Julie Tynmann's here with her story about the greatest show on turf. Support the show (https://www.ouramerica...
"Apple of Your Eye" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 2)
13 Feb 2024
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 Girl Who Was Sold as a Sex Slave, Killed Her Abuser, and Got a Life Sentence... Shares Her Story Here
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, when the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral in 2018, Cyntoia Brown was the most popular inmate in the world...
Enhancing Lives, One Guide Dog at a Time
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Christine Benninger is the CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, the largest guide dog school in North America. Sh...
Brett Favre on His Miraculous Monday Night Game after His Father Died (Pt. 3)
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, part 3 of our 5-part series we hear Favre get very personal about his miraculous Monday Night Football game i...
I Fell in Love at Lambeau Field (Home of the Green Bay Packers)
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1980s, the Packers stadium had a kid’s-only section for kids between the 5th and 8th grades. During ...
When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, more than any other sports figure, Vince Lombardi transformed football into a metaphor of the American experi...
Centerline: The Surprising History of Lane Markings
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, when it comes to infrastructure that helps keep us safe while we drive, perhaps the greatest cost to benefit ...
"On The Wagon" & "Once In A Blue Moon" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 16)
09 Feb 2024
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 Woman Who Snuck Into George Washington's Army
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Deborah Sampson became a hero of the American Revolution when she disguised herself as a man and joined the P...
The Story of How Railroads Created America's Time Zones
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, China runs on just a single time zone; in America, we have four: Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern, but ...
Tony Mandarich Was NFL’s Biggest Bust, Then He Rebuilt His Life
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Tony Mandarich’s story was immortalized by two Sports Illustrated covers, one hailing Mandarich as “The I...
Samuel Colt and the Birth of the Revolver
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Phil Anschutz writes in Out Where The West Begins: “Samuel Colt’s life was the American story written in ...
Why Did This Pittsburgh Steelers Legend—Owner Art Rooney—Attend the Funeral of Someone He Didn’t Know?
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Jim O'Brien describes Pittsburgh Steelers founding owner Art Rooney, Sr. as "the grandfather he needed." Roon...
John Rich (of "Big & Rich") Tells the Story of His Rise in Country Music and His Redneck Riviera Brand
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, John Rich has climbed to the top of music charts during his recent career. But like so many of our lives, he ...
The Story of How a Towel Made by Slaves Made It Into The American Civil War Museum
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Chris Graham of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia tells the story of a seemingly ordinary c...
Stalin’s Daughter Became an American Citizen... and Wisconsin Cheesehead?
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, when 85-year-old Lana Peters passed away in 2011 from complications due to colon cancer, the nation seemed to...
The 46-Year-Long Journey to Finding My Sisters
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, years after finding out she was adopted, Traci Huguley discovered she was not the only daughter adopted out. ...
Abraham Lincoln: Our First "Wired" President
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, here’s Christopher Klein with the story of how Abraham Lincoln used the telegraph to help win the Civil War...
Love's Protector: The Story of Valentine's Day
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Valentine’s Day began as a feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr. So, how...
The Story of a 5-Star Steakhouse CEO and Her NFL Linebacker Husband
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Britney Ruby Miller is CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment where she leads a team of more than 500 employ...
How Acting Legend Eddie Albert Served Our Country in WWII
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s time for another “Hollywood Goes to War” story from Roger McGrath. Eddie Albert played a sadistic ...
California Softens Criminality—Skid Row Police Officer Deon Responds with "Ladies Night"
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph shares this vivid story about how he helped the ladies who lived on LA's noto...
Jim Thorpe, All-American Native American and the Making of Modern Football
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of Jim Thorpe, the Carlisle Indian football team, and the making of modern football. Support the sh...
How the USA Almost Went to War Over a Pig
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor, Anne Claire, tells the story of the time the United States almost went to war with t...
Give Me Your Poor: The Story of How Emma Lazarus' Poem Became Eternally Connected To The Statue of Liberty
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus" is forever connected to the Statue of Liberty. Here's the surprising st...
America's Cowboy: The Story of Will Rogers
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Will Rogers' famous quotes ring as true today as they did in the Great Depression. "Congress opens with a pra...
He Became a POW in Vietnam Two Days Before His Baby Was Born
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ken Wells always knew what he wanted to do--to fly fast. But when that dream became a reality, it landed him ...
How A Losing Football Team Brought a Family Together
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Nancy Ball shares a story she wrote, “Being an Ole Miss Fan is in and of Itself a Lesson in Humility.” Su...
Thomas Mundy Peterson: The Story of the 1st Black Voter in the United States
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, this is the story of what happened shortly after the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States ...
The Cat that Helped Heal a Combat Veteran After His Time at War
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Combat Veteran Benjamin Sledge shares some of his experiences before and after his deployment. Support the sh...
Good Neighbors, Not Fences, Make Good Neighbors
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, after moving to a farm in Mississippi from Tampa, FL, Jake Keiser didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, her...
Prohibition: Smashing Saloons and Breaking Barriers
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, while in modern times, we often view prohibition as a failure and even a misstep by fanatics, it’s far more...
Robert Ray: "The Good Governor"
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, after the United States pulled out of Vietnam, its allies in Indochina were alone-faced with the prospect of ...
The Founding Father You Don’t Know Who Wrote His Name on the Declaration of Independence With His Blood
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, little has been known of one of the most important figures in early American history, Dr. Joseph Warren, an a...
Ambrose on Ike
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose wrote the definitive biography of Dwight Eisenhower. Ike was born in a small rented shack bes...
The Patch and the Stream Where the American Fell: Finding Dave Dinan
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the remarkable story of an unbreakable brotherhood and one man's quest to return the remains of his fellow pi...
The Father Whose Life Story Inspired the Son Who Wrote "Braveheart"
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Randall Wallace is the writer/director of films such as "Braveheart", "We Were Soldiers", "The Man in the Iro...
Lincoln's Last Trip Back to Springfield
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, you've heard us tell the story of Abraham Lincoln's train ride to Washington for his inauguration. This is th...
"The Mechanical Horse": How the Bicycle Reshaped American Life
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, from the modernization of medicine to the development of our country’s road systems, the bicycle has had a ...
“Red Tape” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 19)
30 Jan 2024
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...
Louis Zamperini: The Story of the Real-Life "Unbroken" Hero -- In His Own Words (He Was Born January 26, 1917)
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story was made into a 2014 motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie and based on the 2010 non-ficti...
The Untold Faith Story of Abolitionist Harriet Tubman
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Harriet Tubman is one of the giants of American history—a fearless visionary who led scores of her fellow s...
David McCullough: The Founding Fathers Were Not Like Us?
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, renowned historian David McCullough answers the question - about a most extraordinary group of men at a most ...
Hollywood Movie Legend George O’Brien Left Everything to Serve His Country in WWII
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, here to tell another Hollywood Goes to War story is Roger McGrath. Support the show (https://www.ouramericans...
Me, Pre, and the Birth of Nike
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, since its start in 1972, Nike has employed nearly half a million people. Only four have outlasted our next st...
The Story of America’s Most Famous Metaphor: “A City Upon A Hill”: 100 Bible Verses That Made America
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to know about the history of America, it is imperative that you know the role that the Bible play...
The Missionary Who Returned with Her Toddler to the Cannibal Tribe That Killed Her Husband
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Elisabeth Elliot was a missionary who returned to Ecuador with her toddler daughter to preach the Gospel to t...
The Race that Forever Sealed Secretariat's Legacy: The Story of the 1973 Belmont Stakes
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, no horse had won the Triple Crown in horse racing in a quarter of a century. Heading into the third race of t...
The Night 2 H-Bombs Fell on North Carolina (Told By the Man Who Dismantled Them This Day in 1961)
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 23, 1961, a B-52 bomber crashed in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Two H-bombs—each 250 times more po...
Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Joe and Rose Kennedy’s strikingly beautiful daughter Rosemary Kennedy—the younger sister of President Joh...
Washington's Farewell to The Nation: The Story of America [Ep. 15]
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope reads Washington's Farewell Address...given in the middle of our fi...
The Story of Secretariat’s Owner, Penny Chenery (As Told by the Director of “Secretariat,” Randall Wallace)
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Randall Wallace is the writer/director of films such as Braveheart, We Were Soldiers, The Man in the Iron Mas...
How Johnny Carson Saved Twister
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the Milton Bradley game was about to be pulled from the shelves. Author Christopher Klein tells the story of ...
2x Oscar Nominee Volunteers for WWII at 37: The Story of Robert Montgomery
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Montgomery was one of the first movie stars to volunteer for service in World War II and when Dwight D...
The Story of How Star Wars Toys Revolutionized Movie Merchandising (Part 2)
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the "Nostalgia Awakens" is a Star Wars action figure exhibit from enthusiast and museum curator Jarrod Roll. ...
The Story of the Man Behind Movie Classics "Braveheart," "We Were Soldiers," Secretariat," and Others—Screenwriter/Director, Randall Wallace
23 Jan 2024
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 ten Aca...
After Appomattox: Gen. Robert E. Lee in the Post-War Years
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Gettysburg Military National Park Ranger Matt Atkinson examines the post-war life of Confederate General Robe...
He Made Paper Airplanes His Full Time Job
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, since John Collins was young, he has loved paper airplanes. This obsession helped him achieve the Guinness Wo...
The Titanic’s Last Hero
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lowell Lytle has been one of the privileged few who has seen Titanic first-hand. Lowell has played the part o...
A Museum Dedicated to Southern Jewish Heritage
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, a visitor to this museum today would never guess that it began with a single closet of donated records - tru...
Phillis Wheatley: The Enslaved Poet Who Met with George Washington
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Phillis Wheatley, the first published black poet, has the remarkable distinction of being invited to meet wit...
Curly (of "The Three Stooges") Was My Grandfather... But My Family Kept It a Secret From Me
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brad Server grew up watching The Three Stooges on TV, not knowing he was related to one of the greatest comic...
The Untold Story of a Civil War Cemetery
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Nancy Bro of the GAR Cemetery in Miami, Oklahoma shares the stories of the unique and colorful characters bur...
The Only Woman to be Awarded the Medal of Honor
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy remembers a truly extraordinary Civil War heroine, Mary Edwards Walker. She was the only woma...
The Story of An Immigrant Who Went From Onion Picking...To The Head of His Own $100 Million Company
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Aaron Marquez was an immigrant who picked onions for 12-14 hours a day and went on to found an oil services c...
The Man Who Witnessed the Assassination of Abe Lincoln
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ford's Theater reenactor Mike Robinson tells the full unknown story through the eyes of A.C. Richards, Washin...
The Privileges of War? A Green Beret's Story of American Service in Vietnam
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1968, Tom Ross was the intelligence and operations officer of a unique Special Forces “A” Detachment i...
The Day America Doubled In Size
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dedra and Brad Birzer tell the story of the Louisiana Purchase. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstor...
The Man Who Rescued Over 10,000 Stranded Motorists
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Weller, also known as 'The San Diego Highwayman,' shares the story of why he dedicated his time to hel...
"All Hell Broke Loose" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 1)
17 Jan 2024
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 Redemption Story of a Fugitive Who Duane "Dog" Chapman Refused to Pursue
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, you are about to hear the miraculous story from one of our own here at Our American Stories. Bryan Dawson wen...
Satchel Paige: The Story of One of The Greatest Pitchers of All Time
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, tells the story of a man who became bigger than...
Batman Through the Years
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Batman is a household name. His list of comic issues, let alone live-action movies, animated films, and TV sh...
The Black Pitcher and White Catcher That Made the 1964 World Series Unforgettable
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1964 World Series the St. Louis Cardinals played the mighty NY Yankees. On the pitchers mound for the ...
Severely Wounded Army Ranger Michael Schlitz Now Inspires Other Men
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael Schlitz enlisted in March 1996 and served in several positions...
ReIgnite Hope: Using Welding To Change Lives
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve Bunyard started Regnite Hope on Skid row in Los Angeles with the goal to help homeless people get jobs....
The Story of the Slave Who Founded the Black Baptist Church
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Woody Holton of the University of South Carolina tells the story about David George, a man who would escape h...
I Didn't Know My Father.. Until I Found His War Diary
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Sally Grove thought she knew everything about her father... until she found his war diary from his time servi...
Ex-Slave Bass Reeves: Lawman and Hero of the Wild West
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, for Art Burton, the story of Bass Reeves seemed almost too good to be true. After all, how could somebody who...
America's Favorite Sausage Brand Whose #1 Priority Is Doing The Right Thing
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Johnsonville Sausage is the #1 brand in its category, but they got there by putting integrity over profit. He...
The Great Emancipators: How The Civil War Openly Became about Slavery
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Abraham Lincoln is often referred to as "the Great Emancipator"... but that's not the entire truth. Our regul...
The Story of the Quiet Cowboy
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, J.D. Wininger, owner of the Cross-Dubya Ranch, tells the story of a man named John who kept to himself most o...