Our American Stories
Episodes
Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed The World
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, he origin of this conflict flowed from a deceptively simple question—a riddle of sorts that a Catholic monk...
Did Lizzie Borden Get Away With Murder?
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the brutal double-murder that happened in Fall River Massachusetts in 1892 has long been considered an unsolv...
The Man in the Glass Coffin
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is in a glass coffin...but so is an American man along the shores of Lake Michig...
The Story of the One-Ton Pumpkin
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2017, Rhode Islander Joe Jutras broke the record for the largest giant green squash ever grown- it came in...
Halloween Haunted House History
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Halloween expert Lisa Morton is going to be unpacking the history of the Halloween Haunted House, which is di...
Halloween: The History of an American Holiday
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, why do we participate in these strange celebrations every Halloween? Lesley Bannatyne is the author of Hallow...
The Man in the Glass Coffin
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is in a glass coffin...but so is an American man along the shores of Lake Michig...
Halloween Haunted House History
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Halloween expert Lisa Morton is going to be unpacking the history of the Halloween Haunted House, which is di...
The History of Our Favorite Horror Movies
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, from Nosferatu and Dracula to Friday the 13th and Saw, Matt Castro brings us the full history of all yo...
The Story of the One-Ton Pumpkin
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2017, Rhode Islander Joe Jutras broke the record for the largest giant green squash ever grown- it came in...
SeaWorld's Undercover Boss Who Showed That Love Works in Business
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Joel Manby was on the 7th episode of the hit TV show "Undercover Boss", and his company captivated 20 million...
Buck O'Neil's Lesson on Dealing With Defeat Like a Man
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2021, former Negro Leauge Baseball player Buck O'Neil was finally made it into the National Baseball Hall ...
James K. Polk: The Best President Americans Don't Know
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Official Texas State Historian Monte Monroe, as well as Rachel Halversen and Anne Clare, tell the story of Pr...
When Wedding Photography and Storm Chasing Collide
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Olbinski is an Arizona-based photographer. He photographs families and weddings, and also... chases stor...
Finding the Son I Never Knew in Vietnam
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Evanhoff tells the story of how he reunited in the jungles of Vietnam with the son he never knew—an...
If I Could Talk With Anyone (Past or Present), It Would Be My Parents
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you could spend one hour talking with anyone, living or not, who would you choose? Regular contributor Ste...
The Man in the Glass Coffin
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is in a glass coffin...but so is an American man along the shores of Lake Michig...
The Swamp Salesmen: How Florida Was Built and Sold
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Jason Vuic tells the story of how the state of Florida was sold and built by innovative and driven entreprene...
A Story of Excellence: Horst Schulze and The Ritz-Carlton
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, a legend in the hotel world, Horst Schulze has reshaped how service and hospitality are defined in business—...
Did The Constitution Support Slavery?: The Story of America [Ep. 11]
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our Constitution is the oldest in the world—but did it outwardly support slavery? Dr. Bill McClay, author o...
The Unmarried Couple Who Got Buried Together—and Why
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, despite the church's refusal to annul a previous marriage, this couple spent days together for decades, all t...
The Black Pitcher and White Catcher That Made the 1964 World Series Unforgettable
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes to us from Jeff Bloodworth who is a professor of American history at Gannon University a...
The Story of Captain Kangaroo
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, on October 3, 1955, a television program debuted that would eventually produce nearly nine thousand shows ove...
"The Business Side" of Infant Loss: A Thank You to My Husband
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, a wife's poignant letter of gratitude and healing - one her husband and constant companion through every str...
The 1st Air Force Pilot at Ground Zero—and the Last to Know What Happened
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, on the morning of September 11, 2001, Peter Braxton was the first military pilot in the air over the burning ...
A Museum Dedicated to Bad Art?
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the MOBA museum is one of a kind...here to tell the story is one of its founding members. Support the show (h...
The Baileys' Story: A Daughter, a Drug Dealer, and a Miracle
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, after Mike and Deborah Bailey lost their daughter to a drug overdose, what they did next is nothing short of ...
Thomas Hudner: The MOH Recipient Who Crashed His Plane On Purpose To Get To His Downed Wingman
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, it might seem like an April Fool’s joke: The Navy commissioned its newest destroyer on April 1, 2017, and n...
Moonshine Runners and the Birth of NASCAR
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, long before NASCAR’s rampant commercialism lurks a distant history of dark secrets that have been carefully...
The Roy Rogers Story: Family Man, American Legend
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Roy “Dusty” Rogers was one of 9 children raised by Roy Rogers (“King of the Cowboys”) and Dale Evans ...
The "Ten Cent Beer Night" Riot
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we hear how the June 4, 1974 night game between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Indians was one for the r...
The Nuclear Mishap in Arkansas That "Created" CNN
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, a wrench fell; a rocket leaked, lost fuel pressure, collapsed, and exploded. A nuclear warhead soared out of...
The Untold Story of a Civil War Cemetery
23 Oct 2023
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...
Fighting Crime in Downtown Los Angeles with Love, Respect, and God
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph recounts how he built community connections and relationships—and changed p...
I Invented the Modern Age: The Story of Henry Ford
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we hear the story of the man who made the claim to have invented the modern age. Support the show (https://ww...
Dennis Peterson: Makin' Do
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dennis Peterson's father had an interesting way of saving money. He called it 'Makin' Do'. Dennis tells the s...
The Town of Joplin was Destroyed by an EF-5 Tornado in 2011: This is Joplin's Story—a Story of Loss, Love, and Hope
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, on March 22, 2011 Joplin, Missouri, took a direct hit from the costliest tornado in American history. Though ...
Satchel Paige: The Story of One of The Greatest Pitchers of All Time
20 Oct 2023
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
20 Oct 2023
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 Men Who Built the Most Expensive and Most Powerful Gun
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, for a time, a near-mint Colt Walker held the distinction of being the most expensive gun ever sold after it w...
What Happens to Children When They Age Out of the Foster Care System?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Hear the answer from Paul Blavin, a man who had this cause put on his heart and wasted no time responding to ...
The Woman Behind Jack London
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Iris Jamal Dunkle tells the story of Charmian Kittridge London in the first full length Biography written abo...
Churchill's Speech in the Heartland of America
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Winston Churchill was at a low point in his career when he delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" speech at a sm...
The Story of the Sneaker: A Walk Through American History
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Nicholas Smith, author of Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers, takes us for a journey through America...
The Girls Next Door: How Serving Coffee and Donuts in World War I Led To Women Gaining the Right to Vote
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Kara Dixon Vuic tells this remarkable story of service. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/...
The Goo Goo Cluster: Nashville's "Official" Candy?
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, it's a family story, a business story, and a regional story; It's the story of how the Goo Goo cluster became...
"High and Dry" & "Let the Cat Out of the Bag" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
18 Oct 2023
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...
Chief Red Cloud: The Only American Indian in History to Defeat the U.S. Army in a War
17 Oct 2023
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...
Lost and Found In Alaska
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Kent Nerburn, author of Letters To My Son...shares the story of a harrowing journey into Alaska, and the less...
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes: A Police Officer's Wife Delivers His Heartbreaking Eulogy
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dominique Rivera eulogizes her husband, Detective Jason Rivera, with raw emotion and compelling everyday deta...
Halloween Haunted House History
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Halloween expert Lisa Morton is going to be unpacking the history of the Halloween Haunted House which is dir...
The Turning Point in Abe’s Life: A Wrestling Match
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lincoln is one of the greatest leaders in US history, but prior to his being elected the 16th President of th...
The Story Behind FDR's Day of Infamy Speech
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, FDR's speechwriting team wasn't in Washington. Roosevelt, with the help...
Before Kevin Costner's "Yellowstone" was Richard King's "King Ranch"
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of Richard King and his "King Ranch" has much to tell us about America. Here is the pulse of the na...
A Little Brother's Prayer to Be As Big As His Very Big Brother
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, a listener, Paul Bauer, tells the story of his prayer to be as tall as his very big brother, "Moose." Suppor...
Halloween: The History of an American Holiday
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, why do we participate in these strange celebrations every Halloween? Lesley Bannatyne is the author of Hallo...
The Union Colonel Who Showed Mercy on Confederate POWs During the Civil War
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Boston’s Fort Warren housed Confederate POWs during the Civil War, but it was no Andersonville. Only 13 Con...
Mr. 60s: A Baby-Boomer’s Story of Trials, Triumphs... and Redemption
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes to us from a listener in West Virginia. Here’s Joe Quinn with his story. Support the s...
The God and Divinity Roots of America's Most Famous College—Harvard: 100 Bible Verses that Changed America
13 Oct 2023
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 Baylor Basketball Incident: An Eyewitness to One of the Biggest Scandals (and Turnarounds) in NCAA History
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, next we have a story about one of the biggest scandals in college basketball history—along with one of its ...
Dick Bong, Ace of Aces: The Greatest Fighter Pilot in American History
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard “Dick” Bong was a hero in an era of heroes. Here’s the History Guy with the story. Support the ...
The Truth Behind the “Cursed” Millionaire Heiress, Sarah Winchester
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the mansion she built is world-renowned, as much for its many design curiosities and innovations as it is for...
Were All Japanese Americans In Internment Camps? One Woman's Story
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mary Mikami was a Japanese American born in Alaska. Learn about her acceptance and achievements. Support the ...
Billy The Kid: The Story Behind the Legend and the Myth
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1870s, the American West was a refuge for outcasts as the nation recovered from the Civil War. In fact...
The Story Behind The Story of The Salem Witch Trials and The American Puritans
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Historical truths often emerge with time. Early on, a hush descended over 1692-1693 Salem Witch Trials for ge...
Empathy is Not Optional: The Story of Mike Leven's Brutal Law Professor
11 Oct 2023
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...
How Hawking Hotdogs in Major League Baseball Changed My Life
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, as a young boy, Minnesota listener Jim Johnson sold hotdogs for the Minnesota Twins. This is his story. Suppo...
I Fell in Love at Lambeau Field (Home of the Green Bay Packers)
11 Oct 2023
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 ...
The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, for generations, students in American elementary schools were taught Christopher Columbus “sailed the ocean...
One Cop's Take on Mental Illness, Homelessness, and Crime
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph shares vivid, compelling stories of one constant struggle for police, and for...
The Constitution Was Designed For Conflict: The Story of America [Ep. 10]
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the framers of the Constitution took many things into account while creating the document—including our own...
The Story of the 1st Medal of Honor Recipient (1861)
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1863 Bernard John Dowling Irwin received the first Medal of Honor by date-of-conflict—for his heroism du...
"Long Shot" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
10 Oct 2023
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...
A Son Remembers His Special Bond With His Father—One That Included Horse Racing and The Triple Crown
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, a former high powered media executive shares the story of how the 37-year horse racing Triple Crown drought ...
The One Book I Never Thought I Would Write
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Leslie Leyland Fields tells the story of how she came to write her memoir. Support the show (https://www.oura...
A Marine Mourns the Death of His Tough-as-Nails Marine Father
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in this episode of the Mclalan Files, Bob brings us the story of his father’s death. Support the show (http...
The "Good Ol' Days" Is a Lie
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we've come a long way very quickly. Johan Norberg, author of Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Fu...
Getting Prepared to Go Face-to-Face With the Toughest Admiral in Navy History
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Toti tells us the story of his experience with Admiral Hyman Rickover and the impact he had in the Navy....
"Mad" Anthony Wayne: The Story of The Revolutionary War Hero Who Defied and Defined His Nickname
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Fort Wayne is named after him...and so is the county where Detroit is. There's a reason for that. Dr. Mary St...
How One Man's Faith Moved Him to Fight for A Wrongly Imprisoned Man
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Jim McCloskey grew up in church, but as he got older, he wanted nothing to do with his childhood faith. After...
A Precious Gift for a Widowed Husband
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom and Lillian Lyons married in 1946. They lived a long and loving life raising a family on the south side o...
“I Had To Be Able To Look At Myself in the Mirror”: One Man's Integrity Story
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Daniels, the godfather of cable TV, shares the story of paying back bankruptcy creditors… even though ...
Uncle Nearest: The Former Slave Who Taught Jack Daniels How to Make Whiskey
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, at a time when she needed it most, Fawn Weaver happened upon the story of Uncle Nathan "Nearest" Green, the f...
An Immigrant's Tale: From The Tropical Island of Montserrat to Blustery Boston and Beyond
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of our True Diversity Series with Philanthropy Roundtable, we tell the story of Patrice Onwuka, who w...
The Littletons: The Family That Lost Their 6 Sons In The Civil War
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, John Busbee shares the story of how an Iowa family lost all 6 of their boys during America's bloodiest confli...
The Heiress of "America's Billionaire King" Who Joined Her Terrorist-Abductors: The Story of Patty Hearst
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1974, Patricia Hearst—heiress of the William Randolph Hearst newspaper empire—was abducted by an Ameri...
I'm The Dentist In The Wheelchair
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, aHayden Perkins shares the story of his accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down—and how he cho...
The Paul Harvey Story
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, born in small-town Oklahoma in 1918—Oklahoma had only been a state for 10 years—Paul Harvey's rural roots...
The Gospel of Gettysburg: The Story Behind the Story of the Gettysburg Address
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lee Habeeb with the story behind the story of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Support the show (https://www.our...
Life Before Digital Photos: The Last Days of Kodachrome
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dwayne's Photo in Parson's, Kansas is truly a family affair, and for a while it was an extraordinarily rare f...
A Listener's Childhood Memory: Rollerskating In The Farmhouse
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, WHO Des Moines listener Joy Neal Kidney shares her memories of growing up in her family's farmhouse just outs...
Men of Extraordinarily High Caliber: The Story of America [Ep. 9]
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we learn how the framers of the Constitution were not ordinary men. Hillsdale College professor and author of...
Suffering Fueled His Greatness: John Hannah on What It Took to Be the Best Offensive Lineman of All Time
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes to us from the guy Sports Illustrated said was the greatest offensive lineman of all t...
The Teacher Who Brought Him to the Heart of the Cold War -- and the Berlin Wall Itself
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lawson Bader pays tribute to his late German teacher Erika for our "Final Thoughts" series. Support the show ...
The Story of an American Golf Tradition: The Masters
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Julie Ferris, author of The Masters A to Z, brings us the story of the classic game of golf and the world's m...
Horse Jumping Was Dull -- So They Jumped Mules
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, everyone knows that a horse can jump a good-sized fence - but the folks in Pea Ridge, Arkansas thought whethe...
I Would Kill People for Money... But Then God Gave Me Life
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Corum, author of The Ultimate Pardon, tells the story of how he went from being an enforcer of the Kan...
A Media Titan Shares Stories of Mentors Who Impacted His Life
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Citadel Communications President and former ABC Board of Governors Director Ray Cole shares the stories of th...
he Most Famous Abolitionist You Never Heard Of: The Story of Thomas Shipley
29 Sep 2023
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...
He Joined the Army in His 40s... to Die
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ken Scar joined the army in his 40s... more or less as a way to kill himself. He ended up finding new purpose...