Our American Stories
Episodes
The Story "Of Beards and Men" and How They Define Masculinity in Culture
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Professor Christopher Oldstone-Moore makes the case that today’s bearded renaissance is part of a centuries...
A Story of Loss, Discovery, and Selflessness by the Best Storyteller in Abilene, Texas
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Unofficial Abilene Historian and Legend Jay Moore's family tale of loss, discovery, and selflessness will tug...
The Con Man Who Was Pardoned By Both Abe Lincoln and Jefferson Davis
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story is about a con man who was so good that he got both the Union and the Confederate presidents t...
The Greatest Political Prank in American History
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Duncan Scott tells us his story of pranking the New Mexico State Legislature Support the show (https://www.ou...
Our Greatest Adventure: The Apollo Missions
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, when President John F. Kennedy declared at Rice University that we would put a man on the Moon by the end of ...
A Grave Escape
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, as if spending the night in a funeral parlor wasn't scary enough! Tom Ryan brings us a chilling tale from the...
The Story of One of West Point’s Greatest Graduation Speeches—to Graduating Jewish Cadets in 2023
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dara Horn is an accomplished American writer, winning accolades and prizes for her fiction and non-fiction al...
What Happened to Saturday Morning Cartoons?
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark McCray is the author of The Best Saturdays of Our Lives. Here he is to tell us the story of Saturday mor...
The Story of How Jackie Kennedy Saved New York's Grand Central Station
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, before she was an iconic First Lady, Jackie Kennedy was a born-and-raised New Yorker. By 1975—when she sett...
Kobe Bryant, Remembered [B. TDIH 1978]
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, on February 24th, 2020, more than 20,000 individuals gathered in the Los Angeles Staples Center to remember t...
Arresting Your Boss: A Nazi Commander
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Michael Lella's incredible tribute to his father Pino, and his role in the fall of fascism. Support the sho...
Give Me Your Poor: The Story of How Emma Lazarus' Poem Became Eternally Connected To The Statue of Liberty
24 Aug 2023
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...
A Sister's Love and Loss of Three Brothers
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Edie Hand tells us the story of her brothers, the Blackburn boys, and the tragedy that struck not once, but t...
The Great Chicago Fire, and the Even Greater Recovery
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, this largely lost story is rekindled by Chicago historian Tim Samuelson, the first cultural historian of Chic...
The American Cigar Making Tradition
23 Aug 2023
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...
The Billion Dollar Corporation That Cleans Water
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Manny Singh, President of Koch Membrane Systems, had a childhood that shaped how he sees water. Then he join...
Cecil B. DeMille: The Man Who Built Hollywood
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories when you think of the parting of the Red Sea, you probably think of movie director Cecil B. DeMille, who turne...
The Story of the Great American Jukebox
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the jukebox was the greatest musical innovation of its day, changing our culture and how music was listened t...
The Road To Victory & The Indispensable George Washington: The Story of America [Ep. 7]
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, through General Washington, and with the aid of devoted patriots, American independence would be realized as ...
The Improbable Story of How the Wright Brothers Changed World History
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, much was at stake in this first race to space. Nations and top scientists across the globe pursued the elusiv...
The Gettysburg Soldier Who Received The Medal of Honor 151 Years After His Death
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of Alanzo Cushing as told by those who fought to have him recognized long after his death. Suppor...
Were the Irish the First Slaves in America?
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Slavery is one of the oldest profit-making endeavors, and the Irish were a special target for a thousand year...
"On The Wagon" & "Once In A Blue Moon" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 16)
21 Aug 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...
Nostalgia Awakens: The Star Wars Toy Empire Revolution (Part 1)
21 Aug 2023
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. ...
One of the Last Navajo Code Talkers Remembers WWII’s “Unbreakable Code”
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, many Americans have heard of the famous Navajo Code Talkers who used their traditional language to transmit s...
From Marriage to Addiction to Divorce... Now They Help Other People's Marriages!
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, as rising seniors in college, Roane and Eva Hunter decided to get married, thinking it would fix all of their...
Spotting Satellites In The Sky
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz tells the story of his first time seeing a satellite in the sky during a trip into the mountain...
Ex-Slave Joins Union Army and Becomes the 1st Black Medal of Honor Recipient
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, this is the story of Army Sgt. William H. Carney, who became the first Black American to have earned the Meda...
Holding Hands Thrift Store
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Donna’s daughter, Cassie, was diagnosed with Chronic Paranoid Schizophrenia as a teenager, their daily...
The Holiday Inn Founder Who Had No Shame
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we learn about Kemmons Wilson's hilarious interactions with Muhammad Ali, Sam Walton, McIlhenny's Tabasco, an...
Miss America's Beginnings, Rise, and Everlasting Battle With Itself
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the Miss America Organization has been around for over a century... but through these many years, the pageant...
Lessons From Gizmo
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes to us from our regular contributor Paul Bauer from Minneapolis, MN. Today, Paul brings u...
Hollywood Goes To War: Henry Fonda
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s time for another one of Roger McGrath’s “Hollywood Goes To War” stories. Here’s the story of H...
Las Vegas Must See: The Neon Museum
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Executive director of the Neon Museum, Aaron Berger, shares some of the history of Las Vegas and the iconic s...
"The Records Were Closed, But The Story Was Open"
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Eddie Willis always knew he was adopted. And, he was fine with not knowing where he came from... That is, unt...
Growing Up Rural: Stinky Boots
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Scott Jones, author of Growing Up Rural, shares the story of one of the most embarrassing moments of his time...
The Day America Doubled In Size
16 Aug 2023
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...
Lightning In a Bottle: The Early Years of Coke
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, why were Coke bottles green? How do Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola relate? How did a syrup that was originally ...
The South Vietnamese Pilot Who Stole A Plane To Save His Family
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Major Buang-Ly worked as a pilot with the United States military during the Vietnam War. When the US began ev...
The Man Who Paints Rocks For Our Veterans
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen tells the story of his “Freedom Rocks” project in Iowa – his painted rocks are...
The USS Lexington: The Oldest Working Carrier in the Navy
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor, Anne Clare, tells the story of a unique aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington. Support...
The Story of a Real-Life “Rosie the Riveter”
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, while the men served in WWII, women also served by filling the spots in factories that men left behind. Unmat...
Theodore Roosevelt: That Damn Cowboy
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, it was the West that molded Theodore Roosevelt into a man. Also, it was here where he learned to "carry a big...
The Story of the Runaway Slave That Helped End the Fugitive Slave Act
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the Fugitive Slave Act made all Americans accomplices in the practice of slavery. This story marks the beginn...
To Mow or Not to Mow: The History of Lawn Care
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy tells the story of how lawn care came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstori...
Declaring Our Independence: The Story of America [Ep. 6]
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, there was no going back...fighting had broken out in the colonies, and it was time to do what was necessary--...
The Two Men Who Ended Red Light Camera Tickets
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Hugh Eastwood and Bevis Schock are civil rights lawyers in St. Louis. They filed suit in three separate cases...
Robert Redford's "Jeremiah Johnson”: The Real Story of a Hollywood Mountain Man
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the lore and legend of the American Mountain Man is a story that seems to only grow with time. In 2015, Leona...
“Nest Egg” & "No Dice" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 14)
11 Aug 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...
My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul: The Good, the Bad and the Ultimate Victory of an American Hero
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes to us from a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division in both...
A Police Chaplain Remembers His Mentor...And The Oklahoma City Bombing
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, "A ministry of presence" is what police chaplain service means to Greg Giltner. His response to the terrorist...
“Knock on Wood" & "Kick the Bucket” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 11)
10 Aug 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...
Indians, a Jew, and a Hotel Partnership
10 Aug 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...
This Log Cabin Led to the “Great Awakening”—Which Led to the American Revolution
10 Aug 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...
Coach “Bear” Bryant, and the Packers, Transformed My Life
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, ere’s Rich Wingo with the story of how his time under the legendary Alabama coach refashioned his character...
The Most Famous Actor In The World Enlists In WWII: The Story of Clark Gable (Hollywood Goes to War)
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Clark Gable was beyond the draft age when the U.S. entered World War II, but the 41-year-old enlisted as a pr...
The Frankie Avalon Story: The Man Who Influenced Music and Film for Three Decades
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, not many teen idols are able to carve a successful career for themselves as they mature, but Frankie Avalon i...
A Mom and Son Run a Marathon in Every State
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Karen Thomson and her son Joe Meilink are the definition of determination. Here they are along with Joe’s w...
The Pastor Who Tried to Kill Hitler
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story is about a German citizen - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who left the safety of American soil in order...
I Admit It, I Sew Quilts
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes to us from a listener, Paul Bauer—a regular contributor out of the Great White North,...
How Duke’s Coach K Was Almost Fired in 1983
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, John Feinstein is a sportswriter of 42 books, 23 of them New York Times bestsellers. He is also the friend o...
“ A Ph.D. Who Can Win A Bar Fight”—WWII’s Most Incredible Spy Was Also a Hollywood Heartthrob: The Story of Peter Ortiz (Hollywood Goes to War)
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1944, Peter Ortiz parachuted into Nazi-occupied France, where the Gestapo offered a reward of half a mill...
The Apollo 8 Crew’s Message from the Moon... Heard by 1 Billion People: 100 Bible Verses That Made America
08 Aug 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 pla...
Café du Monde
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, we travel to New Orleans to hear the rich story of a world-famous coffee and beignets destination. Support ...
Beauty in Brokenness: A Couple that Rebuilt their Marriage... and Now Dilapidated Cities
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, meet John and Ashely Marsh. Amidst addiction, infidelity, divorce, pending bankruptcy, and suicidal thoughts,...
A Museum For Umbrella Covers?
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, meet Nancy 3 (that's the numeral '3' not the word 'three') Hoffman, an accordionist, world traveler, and owne...
Gunfighter/Lawman/Gambler Bat Masterson: Forever Changed the West
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, to Bat Masterson, gunslingers were hoodlums who killed for fun. He used guns to enforce the law or defend a f...
The Redemptive True Story of a Cocaine Drug Lord
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, after running the North American cocaine trade for the cartel in his early 20s, Jorge Valdes found salvation ...
Paychex Founder: No One Was Serving Small Businesses... So I Did!
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom Golisano and his team serve over 680,000 businesses with payroll, HR, and benefits support. Support the...
Mother's Day Means More When You Don't Know If You'll See Her Again
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Scott Jones, the author of Growing Up Rural, shares the story of a boy named Leo and some special letters fro...
A Black Man (Jesse Owens) and a Nazi: A Friendship Forged in Competition & Courage
04 Aug 2023
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 demonstra...
I Picked Up "Tex" Watson Hitchhiking AFTER the Manson Murders
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, following the Charles Manson murders, Manson's lead henchman, Tex Watson, stayed in Los Angeles for almost tw...
How a UCLA Student in the 70s Saved the Marx Brothers
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve Stoliar grew up as the ultimate Marx Brothers fan. Little did he know that he would lead the charge to ...
I Lived Through The Depression And Didn't Even Know It!
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, because of his parent's love... Donald Sturm's extraordinary American Dreamers story Support the show (http...
Her Mother Always Told Her She Was Strong... But Strength Isn't Always Enough
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Edie Hand was always told by her mother that she was strong... but strength isn't always enough. Support th...
The Surprising Faith Story of the World's 1st Billionaire—John D. Rockefeller
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, John D. Rockefeller had a very unusual childhood. His father, dubbed “Devil Bill,” was a smooth-talking s...
Best Buy’s Founder: Serve Others, Put Yourself Last, And You’re More Likely To Win!
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the hard-won leadership lessons of Dick Schulze. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)...
ILLEGAL: Shooting Bunnies From A Motorboat?
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, author Winter Prosapio dives into some of the weird laws we have here in the U.S. Support the show (https://w...
The Irish Chieftain of American Catholicism - Dagger John Hughes
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, from the 17th to 19th centuries, Catholics were some of the most persecuted people in America. Following the ...
The Time A Kid Sued Pepsi for A Harrier Jet
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, the harrier jet is the pride and joy of the US Marine Corps, but it was also at the center of a lawsuit betwe...
Otter Box’s CEO: One of Our Employees Got More Applause Than Peyton Manning... Literally!
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, this isn't a not a knock on Peyton. It’s a testament to ethics being lived out heroically at this great Ame...
She Was Abandoned as a Child... Now She Saves Abandoned Babies
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Monica Kelsey took her own traumatic story and turned it into something truly beautiful for many. Support t...
The Shot Heard Round The World: The Story of America [Ep. 5]
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill McClay explains how a divided America found strength in Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" Support the show...
The Men Who Built the Most Expensive and Most Powerful Gun
31 Jul 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...
Willie Kennard: First Black Lawman in Colorado
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz tells the story of Willie Kennard...Colorado's first black lawman. Support the show (https://...
Receiving Wylie: A High Risk Pregnancy Story
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Karla Duerson shares the story of what it was like being pregnant with and giving birth to her daughter Wylie...
How 2 Engineers Created the Highest-Rated Gag Gift on Amazon
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, since the company’s inception in 2005, Liquid Ass has been a popular product amongst pranksters across the ...
One of the First and Last American POWs of WWII
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Judith Pierson tells us the story of Navy corpsman Estel Myers and his story of survival in the WWII's Pacifi...
“Wild Bill" Donovan, America’s Top Spymaster
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, “Wild Bill" Donovan was one of America’s most exciting and secretive generals—the man President Frankli...
The Man Who Had Money… And Didn’t Spend It
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Hank Brown's beautiful tribute to his former boss, beef pioneer Kenny Monfort. Support the show (https://ww...
"We Didn't Want to Lose Two People" — A Story of Forgiveness
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Laura Treppendahl’s life was one worth remembering. After she was killed in a drunk driving accident, Laura...
The Only Woman to be Awarded the Medal of Honor
28 Jul 2023
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...
A Divorced Father Living with His Marine Son
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, if Bob McLalan knew his father would be living with him for 18 months, he would have thrown him out that firs...
City Grazing: Land Management Powered by Goats
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Genevieve Church, the third "Goat Lady of San Francisco", is executive director of City Grazing. Listen to he...
A Young Lady's Run-in with Frank Sinatra
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, Colorado listener Patty Kingsbaker shares this "knock out" Frank Sinatra story. Support the show (https://w...
Ambrose on Ike
27 Jul 2023
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...
He Made Paper Airplanes His Full Time Job
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, John Collins is known as the paper airplane guy. Since he was young, he has loved paper airplanes. This obses...
The Man Who Witnessed the Assassination of Abe Lincoln
26 Jul 2023
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 Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Our American Stories, in his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, T.J. Stiles...
"All Hell Broke Loose" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 1)
26 Jul 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...