Our American Stories

"The First Guy Cannot Fail": The Jackie Robinson Story (died 1972)

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Baseball Leauges Museum, tell the story of a man who started in Kansas C...

History Guy: The Story of the Lone Ranger

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the Lone Ranger, with his cry of “Hi-Ho Silver!” has become an American institution ranking with Paul Bun...

“In a Nutshell & In the Doghouse” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 10)

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, here again with his recurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyda...

The Story of Las Vegas Through Neon Signs

24 Oct 2022

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...

Bob Huff: Ohio Born, American Made

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bob Huff was born just outside of Dayton, Ohio, in the blue-collar factory town of Moraine City. Bob’s earl...

My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul: The Good, the Bad and the Ultimate Victory of an American Hero

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story come to us from a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division in both ...

How Did Fast Food Become an American Favorite?

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, pulling up at your favorite drive-thru and grabbing a quick, familiar meal is a part of everyday American lif...

Good Neighbors, Not Fences, Make Good Neighbors

21 Oct 2022

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...

The Unlikely WWII B-24 Combat Pilot-Hero, George McGovern

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, historian extraordinaire Stephen Ambrose tells us a very unlikely World War II story about George McGovern, t...

James K. Polk: The Best President Americans Have Never Heard Of

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Monte Monroe, Rachel Helvering, and Anne Claire tell the story of President James K. Polk and why his one ter...

Zuzu’s “Wonderful Life”: The Story of Karolyn Grimes

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, our next storyteller has the privilege of being in one of the most beloved movies of all time—while, at the...

The Cloud-Juicing Entrepreneur Who Bottles Rainwater

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, there are over 80 bottled water companies in the United States, but one of them has changed the game forever,...

These Brothers Created Multiple Podcasts with Millions of Listeners... Just to Stay in Touch

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, after a career that spanned from Best Buy security to founder of a video game journalism site, Justin McElroy...

The Gettysburg Soldier Who Received The Medal of Honor 151 Years After His Death

20 Oct 2022

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. Support ...

The Life of Duke Ellington: An American Original

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, some believe he was the most important composer of the 20th century, in or out of jazz. Terry Teachout, one o...

ReIgnite Hope: The Company Who Teaches the Homeless How to Weld?!

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve Bunyard started ReIgnite hope on Skid row in Los Angeles with the goal to help homeless people get jobs...

The Secret History Inside of Cracker Barrel

19 Oct 2022

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 decades. But ...

A Family Lived in the New York Public Library?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, our audience loved Kristin O'Donnell Tubb’s wonderful story from her historical fiction book, John Lincoln ...

The Man Who Milks Snakes for a Living

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, at the age of 6, Nathaniel Frank became intrigued with reptiles and dreamt of working with them one day. Toda...

The Swamp Peddlers: How Florida Was Built and Sold

18 Oct 2022

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...

John Wooden: First NBA Hall of Fame Player AND Coach

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Wooden compiled the greatest legacy of any coach in history. How he defined success was unique and centr...

Enhancing Lives, One Guide Dog at a Time

17 Oct 2022

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...

The Sacrifices of the Littleton Brothers During the Civil War

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Busbee of The Culture Buzz on KFMG 98.9 tells the story of the remarkable sacrifice made by one family...

The Legendary Stephen Ambrose on the Legendary Dwight D. Eisenhower

17 Oct 2022

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 be...

Civil War Protector: Col. Justin Dimick

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, this story comes from our regular contributor, Christopher Klein. Klein is the author of four books and is a ...

The Twin Brothers Who Helped Change The Medical Practices We Now Take For Granted

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, we learn about the story of how identical twin brothers—a doctor and a lawyer—collaborated with scores of...

Miss America's Everlasting Battle With Itself

14 Oct 2022

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...

Abigail Adams: Revolutionary Woman

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Professor Woody Holton of the University of South Carolina tells the life story of First Lady Abigail Adams f...

George Washington: From Good Man to Great General

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, George Washington is remembered in our history books, our nation's capital, and the values Americans still es...

Trapped Inside a Tube: The Iron Lung Story

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum tells the story of the iron lung, a device used to keep people ...

Ketchup King: The H.J. Heinz Story

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, we learn how Heinz food products have been a part of American culture for more than a century. Though Heinz K...

The History of the Barcode

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, barcodes, on most products properly called a UPC, or “Universal Product Code,” are now a necessity for ev...

Willie Kennard, The First Black Lawman in Colorado

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, murder and mayhem ran unchecked in the town of Yankee Hill....things were a mess, and they needed a real life...

My Family Spent 4 Months Playing Battleship in a Corn Field

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, this story itself is the stuff of legends...a sunken steamboat, buried treasure, and the drive of a group of ...

The Candy Bomber???

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlif...

The Fateful Night During WWII Cecil Wax Met God

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Marilyn Jensen tells the harrowing story of when her father went on a supply run amidst a German bombing. Sup...

How Duke’s Coach K Was Almost Fired in 1983

11 Oct 2022

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. His first book, A Seaso...

The Baylor Basketball Incident: An Eyewitness to One of the Biggest Scandals (and Turnarounds) in NCAA History

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, this is a story about one of the biggest scandals in college basketball history—along with one of its bigge...

Thomas Hudner: The MOH Recipient Who Crashed His Plane On Purpose To Get To His Downed Wingman

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the Navy commissioned its newest destroyer and named it after a man who deliberately crash-landed a perfectly...

Brett Favre’s Shocking Revelation During Stardom, Addiction, and Rehab

10 Oct 2022

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... bu...

The Boy Scout Leader that Stretched the Truth... for Fun!!

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, listener Jaimie Scott tells the whimsical story of an infamous snipe hunt he partook in at Camp Tolochee in G...

The REAL Sue Thomas F.B.Eye: Nothing But the Truth

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sue Thomas became the first deaf person to work as an undercover specialist doing lip-reading of suspects for...

A Baby Boomer’s Battle with Insanity and Fitness

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul from Minnesota moved our listeners with his story, “Wilber and the Empty Nester.” We asked him if he...

Brett Favre on Tough Love, Parenting, and Telling the Truth

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brett Favre, the legendary NFL quarterback, gets very personal about tough love, telling the truth, and havin...

The Unlikely WWII B-24 Combat Pilot-Hero, George McGovern

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, historian extraordinaire Stephen Ambrose tells us a very unlikely World War II story about George McGovern, t...

From Animal House, to Belushi, and Seinfeld: Mark “Neidermeyer” Metcalf’s Story

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark Metcalf is best known for his role as the sadistic ROTC officer Douglas C. Neidermeyer in the 1978 comed...

Sean Pronger: That Day I Was Gretzky’s Hungover Linemate

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sean Pronger always dreamed of being and playing with Wayne Gretzky. Find out what happens when his dream... ...

Nostalgia Awakens: How Star Wars Toys Revolutionized Everything (Pt. 1)

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, “The Nostalgia Awakens" is an exhibit featuring EVERY action figure toy made by Kenner from 1978-1985 based...

What Happened to Saturday Morning Cartoons?

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark McCray is the author of The Best Saturday’s of Our Lives (his website is tbsool.com). He’s here t...

How Former Slave Robert Smalls Seized a Confederate Ship and Sailed it to Freedom

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, here’s The History Guy with the tale of an escaped slave-turned legend named Robert Smalls. Support the sho...

"Apple of Your Eye" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 2)

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, here again with his recurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyda...

How the West Turned Samuel Clemens Headed Into Mark Twain

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, old West historian Roger McGrath is here to tell the story of a time before the world knew Samuel Clemons by ...

Patty Kingsbaker's Elvis Encounter

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Patty from Colorado not only has a great Elvis story, but she is very good at telling it! Support the show (h...

How My Dog Changed My Life

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, regular contributor Paul Bauer reflects on a pivotal moment involving his canine companion. Support the show ...

To Mow or Not to Mow: The History of Lawn Care

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the idea of a lawn is very old, but it took a key technology to make lawns very common. Here’s “The Histo...

Brett Favre on His Miraculous Monday Night Game after His Father Died

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, we hear Favre get very personal about his miraculous Monday Night Football game immediately following his fat...

"All Hell Broke Loose" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, here again with his reoccurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Every...

Connecting America From Shore to Shore, The Transcontinental Railroad

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose is here to tell us the story from his bestseller, Nothing Like It In The World: The Men Who B...

Connecting People... Through Salt and Pepper Shakers?!

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, right below the Great Smoky Mountains you will find the Salt and Pepper Shaker Muse...

Virginia Hall: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, meet the woman the Gestapo once considered "the most dangerous of all Allied spies." Judy Pearson tells the t...

The Man Behind America's Sweet Tooth, Milton Hershey

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, an American candy store in 1900 looked very different than it does today. Candy was a special treat sold almo...

How Did Daisy Golf Balls End Up On The Moon?

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, although never publicly stated (the brands of anything brought to the moon were kept tight-lipped), there is ...

The Silver Kings and the "Big Bonanza"

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Mackay, James Fair, William O'Brien, and James Flood epitomized the rags-to-riches American dream. Roger...

The 13 Days Before Lincoln Almost Wasn't President

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of President Abraham Lincoln's harrowing train trip to Washington, D.C., to be sworn in as the lead...

Hollywood Goes to War: Eddie Albert

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Eddie Albert starred in Roman Holiday opposite Audrey Hepburn and also played a sadistic prison warden in 1...

Moving From The City To The Country Saved Her Life

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jake Keiser was living the life in Tampa, Florida, running a high-powered PR firm and juggling drink dates, ...

Jack London's "To Build a Fire"

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jack London’s most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in the Klondike Gold ...

The Difficulty, and Importance, of Finding Balance

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons shares the story of a lesson in risk.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/do...

America Strikes Back: The Doolittle Raids and the Battle of the Coral Sea

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Anne Claire tells the story of America's first two responses to Pearl Harbor: The Doolittle Raids and the Bat...

Serving the Widow of My Childhood Hero, Baseball Legend Roberto Clemente

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, while he never got to meet the Pittsburgh sports icon, Duane Rieder had the unique opportunity to not only co...

“Black Harry” Hoosier: The Story Behind Indiana’s Namesake

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, we hear how Indiana got its nickname as “The Hoosier State” and how the people from Indiana came to be ca...

She Wanted to Become a Movie Star, so She Moved to... a National Park?

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, growing up in smalltown Mississippi, all Donna Martin wanted to do was move to a big city and become a famous...

America's Comeback: The Battle of Midway

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, America was down, but not out after Pearl Harbor...we needed a major victory though. That victory would come ...

How The NBA Got to NBC

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1989 the NBA signed a $600 million contract with NBC to have the network air their games for four years. I...

Bad Medicine: Life Before the FDA

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum tells the story of patent medicine, otherwise known as "snakeoi...

Weifield Group Hires “At Risk” Individuals and with Good Reason!

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, it's hard to believe that a company who has hired over 100 “at risk” individuals would be competing for t...

The Salem Witch Trials and the American Puritans

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, early on, a hush descended over 1692-1693 Salem Witch Trials for generations. Then came playwright Arthur Mil...

The War In Ben Franklin's Home

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the American Revolution split the nation… and Ben Franklin’s family. Join Daniel Mark Epstein, author of ...

Dennis Peterson: Makin' Do

26 Sep 2022

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...

Fawn Weaver: A Woman's Self-Made Journey from Motown to Small Town

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Fawn Weaver grew up the daughter of Motown Record royalty, Frank Wilson, but her parentage is only the beginn...

The Mormon Inventor Whose Firearms Changed the World

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, few people are aware that John Moses Browning—a tall, modest man born in 1855 and raised as a Mormon in the...

The Confederate Mystery Ship

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, on July 9th, 1864, the Union army suffered a loss... that just so happened to save the United States and help...

Samuel Colt and the Birth of the Revolver

23 Sep 2022

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...

One of the 1st and Last American POWs of WWII

23 Sep 2022

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...

My Boss is 160" Tall and Weighs 9.3 Million Lbs.

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Joe Manns tells the story of Big Brutus, an absolutely massive peice of mining equipment in West Mineral, Kan...

Batman Through the Years

23 Sep 2022

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 sho...

A Plane Crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945?!

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, in July of 1945, a U.S. B-25 Mitchell got lost in heavy fog over Manhattan. Here’s The History Guy remember...

The Civil War General Involved in Numerous Scandals: Dan Sickles

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Gettysburg National Park Service Ranger Matt Atkinson tells the story of the Civil War General who claimed to...

A Texas Boy Vs. the Air Traffic Control Bully

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s time for another story from our regular listener/contributor Roger Latham, from Fort Worth, Texas, on ...

The Pony Express was an Early Attempt at Viral Marketing?!

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the Pony Express is synonymous with speed, endurance, and the American spirit to just get things done. While ...

From Small Town Texas To Ministering To Millions: The Story of Cindy Cruse Ratcliff

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff shares her story of how her music career got started. Support the show (https://www.oura...

JoyRide, The Car Club Exclusively for Kids with Special Needs

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Blair and Cat Cornell found out their son was going to be born with moderate to severe special needs, it...

The Untold Story of Steve McQueen

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, you are about to hear the untold story of Hollywood legend Steve McQueen, told by McQueen expert, Marshall Te...

Facing Adversity with Dignity: The Sidney Poitier Story

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon was the first full biography of legendary actor Sidney Poitier written by Ar...

Ambrose: WWII and Getting Down to Business: The Italian Campaign

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, even before the U.S./British victory in the North African campaign in May 1943, there was disagreement among ...

The First Successful Submarine Attack

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, the first successful submarine attack didn't happen in the Atlantic Ocean or Europe, but in Charleston Harbor...

Orville Rogers: Flying A-Bombs, Capturing World Records, and Growing Bolder

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Orville’s story is one where the good guy finishes first. Yet his is a life story of challenge and risk, ma...

“Nest Egg” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 14)

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, here again with his reoccurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Every...

Constitution Day: The Road From the Articles of Confederation to our Constitution

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, tells the story of how we managed to completely change our na...

Constitution Day: James Madison, Lawgiver

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, tells the story of our fourth President, the main hailed as t...