Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Rudyard Kipling became one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century, he lived a life marked by pain, loss, and resilience. The History Guy shares the unforgettable story behind the man who gave us The Jungle Book  and became the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com...

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a child in Uganda, Peter Mutabazi ran away from home and spent four years sleeping on the streets of Kampala, unsure if he’d survive another day. But a single act of kindness changed his life forever. Now a U.S. citizen and a dedicated foster father, Peter has provided a loving home to over 30 foster children through the American foster care system...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in a world that moved a little slower, one little girl found her freedom on four wheels. Joy Neal Kidney takes us back to her childhood home just outside Dexter, Iowa, where a pair of roller skates and an open farmhouse created memories that stayed with her for a lifetime. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the small town of West Mineral, Kansas, there’s a mining relic so massive it can be seen from miles away. Big Brutus, a 160-foot electric shovel, once played a vital role in America’s coal industry. Today, it’s recognized as one of the official 8 Wonders of Kansas. Joe Manns tells the story of how this engineering marvel came to define...

On this episode of Our American Stories, George Armstrong Custer is often remembered for how his story ended at Little Bighorn, but the life he lived before that final charge was full of ambition, controversy, and consequence. Pulitzer Prize-winning author T.J. Stiles shares how Custer rose through the ranks during the Civil War, and why his name still stirs debate today. Support the show ( https:...

On this episode of Our American Stories, guide dogs do more than navigate curbs and crosswalks. They offer confidence, companionship, and a new kind of freedom. Christine Benninger, CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, explains how these remarkable dogs are trained, selected, and paired with individuals who need them the most. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Suppor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before ultralight backpacks and trail apps, 67-year-old Emma Gatewood became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone. With nothing but a pair of Keds, a homemade denim sack, and an iron will, she walked over 2,000 miles through some of the roughest terrain in America. But what pushed her onto the trail wasn’t just adventure &md...

On this episode of Our American Stories, after WWII airman Danny Wilson fell overseas, his body was buried in France alongside thousands of American soldiers. But that wasn’t the end of his story. His niece, Joy Neal Kidney, shares the little-known journey of how her uncle was buried three different times, from a foreign graveyard in Europe to his final resting place in Iowa. Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Colt revolver became one of the most iconic weapons in American history, earning nicknames such as "the Peacemaker" and "the Equalizer." But who was Samuel Colt, and how did he build something so enduring? His journey stretched from humble beginnings to industrial triumph, leaving behind a legacy that outlived him and came to define the Wild West. Our o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Angelo Ruffino rows through the canals of Southern California, singing his original music to passengers and perfecting a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. But he’s more than a romantic oarsman. He’s a racer, a performer, and a champion for gondola culture, hoping one day to bring it to the Olympic stage. Support the show ( https://www....

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dana Mitch grew up knowing pieces of her family's Holocaust story, but they never quite felt like her own. That changed when she visited Buchenwald, one of the largest concentration camps on German soil. Walking through its grounds brought the past into sharper focus and helped her connect with the history she had always known from a distance. Support the s...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories  listener and regular contributor from South Carolina, Dennis Peterson, shares the story of working with his dad in bricklaying—and how, despite thriftiness being mostly a positive trait, it sometimes led to unexpected consequences on the job. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose was one of America’s leading biographers and historians. He passed away in 2002, but his epic storytelling can now be heard here on  Our American Stories , thanks to the efforts of those who manage his estate. Our next segment features his account of the weapons used in World War II, this time focusing on poison gas and the variou...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Mars became one of the most powerful private companies in America, it was a struggling family candy shop. Frank Mars had failed time and time again before his son, Forrest, stepped in with a bold vision and zero interest in playing by industry rules. With names like M&M’s, Snickers, and Pedigree under its belt, Mars would go on to quietly o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Louisiana is unlike any other state in the U.S., and there’s a reason for that. From the Louisiana Purchase and its Napoleonic legal roots to the deep influence of Cajun and Creole culture, this state has a story worth savoring. Nate Gallagher explores the people, food, language, and law that shaped America’s 18th state — the Pelican State...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Neil Armstrong ever took that famous first step, the Apollo program was a long shot fueled by ambition, sacrifice, and belief in the American spirit. Space historian Steve Kates, known to many as Dr. Sky, takes us behind the scenes of America’s race to the Moon, sharing the near misses, quiet heroics, and moments the world never saw. Support th...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what if everything you needed to know about the world could fit on a bookshelf just five feet wide? Harvard President Charles W. Eliot believed it could. In an era when few had access to higher education, Eliot championed the Harvard Classics, a set of books designed to give anyone a world-class education from their own home. Support the show ( https://www....

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Harford, author of the bestselling book  Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy , shares the stories behind three transformative innovations: concrete, the LLC (limited liability company), and the index fund. From the concrete that built our cities, to the LLC that revolutionized business ownership, to the index fund that reshaped investin...

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before the Gettysburg Address or the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that won over the East Coast and propelled him toward the presidency. Delivered at Cooper Union in 1860, it was a turning point for American politics and for Lincoln himself. Vince Benedetto of Bold Gold Media shares the story behind the night Lincoln took the...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Billy the Kid didn’t live past 21, but his name still echoes through American folklore. In a lawless land, he became the face of rebellion: part folk hero, part criminal, and all mystery. Historian Roger McGrath traces the true story of the young drifter behind the legend — from his first brush with the law to the bullet that ended it all. Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark Foster, an all-around Southern boy, never imagined his next business meeting would involve arm wrestling a Chinese Communist Party official after a chance encounter in an empty hotel bar. But one favor from his father-in-law changed everything. Mark shares the story of one unforgettable and wild trip overseas that was anything but “just business....

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he was president, Gerald Ford was a rising football star at the University of Michigan. But in 1934, his loyalty was tested when Georgia Tech refused to play if his Black teammate, Willis Ward, took the field. Author and historian John U. Bacon shares this remarkable story of friendship, integrity, and a quiet act of defiance that helped shape Ford&r...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before gloves, rules, or weight classes, there was John L. Sullivan: a powerhouse brawler who became America’s last bare-knuckle boxing champion. With fists of steel and a challenge to fight any man alive, Sullivan didn’t just win titles, he won the country’s attention in 1893 with his “Knockout Tour.” The challenge? Last 12 mi...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in World War I, tanks were considered support tools. But by World War II, they had become the centerpiece of ground warfare. Historian Stephen Ambrose explains how German engineering produced the deadly Tiger and Panther tanks — and why the American Sherman became known as the “Queen of the Battlefield.” Support the show ( https://www.oura...

On this episode of Our American Stories, known to history as Big Nose Kate, Mary Katherine Horony was more than a footnote in Doc Holliday’s life. She was a trained nurse, a sharp-tongued survivor, and a force in her own right. Her story is a window into the grit and resilience of women in the American West. The History Guy shares the true story of this often misunderstood icon of the Wild W...