Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories,  When an SR-71 Blackbird disintegrated mid-air at over 2,000 mph, pilot Bill Weaver was ejected at a speed and height few humans have ever survived. He thought he was dead, but the story that followed became one of the most remarkable survival moments in aviation history. The History Guy shares it. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the mansion she built is world-renowned, as much for its many design curiosities and innovations as for its reported paranormal activity. Here to tell the story is Ashley Hlebinsky, former co-host of Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms, former curator in charge of the Cody Firearms Museum, and president of The Gun Code, LLC. Support the show ( https://...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what role did the Bible play in shaping America? According to Robert J. Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That Made America , it was central, especially for early leaders like Pastor John Robinson, who used scripture to guide the Pilgrims toward their historic journey. Here's Morgan with the story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/dona...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Fannie Farmer, home cooking relied on instinct and improvisation. With the release of The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book , she introduced standardized measurements that revolutionized American kitchens. Her push for precision brought consistency to everyday meals and gave home cooks the confidence to follow reliable, repeatable recipes. Ken Albala,...

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Hollywood had sound, George O’Brien was a leading man in the silent era. But when WWII called, this famous silent film actor left the red carpet behind and joined the fight. His story reveals how one of the most recognizable male silent movie stars became an American war hero. As part of our ongoing "Hollywood Goes to War" series, Roger Mc...

On this episode of Our American Stories, caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer's is often invisible work, but not in this powerful account from Meryl Comer. The Emmy-winning journalist opens up about her husband's early-onset Alzheimer's and the emotional journey of becoming his full-time caregiver. Drawing from her memoir Slow Dancing with a Stranger , she offers deeply personal insight into...

On this episode of Our American Stories, President Theodore Roosevelt is known for his many accomplishments: the Panama Canal, his wartime service, and national parks… but there’s one forgotten story that deserves to be remembered as well. As an icon of the Protestant elite, Roosevelt was an unlikely ally of the waves of impoverished Jewish newcomers who crowded the docks at Ellis Isl...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jason Porter shares with us the story of how he met WWII veteran Forrest Johnson and how “Forrie” became his best friend. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Deere wasn't always a household name. Before tractors transformed American agriculture, he had one revolutionary idea: a steel plow that could cut through tough prairie soil. Kirk Higgins of the Bill of Rights Institute shares the story of how John Deere got his start, how one piece of scrap metal transformed the West, and how the green tractors bearin...

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was buried as the Vietnam Unknown beneath the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but Michael Joseph Blassie’s story didn’t end there. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares the story of how DNA revealed his name and changed a national tradition. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Larrison runs a Western store in Diamond, Missouri. But behind it? A one-of-a-kind museum with 8,000 vintage electrical appliances. Here's the story of how one man turned his love of vintage toasters and waffle irons into one of the most unusual museums in America! Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a kid, Dennis Peterson’s experience with fireworks was mostly from a distance, but as his life changed, so did his Independence Day celebrations. Dennis reflects on how Independence Day became the backdrop to his personal journey and why each July 4th still matters. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, after leading the colonies to victory in the American Revolution, George Washington shocked the world by refusing to become king. Instead, he laid the foundation for the American presidency and helped define the future of our republic. Dr. Larry Arnn of Hillsdale College and bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick share the remarkable story. Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the cowboy hat didn’t come from Texas or tumbleweeds. Instead, it came from a modest Philadelphia workshop. John B. Stetson transformed durable felt and a wide brim into a practical design that would become one of the most iconic symbols of the American frontier. His creation topped the heads of Western legends like Buffalo Bill and Will Rogers, and l...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Francis Scott Key wasn’t a musician, a soldier, or a master wordsmith. But after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, he scribbled out a rough poem that captured a nation’s defiance. Set to the tune of a British drinking song, his words became "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the unexpected anthem of a young c...

On this episode of Our American Stories, On July 4, 1986, moments before the largest fireworks display in American history, President Ronald Reagan gave a rousing speech from the deck of the  USS John F. Kennedy  in New York Harbor. Standing beneath the Statue of Liberty, he reminded the country and the world what freedom really means. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.co...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Uncle Sam is the iconic face of American patriotism, pointing from posters, stamped on recruitment ads, and etched into national memory. But how did he come to be? The real story begins with a New York meatpacker named Samuel Wilson. What started as a shipping label turned into one of the most enduring symbols of liberty and national service. Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Art Burton, author of numerous books on African Americans in the West, tells the story of Cherokee Bill: one of the most feared and notorious outlaws in Indian Territory. Known for his violent robberies and multiple killings during the 1890s, Cherokee Bill became a legendary figure whose brief but deadly career earned him comparisons to Jesse James and Bill...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Scooby-Doo, where are you? Americans have been asking themselves this question for over half a century. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of one of the most iconic cartoons of all time. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Harford, an economist and bestselling author of  Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy , shares the story of these three underappreciated inventions in history—air conditioning, the barcode, and the elevator brake! Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.c...

On this episode of Our American Stories, James Arness is recognized as one of America's most beloved actors. Generations have grown up watching him as Marshal Matt Dillon on television’s longest-running series,  Gunsmoke . Here to share another “Hollywood Goes to War” story is Roger McGrath. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support th...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Maureen Elwyn shares the heartfelt story of a moment with her elderly grandfather and his beautiful singing as she played the organ. We’d like to thank Leslie Leyland Fields for introducing us to this story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.c...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Corum, author of  The Ultimate Pardon , shares his incredible story of redemption and explains how he went from being a feared enforcer in the Kansas City underworld to becoming a free man and a prison minister on a mission. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/do...

On this episode of Our American, there is no Burger King in Mattoon, Illinois. There isn’t even a Burger King within 20 miles of the small town. The reason? A small burger joint known as  the  Burger King took the national brand to court... and won. Chris Suerdieck, a curator at the Mattoon History Center, shares the story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/dona...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2021, former Negro Leagues baseball player Buck O'Neil was finally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame—years after being rejected, to the surprise of his friends, by just one vote. Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, tells the story of how Buck handled that loss, in Bob's words, "like...