Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Lee Marvin made a name for himself as a Hollywood "tough guy"—starring in films such as  The Professionals ,  The Dirty Dozen , and  The Killers . He was initially typecast in imposing roles, but Marvin's tough character wasn't just a product of the silver screen. He was, fundamentally, a Marine—taking part in over 21 assaults on...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in our 31st episode of the Story of America Series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of  Land of Hope,  tells the story of the nadir of our nation's worst man-made disaster—and takes us through to its somber conclusion at a courthouse in Virginia.   Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.oura...

On this episode of Our American Stories, no, Al Gore did not invent the internet, but no one  man did either. Critically acclaimed biographer and author of  The Innovators,  Walter Issacson, shares how the internet came to be with his audience at a book talk at the U.S. Library of Congress.   Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Winston Churchill earned his reputation on the battlefield long before he became the man who led Britain through the darkest days of World War II. He dodged bullets, willingly put himself in harm’s way time and again, and even escaped from a prison camp far from British shores. Churchill understood the brutal realities of war—and he despised it....

On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Jefferson is America’s “everyman” because he has been embraced at one time or another by nearly everyone. Historian and acclaimed author of  American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson , Joseph E. Ellis, shared the story of Jefferson’s journey through American history at the U.S. Library of Congress. Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz, our regular contributor from Colorado, shares the story of a coffee incident aboard the  USS Enterprise . 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, Benjamin Franklin was a printer, an inventor, a politician, and an all-around Renaissance man—but did he believe in God? Dr. D.G. Hart, author of  Benjamin Franklin: Cultural Protestant , alongside Dr. Thomas Kidd, courtesy of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, tells the story of this remarkably complicated man—and w...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Harrier jet might be the pride of the U.S. Marine Corps, but in the 1990s, it became the crux of one of the most bizarre lawsuits in American history. What had started as a joke in an ad turned into a serious battle over fine print. Journalist Sean Kernan shares the wild story of John Leonard vs. Pepsi—and explains why the court's findings still m...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in honor of Coppola's birthday, we tell the story of how  The Godfather  came to be—against all odds. At the time, Coppola was just a renegade filmmaker who had never made a profitable picture. The producer was hired because he could stay under budget. The star had a reputation for being difficult. A formula for disaster? No—the making...

On this episode of Our American Stories, believe it or not, the Milton Bradley game was about to be pulled from the shelves! Author and Our American Stories regular Christopher Klein tells the story of how the late-night talk host saved this iconic brand. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/li...

On this episode of Our American Stories, coping with the loss of her father as a child, Sarah Gonzalez couldn't outrun God's pursuit—even during a period of total rebellion and involvement in activities meant to instill hatred toward others. Here's Sarah with her remarkable and redeeming story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouram...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our host, Lee Habeeb, tells his wife's story. Decades after years of sexual abuse and crisis, Valerie leaned on her faith to forgive her abuser and to powerfully heal. 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, Ralph Cox is a former college hockey star who was squeezed out of arguably the greatest moment in sports history. Here's Ralph himself to share the moment that changed his life forever.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was separated from his mother, never knew his father, and was forced to compete with dogs for food—but through illicit education and sheer determination, Frederick Douglass broke the mental bonds of slavery before breaking free from his physical chains and forging a path that would change American history forever. Douglass interpreter and poet Nath...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the night game on June 4, 1974, between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Indians was one for the record books. To say there was a "buzz" in the crowd would be an understatement. Here to tell the story is the History Guy. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystud...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brett Favre's father coached the legendary QB on many subjects—most of which shaped his training, practice, and play. The passing game? Not so much. But life itself? Absolutely. Here's Brett himself with the story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio....

On this episode of Our American Stories, renowned historian David McCullough explains why the most extraordinary group of men at the most extraordinary time in world history were simply made of different stuff than we are today.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. The book is  Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/don...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Pony Express is synonymous with speed, endurance, and the American spirit of getting things done. While the name is recognized not just across the United States but around the world, it’s not widely known that the Pony Express was part of a larger corporation—or that it lasted only 18 months—or that it was never meant to last in the fi...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bryan Dawson went from being a typical suburban high school football player to becoming such a notorious and dangerous fugitive that world-famous bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman refused to pursue him. Here's Bryan with his astonishing story of redemption. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener Karen Thomson and her son, Joe Meilink, are the definition of determination. Here they are, along with Joe’s wife, Vicky, to share their story. 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, simply stated, the Hope Diamond is the world’s most famous diamond, and it's got some lore behind it. The blue gem is widely believed to be cursed, with stories of misfortune and tragedy befalling those who owned or simply touched it. The Smithsonian's Richard Kurin, author of Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem ,  tells the remar...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1980s, the Packers stadium had a kids-only section for kids between the 5th and 8th grades. During Jon Elfner’s 8th grade year, he not only saw every game...but also fell in love. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

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 their New York Times bestseller, The Heart of Everything That Is. 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, Texas boys don’t write poetry, and certainly don’t cry. Roger Latham did, though, after discovering a poem written by his deceased mother. Here's Roger with the story...and the poem.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...