Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, C.S. Lewis is best known for  The Chronicles of Narnia , but behind those pages lies a spiritual journey that shaped one of the most important Christian voices of the twentieth century. Lewis abandoned his faith during his years as a rising scholar at Oxford and identified as an atheist. But as fascism and communism gained ground across Europe, he reex...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the late 1960s, Karl Marlantes stood at a crossroads: remain at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, or go to Vietnam and serve alongside the boys he grew up with, many of whom had already shipped out. He chose to go. That decision shaped his life in ways he’s still reckoning with. In this unflinching interview, Marlantes shares why he left behind comfo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sam Goodwin had already visited 180 countries, but when he entered Syria, he vanished. Captured and held without explanation, his fate became a test of everything he believed about God, family, and himself. In his darkest moments, it wasn’t politics or power that saved him. It was faith. In this unforgettable story of redemption, Sam shares how love,...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what did the Founding Fathers find in the ruins of Greece and Rome? A vision for how a free people might govern themselves. From Athens’ early experiments in democracy to the Roman Republic’s lessons in checks and balances, Dr. Kenneth Calvert of Hillsdale College unpacks how classical political thought shaped the government we know today. Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Manhattan became a skyline of steel and glass, it was home to the Wappinger tribe and one of its most courageous sons, Daniel Nimham. As a tribal chief and fierce defender of both his people and the emerging idea of America, Nimham fought alongside George Washington in some of the war’s harshest moments. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Salem Witch Trials of 1692–1693 have become a symbol of religious hysteria and injustice, but how much of what we think we know is true? For decades, a cultural silence surrounded the real story until Arthur Miller’s  The Crucible  gave it a new narrative. Dr. Stephen Nichols unpacks the deeper history of the Puritans, the role of...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Lowell Lytle was one of the few people who actually visited the Titanic’s wreck at the bottom of the North Atlantic. He also spent years bringing its story to life, portraying Captain Smith at Titanic museums around the world. While Lowell has since passed away, in this powerful story, he reflects on what it felt like to dive 2.5 miles below the surfa...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Coach John Wooden led UCLA to 10 national championships, but his legacy runs deeper than wins. His Pyramid of Success reshaped how we think about coaching, competition, and character. Told through the voices of those who knew him best, this story explores how a humble Indiana native became one of the most respected figures in sports history. Support th...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what does freedom of religion really  mean? For Mariam Ibrahim, it meant the difference between life and death. Born in Sudan and sentenced to execution for her Christian faith, Mariam escaped religious persecution and built a new life with her family in the U.S. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the cost of belief—and the courage it takes to...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Silicon Valley and the oil booms, there was the Comstock Lode. Nevada’s legendary silver discovery created the Silver Kings: John Mackay, James Fair, William O'Brien, and James Flood, four men who rose from poverty to unimaginable wealth. Historian Roger McGrath shares how this once-remote mining camp became the epicenter of one of the most pow...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before America had coast-to-coast rail lines, four men risked everything to make it possible. Known as the Big Four, they built the Central Pacific Railroad and played a crucial role in completing the first transcontinental railroad. Historian Roger McGrath shares how Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, Collis P. Huntington, and Mark Hopkins changed the cours...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Peter Braxton’s first day as a military pilot began in the skies above Ground Zero on 9/11. But that was just one of several first jobs that shaped his life. From high-stakes missions to everyday roles in civilian life, Peter reflects on the early experiences that defined who he is today. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) &...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the Normandy landings in the boldest military campaign of the war. Behind that historic moment was a massive effort built over months of planning, coordination, and sacrifice. Historian Stephen Ambrose walks us through how D-Day came together, from the first strategies to the final push, and explains what the invasion...

On this episode of Our American Stories, after John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln, his name became synonymous with betrayal. But his brother, Edwin Booth, was already one of the most celebrated actors in America, and Boston wasn’t ready to turn its back on him and his family. Historian Christopher Klein shares the story of how the city rallied around the Booth family, even as the shado...

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, this time diving into how phrases like "gung-ho" and "cheesy smile" came to be. His book,  Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases , is full of these fascinating stories. Be...

On this episode of Our American Stories, during a tense moment in Cold War history, a Soviet submarine surfaced directly beneath the USS Kitty Hawk  and crashed into its hull. The Navy called it an “encounter,” but the reality was far more dangerous. The History Guy shares this forgotten incident between two nuclear powers, and the high-stakes silence that followed. Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, while her parents were among the many unjustly sent to internment camps during World War II, Mary Mikami and her siblings remained free. Mary rose to the top of her class, earned a doctorate from Yale, and built a life marked by quiet strength and achievement. Historian Preston Jones shares her powerful story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstori...

On this episode of Our American Stories, after his uncle Charles was shot down in a B-24 bomber over Europe during World War II, Chuck Kissling grew up hearing only pieces of the story. For decades, Chuck carried the weight of that loss, hoping to one day find his uncle’s grave and honor his sacrifice. Chuck joins us to share the journey that finally brought him to his uncle’s grave in...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Shel Silverstein was a poet, illustrator, and songwriter who didn’t fit any mold. Known to millions for  The Giving Tree  and  Where the Sidewalk Ends , he also wrote one of country music’s most unforgettable hits: “A Boy Named Sue,” made famous by Johnny Cash. With a legacy that spans literature, music, and illustrati...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in a world built for men, Nellie Cashman carved her own path across gold rush country, prospecting, rescuing miners, and running businesses in some of the toughest towns in the West. Historian and regular Our American Stories  contributor Roger McGrath shares the true story of this fearless woman who outlived nearly every frontier legend. Support the s...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sergeant Alvin York, the reluctant World War I infantryman who became one of America’s most decorated soldiers, has stood as a symbol of courage and sacrifice for over a century. Born in the mountains of Tennessee, Sgt. York’s early life was shaped by deep religious convictions that initially made him a conscientious objector. But on the battlef...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Wild Bill. Doc Holliday. Billy the Kid. None of them ever touched Bob Munden’s speed. Known around the world as the fastest gun who ever lived, Munden could draw, fire, and hit a target before anyone else even cleared leather. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/dona...

On this episode of Our American Stories, high above Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, Air Force Captain Steve Phillis faced the kind of split-second decision no pilot ever hopes to make. A Top Gun graduate and decorated Gulf War pilot, Phillis chose sacrifice over survival and changed lives in the process. His friend and fellow fighter pilot, Jim “Boots” Demarest, brings us inside th...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Carl Albert stood just 5 feet 4 inches tall, but during one of America’s biggest political scandals, he carried more than his share of the weight. As the Watergate scandal unraveled the Nixon presidency, the Speaker of the House, known as the "Little Giant from Little Dixie," became an anchor of stability. He put country over party and helped steer Co...

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—this time diving into how "on the wagon" and "once in a blue moon" came to be. His book,  Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases , is a must-read. Be sure to check it...