Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Miles C. Collier – founder of the Revs Institute – tells the story of inventions that took us from our own legs to wheels, horses, bikes and cars. 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 , in 1948 President Harry Truman decided to attend a plowing match in the small town of Dexter, Iowa. It turned out to be an event that would help re-elect him to the Presidency. 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 , Vincent “Rocco” Vargas shares his unique perspective of becoming a Border Patrol Agent after his own grandmother came to America illegally. He is now an actor who has played the role of Gilberto “Gilly" Lopez on Mayans MC, a spinoff of the FX original hit series, Sons of Anarchy. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show...

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 Battle of the Coral Sea. 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 , when you think of the parting of the Red Sea, you probably think of movie director Cecil B. DeMille, who turned Bible stories he turned into epic films like "The Ten Commandments," starring Yul Brenner and Charlton Heston. But there is much more to the story of this man who helped turn Los Angeles into the film capital of the world. Support the show (https...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography, tells the story of how some of America's most beloved characters, The Muppets, got their start -- in advertising and commercials! 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 , listener Joy Neal Kidney, recipient of the 2021 Great American Storyteller Award from our staff, tells the story of several Civil War soldiers from Iowa and the lasting impact they have today. 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 , in our 21st episode of our series with Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, Bill tells the story of how a dueler and brawler from the frontier upended American political life and formed a new political party—the Democratic Party—by the sheer force of his will alone. We're of course talking about Andrew Jackson. Support the show (https://www.ouramerican...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the Union Soldiers at Andersonville Prison were near starvation, and dehydration, when prayer saved thousands of lives. If you want to know about the history of America, it is imperative that you know the role that the Bible played in shaping our country. Our Founding Fathers—both Christian and non-Christian—were heavily influenced by the Bible. Here to sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories , to some they were heroes. To others they were villains. But when the Barrow gang rolled into Dexter, Iowa, they were strangers. Rod Stanley of the Dexter Museum tells the 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 , Matt Parker, a comedian and mathematician from Australia, tells the story of the time Michael Larson surprisingly beat the game show, Press Your Luck, and gives a look into why computers can’t be random. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

On this episode of Our American Stories , meet Nancy 3 (that's the numeral '3', not the word 'three') Hoffman, an accordionist, world traveler, and owner of the world's only Umbrella Cover Museum in Peak's Island, Maine. That's umbrella covers, not umbrellas. Nancy shares the story of how she came to open such a specific museum, what her museum is like, and how her museum taught her to find joy in...

On this episode of Our American Stories , just days before his death, the 40 year-old Maravich shared his story to a small audience about his life pursuing success and fame—until that pursuit brought him to his knees. This is the story of him coming to Christ. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Richard Muniz tells the story of his first time seeing a satellite in the sky during a trip into the mountains of New Mexico. 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 D. Rockefeller had a very unusual childhood. His father, dubbed “Devil Bill,” was a smooth-talking snake oil salesman, while his mother was a very devoted and disciplined Christian who taught John to work, to save, and to give to charities. This often-demonized, so-called Robber Baron reshaped America, creating an industry centered around the world’s...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Chris Siriano tells the story of a baseball team formed out of a religious commune in Benton Harbor, MI. The long-haired men played anywhere and with anybody-including those who had been excluded from major league venues because of the color of their skin. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories , history professor Mark Cheathem tells us why Andrew Jackson’s pet parrot had to be removed from his funeral. 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 , 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/donate See...

On this episode of Our American Stories , following the Charles Manson murders, Manson's lead henchman, Tex Watson, stayed in Los Angeles for almost two months before fleeing to Texas where he was arrested. But it’s those two months following the Manson murders, where this story from our listener (Patty Kingsbaker) picks up. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Mark McCray is the author of The Best Saturdays of Our Lives. Here he is to tell us the story of Saturday morning cartoons... and answer the all-important question: what happened to them? Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

On this episode of Our American Stories , much was at stake in this first race to space. Nations and top scientists across the globe pursued the elusive goal of powered flight, but two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio - brothers with their own scant resources - made it happen. This is their story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramer...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here's the story of Alanzo Cushing as told by those who fought to have him recognized long after he fell at Gettysburg. 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 , Nicholas Smith, author of Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers, takes us for a journey through American history... through the lens of the sneaker! 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 , it's likely you know someone who's grown out their hair to donate to the nonprofit charity, Locks of Love. Here to tell the story of how LOL got started, is none other than the founder, Madonna Coffman. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the story of one of America's greatest salesmen—and some of his interactions with our greatest icons.....Muhammad Ali, Sam Walton, Sam Phillips, and McIlhenny's Tabasco to name a few. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.