Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , our regular contributor, Anne Claire, tells the story of the time the United States almost went to war with the United Kingdom over the untimely death of a pig in what is now Washington State. 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 , Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus" is forever connected to the Statue of Liberty. Here's the surprising story of how that came to be. 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 , Will Rogers' famous quotes ring as true today as they did in the Great Depression. "Congress opens with a prayer and ends with an investigation;" "make crime pay...become a lawyer;" and "the only difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets." Here to tell the story of the man is Tad Jones, the director of the Will...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Ken Wells always knew what he wanted to do--to fly fast. But when that dream became a reality, it landed him as a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam... Two days before his wife, Candy, gave birth to their child. Joining us with their story are both Ken and Candy. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: htt...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Nancy Ball shares a story she wrote, “Being an Ole Miss Fan is in and of Itself a Lesson in Humility.” 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 , this is the story of what happened shortly after the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibiting a citizen’s right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Here to tell another great American story is the Jack Miller Center's Editorial Officer and historian, Elliott Drago. Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Combat Veteran Benjamin Sledge shares some of his experiences before and after his deployment. 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 , after moving to a farm in Mississippi from Tampa, FL, Jake Keiser didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, her neighbors had her back. 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 , while in modern times, we often view prohibition as a failure and even a misstep by fanatics, it’s far more complex than that. Travis Spangenburg, Creative and Production Manager for the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, GA tells the story of this complex time in America’s past. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support th...

On this episode of Our American Stories , little has been known of one of the most important figures in early American history, Dr. Joseph Warren, an architect of the colonial rebellion, and a man who would have led the country as Washington or Jefferson did had he not been martyred at Bunker Hill in 1775. Warren was involved in almost every major insurrectionary act in the Boston area for a decad...

On this episode of Our American Stories , after the United States pulled out of Vietnam, its allies in Indochina were alone-faced with the prospect of slavery, torture, and death at the hands of the Communists they fought against. When the Tai Don people wrote a letter to 30 US governors asking to be resettled, only one took up the cause-Robert Ray, the governor of Iowa. Matthew R. Walsh tells the...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Stephen Ambrose wrote the definitive biography of Dwight Eisenhower. Ike was born in a small rented shack beside the railroad tracks in Denison, Texas. He was raised in a family of Mennonites—fundamentalists in their Christian faith who were also pacifists. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ourameric...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the remarkable story of an unbreakable brotherhood and one man's quest to return the remains of his fellow pilot to US soil. 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 , Randall Wallace is the writer/director of films such as "Braveheart", "We Were Soldiers", "The Man in the Iron Mask", "Heaven is For Real", "Pearl Harbor", and "Secretariat"—movies rooted in courage, sacrifice, and faith. These traits which embody Randall’s very heart were exemplified throughout his life through his father. Here’s Randall to tell the story...

On this episode of Our American Stories , you've heard us tell the story of Abraham Lincoln's train ride to Washington for his inauguration. This is the story of his train ride home to his final resting place. 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 , from the modernization of medicine to the development of our country’s road systems, the bicycle has had a major impact on American life. Though its rise occurred in the nineteenth century, cycling is still something that’s very popular in our country today. Margaret Guroff, author of “The Mechanical Horse: How the Bicycle Reshaped American Life”, brings u...

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 , our next story was made into a 2014 motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie and based on the 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. While some of the most remarkable parts of Zamperini’s story were left out of the film, you will be hearing them told now by the man himself. Louis...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Harriet Tubman is one of the giants of American history—a fearless visionary who led scores of her fellow slaves to freedom. Here to tell the story is Kate Clifford Larson, author of Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman: Portrait of an American Hero. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ourameric...

On this episode of Our American Stories , renowned historian David McCullough answers the question - about a most extraordinary group of men at a most extraordinary time in world history. 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 , here to tell another Hollywood Goes to War story is Roger McGrath. 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 , since its start in 1972, Nike has employed nearly half a million people. Only four have outlasted our next storyteller, Steve Bence. He is the author of 1972: Pre, UO Track, Nike Shoes and My Life with Them All. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listen...

On this episode of Our American Stories , 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 share another story is Robert Morgan who is the author of 100 Bible Verses That Made America: Defining Moments That Shaped...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Elisabeth Elliot was a missionary who returned to Ecuador with her toddler daughter to preach the Gospel to the Indian tribe that had killed her husband. Here's Elisabeth Elliot to tell us her story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

On this episode of Our American Stories , no horse had won the Triple Crown in horse racing in a quarter of a century. Heading into the third race of the Triple Crown - the Belmont Stakes - Secretariat was the oddsmaker's favorite. And America's, too. Here's the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnys...