Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , the new Constitution was an experiment—a unplayed sheet of music— and we wouldn't know what it would look like in actuality until people picked up their instruments. Here to tell the story of the first real test is Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstor...

On this episode of Our American Stories , if you’re curious enough, the familiar can become fascinating. Bill Bryk briefly recounts how New York City became the city it is today, as well as his love for its past. 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 , Scott Jones, author of Growing Up Rural, shares the story of one of the most embarrassing moments of his time in elementary school, and the lessons he learned from it. 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 , the director was a renegade filmmaker who'd never made a profitable picture. The producer was hired because he could stay below budget. The star had a reputation for being difficult. A formula for disaster? No, the makings of one of the greatest films of all time. Here to tell the story is Harlan Lebo, author of The Godfather Legacy. Support the show (http...

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 , Wally Soplata tells the story of his eccentric union carpenter father who collected rare and vintage WWII aircraft for pennies on the dime. 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 , the War of 1812 is fairly called the Second American Revolution. When American sailors were being forced into British service, every battle maneuver and moment mattered. 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 , she didn't have any idea that her customer that day was the Panamanian dictator's daughter. 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 , Johnny Cash is an American original. And this story is an insider’s look at the man whose music sprang from the way he lived. Greg Laurie is here to tell the story from his recent book/documentary, Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.c...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Larry Spencer tells the story of being one of the first POW's of the Vietnam war and surviving until war's end in both "The Zoo" prison and in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. 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 , Paul Monti, father of Medal of Honor recipient Jared Monti, tells his son's 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 , in the late 1960s, Karl Marlantes was presented with a choice. Serve in a war that he saw as unjust, desert to Algeria or Sweden, or stay at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship and hide behind that privilege as his high school friends fought and died in the jungle of Vietnam. Marlantes chose to serve. But why? Support the show (https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Vince Benedetto delivers the awe-inspiring story of our first president. 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 , Joy Neal Kidney shares her uncle, Donald Wilson's, war 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 , Thanksgiving is the only American holiday that has actually remained relatively innocent—it’s not something that we have been able to commercialize. But there’s something going on here more than feasting, family, and football. Robert Tracy McKenzie is a professor of history at Wheaton College and is the author of The First Thanksgiving. He’s here to tell u...

On this episode of Our American Stories , as big freighters go, she was bigger than most with a crew and captain well seasoned...but on November 10th, 1975 she and her 29 man crew were sent to the bottom of Lake Superior. Ric Mixter of Lake Fury tells the 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 , before she was an iconic First Lady, Jackie Kennedy was a born-and-raised New Yorker. By 1975—when she settled full-time back into Manhattan—Grand Central Train Station seemed doomed. The story begins there. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener f...

On this episode of Our American Stories , after much searching and suffering, a new opportunity arose that beggared belief - but led to something truly greater. 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 , Hollywood giants are ramping up new "faith arms" - and this tectonic shift has begun with an amazing success story of crowdfunding and a creative culture grounded in the Bible. 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 , our own Russ Jones shares perhaps the best single thing his mom ever told him!  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 a big and memorable way PT Barnum changed how all Americans lived. He gave them something to talk about and dream about. Our movies, television, and whole entertainment-saturated culture is what it is today because of what he started. He seems almost a fable now; but then… he did in his own day too. Here to tell the story is the Executive Director of th...

On this episode of Our American Stories , if Bob McLalan knew his father would be living with him for 18 months, he would have thrown him out that first night. A collision of cultures like no other! The latest story with Bob McLalan. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

On this episode of Our American Stories , as a young woman seemingly trapped in the commercial sex industry, Harmony Dust Grillo's struggle continued until a new friendship led to a change in her life. 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 , how did Indiana get its nickname “The Hoosier State?” And how did people from Indiana come to be called “Hoosiers?” Here to answer these questions and tell the story is Dr. Stephen Flick. 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 , here to tell the second part of his Texas anthropology series is Monte Monroe, the Texas State Historian. Today Monte shares with us how Texas joined the Union, and how the spirit of Texan "independence" became a thing. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.co...