Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Jason Wolfe’s father left his family when Jason was six. Here’s Jason's story of becoming the father he himself never had.  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 , a listener from Colorado tells her remarkable Elvis story about the time she met the King not once but twice in an 8 hour period!  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 time for another “Hollywood Goes to War” story from Roger McGrath. Eddie Albert played a sadistic prison warden in 1974’s The Longest Yard starring Burt Reynolds. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for his 1954 performance in Roman Holiday, and the second in 1973 for The Heartbreak Kid. He also starred as Oliver Wendell Douglas in the 1960s...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Johnny Baier, Executive Director of the Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, takes us through the history of the Banjo starting from the beginning until today.  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 , President of Hillsdale College, Dr. Larry Arnn, tells the story of our fourth president, James Madison.  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 was one of the oddest and best musical collaborations of the 20th century. Old school pop crooner Bing Crosby partnered with British glam-rocker David Bowie to make one of the most cherished Christmas songs of all time. But it almost didn't happen.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericansto...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Religious persecution had become the norm by the time of the American Revolution. It took the unorthodox Thomas Jefferson and Christian Fundamentalists to bring about a change.  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 , he made eight consecutive all-star game appearances and captured four World Series championships, but his talent was overshadowed by his destructive life outside the ballpark. Darryl’s here to share his story!  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listene...

On this episode of Our American Stories , American history hasn't been kind to our last king. He's viewed as a tyrant, and the Declaration of Independence claims he was unfit to lead a free people. The truth is more complicated. British historian Andrew Roberts tells the story of King George III.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Pinball is an iconic game. Jeremy Saucier of the Strong Museum of Play shares the surprising story--from pinball's origins in French parlor games, to its prohibition, to its emergence as the popular game that it is today.  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 , 26-year-old actor John Wilkes Booth was killed just 12 days after assassinating Abraham Lincoln. Here’s Christopher Klein with the story of how the city of Boston embraced the Booth brothers.  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 , 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 S...

On this episode of Our American Stories , PEZ had great success where it was invented, but changed its course after initially failing in America. Shawn Peterson, author of “PEZ: From Austrian Invention to American Icon”, shares the story of how this manual candy dispenser came to be.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Jerre Stead, who's been the CEO of 10 publicly traded companies and has served on 37 corporate boards, shares with us how his lofty business career began at the age of 9, delivering newspapers in the early morning hours in Iowa.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omn...

On this episode of Our American Stories , before Bob Funk founded Express Employment Professionals he wanted to be an actual minister, but his real calling in helping people find work (and hope) has likely had a much bigger impact—with over 800 franchises throughout the world. The purpose of the business? Connect workers to work.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Suppor...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Kemmons Wilson Jr. tells the story of how his father (Kemmons Wilson) created a hotel chain that established the modern hotel industry.  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 , he grew up in poverty; His first job was at McDonalds... And he would work his way up to become the CEO of 7-Eleven. Here's the story of Jim Keyes, in his own words.  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 , a barcode on most products, properly called a UPC, or “Universal Product Code,” is a necessity for everyday life. Here’s the History Guy with 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 , in Vietnam, the armored personnel carrier Jon Hovde was driving hit an anti-tank mine. The 20-year-old soldier made three promises to God if He would let him live. Linda from Jon’s hometown of Fertile, MN, is here to tell the story.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See...

On this episode of Our American Stories , born into slavery during the Civil War, Ida B. Wells is best remembered as an American journalist who fought tirelessly against lynching during the Jim Crow era. What most people don’t know is that she defended the right of blacks to also own arms.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstorie...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Dr. Martin Couney carried a secret with him, but the results are unimpeachable. It was Coney Island in the early 1900’s. Beyond the Four-Legged Woman, the sword swallowers, and “Lionel the Lion-Faced Man,” was an entirely different exhibit: rows of tiny, premature human babies living in glass incubators. Here to tell the story is Dawn Raffel, author of The...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Stephen Ambrose shares some stories from his #1 New York Times bestseller, Undaunted Courage.  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 , George Will tells the story of Ted Williams. He also tells the story of a San Francisco fisherman, Joe DiMaggio, his “Streak” of a hit in 56 consecutive games, and his steely determination.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

On this episode of Our American Stories , John Ford was Hollywood’s greatest director (Rio Grande and The Seachers, for example). As WWII began, the 47-year-old Ford was at the top of his game when he quit Hollywood and joined the U.S. Navy. Roger McGrath is here to tell the story.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/do...

On this episode of Our American Stories , today we know asbestos to be a health hazard. But the natural mineral was not simply an artifact of the industrial age. Here’s the History Guy telling the story of asbestos.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.