Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , the Confederates didn't have the industrial might to build their own ships. As a result, cash crops proved king once again-at least for a little while, before the Union blockade had its way with ships coming from overseas. 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 , being in the Army Air Corps in WWII was dangerous but necessary work, and Steve Snyder's father Howard faced the full consequences of that when his plane, the Susan Ruth, was shot down over Belgium. Steve tells the story of his survival behind enemy lines. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories , meet Ron Brown, a man who grew up in a rough area of Chicago, was practically abandoned by his father, and would mend their relationship later on in 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 , when Lincoln was asked on a questionnaire to describe his education he only wrote one word: defective. That didn't stop him from becoming one of the premiere thinkers of his time. 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 , the book  Witness: A True Story of Soviet Spies in America and the Trial That Captivated the Nation  is one of the biggest U.S. bestsellers of the 20th century, yet it is almost unknown among Americans today. Here to tell the story is Greg Forster on behalf of the Acton Institute. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories , often, art imitates life; this time, life imitated art. Two of America's most famous actors (Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino in the movie Heat) inspired the most famous bank robbery in American history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

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/d...

On this episode of Our American Stories , historian Stephen Ambrose tells us the unlikely World War II story of George McGovern, the antiwar Democratic presidential candidate who was defeated by President Nixon in 1972. 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 backstory of Jersey Mike's Subs, with founder Peter Cancro and his remarkable journey. 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 , Citadel Communications President and former ABC Board of Governors Director Ray Cole shares the stories of the people who impacted him the most over his long career. 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 man who stirred the conscience of the world to see the evil of slavery was William Wilberforce. His efforts helped bring liberty to untold millions, and changed the history of the world. Eric Metaxas is the New York Times best-selling author of Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce. He's here to tell the story! Support the show (https://www.ouramericansto...

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...

On this episode of Our American Stories , much of what’s known about legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre has been kept between the goal posts. So Greg Hengler sat down with Brett in his Hattiesburg, Mississippi, home for this part 5 of our 5-part series. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/lis...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Andrew Thompson, the author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases, shares another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/...

On this episode of Our American Stories , aided by Mark Twain, the former president and Civil War hero raced to complete a literary masterpiece that saved his wife from destitution. Christopher Klein is here 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 , our next story comes to us from Mariam Ibrahim, who lives in Virginia. But the story begins far from there. 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 , straight out of a Horatio Alger novel, the Silver Kings (John Mackay, James Fair, William O'Brien, and James Flood) epitomized the rags-to-riches American dream story. Roger McGrath tells the story of the richest mineral discovery in American history - the Comstock Lode. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https:/...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leauges Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, tells the story of perhaps the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball: Satchel Paige. 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 , Walter Gretzky died at the age of 82. His death prompted an avalanche of tributes for a genuine, approachable, authentic person who nurtured the unsurpassed hockey talents of his son, Wayne Gretzky, on the family's famed backyard rink in Brantford, Ontario. The 60-year-old NHL legend-turned-American citizen spoke shortly after laying his father to rest. Su...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the Lone Ranger, with his cry of “Hi-Ho Silver!” has become an American institution ranking with Paul Bunyan in the realms of folklore and legend. The History Guy remembers Bass Reeves, John Reynolds Hughes, and forgotten history of the Wild West. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories....

On this episode of Our American Stories , a legend and leader in the hotel world, Horst Schulze has reshaped how service and hospitality are defined in business—standards that have become world famous. Throughout the years he worked for both Hilton Hotels and Hyatt Hotels Corporation before becoming one of the founding members of the reinvigorated luxury hotel chain, The Ritz-Carlton, in 1983. Her...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Andrew Thompson, the author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases, continues to share another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerican...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the Nazi war machine was attacking St. Vith, Belgium to support their last-ditch offensive - The Battle of the Bulge. Would the Americans and allies hold out long enough to ultimately defeat the offensive? Moments of professionalism, courage, and initiative like this one, between an American armored car and a German Tiger tank, would make the difference. S...