Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Sarah Winchester was a woman of independence, drive, and courage who lives on in legend. And the mansion she built is world renowned as much for the many design curiosities and innovations as it is for the reported paranormal activity. Here to separate fact from fiction is Ashley Hlebinsky. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here again with his reoccurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases author, Andrew Thompson, as he 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)...

On this episode of Our American Stories , we are about to hear the untold story of Hollywood legend Steve McQueen, born on This Day in History in 1930, told by a McQueen expert, Marshall Terrill. 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 , Marks Youth Outreach is a nonprofit organization that all started through the work of a few men in Quitman County. These men saw a need for reaching out to and mentoring the at-risk youth of their community, and decided to do something about it. Joining us is one of those men, named Edgar Sculark, with the story of how it got started. Support the show (htt...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here again with his reoccurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases author, Andrew Thompson, as he 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)...

On this episode of Our American Stories , much of what America and the world knows about Doc Holliday comes from movies and television. But historians agree that no movie portrayal has ever done justice to the real Doc Holliday—until now. Here to tell the story of Doc Holliday is Roger McGrath, author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier. Support the show (https://w...

On this episode of Our American Stories , George Will tells the story of Ted Williams and the son of a San Francisco fisherman, his “Streak,” and steely determination. 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 O'Brien was a Hollywood star, but he left the fame and fortune to fight for his country in WWI, WWII, and Korea! Roger McGrath 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 , the inventor and CEO of “My Pillow” is here to tell the improbable tale of how a small-town guy with a dream somehow made it a reality. Mike Lindell’s story is a raw, authentic account by a man most people thought would never rise above his addiction-fueled failures. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www...

On this episode of Our American Stories , in a thrilling, moment-by-moment narrative based on a wealth of recently declassified documents and in-depth interviews, authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin tell the remarkable story of the evacuation of Saigon in Last Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam. This closing chapter of the war would become the largest-scale evacuation...

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 , on this day in History in 1963, Alcatraz closed... The History Guy shares the story about an escape attempt in the infamous Alcatraz Federal penitentiary in San Francisco, California, that led to a standoff. The penitentiary the inmates called "the Rock,” was supposed to be escape-proof, but that did not keep some prisoners from trying. Support the show (h...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Britney Ruby Miller is CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment where she leads a team of more than 500 employees across 7 luxury steakhouses in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Britney is the author of 5-Star Life: The Faithful Fight to Overcome Obstacles and Pursue Excellence. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: htt...

On this episode of Our American Stories , when the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral in 2018, Cyntoia Brown was the most popular inmate in the world. She's here to share her 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 , since the company’s inception in 2005, Liquid A** has been a popular product amongst pranksters across the world. The two-pack on Amazon currently has an unprecedented 36,000-plus reviews with a 4 1/2-star rating! [BTW: Read the ratings if you want a good laugh.] So who goes about creating such a spray? Well, a teenager, obviously. Here to tell the story a...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Ford's Theater re-enactor Mike Robinson tells the full unknown story through the eyes of AC Richards, Washington's Superintendent of Police. 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 amazing true story of David Klein, an eccentric candy inventor from Los Angeles, who is the creator and founder of Jelly Belly jellybeans. David’s eccentric personality and peculiar sense of business led him to leave Jelly Belly just as it was about to explode and grow into a billion dollar enterprise. Here’s David Klein to share the story of h...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Leslie Leyland Fields tells us about the heart-breaking relationship between her and her father. And it's not what you'd expect. 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 , Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, tells the story of a man many historians consider to be the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball: Leroy "Satchel" Paige. 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 , Batman is a household name. His list of comic issues, let alone live action movies, animated films and tv shows, video games, you name it, is nothing short of astounding… but this wasn’t always the case. Andrew Farago, Curator at the Cartoon Art Museum and author of Batman: The Definitive History of the Dark Knight in Comics, Film, and Beyond, is here to t...

On this episode of Our American Stories , buried beneath the St. Patrick’s Day symbols of shamrocks, leprechauns, and green beer, lies the story of a man determined to share a message with a people who made him a slave. 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 , Heidi Viars shares about how her life changed when she began showing some neighborly kindness to a grumpy old cop. 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 , some believe he was the most important composer of the 20th century, in or out of jazz. Terry Teachout, one of America's best culture writers and author of Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington, tells the story of the jazz legend, his music, his struggles, his triumphs and so much more. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories , on June 4, 1974, in Cleveland, trouble was a brewin', the bleachers were loaded, and there was a distinct buzz in the air. 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 , Dawn Newlan suffered from PTSD after witnessing her husband's suicide. William Lambert suffered from survivors' guilt after a hellish trip overseas. Both we're saved... by horses. Here they are telling their remarkable story of how equine therapy saved their lives. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.o...