Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , for a time, a near-mint Colt Walker held the distinction of being the most expensive gun ever sold after it was auctioned for $1.8 million in 2018. Here to tell the story of the legendary Colt Walker revolver is Logan Metesh. Logan founded and runs High Caliber History LLC and has more than a decade of experience working for the Smithsonian Institution and...

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 , Dr. Jerry Bergman’s here to tell us the story of a teenage boy who became interested in snow. On January 15, 1885, at 20-years of age, he became the first person in the world to photograph a snowflake. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

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 , “Wild Bill" Donovan was one of America’s most exciting and secretive generals—the man President Franklin Roosevelt made his top spy in World War II. “Wild Bill" was director of the Office of Strategic Services (the country’s first national intelligence agency). He is known as the founding father of both the CIA and the military's Special Operations Forces—...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Tom and Lillian Lyons married in 1946. They lived a long and loving life raising a family on the south side of Chicago. Lillian was singing opera professionally when she and Tom met, and it was her voice that first made Tom fall in love.  After Lillian’s death, an unexpected discovery would reunite Tom with Lillian’s voice on Tom’s 97th birthday for one la...

On this episode of Our American Stories , how ironic it is that we’ve recently seen how a product that is disposable to be the product that is most indispensable. Here’s the History Guy with the story of toilet paper. 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 , John Ford was arguably Hollywood’s greatest director. As WWII began, the 47-year-old Ford was at the top of his game and at the top of Hollywood. So what does he do? He quits Hollywood and goes on active duty in 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...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Lex Ginger was told from a young age that she probably would never be able to have children. So, she was extremely shocked when she got pregnant immediately when she and her husband began trying. Some questioned her decision to celebrate this pregnancy that had only a 50% chance of survival... Here she is with her incredible story. Support the show (https:...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Anne Clare tells the story of a nurse who served in the Philippines during World War II, and shares the experience that she and others like her went through after the Japanese invasion there. 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 , Henry Steinway's story is about resiliency and the search for freedom. 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 , as mysterious as it is sacred, the Code is an unwritten set of rules—the bible of hockey sportsmanship, if you will—that has been handed down from generation to generation. Ross Bernstein , author of The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL, spent two years researching this story and is here to share it with you. Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Bill Bryk tells the story of America's first practical politician, Aaron Burr , in a tale of skill, bravery, honor, deception, and memory. Burr was so much more than the man who shot Alexander Hamilton. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

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 , he wasn't an NBA star: He was a sneaker salesman that helped popularize the sport of basketball, and the sneakers that now bear his name. This is his 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 , 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", "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 Ro...

On this episode of Our American Stories , while working for Dick Cavett , Steve Stoliar met not one but two of Hollywood’s greatest dance legends. 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 , meet the woman the Gestapo once considered "the most dangerous of all Allied spies." Judy Pearson tells the tale of a woman whose bravery was greater than the collapsing world around her. 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 , Peter Mutabazi was born on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. He escaped an abusive father by running away to the capital of Uganda, Kampala, where he lived on the streets for 4 years and never slept more than 2 hours... until one day he met a stranger that would change his life forever. For more of Peter's story visit. Support the show (https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum tells the story of the iron lung, a device used to keep people with advanced polio alive in the first half of the 20th century. 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 , take a listen to The History Guy as he tells the history of 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 , in 1898, the chemical element that glows in the dark was discovered. Years later, young women began working in radium factories, which was viewed as a very glamorous, upscale job. Kate Moore , author of “Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women”, shares the story of these women. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Su...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Richard Muniz tells the story of Toby Madrid and his experience of partaking in the testing of an atomic bomb in Nevada. 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 Gatlinburg, Tennessee, right below the Great Smoky Mountains you will find the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. Andrea Ludden , daughter of the original collector, shares the story of how this amazing collection came to be a museum. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Jim O'Brien describes Pittsburgh Steelers' founding owner Art Rooney, Sr. as "the grandfather he needed." Rooney taught O'Brien the importance of always attending the funeral, whether of a friend or an acquaintance. Jim tells the incredible story of what Art Rooney, Sr. did for a man he barely even know while they were both in the middle of deep grief. Sup...