Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , teacher, organist, choir director, and World War II history buff Anne Clare tells the story of how World War II impacted a small Navy town on the West Coast. 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 , few people are aware that John Moses Browning —a tall, modest man born in 1855 and raised as a Mormon in the American West-- invented the mechanism used in virtually all modern pistols, created the most popular hunting rifles and shotguns, and conceived the machine guns introduced in World War I which dominated air and land battles in World War II. Nathan...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here again with his recurring 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) S...

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 baffiling mini mysteries of the English language. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories , it’s time for another “Hollywood Goes to War” story from Roger McGrath. Tim McCoy was a major film star most noted for his roles in Western films. He was so popular with youngsters as a cowboy star that he appeared on the cover of Wheaties cereal boxes. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanst...

On this episode of Our American Stories , 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 (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum tells the story of patent medicine, which didn't do much except line the pockets of their creators. 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 , Mike Leven was President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. One of the great hoteliers of all time—a legend in his business. He is also what you would call a “wise man.” Here’s Mike telling the story about how he—a Jew—started the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories , we have another story from our regular listener/contributor Roger Latham , from Fort Worth, Texas. 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 being released in 1983, Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel The Outsiders  has found continued popularity and has achieved official cult status. And now, in what is surely one of the most interesting pop culture intersections of all time, hip-hop artist Danny Boy O’Connor from the rap group House of Pain—best k...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Paul moved our listeners with his story “Wilber and the Empty Nester” and “A Baby Boomer’s Battle with Insanity and Fitness.” Here he is with a story simply titled: “Moose Prayer.” 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 , on April 9, 1865, at the Appomattox County Court House, Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his 28,000 troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. So much has been said about this legendary General in between the years of 1861 to 1865, yet very little is known about this major American historical...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Oliver Halle shares some stories while he was in the Navy during the Vietnam War and also about his family (who resisted the Nazis and fled to America) secret that would forever change his life. The Veteran’s History Project at the Atlanta History Center provides unedited first-person interviews from men and women who served our great country. Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Brad Server grew up watching the Three Stooges on TV not knowing he was related to one of the greatest comics of all time. Every day after school, Brad , his brother, and their friends would pile in front of the television to watch their idol, Curly . Then one day, the secret about their unknown grandfather was unveiled. Brad Server (aka “Curly G”) is here...

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 , how did Indiana get its nickname as “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 inform...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Jim Johnson wowed our listeners back in December with his story, “Everett's Last Christmas Carol.” We asked if had another story to share. 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 Kevin Samy's father's village in India, they actually had to call in a person from another village to teach their children to read. Their chalkboard was the dirt floor of the building they learned in. He'd eventually move to the United States and become an engineer. Kevin Samy shares his family's remarkable American dream story. Support the show (https:...

On this episode of Our American Stories , this is the story of how Levi Strauss got his American Dream stitched into a pair of blue jeans—the fabric of freedom. Here to tell this story is Lynn Downey . Lynn was the first in-house historian for Levi Strauss & Co. and is the author of the wonderfully readable biography, Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World . Support the show (h...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Bruce may be Chinese-born, but as you are about to hear, he’s all American. 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 History Guy remembers rubles, cola and a kitchen that changed history. It is a forgotten moment during the Cold War that deserves to be remembered. 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 , despite being generally liked by the fraternity he was rushing, some parents of the boys expressed their dismay at Eric's wanting to join the group. His would-be fraternity brothers put their enjoyment and reputations on the line to fight the unjustified hate. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ourame...

On this episode of Our American Stories , in 1948, Richard Wurmbrand publicly stated Communism and Christianity were incompatible. As a result, he was imprisoned and tortured by the Communist régime of Romania. After serving a total of fourteen years, he and his wife Sabina—who had also been imprisoned— were ransomed for $10,000 and immigrated to America. Richard Wurmbrand founded the internationa...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here again with his recurring 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) S...

On this episode of Our American Stories , As part of our rule of law series, P.J. Hill, rancher and co-author of “The Not So Wild, Wild West: Property Rights on the Frontier,” explains the misunderstanding behind the American West. Find his book here ( https://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Wild-West-Economics/dp/0804748543 ) Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: ht...