Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Ace Collins is the author of  Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas . Collins is an ace at song history, and he’s here to introduce you to people you’ve never met, stories you’ve never heard, and meanings you’d never have imagined. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/d...

On this episode of Our American Stories , our next storyteller has the privilege of being in one of the most beloved movies of all time—while, at the same time, and from the same movie—also has one of the most famous lines in movie history. Her story is as Wonderful as both of these accomplishments. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories , this is the story of Gail Halvorsen , a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a war-torn Soviet-blockaded Berlin following WWII. As he performed his duties, Lt. Halvorsen began to notice the German children gathered by the fences of Tempelhof Air Base....

On this episode of Our American Stories , it is called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Here’s Brian Benjamin sharing the story from his book, Christmas, 1776. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories , it’s hard to believe that something wonderful could come out of a family’s house, filled with presents, decorations, food, and memories, being completely blown away by a tornado just days before Christmas. But once you hear this story from Carla Harris , you just might be convinced otherwise. Here’s Carla with her story of “the perfect Christmas”. Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Larry Arnn tells the story of how George Washington turned the tides of war in favor of the US at Trenton and Princeton. 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 , Leslie Leyland Fields , who’s been on our show before joins us with another great story. Today, Leslie shares with us a story she’s entitled “The Miracle of Sir Nick”.  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 , Jim Johnson finds peculiar friends wherever he goes. This story is about one such friend, Everett Motl. 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 Salvation Army's Christmas Red Kettle has been an American icon for 125 years. But for many Americans, this is all they know about the Salvation Army… until now. We’d like to thank the folks at Vision Video for giving us access to their wonderful documentary, Our People: The Story of William and Catherine Booth . Support the show (https://www.ourameric...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Comedian Leland Klassen is here to share stories from his Christmas past. 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 , Jennifer Yuengling is one of the four 6th generation sisters who are carrying on their great-great-great grandfather's legacy in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and across 26 states. She shares about working with family, the secret to the company's success, and a whole lot more. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https...

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 th...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Rikk Dunlap has always been a writer, and writing has even become a way for him to come to grips with tragedy. He never dreamed, though, that his work would be a regular feature on the biggest holiday movie channel around. 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 , Judith Pierson tells us the story of Navy corpsman Estel Myers and his story of survival in the WWII's Pacific theater. 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 from our regular contributor, Christopher Klein . Klein is the author of four books and is a frequent contributor to the History Channel. 26-year-old actor, John Wilkes Booth , was killed just 12 days after he assassinated Abraham Lincoln . Here’s Christopher Klein with the story of how the city of Boston embraced the Booth brothers. S...

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 luxury hotel chain, The Ritz Carlton in 1983. Support the show (...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Anne Claire tells the story of the Battle of Midway, America's "make or break" moment in World War II. 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 , mere weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an all important stop to the United States to visit with President Roosevelt and to address Congress about the path before them.   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 , in 1968, the 19-year-old Frank Olivo was dressed as Santa Claus at an Eagles’ football game where he was booed and pelted with snowballs. Here to tell the story is Frank’s first-cousin and best friend, Richard Monastra . Here’s Rich starting with a little background on both him and “Snowball Santa,” Frank Olivo . Support the show (https://www.ouramericanst...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the CSS Hunley's sinking of the Housatonic was only a partial success, but represents the first time a submarine managed to sink an enemy vessel...and it happened in Charleston Harbor during the Civil War. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Jim Johnson’s heart-moving story, “Everett's Last Christmas Carol,” needed a follow up. Here he is again, Jim Johnson with the Christmas tree 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 , Jonathan Mattox is co-chairman of The Christmas Store, founded in 1975. Jonathan tells us about this annual event that gives out toys to families in need during Christmas. 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 , six months after its American introduction in 1985, the Yugo was a punchline; within a year, it was a staple of late-night comedy. By 2000, NPR's "Car Talk" declared it "the worst car of the millennium." And for most Americans that's where the story begins and ends. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www....

On this episode of Our American Stories , The Salvation Army's Christmas Red Kettle has been an American icon for 125 years. But for many Americans, this is all they know about the Salvation Army… until now. We’d like to thank the folks at Vision Video for giving us access to their wonderful documentary, "Our People: The Story of William and Catherine Booth." Support the show (https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories , John Adams is the Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of America’s founding father and second president that was the basis for the acclaimed HBO series, brilliantly told by master historian David McCullough . The John Adams story you are about to hear was given by David McCullough at The John Adams Institute in the Netherlands. The Institutes’ name commemorat...