Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Ritz-Carlton co-founder Horst Schulze on one of the few other American companies that’s committed to excellence. 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 , we take a listen to The History Guy as he recalls the forgotten history of Christmas trees. 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 , Phil Anschutz writes in  Out Where The West Begins : “Samuel Colt’s life was the American story written in capital letters.” Here to tell the story is Ashley Hlebinsky , the former co-host of Discovery Channel’s “Master of Arms,” the former curator in charge of the Cody Firearms Museum, and president of The Gun Code, LLC. Support the show (https://www.oura...

On this episode of Our American Stories , dealing with a small budget and with a short deadline, A Charlie Brown Christmas was released to critical acclaim on December 9th, 1965. While audiences loved it, behind the scenes at CBS there were many doubters. Lee Habeeb tells the story of how one of our most beloved Christmas specials came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/do...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the Confederate's 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 their way with ships coming overseas.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.c...

On this episode of Our American Stories , The integration of Major League Baseball in 1947 was a triumph. But it was also a fight. As the first Black major leaguer since the 1880s, Jackie Robinson knew he was not going to be welcomed into America’s pastime with open arms. Dr. Gary Scott Smith , author and professor emeritus of history at Grove City College, shares the story of what gave Robinson t...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Tom Clavin shares some great stories of Joltin' Joe , Dom , and Vince from his book,  The DiMaggios: Three Brothers, Their Passion for Baseball, Their Pursuit of the American Dream . 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 forgotten military history that took place around the Christmas holiday from different time periods and conflicts. This episode is dedicated to those whose service keeps them far from home over the holiday. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See...

On this episode of Our American Stories , In 1966, an SR-71 "Blackbird" disintegrated at 78,000 feet. The pilot's first thought was "No one could live through what just happened". Therefore, I must be dead." For more stories of forgotten history, please subscribe to his YouTube Channel, The History Guy : History Deserves to be Remembered. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate...

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 , on December 7th, 1941, America was attacked by the sovereign nation of Japan in the midst of a war the United States had not entered. On December 8th, the following day, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was tasked with giving the country a speech that would take their fear and anger and direct it towards fighting fascism and tyranny in not one, but two...

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...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here to settle this question once and for all is Stephen Follows . Stephen is an established data researcher in the film industry and wrote the widely circulated answer to this hotly debated question on his website, StephenFollows.com . Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here's Roger Latham from Fort Worth, Texas, telling us a Christmas story he’s titled, “The Real Santa.” 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 the first half of the 19th century, Christmas was a very different kind of holiday than it is today. By the time it was established as a federal holiday—on June 26, 1870—the ways they chose to celebrate Christmas would almost be completely foreign to what we practice today. Here’s Greg Hengler with the real story of our cherished Christmas holiday. Supp...

On this episode of Our American Stories , when you think of cars, you think of Detroit. When you think of steel, you think of Pittsburgh. When you think of airplanes, you should think of Wichita. Here to tell the story of Cessna and Learjet , two companies that made a tremendous impact on the city, is Logan Daugherty and Ben Sauceda of the Kansas Aviation Museum Support the show (https://www.ouram...

On this episode of Our American Stories , The History Guy tells of the story during the Battle of St. Vith, Belgium, on 18 December 1944, where one of the most extraordinary David Vs. Goliath tank actions of the war took place between a little American M8 armored car and Hitler's enormous German King Tiger tank. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https:/...

On this episode of Our American Stories , from its humble beginnings at an Austrian chapel in 1818, Silent Night has become one of the most popular Christmas hymns in history. Here’s the History Guy with the story of Silent Night. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

On this episode of Our American Stories , in 1984, during a period of Cold War tension, a Soviet submarine collided with a United States aircraft carrier. Here’s The History Guy with the story of the USS Kitty Hawk collision. 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 , Billy Graham took the role of evangelist to a new level, lifting it from the sawdust floors of canvas tents in small-town America to the podiums of packed stadiums in the world’s major cities. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

On this episode of Our American Stories , here’s Horst Schulze with a short story about how excellence wins—or the lack of it will cause you and your work environment to lose. 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 , Robin Cook is best known for his novel, Coma. The book was published in 1977, and premiered as a movie the next year. Robin is here to share his life story with us, including how Coma came to be… underwater of all places. 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 , not many teen idols are able to carve a successful career for themselves as they mature, but Frankie Avalon is one of these exceptions. Avalon had 31 charting U.S. Billboard singles from 1958 to late 1962, including number one hits, "Venus" and "Why" in 1959. Avalon is also well known for his role in the 1970s musical film Grease as Teen Angel, in which he...

On this episode of Our American Stories , We’ve heard the stories of Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart. Today McGrath will be treating us to the story of Hollywood legend, Tyrone Power. 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 crew of Apollo 8 and Steve Kates tell the story of their Christmas time mission to the moon--and the reading of Genesis over its surface. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.