Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , taking an interesting twist on our “Rule of Law” series, Christopher Warren shares the history of the U.S. Postal Service and a time when people mailed their children… And on one instance, an entire bank. 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 , 100 years before Rosa Parks refused to leave her seat on a bus in Montgomery, there was Elizabeth Jennings , who refused to leave hers in New York City. Jerry Mikorenda , author of  America's First Freedom Rider,  tells the remarkable story of the event that would desegregate NYC transportation  before  the Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, and abolition o...

On this episode of Our American Stories , in the late 1960s Karl Marlantes had a decision to make. He could serve in a war that he saw as unjust, desert to Algeria or Sweden, or stay at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship as his high school friends fought and died in Vietnam. Marlantes decided to serve. But why? Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: h...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the term hobo is often confused with homeless or beggar, but the truth is, wandering through life was what they preferred. Connecticut Shorty of The Hobo Museum shares the story of the American hobo and how they are still celebrated today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/dona...

On this episode of Our American Stories , this elderly penguin named Enrique lives at the St. Louis Zoo. After being diagnosed with arthritis in his feet, the zoo began trying to find ways to make him comfortable. Marija Elden , the Zoological Manager of Birds, shares Enrique’s journey to owning a pair of pretty cool kicks. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the s...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Tyler Groenendal of Grand Rapids, Michigan, has perhaps the most interesting side gig of all-time... reviewing onion rings—and he's been doing it for years and has no plans to stop. 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 , Abraham Lincoln is often referred to as "the Great Emancipator"... but that's not the entire truth. Our regular contributor Jon Elfner and Dr. Kate Masur , author of "Until Justice Be Done," tell the rest of the story that begins with three runaway slaves. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories , we hear about the leadership lessons that Bill Koch took with him the rest of his life! 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 , Rona Simmons , author of  The Other Veterans Of World War II, Stories from Behind the Front Lines , tells the story of Bill Scott , an African American combat engineer and photographer from Alabama who became one of the "black angels" for prisoners at Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the sh...

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 , if you think of the quintessential American fruit, it would probably have to be the apple. But apples are not our cheapest fruit—bananas are! But why? Here’s The History Guy with the story of the banana. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Lt. Col. Harry Stewart fought for his country in WW2, and faced discrimination and worse along the way. But he said he'd do it all over again for the country he loves. 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 , Ss the great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington , the former slave-turned famous educator, and founder of Tuskegee University, Sarah Washington O’Neal Rush has been influenced by her great-grandfather’s rise above slavery, his relentless stand on inner strength, and his principles on personal development. Here she is to tell her story (from her book "Ri...

On this episode of Our American Stories , flying for the United States in WWII was dangerous work, and the numbers show for it. In the Eighth Air Force alone, 26,000 men paid the ultimate sacrifice—one half of the casualties in the entire U.S. Army Air Force. It was only by sheer grit and a little bit of luck that Steve Snyder's father, Howard, managed to return from Europe alive, as he and his cr...

On this episode of Our American Stories , it takes some time to find what we enjoy AND what we're good at. Joshua Texidor definitely found that out when he moved to Nashville. 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 the 16th President’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln . Because of his father, Abraham Lincoln , Robert Todd's life has been largely forgotten—but it 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 in...

On this episode of Our American Stories , many people wrongfully think that Jews are only city folk. The Breman Museum of Jewish History proves that wrong. Longtime archivist Sandy Berman and Founding Executive Director Jane Leevi tell the story of their museum. 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 , here to tell another Hollywood Goes to War story is Roger McGrath . McGrath is the author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier. A U.S. Marine and former history professor at UCLA, Dr. McGrath has appeared on numerous History Channel documentaries and is a regular contributor for us here at Our American Stories. Support the s...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Nancy Ball shares how “Being an Ole Miss Fan is in and of Itself a Lesson in Humility.” 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 , chances are that you've heard of George Washington Carver before, or that he invented peanut butter. While you might be surprised to find out that he didn't invent it (that honor goes to Canadian Marcellus Gilmore Edson ), that doesn't make him any less remarkable a figure in American history. Here to tell his story is National Park Service ranger Curtis G...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Monte Monroe , the Texas State Historian, shares with us how Texas joined the Union after becoming it's own nation... and how the spirit of Texan "independence" became a thing. 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 , one of our listeners, George Gozzard , shares the story of his big band trumpeter father, Harry Gozzard . 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 , What you might know about Ralph comes from the 2004 Disney movie "Miracle," which is the true story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that upset the powerful Soviets en route to the gold medal at Lake Placid. Here's Ralph to share the moment that changed his life forever. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: htt...

On this episode of Our American Stories , our regular contributor, Anne Claire, tells the story of the time the United States almost went to war with the United Kingdom over the untimely death of a pig in what is now Washington State. 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 , Genevieve Church , the third "Goat Lady of San Francisco", is executive director of City Grazing. Listen to her share about how this land management and fire prevention non-profit came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...