Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , The History Guy remembers a truly extraordinary Civil War heroine, Mary Edwards Walker. She was the only woman in United States history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. 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 , Thomas Jefferson’s impact on our country cannot be overstated. He fought for religious liberty, states rights, and the expansion and strengthening of America as a up-and-coming nation. His legacy is memorialized in many locations across the country, not the least of which his own residence in Charlottesville, Virginia… Monticello. Support the show (https:/...

On this episode of Our American Stories , you've heard Christopher Klein tell the story of “How Johnny Carson Saved Twister.” He’s back with another one. Aided by Mark Twain , the former president and Civil War hero raced to complete a literary masterpiece that saved his wife from destitution. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericansto...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is still in a glass coffin... but so is an American man along the shores of Lake Michigan. Chris Siriano tells this curious story about the coffin and the robbery of it. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Halloween historian Lisa Morton is going to be unpacking the history of Haunted Attractions (AKA: Halloween Haunted House) which is directly tied into today’s practice of Trick-or-Treating.  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 , we hear how in 2017, Rhode Islander, Joe Jutras , broke the record for the largest giant green squash ever grown coming in at 2118lbs. Here he shares all that goes into growing these giant fruits. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

On this episode of Our American Stories , we explore why we participate in these strange celebrations every Halloween season. Lesley Bannatyne is the author of Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History  and Lisa Morton is the author of  Trick Or Treat: A History of Halloween . Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.co...

On this episode of Our American Stories , the official Texas State Historian Monte Monroe tells the sweeping story of how the Texas we know and love today found its footing as a nation in response to tyranny and oppression. 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 , this next story comes to us from Sarah Wells , author of " American Honey: A Field Guide to Resisting Temptation ." 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 , from the bifocals to the cotton gin to the automobile to the iPhone, America country has produced creations that make our lives better… but sometimes, we invent things with recreation, and not productivity, in mind. Natascha Biebow , author of " The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons ," is here to tell us the story of Edwin Binn...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Karen Thomson and her son Joe Meilink are the definition of determination. Here they are along with Joe’s wife, Vicky , to share their 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 , 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...

On this episode of Our American Stories , “The Great Vowel Shift” was the single greatest change in the history of the English language that has now become the official language in over 75 countries. 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 , Theodore Roosevelt was just 42-years-old when he took office in 1901—the youngest president ever.  It was the West that molded Roosevelt into a man and it was here where he learned to “carry a big stick.” Here to tell the story is Roger McGrath and Michael Blake . Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ou...

On this episode of Our American Stories , this next story comes to us from a listener, Paul Bauer —a regular contributor out of Minneapolis, MN. 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 , known as “Canada's hockey dad,” Walter Gretzky died at the age of 82. His death prompted an avalanche of tributes for a genuine, approachable, authentic person who nurtured the unsurpassed hockey talents of his son Wayne Gretzky on the family's famed backyard rink. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.o...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Tom Zoellner purchased a diamond engagement ring and proposed. His girlfriend said, "yes" and then, suddenly, walked out of his life making Tom the owner of a used engagement ring. Instead of hitting the self-help shelves of his local bookstore, he hit the road to discover the true worth of this shining gem and then wrote  The Heartless Stone . Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories , in 2020 Ginsberg retired as the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Communications at SoftBank Group Corp, and he served at the highest levels at both Time Warner and News Corp. He’s here to share how the 37-year Triple Crown drought that was broken in 2015 brought with it a flood of memories of Sundays at the race track with his Dad. Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories , we know asbestos to be a health hazard. But the natural mineral was not simply an artifact of the industrial age. Here’s the History Guy telling the story of asbestos. 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 , Stephen Ambrose shares some stories from his #1 New York Times bestseller,  Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West . 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 , to Bat Masterson , gunslingers were hoodlums who killed for fun. He used guns to enforce the law or defend a friend. In the end, he’d achieved a feat almost none of the Old West legends had attained: he lived to see old age. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystud...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Mike Eruzione —the captain of the 1980 U.S Men’s Olympic Hockey Team—recounts the unlikely circumstances that led to his amazing career on ice, the legendary upset against the Soviets, and his game-winning gold medal goal. 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 , Blair Linne’s personal story of growing up without a father at home reflects the experiences of millions of Americans. Blair beautifully tells her story in her book,  Finding My Father  and is here to share it with us. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Merian C. Cooper wanted to be an adventurer. It was a wish that propelled him into journalism, the National Guard, military aviation, two world wars, and a movie producer and writer, working on some cinematic classics, including King Kong in 1933. He even played one of the pilots in the film. Here again to tell this "Hollywood Goes to War" story is Roger M...

On this episode of Our American Stories , a mass shooting took place on November 7, 2018, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-western bar frequented by college students. 13 people were killed. Tyler Spady’s here to share his story of survival and hope. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstorie...