Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Dr. John Marszalek and Eddie Rangel of the Grant Presidential Library tell the story about how Grant went from selling firewood on a street corner, to leading the US Army to victory in the Civil War. Mike Olbinski is an Arizona based photographer. He takes family photos, shoots weddings and also... chases storms.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericans...

On this episode of Our American Stories , because of the devastating nature of the attack, the U.S. government chose to keep the details of the HMT Rhona hushed. Grove City College PoliSci professor Paul Kengor brings us the details through the eyes of Sergeant Frank Bryer. T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt’s humble birth during the presidency of George Washi...

On this episode of Our American Stories , after the United States pulled out of Vietnam, their allies in Indochina were all alone. Faced with the prospect of slavery, torture, and death at the hands of the Communists they fought against, many asked to be resettled in the United States.  Robert Ray , the governor of Iowa, stepped up. Here again with his reoccurring series is Andrew Thompson as he c...

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. It all went down in the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan, in...

On this episode of Our American Stories , when Ilene Hall enlisted in the Army WAC in 1943, she was following her husband, Edward “Ken” Hall to war. When her husband, to whom she was married in March 1943, finished his training and was about to be shipped overseas, the young Canton, Ohio girl decided not to put an ocean between them. Art Burton , author of countless books on African Americans in t...

On this episode of Our American Stories , more than any other sports figure, Vince Lombardi transformed football into a metaphor of the American experience. David Maraniss (author of " When Pride Still Mattered "), captures all of Lombardi: the myth, the man, his game, and his God. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/don...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Anne Clare tells the story of a nurse who served in the Philippines during World War II, and shares the experience that she and others like her went through after the Japanese invasion there.  Genevieve Church , the third "Goat Lady of San Francisco", is executive director of City Grazing. She shares about how this sustainable land management and fire prev...

On this episode of Our American Stories , what started as a quest to find black fans for a brother-in-law morphed into a lifelong mission to find anything small, electric, and an appliance. Here's the story of "The World's Largest Small Electrical Appliance Museum" in Missouri, and the man behind it all. Some people don’t have the highest view of lawyers, but not every lawyer is an ambulance chase...

On this episode of Our American Stories, David LaBelle's last memory of his mother was seeing her washed away in a raging flood when he was a senior in high school. She would never be found. It took David years to wrestle with the loss, and eventually he decided to write a semi-fictional book about the event called Bridges & Angels as a therapeutic exercise.  No woman figured more prominently...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Carol , the Daughter of Doolittle Raider Jacob DeShazer, shares the story of her father being taken captive by the Japanese as a prisoner of war, and how he chose to forgive the torturers. 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 , World War II history buff, Anne Clare , tells the story of how World War II impacted a small Navy town on the West Coast. Richard Herzog shares the story of an unlikely relationship formed between himself and his high school teacher, which became abusive and caused him to surrender the one thing he loved most: sports. After years of confusion and shame, he...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Brian Edwards tells the story of America's most popular hymn that actually didn't come from America. It was based on the life of English slave trader, John Newton.  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 , Roger Brucker shares the story of radio pioneer, "Skeets" Miller, and the surprising story of the first time a parachute jump was broadcast on live radio. Matthew Denhart and Tracy Messer of the Coolidge Foundation tell the story of America's 30th President, a man molded by his rural hometown of Plymouth Notch, Vermont.  Support the show (https://www.ouram...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Eric Metaxas tells the story of the man who, perhaps more than any other, stirred the conscience of the world to see the horror and evil of slavery, William Wilberforce. 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 , Jeremy Saucier of the Strong Museum of Play shares the history of pinball--from its origins in French parlor games, to its prohibition, and then to its emergence as the immersive and popular game that it is today. Liz Williams , founder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, tells the story of whisky, bourbon, absinthe, and pink elephants... done Cajun...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Sean Kernan of Medium tells the story of Leonard v. PepsiCo Inc. (which is now a law school classic that helps kids navigate the curious world of contract law). Nell Chennault Calloway shares the story of her grandfather, Claire Chennault, who was the leader of the "Flying Tigers" in WWII. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Time...

On this episode of Our American Stories , A man named Paul shares the moving story of his older brother and some special prayers he prayed, in hopes of being just like him. Bill Bryk briefly recounts how New York City became the city it is today, as well as his love for its past. Steve Stoliar grew up as the ultimate Marx Brothers fan. He shares his story of how he led the charge to save one of th...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Christopher Klein tells the story of how our 18th President and Civil War hero, aided by Mark Twain, raced to complete a literary masterpiece that saved his wife from destitution. Hoat Hoang shares the story of his family fleeing Vietnam after Saigon fell to the communists' troops, and how it helped him become an American surgeon. Legendary baseball player...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum tells the story of the iron lung, a device used to keep people with advanced polio alive in the first half of the 20th century. Heather McPherson , Curator of History at the South Carolina Military Museum, shares the story of why she chose her career to honor her great uncle. Roger McGrath tells another "Hollyw...

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. Pete Croatto , author of  From Hang Time to Prime Time ,  explains how the NBA became an 8.3 billion dollar entertainment and cultural icon. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstori...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Richard Cook  tells us the story of how in 1943 the town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee was established and went from 58,000 acres of farmland to a town of 75,000 people to beat Germany to the atomic bomb. 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 , Mary Stockwell , author of Unlikely General: "Mad" Anthony Wayne and the Battle for America tells the story of "Mad" Anthony Wayne and why he is 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 , 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 , Emerich Juettner tells us how he was an upstanding citizen... for most of his life. Here is the story of how the choice to choose three then-minor league hockey players to play the Hanson Brothers in "Slap Shot" starring Paul Newman was made. Steve Snyder tells us how his father, Howard , managed to return from Europe alive during WWII after he and his cre...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Robert Frohlich , author of  Aimless Life, Awesome God,   tells the story of his German born grandfather William Burtner- a man who helped build the "Arsenal of Democracy" in World War II. Professor Emily Thomas from Nickols College Massachusets tells us the story of Clara Barton , founder of the American Red Cross. Support the show (https://www.ouramerica...