Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories , Lowell Lytle, who witnessed the Titanic in person, tells his story and the story of  The Titanic’s Last Hero . By the time Karl Marlantes  left Vietnam, he had received a Bronze Star and a Navy Cross, our nation's second highest award for valor. But he also left with a burning question: why had so many done more than him and received less, and why had so m...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Bob Huff was born just outside of Dayton, Ohio, in the blue-collar factory town of Moraine City. Bob’s early life was anything but easy… but that clearly didn’t stop Bob.. Dr. Martin Couney carried a secret with him, but the results are unimpeachable and here to tell the story is Dawn Raffel , author of  The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious Eur...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Eric Motley shares how despite being generally liked by the fraternity he was rushing, some parents of the boys expressed their dismay at Eric's wanting to join the group. Gettysburg National Park Service Ranger Matt Atkinson tells the story of the Civil War General who claimed to be insane in court, got his leg shot off by General Longstreet's artillery,...

On this episode of Our American Stories , we hear about how the 25-year publication started out of a need when someone pulled their publication and turned into an international phenomenon... which Mark Twain HATED! The History Guy tells how on June 4, 1974, in Cleveland, trouble was a brewin', the bleachers were loaded, and there was a distinct buzz in the air. Support the show (https://www.ourame...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Historian John Steele Gordon tells the story of how the telegraph went from Samuel Morse to winning WWI and how one man spearheaded the effort to connect America to Great Britain and, in doing so, the rest of the world. Scott Gilbert shares the impact he has had as the president of the Roaring Fourth Valley Chapter of Habitat For Humanity by teaching life...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Earl Smith tells the story of how on January 23, 1961, a B-52 bomber crashed in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Two H-bombs—each 250 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Japan, fell to the ground and he dismantled them. Skip Reeves tells the story of how he came to find out that he was adopted at 30 years old. Support the show (https://www.ouramericans...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Stephen Rusiniak answer's the question: if you could spend one hour talking with anyone, living or not, who would you choose?  Peter Mutabazi , a man who ran away from his abusive father in Africa, got adopted by another family, and eventually fostered and adopted children of his own. Colin Powell’s son, Michael , shares this eulogy from the day his life w...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Thad Beeler shares how he helped people find their family photos after the Joplin tornado of May 2011. Bill Bryk tells the story of America's first practical politician, Aaron Burr, in a tale of skill, bravery, honor, deception, and memory. Burr was so much more than the man who shot Alexander Hamilton. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Dean and Ayesha Sherzai's shared experience of having grandparents succumb to dementia led them to "career suicide" which resulted in success.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/l...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Randy Wilson shares her journey dealing with an eating disorder and overcoming it as a mother. Tom Morton always wanted to join the military...but it took a while to get onto the yellow footprints at Parris Island. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - Battling An Eating Disorder As A Mother 23:00 - Tom Morton Goe...

On this episode of Our American Stories , MollyKate Cline , a 20-year fashion designer featured in New York Fashion Week, shares how she has found beauty and life from darkness. Dr. Bradley Birzer and Dr. Dedra Birzer of Hillsdale College tell the story of the Louisiana Purchase.  Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - Finding Purpose in Life's Darkest Mom...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Sean Kernan of Medium helps us tell the story of Leonard v. PepsiCo Inc. A law school classic that helps kids navigate the curious world of contract law, but in 1999 it was serious business. The History Guy tells us how Big Nose Kate was much more than Doc Holliday's lady. The President of Arizona State University, Michael Crow , brings us behind the scene...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Bill Bright tells us how Emerich Juettner was an upstanding citizen... for most of his life. Masada Siegel shares how her father’s very unexpected reaction to college rejection letters shaped the rest of her life. Wendy Steele could have never imagined that an idea for her community of Cincinnati... would have snowballed into 65 chapters across the world a...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Heidi Viars shares about how her life changed when she began showing some neighborly kindness to an old grumpy retired cop. In college,  Steve Stoliar’s  dad wanted him to get a job, but Steve didn’t want to work at Taco Bell… so he called up Groucho Marx. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - Busy Mother Of Six B...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Chris Graham of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia tells the story of one of their objects on display with an extraordinary story we're just now finding out. Jim Hinckley tells the story of Route 66 starting from its inception to what it has become today. Visit  JimHinckleysAmerica.com  for more on Route 66. Pete Coors tells the story of C...

On this episode of Our American Stories , regular contributor Bill Bryk brings us another adventure in riding and teaches us just how meticulous the grooming routine can be. Danielle Mickelson tells us how her business 'Mickelson Tiny Plants' was expanding and bringing fresh homemade food to the people of Rolla, North Dakota...but how the state health department had other ideas. Bob McLalan shares...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Steve Rakeman was told that his father was passing on his name to him clean, and that Steve should pass it on to his sons the same way. Steve and his son Mike tell how that philosophy has shaped their lives. Ric Mixter of Lake Fury  tells the story of how on November 10th, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald and her 29 man crew were sent to the bottom of Lake Supe...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Andrew Thompson continues to share another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language. English historian Andrew Roberts tells the story of King George III, and why he isn't the man he's often painted out to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - The Wond...

On this episode of Our American Stories , it’s time for another one of Roger McGrath’s “Hollywood Goes To War” stories. Here he is with the story of Henry Fonda. Miles C. Collier, one of the world's top collectors, tells us about "the archeological automobile." Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - Hollywood Goes To War 35:00 - Miles C. Collier on Materia...

On this episode of Our American Stories , One of the most successful blackjack teams in America is made up entirely of Christians. Here to tell the story are two of the winningest players, Colin Jones , founder of  BlackJackApprenticeship.com . And the player dubbed “the most notorious card counter in America,”  David Drury . Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Learn more...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Laura Sangster shares her love story between her and her husband. Bruce may be Chinese-born, but as you are about to hear, he’s all American. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - "I Will Remember for The Both of Us" 23:00 - All-American, Chinese Cowboy Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...

On this episode of Our American Stories , John Busbee of  The Culture Buzz  on KFMG 98.9 tells the story of the remarkable sacrifice made by one family in Iowa during the Civil War. ​ Tammy Harris was born to be an artist... it just took a while for to figure out how to make some money doing it. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes: 00:00 - The Littleton Brothers...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Jason Sautel was a successful and competent firefighter in Oakland, California. Life for Jason seemed to be perfect on the outside… but he was struggling with a darkness in him that started when he was a kid. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories , Betsy and Elaine Brumley talk about how their father, Bob , handled being the son of the man who wrote one of the most important songs in American history....'I'll Fly Away' and he handled that and life in general. Murder and mayhem ran unchecked in the town of Yankee Hill until Willie Kennard showed up. Pete Coors and his daughter Carrie share how their f...

On this episode of Our American Stories , 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. Louise Reilly Sacco tells us about the museum of bad art located in Somerville, Massachusetts. with a collection of over 600 examples of bad art. Sean Smith tells u...