Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, a former high-powered media executive shares how the 37-year Triple Crown drought, finally broken in 2015, brought back a flood of memories of Sundays at the track with his dad 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, when German guilds told him they didn’t need another piano manufacturer, Henry Steinway moved to America and founded Steinway & Sons, establishing a global standard of excellence embraced by everyone from Irving Berlin to Billy Joel. Here’s the story of how one man’s pursuit of the American Dream reshaped the sound of music forever. Su...

On this episode of Our American Stories, oftentimes, when the topic of professional wrestling (think Hulk Hogan) comes up, it’s almost guaranteed that someone will scoff and say it’s “fake.” Here’s Riley Evans, sportswriter and CEO of RealPodcasting.com, with the real story behind professional wrestling. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) S...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the origins of Chick-fil-A’s “my pleasure” catchphrase trace back to 2001. According to Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, it began when he visited a Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel, co-founded by his friend Horst Schulze. Here's Horst with the story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.our...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy shares the remarkable story of Robert Smalls, an escaped slave who stole a Confederate ship, rescued his family, and delivered freedom to many others. 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, Professor Christopher Oldstone-Moore makes the case that today’s bearded renaissance is part of a centuries-long cycle in which facial hairstyles have shifted in response to changing ideals of masculinity. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/liste...

On this episode of Our American Stories, aside from the cherry tree legend, which, of course, isn't true, most of us don't know much about George Washington. To many, he's just a man peering at us from a dollar bill or a figure carved in marble. Here's the definitive story of the most important man in American history. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories, for a time, a near-mint Colt Walker held the distinction of being the most expensive gun ever sold, fetching $1.8 million at auction in 2018. Here to tell the story of the legendary Colt Walker revolver is Logan Metesh. Logan is the founder of High Caliber History LLC and has over a decade of experience working for the Smithsonian Institution and the Nation...

On this episode of Our American Stories, it was one of the oddest—and best—musical collaborations of the 20th century. Old-school pop crooner Bing Crosby partnered with British glam rocker David Bowie to create one of the most cherished Christmas songs of all time. But it almost didn’t happen. Here's the story of what went on behind the scenes to make sure it did. Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch clothing stores conquered malls in the late ’90s and early ’00s with gorgeous models, pulsing dance beats, and a fierce scent. What most people don’t know is that the company was founded in 1892 in New York City as an outfitter for elite outdoorsmen. Here to tell the full story is Ashley Hlebinsky, former co-host of...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. His book is  Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/don...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Margie Siegal was a teenager, she had a boyfriend with a motorcycle. The boyfriend was forgettable—the motorcycle wasn’t. Since then, she has written extensively about motorcycle history and is the author of Harley-Davidson: A History of the World’s Most Famous Motorcycle . Here she is with the story of Harley-Davidson. Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the brand-new Saturday Night Live first took the airwaves by storm, it was Chevy Chase’s clumsy impression of Gerald R. Ford—an All-American athlete turned commander-in-chief—that changed how Americans saw their president. The sketch also shaped the future of political satire, presidential impersonations, and even the 1976 election it...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Greg McDonald got his start in show business as a teenager after meeting Elvis Presley and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, shortly after Parker began managing Elvis in the 1950s. Here’s Greg with the stories. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/l...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1851, Olive Oatman was a thirteen-year-old pioneer traveling west with her Mormon family. Within a decade, she was a white Indian with a chin tattoo, caught between cultures. Here to tell the story is the executive of True West magazine, Bob Boze Bell. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories, he wasn’t an NBA star - he was a sneaker salesman who helped popularize the sport of basketball and the iconic shoes that now bear his name. Our host, Lee Habeeb, shares his life story. 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, climb aboard! The late, great historian Stephen Ambrose shares the epic story of how Americans laid 1,900 miles of track from Omaha to Sacramento to complete one of our nation’s greatest infrastructure achievements—the Transcontinental Railroad. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2018, the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral, making her one of the most well-known inmates in the world. Here's Cyntoia with her story of trauma, incarceration, and redemption. 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 Brooklyn Bridge, with its unprecedented length and two stately towers, was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World" after its completion. The connection it forged between the massive population centers of Brooklyn and Manhattan forever changed the course of New York City. Here’s The History Guy with the story. Support the show ( https://www.o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Nathaniel Gordon of Portland, Maine, holds the distinction of being the only American ever executed for the crime of slave trading. Although many were caught in the act, sentences were often lenient, and most slave traders knew they had little to fear—until Abraham Lincoln. Jonathan W. White, author of  Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Muti...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice from his guide to unraveling the baffling mini mysteries of the English language. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases , explores where our favorite sayings come from—and what they  really  mean. Be sure to check it out! Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories, you’ve probably heard that during his famous midnight ride through the Massachusetts countryside to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of the impending British occupation of Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere shouted, “The British are coming!” But that’s not quite true. Sabrina Bhattacharjya, a 14-year-old history enthusiast and foun...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor from Kodiak Island, Alaska, Leslie Leyland Fields, shares the heartbreaking story of her relationship with her father—and it’s not what you’d expect. 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, Scott Jones, a regular contributor to  Our American Stories  and author of  Growing Up Rural , shares the story of a boy named Leo and the special letters he wrote to his family during the war. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Karla Duerson shares what it was like to be pregnant with—and give birth to—her daughter Wylie. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.