Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ray Caldwell put on a Cleveland Indians uniform for the first time that fateful day—and none of the 20,000 fans at League Park had any idea they were about to witness something beyond belief. We'd like to thank Nick Ragone, host of the popular YouTube channel  This Date in History with Nick Ragone , for sharing this incredible story with us. Supp...

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Chris Kyle wrote American Sniper—later adapted into Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-nominated film—Carlos Hathcock had already cemented his status as a legendary marksman. Known for his efficiency and fearlessness during the Vietnam War, Hathcock wore a white feather on his gear, boldly challenging Communist forces to find him. Here's h...

On this episode of Our American Stories, much was at stake in this first space race. Nations and top scientists across the globe pursued the elusive goal of powered flight, but two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio - brothers with their scant resources...made it happen. This is their story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanst...

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. The 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/do...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Shipley always sprang into action to defend black men and women from abuses and professional kidnappers. He infiltrated murderous mobs, warned would-be victims, and testified against ringleaders throughout his life. Here's his remarkable story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericansto...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2007, Yeonmi Park fled North Korea with her family to South Korea—before moving to the United States in 2014. Here's Yeonmi speaking about her experience at a YAF event in California.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

On this episode of Our American Stories, his name? Jesse Leroy Brown. There's a movie dedicated to him called "Devotion," based on the book of the same name by our regular contributor, Adam Makos. The story is also about Thomas Hudner, who received the Medal of Honor for trying to save Jesse's life. Here to share the story of the man is Jesse's granddaughter, Jessica Leroyce Knight Henry. Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Lincoln was one of the greatest leaders in US history, but before he was elected President of the United States, he used his skills as a wrestler to win approval from the masses. Here to tell the story is wrestling historian (and Our American Stories listener) Mike Chapman. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: htt...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Louise Borden, author of  The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey   shares the story of how one of the most iconic children's book characters in history escaped from the clutches of the Third Reich and into the arms of America.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to know about the history of America, you must know the role the Bible played in shaping our country. Our Founding Fathers, Christian and non-Christian—were heavily influenced by the Bible. Here to share another story is Robert Morgan author of 100  Bible Verses That Made America: Defining Moments That Shaped Our Enduring Foundation o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Melvin Cole, the headmaster of PURE Youth Athletics Alliance in Memphis, tells his astonishing story of going from running cocaine rings to running a boarding school dedicated to helping kids who grew up just like he did. 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, Annie Oakley was a shooting star, a magician whose magic wand was a gun. Right-handed, left-handed, on a horse, through a mirror—she couldn’t miss. At a time when women were only expected to fire up the oven, Annie Oakley fired her way to fame as the world’s greatest sharpshooter. In her personal life, she was a sharpshooter as well. She w...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy tells the story of everything you've ever wanted to know—and more—about toilet paper.  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, shortly after ratifying the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibiting a citizen’s right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude", Thomas Mundy Peterson made history and became our nation's first black voter.  Here to tell this great American story is the Jack Miller Center 's Editorial Offic...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor from Kodiak Island in Alaska, Leslie Leyland Fields, shares the story of the heart-breaking relationship between her and 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 inform...

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. The 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, if you want to know about the history of America, you must know the role the Bible played in shaping our country. Our Founding Fathers, Christian and non-Christian—were heavily influenced by the Bible. Here to share another story is Robert Morgan author of  100 Bible Verses That Made America: Defining Moments That Shaped Our Enduring Foundation o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor and listener Paul Bauer from Minneapolis, MN brings us a story entitled “Lessons from Gizmo” ...about his best friend—his dog.  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 sport of Snowboarding skyrocketed when a young East Coast college graduate made some innovative designs that have lasted to this very day. Here’s our own Greg Hengler to tell us the story of Jake Burton and the sport that became a worldwide phenomenon. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.our...

On this episode of Our American Stories, aided by Mark Twain, the former president and Civil War hero raced to complete a literary masterpiece that saved his wife from destitution. Christopher Klein is here with the 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, buried beneath the St. Patrick’s Day symbols of shamrocks, leprechauns, and green beer, lies the story of a man determined to share a message with a people who made him a slave. Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/li...

On this episode of Our American Stories, today, the word "Puritan" is often used as an insult—but who were the Puritans? Our own Greg Hengler (and others) tell the story of the men and women who tamed the wilderness and shaped what would become America in their own image—and in the image of their God.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw's life was permanently altered when he read  Uncle Tom's Cabin.  He would soon find himself leading one of the Union's first all-black regiments to see combat in the Civil War. Shaw would later be played by Matthew Broderick (I.E Ferris Bueller) in the hit 1989 movie Glory. Here to tell the story is Kirk Higgins of the&nb...

On this episode of Our American Stories, James Smithson was never accepted by his father, the Duke of Northumberland. He never married, had no children, and spent his life studying minerals—but his parting gift to the world upon his death was to a country he never set foot in or even spoke about during his lifetime. Wyatt Hensley, a history education major at Pittsburgh University and a...

On this episode of Our American Stories, although President Eisenhower’s name is forever etched upon our interstate highway system, Charles Zug wanted to know if this was true. Zug is an Assistant Professor of Constitutional Democracy and Political Science at the University of Missouri, a Jack Miller Center fellow, and the author of Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Federal Highway Act . Support...