Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 29, 1774, Benjamin Franklin was called to appear in Britain before a select group of the King's advisors—in an octagonal-shaped room in a Palace called 'the Cockpit'. Though Franklin entered the room as a dutiful servant of the British crown, he left as a budding American revolutionary. This event ultimately pitted Franklin against his son,...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark Metcalf is best known for his role as the sadistic ROTC officer Douglas C. Neidermeyer in the 1978 comedy Animal House. He is also known for playing the role of “The Maestro” on the hit sitcom Seinfeld as well as for his recurring role as “The Master” on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mark's life story is as lar...

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Lincoln Clem was just 12 years old when he picked up a drum and marched into battle becoming the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history. Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of  John Lincoln Clem: Civil War Drummer Boy,  tells the remarkable story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy tells the story of one of the most extraordinary David vs. Goliath tank battles of WW2, which involved a little American M8 armored car and Hitler's enormous King Tiger tank. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story has been considered one of the most spectacular and best-corroborated UFO close encounters of all time. Ashley Hlebinsky is here to tell 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, Mariam Ibrahim lives in Virginia—but her story begins far from there and under very different, and dire, circumstances. Here she is to tell her remarkable story of survival and freedom. 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, the late historian Stephen Ambrose tells a short story from his terrific book  The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany.  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 subject of FDR’s relationship with Joseph Stalin during WWII is for many observers, a puzzle. How could the leader of the free world and the face of American capitalism have had a working relationship—let alone something resembling a friendship—with a person who embodied the complete opposite? A brutal, ruthless, totalitarian dictator...

On this episode of Our American Stories, William Wrigley, Jr. was a brilliant businessman, but his ingenuity was outshined by his love for his wife. Here's the story of how he made his fortune and then spent it on the one he loved. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Pat Boone got engaged on a Saturday and married the next day (by his high school principal)—at 19! Here he is with the story of how he balanced fame and fortune with faith and family. 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, despite being generally liked by the fraternity he was rushing, some boys' parents expressed their dismay at Eric Motley wanting to join the group. His would-be fraternity brothers put their enjoyment and reputations on the line to fight the unjustified hate. Here he is to tell his story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate )...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Harry S. Truman was never supposed to be President—but that's exactly what happened when Franklin Roosevelt passed away following a stroke in the early days of his fourth term in office. Here's the story of how a man who grew up in rural Missouri went from the farmhouse to closing out WWII and building the world that would exist afterward.  Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, after running the North American cocaine trade for the cartel in his early 20s, Jorge Valdes found salvation rather than death. Here he is to tell his remarkable 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, Professor Susan Brownell shares how the Olympics ended up in St. Louis in the first place—and culminated in an absolute disaster of a marathon.  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, regular contributor to OAS, and author Leslie Leyland Fields tells her story of how she came to write her own memoir. 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, Wally Soplata tells the story of his eccentric union carpenter father who collected rare and vintage WWII aircraft for pennies on the dime—and stored them in his backyard. 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, Albert Brumley wrote classic hymns like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Turn Your Radio On,” but he left behind much more. His son Bob carried the legacy – and Bob’s daughters did the same. Here is the Brumley family story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramerican...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jim McCloskey grew up in church, but as he got older, he wanted nothing to do with his childhood faith. After a successful business career, Jim found himself feeling empty. He decided to return to church, and—to his surprise—began considering seminary, which would lead him to a jail cell with an innocent man in it. Support the show ( https://www...

On this episode of Our American Stories, George Will's volume on baseball is one of the most acclaimed sports books ever written. Here he is to tell the story of Yankee's star, Yogi Berra. 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, and that’s not a knock-on Peyton. It’s a testament to ethics being lived out heroically at this great American company. 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, just days before his death, the 40-year-old Maravich shared his story to a small audience about his life pursuing success and fame—until that pursuit brought him to his knees. This is the story of him coming to Christ. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystu...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Colonel Sanders did something no other restaurant founder dared to do — he became his company’s mascot and brand ambassador! Here to share the story of KFC and a little about who Colonel Sanders was is Adam Chandler, author of  Drive Thru Dreams . Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, find out how Barry Levinson went from arguing cases in front of the Supreme Court to operating the largest museum dedicated to mustard in the world. 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, Dana Mitch tells the story of her trip to Buchenwald, the largest concentration camp on German soil, and how she reconnected with her family because of it. 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, in this episode of the Mclalan Files, Bob brings us the story of his father’s death. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.