Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, “Genius,” wrote poet Charles Baudelaire, “is only childhood recalled at will.” Few people have given more credence to this notion than Maurice Sendak, who was—in the words of The New York Times—“widely considered to be the most important children’s book artist of the 20th century.” Here’s Greg Heng...

On this episode of Our American Stories, she was the youngest person ever to be featured on the cover of Entrepreneur magazine. Alina Morse, CEO of Zolli Candy, 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, Ford's Theater reenactor Mike Robinson tells the full unknown story through the eyes of A.C. Richards, Washington's Superintendent of Police. 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, Scot Bertram and Christian Schneider of the podcast Wasn't That Special: 50 Years of SNL  tell the story of how a reserved Canadian and a rag-tag group of unknown comedians from across the country created one of the longest-lasting and most important shows of all time.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories, for generations, students in American elementary schools were taught Christopher Columbus “sailed the ocean blue” to discover America in 1492. Today, that lesson is changing in schools across the suburbs and country. Here to tell the story of Christopher Columbus is Laurence Bergreen, who wrote the definitive biography Columbus: The Four Voyages...

On this episode of Our American Stories, you've heard that you, "Don't Mess with Texas." This story from our regular listener/contributor Roger Latham, from Fort Worth, Texas, exemplifies that statement. 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, our host, Lee Habeeb shares the story behind  the story of Lincoln's most important words—the Gettysburg Address. 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 our 33rd episode of "The Story of America" series, Bill McClay, author of  Land of Hope , tells the story of what happened after the guns fell silent across America following our deadliest man-made disaster to date—the Civil War—and how despite massive gains in bringing "liberty and justice to all", not all was well in transforming and h...

On this episode of Our American Stories, A listener, Paul Bauer, tells the story of his prayer to be as tall as his very big brother, "Moose." 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, Jim Johnson, a listener of Our American Stories from Minnesota, tells the story of when he sold hotdogs for the Minnesota Twins as a young boy.  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, following the Charles Manson murders, Manson's lead henchman, Tex Watson, stayed in Los Angeles for almost two months before fleeing to Texas where he was arrested. But it’s those two months following the Manson murders, where this story from our listener (Patty Kingsbaker) picks up. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Rod Serling was the most prestigious writer in American television. As creator, host, and primary writer for The Twilight Zone, Serling became something more: an American icon. Here to tell the story is Nick Parisi, author of  Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination . Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show:...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story is about a 17-year-old kid named Bob Heft who designed the 50-star American flag we fly proudly to this very day!  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, we talk to author and journalist James Maguire on everything from Ed Sullivan's early child to the legacy he left. It's a deep dive into the pursuit and price of fame .  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, experience the gripping drama of the front lines as a valiant pigeon becomes the last hope to stop a brutal friendly-fire barrage! Historian Frank Blazich, from the National Museum of American History, shares the story of the use of homing pigeons during WWI. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ourame...

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, John O'Leary, the bestselling author of On Fire tells the story of why his mother forced him to eat on his own and play the piano despite having no fingers after having been burned on 100% of his body as a nine-year-old. 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, ...and then running her own business and helping others find work! Suazo Center founder Gladys Gonzalez shares how her American Dream began by losing her job running banks in Colombia to cleaning floors in America! 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, Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Baseball Leagues Museum, tells the story of a man who started in Kansas City, made his way to Brooklyn, and swept across the nation. 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, for nearly fifty years, Josephine Earp was married to the most famous lawman of the Old West, Wyatt Earp. Ann Kirschner, author of Lady at the O.K Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp ,  is here to tell her story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate...

On this episode of Our American Stories, John O'Leary is the bestselling author of On Fire. Today he shares the story of how after being burnt on nearly 100% of his body, faith, family, and a hall-of-fame radio broadcaster named Jack Buck got him through some of the darkest times in his life when he was only nine years old. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Scott Jones, author of Growing Up Rural , shares the story of one of the most embarrassing moments of his time in elementary school, and the lessons he learned from 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, ...as if spending the night in a funeral parlor wasn't scary enough! Our American Stories listener Tom Ryan brings us a chilling tale from the family funeral parlor. 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, long before NASCAR’s rampant commercialism lurks a not-so-distant history that has been carefully hidden from view—until now. Here to tell the true story behind NASCAR’s hardscrabble, moonshine-fueled origins is Neal Thompson, author of Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR. Support the show (...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Danny Elfman came to prominence as the lead vocalist and songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early 1980s —as seen in the Rodney Dangerfield comedy, Back to School. Since scoring his first studio film in 1985, Elfman has composed over 100 feature film scores like Batman, Beetlejuice, Men in Black, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Go...