Our American Stories

On this episode of  Our American Stories , Ryan Stewart went most of his life unsure of his purpose... But, there was one thing that kept him going -- dogs. He shares his story of how canines have helped him.   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 , legend has it that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to learn how to play the guitar. According to Steve Johnson, Robert's grandson, that's the furthest thing from the truth. Here he is with the true story of the king of the Delta Blues.   Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , Donald Sturm tells his story of growing up during The Great Depression without knowing it because of the powerful influence of his parents...here's 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 , Winter Prosapio dives into some of the strange laws we have....and why we have them.   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 , whether armed or unarmed, the medics and defenders of the Free Burma Rangers stand with those trapped in the middle of war zones - and stand their ground. Telling of this intense mission is founder and former Green Beret, Dave Eubank.   Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donat...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , Dara Horn is an accomplished American writer, winning accolades and prizes for her fiction and non-fiction alike. She was approached to give a graduation speech to Jewish cadets at West Point in 2023. Here is Dara to tell the story of how her speech came to be—and the recorded copy of the speech she delivered. It's one of the most beautiful ever given at...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , Tommy Dew’s Walking Tour of Charleston, SC, has been praised and recommended by the likes of The Wall Street Journal and TripAdvisor. Tommy is here to share the story of Charleston—from the American Revolution to today. 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 , in 1948 President Harry Truman decided to attend a plowing match in the small town of Dexter, Iowa. It turned out to be an event that would help re-elect him to the Presidency.   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 , Saxsquatch plays music that you might well enjoy - but his family and those closest to him gave him feedback at first that - "I don't think you should do this." Yet, as you can now hear, there is Saxsquatch out there - somewhere.   Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , what do dead Romans and dead Greeks have to do with America? A lot, actually. Here's Dr. Kenneth Calvert of Hillsdale College to explore why the Founders thought the way they did and fought the way they did. 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 , George Washington’s Bible was on loan to a famous Revolutionary War tavern just blocks from the World Trade Center on 9/11. Just as the search for bodies ended, the search for the Bible began…   Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , not many teen idols are able to carve a successful career for themselves as they mature, but Frankie Avalon is one of these exceptions. Avalon had 31 Billboard singles, including number one hits, "Venus" and "Why" in 1959. Avalon is also well-known for his role in the musical film Grease as Teen Angel, in which he sings "Beauty School Dropout." He appeare...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , when a stadium full of excited sports fans pressed downhill against poor crowd control, tragedy mounted terribly in a moment. Hear from Michael Brin, then a player on the field and now an emergency physician, about a harrowing ordeal and its aftermath. Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericans...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , in 1863 Bernard John Dowling Irwin received the first Medal of Honor by date-of-conflict—for his heroism during the Apache War. The History Guy tells 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 , 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/donate...

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

On this episode of  Our American Stories , on February 24th, 2020, more than 20,000 individuals gathered in the Los Angeles Staples Center to remember the life of Kobe Bryant. From his mentors to his mentees, all shared their own personal, heart-moving stories about his dedication and character. Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramerican...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , Hugh Eastwood and Bevis Schock are civil rights lawyers in St. Louis. They filed suit in three separate cases. All three cases were heard by the Missouri Supreme Court in one mammoth morning argument. Here they are to tell their story. Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , Titanic Thompson led a wild life, always chasing the next big score, including cheating the infamous mobster Al Capone. Here’s  The History Guy  with the story of Titanic Thompson, the greatest cheat of all time. Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/lis...

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 , when Charles Burrall 'retired' early from his teaching gig and hitchhiked out West in search of adventure, he never expected he'd sail as close as he did to Siberia...or, for that matter, a Soviet gulag. Here's Charles to tell his story of adventure, how the fishing boat he was on sparked an international incident on a T-shirt run, and the courage he foun...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , he wasn't an NBA star: He was a sneaker salesman that helped popularize the sport of basketball, and the sneakers that now bear his name. This is his 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 , in his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt’s humble birth during the presidency of George Washington to his death as one of the richest men in American history. The Commodore helped to launch the transportation revolution, propel...

On this episode of  Our American Stories , The Milton Bradley game was about to be pulled from the shelves. Author Christopher Klein tells the story of how the late night talk host saved this iconic brand. 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 , cooking in the late 1800s was unpredictable, tiresome, and difficult. Recipes were passed down in families, but often contained vague—if any—actual measurements. Fannie Farmer changed all that in 1896. We are joined by Ken Albala, professor of history and food studies at University of the Pacific in California. Support the show  (https://www.ouramericanst...