Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, the brutal double-murder that happened in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892 has long been considered an unsolved mystery. Cara Robertson, author of the The Trial Of Lizzie Borden, 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...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the origin of this conflict flowed from a deceptively simple question—a riddle of sorts that a Catholic monk named Martin Luther wrestled with for years. The question he asked himself was this: Am I a good person? Here to tell the story is Eric Metaxas, bestselling author of Martin Luther. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Suppo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is in a glass coffin...but so is an American man along the shores of Lake Michigan. Chris Siriano tells this curious story about the coffin, the man inside of it, and the harebrained scheme to steal his diamond necklace. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstori...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Halloween expert Lisa Morton is going to be unpacking the history of the Halloween Haunted House, which is directly tied into today’s practice of Trick-or-Treating. Lisa is the author of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween. By the turn of the 20th century, Halloween in America was nothing more than a day of pranking—kind of like April Fools' Day. Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories, with its classic “old country” theme, Cracker Barrel has been an American favorite for many decades. But many people don’t know that the decor you find on the walls and throughout the stores are all authentic pieces of American history. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on the morning of September 11, 2001, Peter Braxton was the first military pilot in the air over the burning Twin Towers. It was his first day on the job. Not long after that, he flew multiple combat tours in the Middle East and then retired from the Air Force. Here’s Peter with the story about the phone call he received shortly after his retirement: "Do Yo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, from Nosferatu and Dracula to Friday the 13th and Saw, Matt Castro brings us the full history of all your favorite horror films. Check out his YouTube channel  for more. 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, Robert Montgomery was one of the first movie stars to volunteer for service in World War II and when Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for the Presidency in 1952, Montgomery was his television coach. When General Eisenhower became President, Montgomery stayed on in his role as television advisor to become the first show-business professional to occupy an office in t...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2017, Rhode Islander Joe Jutras broke the record for the largest giant green squash ever grown- it came in at 2,118 lbs. Today Joe shares all that goes into growing these giant fruits. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

On this episode of Our American Stories, why do we participate in these strange celebrations every Halloween? Lesley Bannatyne is the author of Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, and Lisa Morton is the author of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omn...

On this episode of Our American Stories, from Nosferatu and Dracula to Friday the 13th and Saw, Matt Castro brings us the full history of all your favorite horror films. Check out his YouTube channel  for more. 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, Paul Westhead, former coach of the L.A. Lakers, shares his life story with Lee. 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, Anne Claire tells the story of America's first two responses to Pearl Harbor: The Doolittle Raids and the Battle of the Coral Sea. 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, escaping the horrors of World War II in Croatia, Tony Maglica's flashlights are proudly made in America—and his dreams were too. 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, uncover the true story of Alexander Hamilton, a man of brilliance, contradictions, and enduring influence on American history. Here to tell the story is Ron Chernow, author of Alexander Hamilton . 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, in a thrilling, moment-by-moment narrative based on a wealth of recently declassified documents and in-depth interviews, authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin tell the remarkable story of the evacuation of Saigon in Last Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam. This closing chapter of the war would become the largest-scale evacuation e...

On this episode of Our American Stories, regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak has a special story written by his daughter. She shares how helping those in need can help bring a little perspective to our lives. 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, territorial ambition as old as the ages gave us the complicated history of North Carolina and Tennessee. In fairness, the grass and trees are remarkably green on both sides. Hear deep insight into what matters to people, and the lengths to which leaders have gone to effect their designs. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories, dueling was close to Andrew Jackson's heart. Here to tell us just how close is Keith Hardison, former director of Interpretation at The Hermitage in Nashville, TN - Jackson's home. Keith starts by explaining a code of honor that culminated from 1750 to 1850. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramer...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Lone Ranger, with his cry of “Hi-Ho Silver!” has become an American institution ranking with Paul Bunyan in the realms of folklore and legend. The History Guy remembers Bass Reeves, John Reynolds Hughes, and forgotten history of the Wild West. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Native Americans of the inhabitants of Manhattan served with George Washington at Valley Forge, and many battles besides. Hear stories of family, and of historic valor. Here is Craig Du Mez, president of the  Grateful Nation Project. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate Se...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story comes from our regular contributor, Christopher Klein. Klein is the author of four books and is a frequent contributor to the History Channel. Here’s Christopher Klein with the story of when the American Irish invaded Canada. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/do...

On this episode of Our American Stories, has your neighbor ever had a crazy idea? John Deere did. Let's dig right into 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, here’s The History Guy with the story of Robert Smalls, an escaped slave-turned Civil War legend. 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, King Solomon was a gravedigger who may have saved the town of Lexington during the Cholera epidemic of 1833. Kentucky journalist Sam Terry tells the story of the man they called “King Solomon.” Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...