Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Navy veteran Oliver Halle reflects on his service during the Vietnam War and the family history that shaped him. His relatives resisted the Nazis before fleeing to America, and decades later, he uncovered a secret that transformed his understanding of the past. Courtesy of the Veterans History Project at the Atlanta History Center, his testimony blends the...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Jackson's inauguration revealed what he represented to many—a changing of the guard from the established Virginian elite to the rough-and-tumble spirit of the frontier. His celebration afterward drove that point home—literally. Here’s the story! Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://...

On this episode of Our American Stories, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, but its beginnings might surprise you. Paul Putz, author of The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports , explains how the game was first created with a Christian mission in mind and eventually grew into a global phenomenon. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Horst Schulze, founder of The Ritz-Carlton and author of  Excellence Wins , built one of the world’s most respected hospitality brands by insisting on service excellence. Here's Horst's story on how one bad employee at a bank damaged its reputation almost overnight and what that moment revealed about leadership, customer care, and the value of ex...

On this episode of Our American Stories, bananas are everywhere in American grocery stores, and they’re cheaper than almost any other fruit. But why? The story of banana prices involves global trade, powerful banana companies, and decades of agricultural and economic history. The History Guy explains how bananas became a fixture of American diets and why their low price continues to stand ou...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Joe Quinn, an  Our American Stories  listener from West Virginia, shares the story of coming of age in his 60s—and his ultimate redemption. 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 the 1960s, Milton Bradley’s game  Twister  was on the verge of being pulled from stores. Sales were low, and critics didn’t know what to make of it. Everything changed when Johnny Carson brought the game onto  The Tonight Show . One televised demonstration was all it took to transform  Twister  into a cultural phenome...

On this episode of Our American Stories, slavery marked William Carney as property, and the Fugitive Slave Act made him an outlaw, but during the Civil War, he proved himself as a Union soldier and as a defender of the nation’s most enduring symbol: the American flag. At Fort Wagner, Carney’s bravery earned him the Medal of Honor, making him the first African American recipient. Elliot...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Henry Fonda became one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, he answered a very different kind of calling: service to his country in World War II. From the Broadway stage to the silver screen, Fonda’s career was already on the rise when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the height of the war. He put acting on hold to serve aboard a destroyer...

On this episode of Our American Stories, few hymns are as beloved as “Amazing Grace,” and few authors had a story as dramatic as John Newton. Once marked by sin and disgrace, Newton became a minister and wrote the words that continue to define Christian worship around the world. On this day in history, John Newton set pen to paper and created one of the most enduring songs of faith. Su...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in November 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a speech so brief and powerful it reshaped the nation’s understanding of the Civil War. Our host Lee Habeeb shares the story behind the story: why Lincoln’s words mattered, how they reframed the sacrifice of Gettysburg, and how “of the people, by the people, for the people...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military decoration, awarded for acts of heroism that go above and beyond the call of duty. The first to earn it was Bernard John Dowling Irwin, an Army surgeon who risked everything during the Apache Wars. His bravery in 1861 set a precedent that continues through every Medal of Honor citation today. H...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice from his guide to unraveling the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases , explores where our favorite sayings come from—and what they really mean. Be sure to check it out! Support the show ( http...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ralph Cox was a star college hockey player with his sights set on the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. But when coach Herb Brooks finalized the U.S. Olympic hockey team roster, Cox was the last man cut. While his teammates went on to make history in the “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union, Cox had to watch from the sidelines. Here, he...

On this episode of Our American Stories, most Americans know the phrase “We the People,” but few know the man who wrote it. Gouverneur Morris, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, shaped more of the Constitution’s text than almost anyone else. Historian and Jack Miller Center Fellow Dennis C. Rasmussen tells the story of this overlooked Founding Father, known as the &ldqu...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 forced every American to be complicit in slavery, requiring even free states to return escaped slaves to bondage. Yet the bravery of one runaway slave helped turn the tide. This is the story of how its end began. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/...

On this episode of Our American Stories, even before his time in the White House, Tony Dolan was a writer with a deep reverence for service and sacrifice. As Ronald Reagan’s chief speechwriter, he helped craft the words that defined an era. Here, in one of his most personal pieces, the late Dolan pays tribute to America’s fallen soldiers. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstori...

On this episode of Our American Stories, every sibling relationship has its own story. For Paul Bauer, a listener of Our American Stories, it was a childhood prayer to be as big as his older brother Moose. This memory of brotherhood and family reminds us how small moments often define sibling ties for years to come. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: ht...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on July 28, 1945, a U.S. Army B-25 bomber got lost in dense fog over Manhattan and slammed into the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building crash killed 14 people and tore open the 79th floor of one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. While often overshadowed by later tragedies, the B-25 Empire State Building crash remains one of the most rem...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2023, award-winning author Dara Horn delivered one of West Point’s most powerful graduation speeches to a group of Jewish cadets. Her remarks explored what it means to live with conviction, to embrace being “uncomfortable and uncool,” and to hold fast to identity in the face of pressure. More than just a graduation address, it joined th...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what happens when the thing you love most is taken away? For Richard Herzog, it was sports. An abusive teacher relationship left scars that lasted for years, but he found redemption in coaching. He went on to lead his team to three state championships and proved that even the deepest wounds can lead to a new strength. Support the show ( https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech at a small Missouri college. The Cold War had barely begun, yet this moment defined the coming conflict and gave the world one of history’s most enduring phrases. Dr. Larry Arnn explains how a speech few expected to matter became one of Churchill’s most important l...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977, many expected it to fail. The production was plagued with setbacks, and even George Lucas doubted it would connect with audiences. Instead, A New Hope became a cultural landmark, launching one of the most successful franchises in movie history. Author Chris Taylor shares how a film that nearly collapsed t...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball since the 1880s, stepping onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers and into history. The abuse he endured was relentless, from racial slurs in the stands to resistance in the dugout. Yet Robinson refused to respond in kind. His strength came from something deeper: a faith that gu...

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the U.S. Constitution was written, America lived under the Articles of Confederation, a system so weak it nearly broke the young republic. States held most of the power, Congress couldn’t raise money or enforce laws, and unrest spread from coast to coast. Dr. Larry Arnn of Hillsdale College explains how the Constitutional Convention of 1787 rep...