Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Gail Halvorsen was a young pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps assigned to the Berlin Airlift, where American forces flew vital supplies into a war-torn, Soviet-blockaded Berlin after WWII. While carrying out his missions, Lt. Halvorsen noticed German children gathering at the fences of Tempelhof Air Base. Wanting to bring them hope and a little joy, he came u...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Pilgrim’s Progress  is the second most popular book in world history, after the Bible. Its author, John Bunyan, was a preacher in Bedford, England, who wrote the book in 1676 while imprisoned for “preaching without a license.” The book quickly made its way onto ships bound for the New World. In America, it became so popular that f...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 34th episode of our Story of America  series, Hillsdale College professor and  Land of Hope   author Wilfred McClay tells the story of how the railroads fundamentally transformed American life—from the way we handle finance, to how we receive mail, to how we tell time. Or, as he puts it, “Suddenly, we were on the clock.&rdq...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1967, Johnny Cash stumbled into Nickajack Cave in Tennessee, intent on ending his life. Struggling with a relentless addiction to amphetamines, he was canceling shows and recordings while spending time in and out of hospitals and jail cells. Greg Laurie, author of Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon, shares the story. Support the show ( https...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Civil rights lawyers Hugh Eastwood and Bevis Schock of St. Louis share the story of how they filed three separate lawsuits—all heard by the Missouri Supreme Court in a single landmark morning session, that led to the end of the dreaded red-light ticket cameras in the Show-Me State. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories, much of what’s known about legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre has stayed between the goalposts. So, Greg Hengler sat down with him at his home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where Brett shared stories about humility, aging, and faith—part four of a five-part series. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Harford, author of the bestselling book  50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy , shares the stories of three inventions that changed the way we live today—this time: barbed wire, the plow, and Google Search. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See om...

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Denver’s songs have become part of the American bloodstream. His melodies and lyrics are heard all over the world. His music is simple and honest—no auto-tune, no flashy outfits—just a man and his guitar. Our own Greg Hengler tells the story of this cultural icon. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the word "hero" is often overused in today’s culture, but not when it comes to Megan McClung. Here's why her tombstone reads: "Be Bold. Be Brief. Be Gone." 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, Major General "Mook" Mukoyama volunteered and served in both Korea and Vietnam. In 1986, he became the youngest general in the U.S. Army at the time. Soon after, he was promoted to Major General and commanded the 70th Training Division during Desert Storm. Now retired, he devotes his time to serving our veterans. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanst...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Karl Marlantes, a Vietnam War veteran and the award-winning author of  Matterhorn  and  What It Is Like to Go to War , shares how he earned the Navy Cross—and why he struggled with the recognition, knowing others had done more and received less. You won't want to miss this powerful story for our Memorial Day Special.  Support the s...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Shaw’s “Quint” told the world what happened to the USS Indianapolis in the hit movie Jaws. For our Memorial Day Special, the late Edgar Harrell, the last surviving Marine from the downed ship, shares the real-life story of that fateful day—one you won’t soon forget. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/d...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Arlington National Cemetery is the nation’s most iconic military burial ground, but its origins are more surprising than you might think. Elliott Drago of the Jack Miller Center shares the little-known story behind its founding, rooted in the Civil War, and what it means for the country today—a powerful reminder around Memorial Day. Support the...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our host, Lee Habeeb, shares a very  personal Memorial Day story about the uncle he never knew. 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 late Paul Monti often drove his son Jared’s truck—an act that inspired the hit country song “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice. But the story is about much more than a song. It’s the story of Jared Monti, a true hero who sacrificed his life trying to save a fellow soldier during close-quarters combat in the mountains of Afgh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Lanae Strovers was tasked with deciding what to do with unclaimed urns at the funeral home where she worked, she took it personally, which makes sense for someone who entered the mortuary business for deeply personal reasons. Here's Lanae with her story of devotion and dedication to America’s fallen veterans. Support the show ( https://www.ourame...

On this episode of Our American Stories, formerly enslaved people in Charleston, SC, decided to honor the Union soldiers who had perished at a racecourse converted into a POW camp. Then, as Dan Welch of the Gettysburg Foundation puts it: "A procession at a gravesite, a procession with 9,000 spectators - was all but forgotten in just two years.". Here's the story of the real first Memorial Day. We'...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Abraham Lincoln was asked on a questionnaire to describe his education, he wrote just one word: "defective." But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the premier thinkers of his time—and the only U.S. President to ever hold a patent. David J. Kent, author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius , shares the story. Support the show ( https://www...

On this episode of Our American Stories, everyone knows a horse can jump a good-sized fence—but the folks in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, thought it was much more interesting to see if a mule could do the same. Here’s the story of how their unique competition got started. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate...

On this episode of Our American Stories, most people know Amelia Earhart for the mystery surrounding her disappearance over the Pacific Ocean—but far fewer know the incredible accomplishments she achieved during her lifetime. In this astonishing story, we'll tell the story of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, the first woman to fly solo coast to coast across the United States,...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri, took a direct hit from the deadliest and costliest tornado in U.S. history, an EF-5 that left a devastating scar on the community. But in the years since, Joplin has rebuilt in extraordinary ways. Former KSNF Channel 16 weatherman Jerimiah Cook, and reporter Gretchen Bolander share a powerful story of loss, love, resilienc...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark O'Brian, a listener of  Our American Stories , shares the story of St. Louie Louie—one of the greatest pool players to ever grace the scene—from his rise to his rather untimely fall. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Marcia Taylor went from being a pregnant teenager to running one of the largest trucking companies in America, Bennett International Group. In this episode, Marcia shares how she pulled the fat from the fire and became one of the most influential female business leaders in the nation today. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Supp...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1965, California Senator George Murphy started a sweet tradition, literally.  He began stocking his desk on the Senate floor with candy to share with his co-workers. That desk, now known as the “Senate Candy Desk,” remains a Capitol Hill tradition today. Jesse Edwards shares the history, mystery, and origins behind one of the Senate's mo...

On this episode of Our American Stories, to Southerners, he was a dangerous villain. To many Northerners, a fanatic. But to himself, he was an instrument of God, sent to end slavery. Bestselling author David S. Reynolds ( John Brown, Abolitionist ) tells the powerful story of the man who helped ignite the Civil War and laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement. Support the show ( https://w...