Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, it was one of the oddest—and best—musical collaborations of the 20th century. Old-school pop crooner Bing Crosby partnered with British glam rocker David Bowie to create one of the most cherished Christmas songs of all time. But it almost didn’t happen. Here's the story of what went on behind the scenes to make sure it did. Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch clothing stores conquered malls in the late ’90s and early ’00s with gorgeous models, pulsing dance beats, and a fierce scent. What most people don’t know is that the company was founded in 1892 in New York City as an outfitter for elite outdoorsmen. Here to tell the full story is Ashley Hlebinsky, former co-host of...

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. His 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/don...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Margie Siegal was a teenager, she had a boyfriend with a motorcycle. The boyfriend was forgettable—the motorcycle wasn’t. Since then, she has written extensively about motorcycle history and is the author of Harley-Davidson: A History of the World’s Most Famous Motorcycle . Here she is with the story of Harley-Davidson. Support the sh...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the brand-new Saturday Night Live first took the airwaves by storm, it was Chevy Chase’s clumsy impression of Gerald R. Ford—an All-American athlete turned commander-in-chief—that changed how Americans saw their president. The sketch also shaped the future of political satire, presidential impersonations, and even the 1976 election it...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Greg McDonald got his start in show business as a teenager after meeting Elvis Presley and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, shortly after Parker began managing Elvis in the 1950s. Here’s Greg with the stories. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/l...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1851, Olive Oatman was a thirteen-year-old pioneer traveling west with her Mormon family. Within a decade, she was a white Indian with a chin tattoo, caught between cultures. Here to tell the story is the executive of True West magazine, Bob Boze Bell. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramerica...

On this episode of Our American Stories, he wasn’t an NBA star - he was a sneaker salesman who helped popularize the sport of basketball and the iconic shoes that now bear his name. Our host, Lee Habeeb, shares his life story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

On this episode of Our American Stories, climb aboard! The late, great historian Stephen Ambrose shares the epic story of how Americans laid 1,900 miles of track from Omaha to Sacramento to complete one of our nation’s greatest infrastructure achievements—the Transcontinental Railroad. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ourameri...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2018, the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral, making her one of the most well-known inmates in the world. Here's Cyntoia with her story of trauma, incarceration, and 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, The Brooklyn Bridge, with its unprecedented length and two stately towers, was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World" after its completion. The connection it forged between the massive population centers of Brooklyn and Manhattan forever changed the course of New York City. Here’s The History Guy with the story. Support the show ( https://www.o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Nathaniel Gordon of Portland, Maine, holds the distinction of being the only American ever executed for the crime of slave trading. Although many were caught in the act, sentences were often lenient, and most slave traders knew they had little to fear—until Abraham Lincoln. Jonathan W. White, author of  Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Muti...

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...

On this episode of Our American Stories, you’ve probably heard that during his famous midnight ride through the Massachusetts countryside to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of the impending British occupation of Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere shouted, “The British are coming!” But that’s not quite true. Sabrina Bhattacharjya, a 14-year-old history enthusiast and foun...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor from Kodiak Island, Alaska, Leslie Leyland Fields, shares the heartbreaking story of her relationship with her father—and it’s not what you’d expect. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Scott Jones, a regular contributor to  Our American Stories  and author of  Growing Up Rural , shares the story of a boy named Leo and the special letters he wrote to his family during the war. 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, Karla Duerson shares what it was like to be pregnant with—and give birth to—her daughter Wylie. 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, opens up about his mother’s life and legacy in the patch of earth in Northern New Jersey she cared for and influenced with her love, grace, and class. 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, popular social media influencer and Mother Tiffany Jenkins shares her secret to being a mom… (Hint: It’s not what you post on social media!) 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 our Mother's Day Special, Alan Brown, a listener of Our American Stories, shares a story about him and his strong-willed mother, and how they both battled and survived poverty and an abusive marriage, coming out the other side better and closer than ever. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ourame...

On this episode of Our American Stories, for our Mother's Day Special, Our American Stories regular contributor, writer, and Mother Winter Prosapio shares a touching story about a mundane, often-repeated event: washing her daughter's curly hair. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanst...

On this episode of Our American Stories, at the turn of the 21st century, tornadoes were still one of nature’s greatest mysteries—ripping through the American heartland more than a thousand times a year, with scientists no closer to understanding their inner workings. Most had given up trying—until Tim Samaras came along. Brantley Hargrove, author of The Man Who Caught the Storm,...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Joy Neal Kidney, a regular contributor to Our American Stories from Des Moines, Iowa, shares her mother’s story of how she became an officer’s wife in the middle of World War II. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, six months after its introduction in 1985, the Yugo was a punchline; within a year, it had become a staple of late-night comedy. By 2000, NPR’s Car Talk  declared it “the worst car of the millennium.” For most Americans, that’s where the story ends. Jason Vuic, author of  The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in Hist...

On this episode of Our American Stories, a tragic event brought a racist (George Wallace) and a radical (Shirley Chisholm) together, forging an unlikely alliance. Special thanks to the Jack Miller Center for bringing this story to our attention. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...