Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael Schlitz enlisted in March 1996 and served in several positions including Rifleman and Platoon Sergeant. While in Baghdad, Iraq on February 27, 2007, Mike and his crew were on a road-clearing mission when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Here's his story of tragedy—and over...

On this episode of Our American Stories, while the men served in WWII, women also served by filling the spots in factories that men left behind. Unmatched in their value, these women provided an essential service that would help bring us to victory and make America the most powerful country in the world. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.o...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Jackson's inauguration says a lot about what he represented at the time to many—a changing of the guard from the established Virginian 'elite' to the rough and tumble of the frontier, and his party afterward certainly drove that point home...literally. Here's the story!  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Suppor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on October 3, 1955, a television program debuted that would eventually produce nearly nine thousand shows over 40 years. Here’s the History Guy with the story of Captain Kangaroo. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

On this episode of Our American Stories, if you want to know about the history of America, it is imperative that you know the Bible's role in shaping our country. Our Founding Fathers—Christian and non-Christian—were heavily influenced by the Bible. Here to share another story in our '100 Bible Verses that Changed America' series, is Robert Morgan.  Support the show ( https://www....

On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor Jay Moore tells the story of an ordinary man he considers his personal hero—Dennis Holt. 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, General Colin Powell was the youngest and the nation's first black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest position in the US Military. He was also the first black man appointed Secretary of State, the world's leading diplomat. To friends and family, he was so much more. Leslie Lautenslager, the author of  My Time with General Colin Pow...

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 Se...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mario Andretti shares how his family lost everything in WWII, came to America, and how he then launched his career as the greatest auto racer in history! 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, next we have a story about one of the biggest scandals in college basketball history and one of its biggest turnarounds. Here to tell the story is one of the members of that Baylor basketball team, Matt Sayman, author of The Leftovers: Baylor, Betrayal, and Beyond . Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Boston’s Fort Warren housed Confederate POWs during the Civil War, but it was no Andersonville. Only 13 Confederate prisoners out of the more than 2,000 rebels who were imprisoned within its walls died during the Civil War. That was largely thanks to the fort’s commander, Justin Dimick. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donat...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on the 11th hour of the 11th month of the 11th day in 1918, all guns fell silent across Europe...16.1 million people across the world lay dead—but who was the last to fall in battle? Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project tells the story of Henry Gunther, the last man to die in WWI. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) S...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the "Nostalgia Awakens" is a Star Wars action figure exhibit from enthusiast and museum curator Jarrod Roll. He's here to share how Star Wars toys revolutionized movie merchandising, licensing, and even how children play. 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, as the great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, the former slave-turned-famous educator, and founder of Tuskegee University, Sarah Washington O’Neal Rush has been influenced by her great-grandfather’s rise above slavery, his relentless stand on inner strength, and his principles on personal development. Here she is to tell her story (from he...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Rich Wingo shares the story of how his time under the legendary Alabama coach refashioned his character, and how his time with the Green Bay Packers redefined his faith.  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, during some of the tensest moments of the Cold War, President Kennedy on July 4th, 1962, visited Independence Hall to give a motivating speech highlighting the importance of democracy and free enterprise around the world. 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, Gina Ramsey tells the story of the highs—and lows—of managing her father's dementia...and tells the story of his nursing home bond with a 100-year-old woman. 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, Randall Wallace is the writer/director of films such as "Braveheart", "We Were Soldiers", "The Man in the Iron Mask", "Heaven is For Real", "Pearl Harbor", and "Secretariat"—movies rooted in courage, sacrifice, and faith. These traits embodied Randall’s father. Here’s Randall himself to tell the story. Support the show ( https://www.ourame...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Civil War was over, the city of Washington was in celebration and President Lincoln's life was about to take a happy and hopeful turn. His short, happy life was thwarted by John Wilkes Booth. Lee Habeeb tells the story live you've never heard it told before.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://w...

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was so good that he got both the Union  and  the Confederate presidents to pardon him; yet, so bad that an NYC woman offered a $50k reward to find him—dead  or  alive. 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, Karl Marlantes, author of  What It Is Like to Go to War  and  Matterhorn , tells the story of salmon fishing with his grandfather during his formative years in the small town of Seaside, Oregon. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/li...

On this episode of Our American Stories, African Americans could be running backs, wide receivers, linebackers...but in the eyes of many coaches and team owners not quarterbacks—that was a "thinking man's" position. John Eisenberg, author of  Rocketmen: The Black Quarterbacks Who Revolutionized Pro Football   tells the story of how Doug Williams—put that racist notion to rest...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Samuel Bellamy was a pirate who operated off the coast of New England and throughout the Caribbean. Later known as "Black Sam,” he became one of the wealthiest pirates before his untimely death in 1717. Here to tell the story, is Ashley Hlebinsky. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericans...

On this episode of Our American Stories, while Henry Ford didn't invent the automobile, he fundamentally changed the world's relationship with the automobile to what it is today. Here's the story of the man who claimed to have invented the modern age. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listen...

On this episode of Our American Stories, America’s fascination with mob boss Al Capone is a century old. Here to tell his story is the biographer of the definitive work on Al Capone—Laurence Bergreen.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.