Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, the founding of the United States didn't happen in a single moment. It unfolded across one of the most difficult years in American history. The late, great historian and author of 1776, David McCullough, shares the story of how a fragile army, led by an untested commander, struggled to hold the cause together against overwhelming odds. Between Boston and New York, the future of the Revolution was shaped not by grand strategy or stirring speeches, but by exhaustion, retreat, and the lingering question of whether the American experiment would survive. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Satchel Paige didn’t just pitch; he dazzled. Known for fastballs with names like the Midnight Creeper and the Bat Dodger, he played for five decades without a relief pitcher in sight. Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, shares the life and legend of one of the greatest to ever take the mound. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, for our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, expands upon the story of Theodore Roosevelt, the energetic and fiercely ambitious president who believed America needed a stronger executive and a more active federal government. Even after leaving the White House, Roosevelt was convinced his work was unfinished, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic presidential campaigns in American history.Roosevelt's decision to challenge his own political party as the Bull Moose candidate divided Republicans, captivated the nation, and cleared the way for Woodrow Wilson's victory in 1912. McClay explains how that election reshaped American politics, further expanded the power of the federal government, and marked the beginning of a new era in the nation's history, one that America's Founding Fathers likely would not have recognized. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, listener Paul Kotz has a habit that's becoming increasingly rare: he talks to strangers. Whether it's a lost set of keys, a chance encounter in an elevator, or a conversation with a family at a hotel pool, Paul has discovered that some of life's most memorable moments begin with a simple hello. In this warmhearted story, he reflects on the unexpected friendships, laughter, and lessons that can come from taking the time to connect with the people we usually pass by. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Audie Murphy became the most decorated American soldier of World War II, he was a poor Texas farm boy who spent his childhood picking cotton, hunting rabbits to feed his family, and struggling to survive during the Great Depression. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Murphy was determined to serve his country, even though he was underage, undersized, and repeatedly turned away by military recruiters.Roger McGrath returns with another installment of our Hollywood Goes to War series to share the remarkable true story of Audie Murphy's rise from an impoverished teenager to a Medal of Honor recipient and beyond. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs stepped onto the stage at Macworld and unveiled a device that would forever change the way we communicate. To the audience, it looked like a flawless presentation. Behind the scenes, however, Apple engineers were bracing for disaster. The iPhone prototype was so fragile that Jobs had to follow a carefully rehearsed sequence of demonstrations, secretly switching between multiple devices to keep the presentation from crashing.Our own Greg Hengler shares the remarkable story behind one of the greatest product launches in business history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1980, contractor Steve Bell was left holding the bag after two of his biggest clients were arrested on drug charges, costing him more than $100,000, roughly $318,000 today. His attorney urged him to declare bankruptcy, but Steve refused.In this installment of our "Do the Right Thing" series with the Daniels Fund, Steve shares the true story of how he paid back every person he owed and why keeping his word became the foundation of his business and his life. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before engines and asphalt, movement meant muscle, yours or the horse’s. But riding bareback could only take humans so far. The saddle changed that. With structure, control, and later, the stirrup transformed the horse into a game-changing force in human history. From mounted armies to long-distance trade, this one invention shaped how empires rose, how people connected, and how the world moved. Our own Reagan Habeeb shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, you may see them everywhere today, but the UPC barcode didn’t become commonplace until well into the 1970s. What had started as a simple idea to speed up checkout lines took decades to develop, requiring advances in computing, scanning tech, and cooperation across different industries.When the first barcode was scanned in 1974, it marked the beginning of a silent revolution. Retailers could track inventory more accurately, businesses could move products more efficiently, and everyday shopping was transformed in ways most people never noticed. Our regular contributor, The History Guy, shares the story of the barcode, how it came to be, why it took so long to catch on, and how it changed the way the world buys and sells goods forever. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, killing 162 people and becoming the deadliest and costliest tornado in modern American history. As the storm approached, local meteorologist Jerimiah Cook realized the tornado was heading directly toward his hometown, his friends, and even his own pregnant wife.Jerimiah Cook and reporter Gretchen Bolander share the story of that devastating evening, the chaos that followed, and the remarkable recovery that transformed Joplin in the years afterward for the better. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a military police officer in Germany, Richard Muniez expected another quiet night on patrol. Instead, he responded to a call involving a distraught soldier armed with a knife who was destroying a truck and begging officers to shoot him.After a tense standoff, Richard tackled the soldier moments before he attempted to take his own life. The immediate danger ended that night, but the experience stayed with him for years. Richard shares the story of the life he helped save, the post-traumatic stress that followed, and the difficult lesson that asking for help is sometimes the bravest thing a person can do. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he won five national championships and became one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history, Mike Krzyzewski was on the brink of being fired. In his first three seasons at Duke, Coach K struggled to win games, angered boosters, and faced mounting criticism from fans and alumni. After a humiliating loss in the 1983 ACC Tournament, many believed his tenure was over.Bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein, a longtime friend of Coach K and author of The Legends Club, shares the story of Duke's difficult early years, the late-night conversation at a Denny's that became a turning point, and how one struggling coach went on to build one of the greatest dynasties in college basketball history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, prohibition is often remembered through the lens of gangsters, speakeasies, and organized crime. But long before bootleggers captured the public imagination, millions of Americans believed alcohol was destroying families, fueling violence, and corrupting politics.Carrie Nation has largely been remembered as a hatchet-wielding fanatic who smashed saloons across the Midwest. Yet to many Americans of her day, she was something very different: a woman fighting against domestic abuse, poverty, and the social costs of alcoholism that she herself had suffered through. Travis Spangenberg of the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia, shares the true story of Nation, the temperance movement she fought for, and the complicated legacy of America's 18th Amendment. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when David LaBelle was a teenager, his mother was the one person who believed in him. She helped him stay in school, encouraged his interest in photography, and stood by him through difficult years. Then, during a devastating flood in Southern California, she was swept away while David and his family struggled to survive atop their collapsing home.For decades, David carried the memory of losing his mother and the unanswered questions surrounding her death. Through photography, teaching, and eventually writing fiction, he discovered that while we cannot change the past, we can change the stories we tell ourselves about it. David shares a moving story about grief, memory, and how art can help us find peace after loss. Be sure to read David's book about the tragedy, Bridges and Angels. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Civil War, falling asleep on guard duty was a crime punishable by death. That was the fate awaiting William Scott, a young Union soldier who drifted off at his post one night. His case captured the attention of President Abraham Lincoln, who, astonishingly, chose mercy over execution.What followed became one of the most remarkable Civil War stories, in which compassion and discipline collided in the heat of war. Jonathan White, a professor of history, Jack Miller Center fellow, and author of Midnight in America, shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the corporate sponsors, television deals, and packed speedways, NASCAR began on the dirt roads of the American South. During Prohibition and the decades that followed, moonshine runners modified ordinary cars to outrun federal agents, creating faster engines, better suspensions, and a culture built on speed.Neal Thompson, author of Driving with the Devil, shares the remarkable story of the bootleggers, mechanics, war veterans, and small-town racers who transformed illegal whiskey runs into one of America's most popular sports—NASCAR. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, at the height of the Korean War, Fox Company was cut off in the mountains and outnumbered almost fifty to one. Their orders were simple and brutal: hold a critical mountain pass or see thousands of fellow Marines trapped. For nearly a week, Captain William Barber’s men fought through cold, hunger, and relentless attacks, turning what could have been a massacre into one of the most heroic stands in Marine Corps history. Tom Clavin, author of The Last Stand of Fox Company, shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, growing up in Kansas, Bob Hamner never imagined he would become a sailor. But during a vacation in the Bahamas in the 1970s, he climbed into a small sailboat with no instruction, no experience, and little idea what he was doing. By the end of the day, he was hooked.One boat led to another. The sports car gave way to a van, the van to a bigger boat, and eventually even a bigger house to store them all. From racing catamarans on Nebraska lakes to navigating storms and around freighters on the Great Lakes, Bob discovered that it is never too late to begin something entirely new. Bob Hamner shares the story of how sailing transformed his life and taught him that adventure can begin at any age. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when college student Steve Stoliar's father insisted he find a summer job, Steve had little interest in working at a restaurant or fast-food counter. Instead, the lifelong Marx Brothers fan made an unlikely phone call to Groucho Marx's manager, asking if there might be any way he could help. To his astonishment, he was hired.Thus began three unforgettable years working inside Groucho Marx's Beverly Hills mansion. Steve answered fan mail, organized memorabilia destined for the Smithsonian, shared lunches with Groucho, and met legendary visitors including George Burns and Steve Allen. Steve Stoliar shares the remarkable story of how a devoted fan became one of the final witnesses to the private world of one of America's greatest comedians. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, born into slavery in Mississippi during the Civil War, Ida B. Wells became one of the most fearless journalists and civil rights advocates in American history. She exposed the horrors of lynching, challenged segregation, fought for women's suffrage, and helped lay the groundwork for the NAACP. But another important part of her story has largely been forgotten.After the lynching of close friends in Memphis, Wells argued that African Americans could not always rely on the law for protection and that self-defense was an essential civil right. Our regular contributor Ashley Hlebinsky shares the remarkable story of Wells' life, her fight against racial violence, and her belief that the right to keep and bear arms was inseparable from the struggle for freedom and equality. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Bible is the bestselling book of all time, with billions of copies distributed around the world. But its influence extends far beyond religion. Its stories, language, and ideas have shaped art, literature, law, politics, and culture for nearly two thousand years.How did a collection of ancient texts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek become one of the most widely read books in human history? The History Guy traces the Bible's remarkable journey, from its earliest manuscripts and translations to the King James Version and the modern editions read by millions today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was buried as the Vietnam Unknown beneath the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, representing every American service member whose fate remained unanswered. For years, visitors paid their respects without knowing his name. But advances in DNA testing would eventually reveal the truth: the unknown soldier was Air Force pilot Michael Joseph Blassie, shot down over Vietnam in 1972 at just 24 years old.Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares the remarkable story of Blassie's life, the decades-long effort to identify his remains, and how one family's search for answers forever changed one of America's most sacred traditions. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on a March day in 1876, residents of Bath County, Kentucky, looked up to find chunks of raw meat falling from the sky. Some said it was mutton. Others claimed beef or venison. A few even tasted it. Known now as the Kentucky Meat Shower, the event remains one of the strangest and least explained weather phenomena in American history. Was it vultures? A freak storm? Something else entirely?Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, shares the story of this bizarre chapter in American lore. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the war, Oskar Schindler was a businessman chasing opportunity, even if it meant joining the Nazi Party. But when he witnessed the brutality unfolding around him in occupied Poland, he made a choice that would define his life. Through cunning, bribery, and sheer nerve, Schindler used his factory to protect over 1,200 Jews from deportation to Nazi death camps.Our own Greg Hengler shares the story behind Spielberg's famous movie: the real account of the man, and the lives he saved. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the decades after the American Revolution, the United States had won its political independence, but many wondered whether it would ever develop a culture of its own. Most Americans still looked to Europe for great literature, art, and ideas. Critics openly questioned whether America could produce writers to rival the great minds of the Old World.Then came a remarkable generation of American thinkers and writers. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Walt Whitman helped forge a distinctly American voice, creating works that reflected the nation's landscapes, ideals, and people. In this installment of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares the story of the nation's cultural coming of age. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, at 17 years old, Pino Lella was helping Jewish families escape Nazi-occupied Italy by guiding them across the Alps into Switzerland. A year later, after being drafted into the German military, he found himself assigned as the personal driver to one of the most powerful Nazi commanders in Italy.Secretly working for the Italian resistance and the Allies, Pino used his position to gather intelligence on German troop movements and military defenses. Then, in the final days of World War II, he did the unthinkable: he arrested the very general he had been driving. Michael Lella shares the remarkable true story of his father, a teenage resistance fighter whose courage helped save lives and fight tyranny during one of history's darkest chapters. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Dolly Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" in 1973, she wasn't writing about a romantic breakup. She was saying goodbye to her longtime friend, mentor, and business partner, Porter Wagoner. The song became a country hit, but its journey was only beginning.Along the way, the song caught the attention of Elvis Presley, whose manager demanded half of the publishing rights before he would record it. Parton refused. Years later, actor Kevin Costner helped introduce the song to Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard, turning it into one of the best-selling singles in music history. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the remarkable story behind a song that transformed the lives of everyone who touched it. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the United States withdrew from Vietnam, many of its allies in Southeast Asia were left behind to face Communist reprisals, imprisonment, and even death. Desperate families fled Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia in search of safety, but few knew where they would go.Then an extraordinary letter arrived in Iowa. What followed was one of the most successful refugee resettlement efforts in American history. Matthew R. Walsh, author of The Good Governor, shares the story of Governor Robert Ray, the Iowa leader who opened his state to thousands of refugees and helped transform countless lives in the process. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, few athletes have ever reached the heights of Pete Maravich. Known simply as "Pistol Pete," he became one of the greatest basketball players in history, dazzling fans with his ball-handling, scoring, and creativity on the court. He achieved nearly everything he dreamed about as a boy: college stardom, professional success, fame, wealth, and admiration from millions.But in the final years of his life, Maravich began asking deeper questions. Why, after achieving everything he had worked for, did he still feel empty? In this remarkable talk, recorded just days before his death in January 1988, Pistol Pete reflects on his lifelong pursuit of success, his struggles with alcohol and searching for meaning, and the faith that ultimately transformed his life. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Shiloh Carozza McCall shares how, in the worst of circumstances, she came to realize that the man she was dating was the rare kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Shiloh is a regular contributor to Our American Stories. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the U.S. Postal Service introduced Parcel Post in 1913, Americans suddenly had a cheap new way to ship packages across the country. What postal officials didn't anticipate was how creatively people would use it. Families mailed eggs, butter, bees, and even entire building supplies through the postal system. In one famous case, a bank in Utah was shipped brick by brick through the mail.Then came the children. Taking advantage of a loophole in the rules, some parents discovered it was cheaper to mail their sons and daughters than buy them train tickets. For our Rule of Law series, Christopher Warren of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum shares one of the strangest and most surprisingly true stories in American postal history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, the First World War ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. But not before one last man fell. His name was Henry Gunther, and he died just moments before peace officially began. Why he charged forward, and how his death came to symbolize the senselessness of war's final moments, is a story often overlooked.Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares the true story of Henry and the motivations that ultimately led him to become the last American casualty of a war that had already ended in words, but not yet in action. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the Stars and Stripes became the national banner, another symbol of liberty flew over American ships. Known as the Pine Tree Flag, or the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, it was one of the earliest wartime flags of the American Revolution. In 1775, George Washington ordered it raised on six schooners that made up the first naval force of the colonies. Its white field and green pine tree drew from New England symbolism, while its motto reflected John Locke's political philosophy that, when all earthly appeals failed, justice could be sought from above.For the colonists, it was both a patriotic emblem and a symbol of liberty at a time when independence was still a daring idea. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, brings the story of this early American flag to life, connecting its 18th-century symbolism to the broader tradition of U.S. flags. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, The American flag that flies over state capitols, schools, and battlefields across the country began as a high school assignment. Robert Heft, a 17-year-old student from Ohio, created the 50-star design in 1958 and received a B-minus for his effort. When Hawaii entered the Union in 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Heft's version as the official flag of the United States.More than six decades later, Bob Heft's B-minus project remains one of the nation's most enduring symbols. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the winter of 1777, the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, hungry, freezing, and unsure whether the Revolution would survive. Disease spread through the camp, morale collapsed, and even George Washington wondered how much longer his soldiers could endure. Then came a Prussian officer named Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a man who spoke no English but had a gift for turning chaos into order.His relentless drills, translated by aides as he barked commands across the snow, reshaped a band of volunteers into a real army. By the spring thaw, Washington's men had become disciplined, unified soldiers ready to fight the British on equal terms. Historians Bob Drury and Tom Clavin share the story this turning point in the American Revolution, when perseverance and training at Valley Forge helped lay the foundation for American independence. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, today, the NBA is a global powerhouse worth billions of dollars, with superstars recognized everywhere from New York to Shanghai. But for much of its early history, professional basketball was an afterthought. Players worked second jobs, television networks showed little interest, and many fans cared more about college basketball than the NBA.Pete Croatto, author of From Hang Time to Primetime: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-Day NBA, shares the remarkable story of how that changed. From Commissioner Larry O'Brien's efforts to bring credibility to the league, to David Stern's marketing genius, to the arrival of stars like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, this is the story of how the NBA transformed itself from a struggling regional league into one of the most influential sports and entertainment brands in the world. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the late 1980s, Panama was at the center of global attention as strongman Manuel Noriega tightened his grip on power. Known for his brutality and ties to the drug trade, he seemed untouchable. But when a hairdresser unknowingly welcomed Noriega's daughter into her salon, an unlikely chain of events began.That meeting opened the door to the dictator himself, leading to a story of faith that unfolded against the backdrop of Operation Just Cause and the U.S. invasion of Panama. The late Joe Garman, founder of ARM Prison Ministries, tells the unforgettable story of how a dictator encountered God in one of the most unlikely places imaginable. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Deere wasn't always a household name. Before tractors transformed American agriculture, he had one revolutionary idea: a steel plow that could cut through tough prairie soil. Kirk Higgins of the Bill of Rights Institute shares the story of how John Deere got his start, how one piece of scrap metal helped transform the American West, and how the green tractors bearing his name continue to shape farming in the USA today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, both of Mike Zuendel's parents died from Alzheimer's disease, so the possibility had always lingered in the back of his mind. Still, like many people, he put off getting tested. Then one day, after spending several minutes searching for his missing cell phone, he realized he had been holding it in his hand the entire time. That moment convinced him it was time to find out what was really happening.Mike was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. Instead of hiding his diagnosis, he chose to go public, determined to challenge the stigma surrounding cognitive decline and encourage others to seek help early. Mike shares the story of his diagnosis, why he refused to let fear define him, and how early detection gave him hope for the future. To find out more about the great work Mike is doing to help with early detection, go to notdemented.com. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, by the time Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, he had already survived plane crashes, gunfire, and political exile. On the same morning Hitler invaded France, Churchill walked into Downing Street and said he felt as if he were “walking with destiny.”In Churchill: Walking With Destiny, historian Sir Andrew Roberts brings the story to life with the speed and suspense of the time itself. From cavalry charges to the Battle of Britain, Roberts explains how Churchill’s scars, stubbornness, and belief in freedom turned him into the leader who refused to give up when Britain stood alone. Here's Roberts himself with the remarkable story of one of the most important men in history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1948, Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand publicly declared that Christianity and Communism were incompatible. For that conviction, he was arrested, tortured, and imprisoned by Romania's Communist regime. Over the next fourteen years, Wurmbrand endured isolation, psychological abuse, and relentless attempts to break his faith through what he described as systematic "brainwashing."After his release and eventual immigration to America, Wurmbrand shared the lessons he learned behind prison walls. In this remarkable address, he reflects on the nature of freedom, the struggle for the human soul, and what he called "heart-washing," the spiritual antidote that helped him withstand years of persecution and emerge with his faith intact. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, some inventions solve problems. Others change the world in ways nobody could have predicted. The plow helped make civilization possible by creating agricultural surpluses and supporting cities, governments, and armies. Barbed wire transformed the American West, turning open prairie into private property and helping settle the frontier. Google Search changed how we find information, reshaping the internet and becoming so ubiquitous that its name became a verb.Economist and bestselling author Tim Harford shares the surprising stories behind three inventions that profoundly altered the way people live, work, and interact with the world. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when a truck bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, chaplain Jack Poe was among the first people on the scene. In the days that followed, he ministered to grieving families, first responders, and a city searching for hope in the wake of unimaginable loss.Six years later, after the attacks of September 11, Poe traveled to New York City to help those facing a similar tragedy. Jack shares a chaplain's perspective on the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, faith in the face of suffering, and the enduring power of what Oklahomans call the "Oklahoma Standard." Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 mean. This time, how the phrases "true colors" and "soap opera", among others, came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Uncle Sam is the iconic face of American patriotism, pointing from posters, stamped on recruitment ads, and etched into the nation's memory. But how did he come to be? The real story begins with a New York meatpacker named Samuel Wilson. What started as a shipping label evolved into one of the most enduring symbols of liberty and national service. Our regular contributor, Rabbi Stuart Halpern, shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, after World War II airman Danny Wilson fell overseas, his body was buried in France alongside thousands of American soldiers. But that wasn't the end of his story. His niece, Joy Neal Kidney, shares the little-known journey of how her uncle was buried three different times, from a military cemetery in Europe to his final resting place in Iowa. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, few filmmakers embody the American Dream as vividly as Frank Capra. Born in Sicily in 1897, he carried the memory of arriving at New York Harbor and seeing the Statue of Liberty through World War I and into Hollywood's golden age. In films like It's a Wonderful Life, Capra celebrated resilience, community, and the strength of ordinary people.Our own Lee Habeeb, along with recordings of Capra himself, shares the story of the immigrant boy who rose to direct some of Hollywood's greatest films. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, nearly ninety years after Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific, the fascination surrounding her life has never faded. Yet one of the most revealing clues about who she was isn't found in a cockpit or a flight log. It's a leather coat preserved in a museum in Wyoming.Our regular contributor Ashley Hlebinsky shares the story behind the jacket and explains how a single artifact can help us better understand the woman behind one of the greatest legends in American history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a teenager, Lindsay Gallant embarked on a wilderness journey with her father, paddling deep into the remote rivers and forests of Canada. What started as a rite of passage ended up becoming much more: a chance to see the natural world through new eyes.Years later, far removed from the waters of the wilderness, one memory from that trip remains especially vivid. Lindsay still remembers the great flocks of tundra swans that filled the sky and the feeling of wonder they inspired. In this moving reflection from Write Your Story, Change Your Life, she shares a coming-of-age story about family, memory, and how certain moments stay with us long after we've left them behind. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, but he changed its place in American life. By making the car affordable and reshaping the factory around speed and precision, he turned a rare machine into something millions of people could own.Historian Richard Snow, author of The Rise of Henry Ford, shares the spellbinding story of how Ford transformed manufacturing in the United States and Detroit and single-handedly ushered in the modern age. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.