Our American Stories
Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.
Episodes
On this episode of Our American Stories, Alexander Hamilton is one of the most controversial and misunderstood Founding Fathers in American history. A brilliant yet complex figure, his ideas helped shape the nation’s financial system, government, and legacy. Historian Ron Chernow—author of the New York Times bestselling biography Alexander Hamilton, which inspired the hit Broadway musical—shares the true stor...
On this episode of Our American Stories, the river town of Hannibal, Missouri, spared Mark Twain from nothing, exposing him to poverty, death, racism, and the need to make decisions for himself. Here's Richard Garey, a Mark Twain aficionado, with the story of this all-important town.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, OAS listener from South Carolina, Dennis Peterson, shares the spellbinding story of his grandfather, "Paw" Summers.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, many countries have mascots. Canada has Johnny Canuck, Israel has Srulik, the U.K. has John Bull—and the United States has Uncle Sam. But how did he come to be? It turns out it wasn’t the work of an intrepid cartoonist or a government initiative, but barrels full of meat during the War of 1812 that gave the USA its persona. Here’s the story of everything you’ve ever w...
On this episode of Our American Stories, for the longest time, the NBA was a financially unstable, mostly regional, and hard-to-sell property—at one point, they were nearly forced off of CBS. But thanks to business-savvy individuals like David Stern, the NBA became a money-making machine. The question was: would CBS re-up with them or cut them loose? David Stern decided to draw a hard line. Pete Croatto, author of From Hang T...
On this episode of Our American Stories, Gettysburg National Park Service Ranger Matt Atkinson tells the story of Dan Sickles—the man who pioneered the “temporary insanity” plea after murdering his wife's lover, had his leg shot off by Longstreet's cannon fire in a peach orchard, and later helped establish Gettysburg National Military Park.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, working remotely meant she could live remotely, too... so Emma decided to buy a sailboat and go to Florida. Here she is to explain why she made the unorthodox decision to set her sights on the high seas.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, in July 1945, a U.S. B-25 Mitchell bomber got lost in heavy fog over Manhattan. Here’s The History Guy with the forgotten—and astonishing—story.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, “Smokin’” Ed Currie is an American chili pepper breeder and the founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. He’s best known for creating the world’s hottest chili peppers—the Carolina Reaper and now Pepper X—as recognized by Guinness World Records. A former addict, Ed is now a man of strong faith. Here’s Ed sharing a story about him...
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Leven was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.—one of the great hoteliers of all time and a legend in his business. He’s also what you might call a “wise man.” Here’s Mike telling the story of how he—a Jew—helped start the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, format wars are nothing new—Edison and Berliner battled it out over phonograph methods, and 8-tracks and cassettes clashed in the ’60s and 70s—but those battles took place away from the public eye. The fight between VHS and Betamax played out in living rooms across America. Here to tell the story of how VHS came out victorious is Bill “Engineer Guy” Hammack.
On this episode of Our American Stories, Harriet Tubman is one of the giants of American history—a pistol-packing, fearless, and inspiring visionary who led scores of her fellow slaves to freedom. Here to tell her story is Kate Clifford Larson, author of Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, bestselling author Ace Collins reveals the stories behind the events and traditions that shaped Easter, introducing stories you've likely never heard and offering a deeper appreciation for the holiday’s familiar hallmarks. You won't want to miss this one!
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On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story was made into a 2014 motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie and based on the 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. While some of the most remarkable parts of Louis Zamperini’s story were left out of the film, you'll hear them in this piece—from the man himself.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, our own Greg Hengler—and others—tell the splinter-free story of the toilet and its many accessories. You're going to want to be sitting down for this one!
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On this episode of Our American Stories, the iconic Hanson Brothers from Slap Shot weren’t actors—they were real minor league hockey players. When Dave "Killer" Hanson was cast in the 1977 cult classic alongside Paul Newman, the unforgettable trio was born. Here's David himself with the true story behind one of the most legendary roles in sports movie history.
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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.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Sgt. William H. Carney became the first Black American to earn the Medal of Honor after protecting one of the United States' greatest symbols during the Civil War—the American flag. Here to tell the story is Elliott Drago, historian and editorial officer at the Jack Miller Center.
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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. Check it out!
Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose was one of America’s leading biographers and historians. Although he passed away in 2002, his epic storytelling can now be heard here on Our American Stories, thanks to the efforts of those who manage his estate. Today, Stephen examines Allied aerial might—and how we figured out how to take the fight to Germany effectively over the skies of Europe.
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