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PODCAST

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.

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

7:59

Why the American Flag Means So Much to My Family

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/20

On this episode of Our American Stories, the American flag carries deep meaning for millions of families, often shaped by service, sacrifice, and memory. For Our American Storieslistener Joy Neal Kidney of Des Moines, Iowa, that meaning is deeply personal. Joy is the niece of the Wilson Brothers—young men from Iowa who served during World War II and whose lives and sacrifices left a lasting mark on their family. Their story, and what they stood for, helped shape how Joy and her family came to

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10:49

When a Baptist Preacher Gave Thomas Jefferson a...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Jefferson is remembered as a Founding Father, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the nation’s third president. He is also one of the most important historical figures when it comes to religious freedom in America.In 1802, that commitment to religious liberty inspired one of the strangest thank-you gifts in presidential history. A Baptist preacher from Massachusetts organized his congregation to create a massive wheel of cheese and

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9:29

How Spam and Chocolate Became America’s Secret...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, when American troops left for war, they carried reminders of home that came in the simplest form: food. Spam and Hershey’s chocolate became symbols of comfort in a world that had lost its sense of safety. Spam filled mess kits and fueled long marches through mud and heat. Hershey’s chocolate brought a quick burst of sweetness that could steady a soldier’s nerves or break the monotony of rations. Together they fed the body and the spirit,

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17:58

Kemmons Wilson: The Man Who Built Holiday Inn

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, Holiday Inn began with one frustrated family road trip and grew into one of the largest hotel chains in the world. At the center of that growth was Kemmons Wilson, the founder of Holiday Inn and a salesman at heart. His son, Kemmons Wilson Jr., joins us with stories of his father's relationships with some of the greats: Muhammad Ali, Sam Walton, and Sam Phillips. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show:

en-US

20:18

When Friendship in Vietnam Meant Saying Goodbye

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, the Vietnam War changed a generation of American men. For many of them, survival depended less on strategy and more on friendship. Camelo Venegaz was the kind of guy you could talk to about anything, and he became someone his fellow soldiers trusted with their fears and, at times, their final words. He joins us to tell his story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee

en-US

17:58

The Rural Missouri Church That Preaches In Five...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, Josh and Lauren Manning did not expect to end up in Noel, Missouri. After years in retail management, Josh felt pulled toward ministry and accepted a role at a struggling rural church.What they walked into was something unexpected: a congregation that spanned multiple cultures and languages. Noel had become home to refugees and immigrant families drawn to the area for work in local industries, bringing with them languages and traditions from around the world

en-US

10:49

99 Reasons a Typewriter Beats a Computer

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/18

On this episode of Our American Stories, it is hard to imagine now, but there was a time when writing meant sitting in front of a typewriter. Just a keyboard, a ribbon, and a blank sheet of paper. The QWERTY layout, first designed in the nineteenth century, shaped how we still type today.Our American Storieslistener Bert Rosica explains why that old typing machine still holds a certain power and why, in his view, there are 99 reasons a typewriter is better than a computer. Support the show

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27:27

From Fairly OddParents to Danny Phantom: The Animator...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/18

On this episode of Our American Stories, Butch Hartman shares the story of how one of the most influential animation careers of the 2000s came to be. While millions recognize the shows he created;The Fairly OddParents,Danny Phantom, and more, far fewer know the path that led him there. Hartman tells how his journey took him from the snowy shores of Michigan to the studios of Southern California, and how persistence, faith, and craft shaped a career that defined a generation of television animation

en-US

20:18

When a Messenger Pigeon Stopped Friendly Fire in...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/18

On this episode of Our American Stories, during World War I, carrier pigeons were woven into the U.S. Army’s communication system. When phone lines were cut and runners could not cross open ground, messenger pigeons carried handwritten notes over smoke and shellfire. At one point in the war, an American unit was pinned down by its own artillery. Cut off and taking heavy losses, the men turned to a wounded homing pigeon that had been trained to fly back to its loft. That small bird became their

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9:59

How the Automobile Solved a Problem No One Could Ignore

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/18

On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when the automobile was hailed as an environmental savior. Cities at the turn of the century were suffocating under the burden of their own success. The horse had built them, but it was also destroying them. Streets were thick with waste, and the air carried the scent of disease. Into that chaos rolled the automobile, a machine that seemed to offer a vision of progress that was clean, modern, and under

en-US

7:59

What Salmon Fishing Taught Me About Courage

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/18

On this episode of Our American Stories, Seaside, Oregon, was a small Pacific Northwest town built on logging and salmon fishing. Karl Marlantes’ grandfather had already survived a logging accident that crushed both his legs before turning fully to commercial salmon fishing. As a gillnetter, he worked the tides with precision, and when Karl was thirteen, he brought him into the family business. Karl, the author ofWhat It Is Like to Go to WarandMatterhorn,shares the story of how those summer

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38:16

The Intimidator: Dale Earnhardt's Life In The Fast Lane

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/17

On this episode of Our American Stories, in NASCAR, some names fade. But Dale Earnhardt does not. Dale Earnhardt Sr. built his reputation one race at a time, driving the black No. 3 and collecting championships like stamps. More than two decades later, Dale Earnhardt remains central to NASCAR’s story. Jay Busbee, author ofEarnhardt Nation, shares the tale of how a poor boy from Kannapolis, North Carolina, became “The Intimidator”—auto racing’s greatest legend and an

en-US

10:49

When an Escape Attempt Turned Alcatraz Into a War Zone

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/17

On this episode of Our American Stories, Alcatraz: the inescapable prison. Inmates called it “the Rock,” and the distance from Alcatraz to the mainland was enough to make even the most hardened criminals shiver in fear. But in 1946, a group of prisoners attempted the impossible. They overpowered guards inside Alcatraz and tried to break out. The attempt spiraled into what became known as the Battle of Alcatraz, or the Alcatraz Prison Riot of 1946. U.S. Marines were called in to restore

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9:29

Robert E. Lee’s Quiet Years in the Aftermath of the...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/17

On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert E. Lee is known for his role during the Civil War, but what about his life afterward? After the Confederate surrender, General Robert E. Lee returned to Virginia and accepted the presidency of a struggling college in Lexington. The aftermath of the Civil War left the South uncertain about its future, and Lee’s final years were spent guiding students rather than commanding troops.Historian Allen Guelzo shares how this quiet period helped redefine

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9:59

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? The Story Behind the...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/17

On this episode of Our American Stories, the top show of the 60's and 70's started with a simple question: "Scooby-Doo where are you?" The show introduced the Scooby-Doo gang, a group of teenagers and one nervous Great Dane riding around in the Mystery Machine, chasing ghosts that always turned out to be something far more human.Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of one of the most ironic cartoons of all time. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show:

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7:59

Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Known Chess Player

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/17

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ben Franklin had more “firsts” than most Americans could dream of. But before he was a statesman, a printer, or the face on the hundred-dollar bill, Benjamin Franklin was a devoted chess player. In fact, Benjamin Franklin’s chess history goes back further than most people realize. He is widely considered America’s first known chess player and the first American to write seriously about the game. Elliott Drago, a historian and editorial

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20:18

The Story of America: The Indispensable George...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the real test began. Could a fragile rebellion defeat the most powerful empire on earth? In this episode of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of Americaseries, Dr. Bill McClay, a Hillsdale College professor and the author ofLand of Hope, tells the story of how American independence was secured through hardship, perseverance, and the indispensable leadership of General George Washington. Support the show

en-US

17:58

Rosa Parks, In Her Own Words: The Woman Who...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of Rosa Parks is often reduced to a single moment on a Montgomery bus. But here, in her own voice, Rosa Parks tells the fuller story of what led to that decision and what followed. Through rare audio from Felicia Bell, the director of the Rosa Parks Museum, Parks herself explains how segregation shaped every part of daily life in the South, why she was actually seated legally that day, and how her refusal to move from that seat became the spark that

en-US

10:49

The True Story of Valentine’s Day: From Martyrdom to...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, Valentine’s Day began as a feast honoring a third-century Christian martyr. So how did we get from beheading to betrothing? Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of Saint Valentine, a Roman priest executed under Emperor Claudius II for secretly marrying Christian couples. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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9:29

The Text Message That Became a Eulogy: Remembering...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, when 18-year-old Shelby Houston prepared to preach for the first time, her father sent her a reassuring text. Hours later, Richard Houston, a 21-year veteran of the Mesquite Police Department, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. At his memorial service, Shelby delivered a moving eulogy—one that reflected her father’s faith, character, and courage. Here's the audio of that eulogy. Support the show

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2,183 results

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