x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

10:49

Queen Esther and the Jewish Roots of American Liberty

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/25

On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of Queen Esther, told in the Book of Esther in the Bible, is usually read as a story of courage and survival. Less often, it is connected to the ideas that shaped American liberty. Rabbi Stuart Halpern, co-author ofJewish Roots of American Liberty, explains how this Old Testament story, including Esther, Mordecai, and King Xerxes, carried meaning into colonial America and helped shape the way people understood freedom, responsibility, and the role

en-US

19:28

Pat Boone and Shirley Foley Boone: A Life of Music...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/25

On this episode of Our American Stories, at the height of his career, Pat Boone was one of the most recognizable figures in American music, known for his success on stage and on television. Behind it all was his marriage to Shirley Foley Boone, which remained at the center of his life. The legend himself joins us to tell the story of how he balanced stardom with his personal faith and family. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show:

en-US

7:59

A General Explains the Invisible Struggle Facing...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/25

On this episode of Our American Stories, Major General “Mook” Mukoyama volunteered and served in both Korea and Vietnam, building a long career in the U.S. Army during some of the most defining conflicts in American military history. In 1986, he became the youngest general in the Army at the time, and soon after was promoted to Major General, where he went on to command the 70th Training Division during Desert Storm. After retiring from military service, Mukoyama turned his focus to

en-US

10:49

A Mom and Son Ran a Marathon in All 50 States Together

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/24

On this episode of Our American Stories, most people set out to run a single marathon and call it a lifetime achievement. Karen Thomson and her son, Joe Meilink, decided to take it much further. Together, they ran a marathon in every state, turning long miles and early mornings into something more than a physical challenge. Along the way, the journey became a shared pursuit, one that brought family closer together and created memories that stretched far beyond the finish line.Karen and Joe, joined

en-US

9:29

"Back to Square One" and the Wonderful Origins of...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/24

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, this time diving into how the phrase “back to square one” came to be. His book,Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, is a must-read. Be sure to check it out! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show:

en-US

17:58

Was Lincoln Religious? The Complicated Faith of...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/24

On this episode of Our American Stories, Abraham Lincoln often spoke about God, especially during the darkest days of the Civil War. But what he believed, and how he arrived there, is more complex than many assume. He did not belong to a church for most of his life. He wrestled with loss, read widely, and thought deeply about providence, suffering, and the role of faith in a nation at war.Richard Carwardine, a Lincoln Prize-winning historian, shares the story of Lincoln’s spiritual life, how

en-US

10:49

The Story of How the Muppets Began as a TV Commercial

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/24

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brian Jay Jones, author ofJim Henson: The Biography, tells the story of how some of America’s most beloved characters—the Muppets—got their start in advertising and television commercials. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

19:28

How the Beastie Boys Took Hip-Hop From New York to...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/24

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early days of hip-hop, the music grew out of Black and Latino communities in New York City. It was local, raw, and deeply rooted in the neighborhoods where it began. So when three white, Jewish kids from New York entered that world, it raised more than a few eyebrows.Greg Hengler shares the story of the Beastie Boys, how they found their place in a culture that wasn’t originally their own, and how their music helped carry hip-hop to audiences far

en-US

7:59

Mary Edwards Walker: The Only Woman Awarded the Medal...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/24

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the middle of the Civil War, when battlefield medicine was rough, dangerous, and often improvised, one doctor refused to stay on the sidelines.Dr. Mary Edwards Walker served on the front lines, treating wounded soldiers under fire and crossing enemy lines to care for those in need. Along the way, she was captured, held as a prisoner of war, and ultimately recognized for her service in a way no other woman in American history has been.The History Guy shares

en-US

30:17

How a College Student Saved Ulysses S. Grant’s Tomb

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War and later served two terms as the 18th president of the United States. Today, he is buried at Grant’s Tomb in New York City, the largest presidential tomb in the country and one of the city’s most important historic monuments.By the late twentieth century, however, the memorial had fallen into serious disrepair. Graffiti covered the walls, maintenance had stalled, and many

en-US

7:59

Fifty Years Later, I Returned to the Place I Once...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a boy growing up in Kansas City, Roger Rench’s life changed suddenly when his father took a job as a golf pro in the small town of Sheridan, Iowa. The move meant trading city life for a tiny community and living inside the clubhouse of the Lakeview Country Club. It also meant giving up something Roger loved even more than the golf course: his dog, Flash.The stay in Iowa lasted only a month before the job ended and the family returned to Kansas City,

en-US

30:17

The Story of America: Why the Constitution Needed the...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Constitution emerged from the Constitutional Convention in 1787, its future was far from certain. The document still needed to be ratified by the states, and fierce debate quickly followed. Supporters argued that the new framework of government would stabilize the young republic, while critics warned that it gave too much power to a distant national government.Into that debate stepped Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Writing under the

en-US

7:59

Why I Climbed Into a Dumpster to Play Cards with a...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, acts of kindness often begin in ordinary moments. For Paul Kotz, a regular contributor to Our American Stories, one of those moments started behind a building with a deck of cards and a brief conversation with a homeless man. What followed was unexpected: Kotz climbed into a dumpster so the two of them could sit down and play a few hands.The game itself was simple, but the encounter stayed with him. Kotz reflects on that afternoon and the quiet ways

en-US

10:49

Sunday Mornings with Big Mitch: Ep. 15

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/22

On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Storieshost Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel "Big Mitch" Rutledge, who has spent more than forty years serving a life sentence in Alabama. Each call traces the shape of faith, regret, and forgiveness inside a place built for punishment.As the series comes to a close, Mitch reflects on what those years have taught him about freedom and bondage. Prison, he explains, is not only a physical place. A person can be trapped by anger,

en-US

10:49

He Grew Up Without Reliable Water—Now He’s Turning...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/20

On this episode of Our American Stories, around the world, access to clean water is something many take for granted, but for Manny Singh, it was a problem he experienced firsthand growing up in India, where water shortages were a daily reality.Now, as president of Koch Membrane Systems, Singh is helping develop technologies that can turn wastewater into safe, usable water—addressing one of the world’s most urgent challenges. From improving water systems in drought-stricken regions to

en-US

27:27

One Leg, Thirteen World Records, and an Incredible...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/20

On this episode of Our American Stories, Amy Palmiero-Winters is one of the most accomplished athletes in adaptive sports. She holds 13 world records for distance running, completing marathons and endurance races using a prosthetic leg.Her journey into competitive running began after a life-changing accident that could have ended her athletic ambitions entirely. Instead, it pushed her toward a new challenge. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show:

en-US

10:49

The Hard Truths and Joys of Foster Care

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/20

On this episode of Our American Stories, Kimberly McCullough shares the beauty, and heartbreak, of walking through the foster care and adoption process. Through her experiences as a foster mother, McCullough reflects on the tension at the heart of foster care: the hope of reunification, the deep bonds formed with children, and the painful reality of letting them go. From courtroom adoption days filled with joy to difficult goodbyes that test a family’s strength, her story captures what she

en-US

9:29

“Knock on Wood” & “Kick the Bucket”: The Wonderful...

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/20

On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of his ongoing series on the origins of everyday expressions, Andrew Thompson, author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red, shares the fascinating backstories behind the phrases “knock on wood” and “kick the bucket,” among others. These familiar sayings carry histories shaped by religion, literature, and everyday life in earlier centuries. Thompson traces how these expressions traveled through time, how their meanings

en-US

17:58

The B-24 Mission My Dad Never Talked About

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/20

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom McManus thought he understood hard work. As an NFL rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, training camp pushed him to his limits. But during one quiet conversation with his father, he discovered what real hardship looked like.At the same age Tom was grinding through football practice, his father was flying combat missions over Europe in a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the

en-US

38:17

The Real Doc Holliday Behind the Tombstone Legend

Our American Stories ·

2026/03/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, Doc Holliday is one of the most famous figures of the American Old West, known for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Movies and television have turned him into a legend, but the real Doc Holliday was far more complicated than the popular portrayals suggest.Historian Roger McGrath joins us to tell the true story of John Henry “Doc” Holliday—the Southern dentist who became a gambler, gunslinger,

en-US

2,138 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger