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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

30:17

The Story Behind the World’s Most Recorded Gospel Song

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/12

On this episode of Our American Stories, Albert E. Brumley, the son of Oklahoma sharecroppers, wrote “I’ll Fly Away,” the most recorded gospel song in history. Rooted in Southern gospel traditions, its message of faith and freedom has inspired churches, revivals, and concert halls for nearly a century. Brumley’s journey from poverty to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame shows how one man gave voice to the hopes of millions. Today, his granddaughters share the story of the man

en-US

7:59

A Mother’s Reflections on Her Kids and a Baby Eagle

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/12

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories regular contributor Leslie Leyland Fields shares a heartwarming story about what she learned from a baby bald eagle at her Kodiak Island, Alaska, home—and how it connected to her own kids “leaving the roost” for the first time in their lives. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

30:17

How Cancer From Ground Zero United Two Unlikely New...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/12

On this episode of Our American Stories, on September 11, 2001, firefighter Niels Jorgensen ran toward the collapsing Twin Towers as part of the FDNY brotherhood that risked everything to save lives. Like so many first responders, he later faced a slower, quieter enemy: cancer caused by the toxic dust that blanketed Lower Manhattan after the attacks. His illness connected him with someone far outside the firehouse brotherhood: billionaire David Koch. Their backgrounds could not have been more

en-US

7:59

How George Washington's Bible Survived 9/11

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/12

On this episode of Our American Stories, when George Washington took the oath of office in 1789, his hand rested on a Bible that would become one of America’s most treasured artifacts. That same Bible was on loan to Fraunces Tavern, a Revolutionary War landmark near the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001. After the towers fell, the search for survivors gave way to the search for the dead and eventually to a search for the missing Bible. Robert J. Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That

en-US

10:49

The Alien and Sedition Acts and the Battle Over Free...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1798, President John Adams signed the Alien and Sedition Acts, laws meant to protect the young nation during conflict with France. Supporters saw them as necessary for security, while critics argued they violated the First Amendment and gave government dangerous power. Dr. Adam Carrington explains why these laws became so divisive and how they continue to shape debates about liberty and free speech. Support the show

en-US

9:29

Frank Capra: The American Dream Personified

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

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 his father pointing to 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

en-US

9:59

Goodbye, Old House: Thank You for the Double Spoon

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Bonnie Brown Rowcliffe prepared to sell her childhood home, she dreaded the moment she would walk through its doors for the last time. Every wall carried the weight of memory, and every room felt like a reminder of her late parents. On her final day in the house, she opened one last cupboard and found something unexpected: her father’s “double spoon,” a small, ordinary object that revealed an extraordinary lesson. In this moving story,

en-US

7:59

What Dr. Seuss Really Meant With The Lorax and The...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

On this episode of Our American Stories, Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, created some of the most famous children’s books of the 20th century. Two of his best-known works,The LoraxandHow the Grinch Stole Christmas, show just how intentional he could be. The Lorax stood among the Truffula trees and spoke for the environment, long before environmentalism was a mainstream cause. The Grinch, meanwhile, offered a parable of greed, redemption, and the deeper meaning of Christmas. Both

en-US

10:49

FDNY Fireboats and the Largest Water Evacuation in...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

On this episode of Our American Stories, as Lower Manhattan filled with smoke and chaos on September 11, 2001, escape routes vanished. Bridges and tunnels were shut down, subways halted, and thousands of people were trapped at the edge of the island with no way out. In that moment, the harbor became their only hope. The call went out: “All available boats.” Fireboats, tugboats, ferries, and even private pleasure craft rushed to the seawall. Together, they carried civilians across the

en-US

9:29

Cantor Fitzgerald’s CEO Remembers 9/11 and the...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the planes struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Cantor Fitzgerald was left devastated. The investment firm’s offices spanned the upper floors of the North Tower, leaving no chance of escape. In less than an hour, 658 employees were gone—more lives than any other company lost that day. Among them was the brother of CEO Howard Lutnick. For Lutnick, the grief was immediate and deeply personal, but so was the responsibility. He

en-US

9:59

An Appeal to Heaven: The Forgotten Flag of George...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

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 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 came from New England symbolism, while its motto reflected John

en-US

7:59

How the Lobotomy Changed Modern Brain Science

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/11

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the mid-20th century, families desperate for answers turned to a radical procedure known as the lobotomy. Promoted as a cure for everything from depression to schizophrenia, its brutal methods left thousands of patients permanently damaged. At the center was Dr. Walter Freeman, whose name became synonymous with the transorbital lobotomy and the dark side of psychosurgery. Yet from these failures came progress. The shortcomings of lobotomy forced doctors

en-US

10:49

The Small Act of Courage That Led to 50 Years of...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/10

On this episode of Our American Stories, Lori Coan was on her second date with a boy she wasn’t sure about when something happened that changed her mind—and her life. A group of troublemakers tripped a girl with polio, sending her sprawling in front of everyone. Most of the students laughed or looked away. Lori’s date didn’t. He jumped up, helped the girl to her feet, and gave her dignity back in a moment when it had been stolen. To Lori, that simple act of courage said more

en-US

9:29

How Four Chaplains of Different Faiths Became...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/10

On this episode of Our American Stories, on the frigid night of February 3, 1943, the troop shipUSS Dorchester was struck by a German torpedo. Within twenty minutes, the ship slipped beneath the waves. As it did, a Methodist minister, a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest, and a Dutch Reformed pastor moved calmly through the panicked crowd—guiding soldiers to lifeboats, offering prayers, and handing out lifejackets until none remained. When the last vests were gone, they gave away their own. Craig

en-US

9:59

John Humphrey’s Heart and the Power of a Community

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/10

On this episode of Our American Stories, when John Humphrey was born with a rare heart condition, his family’s world changed overnight. In West Des Moines, Iowa, they found strength in the compassion of their neighbors and the faith community at the Lutheran Church of Hope. Told by Ryan Buck, The Hope Story of John Humphreyshares not only the struggles of one child’s medical battle, but also the small acts of kindness and the steadfast belief that carried his family through. Support the

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7:59

The Confederate Hunley and the First Submarine Attack...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/10

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1864, Charleston Harbor became the site of a world first. The Confederate submarineCSS Hunleyapproached the Union warshipUSS Housatonicunder the cover of night. A spar torpedo struck, sending theHousatonicto the bottom of the harbor and proving that submarines could change the course of war. TheHunleynever returned, but the attack marked the beginning of submarine warfare and remains one of the most dramatic moments in Civil War naval history. Support the

en-US

30:17

James Madison: The Quiet Founder Who Built a Nation

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/10

On this episode of Our American Stories, James Madison rarely chased the spotlight, and he knew his character flaws. He was short, balding, awkward, and didn’t always play well in group settings. Yet despite his stature, his big ideas built and shaped America. He drafted the Bill of Rights, argued for ratification in The Federalist Papers, and turned quiet conviction into lasting policy through partnerships with Washington, Jefferson, and Monroe. His marriage to Dolley Madison added another

en-US

7:59

The Real Winnie the Pooh: A.A. Milne’s Story Behind...

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/10

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Winnie the Pooh became a Disney character, he was the creation of A.A. Milne, first brought to life in the Evening Newson Christmas Eve, 1925. Inspired by his son, Christopher Robin, and a teddy bear named Edward, Milne wrote stories that blended the innocence of childhood with the timeless appeal of friendship. Illustrated by E.H. Shepard,Winnie-the-PoohandThe House at Pooh Cornerquickly became classics, ranking among the most beloved children’s

en-US

10:49

The Debate Over Slavery That Changed John Quincy Adams

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/09

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1819, as the Missouri Crisis stirred national debate over slavery and westward expansion, a private conversation between John Quincy Adams and John C. Calhoun became something much larger. Calhoun defended slavery as a necessary institution. Adams left the conversation deeply shaken and newly committed to abolition. This moment would fuel his work after the presidency, where he became a leading voice against the Gag Rule and argued for the freedom of the

en-US

9:29

The German Immigrant Behind Coors Banquet Beer

Our American Stories ·

2025/09/09

On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became one of America’s most recognizable beer brands, Coors was the dream of Adolph Coors, a German immigrant who started brewing in the mining towns of Colorado. With a commitment to quality and a passion for craft, Coors created what would become Coors Banquet—a beer with staying power. Pete Coors shares how his ancestors’ hard work, vision, and old-world techniques helped shape the brewery’s legacy. Support the show

en-US

1,656 results

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