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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

38:16

The Jewish Patriots of the American Revolution

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/04

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the American Revolution, Jews made up only a tiny fraction of the population, yet many became passionate patriots in the fight for independence and religious freedom. Historian Adam Jortner, author ofA Promised Land, shares the overlooked stories of Jewish Americans who fought, organized, and risked everything for a new nation, and how their struggle helped shape America’s earliest promise of liberty for all faiths. Support the show

en-US

10:49

The Screwdriver Wars: Why Phillips Beat Robertson

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/03

On this episode of Our American Stories, why do we have so many different kinds of screws? The answer lies in a little-known industrial rivalry between the Robertson and Phillips screw designs, where engineering innovation collided with manufacturing, war, and corporate power. The History Guy shares the fascinating story of how historical events and business decisions determined which screw would dominate toolboxes around the world. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support

en-US

9:29

The Story of Jell-O: How America’s Favorite Dessert...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/03

On this episode of Our American Stories, invented in 1897, Jell-O became one of America’s most recognizable foods through clever marketing, simple convenience, and perfect timing. Simon Whistler of Today I Found OutandThe Brain Food Showtells how a wobbly gelatin dessert worked its way into American kitchens, culture, and history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

9:59

Before the Mall: The Original Abercrombie & Fitch

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/03

On this episode of Our American Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch once ruled shopping malls in the 1990s and early 2000s, but its story began long before loud music and cologne. Founded in 1892 in New York City, the company started as an elite outfitter for explorers, presidents, and world-class outdoorsmen. Historian Ashley Hlebinsky traces the brand’s forgotten origins, from supplying Theodore Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart to becoming one of the most famous clothing labels in America. Support

en-US

7:59

If I Could Talk to Anyone for One Hour, It Would Be...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/03

On this episode of Our American Stories, if you could spend one hour talking with anyone, living or not, who would you choose? For regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak, the answer isn’t a famous figure or historical hero. It’s his parents. In this deeply personal reflection, Rusiniak imagines what he would say, what he wouldn’t say, and why simply being together again would be enough. It’s a quiet meditation on love, loss, gratitude, and the conversations we wish we could

en-US

38:16

Paul Harvey: The Voice That Told America “The Rest of...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/03

On this episode of Our American Stories, born in small-town Oklahoma in 1918, Paul Harvey grew up shaped by faith, rural life, and the tragic murder of his father, a police officer. From World War II to Watergate, from civil rights to the dawn of the digital age, Harvey spoke to America nearly every day for more than 70 years. Stephen Mansfield, author of Paul Harvey’s America, shares the remarkable life story of how one man with a microphone became a steady voice of clarity, conviction, and

en-US

30:17

James Warner Bellah: From World War I to Writing John...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/02

On this episode of Our American Stories, before his stories became classic Hollywood films, James Warner Bellah was writing pulp fiction about cavalry, frontier warfare, and American identity. His short stories and screenplays were later brought to the screen by John Ford and helped define the on-screen voice of John Wayne. But Bellah’s life was shaped not only by Hollywood. He also served during World War I, an experience that deeply influenced his writing and worldview. As part of our

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7:59

How Railroads Created America’s Time Zones

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/02

On this episode of Our American Stories, today, America runs on four time zones, but before the railroad era, thousands of towns kept their own local time based on the sun. As rail travel expanded in the 1800s, that system became dangerous and unworkable. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of how railroad companies, not the federal government, created standardized time zones to keep trains running safely and on schedule, reshaping how Americans understood time itself. Support the show

en-US

10:49

Joshua Lionel Cowen and the Toy Trains That Defined...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/02

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Bryk tells the remarkable story of Joshua Lionel Cowen, the inventive mind behind Lionel trains. Cowen began his career designing electrical devices and naval mine detonators before discovering that motion, electricity, and imagination could transform toys forever. His Lionel trains became a defining part of American childhood, outselling real locomotives at their peak and shaping generations of play. This is the story of innovation, marketing genius,

en-US

9:29

How an African American Community Used Storytelling...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/02

On this episode of Our American Stories, Eric Motley, author ofMadison Park: A Place of Hope, shares how he was raised by a close-knit African American community in Montgomery, Alabama where storytelling, encouragement, and faith shaped a young boy’s life. In a place where many elders had been denied formal education, spoken words carried power, passing down dignity, purpose, and hope. This is the story of how encouragement, community, and stories told out loud can change a life forever

en-US

17:58

The Story of America: The Shot Heard ’Round the World...

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/02

On this episode of Our American Stories, The American Revolution began before independence was declared and before most colonists were ready for a complete break from Britain. In our fifth installment of our ongoingStory of Americaseries, Bill McClay, author ofLand of Hope, explains how the fighting at Lexington and Concord shocked a deeply divided America, and how Thomas Paine’sCommon Sensehelped turn uncertainty into resolve, making independence imaginable and ultimately inevitable. Support

en-US

9:59

Sunday Mornings with Big Mitch: Ep. 11

Our American Stories ·

2026/02/01

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.When Mitch first entered prison, he couldn't read or write. He had dropped out of school early and tested just above the threshold that once marked intellectual disability. But that was only where the

en-US

10:49

The Enslaved Man-Turned-Spy Who Helped Washington Win...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/30

On this episode of Our American Stories, for most of his life, James Armistead Lafayette was known simply as James—not Lafayette. That last name came later, and from none other than the Marquis de Lafayette of the American Revolution. But why would an enslaved man take the last name of a French military officer? Here's Kirk Higgins of the Bill of Rights Institutewith the story of one of America's most important, underappreciated, and little-known spies during the American Revolution. Support

en-US

19:28

America's Greatest Grifter? The Odd Story of Appleton...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/30

On this episode of Our American Stories, they say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—but Appleton Oaksmith landed on another planet. His mother was a feminist who knew top abolitionists; his father, a cartoonist admired across party lines. Appleton? He was hunted internationally for presumed slave trading and a failed kidnapping in Cuba that may have threatened Lincoln’s reelection. Yet he later fought for Black voting rights. Jonathan W. White, author ofShipwrecked, shares

en-US

7:59

A Wife’s Heartfelt Letter to Her Husband After...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/30

On this episode of Our American Stories, Megan Bayer shares her touching letter of gratitude and healing to her constant companion through a struggle they will never forget. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

30:18

The Man Behind Maybelline and the Rise of Modern Makeup

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/30

On this episode of Our American Stories, in Victorian America, makeup was taboo. Respectable women didn’t enhance their eyes—unless they were silent film stars or prostitutes. That changed with one family experiment that quietly sparked a beauty revolution. At just 19, Thomas Lyle Williams created what would become Maybelline, inspired by his sister’s homemade eyelash treatments. Mixed in teapots and sold by mail, the product became so popular that the family once hauled orders

en-US

7:59

Justice Scalia on Why The Constitution is Unique

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/30

On this episode of Our American Stories, a bill of rights depends on a government that actually manifests restraint. Otherwise, Justice Scalia suggests, it is just a bill of goods. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:49

What I Learned After Getting a Dog I Didn’t Understand

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/29

On this episode of Our American Stories, after becoming an empty nester, Paul Bauer decided to get a dog, despite knowing almost nothing about dogs. What he got instead was Gizmo, a stubborn, charming King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who quickly made it clear who was really in charge.With humor and humility, Paul shares the lessons Gizmo has taught him about patience, routine, pride, and love, and how sometimes the best teachers arrive with fur, a strong will, and no interest in playing fetch. Support

en-US

9:29

He Was Closer to Death Than We Knew

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/29

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early months of the COVID pandemic, when fear and uncertainty were everywhere, Stephen Rusiniak received a call that stopped him cold. His brother was sick, struggling to breathe, and finally asking for help.What followed was a quiet, urgent drive to the hospital, shaped by fear, duty, and love. Stephen tells the story of a moment when concern for his own safety faded beside something stronger, the bond between brothers, and the simple truth that

en-US

17:58

How Charles Lindbergh Became America’s Most Famous...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/29

On this episode of Our American Stories, Before he became the most famous pilot in the world, Charles Lindbergh was a barnstormer, a daredevil wing walker, and a U.S. airmail pilot flying dangerous routes with little margin for error. Long before his historic Atlantic crossing, Lindbergh learned to trust machines, weather, and his own instincts in the air.Kirk Higgins of theBill of Rights Instituteshares the lesser-known story of Lindbergh’s early years and the unlikely experiences that

en-US

2,223 results

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