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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

10:49

What Calvin Coolidge Said About the True Meaning of...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/29

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1926, on the 150th anniversary of American independence, Calvin Coolidge delivered a Fourth of July address that went far beyond celebration. Speaking in Philadelphia, he argued that America’s prosperity did not create its founding ideals, but that its founding ideals created America’s prosperity.Coolidge warned that abandoning the principles of the Declaration of Independence would mean losing the very source of American freedom. Drawing on

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27:27

Escape From Libby Prison: The Civil War’s Greatest...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/29

On this episode of Our American Stories, deep in Richmond, Virginia, a converted warehouse known as Libby Prison held more than 1,200 Union officers during the Civil War. Prisoners survived on rotting cornbread, slept on bare floors, and shared the space with rats that outnumbered both guards and captives. Escape or death were the only ways out. Historian Robert P. Watson, author of Escape!, shares the astonishing and forgotten story of the largest and most daring jailbreak of the Civil War, when

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10:49

Why “Once in a Lifetime” Is One of the Greatest Songs...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/28

On this episode of Our American Stories, few pop songs sound like nothing that came before them. Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” is one of them, a hypnotic blend of rhythm, repetition, and existential wonder that has puzzled and inspired listeners for decades.Music critics and musicians alike have called it a perfect song, praising its strange power and its lyrics, which feel both meaningless and deeply profound. Our own Greg Hengler traces how the song came together, why it

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9:29

How the Lawn Became a Symbol of the American Dream

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/28

On this episode of Our American Stories, the lawn began as a practical patch of grass, a village common, and even a defensive buffer around medieval castles. Over time it became a status symbol on European estates, then a centerpiece of suburban life and a marker of the American Dream.The History Guy tells how one invention changed everything, the lawn mower, and traces the lawn’s evolution from grazing animals and scythes to Levittown suburbia, billion-dollar lawn care, and today’s

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17:58

Was Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan Necessary to...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/28

On this episode of Our American Stories, few decisions in American history remain as controversial as the choice to drop atomic bombs on Japan in the final days of World War II. Supporters argue the attacks hastened the war’s end and saved lives. Critics say they crossed a moral line that reshaped warfare forever.Ken LaCorte, host of the YouTube channelElephants in Rooms, examines the historical context, military calculations, and ethical questions surrounding Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and why

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30:17

Doug Williams and the Super Bowl That Changed the NFL

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/28

On this episode of Our American Stories, for decades, Black athletes were welcomed in nearly every position in professional football, except one. Quarterback was considered a “thinking man’s” role, and many coaches and owners believed Black players did not belong there.That belief collapsed in 1988 when Doug Williams, a backup QB who had been out of the leauge for a few years, led Washington to a Super Bowl victory over the John Elway–led Denver Broncos, becoming the first

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7:59

The Story of Saxsquatch, the Saxophone-Playing Sasquatch

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/28

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was a saxophonist for one of the world’s great touring bands, Marcus King Band, but felt called to create something entirely his own. What started as a playful persona became a bold leap into creative freedom.Saxsquatchhimselfshares his story of leaving life as a sideman behind, building a new identity, writing original music, and connecting with millions as a saxophone-playing Sasquatch while redefining what it means to chase the American dream in

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20:18

Did Blues Legend Robert Johnson Really Sell His Soul...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/27

On this episode of Our American Stories, legend says that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at a Mississippi crossroads in exchange for his musical talent. It is one of the most enduring myths in American music history.Johnson’s grandson Steven Johnson shares the story and sets the record straight, tracing Robert Johnson’s life from Hazlehurst to the Mississippi Delta, explaining how years of discipline, mentorship, faith, and hardship shaped the King of the Delta Blues, and why

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9:59

The Cub Scout Leader Who Changed My Life

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/27

On this episode of Our American Stories, for Stephen Rusiniak, one of the most influential people in his life was his Cub Scout leader. Long before Stephen found his calling and built his career, this leader saw potential in him and took the time to invest in it.Rusiniak shares how the guidance, discipline, and encouragement he received through Boy Scouts of America shaped his character, changed his outlook, and left a lasting impact that followed him into adulthood. Support the show

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7:59

How Windmills Made the American West Possible

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/27

On this episode of Our American Stories, that old windmill along the highway may look like a relic, but without it, westward expansion would have been nearly impossible. Before electricity and diesel engines, windmills pumped water for farms, ranches, railroads, and growing towns across the American frontier.Our regular contributor, Jesse Edwards, shares the story of how windmills helped power settlement in the West, from early innovations in the 1800s to their lasting role in rural America, and why

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30:17

Gary Powers and the U-2 Incident: A Cold War Spy...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/27

On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 1, 1960, American spy pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down while flying a secret U-2 reconnaissance mission over the Soviet Union, setting off one of the most controversial moments of the Cold War. Questions followed immediately. Did his plane fail or was it hit by a missile? Did he defect? Did he reveal American secrets while imprisoned by the KGB?For years, Powers was judged by the public. To some, he was a hero. To others, a traitor. To Gary

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7:59

How the COVID-19 Toilet Paper Shortage Made Americans...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/27

On this episode of Our American Stories, it took empty store shelves and a toilet paper shortage for many Americans to finally take the bidet seriously. Long dismissed as unnecessary or foreign, the 18th-century bathroom invention saw a surprising surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, and unlike many pandemic fads, it never faded. Bidet sales exploded, inventories vanished, and companies like Bidet King have reported steady growth ever since.Simon Whistler, host ofBrain Food Showand theToday I Found

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10:49

Steve Jobs and the Day the iPhone Was Born

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/26

On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs stepped onto the stage at Macworld and unveiled a device that would change how the world communicates. What looked like a flawless presentation was actually a high-wire act, with hidden risks, backup devices, and engineers bracing for disaster behind the scenes.Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of the iPhone launch that reinvented the phone, powered Apple’s comeback, and helped create the modern app-driven world we now

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19:28

Colin Powell: The Man Behind the General, the...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/26

On this episode of Our American Stories, Colin Powell was a four-star general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State. But behind the titles was a man defined by humility, discipline, humor, and deep loyalty to those around him. Leslie Lautenslager, who worked alongside Powell for more than 25 years, shares personal stories that reveal the man few saw publicly, from his quiet acts of kindness to the values that guided his life and leadership. Reading from her book,My Time with

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7:59

Kagan on Scalia: How Two Supreme Court Opposites...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/26

On this episode of Our American Stories, Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Antonin Scalia could not have disagreed more about the Constitution, yet they shared a deep and lasting friendship. Speaking at the dedication of the Antonin Scalia Law School, Justice Kagan reflects on Scalia’s influence on American law, his love of ideas and students, and the personal bond they formed across sharp ideological divides. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show:

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20:18

Sterling Hayden: The Hollywood Star Who Left the...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/26

On this episode of Our American Stories, he played villains, soldiers, and tough guys on screen, but Sterling Hayden lived an even more dangerous life off camera. Best remembered as Captain McCluskey inThe Godfatherand General Jack Ripper inDr. Strangelove, Hayden walked away from Hollywood during World War II to serve as a Marine officer and covert operative with the OSS. As part of our ongoingHollywood Goes to Warseries, historian Roger McGrath shares the remarkable story of how one of

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17:58

Josephine Earp: The Woman Who Shaped the Legend of...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/26

On this episode of Our American Stories, for nearly fifty years, Josephine Marcus Earp stood beside one of the most famous lawmen of the Old West. But she was more than Wyatt Earp’s wife. She helped shape how his story would be told. Historian Ann Kirschner, author ofLady at the O.K. Corral, shares the story of a Jewish immigrant who chased adventure across the frontier and worked quietly to turn Wyatt Earp into a national legend. Support the show

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20:18

Earning the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor: One Man’s...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom Morton always felt called to serve, but the path there was anything but straight. After trying college twice and walking away both times, he made a decision that put him on a bus to Parris Island and onto the yellow footprints of Marine Corps boot camp.Our American Storieslistener Tom Morton takes us inside the physical and mental grind of Marine training, from relentless discipline and sleep deprivation to the final crucible that strips recruits down and

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17:58

The Story of America: The Roots of Revolution [Ep. 4]

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, after the French and Indian War, Britain emerged victorious, but deeply in debt. Parliament believed the colonies should help pay the bill. Many colonists believed that demand crossed a line.In Episode 4 of our ongoingStory of America Series, Hillsdale College professor Bill McClay, author ofLand of Hope, explains how new taxes, imperial control, and growing resentment collided with powerful cultural forces already at work in the colonies. The Great Awakening

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10:49

The Union Colonel Who Treated Confederate POWs With...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/23

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Civil War, Boston’s Fort Warren held more than 2,000 Confederate prisoners of war. Unlike many prison camps of the era, it was not a place of cruelty or mass death. That was largely due to its commander, Union Colonel Justin Dimick. A career Army officer with deep Christian convictions, Dimick insisted that prisoners be treated with dignity, even after losing his only son in battle. Under his command, only thirteen Confederate prisoners died

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2,223 results

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