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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

9:59

How the Night Stalker Was Identified by a Single...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/19

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1984, Los Angeles police officer Bob Alaniz arrested a suspicious car thief without realizing he was detaining one of California’s most dangerous serial killers. That man was Richard Ramirez, later known as the Night Stalker. Though Ramirez was released, the fingerprints Alaniz took during booking would become the key to identifying him months later, after a single print was recovered from a crime scene. Alaniz recounts the moment he realized his

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7:59

“Propose a Toast” and the Wonderful Origins of...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/19

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 exploring the phrase “propose a toast” and others. His book,Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, uncovers the quirky roots behind the words we use every day. Be sure to check it out! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support

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10:49

The Medal of Honor Pilot Who Crashed His Plane to...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Korean War, Navy pilot Thomas Hudner made a decision that defied orders and nearly cost him his life. When his wingman, Jesse L. Brown, the Navy’s first Black aviator, was shot down behind enemy lines near the Chosin Reservoir, Hudner deliberately crash-landed his own aircraft in the snow to try to save him. Trapped and badly injured, Brown could not be freed before darkness and freezing temperatures forced rescuers to withdraw. Told by the

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9:29

Dreaded Diseases of the Great Depression

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, award-winning storyteller Joy Neal Kidney shares a deeply personal family history from the Great Depression, when common childhood illnesses could still be deadly. Drawing from her Iowa roots, Kidney recounts how mumps and whooping cough devastated two related families already struggling with poverty, farm loss, and scarce medical care. In one household, nine children fell ill at once, and twin infants did not survive. Through vivid detail and remembered

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9:59

How Indian American Hoteliers Built a Hospitality...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, former Las Vegas Sands executive Mike Leven shares how an unlikely partnership helped launch the Asian American Hotel Owners Association in the 1980s. After hearing stereotypes inside the hotel industry about Indian American franchisees, Leven asked for the data and found their properties performed like everyone else, often better. Working with hotel owner H. P. Rama and organizer Lee Duschoff, he helped form an association to fight discrimination, improve

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7:59

Pearl Harbor’s Overlooked Wrecks: The USS Oklahoma...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, regular contributor Anne Clare tells the lesser-known story of two ships lost at Pearl Harbor, the USS Utahand theUSS Oklahoma. During the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, theUtah, a retired battleship used as a target ship, was torpedoed and left where it sank on Ford Island, where its quiet memorial still stands today. TheOklahomawas hit by multiple torpedoes and capsized in minutes, trapping hundreds inside. Ann recounts rescues, acts of bravery, and

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38:16

Holy Rollers: The Card Counting Christians Who Beat...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/16

On this episode of Our American Stories, one of the most successful blackjack teams in America was built around an unlikely bond: church friendships and trust. Colin Jones, founder of BlackjackApprenticeship.com, and David Drury, dubbed “the most notorious card counter in America,” tell how they learned to count cards, pooled bankrolls, and turned blackjack into a math-driven edge rather than pure gambling. They describe the discipline, long swings, disguises, and casino backoffs that

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10:49

David McCullough on Why the Founding Fathers Were Not...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/15

On this episode of Our American Stories, the late historian David McCullough explains why America’s Founding Fathers cannot be understood as ordinary people living modern lives. Drawing on his deep study of figures like John and Abigail Adams, McCullough describes a world shaped by slow communication, constant risk, and immense personal responsibility. Decisions were made without instant news, quick consultation, or shared blame, and the consequences were often life or death. McCullough argues

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9:29

How “God of This City” Was Written in the Unlikeliest...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/15

On this episode of Our American Stories, while on a mission trip to Thailand, a modern worship band found itself playing an impromptu set inside a brothel in Pattaya, one of the world’s most notorious centers for sex tourism. In that unlikely setting, the song “God of This City” was written in real time by members of the Belfast-based band Bluetree. Our own Greg Hengler tells the story of how that moment gave birth to a powerful worship anthem that later caught the attention of

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17:58

The Story of America: Failed Experiments in Utopia...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/15

On this episode of Our American Stories, In the earliest days of settlement, America became a testing ground for bold ideas about faith, freedom, and self-rule. In this episode of our ongoingStory of America Series, historian Wilfred McClay, author ofLand of Hope, examines the colonies founded by Puritans, Quakers, and reformers who believed the New World could perfect what the Old World could not. From Massachusetts Bay to Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, these communities pursued religious

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30:17

The Slave-Turned Bishop Who Delivered George...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/15

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Allen was born into slavery in colonial America and went on to become one of the most influential religious leaders of the early United States. After purchasing his freedom, Allen became a successful entrepreneur, a powerful preacher, and the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His stature was such that he was chosen to deliver the eulogy for George Washington, a moment that revealed both his influence and the contradictions of the

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7:59

How One Doctor Tells Patients They Are Dying

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/15

On this episode of Our American Stories, Theodore Schwartz, a neurosurgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine and best-selling author ofGray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery, shares how he approaches one of the most difficult responsibilities in medicine: delivering bad news to patients with terminal and late-stage brain cancer. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Schwartz explains how honesty, compassion, and clarity guide these conversations, even when there is no cure to offer. He reflects on what

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10:49

From Broken Childhood to Redemption: A Story of Gang...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/14

On this episode of Our American Stories, Carl Montgomery grew up surrounded by neglect, instability, and violence, where a broken childhood pushed him toward gang life and years in prison. What began with poverty and bad choices led to a cycle of crime and incarceration that seemed impossible to escape. But prison became an unexpected turning point. Through faith, accountability, and new purpose, Montgomery began rebuilding his life and breaking free from the path that once defined him. This is a

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9:29

What It Means to Be the Only Lawyer in Town

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/14

On this episode of Our American Stories, in a town with only one lawyer, every problem comes to the same door. Bill Bryk spent his career deciding when to fight for others and when wisdom meant stepping back. Practicing law in a small community taught him that justice isn’t only about winning cases, but about judgment, restraint, and knowing when to rest. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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9:59

The Slap Shot Story: Dave “Killer” Hanson and the...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/14

On this episode of Our American Stories, the iconic Hanson Brothers from Slap Shotweren’t actors. They were real minor-league hockey players. When Dave Hanson, known as “Killer,” was cast in the 1977 cult classic alongside Paul Newman, one of the most unforgettable trios in sports movie history was born. Here's Hanson with the true story behind the making ofSlap Shot, how real hockey culture shaped the film, and why the Hanson Brothers became enduring symbols of grit, toughness,

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7:59

Johnny Carson’s Most Memorable Guests: Don Rickles...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/14

From 1962 to 1992, Johnny Carson defined late-night television as the longtime host of The Tonight Show. Over three decades, hundreds of guests passed through the chair across from him, but only a few appearances became truly legendary. Two of the most unforgettable belonged to Don Rickles and Ed Ames, whose moments on Carson’s stage are still talked about today. Mark Malkoff, author of Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend, shares the stories

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38:16

Martin Luther and the Question That Changed Christianity

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/14

On this episode of Our American Stories, the origins of the Protestant Reformation trace back to a deceptively simple and deeply personal question. A Catholic monk named Martin Luther wrestled with it for years: Am I a good person?That spiritual struggle would ultimately shake the foundations of Christianity and transform Western civilization. Eric Metaxas, bestselling author ofMartin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World, tells the story of how one man’s search for grace

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10:49

The Eulogy Lee Habeeb Never Gave for His Mother

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/13

On this episode of Our American Stories, Lee Habeeb, host ofOur American Stories, reflects on his mother’s life and the quiet legacy she left behind. Set in the patch of Northern New Jersey she cared for and shaped, this is a deeply personal meditation on love, grace, character, and the influence a parent carries long after they are gone. It’s the eulogy he never gave, and the story he chose to share. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)See omnystudio.com/listener

en-US

27:27

How British Elites Turned Benjamin Franklin into an...

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/13

On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 29, 1774, Benjamin Franklin was summoned before the King’s advisers in an octagonal chamber at Whitehall Palace known as the Cockpit. Intended as a public humiliation, the encounter instead became a turning point. Franklin entered as a loyal servant of the British Empire and left deeply disillusioned, newly committed to the American cause. Sheila Skemp, author ofThe Making of a Patriot: Benjamin Franklin at the Cockpit, tells the story of the

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10:49

What Two Fraternity Brothers Taught Me Before They Died

Our American Stories ·

2026/01/13

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ken Kendrick, owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, reflects on two profound college friendships that shaped his life long after graduation. In this deeply personal story, Kendrick recounts intimate conversations with two fraternity brothers before their deaths, moments that left a lasting imprint on his understanding of loyalty, mortality, and what it means to live with purpose. It’s a moving reflection on friendship, loss, and the words we carry with us

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2,223 results

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