Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Leven was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.—one of the greatest hoteliers of all time and a legend in the business. He’s also what you might call a “wise man.” In this story, Mike shares what he learned from an uncaring law professor.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Witness: A True Story of Soviet Spies in America and the Trial That Captivated the Nation is one of the best-selling books in the United States during the 20th century, yet it is almost unknown to most Americans today. Greg Forster, on behalf of the Acton Institute, is here to tell the story.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, since its founding in 1972, Nike has employed nearly half a million people, but only four have outlasted Steve Bence. Bence was a University of Oregon track athlete, a teammate of the legendary Steve Prefontaine, and an early insider at Nike. He’s also the author of 1972: Pre, UO Track, Nike Shoes, and My Life with Them All. Today, he shares his remarkable story.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Todd Lincoln, the only one of Abraham Lincoln’s four sons to survive into adulthood, is often overshadowed by his legendary father. Yet Robert led a remarkable life of his own, serving as U.S. Secretary of War, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and president of the Pullman Company. The History Guy shares his story.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Leven was President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp, and one of the greatest hoteliers of all time, and a legend in the industry. He’s also what you’d call a “wise man.” Today, Mike shares how he learned the importance of putting his customers in charge.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, fantasy football is now a $13 billion industry with over 29 million Americans playing every year, but it didn’t start that way. Peter Funt, author of Inside Fantasy Football, shares the surprising origin story of how a group of Oakland Raiders fans upset about how bad their team was invented a game in their basement that became a nationwide obsession.

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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 i...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Doug White shares his harrowing story of survival and raw determination after the pilot of the private plane he was on died mid-flight, leaving him suddenly in control of a King Air 200—and responsible for the lives of his wife and two daughters on board. The event would later go on to inspire the film On a Wing and a Prayer.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when 85-year-old Lana Peters passed away in 2011 from complications due to colon cancer, the nation seemed to have forgotten the woman who became a sensation during the Cold War. The History Guy recalls the extraordinary life of the woman whose defection to the United States marked a seminal moment in history.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Roger McGrath returns with another installment in our Hollywood Goes to War series. A U.S. Marine, former UCLA history professor, and author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier, Dr. McGrath has appeared in numerous History Channel documentaries. He’s also a regular contributor to Our American Stories, bringing his expert insight into the lives of H...

On this episode of Our American Stories, no woman figured more prominently on the Yukon and Alaskan frontiers than Belinda Mulrooney. She gained international fame as the richest woman in the Klondike and made and lost multiple fortunes. She became a character in novels, and her dog was the inspiration for Buck in The Call of the Wild. Here to tell her story is Roger McGrath, author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilan...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1986, the United Way of Cleveland attempted to set a world record by releasing nearly 1.5 million balloons into the sky. What was meant to be a harmless publicity stunt quickly turned into a public safety and environmental disaster. It grounded planes, hindered rescue operations, and led to tragic consequences. Jesse Edwards shares the story.

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