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.
Episodes
On this episode of Our American Stories, at the turn of the 21st century, tornadoes were still one of nature’s greatest mysteries—ripping through the American heartland more than a thousand times a year, with scientists no closer to understanding their inner workings. Most had given up trying—until Tim Samaras came along. Brantley Hargrove, author of The Man Who Caught the Storm, shares the story of the storm chas...
On this episode of Our American Stories, Joy Neal Kidney, a regular contributor to Our American Stories from Des Moines, Iowa, shares her mother’s story of how she became an officer’s wife in the middle of World War II.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, six months after its introduction in 1985, the Yugo was a punchline; within a year, it had become a staple of late-night comedy. By 2000, NPR’s Car Talk declared it “the worst car of the millennium.” For most Americans, that’s where the story ends. Jason Vuic, author of The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History, tells the rest.
On this episode of Our American Stories, a tragic event brought a racist (George Wallace) and a radical (Shirley Chisholm) together, forging an unlikely alliance. Special thanks to the Jack Miller Center for bringing this story to our attention.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, after Diablo's Southwest Grill in Georgia was broken into, owner Carl Wallace took an unexpected approach—posting a job offer to the perpetrator on Facebook instead of pressing charges. Here's Carl with his story of why.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, in Durham, North Carolina, there’s a bridge that trucks just can’t stop hitting—“The Can Opener.” Jesse Edwards shares the story behind the internet’s most famous overpass.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Montgomery was a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the first major Hollywood stars to volunteer for service in World War II. Later, he became a trusted television advisor to Dwight D. Eisenhower during his 1952 presidential campaign—and went on to serve in the White House, becoming the first showbiz professional to hold an official role there. Historian Roger McGrath brings us t...
On this episode of Our American Stories, did Lincoln believe in God? Yes—but his faith walk was more complicated and messier than you probably know. Here to tell the story of Lincoln's faith is Richard Carwardine, a Lincoln Prize-winning historian and Emeritus Rhodes Professor of American History at Oxford University in England. We'd like to thank the Bill of Rights Institute for allowing us to use this audio, originally a pa...
On this episode of Our American Stories, Jeromy Clark had a rough upbringing, losing his father and suffering abuse at the hands of authority figures. After believing he would spend the rest of his life in prison, Jeromy was set free by grace...and the support of many people. Today, he is a living picture of redemption. Here's Jeromy to share his powerful story.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons, an Our American Stories listener from Delaware, shares the story of a lesson in risk that his son learned while riding his cherished bicycle.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, how could a man who wrote the words "all men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence go to his grave without freeing his slaves? Cara Rogers Steven, author of Thomas Jefferson and the Fight Against Slavery, tells the messy story of a man who was both a product of his times... and ahead of them. A special goes out to the Bill of Rights Institute for allowing us access to this au...
On this episode of Our American Stories, Martin Lisius, founder of Tempest Tours, and Kim George, Customer Relations Manager, talk about the company's origins and what it's like being on the road intentionally during some of the most extreme weather the world has to offer.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, J.D. Wininger, owner of the Cross-Dubya Ranch in Northeast Texas and a listener of Our American Stories, tells the story of a man named John who mostly kept to himself. When J.D. offered him a helping hand, Mr. John ended up helping him just as much.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, she was just a teenager, carrying her infant son, when she joined the most daring expedition in American history—and without her, Lewis and Clark might never have made it. Dr. Dedra Birzer of Hillsdale College brings us the incredible story of Sacagawea, the young woman who made America's most daring road trip possible.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, for decades, Major League Baseball’s reserve clause bound players to their teams indefinitely, denying them the freedom to negotiate salaries or choose where to play. Curt Flood, a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, decided to challenge that system, risking his career to fight for fairness. Despite facing racial discrimination and industry backlash, Flood’s s...
On this episode of Our American Stories, most museums showcase the finer things in history, culture, and the arts—but not the aptly named Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) in Boston, Massachusetts, where you’ll find masterpieces like A Mariachi in Tiananmen Square, Sunday on the Pot With George, and Self-Portrait as a Bird. Louise Reilly Sacco, the museum’s curator, shares the tale of how it all came to be.
On this episode of Our American Stories, the late Major Brian Shul shares his legendary “LA Speed Check” story—an absurd and unforgettable moment from the cockpit of the fastest plane in the world, the SR-71 Blackbird.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, after the fall of the Philippines in World War II, more than 70,000 American and Filipino soldiers were captured by Japanese forces and forced to endure the brutal Bataan Death March. Over 30 percent of these POWs died in captivity, compared to just three percent of Allied POWs held by the Germans. In his powerful firsthand account, Dr. Lester Tenney recounts one of WWII’s darkest chap...
On this episode of Our American Stories, Phil Anschutz writes in Out Where the West Begins: “Samuel Colt’s life was the American story written in capital letters.” Here to tell that story is Ashley Hlebinsky—former co-host of Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms, former curator in charge of the Cody Firearms Museum, and president of The Gun Code, LLC.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, as strange as it sounds, Pepsi (yes, the cola manufacturer) once owned a fleet of Soviet warships, briefly making it the sixth-largest navy in the world. Here's The History Guy with the story of how a soft drink company found itself in the middle of Cold War politics and an international trade deal gone sideways.
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