Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Joplin tornado struck in 2011, entire neighborhoods disappeared in minutes. Among the debris were family photographs, wedding portraits, baby pictures, graduation snapshots, carried by the wind and dropped miles from home. Thad Beeler began collecting the photos he found and searching for the people in them. What started as a small act of kindness became a mission to return memories...

On this episode of Our American Stories, many people remember Pat Boone as one of the biggest pop stars of the 1950s and '60s, but his story began in a church choir. He grew up learning how to hold a melody, lead voices in harmony, and carry a room without a single instrument behind him. Those simple lessons in discipline and presence became the foundation for a career that lasted longer on the charts than even Elvis Presley. Boone...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what would you do if armed guards ordered you to give up your men? In a Nazi POW camp, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds stood before his captors and refused. When they demanded the Jewish soldiers step forward, he told his men to stay in line and answered, “We are all Jews here.” With those words, he saved more than 200 American soldiers from being singled out. Edmonds never spoke ...

On this episode of Our American Stories, have you ever heard of a Puritan pastor who learned a new language so he could preach the Bible to Native Americans in their own words? In the 1600s, John Eliot did exactly that. He became known as the “Apostle to the Indians” for translating Scripture into Algonquian and sharing it across New England, leaving behind the first Bible printed in North America. Robert J. Morgan, aut...

On this episode of Our American Stories, what began as one handmade wooden bat for his son grew into the most popular and respected bat company in America. Today, Marucci Sports is trusted by players at every level, from Little League to the majors. Jack Marucci shares how a backyard project for his boy turned into a brand that changed the game.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Art Rooney, Sr., the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, believed that the measure of a man was often found in the quiet things he chose to do. Jim O'Brien, who came to see Rooney as the grandfather he had been missing, remembers one moment that revealed exactly who Rooney was. Rooney attended the funeral of a man he hardly knew because he believed showing respect in times of loss mat...

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Navy pilot Larry Spencer was captured in North Vietnam, he entered a world that few Americans would ever see. He spent years as a prisoner of war, first in a camp called “The Zoo” and later in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Survival meant finding strength in small moments and holding on to hope that freedom would come again. Spencer tells his story in his own words, offering a r...

On this episode of Our American Stories, for decades, Thomas Weller was a familiar sight along San Diego’s highways. Drivers with flat tires, empty gas tanks, or broken-down cars often saw him pull over to help, expecting nothing in return. Known as “The San Diego Highwayman,” he lived by a simple rule: if you can help, you should. Now, Weller joins us to share his story.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, have you ever imagined a buffalo running on a racetrack against thoroughbred horses? In the 1960s, Harvey Wallbanger did exactly that. This larger-than-life buffalo stunned crowds as he thundered past racehorses, turning a novelty act into an unforgettable chapter of racing history. Francie Berg of Buffalo Tales and Trails shares the unlikely but true story of how one buffalo captured Americ...

On this episode of Our American Stories, few commercials have left a mark like Coca-Cola’s “Hey Kid, Catch!” starring "Mean" Joe Greene. Greene, already one of the greatest defensive players in the NFL, gained a new kind of fame as the spot played during football broadcasts nationwide. Our own Greg Hengler (and others) shares the story of how a 60-second spot became one of the most memorable moments in sports and ...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Revolutionary War brought brutal battles, but one of its deadliest tragedies happened far from the front lines. Historian Robert P. Watson, author of The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn, shares the untold story of the HMS Jersey, a derelict British prison ship off the coast of New York, where more Americans perished than in combat.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, American culture looks different depending on where you stand, and the same is true for law enforcement. Sergeant Bob Alaniz, a former LAPD officer best known for helping track down the “Night Stalker,” explains how the East and West Coasts developed two very different approaches to policing.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, John Smith’s legacy stretches beyond legend. As a soldier of fortune and later as a leader in Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement, he helped struggling colonists survive. His accounts provide a rare look into the realities of early exploration, from hunger to tense negotiations with Native communities. Juliana Brennan Rodgers, author of Captain John Smith: American H...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Navy veteran Oliver Halle reflects on his service during the Vietnam War and the family history that shaped him. His relatives resisted the Nazis before fleeing to America, and decades later, he uncovered a secret that transformed his understanding of the past. Courtesy of the Veterans History Project at the Atlanta History Center, his testimony blends the experience of Vietnam soldiers with...

On this episode of Our American Stories, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, but its beginnings might surprise you. Paul Putz, author of The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports, explains how the game was first created with a Christian mission in mind and eventually grew into a global phenomenon.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Horst Schulze, founder of The Ritz-Carlton and author of Excellence Wins, built one of the world’s most respected hospitality brands by insisting on service excellence. Here's Horst's story on how one bad employee at a bank damaged its reputation almost overnight and what that moment revealed about leadership, customer care, and the value of excellence.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, bananas are everywhere in American grocery stores, and they’re cheaper than almost any other fruit. But why? The story of banana prices involves global trade, powerful banana companies, and decades of agricultural and economic history. The History Guy explains how bananas became a fixture of American diets and why their low price continues to stand out.

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