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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.
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Wild Bill Hickok. Doc Holliday. Billy the Kid. None of them ever matched Bob Munden’s speed. Known around the world as the fastest gun who ever lived, Munden could draw, fire, and hit a target before anyone else had even cleared leather. Our own Greg Hengler, along with the late Bob Munden himself, shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, Traci Huguley was still a child when she learned she had been adopted. Years later, she discovered that two younger sisters had also been placed with other families. For decades, she carried their birthdays in her mind and quietly searched for them everywhere she went. Then, in 2018, an Ancestry DNA test connected her with a half-sister who had spent years searching too. Traci shares the story of the family reunion she never expected. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, by 1967, Johnny Cash had become one of the biggest names in country music, though his addiction to amphetamines had pushed him into a vicious cycle of hospital visits and arrests. After days without sleep and hundreds of pills, Cash wandered into Nickajack Cave believing he would never come back out. But inside that dark cavern, Cash found God and began a long journey toward redemption.Pastor Greg Laurie, author of Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon, shares the story of Cash’s struggle with addiction and the faith that helped reshape his life and career. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before World War II, factory work remained largely closed off to American women. That changed after the attack on Attack on Pearl Harbor, when millions of men shipped overseas to fight and wartime production created an urgent need for workers in America’s factories and shipyards. Millions of women stepped into industrial jobs across the country, and “Rosie the Riveter” became the public symbol of their labor and sacrifice.Milka Bamond, a real-life Rosie the Riveter, shares her story of service on the home front during the war. We’d like to thank the Atlanta History Center for allowing us access to this audio, originally recorded as part of its Veterans History Project. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, by the time the Jazz Age arrived in the 1920s, Louis Armstrong had already begun transforming American music. Raised in New Orleans and shaped by the streets, dance halls, and neighborhoods surrounding Storyville, Armstrong developed a revolutionary jazz sound that audiences had never heard before. His trumpet playing, gravelly voice, and improvisational style would help turn jazz into one of America’s defining art forms.Laurence Bergreen, author of Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life, shares the story of the musician known as “Pops,” from his difficult childhood in New Orleans, to becoming one of the most influential figures in jazz and American music Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, home cooking relied on instinct and improvisation until Fannie Farmer. With the release of The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, she introduced standardized measurements that revolutionized American kitchens. Her push for precision brought consistency to everyday meals and gave home cooks the confidence to follow reliable, repeatable recipes. Our own Greg Hengler and Ken Albala, professor of history and food studies at the University of the Pacific, share the story of how Farmer’s legacy shaped modern cooking. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before Taco Bell became one of America’s biggest fast-food chains, founder Glen Bell was searching for a way to stand out in Southern California’s crowded burger market. While running a hamburger stand in San Bernardino, Bell noticed long lines forming outside Mitla Cafe across the street and became fascinated by the tacos the restaurant was serving. Simon Whistler of the Today I Found Out YouTube channel and the Brain Food Show podcast shares how Bell learned taco-making techniques from the family behind Mitla Cafe and helped turn hard-shell tacos into an American fast-food phenomenon. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before she became First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a lifelong New Yorker who deeply believed America’s historic landmarks were worth saving. So when developers threatened to demolish Grand Central Terminal in the 1970s, much like they had already destroyed the original Penn Station, Jackie stepped into the fight to preserve one of New York City’s most recognizable buildings.Natasha Wing, author of the children’s book When Jackie Saved Grand Central, shares the story of how Jackie Kennedy Onassis helped rally public support to save the historic rail terminal, turning a local preservation battle into a national movement. The fight eventually reached the Supreme Court and helped reshape the future of historic preservation across America. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before modern televangelists, Aimee Semple McPherson used radio, stage productions, and Hollywood-style spectacle to bring Christianity to mass audiences across America. After arriving in Los Angeles during the 1920s, McPherson built Angelus Temple into one of the country’s first megachurches, drawing thousands each week with illustrated sermons, live orchestras, and elaborate productions designed to compete with the entertainment industry itself.But her fame came with scandal. In 1926, McPherson vanished from a California beach and reappeared weeks later near the Arizona border with a sensational kidnapping story that captivated the nation and sparked one of the biggest media frenzies of the era. Historian Matthew Sutton, author of Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America, shares the story of the woman who helped pioneer religious broadcasting, celebrity ministry, and the modern megachurch movement. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before Mars became one of the most powerful private companies in America, it was a struggling family candy shop. Frank Mars had failed time and time again before his son, Forrest, stepped in with a bold vision and zero interest in playing by industry rules. With names like M&M’s, Snickers, and Pedigree under its belt, Mars would go on to quietly outgrow Hershey, Kellogg’s, and even McDonald’s. Simon Whistler from Today I Found Out and The BrainFood Show tells the story of a father and son, an empire built on chocolate, and the cutthroat decisions that made it a global giant. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, former Duncan Scott quickly learned that an “educated monkey” could have occupied his New Mexico Senate seat with little effect on the direction of state politics. So instead of writing another bill destined to die in committee, Scott decided to make his point another way. The result was the infamous “Pointy Hat Amendment,” one of the funniest, strangest, and most bizarre proposed amendments in American political history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, sports betting has existed since the days of the Roman Colosseum, but for most Americans, legal sports gambling was largely confined to Las Vegas casinos.That changed in 2018 when, at the urging of New Jersey, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, clearing the way for legalized sports betting across the country. Suddenly, millions of Americans could place wagers from their phones in seconds. Danny Funt, author of Everybody Loses, shares the story behind the rise of sports gambling, the consequences of its easy accessibility, and why leagues like the Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Basketball Association all embraced what was once considered a cardinal sin in professional sports. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before Love Without End, Amen became one of George Strait’s most beloved hits, it was a prayer set to music. Songwriter Aaron Barker wrote it after a painful argument with his teenage son, an experience that brought him to his knees with his guitar. Out of that moment came a song about grace, fatherhood, and the unconditional love that defines family. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before writing Braveheart, Randall Wallace was a struggling writer and father questioning whether he had made a terrible mistake in choosing his path. Fearing he would fail his children and desperate for direction, Wallace prayed one of the most honest prayers of his life. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2011, and surrounded by dignitaries from around the nation, Wallace shared how that desperate prayer ultimately led him to write the movie that would change his life. Our own Lee Habeeb tells the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, Charles Scott dreamed of becoming a police officer from the time he was a child growing up in California’s Central Valley. Years later, while serving with the Lompoc Police Department, Scott endured a devastating series of tragedies in just 16 months: two officer-involved shootings and the death of his teenage son Noah from leukemia. As grief and trauma pushed him into a dark emotional spiral, Scott began to question whether he could survive personally or professionally. With help from 911 At Ease International, he slowly found a path back to healing, family, faith, and police work. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, few figures in twentieth-century American politics stood farther apart than Shirley Chisholm and George Wallace. Chisholm broke barriers as a Black congresswoman and presidential candidate. Wallace became a national symbol of segregation and resistance to civil rights.A tragic event brought them together, forging an unlikely connection. Special thanks to the Jack Miller Center for bringing this story to our attention. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, when My Sharona exploded onto radio stations in 1979, it became one of the biggest rock songs in America and turned The Knack into overnight stars. But behind the iconic guitar riff and unforgettable chorus was a real woman named Sharona Alperin. In this installment of our Story of a Song series, our own Greg Hengler shares how a chance meeting inspired one of rock music’s most recognizable hits, featuring reflections from Sharona herself and songwriter Doug Fieger. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mary Sparks lived through heartbreak, secrecy, infidelity, and family scandal, but her Catholic faith shaped the way she responded to each one. First, as a young woman in Indiana, she refused to give up her daughter born out of wedlock. Decades later, after learning her husband had fathered a child during an affair, Mary made another extraordinary decision: she helped raise the boy as her own son. Mary’s son Sparky shares the remarkable story of faith, forgiveness, adoption, and family that held the Sparks family together through decades of hardship. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, Kemmons Wilson Jr. grew up in one of America’s most successful business families after his father founded Holiday Inn. But after decades in business, mentorship, and Christian discipleship, Wilson says success belongs far lower on the priority list than most people think. In this installment of our Faith in Action series, the Memphis business leader reflects on friendship, faith, marriage, mentorship, and why “business comes sixth.” Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Our American Stories, before the Bald Eagle became America’s national symbol, the rattlesnake represented the spirit of the American colonies. After all, it was a uniquely American and dangerous animal unfamiliar to most Europeans, and the design of its rattle lent itself perfectly to political symbolism. Benjamin Franklin used the snake in his famous “Join, or Die” political cartoon, and during the Revolutionary War, the image evolved into the iconic “Don’t Tread On Me” Gadsden Flag. Our American Stories regular contributor Ashley Hlebinsky shares the surprising backstory behind one of America’s most recognizable flags. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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McCullough is ignorant: Hitler didn't call his followers "Nazis" (He called them "SOCIALISTS" by the very word). He is ignorant of discoveries by Historian Dr. Rex Curry: Hitler's flag symbol represented "S means SOCIALIST" (& Hitler didn't call it a swastika); Hitler's socialist salute came from the USA socialist Francis Bellamy. Soviet socialism joined German socialism to start WW2 into Poland & onward. Stop misgendering Hitler. Don't repeat modern socialist lies.
saw something about this podcast via a video on my Facebook and thought it looked intriguing
Nice storu
Amazing Ms Lamar
this is the first hit for conservative alt. to /morning edition/ is there such a show? mix of daily news weather and human interest, well produced, and with different ideología?
I love to hear the stories they are uplifting and informative thanks for all the work you guys do
I can't get these episodes to open.