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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, in April 1865, just days after the Civil War ended, Abraham Lincoln experienced what many described as one of the happiest periods of his life. The war was coming to a close, and Lincoln’s schedule reflected a shift toward rebuilding the nation.However, during what was supposed to be a relaxing night at the theater, John Wilkes Booth carried out the assassination that would change American history. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the story of the final hours before Lincoln was shot and the events that led to his death on April 15, 1865. 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 he was known as a country music artist, Jelly Roll had a record that included multiple arrests and time behind bars. Years later, after turning his life around and using his music to help others facing the same struggles, his story entered Tennessee’s pardon process.That process brought his case before Governor Bill Lee. But when Lee spoke about the decision, he didn’t just talk about the law. He spoke about loss, about the death of his wife, and about the faith that carried him through it.Our own Lee Habeeb shares the story of two men, from very different walks of life, brought together by hardship, faith, and the belief that no life is beyond redemption. 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, Colin Bettles, an Our American Stories listener from Australia, had never heard of buffalo wings until a trip to upstate New York in the early 1990s. One plate was enough. The tender chicken, the heat of the sauce, and the cool bite of blue cheese made it love at first bite, and sparked a lifelong pursuit.From discovering the dish’s roots at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, to trying to start his own wing shop in Australia, Bettles chased that original taste across continents. Here he is with his 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, Nala Ray was an early success story on OnlyFans, building a large following and earning significant income as the platform was still evolving. Over time, she began to feel a growing disconnect between her life online and who she wanted to be.Despite her lucrative career, she stepped away and turned her focus toward redefining her relationship with God. Nala joins us to share her remarkable redemption story, from the depths of the online adult industry to a new life in Christ. 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, Doug and Mary Ketchum moved to Tennessee to open a liquor store, only to run into a state residency law that blocked them from getting a license. What followed was a long legal battle that reached the Supreme Court, raising questions about constitutional law and whether states can limit who is allowed to run a business within their borders.For our Rule of Law series, Doug and Mary share the story of how they brought a bottle of wine to the highest court in the land, and won. 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, Brian Wilson didn’t record “Good Vibrations” the way most songs were made at the time. He built it section by section, using different studios and techniques to create a new kind of sound. The result pushed the boundaries of pop music and influenced the evolution of rock.For our Story of a Song series, our own Greg Hengler shares the story of how the Beach Boys, and Brian Wilson’s imagination, created one of the most important songs in music 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, during the American Civil War, inventor Richard Gatling set out to solve a problem he believed defined modern warfare: too many soldiers were dying not only in battle, but from disease in overcrowded armies. His solution was the Gatling gun, a hand-cranked, rapid-fire weapon capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. It would reshape how wars would be fought in the decades to come.Gun expert and Our American Stories regular contributor Ashley Hlebinsky shares the story of how a weapon intended to reduce the size of armies and limit suffering ultimately changed warfare forever. 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, in the early years of the United States, Washington Irving became one of the first writers to achieve both national and international fame. His stories, including Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, helped define early American literature and introduced elements of Gothic fiction and Romanticism to a wider audience. He also helped reshape Christmas; a holiday once associated more with rowdy and drunken celebration than with time-honored traditions and family.Brian Jay Jones, author of Washington Irving: An American Original, shares how Irving built a lasting reputation through storytelling and became America’s first true literary celebrity. 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, during a quiet family visit, Brent Timmons, our regular contributor from Connecticut, found himself pulled out of conversation and into a situation with his young son that escalated quickly. A simple attempt to fix a small cut created a problem he hadn’t anticipated. He literally glued his finger to his son’s face.Brent shares the story of the oddest parenting lesson he ever learned. 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, Bob Keeshan, a Marine, created Captain Kangaroo in 1955, at a time when television was still new and largely unstructured. He built the program around a simple idea: speak directly to children and hold their attention without noise or chaos.The show ran for decades and became one of the longest-running and most influential children’s programs in television history. Our regular contributor, The History Guy, shares the story of Mr. Green Jeans himself, and his iconic children’s show. 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, Thomas A. Dorsey helped bridge blues and church music, but his most famous hymn came from tragedy. In 1932, after losing his wife and child, he sat at the piano and wrote “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” The song would go on to become one of the most recognized gospel hymns.For our Story of a Song series, our own Lee Habeeb shares the story of this iconic gospel standard. 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, Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, but he changed its place in American life. By making the car affordable and reshaping the factory around speed and precision, he turned a rare machine into something millions of people could own.Historian Richard Snow, author of The Rise of Henry Ford, shares the spellbinding story of how Ford transformed manufacturing in the United States and Detroit and single-handedly ushered in the modern age. 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 I, the suffrage movement had been fighting for decades without success. The war changed that. Women stepped into visible, demanding roles tied directly to the military and daily life at the front.Kara Dixon Vuic, author of The Girls Next Door: Bringing the Home Front to the Front Lines, explains how those experiences shifted public opinion and gave political leaders a reason to act. Women’s wartime service became part of the case for granting the right to vote in the United States. 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, Aron Marquez’s story begins in the fields, working long hours and learning firsthand what hard work really looks like. Years later, he would go on to build WildCat Oil Tools, a Texas-based company generating over $100 million in annual revenue and employing hundreds of people.But for Marquez, success was about people, not just profit. From doing the same work as his employees to building a culture rooted in respect, he learned that leadership is earned long before a company scales.Aron shares what it takes to build something that lasts and why the way you treat people ultimately defines the strength of your business. 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, the early United States faced deep uncertainty after the American Revolutionary War, and the Constitution had yet to prove itself in practice. George Washington entered office knowing that every decision would set a precedent, especially as the revolutionary ties that bound the nation began to break down along emerging party lines.As part of our ongoing Story of Us, Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares the story of the decisions that shaped the role of the presidency and set lasting precedents that continue to influence America today. 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, in 1984, a contestant named Michael Larson, an ice cream man from Ohio, stepped onto the set of Press Your Luck and walked away with over $110,000, becoming one of the biggest winners in game show history. His run looked like pure luck, but behind the scenes, Larson had figured out how the game really worked.Comedian and mathematician Matt Parker breaks down the famous Press Your Luck scandal, explaining how Larson memorized patterns on the board and cracked the code of one of America’s most popular game shows. 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, during World War I, one unlikely hero stood out among the soldiers, and he walked on four legs! Sergeant Stubby started as a stray dog before becoming a beloved mascot and eventually one of the most decorated war dogs in American history.Jeremy Swick of the College Football Hall of Fame shares the remarkable true story of how Stubby became a national symbol of loyalty and courage. 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, Reignite Hope began with a simple question about how to help people move forward when life has fallen apart. Steve Bunyard turned to welding as a way to create opportunity, building a program that trains people, certifies them, and connects them to meaningful work.Today, the program reaches far beyond Skid Row, helping people struggling with homelessness, poverty, and major life transitions. 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, Iin September 1965, a quiet stretch of road in New Hampshire became the setting for what many still consider one of the most compelling UFO sightings in the United States. The Incident at Exeter began when a teenager reported a large object with red flashing lights hovering in the distance, an account that quickly drew the attention of local police and, eventually, national headlines.Ashley Hlebinsky recounts the details of that night and explains why the Exeter UFO sighting remains one of the most well-documented UFO cases in American 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, The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 and quickly became one of the most remarkable engineering achievements in the world. Spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, it created a lasting connection between two rapidly growing communities.But the bridge’s story is also the story of a family. After its designer, John Roebling, died during construction, his son Washington took over as chief engineer, only to be left bedridden by illness. From there, his wife Emily stepped in, helping oversee the project and carry it through to completion. The History Guy joins us to share the story of one of America’s greatest modern marvels and the people who made it possible. 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.