Our American Stories
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 ref…Follow the podcast:
How the Super Bowl Was Born: From Rival Leagues to a National Holiday
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Super Bowl wasn’t always America’s biggest event. Emmy Award–winning producer and author Dennis Deninger tells how a rejected expansion bid, the rise of the AFL, and secret merger talks led to the creation of a new championship game. From its unsold sea…
10:49
Weapons of World War II with Stephen Ambrose: Barbed Wire, Mines, Guns, and Artillery
On this episode of Our American Stories, historian Stephen Ambrose explains how World War II was actually fought, through the weapons that shaped the battlefield. From barbed wire and land mines to machine guns and artillery, Ambrose shows how many of the war’s most important tools were refinements…
09:28
The Family That Kept “I’ll Fly Away” Alive
On this episode of Our American Stories, sisters Betsy and Elaine Brumley tell the story of their father, Bob, and the family legacy he carried forward from his father, gospel songwriter Albert E. Brumley, who wrote classics like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Turn Your Radio On.” From a music publishing bas…
17:58
America’s First Great Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase of Lincoln's Killer
On this episode of Our American Stories, after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the United States launched a massive twelve-day manhunt for his killer, John Wilkes Booth. Thousands joined the pursuit as Booth fled through Maryland and Virginia, narrowly evading capture at every turn. Historian an…
30:16
General Daniel Sickles and the Birth of the Insanity Defense
On this episode of Our American Stories, Civil War general and politician Daniel Sickles was one of the most notorious figures of the 19th century. His life was marked by ambition, scandal, and a murder trial that stunned the nation. After killing his wife’s lover in Washington, D.C., Sickles beca…
07:59
The Man Who Collected WWII Warplanes in His Backyard
On this episode of Our American Stories, Wally Soplata shares the story of his father, Walter, a union carpenter who quietly saved rare World War II aircraft by storing them in his own backyard. With little money but endless determination, Walter rescued fighters, bombers, and even jet aircraft tha…
20:18
How a Small Washington Town Helped Win World War II
On this episode of Our American Stories, teacher and World War II history buff Anne Claire shares the story of how Bremerton became a vital center of America’s wartime buildup. Home to the Bremerton Naval Yard, the town transformed almost overnight as the nation prepared for global conflict. After…
17:58
Meeting the Mother of My Foster Child Changed My Life
On this episode of Our American Stories, Christina Dent shares how becoming a foster mother in Jackson, Mississippi challenged everything she believed about addiction, crime, and motherhood. Growing up amid violence and uncertainty, she once saw being tough on crime as the only path to safer commun…
10:49
Life Lessons From a Dairy Farm: A Cow Patty Story
On this episode of Our American Stories, listener and longtime Our American Stories contributor Katrina Hine shares a personal story from one of her first jobs out of high school, working as a dairy hand in rural Kansas. From whistling cows in from the pasture during brutal winter weather to learni…
09:29
The Story of America: Declaring Independence: America’s Irrevocable Choice [Ep. 6]
On this episode of Our American Stories, war had already broken out in the American colonies, but declaring independence meant crossing a line from which there could be no return. In this episode of our ongoing Story of America Series, Hillsdale College professor and author of Land of Hope, Bill Mc…
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