The South Vietnamese Pilot Who Stole a Plane to Save His Family
On this episode of Our American Stories, Major Buang-Ly worked as a pilot with the United States military during the Vietnam War. When the US began evacuating, he knew he had to get his family out. Historian Hill Goodspeed from the Naval Aviation Museum brings us this amazing story of a father doin…
Phillis Wheatley: The Enslaved Poet Who Met with George Washington
On this episode of Our American Stories, Phillis Wheatley, the first published black poet, has the remarkable distinction of being invited to meet with King George III and George Washington. Leslie Johnson of the American Village tells her story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.co…
How Boston Embraced The Brothers of John Wilkes Booth Following Lincoln's Assassination
On this episode of Our American Stories, 26-year-old actor John Wilkes Booth was killed just 12 days after assassinating Abraham Lincoln. Here’s Christopher Klein with the story of how the city of Boston embraced the Booth brothers. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
"Bring Home the Bacon" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 5)
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. The book is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases. Support the show (https…
The Surprising History of PEZ Candy
On this episode of Our American Stories, PEZ had great success where it was invented, but changed its course after initially failing in America. Shawn Peterson, author of “PEZ: From Austrian Invention to American Icon”, shares the story of how this manual candy dispenser came to be. Support the sh…
The Story of Why "The Wild, Wild West" Wasn't Actually Wild
On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of our rule of law series, P.J. Hill, rancher and co-author of “The Not So Wild, Wild West: Property Rights on the Frontier,” explains the misunderstanding behind the American West. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
Life Lessons From A Dairy Farm
On this episode of Our American Stories, listener and Contributor Katrina Hine shares a personal story from one of her first jobs out of high school, entitled: “Cow Patty“. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
America's Comeback: The Battle of Midway
On this episode of Our American Stories, Anne Claire tells the story of the Battle of Midway, America's "make or break" moment in World War II. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
John Clem, Civil War Boy-Soldier
On this episode of Our American Stories, here to tell the story of John Lincoln Clem—the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history—is Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of John Lincoln Clem: Civil War Drummer Boy. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
The Man Who Rescued Over 10,000 Stranded Motorists
On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Weller, also known as 'The San Diego Highwayman,' shares the story of why he dedicated his time to helping people on the side of the road. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)