Our American Stories

By iHeartPodcasts

Society & Culture

What's Our American Stories about?

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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The Story Behind FDR's Day ...

12.08.2023

On this episode of Our American Stories, on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, FDR's speechwriting team wasn't in Washington. Roosevelt, with the help of a few aides, penned the most important speech of his presidency, and one of the ...

Our American Stories episodes:

12.08.2023 The Story Behind FDR's Day of Infamy Speech On this episode of Our American Stories, on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, FDR's speechwriting team wasn't in Washington. Roosevelt, with the help of a few aides, penned the most important speech of his presidency, and one of the ...
12.08.2023 The Unexpected Friendship with WWII Hero Joe Brown On this episode of Our American Stories, Jay Moore tells us the amazing story of meeting a WWII veteran before going to see Saving Private Ryan for the second time in theaters. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
12.08.2023 Sunk At Pearl Harbor: The Life After the Death of The USS Oklahoma and Utah On this episode of Our American Stories, Anne Claire tells the story of two ships sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.08.2023 A Doolittle Raider’s Story of War & Forgiveness On this episode of Our American Stories, two enemies: One led Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor; the other was an American Doolittle Raider who bombed Tokyo. Here to tell the story is Carol Aiko DeShazer Dixon—the daughter of Doolittle ...
12.07.2023 Grant's Greatest Battle On this episode of Our American Stories, Louis Picone tells the story of how Grant's Memoirs came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.07.2023 Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas On this episode of Our American Stories, Ace Collins is the author of Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Collins is an ace at song history, and he’s here to introduce you to people you’ve never met, stories you’ve ...
12.07.2023 Stepehen Ambrose: 1941 and the Steps Leading Up to the U.S. Entering WWII On this episode of Our American Stories, here's Stephen Ambrose telling the story of 1941--the year that would bring America into WWII in December after the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
12.06.2023 Bruce Paddock’s Mission: Lowering Drug Prices & Saving Lives On this episode of Our American Stories, the untold (and remarkable) story of generic drugs. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.06.2023 How The Pilsner Arrived, Survived, and Thrived in America On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom Acitelli, author of "Pilsner: How The Beer of Kings Changed The World" tells the story of how an experimental drink in the Austrian Empire became America's favorite drink. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) ...
12.06.2023 The Man Who Spent $35MM Fighting A $400k Fake Wine Fraud On this episode of Our American Stories, sometimes it's the principle of the thing. When you experience fraud, you can "wine" about it - or you can get the grapes of wrath involved. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
12.06.2023 The Legendary Man Known as "Babe" On this episode of Our American Stories, the curator of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, Maryland (just outside Camden Yards) explains. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.06.2023 The Con Man Who Was Pardoned By Both Abe Lincoln and Jefferson Davis On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story is about a con man who was so good that he got both the Union and the Confederate presidents to pardon him; yet, he was so bad that a NYC ...
12.06.2023 The Woman Who Voiced Rudolph On this episode of Our American Stories, Billie Mae Richards is a Canadian actress best known for voicing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the 1964 stop-motion television classic. The special first aired on December 6, 1964, on NBC. Here’s Billie ...
12.05.2023 Tom Morton Goes to Marine Boot Camp On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom Morton had always wanted to join the military..and finally did after trying out college twice. Here's Tom with a look into his life, and boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Support ...
12.05.2023 The Man Who Spent His Entire Christmas Fund Building Beds for Needy Children On this episode of Our American Stories, Luke Mickelson tells how a meeting in a faith community turned into a Boy Scouts project, a Christmas tradition, and 50,000 free beds every year. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
12.05.2023 The Making of an American Pantheon: Grant's Tomb On this episode of Our American Stories, presidential historian and author of Grant's Tomb: The Epic Death of Ulysses S. Grant and the Making of an American Pantheon, Louis Picone shares the story of the creation, degradation, and revitalization of ...
12.04.2023 Hess Trucks, The Holiday Tradition That Started at a Gas Station On this episode of Our American Stories, for nearly 60 years, Hess trucks have brought smiles to children, and adults, up and down the East Coast. They were an energy entrepreneur's gift to children that he wished he could have ...
12.04.2023 The History of Christmas Trees On this episode of Our American Stories, let’s take a listen to The History Guy as he recalls the forgotten history of Christmas trees. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.04.2023 The Most Famous Partnership in Showbiz History—The Real Story of Colonel Parker and Elvis Presley On this episode of Our American Stories, get the real story of the most exciting time in 20th-century music - the loyal, riotously successful, often heartbreaking agency of a stalwart Dutchman for an American king. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See ...
12.01.2023 The 1946 Battle of Alcatraz On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy shares the story about an escape attempt in the infamous Alcatraz Federal penitentiary in San Francisco, California, that led to a standoff. The penitentiary the inmates called "the Rock,” was ...
12.01.2023 Dred Scott in Spikes: Curt Flood On this episode of Our American Stories, discrimination in all the basics of life could not deter Curt Flood from excellence in professional baseball - and ultimately bringing justice to the business of sports. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener ...
12.01.2023 Brett Favre on His Miraculous Monday Night Game after His Father Died (Pt. 3) On this episode of Our American Stories, part 3 of our 5-part series we hear Favre get very personal about his miraculous Monday Night Football game immediately following his father’s passing. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.01.2023 Abraham Lincoln: Our First "Wired" President On this episode of Our American Stories, you’ve heard Christopher Klein tell the story of “How Johnny Carson Saved Twister” and how Mark Twain helped Ulysses S. Grant complete his memoir that saved his wife from destitution. Here’s Chris with ...
12.01.2023 Jim Henson: The Story of the Man Behind the Muppets On this episode of Our American Stories, threatening viewers into buying Wilkins coffee was just one creative way Jim Henson mastered the television medium for the puppetry arts. Hear how advertising supported art that became education, and - good grief, ...
11.30.2023 Destined For Greatness: The Chuck Long Story On this episode of Our American Stories, Chuck Long tells the story of how he came to be Iowa's star quarterback in the 1980's and how he later came to like coaching more than playing. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See ...
11.30.2023 Shopping the Wishlists of Children in Need On this episode of Our American Stories, Jonathan Mattox is co-chairman of The Christmas Store, founded in 1975. Jonathan tells us about this annual event that gives out toys to families in need during Christmas. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See ...
11.30.2023 The Short, Happy Life of Abraham Lincoln: His Final Days On this episode of Our American Stories, the Civil War was over, the city of Washington was in celebration, and President Lincoln's life was about to take a happy and hopeful turn. His short, happy life was thwarted by John ...
11.30.2023 The Origins of America's Religious Liberty...Birthed in Queens, NYC? On this episode of Our American Stories, Larry Reed tells the story of the Flushing Remonstrance, an all-important document that helped inform the 1st Amendment. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.30.2023 Thomas Bennett: The Man Behind the Winchester Brand On this episode of Our American Stories, Thomas Bennett was a master salesman and businessman who helped, along with John Moses Browning, create the iconic American firearms brand Winchester. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.30.2023 A Former German Soldier...Who Helped Build America's Arsenal of Democracy In WWII On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Frohlich tells the story of his grandfather, a German-born immigrant who handled warhorses as a World War I conscript - and helped the United States win World War II. Support the show ...
11.29.2023 Jason Sautel On this episode of Our American Stories, Jason Sautel shares his story from his book The Rescuer: One Firefighter's Story of Courage, Darkness and the Relentless Love That Saved Him. Jason was a successful, highly competent firefighter in Oakland, California. ...
11.29.2023 Rattlesnakes and Vinegar: A Journey to the General Store On this episode of Our American Stories, Cecil Wax grew up in a different age. Listen to his and his brother's journey into town which will transport you back to a simpler time. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
11.29.2023 Cy Walter: The Art Tatum of Cocktail Pianists On this episode of Our American Stories, our storyteller's father was more than a virtuoso of the American Songbook. He was a circumspect, gentle, and incredibly generous man. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.28.2023 The Pretty Big Deal in West Mineral, Kansas On this episode of Our American Stories, Joe Manns tells the story of Big Brutus, an absolutely massive piece of mining equipment in West Mineral, Kansas. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.28.2023 The Battle of Monocacy, The Union Loss That Saved Washington, D.C. On this episode of Our American Stories, on July 9, 1864, the Union army suffered a loss... that just so happened to save the United States and help solidify Lincoln's re-election. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.28.2023 Liquor and The Law: Taking a Bottle of Wine to the Supreme Court On this episode of Our American Stories, when Tennessee officials told Doug and Mary Ketchum they couldn't run their liquor store in Memphis, they took it to the Supreme Court... and won. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
11.28.2023 My Coming of Agency Moment: Staying in My School On this episode of Our American Stories, Ian Rowe took full responsibility for what he believed was right. He sized up the assumption that his public school becoming all black in one year would make it worse - and committed ...
11.27.2023 The Vincent van Gogh of Acting? HINT: He Played "Fredo" On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s a well-known bit of movie trivia that all 5 films in which actor John Cazale appeared were nominated for Best Picture, and three of them received the Oscar. John Cazale played one ...
11.27.2023 50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy—The Plow, Barbed Wire, and Google Search On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Harford, author of the bestselling book 50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy, shares the stories of three inventions that changed the way we live today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener ...
11.27.2023 Zuzu’s “Wonderful Life”: The Story of Karolyn Grimes On this episode of Our American Stories, our next storyteller has the privilege of being in one of the most beloved movies of all time (It's a Wonderful Life)—while, at the same time, and from the same movie—also has one ...
11.24.2023 The Woman Who Wrote "Mary Had A Little Lamb" Is the Godmother of Thanksgiving? On this episode of Our American Stories, Thanksgiving used to be one of many days—"If you planned your itinerary carefully, you could have a good Thanksgiving dinner every day between Election Day and Christmas Day." That all changed when a ...
11.24.2023 The Great Thanksgiving Cranberry Scare of 1959 On this episode of Our American Stories, 400 million pounds of cranberries are consumed by Americans each year. Twenty percent of that is during the week of Thanksgiving. That's 80 million pounds! And 5,062,500 gallons of jellied cranberry sauce are ...
11.24.2023 The Real Story of the First Thanksgiving On this episode of Our American Stories, Thanksgiving is the only American holiday that has actually remained relatively innocent—it’s not something that we have been able to commercialize. But there’s something going on here more than feasting, family, and football. ...
11.23.2023 The Real Story of the First Thanksgiving On this episode of Our American Stories, Thanksgiving is the only American holiday that has actually remained relatively innocent—it’s not something that we have been able to commercialize. But there’s something going on here more than feasting, family, and football. ...
11.23.2023 They Call Her "The Stomach" On this episode of Our American Stories, Lindsey Gallant tells her story of when she was challenged to an eating contest by a boy at her church. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.23.2023 How a Master Chef Lost the Thanksgiving Turkey On this episode of Our American Stories, according to the National Turkey Federation, each year Americans gobble down on 46 million turkeys for Thanksgiving...but out of that number, how many have gone "missing"? "Master Chef" Steve Reed tells his story ...
11.23.2023 The Great Thanksgiving Cranberry Scare of 1959 On this episode of Our American Stories, 400 million pounds of cranberries are consumed by Americans each year. Twenty percent of that is during the week of Thanksgiving. That's 80 million pounds! And 5,062,500 gallons of jellied cranberry sauce are ...
11.22.2023 My First Job: Being Groucho Marx's Assistant On this episode of Our American Stories, in college, Steve Stoliar’s dad wanted him to get a job, but Steve didn’t want to work at Taco Bell… so he called up Groucho Marx. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
11.22.2023 Thanksgiving With Bosnian Refugees In Iowa On this episode of Our American Stories, Joy Neal Kidney shares the story of two unforgettable Thanksgivings with Bosnian refugees. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.22.2023 "You're Getting Shot At"—The Story of My First Combat Mission in Afghanistan On this episode of Our American Stories, Peter Braxton brings an eye-opening perspective on service to America in war-torn skies. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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