Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1956, Elvis Presley bombed in Las Vegas. Thirteen years later, he returned to a city that was struggling to attract a new generation, and together they changed each other's future.

Author Richard Zoglin shares the story of Elvis's legendary 1969 comeback at the International Hotel and explains how the King of Rock 'n' Roll reinvented the Las Vegas stage with a concert unlike anything the Strip had ever seen. His book is Elvis in Vegas: How the King Reinvented the Las Vegas Show.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before American Sniper introduced millions to Chris Kyle, there was Carlos Hathcock, the legendary U.S. Marine sniper known throughout Vietnam as "White Feather." Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hathcock grew up hunting to help feed his family before becoming one of the greatest marksmen in American military history.

Military veterans Colin D. Heaton and Mike Droberg of Forgotten History, along with Hathcock himself via archival audio, share the story of the dangerous missions, sniper duels, and battlefield heroism that made him a Marine Corps legend.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, we all know the look and taste of bubblegum, but few people know where it came from. The first bubblegum was invented in 1928 by Walter Diemer, who used the only food dye available: pink. That color stuck, and so did the flavor, a blend of fruit notes now simply called "bubblegum."

Simon Whistler, from the Today I Found Out YouTube channel and its sister podcast, The Brain Food Show, shares the story of how bubblegum was created and how a simple candy became a lasting invention of the 20th century.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Indiana did not choose its nickname so much as grow into it. The term Hoosier appeared in jokes, travel accounts, and frontier banter, yet no one ever agreed on where it started. Despite the uncertainty, the name kept rising to the surface until it became part of the state's character.

What survives is a word tied closely to the people who shaped Indiana in its earliest years. Dr. Stephen Flick explains how a bit of regional language became a lasting identity.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Olympian, World War II airman, Pacific castaway, and prisoner of war, Louis Zamperini lived one of the most extraordinary lives in American history. In this rare recording, he tells his own remarkable story—from his troubled childhood and the 1936 Berlin Olympics to surviving 47 days adrift at sea, enduring brutal captivity in Japan, and ultimately finding peace through forgiveness and faith.

While Unbroken introduced millions to Zamperini's story, some of its most powerful chapters were left out of the film. You'll hear them here—from Louis himself.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, at the end of the Revolutionary War, with soldiers restless and unpaid, whispers spread about replacing Congress with a monarchy. Some even suggested that George Washington take the throne. In what became known as the Newburgh Conspiracy, Washington faced a decision that could have reshaped America’s future.

Instead of seizing power, he delivered words that calmed his officers and secured the path of a republic. Washington interpreter Brian Hilton, along with Vince Benedetto, shares the story of the day Washington refused to be king.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Hiram Percy Maxim grew up in the shadow of firepower. His father invented the machine gun, a weapon that changed modern warfare. But when that same weapon left his father deaf, Hiram took a different path. In 1902, he invented the first commercial gun silencer and later applied the same technology to early automobile engines.

His work shaped not only the future of firearms but also the way engines and mechanical noise evolved across the 20th century. A pioneer of American invention, Maxim's legacy includes firearms suppressors, automotive mufflers, and a quieter world. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, shares the story.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Steve Rakeman was young, his father gave him a simple instruction: “I’m giving you my name. There’s nothing wrong with it. Make sure you pass it on as clean as I gave it to you.”

Steve and his son, Mike, share how that lesson shaped three generations of their family, guiding them through dangerous work, tempting opportunities, costly mistakes, and the everyday responsibility to earn an honest living, care for their families, and do what is right.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, for years, Bill Corum lived as an enforcer in the Kansas City underworld, surrounded by violence, drugs, money, and power. He smuggled guns, dealt cocaine, spent time in prison, and admits he was willing to kill for money. None of it brought him peace.

In his remarkable story, Bill shares how a dramatic encounter with God changed his life, leading him from a life of crime to decades of prison ministry and redemption. Bill's book, The Ultimate Pardon, is a must read.

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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—this time exploring the phrase “put a sox in it” and others. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, uncovers the quirky roots behind the words we use every day. Be sure to check it out!

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