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 refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.
Episodes
1513 episodes
The First Catholic Speaker of the House Who Bridged the Divide Between Protestant and Catholic Americans
Jeff Bloodworth from the Jack Miller Center is here to share the story of John McCormack.
•
10:48
"The Records Were Closed, But The Story Was Open"
Eddie Willis always knew he was adopted. And, he was fine with not knowing where he came from... That is, until he had his children of his own. He tells the story of the search for his birth parents and an outcome he could've never imagined.
•
18:18
Kyle McDonald, Building Financial Legacies
Kyle McDonald is the founder and CEO of Argent Financial Group, a wealth management firm that provides a variety of services to protect and grow their clients’ wealth. Kyle shares how he founded this company, how it has grown, and why gaining <...
•
28:18
EP39: Job Interview in Slippers, Battle of Midway, and The Running Knitter
On this episode of Our American Stories, Joshua Texidor moved to Nashville and worked hard to find what he enjoys AND what he's good at; also, Anne Claire tells the story of the Battle of Midway, America's "make or break" moment in World War II...
•
47:06
EP38: Summer Days with Dad, Fighting Founding Fathers, and The Pittsburgh Pirates' Dream
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Randall Haley reminisces about the yearly Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi; also, Dr. Adam Carrington of Hillsdale College tells the story of The Alien and Sedition Acts, some o...
•
39:02
EP37: Allegory-Beauty from Ashes, Tale of the Texas, and No More Red-light Tickets
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Chad Schumacher, tells the story of when a family health scare turned their life upside-down and shaped his and his wife's career for the next decade; also, Jackson McQigg of the Atlanta Hist...
•
56:22
EP36: Miraculous Vietnam Encounter, Lavagirl's Return, and The History of Harley Davidson
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Dick Erickson, a Marine helicopter pilot, tells about his time serving in Vietnam; also, Taylor Dooley shares the story of when she played the role of Lavagirl at the age of 13, and why, more...
•
58:54
EP35: The Forgotten Grave, Mad Anthony Wayne, and Memphis Whiskey
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Jay Moore shares his family's tale of loss, discovery, and selflessness that will tug on your heartstrings while reinforcing the importance of inter-generational relationships; also, Dr. Mary...
•
1:04:36
Father's Day Special: The Good, The Bad, and The Unexpected
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, we bring you stories about outstanding fathers and fathers who don't make the grade. Leslie Leyland Fields tells us about the heart-breaking re...
•
39:32
EP 34: Family Bonds, Hollywood Genius, and the Cuban Coors Lite Story
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Edie Hand tells us the story of the her brothers, the Blackburn boys, and the tragedy that struck not once, but three times; also, Author
•
57:45
EP33: Collecting Vintage Airplanes, The Disastrous 1904 Olympics, and The Cadillac of Flashlights
On this episode of the Our American Stories Podcast, (2:59) Wally Soplata tells the story of his eccentric union carpenter father who collected rare and vintage WWII aircraft for pennies on the dime; also, (21:27) Professor Susan Brownell share...
•
1:04:33
Memorial Day Special: A Medal of Honor Recipient Through The Eyes of His Father
On this Memorial Day, we at Our American Stories we want you to bring Paul Monti, who drives his son Jared's truck, an act which inspired the hit country song "I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice...but the story is much more than that of a song.
•
26:51
EP32: Paying Your Own Child Support, Left Office/Gone Sailing, The Catholic Who Fought Back
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Jason Wolfe tells the story of how his father left his family at the age of 6 and his journey of becoming the father that he never had himself; also, Emma McCormick was told she could work re...
•
57:16
EP31: Most Decorated War Dog, Lincoln and the Telegraph, Joplin, MO: Before and After
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Jeremy Swick of the College Football Hall of Fame recounts the remarkable story of the street dog turned soldier turned mascot; also, Christopher Klein tells the story of how Abraham Li...
•
41:57
EP30: Gameshow Trickery, Foster Care Saint, and Hollywood's Only Flying Ace
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, we bring you Matt Parker, a comedian and mathematician from Australia, who tells the story of the time Michael Larson was shockingl...
•
51:04
EP29: Saturday Morning Cartoons, The Man in a Glass Coffin, and The Road to Sobriety
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Mark McCray, author of The Best Saturday's of Our Lives, tells us the story of Saturday morning cartoons and what happened to them; also, Chris Siriano tells us about an American man in a gla...
•
1:01:42
EP28: Blockbuster vs. Netflix, The History of Spam, and The Iowa Freedom Rocks
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, Jim Keyes, the former CEO of BlockBuster, tells us the story of Blockbuster during its final days; also, the author of The Book of Spam: A Most Glorious and Definitive Compendium of the World...
•
48:08
EP27: 100-Year Old Skydiver, Therapy through Dungeons & Dragons, and A History of NYC
On the episode of the Our American Stories podcast, we bring you Ronald Mason, a WWII pilot with a heck of a story; also, the story of Adam Davis and Adam John who have been using table-top games as a therapy tool; and finally, Bill Bryk makes ...
•
49:25
EP26: Bottled Rainwater, Ford v. Ferrari: The Rematch, and Overcoming the KKK
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, we bring you the story of one out of over 80 bottled water companies in the United States, that has changed the game forever, Richard's Rainwater, and the man behind it all, Richard Heinichen...
•
57:32
EP25: Groucho's Assistant, Pointy Hat Prank, and Jelly Belly's Founder
On this episode of the Our American Stories podcast, we bring you Steve Stoliar who tells about his years as Groucho Marx's secretary and historian; also, Duncan Scott tells us his story of pranking the New Mexico State Legislature; and finally...
•
57:01
EP24: The Texas Grocery Miracle, The Pilsner in America, and 7-Eleven's American Dream
On this week's episode, we bring you the story of when Tim and Deb Hennessy received a miraculous surprise when they visited a local grocery during the February 2021 deep freeze in Texas; also, Tom Acitelli, author of "Pilsner: How The Beer of ...
•
51:37
EP23: JC Newman Cigars, Bad Medicine, and Unlikely Friends
On this week’s episode, we hear from Drew Newman, the great grandson of the founder of JC Newman Cigars, who brings us the tale of his family’s American Dream story; Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medicial Museum tells the story of patent medci...
•
45:23
EP22: Washington's Courage, E-Sports Champion, and Jack Daniel's Teacher
On this episode, we bring you the story General George Washington and his experiences at Trenton and Princeton. Also, we bring you Damon Cox, a young man who was a body builder and paid his way through college… by playing video games, and the s...
•
53:28