

Our American Stories
iHeartPodcasts
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
Mentioned books

Mar 4, 2025 • 38min
The Roy Rogers Story: Family Man, American Legend
On this episode of Our American Stories, Roy “Dusty” Rogers was one of 9 children raised by Roy Rogers (“King of the Cowboys”) and Dale Evans (“Queen of the West”). He shares his story of growing up with two of the most iconic parents in American cultural history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 3, 2025 • 38min
A Daughter Discovers Her Long-Passed Father Through His War Letters
On this episode of Our American Stories, Loretto M. Thompson recounts her significant yet distant memories of her father - and how she grew to know him so much better by reading his letters from his service in World War Two. Her book is called An Unexpected Coddiwomple: The Story of a Father's Sudden Death, a Box of WWII Letters, and a Daughter's Life Transformed. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 3, 2025 • 30min
Buc-ee's: The Path to World Domination
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you’ve never been to a Buc-ee’s, it’s a good bet that you will soon enough. Beaver Aplin built his massive convenience chain into a Texas empire and his tactics are translating outside the state. Here to tell the story is Eric Benson, the man who wrote the definitive story for Texas Monthly about Buc-ee’s and its founder, Arch “Beaver” Aplin. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 3, 2025 • 8min
My Life After Firefighting
On this episode of Our American Stories, James, a retired fire captain, shares his story of firefighting and the emotions that came along with his high-stakes job. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 28, 2025 • 11min
The Guardian of The Golden Gate
On this episode of Our American Stories, Kevin Briggs' job is talking people off a ledge....or, more specifically, the Golden Gate Bridge's ledge. Here's Kevin to talk about how he's saved over two hundred people from taking their lives by asking them a simple question—"how are you doing". Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 28, 2025 • 9min
The Story of How a Dog Walked a Couple Through Their Infertility Struggle
On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak shares the story about his four-legged family member who helped him and his wife through their struggle with infertility. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 28, 2025 • 18min
The Titanic’s Last Hero
On this episode of Our American Stories, Lowell Lytle is one of the privileged few who have seen Titanic first-hand. Lowell has played the part of Captain Smith at Titanic events all over the globe and has been entertaining guests at the Titanic Museum for more than fifteen years. He's also the author of the inspiring read, Diving Into The Deep. Here’s Lowell Lytle to tell his story and the story of The Titanic’s Last Hero. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 28, 2025 • 38min
Butch Cassidy: The Man Who Brought Organization to Unorganized Crime in the West
On this episode of Our American Stories, when people think of Butch Cassidy they often imagine Paul Newman’s characterization from the famous movie in 1969. But the real story of Butch Cassidy is the story of a western Godfather of sorts who brought the organization to a world of unorganized crime. Our regular contributor, Roger McGrath, is here to tell the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2025 • 11min
The Story of the First Man to Die in An Airplane Crash
On this episode of Our American Stories, becoming masters of the skies has come at a cost. Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge stepped up for service against enemies, nature, and machines as one of the world's first test pilots. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project is here to tell the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2025 • 19min
"I Stole Prescriptions—To Cope with the Loss of My Daughter"—A Doctor's Story of Disgrace and Redemption
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Dr. David Berry lost his newborn daughter, he turned to alcohol—then to coconut-flavored cough syrup—then to stealing prescriptions from the patients he served. He'd soon find himself homeless, divorced, and out of the profession he loved. It took a radical change in his life to turn his fortunes around. Here's Dr. Berry himself with his story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


