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
Dec 24, 2024 • 11min
Christmas, 1776
On this episode of Our American Stories, it's called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Brian Benjamin shares the story from his book, Christmas, 1776. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 24, 2024 • 9min
How "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Almost Didn't Happen
On this episode of Our American Stories, Dealing with a small budget and with a short deadline, A Charlie Brown Christmas was released to critical acclaim on December 9th, 1965. While audiences loved it, there were many doubters behind the scenes at CBS. Our host, Lee Habeeb, tells the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 24, 2024 • 10min
A Bible Reading 200,000 Miles from Earth
On this episode of Our American Stories, the crew of Apollo 8 and Steve Kates (AKA Dr. Sky) tell the story of the Christmas time mission to the moon—and the reading of Genesis over its surface. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 24, 2024 • 8min
How Elvis Was Coaxed into Recording a Christmas Album—As Told by a Man Who Was There
On this episode of Our American Stories, Greg McDonald got his start in show business as a teenager after meeting Elvis Presley and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, shortly after Parker began managing Elvis in the ‘50s. Here’s Greg with a Colonel and Elvis Christmas story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 23, 2024 • 20min
Karl Marlantes: How I Came to Terms with my Navy Cross
On this episode of Our American Stories, Karl Marlantes, the award-winning author of Matterhorn and What It Is Like To Go To War, tells the story of how he received his medals in Vietnam—and how he grappled with them when so many had done more and gotten less than him. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 23, 2024 • 10min
The Day a Teenage Boy Met Elvis and the Colonel and Began Working with Them for the Rest of His Life
On this episode of Our American Stories, doing maintenance in mansions, you could meet anyone, talk about anything - even find your career as an agent! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 23, 2024 • 8min
ILLEGAL: Shooting Bunnies from a Motorboat...The Story of Weird Laws.
On this episode of Our American Stories, regular contributor to the show and author Winter Prosapio dives into some of the strange laws we have....and why we have them. You can find her book on weird laws HERE. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 23, 2024 • 20min
Why the Nativity? (w/ Dr. David Jeremiah)
On this episode of Our American Stories, in his book-turned-docudrama Why the Nativity? Dr. David Jeremiah looks in detail at the people and events that surround the Christmas story and why each of them was chosen for their specific purpose. Here's the story of the nativity! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 23, 2024 • 18min
Getting Prepared to Go Face-to-Face with the Toughest Admiral in Navy History
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bill Toti, former captain of the USS Indianapolis submarine, tells the story of his experience with Admiral Hyman Rickover—the father of the nuclear navy. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 20, 2024 • 38min
The Frederick Douglass Story
On this episode of Our American Stories, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery when he was 20 and went on to become one of the most important Americans to fight for emancipation and the equality of all people. He was the most photographed American of the 19th century, sitting for more portraits than even Abraham Lincoln. But this famed abolitionist’s story is even more fascinating than what many of us have learned in school. Here to tell the story is Frederick Douglass impersonator, Kyle Taylor Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
