Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert E. Lee is known for his role during the Civil War, but what about his life afterward? After the Confederate surrender, General Robert E. Lee returned to Virginia and accepted the presidency of a struggling college in Lexington. The aftermath of the Civil War left the South uncertain about its future, and Lee’s final years were spent guiding students rather than commanding troops.Historian Allen Guelzo shares how this quiet period helped redefine Lee’s legacy and shaped what would later become Washington and Lee University. We’d like to thank the Bill of Rights Institute for allowing us access to this wonderful audio, originally part of their Scholar Talks series on YouTube. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, the top show of the 60's and 70's started with a simple question: "Scooby-Doo where are you?" The show introduced the Scooby-Doo gang, a group of teenagers and one nervous Great Dane riding around in the Mystery Machine, chasing ghosts that always turned out to be something far more human.Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of one of the most ironic cartoons of all time. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ben Franklin had more “firsts” than most Americans could dream of. But before he was a statesman, a printer, or the face on the hundred-dollar bill, Benjamin Franklin was a devoted chess player. In fact, Benjamin Franklin’s chess history goes back further than most people realize. He is widely considered America’s first known chess player and the first American to write seriously about the game. Elliott Drago, a historian and editorial officer at the Jack Miller Center, shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill McClay, Hillsdale College history professor and author of Land of Hope, narrates a vivid account of America's fight for independence. He covers Washington's indispensable leadership and morale-building moments. He traces turning points like Trenton, Saratoga and Yorktown, plus the French alliance and Valley Forge's rebirth.

Felicia Bell, director of the Rosa Parks Museum, gives concise historical context on Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott. Rare audio lets Parks describe segregation’s daily weight. Bell explains Parks’ legal seating that day, her Highlander training in nonviolent resistance, and how the arrest ignited a coordinated year-long boycott organized through churches and carpools.

A narrative history tracing Saint Valentine from third-century martyrdom to modern romance. Roman politics, wartime marriage bans, and secret weddings set the scene. Medieval poets and papal decisions reshape the feast into courtly love. The story follows evolving customs, American connections, and the huge economic footprint of today’s Valentine traditions.

A daughter reads the reassuring text her father sent before tragedy struck and explains how it shaped her eulogy. Memories of everyday father-daughter moments and a long law enforcement career are recalled with warmth. The story wrestles with grief, faith, and choosing prayer over anger after a fatal shooting. Service, sacrifice, and legacy are honored in personal, heartfelt reflections.

John Ragosta, historian at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, tells the surprising story behind religious liberty in Virginia. He recounts persecution of Baptists, Jefferson’s unconventional faith, and the political alliance with evangelicals. The narrative follows drafting the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the fight against church-supported taxation.

On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Stories host Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel “Big Mitch” Rutledge, who has spent more than forty years serving a life sentence in Alabama for killing a man. Mitch has never denied his crime or offered excuses for it. Instead, their conversations focus on what responsibility, faith, and accountability look like when lived out behind prison walls.In this episode, Mitch begins with a story about how a simple act of kindness toward an elderly man planted the seed for his belief in sharing God’s grace with others. He then shares another experience in which an act of generosity didn’t have the impact he intended but ultimately taught him an important lesson about being wise with charity and discerning where it will truly make a difference. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, the Third Reich lasted just twelve years, but the destruction it unleashed reshaped the world forever. In this episode, we examine the rise of Adolf Hitler—not as a sudden coup, but as a political ascent made possible through elections, institutions, and public support. How did a nation renowned for its Christian tradition, artistic achievement, scientific excellence, and technological leadership descend into moral catastrophe? This is the story of how Hitler came to power, and how a modern society surrendered itself to tyranny. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.