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
Jul 9, 2024 • 9min
The Power of Encouraging Words To Save a Life
On this episode of Our American Stories, even though the working-class African-American community around Eric often couldn’t read or write, they could tell a story. To Eric, there was no honor higher than having the stories he would learn retold by the men around him. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 9, 2024 • 10min
The Story of an Escaped Slave Who Hijacked a Confederate Ship and Sailed it to Freedom
On this episode of Our American Stories, here’s The History Guy with the story of Robert Smalls, an escaped slave-turned Civil War legend. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 9, 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.
Jul 9, 2024 • 38min
Valley Forge: Cold-Hard Training and the Key to America’s Independence
On this episode of Our American Stories, bestselling authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin share the story of the Continental Army’s six-month transformation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; one of the most inspiring —and under-appreciated — chapters in American history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 8, 2024 • 11min
The Story of the White Union Commander of the All-Black Civil War Regiment—Made Famous by the Movie Glory
On this episode of Our American Stories, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw's life was permanently altered when he read Uncle Tom's Cabin, and he would soon find himself leading one of the Union's first all-black regiments to see combat in the Civil War. Shaw would later be played by Matthew Broderick (a.k.a. Ferris Bueller) in the hit 1989 movie Glory. Here to tell the story is Kirk Higgins of the Bill of Rights Institute. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 8, 2024 • 27min
The Story of The Last Slave Ship To America
On this episode of Our American Stories, the recently enslaved people on the last, law-defying slave ship to arrive in America would build their own town, and give many freed black Americans a gift beyond measure: freedom. Here to tell the story is Nick Tabor, author of Africatown. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 8, 2024 • 11min
Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of the Legendary Scam Artist
On this episode of Our American Stories, Charles Ponzi may not have invented the Ponzi Scheme, but he certainly lent his name to it. Here to tell the story is Jonathan Small of the podcast Write About Now. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 8, 2024 • 9min
“He Was Closer To Death Than We Knew”
On this episode of Our American Stories, an Our American Stories listener, Stephen Rusiniak, tells the story of his brother’s close encounter with death. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 8, 2024 • 18min
She Was Carrying A Secret—Her Addiction to Alcohol— And Recovered By Charting Her Own Path
On this episode of Our American Stories, people worldwide have found sobriety through the AA program - but Roseanne Forte relied on faith and found a different way. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 5, 2024 • 11min
President Reagan's Greatest Speech You've Never Heard: His July 4 Speech in NY Harbor
On this episode of Our American Stories, just moments before the biggest fireworks display in American history, President Ronald Reagan spoke in front of the Statue of Liberty aboard the USS John F. Kennedy. Reagan understood the profound nature of what the founders did back in 1776. We take you back to New York Harbor in 1986. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
