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
Jan 3, 2024 • 8min
A Son Discovers His Deceased Mother's Hidden Talent—Poetry
On this episode of Our American Stories, Texas boys don’t write poetry, and certainly don’t cry. Roger Latham did, though, after discovering a poem written by his deceased mother. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 3, 2024 • 38min
My Father’s Super-Secret Double Life as a Nuclear Missile Savant
On this episode of Our American Stories, for 50 years, John Clauson's father was a simple "salesman," that is, until—nearing his deathbed—he revealed to his son a secret. John is here to tell the story from his book Missileman. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 2, 2024 • 30min
Candyman: The Story of Jelly Belly Founder, David Klein
On this episode of Our American Stories, Willy Wonka's got nothing on David Klein! David's eccentric personality and peculiar sense of business led him to leave Jelly Belly. He's here to share his story of how he lost his beans, but kept his soul. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 2, 2024 • 8min
Vietnam Vets Wouldn’t Sell Their Story to Hollywood, But They Sold “We Were Soldiers” to the Writer of “Braveheart”
On this episode of Our American Stories, we Were Soldiers is a motion picture about the Vietnam War from writer/director Randall Wallace and starring Mel Gibson. Randall's 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.
Jan 2, 2024 • 11min
The Story of the Real—and Mostly Unknown—Author of the U.S. Constitution, Gouverneur Morris
On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story is about a Founding Father who wrote the most famous seven words in American history: “We the People of the United States.” Professor of political science at Syracuse, Dennis C. Rasmussen is also the author of The Constitution's Penman: Gouverneur Morris and the Creation of America's Basic Charter—he is also a Jack Miller Center Fellow. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 2, 2024 • 27min
After 50 Years of Silence, Korean War Pilot Shares His Top-Secret Mission
On this episode of Our American Stories, between the Korean and the Vietnam Wars, U.S. Navy Captain Royce Williams flew over 220 missions. The following story was classified as Top Secret, and for more than 50 years Captain Williams didn’t tell a soul—not even his wife. Nobody knew what this 27-year-old South Dakotan did that day over the skies of Korea—until now. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 1, 2024 • 11min
A Museum Dedicated To...Mustard?
On this episode of Our American Stories, find out how Barry Levinson went from arguing cases in front of the Supreme Court to operating the largest museum dedicated to mustard in the world. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 1, 2024 • 27min
A Thread Across the Ocean: The Story of the Transatlantic Cable
On this episode of Our American Stories, Miles and miles of wire placed on ships and thrown into the ocean connected the world like never before and would help determine the outcomes of World Wars and beyond. John Steele Gordan tells the story of how the Transatlantic Cable came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 1, 2024 • 30min
American Freedom Machines: The Story of Harley-Davidson
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Margie Siegal was a teenager, she had a boyfriend with a motorcycle. The boyfriend was forgettable—the motorcycle wasn’t. Since that time, she has written about motorcycle history and is the author of Harley-Davidson: A History of the World’s Most Famous Motorcycle. Here she is with the story of Harley-Davidson. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 1, 2024 • 8min
Ralph Cox: Last Guy Cut from 1980 U.S. Olympic "Miracle" Hockey Team
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ralph Cox is a former college hockey star who was squeezed out of arguably the greatest moment in sports history. Here's Ralph to share the moment that changed his life forever. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
