Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories Miami Dolphins owner and billionaire real estate developer Stephen Ross shares how being fired twice early in his career led him to conclude he was unemployable. That realization pushed him toward entrepreneurship, ultimately shaping his path to building a global real estate empire and becoming one of the most influential owners in professional sports. Ross reflects on failure, resilience, and the unconventional career choices that defined his success. 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, one was a future president, the other a Seneca warrior-turned-engineer. Together, Ulysses S. Grant and Ely S. Parker would shape the final chapter of the Civil War and the early years of Reconstruction. Parker, a brilliant mind and proud Native American, served as Grant’s personal military secretary and later became the first Native American to hold a cabinet-level position in U.S. history. Historian Mary Stockwell, author of Interrupted Odyssey: Grant in the West, tells the remarkable story of two men whose paths crossed in history and whose bond transcended war, politics, and identity. 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, Maggie Bailey started selling moonshine in the Appalachian hills at just 17 years old and kept her bootlegging business alive for the better part of a century. Known as the “Queen of the Mountain Moonshiners,” Maggie became a local legend not just for the quality of her shine, but for the way she used her profits. She paid college tuition for local kids, fed the hungry, and took care of her community. She was so loved that no jury would convict her. J.D. Phillips, the Appalachian Storyteller, shares the tale of a woman who bent the law without ever breaking her word. 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, best-selling historian Stephen Ambrose brings the Lewis and Clark Expedition to life in vivid detail, sharing scenes from his acclaimed book Undaunted Courage. He retraces their journey across rivers, mountains, and tribal lands, following the Corps of Discovery from its quiet launch under Thomas Jefferson’s directive to its triumphant arrival at the Pacific. 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, one snowy night in 1984, a fleet of moving trucks pulled away from Baltimore carrying the Colts, their gear, and decades of history. The team was gone just like that. For fans who grew up idolizing Johnny Unitas and wearing the horseshoe with pride, it felt like a piece of the city had been ripped out. We look back at the legacy the Colts built in Baltimore. 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, most museums exist to showcase the finest achievements in art and culture. The Museum of Bad Art does the opposite. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, MOBA proudly collects paintings that miss the mark so completely they become unforgettable. From A Mariachi in Tiananmen Square to Self Portrait as a Bird, the museum celebrates art that tries hard, fails spectacularly, and refuses to be ignored. Curator Louise Reilly Sacco shares how the Museum of Bad Art began, how these strange works are selected, and why MOBA has become a cult favorite for people who love museums, modern art, and the joy of creativity without pretension. 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, they say “Don’t Mess With Texas,” and Roger Latham proved it. In 1967, this skinny Texan found himself face-to-chest with a six-foot-two barracks bully who had been terrorizing smaller recruits during air traffic control training. What started as a shove turned into a full-blown brawl that ended with one perfect kick and a lesson that would follow that bully for life. 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, before Clara Barton became famous, she was a former teacher who refused to accept the limits placed on women in nineteenth-century America. When the Civil War broke out, she organized supply drives, treated wounded soldiers, and pushed her way onto battlefields where women were not supposed to go. Her work saved countless lives and reshaped battlefield medicine. Kaela Rider, a former civics and history teacher from Jacksonville, Florida, who now serves as Education Programs Coordinator at the Bill of Rights Institute, tells Clara’s story. 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, before Andrew Jackson became America’s seventh president, he fought his way into history. Literally. Jackson survived gunshots, brawls, and more than a dozen duels, including one that nearly killed him. But to Jackson, this was all part of the job. Keith Hardison, former director at The Hermitage, explains how the code of honor that shaped dueling culture also shaped Jackson’s rise to power. This is the story of a man who took his politics personally…and sometimes at gunpoint. 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, Our American Stories regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak, a longtime writer and storyteller whose personal essays have become a favorite with listeners, shares the special way he found to honor his mom on his own birthday and why he believes she, not he, deserves all the praise. His story is a heartfelt reflection on gratitude, family, and the quiet sacrifices that shape our lives. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.