Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, born into the nation’s first political dynasty, John Quincy Adams spent his childhood in the shadow of revolution and his adulthood navigating diplomacy, Congress, and his presidency. But his defining stand came late in life, when he returned to the House of Representatives and refused to look away from slavery’s grip on the republic. As the last living link to the Founding Fathers, Adams carried their language and ideals into the Supreme Court during the Amistad case, arguing for the freedom of enslaved Africans with unmatched moral force. James Traub, author of John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit, traces how the sixth president’s most enduring legacy lay in his final, unyielding defense of human dignity. 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 story most people know about Monopoly is charming—and false. It was never just the invention of one down-on-his-luck salesman. The real roots of the game stretch back to a politically charged board game called The Landlord’s Game, created by a woman named Lizzie Magie to warn people about the dangers of unchecked greed. Her game was borrowed, reworked, and eventually published without her name on the box. Mary Pilon, author of The Monopolists, is here to share how Charles Darrow got the credit, how Parker Brothers sold the story, and why the truth behind Monopoly is far more interesting than fiction. 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 it became a greasy icon or a late-night craving, the hamburger was an immigrant invention trying to make itself useful. German farmers working the fairgrounds needed something fast and portable, so someone tucked spiced beef between slices of bread, and the hamburger was born. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked. Then came Upton Sinclair, whose book The Jungle made the public retch and nearly killed the hamburger altogether. Only after White Castle stepped in to clean up its image did Americans start trusting it again. George Motz, the documentarian behind Burger America, walks us through how one modest sandwich clawed its way into our national 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, it’s not carved into marble or codified into law, but you’ll hear it whispered in cockpits and painted on the walls of Navy offices across the world: “Don’t Give Up the Ship.” The phrase didn’t come from a slogan factory. It came from the dying words of Captain James Lawrence during the Battle of Lake Erie, shouted in defiance as his ship slipped beneath the water. Over time, those words stitched themselves into the culture of the United States Navy. Entrepreneur and America’s Cup champion Bill Koch joins us to explain what it means and why it still matters—especially to his family. 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 restaurant founders fade into the background. Colonel Harland Sanders did the opposite.  Long before fast food chains had PR teams and brand strategies, Sanders was out there shaking hands in his signature white suit, pitching his secret recipe, and turning himself into a walking trademark. Adam Chandler, author of Drive Thru Dreams, joins us to talk about how a broke gas station owner transformed fried chicken into a global empire and became one of the most recognizable faces in the world while doing it. 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 the laughs, the monologues, and the unforgettable guests, there was a man whose story seldom got told. Love Johnny Carson, writer and obsessive researcher Mark Malkoff dives deep into the life of the man who ruled The Tonight Show for three decades. Through exclusive interviews and unseen material, Malkoff builds the most complete picture yet of Johnny Carson. With more firsthand accounts than anyone has ever compiled, this story goes beyond the suits and sets—it takes us inside the mind of a man who changed TV without ever letting it change him. 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 he ever stepped onto a film set, Peter Ortiz had already survived more danger than most action heroes face in a lifetime. A decorated Marine, fluent in multiple languages and trained in espionage, he parachuted into Nazi-occupied France in 1944 with one mission: aid the resistance and disrupt the enemy from within. The Gestapo put a price on his head worth half a million francs, but Ortiz kept moving, outwitting his pursuers with a mix of charm, grit, and cold precision. After the war, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in John Ford’s classic Westerns, where few realized the actor on screen had once been one of the most decorated spies in U.S. military history. Roger McGrath 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.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. His book is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases. This time, Andrew explores the backstories of phrases like “wild goose chase” and “wrong end of the stick,” among others. 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, why was Jesus born in a manger? Why were shepherds the first to know? And why did a Roman census set the stage for it all? In Why the Nativity?, Dr. David Jeremiah walks through the entire Christmas narrative to explain why each person was part of it. Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and even the animals in the stable each carry meaning beyond tradition. Dr. Jeremiah joins us to talk about what the nativity scene shows us when we look at it with fresh eyes, and why these quiet details still speak to people centuries later. 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, Jesse Owens arrived in Berlin for the 1936 Olympics as one of the fastest men in the world. The long jump competition placed him beside Luz Long, a German athlete competing under the watchful eyes of the Nazi regime and in a stadium built to showcase its ideals. During the event, Long noticed Owens struggling with his approach and quietly offered advice that helped him stay in the competition. The two men spoke easily, competed fiercely, and walked off the field together in front of a crowd that had not expected to see them side by side. Elliott Drago of the Jack Miller Center shares the story of how a single Olympic event created a bond that outlived the medals. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.