Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jedediah Smith’s story reads like the birth of the American West itself: bold, unforgiving, and full of faith. In an age when few dared to leave the safety of the frontier, he ventured across mountains and deserts no American had ever seen. He charted new routes to the Pacific, endured attacks and near starvation, and still pressed forward. His journals and maps became blueprints for westward expansion, turning one man’s determination into a nation’s destiny. Here to tell the story is Roger McGrath. 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, Greg Hall wasn’t looking for fame when Chile’s government asked for help rescuing 33 trapped miners. A businessman and Catholic deacon from Texas, he simply believed he could make a difference. Over 69 tense days, Hall and his team drilled through solid rock to reach the men the world feared were lost. He later said it was God who guided every turn of the drill. While the film The 33 told the story, Hall’s name was left out, which suited him just fine. For him, the miracle wasn’t the credit. It was that all 33 men saw daylight again. 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 Devon Westhill became the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he learned the meaning of perseverance from the woman who raised him. His mother faced poverty, long hours, and the weight of raising a family on her own in rural Florida. Yet through every setback, she refused to let her children see defeat. Her story is one of grit and grace of a mother who built stability out of scarcity and taught her children that success isn’t handed down; it’s earned, day by day. 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, when Bob McLalan’s son told him he wanted to become a Green Beret, the words carried a weight that lingered. There was courage in the choice, but also risk. Every parent hopes their child finds purpose, yet few are ready for the moment that purpose calls them away. In this story, Bob shares how his son’s decision shaped their family’s understanding of duty, love, and the quiet bravery it takes to let someone follow a dream that could cost everything. 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, when Nancy Kelsey left Missouri with her husband in 1841, she had no map, no guide, and no reason to believe she’d ever see home again. She was young, pregnant, and part of the first wagon train attempting to cross into California. The trail stretched endlessly, marked by hunger, broken wagons, and the quiet fear of being lost for good. Still, Nancy kept going. When she finally reached the Sacramento Valley, barefoot and exhausted, she became the first American woman to complete the journey. Nancy and her family would later play a crucial role in Californian and American history, becoming the first wave of a great tide that would transform a nation. Our regular contributor, 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, Dr. E. Wesley Ely of Vanderbilt University Medical Center shares deeply meaningful experiences—both medical and spiritual—from a patient’s suddenly shortened final days. 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, in the early years of television, few moments carried more weight than the night journalist Edward R. Murrow confronted Senator Joseph McCarthy. America was deep in the Cold War, and McCarthy’s accusations of communist influence had created an atmosphere of fear that silenced many. Murrow chose to speak anyway. On his CBS program See It Now, he aired McCarthy’s own words, letting the public judge for themselves. It was one of the first times television held political power to account, marking a turning point for both journalism and public trust in the media. Kirk Higgins, Senior Director of Content at the Bill of Rights Institute, brings us 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, Blair Linne grew up moving from place to place, never staying long enough to unpack completely. Her mother loved her deeply, but without a father, stability was something they could never hold on to. By the time Blair reached adulthood, she had lived in twenty-five homes. What she found along the way was not just struggle, but faith, community, and a new understanding of family. Her story gives voice to the quiet ache of growing up without a father and the strength it takes to build something lasting from the pieces left behind. 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, Ken Wells always dreamed of flying. When that dream took him to the skies over Vietnam, he knew the risks but never imagined how quickly everything would change. Just two days before his wife, Candy, gave birth to their first child, Ken’s plane was shot down. He spent years in captivity at the infamous Hanoi Hilton, surviving hunger, isolation, and torture. Back home, Candy raised their child alone, clinging to faith and hope that he would return. Together, they tell a story of endurance and of a love that withstood the distance. 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, for years, Tasha Layton lived the dream that countless young artists imagine. She toured the world, performed before massive crowds, and sang beside one of the biggest names in pop music. But beneath the lights, she felt a growing emptiness that success couldn’t fill. When she finally stepped away, she didn’t know what would come next, only that she needed to start over. Her path back began quietly, through faith, small moments of honesty, and music that spoke to something deeper than applause. Tasha joins us to tell us her story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.