Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early days of hip-hop, the music grew out of Black and Latino communities in New York City. It was local, raw, and deeply rooted in the neighborhoods where it began. So when three white, Jewish kids from New York entered that world, it raised more than a few eyebrows.Greg Hengler shares the story of the Beastie Boys, how they found their place in a culture that wasn’t originally their own, and how their music helped carry hip-hop to audiences far beyond the city. It’s a story about risk, identity, and the unexpected ways American music can grow and change. 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 middle of the Civil War, when battlefield medicine was rough, dangerous, and often improvised, one doctor refused to stay on the sidelines.Dr. Mary Edwards Walker served on the front lines, treating wounded soldiers under fire and crossing enemy lines to care for those in need. Along the way, she was captured, held as a prisoner of war, and ultimately recognized for her service in a way no other woman in American history has been.The History Guy shares the remarkable story of the only woman ever awarded the Medal of Honor, and how her courage, skill, and determination left a lasting mark on both American medicine and the nation she served. 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, General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War and later served two terms as the 18th president of the United States. Today, he is buried at Grant’s Tomb in New York City, the largest presidential tomb in the country and one of the city’s most important historic monuments.By the late twentieth century, however, the memorial had fallen into serious disrepair. Graffiti covered the walls, maintenance had stalled, and many believed the National Park Service was failing to protect the historic site. That’s when a determined college student named Frank Scaturro decided to step in. His lawsuit against the federal government forced officials to confront the neglect and ultimately helped save Grant’s Tomb. Here's Frank with 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, as a boy growing up in Kansas City, Roger Rench’s life changed suddenly when his father took a job as a golf pro in the small town of Sheridan, Iowa. The move meant trading city life for a tiny community and living inside the clubhouse of the Lakeview Country Club. It also meant giving up something Roger loved even more than the golf course: his dog, Flash.The stay in Iowa lasted only a month before the job ended and the family returned to Kansas City, leaving Roger with more questions than answers. Decades later, while making a delivery in southern Iowa, he unexpectedly found himself back in Sheridan, standing in front of the same clubhouse where that brief chapter of his childhood had unfolded. Roger shares the story of that short, bittersweet time in Iowa. 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 the Constitution emerged from the Constitutional Convention in 1787, its future was far from certain. The document still needed to be ratified by the states, and fierce debate quickly followed. Supporters argued that the new framework of government would stabilize the young republic, while critics warned that it gave too much power to a distant national government.Into that debate stepped Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Writing under the name “Publius,” they published a series of essays now known as the Federalist Papers, explaining and defending the Constitution to the American public. For our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares how those writings shaped the future of American government. 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, acts of kindness often begin in ordinary moments. For Paul Kotz, a regular contributor to Our American Stories, one of those moments started behind a building with a deck of cards and a brief conversation with a homeless man. What followed was unexpected: Kotz climbed into a dumpster so the two of them could sit down and play a few hands.The game itself was simple, but the encounter stayed with him. Kotz reflects on that afternoon and the quiet ways compassion and human connection can show up in everyday 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, every Sunday, Our American Stories host Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel "Big Mitch" Rutledge, who has spent more than forty years serving a life sentence in Alabama. Each call traces the shape of faith, regret, and forgiveness inside a place built for punishment.As the series comes to a close, Mitch reflects on what those years have taught him about freedom and bondage. Prison, he explains, is not only a physical place. A person can be trapped by anger, bitterness, or regret just as easily as by walls and bars. Looking back now, Mitch believes life returns what a person plants in it, and he hopes anyone listening might take that lesson seriously and begin their own search for freedom. 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, around the world, access to clean water is something many take for granted, but for Manny Singh, it was a problem he experienced firsthand growing up in India, where water shortages were a daily reality.Now, as president of Koch Membrane Systems, Singh is helping develop technologies that can turn wastewater into safe, usable water—addressing one of the world’s most urgent challenges. From improving water systems in drought-stricken regions to making treatment more efficient and accessible, his work is helping communities around the globe secure reliable sources of clean water. 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, Amy Palmiero-Winters is one of the most accomplished athletes in adaptive sports. She holds 13 world records for distance running, completing marathons and endurance races using a prosthetic leg.Her journey into competitive running began after a life-changing accident that could have ended her athletic ambitions entirely. Instead, it pushed her toward a new challenge. 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, Kimberly McCullough shares the beauty, and heartbreak, of walking through the foster care and adoption process. Through her experiences as a foster mother, McCullough reflects on the tension at the heart of foster care: the hope of reunification, the deep bonds formed with children, and the painful reality of letting them go. From courtroom adoption days filled with joy to difficult goodbyes that test a family’s strength, her story captures what she calls a “broken hallelujah”. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.