Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, the most famous reindeer in the world was voiced by someone most people have never heard of. Billie Mae Richards, a Canadian actress and mother of five, gave Rudolph his voice in the 1964 holiday special that became a staple of American television. She recorded the part in just a few hours, never expecting the character to last. What followed were decades of reruns, toy lines, and a place in Christmas history. In this rare archival interview, Richards shares how she landed the role, what it meant to her family, and why she’s proud to have played a misfit who found his way. 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 founding of the United States didn’t happen in a moment—it unfolded across one of the most difficult years in American history. The late-great historian and author of 1776, David McCullough, shares the story of how a fragile army, led by an untested commander, struggled to hold the cause together against overwhelming odds. Between Boston and New York, the future of the Revolution was shaped not by grand strategy or stirring speeches, but by exhaustion, retreat, and the lingering question of whether any of it would hold. 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 gold prices collapsed in September 1869, it triggered one of the earliest financial panics in American history. Jay Gould and Jim Fisk had spent months driving prices higher in an attempt to corner the market, working backchannels in Washington to shield their plan from regulation. But the scheme unraveled quickly, and when it did, the damage rippled across the economy. Cornelius Vanderbilt, already one of the richest men in the country, moved fast to protect his own interests. In the process, he stabilized a market no one else could touch. T.J. Stiles tells the story of what really happened on Black Friday—and how Vanderbilt’s response changed the balance of private power in public 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, Joseph Howard Jr. was such a skilled con man that both Union President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis granted him pardons. Yet he was so notorious that a wealthy New York City woman once offered a $50,000 reward for his capture—dead or alive. This is the incredible true story of one of the most daring and elusive swindlers of the Civil War era. 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 December 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was in mourning. His wife had died in a fire two years earlier. His son had been wounded in the Civil War. And the country itself felt beyond repair. That Christmas, he sat down and wrote a poem about the sound of church bells, one that began in sorrow and ended with a quiet return to hope. The words were later set to music and became “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Robert Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That Made America, shares the story of how one of our most familiar carols was born in one of the darkest years in American history. 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 first American Christmas came just months after the Declaration of Independence. But by December, the mood across the colonies was anything but triumphant. Washington’s forces had been pushed back again and again. The army was cold, outnumbered, and on the brink of collapse. What happened on Christmas night turned the tide. With no guarantee of success, Washington led a quiet crossing of the Delaware and launched a surprise assault on Trenton. The victory didn’t end the war, but it gave people something they hadn’t had in weeks: hope. Historian Brian Benjamin shares a poem that tells the story behind one of the most important days in the fight for independence. 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, at the turn of the century, Halloween in the United States looked very different. It wasn’t about costumes or candy—it was a night for pranks, property damage, and a fair amount of frustration for the adults trying to keep order. Over time, some communities found a different approach. Instead of cracking down, they redirected the energy. Schools, churches, and local groups began organizing haunted houses, offering just enough fear to keep the night exciting without letting it spiral out of control. Lisa Morton, author of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween, traces how that shift helped transform a night of chaos into one of the country’s most enduring celebrations. 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 they made history, the Wright brothers were just two mechanics with a theory. Their shop in Dayton kept the lights on, but it was their time on the beaches of North Carolina that changed the world. While others with more resources failed to get off the ground, Wilbur and Orville studied what moved through the air—and why. In 1903, after years of testing and quiet work, they lifted off the sand and became the first men to take flight, with a takeoff that lasted just 12 seconds. Our own Lee Habeeb 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, Colonel David Hackworth was a soldier’s soldier. He fought in Korea, commanded in Vietnam, and earned more than 90 awards for valor, making him one of the most decorated military figures in American history. However, his legacy extends beyond citations. In Vietnam, Hackworth became known for his bold leadership, unconventional tactics, and outspoken criticism of military bureaucracy. Years later, some of his real-life exploits would inspire characters and lines in Hollywood films (Apocalypse Now, for instance), but Hackworth’s war was no movie. Major General “Mook” Mukoyama shares the story of the man, the myth, and the legend himself. 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, Crissy Moran had everything the adult film world promised. The money came quickly, the attention never stopped, and the work only seemed to grow. But what she couldn’t outrun was the sense that something was breaking. In 2006, she deleted her website and stepped away from the business that had made her famous. What followed were years of rebuilding, finding faith, and learning to speak out. Today, the married Crissy is a born-again Christian—and living her life in the best possible way. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.