Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Angelo Ruffino rows through the canals of Southern California, singing his original music to passengers and perfecting a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. But he’s more than a romantic oarsman. He’s a racer, a performer, and a champion for gondola culture, hoping one day to bring it to the Olympic stage. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dana Mitch grew up knowing pieces of her family's Holocaust story, but they never quite felt like her own. That changed when she visited Buchenwald, one of the largest concentration camps on German soil. Walking through its grounds brought the past into sharper focus and helped her connect with the history she had always known from a distance. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener and regular contributor from South Carolina, Dennis Peterson, shares the story of working with his dad in bricklaying—and how, despite thriftiness being mostly a positive trait, it sometimes led to unexpected consequences on the job. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Ambrose was one of America’s leading biographers and historians. He passed away in 2002, but his epic storytelling can now be heard here on Our American Stories, thanks to the efforts of those who manage his estate. Our next segment features his account of the weapons used in World War II, this time focusing on poison gas and the various modes of transportation. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Mars became one of the most powerful private companies in America, it was a struggling family candy shop. Frank Mars had failed time and time again before his son, Forrest, stepped in with a bold vision and zero interest in playing by industry rules. With names like M&M’s, Snickers, and Pedigree under its belt, Mars would go on to quietly outgrow Hershey, Kellogg’s, and even McDonald’s. Simon Whistler from Today I Found Out and The BrainFood Show tells the story of a father and son, an empire built on chocolate, and the cutthroat decisions that made it a global giant. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Louisiana is unlike any other state in the U.S., and there’s a reason for that. From the Louisiana Purchase and its Napoleonic legal roots to the deep influence of Cajun and Creole culture, this state has a story worth savoring. Nate Gallagher explores the people, food, language, and law that shaped America’s 18th state — the Pelican State. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Neil Armstrong ever took that famous first step, the Apollo program was a long shot fueled by ambition, sacrifice, and belief in the American spirit. Space historian Steve Kates, known to many as Dr. Sky, takes us behind the scenes of America’s race to the Moon, sharing the near misses, quiet heroics, and moments the world never saw. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, what if everything you needed to know about the world could fit on a bookshelf just five feet wide? Harvard President Charles W. Eliot believed it could. In an era when few had access to higher education, Eliot championed the Harvard Classics, a set of books designed to give anyone a world-class education from their own home. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Harford, author of the bestselling book Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy, shares the stories behind three transformative innovations: concrete, the LLC (limited liability company), and the index fund. From the concrete that built our cities, to the LLC that revolutionized business ownership, to the index fund that reshaped investing, these inventions changed the way we build, do business, and grow our wealth today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before the Gettysburg Address or the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that won over the East Coast and propelled him toward the presidency. Delivered at Cooper Union in 1860, it was a turning point for American politics and for Lincoln himself. Vince Benedetto of Bold Gold Media shares the story behind the night Lincoln took the stage. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Billy the Kid didn’t live past 21, but his name still echoes through American folklore. In a lawless land, he became the face of rebellion: part folk hero, part criminal, and all mystery. Historian Roger McGrath traces the true story of the young drifter behind the legend — from his first brush with the law to the bullet that ended it all. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark Foster, an all-around Southern boy, never imagined his next business meeting would involve arm wrestling a Chinese Communist Party official after a chance encounter in an empty hotel bar. But one favor from his father-in-law changed everything. Mark shares the story of one unforgettable and wild trip overseas that was anything but “just business.” Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he was president, Gerald Ford was a rising football star at the University of Michigan. But in 1934, his loyalty was tested when Georgia Tech refused to play if his Black teammate, Willis Ward, took the field. Author and historian John U. Bacon shares this remarkable story of friendship, integrity, and a quiet act of defiance that helped shape Ford’s views on civil rights. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before gloves, rules, or weight classes, there was John L. Sullivan: a powerhouse brawler who became America’s last bare-knuckle boxing champion. With fists of steel and a challenge to fight any man alive, Sullivan didn’t just win titles, he won the country’s attention in 1893 with his “Knockout Tour.” The challenge? Last 12 minutes in the ring with the champ and win. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in World War I, tanks were considered support tools. But by World War II, they had become the centerpiece of ground warfare. Historian Stephen Ambrose explains how German engineering produced the deadly Tiger and Panther tanks — and why the American Sherman became known as the “Queen of the Battlefield.” Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, known to history as Big Nose Kate, Mary Katherine Horony was more than a footnote in Doc Holliday’s life. She was a trained nurse, a sharp-tongued survivor, and a force in her own right. Her story is a window into the grit and resilience of women in the American West. The History Guy shares the true story of this often misunderstood icon of the Wild West. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See 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 “white elephant” and “wear your heart on your sleeve,” among others. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Major General James Mukoyama shares his remarkable journey from a blue-collar neighborhood in Chicago to becoming the first Asian American to command a U.S. Army division. The journey didn’t come easily, requiring strength, leadership, resilience, and the courage to break down barriers. His book is Faith, Family & Flag: Memoirs of an Unlikely American Samurai Crusader. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, during a high-stakes flight, pilot trainee Peter Braxton lost control of his aircraft and almost didn’t live to tell the tale. That near-death experience would prepare him for something no one could have imagined: becoming the first Air Force pilot airborne over the Twin Towers on 9/11. Here’s Peter with the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, James Rosen, author of Scalia: Rise to Greatness, shares the story of Antonin Scalia’s unlikely but inevitable rise to the U.S. Supreme Court. His family, faith, and immigrant roots were the drivers of his unwavering belief in the Constitution, which, in turn, led to him becoming one of the most impactful judges in American history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.