Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Bat Masterson’s name still echoes through Wild West history, but unlike most gunfighters, he didn’t meet his end in a dusty street. Born William Barclay Masterson, he earned a reputation as a fearless sheriff, gambler, and occasional gunslinger who refused to kill for sport. To him, outlaw gunmen were thugs; his own weapon was for justice or to defend a friend in need. While many Old West legends died young, Masterson lived long enough to see himself become part of American folklore. Historian Roger McGrath shares the story of the man who survived the frontier and became one of the most famous lawmen of his time. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Merian C. Cooper never settled for an ordinary life. Before he created King Kong, he was chasing stories as a journalist, flying combat missions in two world wars, and helping to shape the rise of the American movie industry. By the time audiences watched a giant gorilla climb the Empire State Building in 1933, Cooper had already lived through adventures as thrilling as any he put on film. As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath shares the story of the pilot, producer, and dreamer whose life blurred the line between classic adventure movies and history itself. 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, this time diving into how the phrases "dark horse" and "dead ringer" came to be. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, is must-read. Be sure to check it out! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on March 2, 1989, David McCullough stood before a joint session of Congress with a simple message: the past matters now more than ever. He spoke not as a pundit but as a poet of history, urging lawmakers to remember that their actions would one day be judged as part of our national story. In a rich narrative style, McCullough wove together images of a handcrafted clock in the Capitol and the courage of past legislators to remind his audience that history watches. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Civil War, falling asleep on guard duty was a crime punishable by death. That was the fate awaiting William Scott, a young Union soldier who drifted off at his post one night. His case captured the attention of Abraham Lincoln, who chose mercy over execution. What followed became one of the most remarkable Civil War stories, where compassion and discipline collided in the heat of war. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became a national name, Trader Joe’s was just a small Los Angeles shop with a big idea. Founded by Joe Coulombe, the store broke every rule of traditional supermarket chains. Instead of trying to compete with the largest grocery stores in America on size, it won on personality, price, and products that customers couldn’t find anywhere else. Decades later, Trader Joe’s has grown into one of the biggest grocery success stories in the United States, rivaling major supermarket chains while keeping its neighborhood feel. Our own Greg Hengler shares how a single store sparked a grocery revolution. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, few figures loomed larger on the seas than Black Sam Bellamy. He was young, charismatic, and ruthless enough to seize more ships and gold than nearly any pirate in history. His black flag struck fear into sailors from the Caribbean to the coast of New England. But his success was short-lived. In 1717, the richest pirate of his age went down in a wreck that left legends in its wake. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, shares the tale and the truth behind one of piracy’s most infamous names. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Adams carried the weight of a nation that was still fragile and untested. He was the second president of the United States, a man caught between loyalty to his principles and the demands of politics. The late historian David McCullough shares Adams’ story not as a list of accomplishments—but as the life of a husband, father, and revolutionary who believed deeply in the republic he helped create. We’d like to thank the John Adams Institute for allowing us to share this story with our listeners. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Bible is the best-selling book in history, but it did not arrive fully formed. It was written over centuries, first passed along in fragments, then gathered into the texts we know today. Each step left its mark, from the languages in which it was first recorded to the choices that shaped its canon. The History Guy shares the story of how those writings survived and why the Bible’s history remains as important as its words. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Holt built a career as one of Hollywood’s most familiar Western actors, appearing in 149 films over four decades. Audiences saw him ride through classics like Stagecoach and My Darling Clementine, where he played cowboys marked by grit and quiet resolve. But just as his career reached its peak, Holt left the cameras behind, trained as a bomber pilot, and flew combat missions in the Pacific, including raids over Tokyo. As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath tells the story of a man who moved seamlessly from Hollywood soundstages to the battlefields of World War II, living a life larger than the roles he played on screen. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, did you know “radar” is actually an acronym? It stands for Radio Detection and Ranging — a term coined in 1940 by the U.S. Navy. Tim Harford, author of the bestselling book 50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy, shares the stories of three inventions that changed the way we live today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories Jay Sebring was Hollywood’s most sought-after men’s hairstylist. At his Fairfax Avenue salon, Frank Sinatra came for a trim, Jim Morrison’s iconic look was shaped, and Bruce Lee trusted his image to the man behind the chair. Sebring turned men’s hair into fashion, helping launch a global industry. He was on the brink of an even bigger future when the Manson Family murders ended his life in the summer of 1969. His nephew, Anthony DiMaria, has spent years bringing Sebring’s story back into focus. He co-authored Jay Sebring: Cutting to the Truth with Marshall Terrill, and today, shares how Sebring rose to the top of Los Angeles style — and why his legacy is more than the crime that ended it. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Laura Treppendahl was only beginning her adult life when it ended in a drunk driving crash. Her family’s grief was immediate and overwhelming, but so was their conviction about how to respond. When the young man responsible for the accident faced sentencing, the Treppendahls stood before the judge and said something that left the courtroom stunned: they forgave him. Laura’s parents share their remarkable story of faith. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, from 1945 to 1992, the United States conducted more than a thousand nuclear weapons tests. Many took place in Nevada, where young Marines were ordered into trenches to observe what would happen when the bomb went off. Among them was Toby Madrid. For decades, he stayed silent, sharing his memories only once with his son and a trusted co-worker, Richard Muniz. That rare conversation captured the surreal experience of facing a nuclear explosion in the desert and the shadow it left on the men who served. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Lt. Howard Snyder’s B-17 Susan Ruth was shot down over Belgium in February 1944, he could have ended up a prisoner or worse. Instead, he vanished into the resistance. Hidden by members of the Belgian Underground, he spent four months evading capture and another three fighting alongside Maquis guerrillas in France. He rejoined Allied forces only after the liberation in September. Steve Snyder shares his father’s incredible journey of survival, resistance, and redemption in the face of Nazi tyranny. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Esther de Berdt Reed wasn’t content to sit on the sidelines during the Revolutionary War. While the fighting dragged on and morale among Patriot soldiers dropped, Reed launched an ambitious campaign with other women to raise funds and provide relief for the troops. When she presented her plan to George Washington, he had his own ideas for how their efforts should be used. But Esther wasn't willing to go down without a fight. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2013, Tyson Timbs had his $42,000 Land Rover seized by the state of Indiana after a low-level drug offense. That seizure set off a seven-year legal fight that reached the United States Supreme Court. The question was simple but historic: Could a state impose a punishment so extreme that it violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on excessive fines? The Court’s unanimous decision in Timbs v. Indiana reshaped how civil forfeiture works across the country. Ilya Somin takes us inside the twists and turns of the case and explains why this protection matters for every American. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, John and Ashley Marsh once stood on the edge of collapse. Addiction, infidelity, and financial ruin had left their marriage shattered and their lives without direction. John was preparing to end it all when an unexpected moment of faith interrupted his plans. That turning point marked the beginning of a long journey of recovery and forgiveness. Together, the couple rebuilt what was broken and discovered a calling bigger than themselves. Today, they live out that calling by restoring abandoned buildings and bringing life back to forgotten neighborhoods. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before mass production and freeways, the automobile was an invention still finding its way. The Duryea brothers were among its pioneers, and in 1901, they built something unique: a car made to glorify God. More than a century later, that car still exists. Barry Meguiar shares the story of how he came to own it. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when a young Iowa farmer named Cecil Wax was drafted into World War II, he never imagined his survival would hinge on a frozen mountain road in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge. Driving a supply truck loaded with gasoline and ammunition, Cecil fought ice, darkness, and the fear of ambush at every turn. What happened next left him convinced for the rest of his life that God had reached down and saved him. His daughter, Marilyn, shares the unforgettable story of faith, courage, and a moment that changed everything. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.