Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jane Leavey and Sandy Berman tell the story of the museum they created—The Breman Museum—and tell some stories of Jewish people in the American South. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

Hollywood Goes to War: Wild Bill Wellman

On this episode of Our American Stories, here to tell another "Hollywood Goes to War" story is Roger McGrath. McGrath is the author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier. A U.S. Marine and former history professor at UCLA, Dr. McGrath has appeared on numerous History Channel documentaries and is a regular contributor for us here at Our American Stories. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Duration:00:27:27

A Change in Seasons: Caring for Her Father the Way he Once Cared for Her

On this episode of Our American Stories, Debra Freeberg joins us with part of a beautiful and heartwarming story she wrote about caring for her father in his time of need. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:50

"Fearless Freddie" Warder

On this episode of Our American Stories, America is great because of the men that make it up. And America won the Second World War because of men like “Fearless Freddie" Warder. A big hat-tip to Dang Linn Productions for allowing us access to their one-of-a-kind interviews from their recent documentary, Fearless Freddie. Check it out! Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:27:27

How Piggly Wiggly Created the Modern Supermarket

On this episode of Our American Stories, Clarence Saunders revolutionized the way people shopped. He developed “self-service” grocery shopping in his Piggly Wiggly stores at a time when store assistants usually collected products for their customers. By introducing checkouts, clearly priced goods, and itemized receipts, he set the foundations for the supermarkets of today. Mike Freeman is the author of Clarence Saunders & the Founding of Piggly Wiggly: The Rise and Fall of a Memphis...

Duration:00:20:18

My Family Spent 4 Months Playing Battleship in a Cornfield

On this episode of Our American Stories, the story itself is the stuff of legends...a sunken steamboat, buried treasure, and the drive of a group of AC repairmen to become "rich beyond rich" even if it meant going into over a million dollars worth of debt. Matt Hawley tells the story of his family's quest to dig up the steamboat Arabia from the middle of a corn field. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:17:58

2x Oscar Nominee Volunteers for WWII at 37: The Story of Robert Montgomery

On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Montgomery was one of the first movie stars to volunteer for service in World War II and when Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for the Presidency in 1952, Montgomery was his television coach. When General Eisenhower became President, Montgomery stayed on in his role as television adviser to become the first show-business professional to occupy an office in the White House. Here to tell another Hollywood Goes to War story is Roger McGrath. Support the...

Duration:00:20:18

A Bible Reading 200,000 Miles From Earth

On this episode of Our American Stories, the crew of Apollo 8 and Steve Kates tell the story of their Christmas time mission to the moon... and the reading of Genesis over its surface. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:09:59

The Untold Stories of Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" and "The Grinch"

On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Seuss was raised as a Lutheran and had a strong religious background. His books often included strong moral messages… but, he was always very careful with how he went about it. Here to share a bit about Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax” and “The Grinch” is Brian Jay Jones, author of “Becoming Dr. Seuss.” Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:59

The World's First Action Figure Museum

On this episode of Our American Stories, Kevin Stark of The Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, tells the story of his museum, and his life in toys. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

Wandering Worker: The American Hobo

On this episode of Our American Stories, the term hobo is often confused with homeless or beggar, but the truth is, wandering through life was what they preferred. Connecticut Shorty of The Hobo Museum shares the story of the American hobo and how they are still celebrated today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:19:28

The WWII Tragedy America Chose to Forget

On this episode of Our American Stories, because of the devastating nature of the attack, the U.S. government chose to keep the details of this attack hushed. Grove City College political science professor Paul Kengor brings us the details through the eyes of Sergeant Frank Bryer. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:59

Jim Thorpe: All-American, Native American

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2000, a poll was conducted by ABC Sports recognizing the Greatest Athlete of the Twentieth Century. The winner was not Muhammad Ali, Babe Ruth, Jesse Owens, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus, and Michael Jordan—but a man today many have never heard of: an Indian from Oklahoma named Jim Thorpe. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:38:16

I Came to New York City Dead: The Story of Sarah Gonzalez's Redemption

On this episode of Our American Stories, coping with the loss of her father as a child, total rebellion could not stop God from pursuing Sarah Gonzalez—even after spending her time partaking in activities designed to instill hatred towards others. Sarah is here to share her story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:20:18

Triumph and Disaster: The Life of Rudyard Kipling

On this episode of Our American Stories, the life of the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, Rudyard Kipling, was filled with tragedy. He survived a difficult childhood to go on to become one of the most celebrated authors of his day, penning such classics as "The Jungle Book" and "Just So Stories.” Here’s The History Guy with the story of Rudyard Kipling. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:17:58

Eli Whitney and His Fake Interchangeable Gun Parts Demo

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Apple founder Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone to the public in 2007, he used multiple iPhones. If one crashed or had another issue, he secretly swapped it for another one. He had to show off a specific set of functions in a certain order, called the “golden path.” But way back in 1801, another young inventor named Eli Whitney–already known for his invention of the cotton gin in 1794–seized an opportunity to try to make his fortune. Here to...

Duration:00:10:49

Phillis Wheatley: The Enslaved Poet Who Met with George Washington AND the King of England