Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

How the Hamburger Became an American Staple Dec 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became a greasy icon or a late-night craving, the hamburger was an immigrant invention trying to make itself useful. German farmers working the fairgrounds needed something fast and portable, so someone tucked spiced beef between slices of bread, and the hamburger was born. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked. Then came Upton Sinclair, whose book The Jungle made the public retch and nearly killed the hamburger altogether. Only after White Castle stepped in to clean up its image did Americans start trusting it again. George Motz, the documentarian behind Burger America, walks us through how one modest sandwich clawed its way into our national identity.

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“Don’t Give Up the Ship”: How a Naval Order Became a Lasting Motto Dec 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s not carved into marble or codified into law, but you’ll hear it whispered in cockpits and painted on the walls of Navy offices across the world: “Don’t Give Up the Ship.” The phrase didn’t come from a slogan factory. It came from the dying words of Captain James Lawrence during the Battle of Lake Erie, shouted in defiance as his ship slipped beneath the water. Over time, those words stitched themselves into the culture of the United States Navy. Entrepreneur and America’s Cup champion Bill Koch joins us to explain what it means and why it still matters—especially to his family.

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Who Was Colonel Sanders? The Real Story Behind KFC’s Founder Dec 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, most restaurant founders fade into the background. Colonel Harland Sanders did the opposite. Long before fast food chains had PR teams and brand strategies, Sanders was out there shaking hands in his signature white suit, pitching his secret recipe, and turning himself into a walking trademark. Adam Chandler, author of Drive Thru Dreams, joins us to talk about how a broke gas station owner transformed fried chicken into a global empire and became one of the most recognizable faces in the world while doing it.

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Who Was Johnny Carson, Really? A Look Into America’s King of Late Night Dec 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before the laughs, the monologues, and the unforgettable guests, there was a man whose story seldom got told. Love Johnny Carson, writer and obsessive researcher Mark Malkoff dives deep into the life of the man who ruled The Tonight Show for three decades. Through exclusive interviews and unseen material, Malkoff builds the most complete picture yet of Johnny Carson.

With more firsthand accounts than anyone has ever compiled, this story goes beyond the suits and sets—it takes us inside the mind of a man who changed TV without ever letting it change him.

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Peter Ortiz: War Hero, Leading Man, and the Spy the Nazis Couldn't Catch Dec 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before he ever stepped onto a film set, Peter Ortiz had already survived more danger than most action heroes face in a lifetime. A decorated Marine, fluent in multiple languages and trained in espionage, he parachuted into Nazi-occupied France in 1944 with one mission: aid the resistance and disrupt the enemy from within. The Gestapo put a price on his head worth half a million francs, but Ortiz kept moving, outwitting his pursuers with a mix of charm, grit, and cold precision. After the war, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in John Ford’s classic Westerns, where few realized the actor on screen had once been one of the most decorated spies in U.S. military history. Roger McGrath shares the story.

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Wild Goose Chase” & “Wrong End of the Stick” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions Dec 22, 2025

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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 “wild goose chase” and “wrong end of the stick,” among others.

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Dr. David Jeremiah Explores the Real Meaning Behind the Nativity Dec 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, why was Jesus born in a manger? Why were shepherds the first to know? And why did a Roman census set the stage for it all? In Why the Nativity?, Dr. David Jeremiah walks through the entire Christmas narrative to explain why each person was part of it. Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and even the animals in the stable each carry meaning beyond tradition. Dr. Jeremiah joins us to talk about what the nativity scene shows us when we look at it with fresh eyes, and why these quiet details still speak to people centuries later.

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The Unexpected Olympic Friendship That Defied Hitler’s Propaganda Dec 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Jesse Owens arrived in Berlin for the 1936 Olympics as one of the fastest men in the world. The long jump competition placed him beside Luz Long, a German athlete competing under the watchful eyes of the Nazi regime and in a stadium built to showcase its ideals.

During the event, Long noticed Owens struggling with his approach and quietly offered advice that helped him stay in the competition. The two men spoke easily, competed fiercely, and walked off the field together in front of a crowd that had not expected to see them side by side. Elliott Drago of the Jack Miller Center shares the story of how a single Olympic event created a bond that outlived the medals.

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Lessons from Whoville After a Real-World Flood Dec 22, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, after a flash flood tore through his church, Stephen Rusiniak stood ankle-deep in water and debris, not quite sure where to begin. The rooms where Sunday school once echoed had collapsed into a mess of ruined walls and floating Bibles. But it’s what happened next that really left a mark.

What Stephen witnessed reminded him of a scene from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After disaster struck and the citizens of Whoville were left with nothing, they still gathered together to lend a hand to their fellow neighbors and celebrate each other despite the wreckage left behind. Stephen joins us today to describe how he saw a little bit of Dr. Seuss in the kindhearted response from his local community.

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Sunday Mornings with Big Mitch: Ep. 9 Dec 21, 2025

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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.

Mitch opens with a memory that still sets the tone for how he sees prison: a place where you learn to sleep with one eye open and keep your back to the wall. He talks about the people who shaped him on the inside (both good and bad), and shares poems written in their honor.

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