Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

From Church Hymns to Hit Records: Pat Boone Remembers Oct 08, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, many people remember Pat Boone as one of the biggest pop stars of the 1950s and '60s, but his story began in a church choir. He grew up learning how to hold a melody, lead voices in harmony, and carry a room without a single instrument behind him. Those simple lessons in discipline and presence became the foundation for a career that lasted longer on the charts than even Elvis Presley. Boone looks back on those early days in the choir loft and reflects on how they shaped his voice, his confidence, and his path into music.

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“We’re All Jews Here”: How Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Defied the Nazis Oct 08, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, what would you do if armed guards ordered you to give up your men? In a Nazi POW camp, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds stood before his captors and refused. When they demanded the Jewish soldiers step forward, he told his men to stay in line and answered, “We are all Jews here.” With those words, he saved more than 200 American soldiers from being singled out. Edmonds never spoke of it after the war, and his family only learned the truth years later. Here's Roddie's son with the story of a quiet hero whose courage might have been forgotten had it not been for a class assignment given to his daughters.

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The Puritan Who Brought Scripture to New England’s Tribes Oct 08, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, have you ever heard of a Puritan pastor who learned a new language so he could preach the Bible to Native Americans in their own words? In the 1600s, John Eliot did exactly that. He became known as the “Apostle to the Indians” for translating Scripture into Algonquian and sharing it across New England, leaving behind the first Bible printed in North America. Robert J. Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That Made America, shares the story of John Eliot’s mission and its place in America’s early history.

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Jack Marucci Created a Baseball Bat For His Son in His Backyard. Now He Runs The Biggest Bat Company in America Oct 07, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, what began as one handmade wooden bat for his son grew into the most popular and respected bat company in America. Today, Marucci Sports is trusted by players at every level, from Little League to the majors. Jack Marucci shares how a backyard project for his boy turned into a brand that changed the game.

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Why Steelers Founder Art Rooney Believed You Should Never Miss a Funeral Oct 07, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Art Rooney, Sr., the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, believed that the measure of a man was often found in the quiet things he chose to do. Jim O'Brien, who came to see Rooney as the grandfather he had been missing, remembers one moment that revealed exactly who Rooney was. Rooney attended the funeral of a man he hardly knew because he believed showing respect in times of loss mattered more than anything else. O’Brien joins us to share how that simple act left a lasting impression on his life.

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One of the First Vietnam POWs: Larry Spencer’s Hanoi Hilton Story Oct 07, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Navy pilot Larry Spencer was captured in North Vietnam, he entered a world that few Americans would ever see. He spent years as a prisoner of war, first in a camp called “The Zoo” and later in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Survival meant finding strength in small moments and holding on to hope that freedom would come again. Spencer tells his story in his own words, offering a rare and personal account of what it meant to live and survive inside North Vietnam’s most notorious prison.

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Why One Man Helped Over 10,000 Stranded Drivers Oct 07, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, for decades, Thomas Weller was a familiar sight along San Diego’s highways. Drivers with flat tires, empty gas tanks, or broken-down cars often saw him pull over to help, expecting nothing in return. Known as “The San Diego Highwayman,” he lived by a simple rule: if you can help, you should. Now, Weller joins us to share his story.

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The Incredible Story of Harvey Wallbanger, the Racing Buffalo Oct 07, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, have you ever imagined a buffalo running on a racetrack against thoroughbred horses? In the 1960s, Harvey Wallbanger did exactly that. This larger-than-life buffalo stunned crowds as he thundered past racehorses, turning a novelty act into an unforgettable chapter of racing history. Francie Berg of Buffalo Tales and Trails shares the unlikely but true story of how one buffalo captured America’s attention and proved just how wild the frontier spirit could still be.

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“Hey Kid, Catch!” The Coca-Cola Ad That Made Mean Joe Greene a Legend Oct 06, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, few commercials have left a mark like Coca-Cola’s “Hey Kid, Catch!” starring "Mean" Joe Greene. Greene, already one of the greatest defensive players in the NFL, gained a new kind of fame as the spot played during football broadcasts nationwide. Our own Greg Hengler (and others) shares the story of how a 60-second spot became one of the most memorable moments in sports and advertising history.

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More Americans Died on a British Prison Ship Than in Battle Oct 06, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Revolutionary War brought brutal battles, but one of its deadliest tragedies happened far from the front lines. Historian Robert P. Watson, author of The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn, shares the untold story of the HMS Jersey, a derelict British prison ship off the coast of New York, where more Americans perished than in combat.

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