Our American Stories

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Why East Coast and West Coast Policing Developed Differently Oct 06, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, American culture looks different depending on where you stand, and the same is true for law enforcement. Sergeant Bob Alaniz, a former LAPD officer best known for helping track down the “Night Stalker,” explains how the East and West Coasts developed two very different approaches to policing.

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Beyond Pocahontas: The Real Story of Captain John Smith Oct 06, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, John Smith’s legacy stretches beyond legend. As a soldier of fortune and later as a leader in Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement, he helped struggling colonists survive. His accounts provide a rare look into the realities of early exploration, from hunger to tense negotiations with Native communities. Juliana Brennan Rodgers, author of Captain John Smith: American Hero, shares the story.

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Oliver Halle: Swift Boat Vietnam Vet with a “Life-Changing” Family Secret Oct 03, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Navy veteran Oliver Halle reflects on his service during the Vietnam War and the family history that shaped him. His relatives resisted the Nazis before fleeing to America, and decades later, he uncovered a secret that transformed his understanding of the past. Courtesy of the Veterans History Project at the Atlanta History Center, his testimony blends the experience of Vietnam soldiers with the deeply personal impact of history and memory.

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The Wild Story of Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration Party Oct 03, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Jackson's inauguration revealed what he represented to many—a changing of the guard from the established Virginian elite to the rough-and-tumble spirit of the frontier. His celebration afterward drove that point home—literally. Here’s the story!

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The Origins of Basketball and Its Surprising Christian Roots Oct 03, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, but its beginnings might surprise you. Paul Putz, author of The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports, explains how the game was first created with a Christian mission in mind and eventually grew into a global phenomenon.

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How Ritz-Carlton Founder Horst Schulze Defines Service Excellence Oct 03, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Horst Schulze, founder of The Ritz-Carlton and author of Excellence Wins, built one of the world’s most respected hospitality brands by insisting on service excellence. Here's Horst's story on how one bad employee at a bank damaged its reputation almost overnight and what that moment revealed about leadership, customer care, and the value of excellence.

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Why Are Bananas So Cheap? Oct 02, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, bananas are everywhere in American grocery stores, and they’re cheaper than almost any other fruit. But why? The story of banana prices involves global trade, powerful banana companies, and decades of agricultural and economic history. The History Guy explains how bananas became a fixture of American diets and why their low price continues to stand out.

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Mr. 60s: A Baby-Boomer’s Story of Trials, Triumphs... and Redemption Oct 02, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Joe Quinn, an Our American Stories listener from West Virginia, shares the story of coming of age in his 60s—and his ultimate redemption.

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Johnny Carson and the Night That Saved Twister Oct 02, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1960s, Milton Bradley’s game Twister was on the verge of being pulled from stores. Sales were low, and critics didn’t know what to make of it. Everything changed when Johnny Carson brought the game onto The Tonight Show. One televised demonstration was all it took to transform Twister into a cultural phenomenon. Author and Our American Stories regular Christopher Klein shares how the late-night host saved this iconic game.

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Sgt. William Carney: The First Black Medal of Honor Recipient Oct 02, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, slavery marked William Carney as property, and the Fugitive Slave Act made him an outlaw, but during the Civil War, he proved himself as a Union soldier and as a defender of the nation’s most enduring symbol: the American flag. At Fort Wagner, Carney’s bravery earned him the Medal of Honor, making him the first African American recipient. Elliott Drago, the editorial officer at the Jack Miller Center, shares his remarkable story.

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