Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

How the Red Sox Finally Broke the Curse of the Bambino Jul 30, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Red Sox were once a powerhouse in professional baseball, but for decades, their legacy was shaped by disappointment. Many fans pointed to the Curse of the Bambino, a superstition born the day Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees. What followed were generations of heartbreak, near misses, and unanswered hope. When the curse was finally broken, it marked one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the sport.

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The Surprising Story of Robert E. Lee’s Life After the Civil War Jul 30, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert E. Lee is best known for leading Confederate forces during the Civil War, but his final role may be one of his most revealing. After the war, he accepted a position as president of a struggling college in Virginia, where he devoted himself to rebuilding and mentoring the next generation. Historian Allen Guelzo shares how this quiet period helped redefine Lee’s legacy and shaped what would later become Washington and Lee University. We'd like to thank the Bill of Rights Institute for allowing us access to this wonderful audio, originally a part of their Scholar Talks series on YouTube.

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The Conversion of C.S. Lewis and the Creation of The Screwtape Letters Jul 30, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, C.S. Lewis is best known for The Chronicles of Narnia, but behind those pages lies a spiritual journey that shaped one of the most important Christian voices of the twentieth century. Lewis abandoned his faith during his years as a rising scholar at Oxford and identified as an atheist. But as fascism and communism gained ground across Europe, he reexamined everything he believed. He eventually embraced Christianity and became one of its most compelling modern defenders. His book, The Screwtape Letters, offered a sharp and imaginative look at human temptation and quickly became one of the most influential Christian works of the twentieth century. Our own Greg Hengler and other special contributors reflect on Lewis’s transformation from skeptic to apologist and the enduring impact of The Screwtape Letters.

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Why a Rhodes Scholar Walked Away from Oxford to Fight in the Vietnam War Jul 29, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the late 1960s, Karl Marlantes stood at a crossroads: remain at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, or go to Vietnam and serve alongside the boys he grew up with, many of whom had already shipped out. He chose to go. That decision shaped his life in ways he’s still reckoning with. In this unflinching interview, Marlantes shares why he left behind comfort and entered the jungles of Vietnam

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How Faith, Family, and Hockey Helped a Man Survive Syrian Prison Jul 29, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Sam Goodwin had already visited 180 countries, but when he entered Syria, he vanished. Captured and held without explanation, his fate became a test of everything he believed about God, family, and himself. In his darkest moments, it wasn’t politics or power that saved him. It was faith. In this unforgettable story of redemption, Sam shares how love, prayer, the St. Louis Blues, and the quiet strength of his parents helped bring him home.

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How Ancient Roman and Greek Politics Shaped the Birth of the United States Jul 29, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, what did the Founding Fathers find in the ruins of Greece and Rome? A vision for how a free people might govern themselves. From Athens’ early experiments in democracy to the Roman Republic’s lessons in checks and balances, Dr. Kenneth Calvert of Hillsdale College unpacks how classical political thought shaped the government we know today.

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The Native American Chief Who Stood with George Washington Jul 29, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Manhattan became a skyline of steel and glass, it was home to the Wappinger tribe and one of its most courageous sons, Daniel Nimham. As a tribal chief and fierce defender of both his people and the emerging idea of America, Nimham fought alongside George Washington in some of the war’s harshest moments. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares how this Native American chief became a symbol of loyalty, honor, and the complex legacy of America’s earliest defenders.

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The Salem Witch Trials, the Puritans, and the Myth of The Crucible Jul 28, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Salem Witch Trials of 1692–1693 have become a symbol of religious hysteria and injustice, but how much of what we think we know is true? For decades, a cultural silence surrounded the real story until Arthur Miller’s The Crucible gave it a new narrative. Dr. Stephen Nichols unpacks the deeper history of the Puritans, the role of religion in the Salem witch trials, and how popular portrayals have reshaped American memory.

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Titanic’s Last Hero: The Man Who Became Captain Smith Jul 28, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Lowell Lytle was one of the few people who actually visited the Titanic’s wreck at the bottom of the North Atlantic. He also spent years bringing its story to life, portraying Captain Smith at Titanic museums around the world. While Lowell has since passed away, in this powerful story, he reflects on what it felt like to dive 2.5 miles below the surface—and why he believed the real legacy of the Titanic lies in the heroism shown on its final night.

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John Wooden’s Definition of Success and the Legacy It Built Jul 28, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Coach John Wooden led UCLA to 10 national championships, but his legacy runs deeper than wins. His Pyramid of Success reshaped how we think about coaching, competition, and character. Told through the voices of those who knew him best, this story explores how a humble Indiana native became one of the most respected figures in sports history.

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