Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

How California’s “Night Stalker” Was Caught—Told by the Man Who Arrested Him May 30, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sergeant Bob Alaniz still carries the weight of the morning he fingerprinted Richard Ramirez, knowing he was holding the hands of one of California’s most notorious serial killers, the “Night Stalker.” Here's Bob to tell the story, alongside firearms historian and regular contributor Ashley Hlebinsky.

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The Most (Un)Epic Love Story Ever May 30, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Shiloh Carozza McCall shares how, in the worst of circumstances, she came to realize that the man she was dating was the rare kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

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Gail Halvorsen: The Man Who Bombed Berlin with Candy May 30, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Gail Halvorsen was a young pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps assigned to the Berlin Airlift, where American forces flew vital supplies into a war-torn, Soviet-blockaded Berlin after WWII. While carrying out his missions, Lt. Halvorsen noticed German children gathering at the fences of Tempelhof Air Base. Wanting to bring them hope and a little joy, he came up with an idea: drop candy from his plane. And so, the “Candy Bomber” was born. Here’s the late Gail Halvorsen in his own words.

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The Most Popular Book in History You’ve Never Heard Of: The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress May 29, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Pilgrim’s Progress is the second most popular book in world history, after the Bible. Its author, John Bunyan, was a preacher in Bedford, England, who wrote the book in 1676 while imprisoned for “preaching without a license.” The book quickly made its way onto ships bound for the New World. In America, it became so popular that familiarity with it was said to be “the mark of being a good American.”

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The Story of America: Steel, Rails, and Steam—The Industrial Revolution May 29, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 34th episode of our Story of America series, Hillsdale College professor and Land of Hope author Wilfred McClay tells the story of how the railroads fundamentally transformed American life—from the way we handle finance, to how we receive mail, to how we tell time. Or, as he puts it, “Suddenly, we were on the clock.”

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The Day That Johnny Cash Survived Death and Found God May 29, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1967, Johnny Cash stumbled into Nickajack Cave in Tennessee, intent on ending his life. Struggling with a relentless addiction to amphetamines, he was canceling shows and recordings while spending time in and out of hospitals and jail cells. Greg Laurie, author of Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon, shares the story.

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The Two Men Who Ended Red-Light Camera Tickets May 28, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Civil rights lawyers Hugh Eastwood and Bevis Schock of St. Louis share the story of how they filed three separate lawsuits—all heard by the Missouri Supreme Court in a single landmark morning session, that led to the end of the dreaded red-light ticket cameras in the Show-Me State.

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Brett Favre on Humility, Aging, and Faith May 28, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, much of what’s known about legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre has stayed between the goalposts. So, Greg Hengler sat down with him at his home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where Brett shared stories about humility, aging, and faith—part four of a five-part series.

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50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy—The Plow, Barbed Wire, and Google Search May 28, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Tim Harford, author of the bestselling book 50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy, shares the stories of three inventions that changed the way we live today—this time: barbed wire, the plow, and Google Search.

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Take Me Home: The Story of John Denver May 28, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Denver’s songs have become part of the American bloodstream. His melodies and lyrics are heard all over the world. His music is simple and honest—no auto-tune, no flashy outfits—just a man and his guitar. Our own Greg Hengler tells the story of this cultural icon.

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