Our American Stories

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Was Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan Necessary to End World War II? Aug 07, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, few decisions in American history remain as controversial as the choice to drop atomic bombs on Japan in the final days of World War II. Supporters argue the attacks hastened the war’s end and saved lives. Critics say they crossed a moral line that reshaped warfare forever.
Ken LaCorte, host of the YouTube channel Elephants in Rooms, examines the historical context, military calculations, and ethical questions surrounding Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and why the debate over whether the bomb was necessary continues decades later.

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Dick Bong: America’s Greatest Fighter Pilot Aug 07, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard "Dick" Bong was a farm boy who learned to fly and never stopped pushing the limits of what a pilot could do. Flying the P-38 Lightning, he downed 40 enemy aircraft, making him the nation's Ace of Aces and one of the most decorated World War II aviators in history. Yet behind the record was a quiet Midwestern pilot who wrote letters home, worried about his friends, and carried the weight of fame he never sought.
The History Guy shares the story of how Major Richard Bong rose from his rural Wisconsin roots to become a national hero and America's highest-scoring fighter ace of World War II.

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David McCullough: The Constitution Was Written by Serious People Aug 07, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the summer of 1787, the United States was deeply in debt, politically divided, and struggling to survive under the weak Articles of Confederation. Behind closed doors in a sweltering room in Philadelphia, a remarkable group of Americans spent three months debating, compromising, and ultimately creating the United States Constitution.
At a Constitution Day event at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., the late historian David McCullough explains why the Founding Fathers were not soundbite men with soundbite minds, what they were reading, what inspired them, and why the Constitution remains one of the greatest achievements in American history.

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Why a Billionaire Founder Encouraged Office Pranks Aug 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom Golisano didn't build Paychex by creating a joyless workplace. He believed people did their best work when they enjoyed coming to the office, and that meant making room for laughter, practical jokes, and a culture where even the CEO wasn't off limits.
The Paychex founder shares some of the company's most legendary office pranks and explains why fun, trust, and camaraderie became part of the culture that helped grow one of America's most successful payroll companies. His book is Built Not Born: A Self-Made Billionaire's No-Nonsense Guide for Entrepreneurs.

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How the Beastie Boys Took Hip-Hop From New York to the Nation Aug 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early days of hip-hop, the music grew out of Black and Latino communities in New York City. It was local, raw, and deeply rooted in the neighborhoods where it began. So when three white, Jewish kids from New York entered that world, it raised more than a few eyebrows.
Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of the Beastie Boys, how they found their place in a culture that wasn’t originally their own, and how their music helped carry hip-hop to audiences far beyond the city.

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How Yogi Berra Became an American Original Aug 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before Yogi Berra became one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, he was an 18-year-old U.S. Navy sailor headed toward Omaha Beach on D-Day. After World War II, the son of Italian immigrants from St. Louis helped build one of the greatest careers in American sports, winning 10 World Series championships with the New York Yankees and becoming one of the most beloved figures in baseball.
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will shares how Berra's remarkable career reflected not only excellence on the field, but also the story of immigration, opportunity, and America itself.

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The Marine Who Taught Me How to Fight... and the Man Who Taught Me How to Live Aug 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Lance Cpl. Tom Morton deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he found much more than a squad leader in Sgt. Joe L. Wrightsman. He found a mentor whose hardnosed training and leadership prepared a young Marine for the realities of combat. Then, during a mission across the Helmand River, Wrightsman gave his life trying to save an Afghan police officer from drowning.
Tom shares the story of the worst day of his life, and the long road to finding peace after war through craftsmanship and meaning.

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"Take the Cake" & "The Third Degree" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 22) Aug 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of his ongoing series on the origins of everyday expressions, Andrew Thompson, author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red, shares the fascinating backstories behind the phrases "take the cake," "the third degree," and others.

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How Elvis Reinvented Las Vegas Aug 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1956, Elvis Presley bombed in Las Vegas. Thirteen years later, he returned to a city that was struggling to attract a new generation, and together they changed each other's future.
Author Richard Zoglin shares the story of Elvis's legendary 1969 comeback at the International Hotel and explains how the King of Rock 'n' Roll reinvented the Las Vegas stage with a concert unlike anything the Strip had ever seen. His book is Elvis in Vegas: How the King Reinvented the Las Vegas Show.

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White Feather: The Original American Sniper Aug 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before American Sniper introduced millions to Chris Kyle, there was Carlos Hathcock, the legendary U.S. Marine sniper known throughout Vietnam as "White Feather." Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hathcock grew up hunting to help feed his family before becoming one of the greatest marksmen in American military history.
Military veterans Colin D. Heaton and Mike Droberg of Forgotten History, along with Hathcock himself via archival audio, share the story of the dangerous missions, sniper duels, and battlefield heroism that made him a Marine Corps legend.

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