Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

Why Talking to Strangers Still Matters Jul 01, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, listener Paul Kotz has a habit that's becoming increasingly rare: he talks to strangers. Whether it's a lost set of keys, a chance encounter in an elevator, or a conversation with a family at a hotel pool, Paul has discovered that some of life's most memorable moments begin with a simple hello. In this warmhearted story, he reflects on the unexpected friendships, laughter, and lessons that can come from taking the time to connect with the people we usually pass by.

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Audie Murphy: The Most Decorated American Soldier of World War II Jun 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before Audie Murphy became the most decorated American soldier of World War II, he was a poor Texas farm boy who spent his childhood picking cotton, hunting rabbits to feed his family, and struggling to survive during the Great Depression. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Murphy was determined to serve his country, even though he was underage, undersized, and repeatedly turned away by military recruiters.
Roger McGrath returns with another installment of our Hollywood Goes to War series to share the remarkable true story of Audie Murphy's rise from an impoverished teenager to a Medal of Honor recipient and beyond.

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Steve Jobs and the iPhone That Almost Wasn't Jun 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs stepped onto the stage at Macworld and unveiled a device that would forever change the way we communicate. To the audience, it looked like a flawless presentation. Behind the scenes, however, Apple engineers were bracing for disaster. The iPhone prototype was so fragile that Jobs had to follow a carefully rehearsed sequence of demonstrations, secretly switching between multiple devices to keep the presentation from crashing.
Our own Greg Hengler shares the remarkable story behind one of the greatest product launches in business history.

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I Was Stiffed $318,000... And Still Paid Back Everyone I Owed Jun 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1980, contractor Steve Bell was left holding the bag after two of his biggest clients were arrested on drug charges, costing him more than $100,000, roughly $318,000 today. His attorney urged him to declare bankruptcy, but Steve refused.
In this installment of our "Do the Right Thing" series with the Daniels Fund, Steve shares the true story of how he paid back every person he owed and why keeping his word became the foundation of his business and his life.

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How the Saddle Turned Horses Into the Engines of Civilization Jun 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before engines and asphalt, movement meant muscle, yours or the horse’s. But riding bareback could only take humans so far. The saddle changed that. With structure, control, and later, the stirrup transformed the horse into a game-changing force in human history. From mounted armies to long-distance trade, this one invention shaped how empires rose, how people connected, and how the world moved. Our own Reagan Habeeb shares the story.

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Who Invented the Barcode and How It Changed the World Jun 29, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, you may see them everywhere today, but the UPC barcode didn’t become commonplace until well into the 1970s. What had started as a simple idea to speed up checkout lines took decades to develop, requiring advances in computing, scanning tech, and cooperation across different industries.
When the first barcode was scanned in 1974, it marked the beginning of a silent revolution. Retailers could track inventory more accurately, businesses could move products more efficiently, and everyday shopping was transformed in ways most people never noticed. Our regular contributor, The History Guy, shares the story of the barcode, how it came to be, why it took so long to catch on, and how it changed the way the world buys and sells goods forever.

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Joplin’s EF-5 Tornado: A Story of Loss, Love, and Hope Jun 29, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, killing 162 people and becoming the deadliest and costliest tornado in modern American history. As the storm approached, local meteorologist Jerimiah Cook realized the tornado was heading directly toward his hometown, his friends, and even his own pregnant wife.
Jerimiah Cook and reporter Gretchen Bolander share the story of that devastating evening, the chaos that followed, and the remarkable recovery that transformed Joplin in the years afterward for the better.

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The Night I Saved a Man With a Knife Jun 29, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as a military police officer in Germany, Richard Muniez expected another quiet night on patrol. Instead, he responded to a call involving a distraught soldier armed with a knife who was destroying a truck and begging officers to shoot him.
After a tense standoff, Richard tackled the soldier moments before he attempted to take his own life. The immediate danger ended that night, but the experience stayed with him for years. Richard shares the story of the life he helped save, the post-traumatic stress that followed, and the difficult lesson that asking for help is sometimes the bravest thing a person can do.

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Why Duke’s Coach K Was Almost Fired in 1983 Jun 29, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before he won five national championships and became one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history, Mike Krzyzewski was on the brink of being fired. In his first three seasons at Duke, Coach K struggled to win games, angered boosters, and faced mounting criticism from fans and alumni. After a humiliating loss in the 1983 ACC Tournament, many believed his tenure was over.
Bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein, a longtime friend of Coach K and author of The Legends Club, shares the story of Duke's difficult early years, the late-night conversation at a Denny's that became a turning point, and how one struggling coach went on to build one of the greatest dynasties in college basketball history.

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The Real Story of Prohibition: Carrie Nation and the Fight to Save Families Jun 26, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, prohibition is often remembered through the lens of gangsters, speakeasies, and organized crime. But long before bootleggers captured the public imagination, millions of Americans believed alcohol was destroying families, fueling violence, and corrupting politics.
Carrie Nation has largely been remembered as a hatchet-wielding fanatic who smashed saloons across the Midwest. Yet to many Americans of her day, she was something very different: a woman fighting against domestic abuse, poverty, and the social costs of alcoholism that she herself had suffered through. Travis Spangenberg of the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia, shares the true story of Nation, the temperance movement she fought for, and the complicated legacy of America's 18th Amendment.

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