Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

EP151: The Real Stories Behind Our Cherished Christmas Traditions Dec 25, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Greg Hangler tells us how in the first half of the 19th century, Christmas was a very different kind of holiday than it is today. By the time Christmas was established as a federal holiday—on June 26, 1870—the ways Americans chose to celebrate Christmas would almost be completely foreign to what we practice today.

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EP150: The Christmas Store, The Bigger the Bureaucracy, the Smaller the Customer and The Chicago-area Maintenance Man Who Wrote a Hallmark Christmas Movie Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jonathan Mattox of the Oxford-Ole Miss Rotary Club shares how The Christmas store originated and the impact it has had on the lives ofthousands of children; Mike Leven was President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. One of the great hoteliers of all time—a legend in his business. Rikk Dunlap has always been a writer, and writing has even become a way for him to come to grips with tragedy. He never dreamed, though, that his work would be a regular feature on the biggest holiday movie channel around.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Christmas Store

10:00 - The Bigger the Bureaucracy, the Smaller the Customer

23:00 - The Chicago-area Maintenance Man Who Wrote a Hallmark Christmas Movie

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EP149: Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 14), No! No! No! Who the Hell Boos Santa Claus?! and Leland Klassen’s Christmas Comedy Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language. Richard Monastra tells the story of his first-cousin, Frank Olivo, and how in 1968, at 19-years-old he was dressed as Santa Claus at a Philadelphia Eagles football game where he was booed and pelted with snowballs. Comedian Leland Klassen shares stories from his Christmas past.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 14)

10:00 - No! No! No! Who the Hell Boos Santa Claus?!

35:00 - Leland Klassen’s Christmas Comedy

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP148: The Story of my Grandfather and Jim Johnson's Christmas Tree Story Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Frohlich, author of "Aimless Life, Awesome God," tellsthe story of his German born grandfather William Burtner. Jim Johnson, a long time listener, shares his Christmas tree story.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The Story of my Grandfather

10:00 - Jim Johnson's Christmas Tree Story

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EP147: Roger Latham on Santa Claus, How "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Came to Be and Is Die Hard A Christmas Movie? Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Roger Latham from Fort Worth, Texas, tells us a Christmas story he’s titled, “The Real Santa”; Lee Mendelson tells the story of how A Charlie Brown Christmas was created; Stephen Follows, an established data researcher in the film industry, wrote the widely circulated answer to whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Roger Latham on Santa Claus

10:00 - How "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Came to Be

23:00 - Is Die Hard A Christmas Movie?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

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EP146: Revisiting Childhood Mysteries, The Shocking Story Behind the Diamond Engagement Ring and The Holiday Tradition That Started At A Gas Station Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Families move all the time due to job changes... But to children, sometimes it just doesn't make sense. Roger Rench reflects on his childhood move; Tom Zoellner purchased a diamond engagement ring and proposed. His girlfriend said, "yes" and then, suddenly, walked out of his life making Tom the owner of a used engagement ring; Hess Toy Truck Director, Justin Mayer, and superfan, Mike Roberto share the story of how for nearly 60 years, Hess trucks have brought smiles to children, and adults, up and down the East Coast.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Revisiting Childhood Mysteries

10:00 - The Shocking Story Behind the Diamond Engagement Ring

23:00 - The Holiday Tradition That Started At A Gas Station

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP145: The History of Christmas Trees, The Accidental Santa and Why it Took One Man 7 Years to Get His Car Back Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy recalls the forgotten history of Christmas trees; John Rogers of Missouri never set out to be Santa... the first time he put on the red suit it was because the Santa before him at his local VFW tragically passed away. 21 years later, it's become his mission of joy; Tyson Timbs found out that old habits do indeed die hard when he was arrested and convicted for selling drugs to undercover cops. He also found out what asset forfeiture was when the State of Indiana took his Land Rover and held onto it for 7 years.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - The History of Christmas Trees

23:00 - The Accidental Santa

35:00 - Why it Took One Man 7 Years to Get His Car Back

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

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EP144: Danny Sacrificed Self For a Stranger, The Cattle King and Are Pro Wrestlers Athletes? Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Stephen Rusiniak shares a story of a man named Danny who helped save a stranger’s life through a bone marrow donation. Dick Monfort’s (the Colorado Rockies owner) tribute to his one-of-a-kind dad. Riley Evans, sports writer and CEO of RealPodcasting.com, tells the real story about professional wrestling

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Danny Sacrificed Self For a Stranger

10:00 - The Cattle King

35:00 - Are Pro Wrestlers Athletes?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP143: Selling Her "RedHead" Wine to Walmart and Rishi Sharma Interviewing WWII Veterans Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Marisa Sergi tells the story of how she pitched her RedHead Wine that is now in over 150 Walmart stores! Rishi Sharma shares what inspired him to interview WWII veterans after he changed his mind about joining the marines.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Time Codes:

00:00 - Selling Her "RedHead" Wine to Walmart

23:00 - Rishi Sharma Interviewing WWII Veterans

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP142: Abigail Adams: Revolutionary Woman Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Professor Woody Holton of the University of South Carolina tells the life story of First Lady Abigail Adams from his award winning biography Abigail Adams.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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