Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

A Marine’s Final Conversation with His Father May 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, a Marine sits beside his dying father, a tough, no-nonsense veteran who refuses treatment and faces death on his own terms. Wanting one last moment of connection, the son asks for something simple: to hear the words “I love you.” What followed was not what he expected.
Our regular contributor, Bob McClellan, shares the story of his father’s final days and the realization that love is not always spoken, but shown.

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Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of the Legendary Scam Artist May 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early 1900s, Charles Ponzi arrived in the United States chasing opportunity but struggling to find steady work. After years of false starts, he began promoting an investment idea that promised unusually high returns in a short amount of time. But the model depended on a steady stream of new money, and once that slowed, the foundation began to crack.
Jonathan Small of the Write About Now podcast shares the story of how Ponzi built his operation, how it ultimately collapsed, and how it paved the way for later figures like Bernard Madoff to carry on similar schemes.

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JC Newman and America’s Oldest Family-Owned Cigar Company May 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Julius Caesar Newman came to America, he was a teenager trying to make a living by learning a trade that allowed him to work with his hands and support his family. When the chance came to go out on his own, he took it and built a business that would grow into a lasting enterprise.
Today, the J.C. Newman Cigar Company is still run by his family. As part of our American Dreamers series, Drew Newman shares how his family’s company managed to endure when so many others disappeared.

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Abraham Lincoln’s Son: The Forgotten Story of Robert Todd Lincoln May 06, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as the eldest son of Abraham Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln spent much of his life in the shadow of one of the most revered figures in American history. By the end of the Civil War, he had joined the Union Army despite his father’s reservations and was present near the front during its final days, including the period surrounding General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House.
In the years that followed, he charted his own course, serving as U.S. Secretary of War and later as Ambassador to Great Britain. Our regular contributor, The History Guy, shares the often-overlooked story of a man who built a legacy beyond his father’s name.

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Matthew Carey: The Irish Immigrant Who Shaped Early America May 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1784, a young Irishman named Matthew Carey stepped off a ship in Philadelphia with twelve guineas in his pocket and a past that had already forced him out of his home country. Having written against British rule and the treatment of Irish Catholics, he arrived in the United States convinced the new republic offered something different.
Carey rose to become one of early America’s most influential publishers, but his path was anything but easy. He faced discrimination for his Irish heritage and Catholic faith, survived a near-fatal duel defending his honor, and used his platform to argue that immigrants and outsiders could help strengthen the nation.
Karen Kaufmann shares the story of a man who helped shape early American ideas about citizenship, opportunity, and what it meant to be an American. We'd like to thank the Jack Miller Center for telling us about this tale.

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When Oregon Blew Up a Beached Whale With Dynamite May 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1970, a 45-foot sperm whale washed up on the Oregon coast near Florence, leaving officials with a problem they did not know how to solve. The carcass was too large to move and too dangerous to leave as it began to decompose along the shoreline.
The state decided to use dynamite to remove it, but nothing went as planned. The blast sent whale blubber high into the air and across the beach, damaging cars and forcing onlookers to run for cover.
Jesse Edwards shares the wild and true story of the Oregon exploding whale.

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Zoro the Drummer's Career Started With Nothing May 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became Zoro the Drummer, he was a kid named Daniel Donnelly trying to find his place in the world. Music gave him the direction he needed. A chance encounter at school opened a door, and one connection led to another as he worked his way into the music industry.
Over time, he built a remarkable career, performing with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Frankie Valli, Bobby Brown, and New Edition. Along the way, his mother’s faith remained a guiding force in his life and career.
Zoro shares the story of how he made it in music and the lessons that shaped him along the way. Be sure to check out his phenomenal book, Maria’s Scarf.

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How George Lucas Made the First Star Wars Against the Odds May 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early 1970s, science fiction films were a tough sell in Hollywood. George Lucas set out to make Star Wars anyway, drawing on old adventure serials to shape a story many studios struggled to imagine on screen.
After its release in 1977, the film found its audience through word of mouth and steady growth at the box office. Before long, theater lines were filled with new viewers wanting a taste of the experience and fans returning to see it again.
Chris Taylor, author of How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, tells the dramatic story of how Star Wars became the iconic franchise it is today, and why it so easily could have failed.

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Into the Vast Unknown: The First American Ascent of Mount Everest May 04, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Broughton Coburn, author of The Vast Unknown, shares the story of the first American expedition to Mount Everest in 1963, when a team of climbers set out to reach the world’s highest peak during the height of the Cold War.
Facing deadly icefalls, extreme altitude, and brutal conditions, the team accomplished something remarkable, reaching the summit not once, but twice, including a daring ascent along the West Ridge. Coburn shares the harrowing tale of how the expedition became a defining moment of American perseverance, teamwork, and daring ambition.

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Locks of Love: How One Mother Built a Hair Donation Nonprofit May 04, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Madonna Coffman had already experienced hair loss once as a young woman. Years later, when her four-year-old daughter began losing her hair, she didn’t need a diagnosis to know what was coming or how difficult it would be. What she couldn’t find was something designed for a child trying to live a normal life, so she set out to create it herself. That effort became Locks of Love.

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