Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

What the “Quiet Cowboy” Taught Me About Silent Service Apr 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, J.D. Wininger, owner of the Cross-Dubya Ranch in Northeast Texas and a listener of Our American Stories, shares the story of a quiet man named John who mostly kept to himself. Sitting alone in the back of church and speaking only when spoken to, he wasn’t someone who drew attention. But when J.D. reached out, a friendship began to grow. That connection eventually brought Mr. John to the ranch, and as J.D. soon discovered, the help he offered was returned in ways he never expected.
J.D. reflects on the lessons he learned from the man he came to know as the “Quiet Cowboy,” and how sometimes the people who say the least can teach us the most.

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The Goat Man: How Ches McCartney Traveled America to Lead People to God Apr 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, for nearly fifty years, Ches McCartney, known as the Goat Man, traveled across America with a team of goats and a wagon carrying everything he owned. Moving from town to town, he became one of the most unusual figures many people would ever encounter.
But his mission was serious. McCartney believed he was called to share his faith, using his travels to reach people wherever they were.
Our regular contributor, J.D. Phillips, also known as “The Appalachian Storyteller,” shares the story of how Ches McCartney earned his nickname, crossed the country, and became a lasting part of American folklore.

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What Would Happen If You Gave a Homeless Man $100,000? Apr 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on a city street in California, a man who had nothing discovered something unimaginable: a briefcase filled with $100,000 in cash. His name was Ted Rodrigue, and it was all part of a Showtime documentary experiment designed to answer a simple question: what would happen if a homeless man were suddenly given a second chance? At first, it looked like the beginning of a new life. With guidance available, including access to a financial advisor, the path forward seemed within reach.
But what followed was far more complicated.
Simon Whistler, from the Today I Found Out YouTube channel and its sister podcast, The Brain Food Show, shares the story.

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Who Was the Oldest Man at D-Day? The Untold Story of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Apr 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as the son of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. had large shoes to fill, and he did. Despite a privileged upbringing, he built a reputation of his own through a life of service and leadership.
In World War II, the brigadier general landed at Utah Beach during the opening hours of D-Day at an age when most men are thinking about retirement. He was 56. Armed with only a walking cane and a pistol, and despite his poor health, he moved through the chaos, helping reorganize troops after they came ashore in the wrong place. His leadership played a key role in the success of the landing and later earned him the Medal of Honor, making him the only son of a U.S. president to receive the nation’s highest military honor.
Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares the remarkable story of a man who lived up to his name and forged a legacy all his own.

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Who Invented the Barcode and How It Changed the World Apr 24, 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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The Story of America: The Most Divided Election in American History [Ep. 16] Apr 24, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1800, the United States faced one of the most uncertain moments in its early history. Tensions that had been building since the 1796 presidential race came to a head as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson battled for the future of the country. There’s a reason it is considered one of the most divisive elections in American history. Tensions ran so high that many feared the republic might split apart.
When Thomas Jefferson ultimately emerged as the winner of the election of 1800, the nation witnessed something rare in history: a peaceful transfer of power.
As part of our ongoing Story of Us, Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares the story of this defining election.

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The True Story of Eric Liddell: Faith, Running, and Chariots of Fire Apr 24, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire introduced many people to Eric Liddell, the Scottish runner whose stand at the 1924 Olympics made him known far beyond the track. When his best race was scheduled for a Sunday, Liddell chose to step away, a decision that would ultimately define both his performance and his reputation.
Simon Whistler, from the Today I Found Out YouTube channel and its sister podcast, The Brain Food Show, shares the story behind Chariots of Fire and the life Eric Liddell built beyond it.

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Why the Lincoln-Douglas Debates Made Abraham Lincoln a National Figure—Despite Losing Apr 24, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas met in a series of public exchanges that later became known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates. What began as a Senate race in Illinois quickly drew national attention as the two men argued over slavery and the direction of the country. Soon, from New Orleans to New York, the previously unknown Lincoln’s name was on the lips of a nation teetering on the brink of civil war.
While Douglas won the election, the debates elevated Lincoln and positioned him as a leading voice in national politics. Acclaimed historian Allen Guelzo, author of Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates That Defined America, shares the story of how a backcountry lawyer took on one of the nation’s most powerful politicians and became, in his words, the nation’s greatest loser.
We’d like to thank the Bill of Rights Institute for allowing us access to this audio, originally part of their Scholar Talks series on YouTube.

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Tom Golisano and Paychex: How Small Business Payroll Became Big Business Apr 23, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before Paychex, small businesses had limited options for handling payroll. Many owners managed it themselves, while others paid for services designed for much larger companies. Tom Golisano saw the gap and set out to offer a simpler way to manage employee payroll and meet tax obligations without unnecessary cost.
He began with a small group of clients and a clear vision of how payroll services should work for smaller employers. That approach grew into Paychex, a company built on making payroll outsourcing accessible and reliable.

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I Grew Up Detached from My Jewish History. Then I Went to Buchenwald Apr 23, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Dana Mitch grew up knowing pieces of her family’s Holocaust story, but they never quite felt like her own. That changed when she visited Buchenwald, one of the largest concentration camps on German soil.
Walking through its grounds brought the past into sharper focus and helped her connect with a history she had long known only from a distance.

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