Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

Lesson Learned: Clean Hog Manure Off Your Boots Before Going to School Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Pastor Scott Jones, a regular contributor to Our American Stories and the author of Growing Up Rural, shares the story of one of the most embarrassing moments of his childhood—the time he forgot to clean hog manure off his boots after finishing his early morning chores on his family farm in Iowa, causing quite a stink in his classroom.

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Robert E. Lee: America's Most Controversial General Apr 21, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert E. Lee remains one of the most debated figures in American history, remembered as a leading general of the Confederate Army and a central figure in the Civil War. Long before Appomattox Court House and the surrender that ended the war for Lee’s army, Robert Edward Lee had lived a life shaped by intense family pressure and an unwavering ambition to live up to his family name.
Acclaimed historian Allen C. Guelzo, author of Robert E. Lee: A Life, shares the backstory of Robert E. Lee, tracing his rise through the U.S. Army and the decisions that led him into Confederate leadership.
We’d like to thank the Bill of Rights Institute for allowing us access to this audio, originally part of their Scholar Talks series.

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The Sweetheart of American Snacks: The Little Debbie Story Apr 21, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Little Debbie snacks became a staple in grocery stores, there was a young couple trying to recover from financial loss during the Great Depression. O.D. and Ruth McKee started small, selling cakes from a car and slowly building a business that would eventually become the powerhouse we know today.
Simon Whistler of the Today I Found Out YouTube channel shares the little-known story behind Little Debbie and its iconic snack cakes.

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The Neon Museum in Las Vegas: Inside the Signs That Built the Strip Apr 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Las Vegas built its identity on spectacle, and few places capture that history quite like the Neon Museum. Tucked just off the Strip, it brings together the glowing signs that once defined the city and preserves them as part of its living story.
Aaron Berger shares how the museum grew from a simple idea into one of the most distinctive Las Vegas landmarks.

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Jay Van Andel and the Family Lessons Behind the Amway Founder’s Success Apr 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Jay Van Andel, co-founder of Amway, built one of the most successful businesses in American history. But at home, his greatest lessons weren’t about business, they were about family, discipline, and faith.
Each night at the dinner table, Jay and his wife Betty made time to teach their children through real-life experiences, sharing the challenges of building a company and the values that sustained them. From family meals to a life-changing trip into the Soviet Union, their children saw firsthand the difference between systems, and the importance of freedom, responsibility, and perseverance.
In this tribute, Dave Van Andel and Barb Gaby reflect on their parents’ marriage, their struggles with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and the lasting lessons that shaped their lives.

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Balloonfest ’86: The World Record That Went Wrong Apr 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in September 1986, Cleveland set out to break a world record with Balloonfest ’86, a mass balloon release staged in the heart of downtown. Organizers planned to send nearly two million helium balloons into the air as both a fundraising stunt and a civic spectacle, making it one of the most ambitious public events of the decade.
Instead, shifting weather pushed the balloons back toward the ground, where they created problems across the city and along Lake Erie. What had been billed as the biggest balloon release ever quickly became a disaster, affecting traffic, airport operations, and even the search for two missing fishermen.
Jesse Edwards shares the story.

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Joseph Warren: The Forgotten Patriot Who Fell at Bunker Hill Apr 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before the Declaration of Independence was signed, Joseph Warren was already at the center of the resistance in Boston. A physician by trade, he became a political writer, an organizer, and a trusted figure among the patriots, and one of the few men who signed the Declaration with his own blood.
Historian Jeffrey McKenna, author of Saving Dr. Warren: A True Patriot, shares the story of Joseph Warren’s rise, his devotion to the patriot cause, and his death at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

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The First Black Naval Aviator: Jesse Brown Apr 17, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Jesse Brown had already made history as the first Black pilot in U.S. naval aviation. His service in the Korean War would come to define how he is remembered. After his plane went down behind enemy lines, fellow pilot Tom Hudner made a decision that would follow both men for the rest of their lives.
Brown’s granddaughter, Jessica Leroyce Knight Henry, shares his story from the beginning, tracing his path from his roots in Mississippi to the mission that continues to shape his legacy today.

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Anorexia Recovery, Faith, and the Road to Motherhood Apr 17, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, eating disorder recovery rarely moves in a straight line, and Randi Wilson’s story makes that clear. After developing an eating disorder as a young woman in Charlotte, North Carolina, she went through hospitalization, residential treatment, and years of working to rebuild a healthy relationship with her body.
Wilson shares how that process carried into adulthood and how recovery made room for a future she once thought might not have been possible, including the chance to become a mother.

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The Story of America: Washington’s Final Message to a Divided Nation [Ep. 15] Apr 17, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as George Washington prepared to step down as president in 1796, the United States was already showing signs of bitter political division among those who had fought for American independence. In his Farewell Address, he focused on the growing influence of political parties and what that shift could mean for the future of the country.
As part of our ongoing Story of Us, Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, explains the context behind Washington’s Farewell Address and why his message continues to matter

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