Our American Stories

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I Was Bored in Grad School, So I Joined the Navy and Went to Vietnam Apr 14, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, while sitting in grad school, Hank Brown decided he’d had enough and signed up for the Navy. Within days, he was on his way to Vietnam, flying missions as a forward air controller during the early years of the war.
Former Colorado Senator Hank Brown shares his journey to the front lines of the Vietnam War and what he learned from it all.

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What a Young Soldier Promised God After a Vietnam Mine Took His Legs Apr 14, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Vietnam War, then 20-year-old Jon Hovde was nearly killed when his vehicle struck an anti-tank mine. Doctors didn’t expect him to survive, but that day Jon made three promises to God.
What happened next would shape the rest of his life and inspire the people back home who knew him best. Linda, from Jon’s hometown of Fertile, Minnesota, shares his story.

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The Forgotten Plot to Steal Abraham Lincoln’s Body Apr 14, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, most people know how Abraham Lincoln died. The assassination in 1865, carried out by John Wilkes Booth, is one of the most well-known moments in American history. What people don’t usually hear is what happened after he died. A group of counterfeiters in Chicago came up with a plan to steal Abraham Lincoln’s body from his tomb and hold it for ransom. Their goal was to trade Lincoln’s coffin for money and the release of a master engraver who could keep their operation alive.
Louis Picone, author of The President Is Dead!, shares the forgotten tale of one of the most harebrained schemes in American history, one that almost succeeded.

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Butch Cassidy Before the Legend: The Real Story of the Wild West Outlaw Apr 14, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when people hear the name Butch Cassidy, they usually think of Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the classic 1969 film that turned two outlaws into near folk heroes. But long before the movie, a different reputation was taking shape in the American West.
Wild West historian and Our American Stories regular contributor Roger McGrath traces Cassidy’s evolution from a small-time thief to an organized bank and train robber.

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The Officer Known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge Apr 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Kevin Briggs’ job is talking people off a ledge, or more specifically, the Golden Gate Bridge’s ledge. Here’s Kevin to share how he has saved more than two hundred people from taking their own lives by asking a simple question: “How are you doing?”
Kevin shares the story of why he does what he does.

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Monocacy: The Forgotten Union Loss That Saved Washington, D.C. Apr 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in July 1864, the Battle of Monocacy became one of the most important Civil War battles that many Americans have never heard of. Fought near Monocacy Junction in Maryland, it ended in a Union loss. Even so, the stand there delayed Confederate General Jubal Early long enough to help save Washington, D.C., from a far more dangerous attack.
Mark Leepson, author of Desperate Engagement, shares the story of the forgotten Civil War battle that bought crucial time for the Union, helped Abraham Lincoln secure a re-election victory, and changed the course of American history.

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How The Pilgrim’s Progress Became One of the Most Read Books in History Apr 13, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, while in prison for preaching without a license, John Bunyan wrote what would become one of the most influential works in English literature: The Pilgrim’s Progress, a book telling the story of a man fleeing the City of Destruction and searching for salvation as he travels toward the Celestial City.
As copies made their way to the New World, it became a staple in American homes. Here’s the story of how The Pilgrim’s Progress became one of the most widely read books in history and helped shape early American culture in profound ways that still impact us today.

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The Story of Thomas Fitzpatrick, Mountain Man and Frontier Diplomat Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early 1800s, as the American frontier pushed west, a small group of trappers and traders began moving through the Rocky Mountains, learning the land long before most Americans ever saw it. Thomas Fitzpatrick was one of the most important among them.
After losing his parents at a young age, Fitzpatrick headed west and built a life in the fur trade, earning a reputation among fellow mountain men for his skill and leadership in the rugged and uncharted terrain. He later helped organize the Rocky Mountain rendezvous, where trappers gathered to trade and resupply, and eventually took on a new role working as a U.S. representative with Native American tribes during a period of rapid expansion.
Historian and Our American Stories regular contributor Roger McGrath shares the story of a man who fundamentally shaped how the American West was opened.

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Abraham Lincoln’s Last Happy Days Before the Assassination Apr 10, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in April 1865, just days after the Civil War ended, Abraham Lincoln experienced what many described as one of the happiest periods of his life. The war was coming to a close, and Lincoln’s schedule reflected a shift toward rebuilding the nation.
However, during what was supposed to be a relaxing night at the theater, John Wilkes Booth carried out the assassination that would change American history. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the story of the final hours before Lincoln was shot and the events that led to his death on April 15, 1865.

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Jelly Roll, a Tennessee Governor, and the Power of Redemption Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he was known as a country music artist, Jelly Roll had a record that included multiple arrests and time behind bars. Years later, after turning his life around and using his music to help others facing the same struggles, his story entered Tennessee’s pardon process.
That process brought his case before Governor Bill Lee. But when Lee spoke about the decision, he didn’t just talk about the law. He spoke about loss, about the death of his wife, and about the faith that carried him through it.
Our own Lee Habeeb shares the story of two men, from very different walks of life, brought together by hardship, faith, and the belief that no life is beyond redemption.

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