Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

Life Before Digital Photos: The Last Days of Kodachrome Mar 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before digital photography took over, Kodachrome was one of the most famous color films in the world. Its rich tones and sharp detail made it a favorite among professionals, travelers, and families for generations. But when Kodak stopped making it, there was only one lab left on Earth that could still process it.
That lab was Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas. As the end drew near, photographers from around the world rushed to send in their final rolls. The family behind Dwayne’s shares the story of the remarkable final days of a film that helped define color photography.

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Ulysses S. Grant and the Memoir That Saved His Family Mar 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, after serving as the Union general who helped win the Civil War and later as the 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant entered the final chapter of his life facing two crushing blows. He had lost his money in a financial swindle, and he was dying of throat cancer.
With little time left, Grant set out to write his memoirs so his wife would not be left destitute. Working through severe pain and racing against death, he, with the help of Mark Twain, produced what many still consider one of the finest military memoirs in American history. Our regular contributor, Christopher Klein, shares the story.

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Sacagawea: The Teenager Who Helped Guide Lewis and Clark Across the West Mar 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, she was just a teenager, carrying her infant son, when she joined the most daring expedition in American history—and without her, Lewis and Clark might never have made it. Dr. Dedra Birzer of Hillsdale College brings us the incredible story of Sacagawea, the young woman who made America's most daring road trip possible.

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Theodore Roosevelt: The Protestant President Who Protected an Antisemite with Jewish Police Officers Mar 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as an icon of the Protestant elite, Theodore Roosevelt was an unlikely ally of the waves of impoverished Jewish newcomers who crowded the docks at Ellis Island. Here to tell the story is Arizona State History Professor Andrew Porwancher. Andrew is the author of American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews.

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The Black Medal of Honor Recipient Who Bombed His Own Hideout to Save Lives Mar 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in December 1944, American forces were fighting to hold ground in the Italian village of Sommocolonia when German troops overran the area. First Lt. John Robert Fox remained behind to direct artillery fire from an exposed position. As enemy forces closed in, Fox made a decision that would define his legacy. He ordered artillery to be fired directly on his own location, knowing it would stop the advance but cost him his life. For his heroic actions, First Lt. Fox was posthumously awarded our nation’s highest honor for valor, the Medal of Honor. But that recognition wouldn’t come until decades later.
Kirk Higgins of the Bill of Rights Institute shares the story.

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“Red Tape” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 19) Mar 30, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice from his guide to unraveling the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, explores where our favorite sayings come from and what they mean. This time, Andrew shares the story of how the phrase "red tape" came to be.

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1776: The Year the Colonies Turned Against Britain Mar 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1776, the relationship between Britain and the American colonies reached a breaking point. What began as political disagreement had grown into open conflict, and the possibility of independence was closer than ever.
The late, great historian David McCullough looks at this turning point in American history and explains how 1776 became the year the Revolution truly took hold.

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Higgins: The Louisiana Boat Builder Who Won World War II Mar 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, they needed a way to get from ship to shore quickly, directly, and under fire. That job fell to a simple but revolutionary landing craft known as the Higgins boat, a vessel that could run up on the beach and drop its front ramp in seconds. Eisenhower himself called it a key reason victory was even possible.
Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs, authors of Higgins and the Boats That Landed Victory in World War II, share the story of Andrew Higgins and how an invention born in the bayous of Louisiana helped change the course of World War II.

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The Wealthy Man Who Refused to Live Like One Mar 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Kenny Monfort built significant wealth, but he didn’t live like someone trying to prove it. Hank Brown shares what it was like working for a man who valued humility over appearance, and character over status. Whether showing grace to those who criticized him or refusing to measure success by what he owned, Monfort lived out his beliefs in quiet, everyday ways. It’s a story about money, yes, but more than that, it’s about the kind of man he chose to be

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A Player’s View of the University of Wisconsin Stampede Mar 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when a stadium full of excited sports fans pressed downhill against inadequate crowd control, tragedy struck in an instant. Michael Brin, a player on the field that day and now an emergency physician, shares his harrowing story of the infamous University of Wisconsin stampede and its aftermath.

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