Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

The Story of America: Why the Constitution Needed the Federalist Papers [Ep. 12] Mar 23, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Constitution emerged from the Constitutional Convention in 1787, its future was far from certain. The document still needed to be ratified by the states, and fierce debate quickly followed. Supporters argued that the new framework of government would stabilize the young republic, while critics warned that it gave too much power to a distant national government.
Into that debate stepped Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Writing under the name “Publius,” they published a series of essays now known as the Federalist Papers, explaining and defending the Constitution to the American public. For our ongoing Story of Us—Story of Americaseries, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope,shares how those writings shaped the future of American government.

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Why I Climbed Into a Dumpster to Play Cards with a Homeless Man Mar 23, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, acts of kindness often begin in ordinary moments. For Paul Kotz, a regular contributor to Our American Stories, one of those moments started behind a building with a deck of cards and a brief conversation with a homeless man. What followed was unexpected: Kotz climbed into a dumpster so the two of them could sit down and play a few hands.
The game itself was simple, but the encounter stayed with him. Kotz reflects on that afternoon and the quiet ways compassion and human connection can show up in everyday life.

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Sunday Mornings with Big Mitch: Ep. 15 Mar 22, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Stories host Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel "Big Mitch" Rutledge, who has spent more than forty years serving a life sentence in Alabama. Each call traces the shape of faith, regret, and forgiveness inside a place built for punishment.
As the series comes to a close, Mitch reflects on what those years have taught him about freedom and bondage. Prison, he explains, is not only a physical place. A person can be trapped by anger, bitterness, or regret just as easily as by walls and bars. Looking back now, Mitch believes life returns what a person plants in it, and he hopes anyone listening might take that lesson seriously and begin their own search for freedom.

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He Grew Up Without Reliable Water—Now He’s Turning Wastewater Into Drinking Water Mar 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, around the world, access to clean water is something many take for granted, but for Manny Singh, it was a problem he experienced firsthand growing up in India, where water shortages were a daily reality.
Now, as president of Koch Membrane Systems, Singh is helping develop technologies that can turn wastewater into safe, usable water—addressing one of the world’s most urgent challenges. From improving water systems in drought-stricken regions to making treatment more efficient and accessible, his work is helping communities around the globe secure reliable sources of clean water.

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One Leg, Thirteen World Records, and an Incredible Athlete Mar 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Amy Palmiero-Winters is one of the most accomplished athletes in adaptive sports. She holds 13 world records for distance running, completing marathons and endurance races using a prosthetic leg.
Her journey into competitive running began after a life-changing accident that could have ended her athletic ambitions entirely. Instead, it pushed her toward a new challenge.

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The Hard Truths and Joys of Foster Care Mar 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Kimberly McCullough shares the beauty, and heartbreak, of walking through the foster care and adoption process. Through her experiences as a foster mother, McCullough reflects on the tension at the heart of foster care: the hope of reunification, the deep bonds formed with children, and the painful reality of letting them go. From courtroom adoption days filled with joy to difficult goodbyes that test a family’s strength, her story captures what she calls a “broken hallelujah”.

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“Knock on Wood” & “Kick the Bucket”: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 11) Mar 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of his ongoing series on the origins of everyday expressions, Andrew Thompson, author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red, shares the fascinating backstories behind the phrases “knock on wood” and “kick the bucket,” among others. These familiar sayings carry histories shaped by religion, literature, and everyday life in earlier centuries. Thompson traces how these expressions traveled through time, how their meanings shifted, and why they continue to resonate in modern speech.

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The B-24 Mission My Dad Never Talked About Mar 20, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Tom McManus thought he understood hard work. As an NFL rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, training camp pushed him to his limits. But during one quiet conversation with his father, he discovered what real hardship looked like.
At the same age Tom was grinding through football practice, his father was flying combat missions over Europe in a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II.

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The Real Doc Holliday Behind the Tombstone Legend Mar 19, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Doc Holliday is one of the most famous figures of the American Old West, known for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Movies and television have turned him into a legend, but the real Doc Holliday was far more complicated than the popular portrayals suggest.
Historian Roger McGrath joins us to tell the true story of John Henry “Doc” Holliday—the Southern dentist who became a gambler, gunslinger, and enduring figure of frontier history.

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What Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Learned From Max Fisher Mar 19, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, behind many successful people is someone who helped guide them along the way. For Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins and founder of Related Companies, that person was businessman and philanthropist Max Fisher.
Ross explains how Fisher’s mentorship shaped the decisions he made in business and in life, leaving an impact far greater than money or titles.

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