Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

The Obituary of a Man Who Escaped Stalin and Hitler Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Alex Berezow remembers his grandfather Dimitri the only way a life like this can be remembered, by telling the story. Born under Stalin, forced into Nazi labor camps as a teenager, and surviving through nerve, charm, and impossible luck, Dimitri escaped the worst regimes of the 20th century and eventually made his way to America. What follows is a portrait of a man who cheated death again and again, lived boldly, laughed loudly, and finally faced a quieter ending that raises hard questions about memory, medicine, and what it means to live well.

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Growing Up Rural: Dangling Feet and the Cost of a Lie Feb 04, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Pastor Scott Jones, author of Growing Up Rural, shares a memory from his youth when a small decision and the temptation to bend the truth carried real consequences. What follows is a quiet but powerful reflection on honesty, responsibility, and how the lessons we learn as children can stay with us for life.

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Secretariat’s Owner: The Remarkable Story of Penny Chenery Feb 04, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before Secretariat became a Triple Crown legend, Penny Chenery was a mother of five facing an unexpected turning point. As her father’s health failed, she stepped in to run a struggling Virginia horse farm and entered a male-dominated racing world where she was often dismissed and rarely welcomed.
Filmmaker Randall Wallace, writer and director of Secretariat, shares the story of how Chenery navigated long odds, isolation, and pressure to keep the farm alive, and how her persistence helped lead one extraordinary horse to the historic 1973 Triple Crown.

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The Hardest Part of Being a Dad: Letting Her Grow Up Feb 04, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Stephen Rusiniak became the father of a daughter, worry came with the job. When she grew into a high school gymnast, those worries took on a whole new shape. From the hospital delivery room to the balance beam, Rusiniak reflects on the quiet terror and deep pride of learning when a father must let go and simply watch from the stands.

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The Jewish Patriots of the American Revolution Feb 04, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, during the American Revolution, Jews made up only a tiny fraction of the population, yet many became passionate patriots in the fight for independence and religious freedom. Historian Adam Jortner, author ofA Promised Land, shares the overlooked stories of Jewish Americans who fought, organized, and risked everything for a new nation, and how their struggle helped shape America’s earliest promise of liberty for all faiths.

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The Screwdriver Wars: Why Phillips Beat Robertson Feb 03, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, why do we have so many different kinds of screws? The answer lies in a little-known industrial rivalry between the Robertson and Phillips screw designs, where engineering innovation collided with manufacturing, war, and corporate power. The History Guy shares the fascinating story of how historical events and business decisions determined which screw would dominate toolboxes around the world.

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The Story of Jell-O: How America’s Favorite Dessert Was Born Feb 03, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, invented in 1897, Jell-O became one of America’s most recognizable foods through clever marketing, simple convenience, and perfect timing. Simon Whistler of Today I Found Out and The Brain Food Show tells how a wobbly gelatin dessert worked its way into American kitchens, culture, and history.

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Before the Mall: The Original Abercrombie & Fitch Feb 03, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch once ruled shopping malls in the 1990s and early 2000s, but its story began long before loud music and cologne. Founded in 1892 in New York City, the company started as an elite outfitter for explorers, presidents, and world-class outdoorsmen. Historian Ashley Hlebinsky traces the brand’s forgotten origins, from supplying Theodore Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart to becoming one of the most famous clothing labels in America.

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If I Could Talk to Anyone for One Hour, It Would Be My Parents Feb 03, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, if you could spend one hour talking with anyone, living or not, who would you choose? For regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak, the answer isn’t a famous figure or historical hero. It’s his parents. In this deeply personal reflection, Rusiniak imagines what he would say, what he wouldn’t say, and why simply being together again would be enough. It’s a quiet meditation on love, loss, gratitude, and the conversations we wish we could have just one more time.

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Paul Harvey: The Voice That Told America “The Rest of the Story” Feb 03, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, born in small-town Oklahoma in 1918, Paul Harvey grew up shaped by faith, rural life, and the tragic murder of his father, a police officer. From World War II to Watergate, from civil rights to the dawn of the digital age, Harvey spoke to America nearly every day for more than 70 years. Stephen Mansfield, author of Paul Harvey’s America, shares the remarkable life story of how one man with a microphone became a steady voice of clarity, conviction, and comfort for generations of listeners.

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