Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

The Story of Saxsquatch, the Saxophone-Playing Sasquatch Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was a saxophonist for one of the world’s great touring bands, Marcus King Band, but felt called to create something entirely his own. What started as a playful persona became a bold leap into creative freedom.
Saxsquatch himself shares his story of leaving life as a sideman behind, building a new identity, writing original music, and connecting with millions as a saxophone-playing Sasquatch while redefining what it means to chase the American dream in music.

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Did Blues Legend Robert Johnson Really Sell His Soul to the Devil? Jan 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, legend says that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at a Mississippi crossroads in exchange for his musical talent. It is one of the most enduring myths in American music history.
Johnson’s grandson Steven Johnson shares the story and sets the record straight, tracing Robert Johnson’s life from Hazlehurst to the Mississippi Delta, explaining how years of discipline, mentorship, faith, and hardship shaped the King of the Delta Blues, and why the truth is far more powerful than the legend.

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The Cub Scout Leader Who Changed My Life Jan 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, for Stephen Rusiniak, one of the most influential people in his life was his Cub Scout leader. Long before Stephen found his calling and built his career, this leader saw potential in him and took the time to invest in it.
Rusiniak shares how the guidance, discipline, and encouragement he received through Boy Scouts of America shaped his character, changed his outlook, and left a lasting impact that followed him into adulthood.

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How Windmills Made the American West Possible Jan 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, that old windmill along the highway may look like a relic, but without it, westward expansion would have been nearly impossible. Before electricity and diesel engines, windmills pumped water for farms, ranches, railroads, and growing towns across the American frontier.
Our regular contributor, Jesse Edwards, shares the story of how windmills helped power settlement in the West, from early innovations in the 1800s to their lasting role in rural America, and why these iconic structures remain one of the most important tools in American history.

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Gary Powers and the U-2 Incident: A Cold War Spy Story Told by His Son Jan 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on May 1, 1960, American spy pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down while flying a secret U-2 reconnaissance mission over the Soviet Union, setting off one of the most controversial moments of the Cold War. Questions followed immediately. Did his plane fail or was it hit by a missile? Did he defect? Did he reveal American secrets while imprisoned by the KGB?
For years, Powers was judged by the public. To some, he was a hero. To others, a traitor. To Gary Powers Jr., he was simply Dad. Powers Jr. shares the true story of his father’s life, capture, imprisonment, and eventual Cold War spy exchange, finally setting the record straight.

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How the COVID-19 Toilet Paper Shortage Made Americans Embrace the Bidet Jan 27, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, it took empty store shelves and a toilet paper shortage for many Americans to finally take the bidet seriously. Long dismissed as unnecessary or foreign, the 18th-century bathroom invention saw a surprising surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, and unlike many pandemic fads, it never faded. Bidet sales exploded, inventories vanished, and companies like Bidet King have reported steady growth ever since.
Simon Whistler, host of Brain Food Show and the Today I Found Out YouTube channel, tells the unexpected story of how a centuries-old invention found new life during a modern crisis.

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Steve Jobs and the Day the iPhone Was Born Jan 26, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs stepped onto the stage at Macworld and unveiled a device that would change how the world communicates. What looked like a flawless presentation was actually a high-wire act, with hidden risks, backup devices, and engineers bracing for disaster behind the scenes.
Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of the iPhone launch that reinvented the phone, powered Apple’s comeback, and helped create the modern app-driven world we now take for granted.

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Colin Powell: The Man Behind the General, the Diplomat, and the Leader Jan 26, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Colin Powell was a four-star general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State. But behind the titles was a man defined by humility, discipline, humor, and deep loyalty to those around him. Leslie Lautenslager, who worked alongside Powell for more than 25 years, shares personal stories that reveal the man few saw publicly, from his quiet acts of kindness to the values that guided his life and leadership. Reading from her book,My Time with General Colin Powell, she gives an intimate portrait of the man behind the stars.

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Kagan on Scalia: How Two Supreme Court Opposites Became Friends Jan 26, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Antonin Scalia could not have disagreed more about the Constitution, yet they shared a deep and lasting friendship. Speaking at the dedication of the Antonin Scalia Law School, Justice Kagan reflects on Scalia’s influence on American law, his love of ideas and students, and the personal bond they formed across sharp ideological divides.

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Sterling Hayden: The Hollywood Star Who Left the Screen to Become a WWII Spy Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, he played villains, soldiers, and tough guys on screen, but Sterling Hayden lived an even more dangerous life off camera. Best remembered as Captain McCluskey in The Godfather and General Jack Ripper in Dr. Strangelove, Hayden walked away from Hollywood during World War II to serve as a Marine officer and covert operative with the OSS. As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, historian Roger McGrath shares the remarkable story of how one of Hollywood’s biggest stars became a real-life spy, running weapons, rescuing downed airmen, and risking his life behind enemy lines.

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