Our American Stories

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Latest Episodes:

“Nest Egg” and “No Dice”: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language, this time exploring the terms “nest egg,” “no dice,” and others. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, uncovers the quirky roots behind the words we use every day. Be sure to check it out!

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A Big Company with Big Pranks! Jan 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Paychex founder and entrepreneur Tom Golisano shares why having fun at work matters and how humor helped shape the culture of one of America’s most successful payroll companies. Known for his legendary office pranks and unconventional leadership style, Golisano explains how playfulness, trust, and creativity can coexist with discipline and hard work. Drawing from his book Built Not Born, he reflects on building a company where people were encouraged to enjoy their work while still aiming high.

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A Thread Across the Ocean: The Story of the Transatlantic Cable Jan 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1800s, an impossible idea was born: to lay a wire under the ocean and send messages between continents in minutes. The result was the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable, a feat of engineering and endurance that rewired the world forever. Historian John Steele Gordon tells the gripping story of the people, ships, and setbacks that connected North America and Europe by a single thread of copper.

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Beating the Soviets: Mike Eruzione on the 1980 Olympic Upset Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Our American Stories, it was the Cold War on ice, and no one expected Team USA to win. But in 1980, a ragtag group of college kids stunned the world when they beat the seemingly unbeatable Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. Mike Eruzione, captain of the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team and the man who scored the game-winning goal, tells the inside story of one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

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Generational Trauma Ends With Me: One Father’s Fight to Heal Jan 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, what does it take to stop the cycle? Jason Wolfe knows. As a child, he lived through abandonment, poverty, and the kind of instability no kid should endure. As an adult, he became a tech pioneer, a single father, and a man determined to rewrite his family story. His journey is a powerful testament to resilience, healing, and what real fatherhood looks like when you refuse to pass your pain on to the next generatio

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The “LA Speed Check”: A Story from a Pilot of the Fastest Plane in the World Jan 05, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, the late Major Brian Shul shares his legendary “LA Speed Check” story, an absurd and unforgettable moment from the cockpit of the fastest plane in the world, the SR-71 Blackbird.

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How 7-Eleven Helped Immigrants Build the American Dream Jan 02, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Jim Keyes took the helm of 7-Eleven, he thought he was simply turning around a struggling convenience store chain. What he discovered instead was the human story behind the brand: a nationwide network of franchise owners, many of them immigrants, working long hours behind the counter while building businesses, supporting families, and living out the American Dream. Keyes shares how these entrepreneurs reshaped his understanding of leadership, capitalism, and what success really looks like in small businesses across America.

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My Mom Told Me to Leave the House and Not Come Back Until I Had a Job Jan 02, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, according to Russ Jones, his mother telling him to get out of the house and get a job in his teenage years was the best thing that ever happened to him. Russ shares the story of how a mother’s intervention and persistence led him to a lifetime of good, hard work.

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How a Hollywood Movie Inspired the North Hollywood Shootout Jan 02, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, often, art imitates life. This time, life imitated art. A crime inspired by the 1995 film Heat, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, would become one of the most infamous bank robberies in American history. The movie’s meticulous depiction of professional criminals, tactical planning, and high-stakes escape scenes provided a blueprint that real-world robbers attempted to follow with deadly consequences. This story examines how Hollywood realism intersected with reality, why Heat became a cult classic among both film enthusiasts and criminals, and how a work of fiction contributed to shaping a true crime moment that stunned the nation.

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The Story of America: In the Beginning… [Ep. 1] Jan 02, 2026

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the introductory episode of our series tracing America’s rich history and cultural foundations, Wilfred M. McClay, a professor at Hillsdale College and author of the acclaimed book Land of Hope, shares the surprising story of how America’s beginnings were shaped by religious conflict, political power, and sheer chance. From a group of defiant Catholics to a violent Atlantic storm and the iron will of a powerful English queen, McClay explains how a handful of unlikely forces helped determine the course of American history, and how the nation we know today might have turned out very differently.

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