Our American Stories
Episodes
I Once Killed for Money. Then I Couldn't Bear to Hurt a Grasshopper
This episode of Our American Stories features Bill Corum, author of The Ultimate Pardon, sharing his journey from a violent Kansas City crime boss to a devout Christian.
“Put a Sock in It” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 18)
Andrew Thompson joins Our American Stories to explore the origins of common phrases like "put a sock in it" and "Pyrrhic victory.
How the Memoir I Never Wanted to Write Changed My Life
Leslie Leland Fields recounts her reluctant journey to write her first memoir, *Surviving the Island of Grace*.
A Wrestling Match Made Abraham Lincoln a Frontier Legend?
This episode of Our American Stories features listener Mike Chapman sharing the history of Abraham Lincoln’s wrestling career.
Everything I Needed to Know About Work, I Learned Selling Hot Dogs at Twins Games
Pastor Jim Johnson shares a nostalgic story from his time selling hot dogs at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium in 1979.
What a Motorcycle Crash Taught Me About Risk, Faith, and Letting Go
How Church Prepared Pat Boone to Become a Pop Superstar
Legendary singer Pat Boone shares his journey from a Nashville church boy to a music icon with 45 million records sold.
The Story of America: The Crisis That Gave Rise to Abraham Lincoln [Ep. 27]
The Congressman Who Invented His Own Biography: John McCormack
This episode features historian Jeff Bloodworth discussing John McCormick, the first Catholic Speaker of the House.
My Superman Never Wore a Cape. He Flew in WWII.
Contributor Roger Latham shares his father’s WWII story, detailing how Lieutenant Ernie Latham survived a B-24 crash in the Adriatic Sea.
Before Thanksgiving, New Yorkers Celebrated Evacuation Day
Hosted by Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, and Lee Habib, this episode features contributor Bill Bryke recounting the British evacuation of New York City on November 25, 1783.
How I Almost Became a Made Man in the Real Sopranos Mob
Former FBI agent Giovanni Rocco recounts his three-year undercover infiltration of the DeCavalcante crime family, the real-life inspiration for The Sopranos.
How a $40,000 Land Rover Changed American Law Forever
This episode examines the Tyson Timbs case, where Indiana seized his Land Rover via asset forfeiture for a minor drug offense.
The Arkansas Nuclear Mishap That Launched CNN's First Big Story
She Hid an Alcohol Addiction Behind a Successful Life
Roseanne Forte shares her journey from a successful executive battling secret alcohol addiction to finding freedom through faith and coaching.