Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Floyd Landis’s story is one of extremes. Raised in a quiet Mennonite community in Pennsylvania, he trained on back roads without the distractions of modern life. That focus carried him to the 2006 Tour de France, where he pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in cycling history. But only days later, a failed doping test changed everything. The champion’s jersey was stripped away, and his name was forever tied to one of the sport’s most infamous scandals. Landis joins us to reflect on his humble beginnings and the hard road back to redemption after the event that changed everything. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson became a global icon, he was the son of a wrestling legend. Rocky “Soulman” Johnson’s career in WWE helped pave the way for future champions, but his most lasting impact was at home. In this emotional tribute, The Rock shares memories of his father’s relentless work ethic, his ability to command a room, and the challenges and triumphs that shaped their relationship. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before John Marshall, the Supreme Court was still finding its place in the new American government. By the time he was done, it had the power to declare laws unconstitutional, and entrepreneurs had the legal framework to build a nation. Marshall’s landmark decision in Marbury v. Madison established judicial review, forever changing the role of the Court. Beyond the bench, he was a man of simple pleasures, devoted to quoits, wine, and his hero George Washington. Richard Brookhiser, author of John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court, shares the story of the Chief Justice who defined the Court’s authority and left a lasting mark on U.S. history. We'd like to thank the U.S. National Archives for allowing us access to this audio. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mike Olbinski didn’t plan on chasing storms. He began by photographing weddings and family portraits in Arizona, but a fascination with weather grew into a second career that takes him into some of the most extreme conditions in the country. Today, he’s known for both his elegant wedding work and his stunning images of lightning and sky. Mike shares how he balances both worlds and what keeps him chasing beauty in the most unpredictable places. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ken Scar didn’t join the Army looking for redemption. He was in his 40s, broke, and ready to disappear. What he found instead was structure, belonging, and a camera that gave him a new perspective on the world. Assigned as a combat photographer, Ken began capturing life through a different lens. With each mission, he found purpose in the faces, movements, and moments others missed. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1948, Harry Truman was trailing in the polls and widely expected to lose. Then his campaign made an unexpected stop in Dexter, Iowa, for a national plowing match. The small-town crowd showed up in force, and so did the press. Truman’s speech that day was fiery, direct, and aimed squarely at the concerns of rural Americans. What followed helped shift the narrative and the momentum of one of the tightest presidential races in history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Coca-Cola’s beginnings weren’t glamorous. It started with a wounded Confederate veteran, a sugary syrup marketed as medicine, and a bold idea that caught on in the American South. Larry Jorgensen, author of The Coca-Cola Trail, shares how the drink moved from soda fountains to glass bottles, how small-town bottlers turned it into a national brand, and why a green-tinted bottle became part of its identity. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Satchel Paige didn’t just pitch; he dazzled. Known for fastballs with names like the Midnight Creeper and the Bat Dodger, he played for five decades without a relief pitcher in sight. Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, shares the life and legend of one of the greatest to ever take the mound. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Batman has worn many faces, but his shadow has never faded. From gritty detective tales to cartoon camp, billion-dollar films, and everything in between, the Dark Knight has reflected the fears, hopes, and styles of every era. Batman wasn’t always a global icon, but decade by decade, he became a mirror of what audiences wanted in a hero and what they feared in a villain. Andrew Farago, curator at the Cartoon Art Museum and author of Batman: The Definitive History of the Dark Knight, explores how one character moved from pulp pages to the center of pop culture. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1859, a pig wandered onto the wrong farm and sparked an international standoff. The U.S. and Great Britain nearly went to war over a single hog on San Juan Island, in what is now Washington State. History teacher Anne Clare shares the story of the strange chain of events that followed, where pride, politics, and a dead pig led to armed troops, tense negotiations, and the possibility of a hot war. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the beaches, theme parks, and high-rises, Florida was mostly swampland. In the 1950s, a wave of entrepreneurs arrived with a different vision. Jason Vuic, author of The Swamp Peddlers, explains how these ambitious salesmen helped reshape the state into one of the fastest-growing places in the country. With oversized promises and aggressive pitches, they turned mosquito-ridden plots into retirement gold. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons didn’t expect much when he took a summer job at the Fenwick Crab House. He figured he’d get just a paycheck and maybe a little work experience. What he got was something else entirely. Between steamed clams and daily prep, he learned how to lead, take correction, and push through exhaustion without giving up — but also about love, family, and the truth about coming of age. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, David George was enslaved, captured, and chased across colonies before he found anything close to freedom. But something else held through the chaos: his faith. After escaping bondage, George helped plant the roots of what would become the Black Baptist Church in North America. Historian Woody Holton of the University of South Carolina shares how David George’s story shaped the foundations of Black religious life in North America and why his legacy continues to matter. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, fast food wasn’t always part of the daily routine. At one point, it was a wild idea. Quick meals without waiters or tables? Unheard of. Adam Chandler, author of Drive-Thru Dreams, explains how it all began. What started with roadside stands and milkshakes grew into an industry that now touches nearly every corner of American life. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Great Depression, Joy Neal Kidney’s family didn’t eat strange food for fun. They ate what they could find. Sometimes that meant possum. Other times, it meant even less. But in the middle of the hardship, they found ways to stay connected, to laugh when they could, and to keep going. Joy reflects on the meals that got them through and what they taught her. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Defoore went to war at nineteen. He returned, raised a family, and lived through more change than most people see in two lifetimes. When he sat down with us at 103, he looked back on what had stayed with him. Some memories had softened with age, while others hadn’t moved at all. When he passed away in 2024 at 105, he left behind a story about time, memory, and what it means to live with history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, addiction kept Ryan Stewart at a distance from nearly everyone around him. For years, he tried to manage it alone, convinced that asking for help meant losing control. But when things began to fall apart, the people around him stayed. Friends, counselors, and even strangers showed up in ways he never expected. Recovery came slowly, marked by setbacks and quiet progress, but each step forward was built on trust and a willingness to let others walk with him. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Hoat Hoang was still a boy when his family left their village in the middle of the night. The fall of Saigon had changed everything, and the only way forward was through jungles, border checkpoints, and refugee camps that offered little hope. When they finally reached the United States, nothing about it felt like a finish line. Hoat worked long hours, learned English sentence by sentence, and kept his head down. In this story, Hoang walks us through his journey from Vietnam to becoming a celebrated surgeon in America. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jocelyn Green didn’t lose anyone on September 11, but she still felt the weight of that day in ways she couldn’t have predicted. Living just a few miles from the Pentagon, she saw how quickly fear moved through a neighborhood. What surprised her was what came next: people showing up for each other in quiet, steady ways. Over time, she found herself thinking more about how faith fits into grief—and how friendships sometimes grow strongest in the shadow of crisis. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Christopher Warren shares one of the strangest chapters in U.S. Postal Service history: the time when Americans actually sent children through the mail. In the early 1900s, families, especially in rural areas, took advantage of parcel post rules to ship their kids across towns, counties, and even state lines. And it didn’t stop there. In one case, an entire bank was sent through the postal system. This bizarre and often hilarious look at early 20th-century mail shows just how far people would go to work around the system and how the Postal Service had to adapt. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.