Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Edgar Allan Poe is best known for his dark tales and haunting poems, yet his imagination stretched far beyond the macabre. Behind the tragedies that shaped his life was a writer who helped define Gothic literature, pioneered detective fiction, and even ventured into the earliest forms of science fiction. Chris Semtner, curator at the Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, reveals the wit, creativity, and depth of one of America’s most enduring literary voices. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before air travel became routine, flight was a dangerous experiment. In 1908, Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge climbed into a fragile biplane beside Orville Wright, ready to test the limits of a new invention that had barely left the ground. When a propeller snapped midair, the airplane crashed near Fort Myer, Virginia. Wright survived with severe injuries; Selfridge did not, becoming the first man to die in a plane crash and marking the beginning of a new chapter in the history of aviation. His sacrifice helped shape the safety standards that would guide every flight thereafter. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares the story that defined the earliest days of the sky. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, James Smithson was born into wealth but denied a name. As the illegitimate son of the Duke of Northumberland, he spent his life pursuing science instead of status, studying minerals and publishing quietly across Europe. In his will, Smithson made a choice no one expected: he left his fortune to the United States, a nation he had never visited, with the condition that it be used “to increase and diffuse knowledge.” That gift created the Smithsonian Institution, a collection that would grow into the world’s largest museum complex. Wyatt Hensley, a history education major at the University of Pittsburgh and a two-time winner of Constituting America’s We the Future contest, shares the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the hills of Vermont, a boy named Wilson Bentley fell in love with snow. Each flake, he noticed, was fleeting and perfect, gone before he could study it. Determined to keep their beauty from melting away, he began experimenting with photography in his family’s farmhouse. On January 15, 1885, at twenty years old, Bentley succeeded in taking the first photograph of a snowflake. Using a microscope and a bellows camera, he revealed a world of icy symmetry no one had ever seen. He spent the rest of his life photographing snow crystals, building a collection of more than five thousand historic photos that reshaped early photography and inspired generations of scientists and artists alike. Dr. Jerry Bergman tells the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the New York Public Library opened its doors in 1911, one family already called it home. John Fiedler, the building’s first superintendent, moved in with his wife, Cornelia, and their two sons while the library was still under construction. Their apartment sat on the mezzanine level overlooking Bryant Park, and it was there that their daughter, Viviani, was born in 1917. The Fiedler children grew up surrounded by marble halls and endless stacks of books. They played baseball inside the library, sliding across the floors and using books for bases. Author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb brings their remarkable story to life, preserving a forgotten chapter in the history of the New York Public Library. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, it started as a snowed-in night behind a funeral parlor and ended with a mystery worthy of a campfire story. Our American Stories listener Tom Ryan shares the tale of his grandmother, a quick-witted mortician who faced down an escaped convict, a closed casket, and a secret that stayed buried for years. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in Antrim, New Hampshire, every grave tells part of the town’s story. Bill Bryk, a listener and regular contributor to Our American Stories, takes a thoughtful walk through his local cemetery, where the names carved in stone recall centuries of life, loss, and memory. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2017, Rhode Island grower Joe Jutras set a world record with a green squash weighing 2,118 pounds, earning a place among the largest fruits and vegetables ever grown. Reaching that milestone took years of experimenting with soil science and meticulous care from planting to harvest. Joe explains how patience, timing, and an understanding of growth cycles can turn an ordinary garden into a contender for the world’s biggest fruit. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1892, the quiet town of Fall River, Massachusetts, became the scene of one of America’s most famous unsolved murder mysteries. Andrew and Abby Borden were found brutally killed with an axe, and suspicion quickly turned to Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie. What followed was a trial that transfixed the nation, blending questions of class, gender, and justice into a public spectacle that blurred the line between truth and myth. More than a century later, the mystery endures. Historian and author Cara Robertson, writer of The Trial of Lizzie Borden, revisits the Borden murders to untangle fact from folklore. Did Lizzie Borden get away with murder, or has history turned her into one of its most enduring legends? Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Stories' host, Lee Habeeb, speaks with Mitchel Rutledge, an inmate serving life in Alabama, over the phone about life, faith, and redemption behind bars. This is the third installment of our ongoing series with him. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, every Sunday, Our American Stories host Lee Habeeb speaks with Mitchel Rutledge, an inmate serving life in Alabama, over the phone about life, faith, and redemption behind bars. This is the second installment of our ongoing series with him. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, no one prepares for the silence that follows birth. For Samantha Durante Banerjee, that silence carried both devastation and grace. Her daughter, Alana, was stillborn, and in the hours that followed, Samantha experienced the depth of grief that comes after stillbirth — but also the rare beauty of finally holding her baby. Through grief and healing, she learned that sorrow can live alongside joy. Samantha’s story is a reminder that grieving parents don’t stop being parents — and that even in loss, the love remains. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, it started in a bathroom, where a man trapped in addiction waited to make another bad decision. Pastor Greg Laurie didn’t know what he was walking into—only that something told him to go. Inside, he found a man on the edge: tired, angry, and ready to give up. Instead of turning away, Greg spoke about grace, and in that small, stained room, something began to shift. The encounter led to a renewed faith and a brand-new life rebuilt from the ruins of substance abuse. Pastor Greg joins us to tell the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the summer of 1942, the war in the Pacific was slipping away. Japan’s navy dominated the ocean, and the United States was still reeling from Pearl Harbor. Then came Midway. What began as a desperate gamble became one of the most astonishing turnarounds in World War II. American intelligence cracked Japan’s code, and the battle was on. America's victory at Midway Atoll shifted the balance of the war and restored the country’s confidence when it needed it most. Schoolteacher Anne Clare tells the story of the battle that turned fear into resolve and marked the beginning of America’s comeback. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, when Disneyland opened in 1955, the world had never seen anything like it. Walt Disney had spent years dreaming of a place where stories could be touched—where families could explore imagination as if it were real. But opening day was far from Walt's dream come true. Rides broke down, fake tickets slipped through the gates, and the California heat softened the pavement underfoot. Still, he refused to give up. Walt’s vision reshaped what an amusement park could be. From those early setbacks grew a lasting magic that transformed a few acres of California orange groves into one of the most beloved destinations in the world. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Yogi Berra’s name sits beside the greatest baseball players of all time, but his story reaches beyond home runs and Hall of Fame records. Before he became a Yankees legend, Berra served his country at D-Day, carried quiet discipline into the dugout, and changed what it meant to lead from behind the plate. George Will, one of America’s most respected sportswriters, shares how Yogi’s mix of grit, humor, and loyalty turned him into an American original. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Traveling Wilburys formed almost by accident. When George Harrison needed a B-side, he called Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne, and together they recorded “Handle With Care.” The chemistry was instant, and within months, they became a band the world couldn’t ignore. Their blend of humor, heart, and melody carried through every track, especially “End of the Line.” Our own Greg Hengler shares how these musicians balanced fame with friendship and created music that still feels effortless. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, every tow truck on the road carries the legacy of one inventor. In Chattanooga, mechanic Ernest Holmes transformed the simple problem of how to lift a stranded car into the first tow truck. Using his own Cadillac, he built a wrecker strong enough to pull vehicles from ditches and reliable enough to serve the growing number of motorists across America. That invention became the foundation of the towing industry, shaping everything from heavy-duty recovery trucks to modern roadside assistance. What began in a Tennessee garage now supports drivers nationwide and stands as a quiet symbol of American engineering and service. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, at thirty-eight, Tim Hennessey looked like the picture of health. He lifted weights, played racquetball, and kept a busy schedule. But inside, his body was breaking down. Chronic pain, migraines, and high blood pressure left him desperate for answers. A doctor diagnosed an autoimmune condition and prescribed medication for life, but one look at the side effects made Tim pause. Instead, he chose to start over. Here’s Tim with the story of how he turned his life around—and how he’s feeling better than ever almost two decades later. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, sculptor Sabin Howard has spent years shaping the story of World War I in bronze. His National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. captures the quiet strength of soldiers, nurses, and families who carried the weight of the Great War. Rather than focusing on battlefields or weapons, his work centers on the people who lived through them and the humanity that endured. Through his words and his art, Howard gives form to sacrifice. Hear stories of a lost generation from the sculptor whose memorial to them will soon show this reality to visitors in Washington, D.C. Here's Sabin with the story of how his masterpiece came to be. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.