On this episode of Our American Stories in John Winthrop and hundreds of Puritan settlers crossed the Atlantic hoping to build a new community in New England Before they arrived Winthrop delivered a warning Their success or failure would not go unnoticed Drawing on the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew he told his fellow settlers We shall be as a city upon a hill The eyes of all people are upon us Robert J Morgan author of Bible Verses That Made America shares how a biblical image carried across the Atlantic became one of the most enduring [... more]

Financial loss can happen slowly or all at once A business closes A home is lost An investment collapses A scam wipes out savings built over decades And when money disappears the loss can reach far beyond the balance sheet It can affect our sense of security our plans for the future and even the way we understand God's provision Scripture does not minimize those losses It gives us permission to grieve them But it also reminds us that while we can lose wealth we cannot lose our true treasure Three stories from Job Horatio Spafford and John Wesley offer [... more]

On this episode of Our American Stories Christopher Columbus sailed west in convinced he could reach Asia across the Atlantic He was wrong about where he was going wrong about the size of the world and yet skilled and determined enough to complete a voyage that would change it forever Over four expeditions Columbus explored the Caribbean encountered peoples unknown to Europeans pursued gold and converts and struggled disastrously to govern the colonies he helped establish Laurence Bergreen author of Columbus The Four Voyages shares the complicated story of the ambitious mariner behind the legend Support the show https www [... more]

On this episode of Our American Stories for years Lowell Lytle put on a captain's uniform and portrayed Edward J Smith at Titanic exhibits around the country The ship became an obsession but Lytle never imagined it would take him to the place where its story ended Then at years old he climbed inside a Russian submersible and descended two and a half miles into the Atlantic Waiting for him in the darkness was the wreck of the Titanic Lytle shares what it was like to come face-to-face with the ship he had spent years studying and the realization about [... more]

On this episode of Our American Stories Simon Estes grew up poor in the coal-mining town of Centerville Iowa in a tiny house without running water or electricity His father the son of former slaves couldn't read and segregation shaped Simon's childhood But inside his family's church there was music faith in God and a remarkable voice that would take him far beyond anything he could have possibly imagined Simon Estes himself shares the story of how encountering opera for the first time changed the course of his life and took him from small-town Iowa to Juilliard then across the [... more]

On this episode of Our American Stories they wanted to serve their country but the U S military wouldn't let women fly its planes So in a remarkable group of American women crossed the Atlantic and joined Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary ferrying Spitfires bombers and battered aircraft between factories repair depots and frontline airfields Some arrived as stunt pilots and flying instructors Others were college graduates debutantes or women who had scraped together everything they had just to learn how to fly Their job was extraordinarily dangerous They could be handed an aircraft they'd never flown before and given little [... more]

Stephen Ambrose recounts the pivotal events of 1941, including the Japanese invasion of China, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which drew the United States into World War II. He also explores the complexities of Franklin Roosevelt's leadership and the country's unpreparedness for war. [... more]

Carol King and Jerry Goffin, a songwriting duo from different worlds, penned the iconic song 'A Natural Woman' for Aretha Franklin, which became an instant success and a defining part of Franklin's repertoire and life story. [... more]

The Irish introduction to slavery began with Viking raids in the 9th century, with many Irish people being killed and enslaved. Later, the English colonization of Ireland led to the forced transportation of Irish people to the Americas, where they were sold as slaves or indentured servants. This period saw tens of thousands of Irish men and women being sent to the eastern American colonies, as well as Guiana, Antigua, and Montserrat. The Irish were sold for profit, with some being traded for tobacco and indigo. The English could kill the Irish without penalty, but selling them offered great profit, and this explains slavery throughout the world. [... more]

The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be below normal, with a 55% chance of being below normal and a 35% chance of near normal. El Niño conditions are expected to form in the Atlantic, making it harder for storms to develop. The National Weather Service is preparing to deliver real-time storm forecasts and warnings using advanced technology. Meanwhile, the North Carolina General Assembly is working on a full state budget, with a proposed 15.4% salary increase for correctional officers and a 3% pay increase for state employees over a two-year period. [... more]

A below-average hurricane season is predicted in the Atlantic, with El Niño conditions expected to disrupt storm development. In North Carolina, lawmakers are considering a proposal to impose new limits on large data centers and add ratepayer protections. Meanwhile, the state's elections data system is being modernized to improve cybersecurity and efficiency. [... more]

The story of Cudjo Lewis, the last slave ship to America, and the community its survivors created in Africatown, Alabama, showcases a legacy of self-determination and defiance in the face of racism and hardship. [... more]

A discussion on the issues surrounding the FBI Director's lawsuit against the Atlantic, the state of journalism, and the impact of propaganda on society. The conversation also touches on the controversy surrounding school lunches, halal food, and the influence of Islamic culture in public schools. Additionally, the hosts discuss the upcoming election in Virginia, the Democratic Party's shift to the left, and the role of the black church in politics. The show also covers the recent mass shooting near a middle school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. [... more]

On this episode of Our American Stories after RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on April two young men spent the next minutes sending frantic distress calls across the North Atlantic to anyone who could hear them Their names were Jack Phillips and Harold Bride They kept working as the ship took on water using one of the most advanced communication systems of its time to reach nearby vessels and call for help before the sinking became inevitable After all the fate of more than people rested in their fingers William Hazelgrove author of One Hundred and Sixty Minutes The Race [... more]

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 had a profound impact on Christopher Columbus, inspiring him to launch a new crusade by sailing across the Atlantic and connecting with the Great Khan in Asia, with the goal of spreading the gospel and liberating the eastern Mediterranean from the Islamic Horde. [... more]

Iceland's strategic location made it difficult to remain neutral during the events of World War II. The island nation's population was small, and its economy was hit hard during the Great Depression. Britain imposed export controls on Icelandic exports to Germany, further depressing the economy. The British offered assistance and sought to make Iceland an ally, but the Icelandic government chose to remain neutral, disallowing visits by military vessels and aircraft of the belligerents. The German invasion of Denmark and Norway demonstrated that Hitler did not respect neutrality, and Britain considered invading Iceland to prevent a German invasion. The British eventually occupied Iceland, and the US took over the occupation in 1941. The occupation had a significant impact on Iceland's economy and culture, with the US and Britain building infrastructure and bases on the island. [... more]

Jackson McQuigg, Vice President of Properties at the Atlanta History Center, shares the story of the Locomotive Texas, a historic locomotive that participated in the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War. The locomotive's journey from its construction in 1856 to its preservation and restoration is a fascinating tale of history, preservation, and community involvement. [... more]

James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United States, is a lesser-known figure in American history. Despite his lack of charisma and personal scandals, Polk was a highly effective one-term president who added more territory to the United States than the Louisiana Purchase. He was driven by the concept of Manifest Destiny, which held that Americans were destined to spread their culture and religion across the North American continent. Polk's presidency was marked by his ambitious goals, including the annexation of Texas and the acquisition of Oregon and California. He was a workaholic who trusted no one and was involved in every aspect of government. Polk's legacy is complex and multifaceted, and his story is a fascinating one that sheds light on the early 19th century and the growth of the United States. [... more]

Charles Lindbergh's historic flight across the Atlantic in 1927 was a groundbreaking achievement that captivated the world. Born in Detroit and raised in Minnesota, Lindbergh's fascination with aviation began at a young age, and he went on to become one of the most famous aviators of his time. With the Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh successfully completed the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight, facing numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. His remarkable courage and determination earned him international recognition and a place in American history. [... more]

The story of the transatlantic cable, a revolutionary invention that connected America to England and the rest of the world, is told by historian John Steele Gordon. From the early attempts to lay the cable to its eventual success, the story highlights the perseverance and determination of Cyrus Field and his team. The transatlantic cable had a profound impact on global communication, revolutionizing the way people connect and share information. [... more]