On this episode of Our American Stories a century ago Tampa Florida was Cigar City Some factories filled the city where workers rolled more than million cigars by hand each year One by one those factories disappeared as the industry changed and production moved overseas Today only one remains The J C Newman Cigar Company still makes cigars in Tampa using many of the same methods that helped make the city famous Drew Newman the great-grandson of company founder Julius Caesar Newman takes us inside the last cigar factory in Tampa and into a craft that begins years before a [... more]

The J.C. Newman Cigar Company, America's oldest family-owned premium cigar business, has been keeping the American tradition of handcrafted cigars alive for 125 years. From its humble beginnings in Cleveland, Ohio, to its current location in Tampa, Florida, the company has faced numerous challenges, including the Cuban embargo and FDA regulations. The company's great-grandson, Drew Newman, shares the story of his great-grandfather's immigration to America and how he built a successful business despite the odds. [... more]

The United States has a rich cigar tradition dating back to the 1600s, with the first crop of cigar tobacco planted in the Virginia colony in 1612. Tampa was once the cigar capital of the world, with 150 large cigar factories producing over 500 million cigars per year. However, many of these factories closed in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, moving production overseas due to labor costs. One family-owned cigar company, J.C. Newman, remains in Tampa, continuing the American cigar making tradition. [... more]

The United States has a rich cigar tradition dating back to the 1600s, with the first crop of cigar tobacco planted in the Virginia colony in 1612. Today, one family-owned premium cigar company in Tampa continues the American cigar making tradition, using natural fermentation and blending different leaves to create unique and different tastes. [... more]

Rich Eisen reminisces about his early days at ESPN, working on SportsCenter, and shares stories of his colleagues, including a perfect game commercial. He's joined by guest Travis Van Winkle, who talks about his experience working with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Netflix show FUBAR, and shares stories of his own sports fandom and adventures, including riding in an Indy car with Mario Andretti. The conversation also touches on the world of UFC and the Indy 500. [... more]

The story of Wild Bill Donovan, a Medal of Honor recipient and the founder of the OSS, the precursor to the CIA, is told through his life and exploits during World War II. From his early days as a law student to his rise as a top spymaster, Donovan's life was marked by bravery, intelligence, and a willingness to take risks. His organization, the OSS, played a crucial role in the war effort, conducting covert operations and gathering intelligence from around the world. Despite his many accomplishments, Donovan's career was also marked by controversy and bureaucratic battles, ultimately leading to his downfall. His legacy as a pioneer in the field of espionage and intelligence remains unparalleled. [... more]