On this episode of Our American Stories, we all know the look and taste of bubblegum, but few people know where it came from. The first bubblegum was invented in 1928 by Walter Diemer, who used the only food dye available: pink. That color stuck, and so did the flavor — a blend of fruit notes now simply called “bubblegum.” Simon Whistler, from the Today I Found Out YouTube channel and its sister podcast, The Brain Food Show, shares the story of how bubblegum was created and how a simple candy became a lasting invention of the 20th century.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The American flag that flies over every state capitol, school, and battlefield began as a high school assignment. Robert Heft, a 17-year-old student from Ohio, created the 50-star design in 1958 and received a B-minus for his effort. When Hawaii entered the Union in 1959, President Eisenhower selected Heft’s version as the official flag of the United States. More than six decades later, Bob Heft’s B-minus project remains the enduring symbol of the nation. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, William Wilberforce was not a soldier, but he fought one of history’s fiercest battles. From the floor of Parliament, he challenged the powerful slave trade that enriched Britain while enslaving millions. For decades, he introduced bills, built alliances, and spoke against slavery until the tide finally turned. The abolitionist movement he led brought an end to the British slave trade in 1807 and helped pave the way for full emancipation in 1833. Best-selling author Eric Metaxas shares the remarkable story of Wilberforce, the man who stirred a nation’s conscience and proved that moral courage can change the course of history.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Bat Masterson’s name still echoes through Wild West history, but unlike most gunfighters, he didn’t meet his end in a dusty street. Born William Barclay Masterson, he earned a reputation as a fearless sheriff, gambler, and occasional gunslinger who refused to kill for sport. To him, outlaw gunmen were thugs; his own weapon was for justice or to defend a friend in need. While many Old West legends died young, Masterson lived long enough to see himself become part of American folklore. Historian Roger McGrath shares the story of the man who survived the frontier and became one of the most famous lawmen of his time.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Merian C. Cooper never settled for an ordinary life. Before he created King Kong, he was chasing stories as a journalist, flying combat missions in two world wars, and helping to shape the rise of the American movie industry. By the time audiences watched a giant gorilla climb the Empire State Building in 1933, Cooper had already lived through adventures as thrilling as any he put on film. As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath shares the story of the pilot, producer, and dreamer whose life blurred the line between classic adventure movies and history itself.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language, this time diving into how the phrases "dark horse" and "dead ringer" came to be. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, is must-read. Be sure to check it out!

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on March 2, 1989, David McCullough stood before a joint session of Congress with a simple message: the past matters now more than ever. He spoke not as a pundit but as a poet of history, urging lawmakers to remember that their actions would one day be judged as part of our national story. In a rich narrative style, McCullough wove together images of a handcrafted clock in the Capitol and the courage of past legislators to remind his audience that history watches.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Civil War, falling asleep on guard duty was a crime punishable by death. That was the fate awaiting William Scott, a young Union soldier who drifted off at his post one night. His case captured the attention of Abraham Lincoln, who chose mercy over execution. What followed became one of the most remarkable Civil War stories, where compassion and discipline collided in the heat of war.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became a national name, Trader Joe’s was just a small Los Angeles shop with a big idea. Founded by Joe Coulombe, the store broke every rule of traditional supermarket chains. Instead of trying to compete with the largest grocery stores in America on size, it won on personality, price, and products that customers couldn’t find anywhere else. Decades later, Trader Joe’s has grown into one of the biggest grocery success stories in the United States, rivaling major supermarket chains while keeping its neighborhood feel. Our own Greg Hengler shares how a single store sparked a grocery revolution.

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