May 8

Why the Best Time in History to Be Alive Might Be Right Now

On this episode of Our American Stories, people often talk about the past as something to be missed, but history tells a much harder story. Johan Norberg argues that many of the most interesting periods in history were also the hardest to survive, and that modern innovations have ... Show More

20m 18s

May 8

Women in WWII: Ilene Hall Enlisted to Follow Her Husband to War

On this episode of Our American Stories, during World War II, women entered the military and workforce in record numbers, taking on roles once occupied by men. The Women’s Army Corps became a path for thousands who wanted to support the war effort.But for Ilene Hall, the decision ... Show More

17m 58s

May 8

Learning to Ride a Horse at 60

On this episode of Our American Stories, learning how to ride a horse is hard enough, but getting in the saddle at 60 years old can seem impossible. Not so for Our American Stories regular contributor Bill Bryk. Bill tells the story of the exciting and sometimes frightening exper ... Show More

10m 49s

Feb 2009

Episode 16: Howard Zinn, Censors, Piggin’ Out

This week: Historian/Activist Howard Zinn recalls a different kind of flower power… We learn what happens when TV censors can’t take a joke… and Brendan pigs out on lard pigs.

15m 50s

Jul 2025

Operation Mincemeat Revisited | Episode + Bonus Interview with Natasha Hodgson

When we first aired "Operation Mincemeat" back in 2020, it was a daring WWII thriller that felt almost too wild to be true. Now, it’s not just history — it’s a hit Broadway musical. This week, we're revisiting our original episode about the ingenious Allied ruse that helped turn ... Show More

48m 46s

Feb 2025

How to be a UK Ambassador to the US

Peter Mandelson, the new British ambassador to the United States, has finally taken up the daunting challenge of being the U.K.’s Trump whisperer. And it’s clear the man dubbed the prince of darkness will need to use every trick in his book to ensure the U.K. emerges unscathed – ... Show More

47m 28s

Aug 2024

In The Boys' Club. Life As A Female CIA Operative. Uncut with Brittany Butler

Brittany Butler spent nine years as a targeting officer within the CIA's Directorate of Operations, Counterterrorism Center. Brittany has worked both at Langley and in the Middle East and has first-hand knowledge of how the CIA recruits spies and how intelligence organisations di ... Show More

54m 28s

Jun 2025

Ashley House (Classic)

<p>For decades, the Ashley House in Sheffield, Massachusetts preserved and promoted the story of Col. John Ashley, a wealthy businessman who opened his home to those fighting against British rule on the eve of America’s war for independence. But in this episode we hear a new narr ... Show More

14m 35s

May 2021

War Poems Revisited

As the U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan, we look back at a time when Taliban poetry and a local cooking show became part of the war. And the U.S. had the perfect person to fight on that front. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for spon ... Show More

45m 37s

Feb 2024

Listener Mail: Purple Street Lights, Burger King Sauce Concerns, the Unsolved Death of Thomas Wales

Matthais calls to ask about why some streetlights are turning purple. Kyle writes in with a question about a possible fast food conspiracy to short people on condiments. Curious in Seattle prompts a disturbing exploration of the death of federal prosecutor Thomas Wales, who appea ... Show More

43m 35s

Nov 2025

The Creeping Coup

On the surface, the story of Sudan’s war is about two generals vying for power. But it’s also about a vast web of international interests involving the U.S., China, Russia, and the UAE. Today on the show, the story of how things in Sudan got to this point, and the effects of the ... Show More

50m 39s

How the USA Almost Went to War Over a Pi...