On this episode of Our American Stories, Desi Arnaz fled Cuba as a teenager after his family lost everything during political upheaval. Starting over in Miami, he worked odd jobs, learned English, and fought his way into show business through sheer persistence and charisma. But his greatest impact wouldn’t just be as a performer — it would come behind the scenes.

As the co-star of I Love Lucy alongside Lucille Ball, Arnaz helped pioneer the three-camera filming technique, insisted on filming before a live studio audience, and co-founded Desilu Productions — the studio that would later produce iconic shows like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible. In doing so, he helped invent the modern sitcom and reshape American entertainment.

Here to tell the remarkable story of Desi Arnaz, from refugee to television revolutionary, is our own Jim Watkins.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Declaration of Independence is one of the most famous documents ever written. Its words helped launch a revolution and have inspired independence movements around the world ever since.

But the parchment signed in 1776 faded badly over time. By the early twentieth century, it was nearly impossible to reproduce clearly. The version most Americans recognize today exists because of Theodore Ohman, an immigrant craftsman who settled in Memphis, Tennessee. Mark Hill tells the story of how Ohman created the detailed reproduction that preserved the Declaration’s appearance for generations.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, much of what the public knows about Brett Favre happened on the football field. But behind the touchdowns and championships is a life shaped by hardship, faith, and the lessons that come with age.

In part four of our five-part series, Greg Hengler sits down with Brett at his home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he reflects on the role faith has played in his life, the humility that comes with experience, and how adversity has shaped the man he has become.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before the polio vaccine transformed public health, poliomyelitis was one of the most feared diseases in America. Severe cases could leave patients paralyzed and unable to breathe, forcing doctors to rely on a strange new technology: the iron lung.

These massive metal chambers lined hospital wards during major polio outbreaks, rhythmically expanding and contracting to help patients breathe. Daryn Glassbrook of the Mobile Medical Museum shares the story of the iron lung, the medical innovation that helped people survive one of the twentieth century’s most frightening epidemics.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Dustin Tomlinson grew up in rural Missouri, the youngest of four brothers on a cattle farm where competition was part of everyday life. Like a lot of people in small towns, he had arm wrestled plenty of times on truck hoods, in hayfields, and around the high school cafeteria table. But he never imagined it could become a serious sport.

After stumbling across professional arm wrestling online, Dustin decided to see how far he could take something he had always done for fun. What started as a trip to a local tournament soon turned into a passion for a sport that demands strength, strategy, and precision. Dustin shares how he discovered the competitive world of arm wrestling and what it takes to move from friendly challenges to the professional arena.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, most Americans remember Brian Keith as Uncle Bill on the television series Family Affair. Calm, steady, and dependable, he played the bachelor suddenly responsible for raising his niece and nephew.

That calm presence came from a life far from Hollywood soundstages. During World War II, Keith served as a U.S. Marine aerial gunner in the Pacific, flying combat missions where young crews faced enemy fire and long hours over open water. In this installment of our Hollywood Goes to War series, historian Roger McGrath shares the story of Brian Keith’s wartime service and the years that came before his career in film and television.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Annie Oakley could do things with a rifle that most people would not even attempt. She shot right-handed, left-handed, from horseback, and even over her shoulder using a mirror. At a time when women were expected to remain in the background, she stepped into the spotlight with a rifle in her hands.

Her path to fame began in poverty. As a young girl in Ohio, Oakley hunted to put food on the table for her family. That skill eventually brought her to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, where she became one of its biggest stars. Gun historian Ashley Hlebinsky shares the story of Annie Oakley’s life, her partnership with fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler, and how a quiet woman from Ohio became one of the most famous performers of the American West.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, after the sudden death of his father, Irvin Favre, Brett Favre faced a decision about whether he could play the next night in a crucial Monday Night Football game. What followed became one of the most remarkable performances in NFL history.

In this installment of our five-part series, Brett reflects on the night he took the field with a heavy heart, played one of the greatest games of his career, and came to believe that God had answered the prayer he whispered before kickoff.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, The Confederacy entered the Civil War with a serious problem. It didn’t have the industrial strength to build the navy it needed. To keep the war effort alive, Southern leaders turned to something they still had plenty of: cash crops and international trade.

That’s where blockade runners came in. Fast ships slipped through the Union blockade carrying cotton out and weapons and supplies back in. Some of those vessels became legends of Civil War naval history. Others disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared. John Freeman of the South Carolina Military Museum shares the story of a mystery 'blockade runner' and how it met its demise.

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