Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1811, Charles Sumner was a prominent American statesman and a fervent abolitionist. Sumner grew up in a society deeply divided over the issue of slavery. He eventually became a powerful voice in the fight against this institution, dedicating his life to the principles of equality and justice. Elected to the U.S. Sen…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Butch Patrick, famous for his iconic role as Eddie Munster on the classic 1960’s television series “The Munsters”. After completing two seasons and one movie as Eddie Munster, Butch appeared in numerous other television shows and films. Butch will share some stories about his time…

Welcome to season 10 of Your History Your Story!! In this episode, we will be speaking with journalist and best selling author, Helene Stapinski about her book, “Murder in Matera, A True Story of Passion, Family and Forgiveness in Southern Italy”, which recounts her decade long investigation into an old family tale which suggested that there was a …

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the hit television series, “Little House on the Prairie”, which was based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic books. The series ran from 1974 to 1983. In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with actor and author, Dean Butler, who played the role of Almanzo Wilder, the husband of Laura Ingall…

On Friday, November 22, 1963, nineteen year old Buell Wesley Frazier drove to his job at the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, Texas. Sitting next to him in his car that morning was his coworker and occasional passenger, Lee Harvey Oswald. Little did Buell know that later that day his life would be permanently impacted by one of the most trag…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Parkinson’s disease advocate and author, Dr. George Ackerman. George and his family started the website, TogetherforSharon to honor his mother’s memory and to share the message of Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure. George’s mother Sharon passed away at age 69 on January 1,…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, our guest is Lisa Voelker, author of the recently released, award winning novel, “The Spoon: The Story of Two Families’ Survival of the Hungarian Revolution”. “The Spoon” is based on stories told to Lisa by people whose lives were hugely impacted by the events surrounding the Hungarian Revolution of 1956,…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Terrie Magro, co-founder of the Michael Magro Foundation. Back in 2004, Terrie and her husband, Paul faced an unimaginable situation when not one, but both of their two young sons, were diagnosed with cancer. While their younger son Marc recovered, their older son Michael lost his…

Many of you might remember a guest we had back in season six by the name of John “Lucky” Luckadoo, the last surviving original pilot from the 100th Bomb group. As a B-17 Bomber Pilot, he flew twenty five missions out of England during WWII. When we spoke with Lucky, he was with author, Kevin Maurer who told his story in a book called, “Damn Lucky, …

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Michael Curran, author of “French and Indian Wars 1609-1759: Conflicts That Shaped a Continent”. Michael will talk about the French, British, Colonial and Native American combatants in these wars and will discuss how each of their goals and strategies ultimately determined the out…

Many of you may remember Academy Award winning actor Anthony Quinn for his roles in famous movies such as, Lawrence of Arabia, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Zorba the Greek. But some may not know that Anthony was also a gifted and prolific artist and art collector. His art was not limited to any specific medium, he loved oil painting, woodworking…

In 2003, nine year old presidential history buff Kurt Deion, presented his father with a gigantic request: to visit the graves of all the Presidents of the United States. Kurt’s dad accepted his son’s request and thus began a decade long adventure of a lifetime that came to include all of the Vice Presidents as well and took Kurt and his family all…

When you hear the term “The Gilded Age” which describes a period in US History that began after the Civil War and lasted until the end of the 19th century, you probably think of a period of industrialization, new technologies and economic growth. You might also think of names such as Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan, all of whom achieve…

The name Benedict Arnold is almost always associated with being a traitor. In 1780 Arnold, who was then the commander of West Point, a strategic American fort on the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War, handed over military secrets to a British spy named Major Andre. However, Andre was captured and Arnold’s treasonous act was discovered. Whil…

Since 1858 New York City’s Central Park has served as a peaceful oasis for New Yorkers and visitors from around the world to enjoy the park’s beautiful landscape, bridges, fountains, wildlife, sculptures and more. However, have you ever wondered who and what previously occupied the 843 acres that is now this beautiful park? In this episode of Your …

By the end of the 19th century, the city of Galveston, located on a barrier island off the southeast coast of Texas, had become a thriving commercial center and one of the busiest ports in the United States. Sadly, that all changed on September 8th 1900, when a catastrophic hurricane roared into Galveston from the Gulf of Mexico with heavy rain, po…

On Christmas Eve, 1741, a small group of Moravian settlers gathered together in a house at the confluence of the Monocacy & Lehigh rivers in what was then the colony of Pennsylvania. It was on that night that their leader, Count Nikolaus Zinzendorf decided to name their new home “Bethlehem”, after the birthplace of Jesus. Over the years, the Moravi…

Holly Campbell gave birth to her son, Jake in 2007. At just two and a half months old, Jake suddenly stopped breathing and was rushed to the hospital. The following day, Holly and her husband were told the devastating news that their baby was not going to survive. In their grief, they wanted to give their son a legacy and help others, so the selfle…

Thomas Smallwood was born into slavery in Maryland in 1801. Smallwood, a shoemaker, later moved to Washington DC where, at age 30, he was able to purchase his freedom. While living in Washington, he witnessed the day to day activities of slave traders who were involved in selling enslaved blacks into the Deep South, where they would work on cotton …

During the first months of World War II, in anticipation of bombing raids and a possible invasion by Hitler’s Germany, the British government ordered the evacuation of children from London and other cities that might become potential targets. The effort was dubbed “Operation Pied Piper” resulting in hundreds of thousands of children being evacuated…

The Nothnagle Log Home is an historic log cabin located near the Nehaunsey Creek in Gibbstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey. The cabin was built by Finnish settlers in the mid 17th century using tongue and groove construction without the use of any nails. It is considered to be one of the oldest log cabins of its type in its original location in t…

Jimmy Hawkins is a classic TV and film actor known best for his role as Tommy Bailey in the iconic 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In addition to this Christmas classic, he has appeared in various other films and television shows throughout his career including, Leave it to Beaver, Petticoat Junction & the Donna Reed Show. Jimmy also appeared wi…

Born in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1886, Henry Harley Arnold, later nicknamed “Hap”, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1907.Initially commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the infantry, a role he disliked, Arnold later jumped at the opportunity to train at the Wright Brothers Aviation School in Dayton, Ohio. I…

Justin Breen was only thirteen years old when his dad passed away. Thankfully, Justin’s dad, who was a US soldier in Europe during WWII and a gifted storyteller, had left a diary. The diary included detailed descriptions of his perilous war experiences and demonstrated to Justin his father’s instinctive ability to survive and succeed. By reading hi…

Dwight David Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas on October 14, 1890, the third of seven sons of David and Ida Eisenhower. Not long after Dwight’s birth, the family moved to Abilene, Kansas where he grew up. Dwight later attended West Point Military Academy, graduating in 1915 and soon after met Mamie Doud, who would become the love of his life. …

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, also known as the “King of the Cowboys” and “Queen of the West”, were household names throughout most of the second half of the 20th century. Following several failed marriages each, they married in 1947 and remained married for over 50 years until Roy’s passing in 1998. During their successful careers, the couple starred…

Cuba’s revolutionary history dates back to the early 1950’s when the seeds were first planted for the eventual armed overthrow of Fulgencio Batista’s government by Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries on January 1, 1959. Against all odds and despite many attempts to remove him from power, Castro remained as Cuba’s leader until 2008, after nearly 50…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Mike Purdy. Mike, who is a presidential historian, author and media commentator was a guest on a recent episode of ours titled “Presidential Friendships: How They Changed History” (S7 Ep 06). While working on that earlier episode with Mike, we learned that he was in the process of…

In the early 19th century, Americans seeking to escape crowded coastal towns and cities, began to settle further inland, away from navigable waterways. Since passable roads were scarce at that time, it became necessary to develop a transportation system that would enable the movement of goods across inland routes. The canal system was a man-made wa…

The very popular situation comedy, “Happy Days” ran for eleven seasons beginning in January 1974 and ending in July 1984. The series was set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and was centered around teenager, Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard), his family and friends, Potsie, Ralph and the local tough guy, Arthur Fonzarel…

Music is a universal language that often brings people back to a feeling, time or event in their lives. In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Roger Hall, who developed a website that preserves historical American music. Roger is a composer and Music Preservationist who holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Com…

Back in 2004, a young UC Berkeley engineering student, William Hung quickly rose to stardom following his rejection from the widely popular television show, American Idol. William, along with his mother and father, had immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong in 1993 when he was 10 years old. While adjusting to a new language and culture, he …

Throughout the history of the United States, many Commanders In Chief knew each other and their lives intersected in a number of ways. Sometimes their political and personal interactions would result in conflict and other times in harmony. However, in some instances, relationships developed into strong personal friendships and mutually beneficial p…

Once proclaimed “The Eighth Wonder of the World”, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge was constructed between 1869 and 1883 to span the East River and connect what used to be the two independent cities of New York and Brooklyn.Applying masterful engineering, fortitude and determination, Chief engineers John and Washington Roebling used new technological inn…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with author and college English professor, Gretchen Weiss Dubit. Gretchen was a previous guest on our show (S2 Ep09) along with her brother Carl & sister Christina. Together, they told the story of their grandfather, Dr. Carl A. Weiss Sr., who was accused of being the assassin of contr…

In June 1913, a little over a year since the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic, the Karluk, which was the flagship of a three vessel Canadian Arctic expedition set off from British Columbia, near the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The expedition’s mission was to conduct geographical and scientific exploration in an area ly…

Jim Meskimen is a professional actor, comedian and impressionist and those are only a few of his talents! Jim is also the son of America’s favorite mom, Marion Ross, who played Mrs. Cunningham or commonly called Mrs. C on the hit television show, Happy Days. Jim’s acting credits include the movies, How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Apollo 13. He h…

Today, we begin season 7 of Your History Your Story with a popular returning guest, Marty Blumberg. Marty was on our show back in season 3 talking about his first book, My Brooklyn, My Way. Marty has recently published a second book called “Going Back to Brooklyn”. It’s a fun, coffee table book filled with stories and poems about his experiences gr…

As Hitler’s army advanced through Western Europe in the spring of 1940, Democratic President, Franklin D. Roosevelt was faced with an extremely serious situation. He was keenly aware of the need for the United States to confront global fascism, yet he also knew the overwhelming sentiment of the American people at that time was one of isolationism. …

Jim Thorpe was born in the late 1880’s in what was then known as Indian Territory, now the state of Oklahoma. Thorpe who was predominantly of Native American descent, was a member of the Sac & Fox Nation. However, his father who had some European blood, felt that it was important for his son to attend school and assimilate into the English speaking…

As we enter the 2022 Christmas season, many of us will be decorating our homes, purchasing gifts, listening to our favorite holiday music and settling our plans to visit and celebrate with friends and loved ones. However, as we busy ourselves with many activities of the season, we should pause to remember Christmas’ from long ago and reflect upon h…

*This is our 1st live video recorded in a studio!*In this episode of Your History Your Story, our guest is author, inspirational speaker and passionate animal advocate, Charlie Cifarelli.Charlie will talk about his recently released autobiography “14th & 2nd” and will share stories from his life journey, which brought him from the streets of New Yo…

What do you do when adversity strikes? Do you see obstacles that can’t be overcome or do you see opportunity and the possibility to transform yourself? In this episode of Your History Your Story our guest is Robert Pardi. Robert is a transformational life coach, speaker and author of “Possibility in Action - A Journey to an Intentional Life”. Rober…

As many may know, the United States of America will be celebrating its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. With that important date on the horizon, some will pause to think about the American Revolution and the great sacrifices made to gain our independence from Great Britain. New Jersey, one of the original thirteen colonies, played a critical role du…

As children, brothers Robert and Vincent Gardino began to take an interest in historical people when their dad started bringing home autographs of famous patrons at the New York City restaurant where he worked as a waiter. The two boys then took it upon themselves to expand their collection of autographs by using resources at the public library to …

Halloween is almost here! It is time to put on our sweatshirts, admire the multi-colored leaves falling from the trees and spy the array of skeletons, orange lights and Jack-o-lanterns adorning our neighborhoods. It’s also the best time of year to settle in on a chilly evening with a glass of hot cider and a bowl of popcorn to watch a scary movie s…

Incorporated in 1838, Brooklyn, New York’s Green-Wood Cemetery is the final resting place of almost 600,000 people! Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, Green-Wood contains stunning natural beauty and landscape design, unique architectural styles and a museum that displays artwork, maps and other interesting objects that belonged to som…

October 29, 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the day Superstorm Sandy came ashore in New Jersey. This epic storm, which was the greatest natural disaster in the history of the Jersey Shore brought with it high winds, heavy rain and a tidal surge causing loss of life, power outages and widespread destruction of property. One of the hardest hit are…

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Enrique “Ric” Prado, author of New York Times bestselling book “Black Ops, The Life of a Shadow Warrior”. Ric, who was born to a middle class family in Cuba, was ten years old when his family sent him alone to the United States to save him from the abuses of Fidel Castro’s Marxist…

In the summer of 1960, nineteen year old Sandy Greenberg, the son of a Buffalo, NY junk dealer, was home on break between his sophomore and junior years at Columbia University. Sandy, who loved sports, also loved learning and was very excited about his future and the possibilities that lay ahead. However, while pitching in a baseball game that summ…