Finest Hours

In the final days of World War 2, Germany's prized Lipizzaners were under threat of Soviet destruction. Germans responsible for the care of the horses, set aside feelings of animosity towards the Americans and plead with them to rescue these prized horses from the onslaught of the Red Army.

Mathias Sindelar, an Austrian-born footballer, became a legend of the game and took a stand against Nazi Germany

William Slim was crucial to the British advance to liberate Burma from the Imperial Japanese Army in World War 2.

Steve Prefontaine, a martyr of unfulfilled human potential, is one of the most iconic athletes of all time. His influence transcended nations and generations. When his life was suddenly and tragically taken at 24, his mystique grew even more.

On this episode we discuss British mountaineering legend, George Mallory, possibly the first man to summit Mount Everest.

Charles Lindbergh was a fascinating American aviation pioneer. In this episode we discuss Charles' aviation career, famous flight across the atlantic, and the tragic kidnapping and murder of his son.

In a special episode of Finest Hours, learn about the all-female division of the Soviet Air Force that terrorized the invading Nazi army by flying bombing missions under the cover of darkness. Also in this episode, Skylar gets listed as a war casualty and a surprise visit from Abraham Lincoln.

Irena Sender, a polish born social worker smuggled thousands of Jewish children out of the Jewish ghettos during WW2, learn how she was able to save, and foster thousands of souls from death and enslavement.

Robert Jordan, author of The Wheel of Time, is one of America's most revered fantasy authors, his work has inspired many fantasy authors including Geroge R.R. Martin. In addition to his accomplishments as an author, he led quite an interesting life. Click play and learn more.

Legendary track and field coach Bill Bowerman did so much more than coach young men on the finer points of running and jumping, he was an innovator. His grizzled hands that crafted shoes for his athletes would build an empire on and off the track.

In part 2, Louis and Phil have been taken captive by the Japanese Empire, a hostile enemy who depraved men of their own dignity and sense of worth. Join us in a gritty episode as we discuss the atrocities Louis Zamperini would ultimately have to triumph over.

Louis Zamperini, thought to be the first man to break the impossible 4:00 mile in track & field, was drafted into WW2. This harrowing tale of survival is one of the greatest of world war 2. Listen to learn about Louis's triumph in the darkest of days.

When a raging winter storm off the Northeastern coasts breaks an oil tanker in half, a young coast guard officer and 3 other young men are tasked with an impossible rescue.

Harrison Odjegba Okene, a Nigerian cook, was shipwrecked off the coast of Nigera. He was able to find an air pocket in the ship and survive for 60 hours before being rescued by search and rescue divers. Listen to his amazing story now.

A devout christian, and author, Elliot and her husband worked tirelessly to help translate the bible into languages for remote tribes in South America. When tribals killed her husband, she forgave them and continued to serve those same tribe members.

During WW2 American bombers were taking heavy losses over Germany. Abraham Wald, a Jewish immigrant put his analytical mind to work to help solve this problem and save countless lives.

What would you do if your employer asked you to infiltrate an insane aslym, live among the patients there, and report on the conditions in the asylum? For Nellie Bly, a charming Pennsylvania girl, this was the opportunity that she had been starving for. In the 19th century, it was highly unpopular for women to have careers, but Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Cochran) dedicated herself to improving the social well-being of the disenfranchised.

In this special episode of Finest Hours, Skylar, Brayden, and Hayden each pick an influential African American hero to discuss. Learn how a man took a newspaper to help disenfranchised African Americans find jobs and housing, how a southern boy embarassed Adolf Hitler on the global stage, and a high-school dropout became one of the greatest boxers in the 20th century

The victim of a freak electrical accident, Eduardo Garcia lost his left arm, a large percent of his muscle mass, suffered 3rd degree burns, and discovered on the hospital bed that he had testicular cancer, but that did not stop him from pursuing his love of cooking and the outdoors. In this episode, learn how Eduardo Garcia overcame a life-changing injury and used it to better the lives of those around him.

Bobby Fischer, a hot-headed prodigy and Cold War hero was one of the most interesting people in the world of chess. In the height of the Cold War, Bobby was set to play the Soviet Union's won Borris Spassky, the reigning world champion. Bars across the country showed the game on TV, it was one of the most tense matches in history. Listen to learn how it turned out.

Christopher Clayton Hutton, a British MI9 intellgence officer developed an ingenious plan to rescue POW's from German camps using Monopoly board games. Learn how he pulled off this amazing feat and slipped escape tools into POW's hands right under German's noses.

Daniel Inouye, the son of Japanese-American immagrants, or Nisei, was a brave soldier and leader during the 2nd world war. He was originaly denied the opportunity to serve in the U.S. military due to his race, but it was a good thing they admitted him into the military. Listen to learn more about Daniel Inouye's courageous military service.

Alexandre Dumas is one of the most accomplished authors of all time, but his works extend far beyond that of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Learn more of Alexandre Dumas in episode 10

Lopez Lomong was only 6 years old when he was kidnapped by Sudanese rebel soldiers. He escaped his captors and ran for 3 days and nights in the African desert. Learn how he ran from captivity to the olympic games.

In West Africa, in a region known as the Slave Coast, a militaristic society strikes fear into the hearts of their enemy. Dahomey, also reknown as "Black Sparta" is guarded by some of the fiercest soldiers in the world, all of which are female.

On this special episode of Finest Hours, we share 3 stories of 3 different women who've had a profound impact on the world. Listen to learn how a sculptor, a scientist, and an athlete made a major influence in the world. Anna Coleman Ladd, an American sculptor founds a studio in Paris where she makes masks for disfigured WW1 soldiers Marie Goeppert Mayer, the 2nd woman to earn the Nobel Prize in physics Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the boston marathon - facing threats all along the way

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, made one of the most significant scientific discovers to humankind. The very fibers of our existence. Using pea plants, Mendel unlocked the secrets behind genetics that were previously a mystery.

On September 26, 1983, one man made a decision that saved the entire world from a nuclear holocaust. Stanislav Petrov, a Lt. Colonel in the Soviet Air Force was the duty officer at the early nuclear detection facility. Suddenly alarms rang overhead as the Soviet computers detected 5 nuclear missiles launched from the United States. Stanislav's decision-making that night would save hundreds of millions of lives.

In the begining of the Civil War, a bold and daring slave named Robert Smalls stole a confederate transport ship and sailed 17 enslaved African Americans towards the freedom of the Union. He delivered the ship into the hands of the Union, helped convince Abraham Lincoln to allow blacks to serve in the Union Army, served valiantly in 17 battles of the Civil War and fought to protect African American civil liberties as an elected official.

In 1914, 28 men set sail on a treacherous expedition to cross Antarctica, before they even reached the continent they were shipwrecked. All 28 men would survive thanks to the one man, Ernest Shackleton. Join us as we explore their gripping tale of survival. The odds were impossible, so how did they do it?

In episode 1 we discuss Gail "Hal" Halvorsen, the man who bombed berlin... with candy. Learn how a Utah farm boy helped heal the wounds of World War II, and win over the affections of post-Nazi Germany. Halvorsen, AKA The Candy Bomber, played a crucial and touching role in rebuilding post-war Germany. He softened the hearts of former enemies, and gave joy to children living in a post-apocalyptic war zone.     Music: Awaken Together by Evan MacDonald