Covering every hamlet and precinct in America, big and small, the stories span arts and sports, business and history, innovation and adventure, generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love, past and present. In short, Our American Stories tells the story of America to Americans.
About Lee Habeeb
Lee Habeeb co-founded Laura Ingraham’s national radio show in 2001, moved to Salem Media Group in 2008 as Vice President of Content overseeing their nationally syndicated lineup, and launched Our American Stories in 2016. He is a University of Virginia School of Law graduate, and writes a weekly column for Newsweek.
For more information, please visit ouramericanstories.com.
Three Stories Guaranteed to Make You Laugh About the King of Rock & Roll—From the Man Who Was There
Olive Oatman: The 13-Year-Old Mormon Who Became an Indian
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1851, Olive Oatman was a thirteen-year-old pioneer traveling west with her Mormon family. Within a decade, she was a white Indian with a chin tattoo, caught between cultures. Here to tell the story is the executive of True West magazine, Bob Boze Bell.
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The Story of Chuck Taylor: The Billy Graham of Basketball
On this episode of Our American Stories, he wasn’t an NBA star - he was a sneaker salesman who helped popularize the sport of basketball and the iconic shoes that now bear his name. Our host, Lee Habeeb, shares his life story.
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The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad: America's Greatest Infrastructure Project
On this episode of Our American Stories, climb aboard! The late, great historian Stephen Ambrose shares the epic story of how Americans laid 1,900 miles of track from Omaha to Sacramento to complete one of our nation’s greatest infrastructure achievements—the Transcontinental Railroad.
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Americans Freed Her from Prison—And for Good Reason: The Redemption Story of Cyntoia Brown
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2018, the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral, making her one of the most well-known inmates in the world. Here's Cyntoia with her story of trauma, incarceration, and redemption.
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The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge—The Eighth Wonder of the World
On this episode of Our American Stories, The Brooklyn Bridge, with its unprecedented length and two stately towers, was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World" after its completion. The connection it forged between the massive population centers of Brooklyn and Manhattan forever changed the course of New York City. Here’s The History Guy with the story.
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The Slave Trader Abraham Lincoln Refused to Pardon
On this episode of Our American Stories, Nathaniel Gordon of Portland, Maine, holds the distinction of being the only American ever executed for the crime of slave trading. Although many were caught in the act, sentences were often lenient, and most slave traders knew they had little to fear—until Abraham Lincoln. Jonathan W. White, author of Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks, Blockade-Running, and the Slave Trade, shares the story of the man Lincoln refused to pardon—and explains why. Special thanks to the U.S. National Archives for this audio, taken from an online lecture Dr. White gave.
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“On Skid Row” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice from his guide to unraveling the baffling mini mysteries of the English language. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, explores where our favorite sayings come from—and what they really mean. Be sure to check it out!
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A 14-Year-Old Historian Brings the First Day of the American Revolution to Life
On this episode of Our American Stories, you’ve probably heard that during his famous midnight ride through the Massachusetts countryside to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of the impending British occupation of Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere shouted, “The British are coming!” But that’s not quite true. Sabrina Bhattacharjya, a 14-year-old history enthusiast and founder of Lex250, shares the real story—and brings to life the first day of the American Revolution. We'd like to thank Constituting America for turning us on to this story.
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[Mother's Day Special] Forgiving My Worthless Father
On this episode of Our American Stories, our regular contributor from Kodiak Island, Alaska, Leslie Leyland Fields, shares the heartbreaking story of her relationship with her father—and it’s not what you’d expect.
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