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.
A Fake Ring, Real Temptation, and a Golden Marriage
Bank Founder: I Lived Through the Great Depression Poor and Didn't Even Know It!
On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of our American Dreamers series, the late Donald Sturm, founder of ANB Bank, shares his story of growing up during the Great Depression, without even realizing it, thanks to the powerful influence of his parents.
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"Take the Cake" & "The Third Degree" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 22)
On this episode of Our American Stories, as part of his ongoing series on the origins of everyday expressions, Andrew Thompson, author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red, shares the fascinating backstories behind the phrases “take the cake,” “the third degree,” and others.
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Stalin’s Daughter Became an American Citizen... and a Wisconsin Cheesehead?
On this episode of Our American Stories, when 85-year-old Lana Peters passed away in 2011 from complications due to colon cancer, the nation seemed to have forgotten the woman who became a sensation during the Cold War. The History Guy recalls the extraordinary life of the woman whose defection to the United States marked a seminal moment in history.
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Hollywood Goes to War: "Wild Bill" Wellman
On this episode of Our American Stories, Roger McGrath returns with another installment in our Hollywood Goes to War series. A U.S. Marine, former UCLA history professor, and author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier, Dr. McGrath has appeared in numerous History Channel documentaries. He’s also a regular contributor to Our American Stories, bringing his expert insight into the lives of Hollywood legends who served in America’s wars. This time, Roger shares the story of “Wild Bill” Wellman—Hollywood director, World War I fighter pilot, and all-around American original.
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Belinda Mulrooney: The Richest, Toughest Woman of the Klondike Gold Rush
On this episode of Our American Stories, no woman figured more prominently on the Yukon and Alaskan frontiers than Belinda Mulrooney. She gained international fame as the richest woman in the Klondike and made and lost multiple fortunes. She became a character in novels, and her dog was the inspiration for Buck in The Call of the Wild. Here to tell her story is Roger McGrath, author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier.
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"Big Bucks, No Whammies!": The Man Who Cracked the Code of Press Your Luck and Won $110,000
On this episode of Our American Stories, Matt Parker, a comedian and mathematician from Australia, tells the story of Michael Larson—a humble ice cream man who surprisingly beat the game show Press Your Luck—and explains why computers can’t truly be random.
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The Balloonfest '86 Disaster of Inflated Proportions
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1986, the United Way of Cleveland attempted to set a world record by releasing nearly 1.5 million balloons into the sky. What was meant to be a harmless publicity stunt quickly turned into a public safety and environmental disaster. It grounded planes, hindered rescue operations, and led to tragic consequences. Jesse Edwards shares the story.
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Becoming Dr. Seuss: The Making of an American Imagination
On this episode of Our American Stories, from Green Eggs and Ham to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, we’re all familiar with the work of Dr. Seuss. But the story of how he became the author we know and love is far from short and simple. Brian Jay Jones, author of Becoming Dr. Seuss, shares the full story of the man behind the pen name.
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How My Dad's Wounds of War Fueled My Drive to Serve Vets
On this episode of Our American Stories, Diane Hight’s father was a war hero, but he also struggled with alcoholism due to his PTSD from World War II. To honor him, she founded Forever Young Veterans, an organization originally focused on taking WWII veterans to the memorial in Washington, D.C. It soon grew into a mission to take them back to Normandy and beyond. Here's her story.
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