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.
Billy the Kid: The Story Behind the Legend and the Myth of the Wild West's Greatest Outlaw
A Southern Businessman's Wild Night Out With a Communist Party Official in China
On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark Foster, an all-around Southern boy, never imagined his next business meeting would involve arm wrestling a Chinese Communist Party official after a chance encounter in an empty hotel bar. But one favor from his father-in-law changed everything. Mark shares the story of one unforgettable and wild trip overseas that was anything but “just business.”
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The Game Gerald Ford Never Forgot: Football, Racism, and a Moment of Defiance in 1934
On this episode of Our American Stories, before he was president, Gerald Ford was a rising football star at the University of Michigan. But in 1934, his loyalty was tested when Georgia Tech refused to play if his Black teammate, Willis Ward, took the field. Author and historian John U. Bacon shares this remarkable story of friendship, integrity, and a quiet act of defiance that helped shape Ford’s views on civil rights.
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When The USA's Greatest (and Last) Bareknuckle Boxer Challenged America to a Fight
On this episode of Our American Stories, before gloves, rules, or weight classes, there was John L. Sullivan: a powerhouse brawler who became America’s last bare-knuckle boxing champion. With fists of steel and a challenge to fight any man alive, Sullivan didn’t just win titles, he won the country’s attention in 1893 with his “Knockout Tour.” The challenge? Last 12 minutes in the ring with the champ and win.
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Weapons of WWII with Stephen Ambrose: Shermans, Tigers, and Panthers
On this episode of Our American Stories, in World War I, tanks were considered support tools. But by World War II, they had become the centerpiece of ground warfare. Historian Stephen Ambrose explains how German engineering produced the deadly Tiger and Panther tanks — and why the American Sherman became known as the “Queen of the Battlefield.”
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Doc Holliday's Woman, Big Nose Kate, and the Untold Story of the West’s Most Misunderstood Lady
On this episode of Our American Stories, known to history as Big Nose Kate, Mary Katherine Horony was more than a footnote in Doc Holliday’s life. She was a trained nurse, a sharp-tongued survivor, and a force in her own right. Her story is a window into the grit and resilience of women in the American West. The History Guy shares the true story of this often misunderstood icon of the Wild West.
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"White Elephant" & "Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. His book is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases. This time, Andrew explores the backstories of phrases like “white elephant” and “wear your heart on your sleeve,” among others.
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The Story of the First Asian American to Command an Army Division
On this episode of Our American Stories, Major General James Mukoyama shares his remarkable journey from a blue-collar neighborhood in Chicago to becoming the first Asian American to command a U.S. Army division. The journey didn’t come easily, requiring strength, leadership, resilience, and the courage to break down barriers. His book is Faith, Family & Flag: Memoirs of an Unlikely American Samurai Crusader.
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The Time I Nearly Died in Pilot Training
On this episode of Our American Stories, during a high-stakes flight, pilot trainee Peter Braxton lost control of his aircraft and almost didn’t live to tell the tale. That near-death experience would prepare him for something no one could have imagined: becoming the first Air Force pilot airborne over the Twin Towers on 9/11. Here’s Peter with the story.
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The Story of Justice Scalia: From His Immigrant Roots to the Highest Court in the Land (Pt. 2)
On this episode of Our American Stories, James Rosen, author of Scalia: Rise to Greatness, shares the story of Antonin Scalia’s unlikely but inevitable rise to the U.S. Supreme Court. His family, faith, and immigrant roots were the drivers of his unwavering belief in the Constitution, which, in turn, led to him becoming one of the most impactful judges in American history.
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