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.
1776: The Year the Colonies Turned Against Britain
Higgins: The Louisiana Boat Builder Who Won World War II
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, they needed a way to get from ship to shore quickly, directly, and under fire. That job fell to a simple but revolutionary landing craft known as the Higgins boat, a vessel that could run up on the beach and drop its front ramp in seconds. Eisenhower himself called it a key reason victory was even possible.
Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs, authors of Higgins and the Boats That Landed Victory in World War II, share the story of Andrew Higgins and how an invention born in the bayous of Louisiana helped change the course of World War II.
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The Wealthy Man Who Refused to Live Like One
On this episode of Our American Stories, Kenny Monfort built significant wealth, but he didn’t live like someone trying to prove it. Hank Brown shares what it was like working for a man who valued humility over appearance, and character over status. Whether showing grace to those who criticized him or refusing to measure success by what he owned, Monfort lived out his beliefs in quiet, everyday ways. It’s a story about money, yes, but more than that, it’s about the kind of man he chose to be
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A Player’s View of the University of Wisconsin Stampede
On this episode of Our American Stories, when a stadium full of excited sports fans pressed downhill against inadequate crowd control, tragedy struck in an instant. Michael Brin, a player on the field that day and now an emergency physician, shares his harrowing story of the infamous University of Wisconsin stampede and its aftermath.
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How General Lafayette’s Return to America Healed a Divided Nation
On this episode of Our American Stories, by the 1820s, many of the heroes of the American Revolution were gone, and the country they helped create was already beginning to divide. When General Lafayette returned, his visit quickly turned into a nationwide event. His grand tour across the country drew massive crowds and reminded Americans of the leaders and ideals that shaped the nation. Towns, counties, and landmarks across the country still carry his name because of the impact of that visit.
Ryan L. Cole, author of The Last Adieu, shares the story of one of the most unifying moments in early American history. We’d like to thank the Library of Congress for originally hosting this audio.
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How My Grandpa’s Singing Changed My Life
On this episode of Our American Stories, Maureen Elwyn shares the heartfelt story of a moment with her elderly grandfather and his beautiful singing as she played the organ. We’d like to thank Leslie Leyland Fields for introducing us to this story.
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Diego Moreno: Husband, Father, Officer
On this episode of Our American Stories, Diego Moreno was a police officer in Washington, a trainer, and a father whose life left a lasting mark on those closest to him. His wife and patrol partner share the story of the energy, devotion, and sense of duty he brought to his work in law enforcement.
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The Story of America: Thomas Jefferson's Dying Words On Slavery [Ep. 20]
On this episode of Our American Stories, in our 20th episode of our ongoing Story of Us, The Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares the story of a rapidly changing America in the early 19th century. As the nation expanded westward and experienced unprecedented economic growth, a deeper conflict loomed beneath the surface.
At the center of it all was slavery, an unresolved issue that threatened to divide the country. Through the lens of the Missouri Compromise and the warnings of Thomas Jefferson, Dr. McClay explores a nation on the brink of a collision over the very meaning of freedom, liberty, and the future of the Union.
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The Father Who Survived Bataan and Came Home a Hero
On this episode of Our American Stories, Estel Myers joined the military after an argument with his father and soon found himself in the Philippines as the war in the Pacific turned against American forces. After the fall of Bataan, he was captured by the Japanese and forced into one of the darkest chapters of World War II, the Bataan Death March. He survived imprisonment, brutal treatment, and the uncertainty that defined life as a prisoner of war in the Pacific.
His children tell the story of the man who came home after the war and the father they grew up knowing. In remembering Estel Myers, they reflect on his World War II service, the meaning of POW survival, and why his story still matters today.
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Ted Williams and the Story Behind Baseball’s Greatest Hitter
On this episode of Our American Stories, few players in baseball history match what Ted Williams accomplished at the plate. Called the “John Wayne of sports,” he carried a secret, one he was told to bury: his Hispanic heritage.
Williams was the last player to bat .400, a 17-time All-Star, a two-time Most Valuable Player, and a two-time Triple Crown winner. Ben Bradlee Jr., author of The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams, shares the sweeping story of his life, from his illustrious baseball career to his service in the military, where he fought in two major wars, World War II and the Korean War.
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