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.

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The SR-71 Blackbird Disaster at 78,000 Feet: How One Pilot Fell from Space and Survived

The Truth Behind the “Cursed” Heiress, Sarah Winchester, and the Mansion She Built

On this episode of Our American Stories, the mansion she built is world-renowned, as much for its many design curiosities and innovations as for its reported paranormal activity. Here to tell the story is Ashley Hlebinsky, former co-host of Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms, former curator in charge of the Cody Firearms Museum, and president of The Gun Code, LLC.

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Pastor of the Pilgrims, John Robinson: 100 Bible Verses That Made America

On this episode of Our American Stories, what role did the Bible play in shaping America? According to Robert J. Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That Made America, it was central, especially for early leaders like Pastor John Robinson, who used scripture to guide the Pilgrims toward their historic journey. Here's Morgan with the story.

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How Fannie Farmer's Precise Measurements Revolutionized Home Cooking

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Fannie Farmer, home cooking relied on instinct and improvisation. With the release of The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, she introduced standardized measurements that revolutionized American kitchens. Her push for precision brought consistency to everyday meals and gave home cooks the confidence to follow reliable, repeatable recipes. Ken Albala, professor of history and food studies at the University of the Pacific, shares how Farmer’s legacy shaped modern cooking.

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Hollywood Movie Legend George O’Brien Left Everything to Serve His Country in WWII

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Hollywood had sound, George O’Brien was a leading man in the silent era. But when WWII called, this famous silent film actor left the red carpet behind and joined the fight. His story reveals how one of the most recognizable male silent movie stars became an American war hero. As part of our ongoing "Hollywood Goes to War" series, Roger McGrath, author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes: Violence on the Frontier, shares the story.

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Meryl Comer's Most Personal Assignment: Caring for Her Husband with Alzheimer's

On this episode of Our American Stories, caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer's is often invisible work, but not in this powerful account from Meryl Comer. The Emmy-winning journalist opens up about her husband's early-onset Alzheimer's and the emotional journey of becoming his full-time caregiver. Drawing from her memoir Slow Dancing with a Stranger, she offers deeply personal insight into the daily realities of Alzheimer's care, from the first signs of cognitive decline to the long road of loss, resilience, and unconditional love.

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Theodore Roosevelt: The Protestant President Who Protected an Antisemite with Jewish Police Officers

On this episode of Our American Stories, President Theodore Roosevelt is known for his many accomplishments: the Panama Canal, his wartime service, and national parks… but there’s one forgotten story that deserves to be remembered as well. As an icon of the Protestant elite, Roosevelt was an unlikely ally of the waves of impoverished Jewish newcomers who crowded the docks at Ellis Island — and he stood up against antisemitism in his city in an astonishing way. Here to tell the story is Arizona State history professor Andrew Porwancher, author of American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews.

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Saying Hello at a Diner Led to a Lifelong Friendship with a WWII Veteran and His Captured Nazi Flag

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jason Porter shares with us the story of how he met WWII veteran Forrest Johnson and how “Forrie” became his best friend.

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John Deere and the Invention That Changed the Heartland

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Deere wasn't always a household name. Before tractors transformed American agriculture, he had one revolutionary idea: a steel plow that could cut through tough prairie soil. Kirk Higgins of the Bill of Rights Institute shares the story of how John Deere got his start, how one piece of scrap metal transformed the West, and how the green tractors bearing his name continue to shape farming in the U.S.A. today.

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Buried as a Mystery, Remembered by Name: The Story of Michael Blassie

On this episode of Our American Stories, he was buried as the Vietnam Unknown beneath the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but Michael Joseph Blassie’s story didn’t end there. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project shares the story of how DNA revealed his name and changed a national tradition.

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