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.
Finding Dave Dinan: A Vietnam War POW-MIA Story
An Immigrant Story About Education, Football, and the American Dream
On this episode of Our American Stories, every immigrant story begins with a decision to leave something familiar behind. For Kevin Samy’s father, that meant leaving a village where opportunity was scarce and education was almost nonexistent.
Samy shares how that journey to the United States influenced his upbringing, from growing up in a diverse American community to discovering how football, education, and discipline helped shape the path of his life.
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A Grandfather, a Farm, and a Life Well Lived
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons, a listener of Our American Stories, shares the story of his grandfather, a quiet man known in the family simply as “Pop Pop.” Vernon Timmons lived a modest life in southern Delaware, working hard, speaking little, and rarely seeking attention. He briefly ran a small gas station and later worked long hours while farming a piece of land outside the town of Dagsboro.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Pastor Who Tried To Kill Hitler
On this episode of Our American Stories, the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer sits at the intersection of faith, politics, and conscience during one of the darkest chapters of modern history. As a Lutheran pastor and theologian, Bonhoeffer spoke openly against the Nazi regime and later became connected to members of the underground resistance working to overthrow Adolf Hitler.
Eric Metaxas shares the story behind Bonhoeffer’s life, from his early years as a pastor to the sacrifice that ultimately made him one of the most compelling figures of Christian resistance during World War II. Metaxas is the author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.
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Madam C.J. Walker: America’s First Self-Made Female Millionaire
On this episode of Our American Stories, born on the land of the former plantation where her parents had been enslaved, Madam C. J. Walker married young, became a mother young, was widowed young, and divorced young. Out of necessity, she went on to create a revolutionary hair care product that transformed her life and helped make her one of the first self-made female millionaires in American history.
A'lelia Bundles, Walker’s great-great-great-granddaughter and author of On Her Own Ground, shares the remarkable story of entrepreneurship, resilience, and legacy behind one of the most influential businesswomen in American history.
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When FDR Warned That Tyranny Begins by Silencing Religion
On this episode of Our American Stories, in his 1939 State of the Union address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt warned that attacks on religion often appear alongside attacks on democracy itself.
Speaking at a time when authoritarian regimes were rising overseas, Roosevelt argued that freedom of religion and political liberty were closely connected. Our American Stories’ own Lee Habeeb shares the story behind this powerful presidential address and the warning FDR delivered about threats to free societies.
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The Real Saint Patrick Behind St. Patrick’s Day
On this episode of Our American Stories, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world with shamrocks, green clothing, and parades, but the real Saint Patrick lived a life far removed from the holiday that grew up around his name.
As a teenager, Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave. Years later, he returned to the same land, this time as a Christian missionary determined to share his faith with the Irish people. Our own Greg Hengler tells the astonishing tale of the man behind the holiday.
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The Letter John Bryan Wrote Before Leaving the Family Business for Sara Lee
On this episode of Our American Stories, John Bryan spent decades in the business world leading the Sara Lee Corporation and helping shape one of America’s most recognizable food brands. His leadership also left a mark on Chicago, where he helped bring the vision of Millennium Park to life.
But before the boardrooms and public projects, John Bryan was simply an older brother. George Bryan joins us to pay tribute to his brother, John.
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How the Triple Crown Brought a Father and Son Together Again
On this episode of Our American Stories, for thirty-seven years, no horse won the Triple Crown. Then, in 2015, American Pharoah finally broke the drought and gave horse racing one of its biggest moments in a generation.
For former media executive Gary Ginsberg, that win brought back something more personal. Watching the Triple Crown races returned him to the Sundays he spent at the track with his father, where the horses, the racing form, and the rhythm of the day became part of their relationship. Here's Gary with his moving story.
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Will Rogers: America’s Cowboy Philosopher
On this episode of Our American Stories, few public figures captured the American mood quite like Will Rogers. Raised in "Indian Territory" and shaped by the traditions of the American West, he first gained attention as a rope-twirling performer in vaudeville. From there his career expanded rapidly. Rogers became a film star, newspaper columnist, and radio personality whose observations about politics and everyday life were quoted across the country.
Tad Jones, director of the Will Rogers Memorial, shares the story of the man often called America’s cowboy philosopher, along with historic audio from Lux Radio Theater.
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