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.
Liquor and the Law: Taking a Wine Bottle to the Supreme Court
The Sweet and Surprising History of PEZ Candy
On this episode of Our American Stories, PEZ found great success in its native Austria but struggled when it first entered the American market. Shawn Peterson, author of PEZ: From Austrian Invention to American Icon, shares the fascinating story of how this quirky manual candy dispenser evolved into a beloved pop culture phenomenon.
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Bruce Wang, All-American: The Chinese Cowboy with a Southern Accent
On this episode of Our American Stories, Bruce may be Chinese born, but as you’re about to hear, he’s all American. Here he is with his unique story.
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The True Story of the Plot to Steal Abraham Lincoln’s Corpse
On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1800s, body snatching was surprisingly common, but stealing the body of a U.S. president was not. Historian Louis Picone shares the incredible true story of the harebrained scheme to steal Abraham Lincoln’s remains and hold them for ransom.
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The Story of How the Muppets Began as a TV Commercial
On this episode of Our American Stories, Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography, tells the story of how some of America’s most beloved characters—the Muppets—got their start in advertising and television commercials.
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Hitler Called Him "The New Noah": Andrew Higgins and the Boats That Won WWII
On this episode of Our American Stories, Eisenhower once said that D-Day would never have happened without this man's boat, born out of the swamps of Louisiana. This is the story of Andrew Higgins—the brash and bold Irishman whose boat-building plants employed one out of every five Louisianans during the war and helped seal the fate of both the Third Reich and Imperial Japan.
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Paul Revere's Ride
On this episode of Our American Stories, in this dramatic reading, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalizes Old North Church and Paul Revere in American folklore, cementing their place in the nation’s history.
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The Marine-Turned Saturday Morning Cartoonist: "My Calling from God Is to Be an Animator"
On this episode of Our American Stories, after a career in the Marines, Mike Jones went on to work for some of the most successful animation studios, including Hanna-Barbera and Marvel Productions. He later left Marvel to produce and direct McGee and Me! and animate Adventures in Odyssey. After 30 years of work, his long-awaited project, Theo Presents, was finally released. Here’s Mike with his inspiring story of faith and creativity.
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Burt Young’s Story: The Man Who Played Paulie in "Rocky" Opens Up About His Family and His Craft
On this episode of Our American Stories, Burt Young is an instantly recognizable character actor, known for his half-muttered voice and flinty gaze—traits that made him the perfect fit for Rocky as Sylvester Stallone’s ill-mannered brother-in-law, Paulie. Here’s Burt Young with his story.
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Hollywood Goes to War: The Story of Wayne Morris, the Brad Pitt of His Day
On this episode of Our American Stories, historian Roger McGrath returns with another installment of his “Hollywood Goes to War” series. We've already heard the wartime stories of Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, and Tyrone Power. This time, it’s the tale of Wayne Morris—a strapping, steely-eyed leading man who traded movie sets for the skies in World War II.
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