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.
Louis Zamperini's Story—in His Own Words
George Washington and the Day He Refused a Crown
On this episode of Our American Stories, at the end of the Revolutionary War, with soldiers restless and unpaid, whispers spread about replacing Congress with a monarchy. Some even suggested that George Washington take the throne. In what became known as the Newburgh Conspiracy, Washington faced a decision that could have reshaped America’s future.
Instead of seizing power, he delivered words that calmed his officers and secured the path of a republic. Washington interpreter Brian Hilton, along with Vince Benedetto, shares the story of the day Washington refused to be king.
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The Inventor of the Machine Gun Became Deaf—So His Son Invented the Silencer
On this episode of Our American Stories, Hiram Percy Maxim grew up in the shadow of firepower. His father invented the machine gun, a weapon that changed modern warfare. But when that same weapon left his father deaf, Hiram took a different path. In 1902, he invented the first commercial gun silencer and later applied the same technology to early automobile engines.
His work shaped not only the future of firearms but also the way engines and mechanical noise evolved across the 20th century. A pioneer of American invention, Maxim's legacy includes firearms suppressors, automotive mufflers, and a quieter world. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, shares the story.
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A Good Name Is the Greatest Inheritance
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Steve Rakeman was young, his father gave him a simple instruction: “I’m giving you my name. There’s nothing wrong with it. Make sure you pass it on as clean as I gave it to you.”
Steve and his son, Mike, share how that lesson shaped three generations of their family, guiding them through dangerous work, tempting opportunities, costly mistakes, and the everyday responsibility to earn an honest living, care for their families, and do what is right.
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I Once Killed for Money. Then I Couldn't Bear to Hurt a Grasshopper
On this episode of Our American Stories, for years, Bill Corum lived as an enforcer in the Kansas City underworld, surrounded by violence, drugs, money, and power. He smuggled guns, dealt cocaine, spent time in prison, and admits he was willing to kill for money. None of it brought him peace.
In his remarkable story, Bill shares how a dramatic encounter with God changed his life, leading him from a life of crime to decades of prison ministry and redemption. Bill's book, The Ultimate Pardon, is a must read.
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“Put a Sock in It” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 18)
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—this time exploring the phrase “put a sox in it” and others. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, uncovers the quirky roots behind the words we use every day. Be sure to check it out!
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How the Memoir I Never Wanted to Write Changed My Life
On this episode of Our American Stories, for years, author Leslie Leyland Fields believed the best stories belonged to other people. Then her literary agent challenged her to write the one book she never wanted to write: her own memoir.
Leslie, a regular contributor to Our American Stories, shares how writing Surviving the Island of Grace forced her to confront the deeper story beneath her experiences living on a remote Alaska island, transforming not only her writing but her understanding of grace, healing, and the power of telling the truth about our own lives.
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A Wrestling Match Made Abraham Lincoln a Frontier Legend?
On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln had another claim to fame: he was one of the toughest men on the Illinois frontier.
When a local champion named Jack Armstrong challenged the young Lincoln to a wrestling match, the showdown became the stuff of legend. Wrestling historian Mike Chapman, author of The Sport of Lincoln, shares the forgotten story of the bout that made "Honest Abe" a hometown hero long before he entered the White House.
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Everything I Needed to Know About Work, I Learned Selling Hot Dogs at Twins Games
On this episode of Our American Stories, as a teenager, Jim Johnson landed what he thought was a dream job selling hot dogs at Minnesota Twins games in Metropolitan Stadium. But between spilled hot dogs, difficult customers, colorful coworkers, and unforgettable moments with baseball's biggest stars, he discovered that the biggest lessons had nothing to do with baseball.
The longtime Minnesota pastor and Our American Stories regular contributor shares his story of how hawking hot dogs at the Old Met changed his life for the better.
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What a Motorcycle Crash Taught Me About Risk, Faith, and Letting Go
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Brent Timmons' son was involved in a motorcycle accident on his way to work, a frightening phone call sent his family racing to the scene, unsure of what they would find. Thankfully, the crash was minor, but it became a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change.
Brent reflects on what the accident taught his family about balancing caution with courage, and why a life without risk isn't really living at all.
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