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.
Losing Both Arms at Ten and Learning to Live Again
Spam: How a Canned Meat Became an American Icon
On this episode of Our American Stories, ask ten people what Spam is, and you will hear ten different answers. Some think of canned meat on a grocery shelf. Others think of World War II rations or Spam in Hawaii. A few still wonder what the word actually means.
Dustin Black, the author of The Book of Spam, explains where Spam came from, how it got its name, and why this canned meat outlasted countless food trends.
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The Dog Food CEO Who Ate Kibble for 30 Days
On this episode of Our American Stories, in an age of viral marketing campaigns and carefully crafted advertising strategies, one Texas business owner took a very direct approach. Mitch Felderhoff, co-owner of Muenster Milling in Muenster, Texas, decided to eat nothing but his company’s dog food for 30 days. The goal was simple: prove confidence in the product and create a publicity stunt people could not ignore.
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he Story of America: Cuba, the Philippines, and the Making of an American Empire [Ep. 38]
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1898, the mysterious explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor lit a fuse that had already been burning for months. The ensuing Spanish–American War lasted only a few months, but its consequences still shape American foreign policy. American forces defeated Spain in Cuba and in the Philippines, ending centuries of Spanish colonial rule. For the first time, the United States faced the challenge of governing distant lands and defending its actions on the global stage.
As part of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Bill McClay, the author of Land of Hope, shares the story of the Spanish–American War, from Havana Harbor to Manila, and explains why this “splendid little war” marked a turning point in U.S. history.
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Driving Into the Alaskan Wilderness—and the Storm That Changed Me
On this episode of Our American Stories, Kent Nerburn, author of Letters to My Son, set out on a road trip through Alaska as a young man—and found himself facing far more than he expected. As a snowstorm closed in, his group pushed past the last checkpoint and onto a narrow gravel road carved for the Alaska Pipeline, with no guardrails, no shelter, and miles of wilderness in every direction.
What followed was a harrowing climb through the Brooks Range, moments of real danger, and then a sudden emergence into a vast Arctic landscape that reshaped how Kent understood fear, beauty, and himself.
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Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker: Stories From the Early Years
On this episode of Our American Stories, Elvis Presley’s rise to become the King of Rock and Roll did not happen in isolation. Behind the scenes stood his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who helped guide the career of a young Elvis during the explosive years of 1950s rock and roll.
Greg McDonald met Elvis Presley as a teenager shortly after Colonel Parker began managing him. What followed were encounters that reveal the personalities behind the headlines. Greg shares three stories from inside the early world of Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker.
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Who Invented Snowboarding? The Story of Jake Burton Carpenter
On this episode of Our American Stories, snowboarding grew from a niche winter activity into a global sport within a single generation. At the center of that transformation stood Jake Burton Carpenter.
As founder of Burton Snowboards, he played a central role in shaping the sport’s growth, guiding it from informal gatherings to professional events and eventually Olympic competition. Our own Greg Hengler shares the story of Jake Burton and the rise of snowboarding as both an industry and an international sport.
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Why Cincinnati Is Named After George Washington—and a Roman Farmer
On this episode of Our American Stories, King George III once said that if George Washington truly resigned his commission and returned to his farm, he would be the greatest man in the world. Washington did exactly that.
Washington’s decision echoed the story of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman farmer and general who left his plow to defend the Roman Republic and then gave up power just as quickly.
Hillsdale College professor Kenneth Calvert shares the story of Cincinnatus shaped the image of George Washington and how the city of Cincinnati came to bear the name of a Roman statesman.
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The Story of America: The Framers and the Summer of 1787 [Ep. 9]
On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Constitutional Convention opened in 1787, the United States was less than a decade old and already struggling. The Articles of Confederation had created a loose union of states with a Congress that lacked the power to tax, enforce laws, or stabilize the economy. By 1787, many leaders believed the country could not continue as it was.
The men who met in Philadelphia were not unanimous in their views, but they shared a belief that reform was necessary. What began as a plan to amend the existing system became an effort to draft an entirely new Constitution. As part of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Bill McClay, the author of Land of Hope, shares the riveting story of the start of the Constitutional Convention and how the men there set out to create a document meant to last.
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Ruth Graham’s Farewell to Her Father Billy Graham
On this episode of Our American Stories, few figures shaped modern American Christianity like Billy Graham. His sermons reached across denominations and generations, and his ministry left a lasting mark on the country’s religious life. When Billy Graham passed away, tributes poured in from around the world. At his funeral, however, the most personal reflection came from his daughter, Ruth Graham.
In this Final Thoughts segment, Ruth shares memories of her father that go beyond the public image of a famous evangelist and reveal the man she knew at home.
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