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.
Are Professional Wrestlers Athletes?
The Story of How Chick-fil-A Borrowed “My Pleasure” from a Luxury Hotel
On this episode of Our American Stories, the origins of Chick-fil-A’s “my pleasure” catchphrase trace back to 2001. According to Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, it began when he visited a Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel, co-founded by his friend Horst Schulze. Here's Horst with the story.
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How an Escaped Slave Hijacked a Confederate Ship and Sailed It to Freedom
On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy shares the remarkable story of Robert Smalls, an escaped slave who stole a Confederate ship, rescued his family, and delivered freedom to many others.
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The Story of "Of Beards and Men" and How They Define Masculinity in Culture
On this episode of Our American Stories, Professor Christopher Oldstone-Moore makes the case that today’s bearded renaissance is part of a centuries-long cycle in which facial hairstyles have shifted in response to changing ideals of masculinity.
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The Story of George Washington
On this episode of Our American Stories, aside from the cherry tree legend, which, of course, isn't true, most of us don't know much about George Washington. To many, he's just a man peering at us from a dollar bill or a figure carved in marble. Here's the definitive story of the most important man in American history.
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The Story of the Men Who Built the Most Expensive and Most Powerful Gun: The Colt Walker
On this episode of Our American Stories, for a time, a near-mint Colt Walker held the distinction of being the most expensive gun ever sold, fetching $1.8 million at auction in 2018. Here to tell the story of the legendary Colt Walker revolver is Logan Metesh. Logan is the founder of High Caliber History LLC and has over a decade of experience working for the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service.
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The Story of Bing Crosby and David Bowie’s “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth"
On this episode of Our American Stories, it was one of the oddest—and best—musical collaborations of the 20th century. Old-school pop crooner Bing Crosby partnered with British glam rocker David Bowie to create one of the most cherished Christmas songs of all time. But it almost didn’t happen. Here's the story of what went on behind the scenes to make sure it did.
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Abercrombie & Fitch: The Story Behind the Story of an Iconic American Brand
On this episode of Our American Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch clothing stores conquered malls in the late ’90s and early ’00s with gorgeous models, pulsing dance beats, and a fierce scent. What most people don’t know is that the company was founded in 1892 in New York City as an outfitter for elite outdoorsmen. Here to tell the full story is Ashley Hlebinsky, former co-host of Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms, former curator in charge of the Cody Firearms Museum, and co-founder of the University of Wyoming College of Law’s Firearms Research Center.
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“High and Dry & Let the Cat Out of the Bag” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions
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. His book is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases.
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American Freedom Machines: The Story of Harley-Davidson
On this episode of Our American Stories, when Margie Siegal was a teenager, she had a boyfriend with a motorcycle. The boyfriend was forgettable—the motorcycle wasn’t. Since then, she has written extensively about motorcycle history and is the author of Harley-Davidson: A History of the World’s Most Famous Motorcycle. Here she is with the story of Harley-Davidson.
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