Episodes
Holy Local: Shae Corey on Religion, Oral History, and Public Memory in D.C.
What can one church in Washington, D.C. reveal about American religious life, social justice, and the power of oral history? In this episode, I talk with public historian Shae Corey, the creator and producer of the podcast Ho...
Diamond in the Rough: The Murder of Bessie Moore
In 1877, the body of a woman was found near a twisted oak tree in Jefferson, Texas—dressed in fine clothes, shot in the head, and missing a diamond ring. Her name was Bessie Moore, better known as Diamond Bessie. What followe...
Louisiana Voodoo: Untangling the Myths, the Magic, and the History
Join me this week as I dig into the real story behind Louisiana Voodoo — a spiritual tradition shaped by West African roots, Haitian resistance, and the streets of New Orleans. Discover how the Haitian Revolution sent shockwa...
White Man’s Law Rules the Country: The Modoc War
One of the costliest conflicts launched in opposition of Indigenous Americans, the Modoc War pitted the United States Army against a dwindling band of Modoc. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Modoc fighters successfull...
A Version of Sisterhood: Unwed & Unbothered with Emma Duval
From spinsters to old maids, women who broke conventions to remain single have long been derided as somehow outside of the norm. But history shows this has been happening for generations. What gives? Join me this week as I si...
Community Care: Black Women During Reconstruction
Join me this week as I explore the vital but often overlooked role of Black women in the Reconstruction-era South. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Black women were central to rebuilding Black communities and creating the s...
Unpacking the Mind Behind Vietnam: Dr. William Taubman on McNamara At War
Join me as I sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer William Taubman to explore his latest work, McNamara at War: A New History . Authors Philip and William Taubman take readers behind the scenes of Robert S. McNamara...
Talking to Books: Education during Reconstruction
After the Civil War, education became one of the most powerful tools for newly freed Black Americans and one of the most fiercely contested. Join me as I explore the rise of Black education during Reconstruction, from grassro...
Landscape of Ruin: The Southern Economy during Reconstruction
How do you replace enslaved labor and rebuild an economy?
In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Southern economy didn’t just have to recover; it had to reinvent itself. Join me as I explore how systems like sharecropping and the cotton lien system emerged to replace slavery, and why these systems often kept both Black and white farmers trapped in poverty.
This episode unpacks the economic realities of Reconstruction, revealing how freedom didn’t always come with opportunity—…
Art, Ambition & the Gilded Age: The Miniature Painter Revealed with Kathleen Langone
What can a miniature portrait painter teach us about fame, fortune, and forgotten women of the Gilded Age?
In this episode I welcome historian and author Kathleen Langone to explore the fascinating life and career of Amalia Kussner — one of the Gilded Age’s most sought-after portrait artists. Drawing from her new book, The Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner's Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune, Langone discusses Kussner’s remarkable rise, her elite clientele (includi…
Reconstruction Beyond the South: The Broken Promises to Mexican Americans
Reconstruction is often taught as a Southern story, focused on the political, social, and legal changes that followed the Civil War. But for Mexican Americans living in the American Southwest, this era brought a different set of challenges, betrayals, and broken promises.
Join me as I explore the Mexican American experience during Reconstruction. Learn how laws and treaties meant to protect land rights and citizenship were frequently ignored by both local and federal authorities. Fro…
Jay Gould: Titan or Tyrant?
Join me this week as I take a look at the life and legacy of Jay Gould, one of the most talked-about figures of the Gilded Age. From his early years in the tannery business to his rise as a major player in America’s railroad expansion, Gould left a complicated mark on U.S. history.
Learn how he navigated the cutthroat world of 19th-century finance, earned both admiration and criticism, and came to symbolize the era’s fierce capitalism. All in the time it takes to enjoy your morning c…
Exploring Conscience of a Nation: Zaakir Tameez on Charles Sumner’s Fight for Justice
Charles Sumner was one of the fiercest voices for abolition and racial equality in 19th-century America, but how much do we really know about the man behind the Senate desk? Join me as I sit down with Zaakir Tameez, author of Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, to explore the radical ideas, bold political stands, and enduring legacy of a leader who challenged a nation to live up to its ideals.
From Sumner’s anti-slavery crusade to his brutal caning on the Senate floor, we discuss…
The Page Act: How America Banned Chinese Women
In 1875, the United States passed the Page Act: the first federal law to restrict immigration. The Page Act marked a turning point in American immigration policy, introducing the use of moral and racial criteria to determine who could enter the country.
Join me as I examine the origins, language, and enforcement of the Page Act, how the law impacted immigration from China, and how it shaped future U.S. policies, including the Chinese Exclusion Act.
The Page Act is often overl…
Axes, Activism, and Abstinence: The WCTU and the Fight for Temperance
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was one of the most powerful reform organizations of the 19th century, but its story goes far beyond banning booze. Sit down with me as I dive into the WTCU's origins, its wide-ranging activism, and the influential women who helped shape its legacy.
From the moral crusades of Frances Willard and her ambitious "Do Everything" policy to the saloon-smashing spectacle of Carrie Nation, learn how temperance became a launchpad for broad…
Bringing History to Life: Rob Edwards on Robert Smalls in Defiant
Veteran screenwriter and producer Rob Edwards ( The Princess and the Frog , Treasure Planet ) joins the show to discuss his newest project: a graphic novel chronicling the extraordinary life of Robert Smalls, a man born into ...
Five Years of Civics & Coffee: Welcome to the New Era!
Sit down with me as I reflect on five years of Civics and Coffee! In this episode I look back on where I started and explain where I would like to go. I also give you an inside look into the rebranding of the show and how I l...
Ice: The Hidden History of a Hot Commodity with Dr. Amy Brady
What do cocktails, hospitals, and the American railroad system have in common? Ice.
This week, I’m joined by Dr. Amy Brady, author of Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks – A Cool History of a Hot Commodity, to explore how something as simple as frozen water reshaped the nation. From 19th-century ice harvesting to the rise of refrigeration and its impact on food, medicine, and leisure, we dive into the chilly history behind one of America’s most overlooked innovations.
W…
Riot or Massacre? Reclaiming the History of Colfax, 1873
For over a century, the Colfax Massacre was inaccurately labeled a “race riot.” But in reality, it stands as one of the deadliest instances of racial and political violence during the Reconstruction Era. Join me this episode as I uncover what happened in Colfax, Louisiana in 1873 including why Black citizens were targeted for defending their newly won rights and how the legal aftermath shaped the limits of federal civil rights enforcement for decades to come.
Grab your coffee and get…
Unforgettable Sacrifice with Dr. Hilary Green
Join me this week as I sit down with Dr. Hilary Green to discuss her latest book, Unforgettable Sacrifice: How Black Communities Remembered the Civil War. In our conversation we dive into the importance of preserving historical memory, the work of Black women to guard the past, and what we these communities teach us about the Civil War.
William "Boss" Tweed
In this episode I explore the life and legacy of the man who first established "bossism," William Tweed. Learn about Tweed's early life and his increasing influence while serving in local offices and how it all came crashing down.
Louisa May Alcott's Little Women
Join me this week as I dive into the story of Little Women and its author Louisa May Alcott. Learn all about Alcott's youth and exactly how the story of Little Women got started.
Reconstruction's Legal Legacy with Dr. Matthew Brogdon
Joining me this week is scholar and fellow podcaster Dr. Matthew Brogdon. He is a Political Scientist with an expertise in American Constitutionalism. In this episode, we discuss the history of the 13th and 14th Amendments and how they reshaped American society. We also spent time talking about how the amendments of this period influence our society today.
America's Drink: Bourbon
Join me this week as I dive into another listener request and tackle the history of Bourbon. In this episode I cover when Bourbon got its start in the United States, how it differs from Scottish Whiskey, and why it is considered America's drink.
The episode also mentions the Whiskey Rebellion, which you can learn more about by listening to the episode I dedicated to it back in 2021 here. Happy listening!