Episodes

This week I am finishing up the life of Sojourner Truth.

As the country prepared for Civil War, Truth continued in her mission of preaching and advocating for what she believed was right. She became a national figure and was able to meet with several sitting presidents.

Truth became a national symbol of abolition, women's suffrage and the ills of slavery. However she was committed to ensuring the betterment of her fellow former slaves and spent her later years working towards that goal.

Listen in as I discuss these and why she, to me, remains an important piece of American history.

Happy 2022!

I wanted to start the year off by sharing the story of a strong woman from history. Born a slave in New York in 1797, Sojourner Truth lived what seems like ten lifetimes. From self emancipation to suing to rectify wrongs, Truth was a woman strong in her convictions and dedicated to her faith.

So this week I am starting the life and times of Sojourner Truth.

Happy Holidays Peeps!

Join me this week as I dive into the history of the Christmas in America. From the Candy Cane to the Ugly Sweater, America has plenty of odd and interesting traditions during the holiday season, but where in the heck did they all come from?

Tune in and find out!

I also took some time in the episode to send love to some of my favorite shows - I hope you check them out.

Let me just say - I love when you peeps give me topics to dive into!

The Battle of the Alamo; likely one of the most iconic events in United States History. Filled with stories of patriotic duty, heroism and fighting against tyranny.

Most people know about the thirteen day siege, however there is much more than meets the eye. Grab your cup of coffee and sit back as I chat about The Alamo.

Thanks again to longtime listener Mike for the suggestion!

Immigration policy in the United States is a hotly debated and discussed topic.

However, as the country who proudly professes to be a nation of immigrants, just how did U.S. Immigration policy develop?

This week, I start discussing the evolution go immigration policy in the United States with the passage and impact of the Steerage Act of 1819.

As the United States continued to be dedicated to expanding its borders and territory, many indigenous and escaped enslaved individuals sought refuge in the Spanish held territory of Florida.

Uncomfortable with the alliances made and desperate to attain the landmass to the south, the United States began a dedicated campaign to destroy indigenous settlements and led the Spanish to relinquish their control of the territory.

Tune in as I dive into the Seminole War of 1818 and what impacts it had to the country and the indigenous people who lived there.

It is one of the most infamous political scandals in United States history; a massive conspiracy to spy on political rivals, influence voters and secure the presidential victory of one man, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Watergate is such a large and widespread political cover up, I couldn't possibly do it on my own. So this week, I asked the fabulous ladies Rachel and Leah from Hashtag History to help break down this infamous piece of political history.

And follow Hashtag History on Instagram at hashtaghistory_podcast and tune into their show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Episode marked "explicit" due to quotes included in the episode containing swear words.

Dolley Madison is one of the most treasured and popular first ladies in American history. However most of her story has been clouded with half truths and urban legend.

This week, I dive into the life and times of Madison and try to get behind some of the myths surrounding the famous first lady.

Tune in this week as I chat about the presidency of one of the most gifted political minds of the founding era, James Madison.

Given all the work he put into the creation of the republic, it was never a question of if but when Madison would take the reins. So why is his presidency seen as kind of a dud? Tune in as I dive into this and more.

This week I am diving into the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

Facing a continued onslaught of new white settlers and constant betrayal by the United States government, several members of the Creek Tribal Confederacy wanted to take a defiant stance against those invading their territory. However, others were more willing to engage with the white men and women, hoping to balance their culture with their own. The result was a civil war among the nations, exploited in the fight known as Horseshoe Bend.

It's almost Halloween, which means - it's time for a haunted edition of Civics & Coffee.

This week I am diving into the trials, tribulations and downright horror that was the cross country journey of the Donner Party.

There is cannibalism, sure. But there is also so much more.

Did you know the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was not the largest to hit the United States?

Tune in as I discover a series of devastating earthquakes, known as the New Madrid Earthquake Sequence. For a few months in 1811 and 1812, residents of the small community were left helpless as the ground beneath their feet shook violently, destroying property and altering the geological landscape.

This week's episode comes as the result of a listener request!

Someone asked me to review the history of black cemeteries in the United States. As Africans were imported to this country, their dead bodies were often discarded in undesirable locations of the property of those who claimed ownership of them. While their place of rest may have changed, the overall treatment of their remains remained questionable at best. 

These historic burial plots have gone mostly unprotected and poorly maintained. Learn about what they are, how they came to be and why there is a push for their protection.

Can you name the largest slave revolt in United States history? If you're thinking Nat Turner, try again.

This week I am diving into the little known revolt of 1811, the largest slave revolt in American history. Estimated forces of up to 500 strong marched towards New Orleans, determined to free themselves and their brethren from the chains of slavery.

Episode marked explicit due to the violence covered in the episode. Exercise caution with younger listeners.

This week I am discussing Congress' decision to eliminate the international slave trade in 1808. While a key first step in the abolition of chattel slavery, the federal law did little to blunt the spread of slavery throughout the country.

Protected by federal law, the domestic slave trade flourished, leading to the forced migration of millions of human beings.

Join me this week as I dive into the presidential administration of one of our most complicated and controversial figures, Thomas Jefferson.

A man filled with contradictions, Jefferson could be both a brilliant visionary and a walking hypocrite. He supported limited government, until the Louisiana Purchase; opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts until he was attacked.

Complex and challenging, Jefferson remains one of the most interesting and controversial figures in American history.

Join me as I chat about the nation's largest public library - the Library of Congress.

From its establishment to its current collection, I share all about this fabulous institution.

It's been twenty years since the September 11th terrorist attacks. As one of the defining moments of a generation, this episode is walkthrough of the events of that day and memories by a few people who were kind enough to sit down with me and discuss their memories.

Tune in as I tackle the mystery surrounding Sally Hemings, the enslaved woman who had a decades long affair with Thomas Jefferson.

While so much of her story remains unknown, the story of Sally Hemings remains a critical piece of the American story. Who was Sally Hemings? How did their relationship begin? And what evidence exists regarding their relationship?

I attempt to tackle all of this and more with this episode.

The Supreme Court is considered the ultimate arbiter of whether laws are in line with the United States Constitution. But how did they achieve this power? It isn't outlined in the original document.

Judicial review, or the authority to determine whether a law is constitutional, came as the result of one of the most infamous court cases in United States history: Marbury v. Madison.

So tune in as I discuss how we got judicial review and how John Marshall set the court on a historic journey with one decision.

This week I dive into the Lewis and Clark expedition and the only woman to join the Corps of Discovery,  Sacagawea.

Much of Sacagawea's life remains a mystery, but one thing that is certain is her impact and influence over the 5,000 mile journey undertaken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the Corps of Discovery.

In this episode I cover the history of the Louisiana Purchase, the origins of Sacagawea and provide an overview of the journey to survey the new land.

Civics & Coffee is officially one! Thanks everyone for the adventure. In this episode, I answer questions from YOU!

Note: I was contacted regarding potential inaccuracies to my episodes about the Little Rock Nine. Thanks to their feedback, this episode now contains an edit.

This week I dive into the lives of the Little Rock Nine after their first year at Central High School. Learn what happened to Ernest Green, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Minnijean Brown, Melba Pattillo Beals, Thelma Mothershed and Carlotta Walls LaNier after that tumultuous school year and what they are up to now.

Join me this week as I start a series on the nine children who were the first to desegregate schools in the south. Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Terrence Roberts, Minniejean Brown, Jefferson Allison Thomas, Gloria Ray, Thelma Mothershed and Melba Pattillo were all just teenagers seeking the best education possible.

History has dubbed them the Little Rock Nine; this week I provide the background to their story, including touching a little of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education. Tune in next week as I share more information about the students themselves and how their efforts influenced school policy for future generations.