Episodes

Another bonus episode in celebration of Women's History Month.

This week I am diving into the life and presidential run of Shirley Chisholm. Born in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, Shirley would buck convention over and over as she broke barriers and championed women's rights.

And while she came back into the conversation during Kamala Harris' presidential run, there is so much more to the story.

I asked - you answered!

This week is all about famed scientist, statesmen and printer Benjamin Franklin. Listen to learn all about the amazing accomplishments and achievements this one founding father crammed into his 84 years.

From running a newspaper to founding the University of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin can be seen and felt to this day.

This month I am celebrating women and their accomplishments throughout history. All topics showcased on Wednesdays this month are suggestions from you, my listeners!

This week I am talking about the history and impact women have made in the field of technology - primarily computers and programming. Did you know that women computers date back to the 1800's? Tune in to this episode to learn that and more!

This week I am taking a momentary break from covering all the happenings surrounding the constitution and covering a trail blazer: artist, icon and all around bad ass woman, Frida Kahlo.

Though this is a United States history focused podcast, Frida made her mark on the United States - and the U.S on her. Some of her most infamous artwork was painted during her time in the United States including Henry Ford Hospital, My Dress Hangs There and Self Portrait on the Border of Mexico and the United States. So this week, in honor of my friend's birthday, I am covering the fierce and formidable Frida Kahlo.

It is the document that provided the foundation for American democracy and is internationally revered. And while it is so familiar to us as the bedrock of our government, very few of us know exactly what it says. And so this episode takes the deep dive. Article by article, section by section.
Take a listen and learn about just what Madison and his buddies sent out to the states for ratification. Enjoy.

This week I am talking all about the debates and compromises that went into writing the Constitution. From James Madison's Virginia Plan to the Three-Fifths Compromise, tune in this week as I dive into how the framers were able to produce a new form of representative government never before seen.

Sources In This Episode:

The Virgnia Plan, U.S Senate. (LINK)


These Truths by Jill Lepore


Building the American Republic, Volume 1: A Narrative History History to 1877 by Harry L Watson and Jane...

The Articles of Confederation were flawed and in need of a massive rewrite, however support for such an idea was severely lacking. In the newly established country's mind, the tacit partnership agreement found within the articles was the perfect balance of sovereignty and unity.

So how did fifty-five delegates manage to get together in Philadelphia over the summer of 1787 and create a brand new document? Tune in this week as I discuss the run up to the Constitutional Convention and some of the ...

Very little is known about the first black inventor, scientist and part time surveyor, Benjamin Banneker. However, what is known is infinitely fascinating.

This week, I discuss the life of Benjamin Banneker. From growing up on a tobacco farm in Maryland, to partaking in the survey of the newly established capital city, Banneker defied expectations and was one of the first Black Americans to publish a series of Almanacs.

Learn all about the inventor this week on Civics & Coffee.

Sources Used T...

This week I wrap up my two part series on the mission to put the first man on the moon, Apollo 11.

In this episode, I give you the history of the three man team that made up Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong, Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin and Mike Collins, how they prepared for such a historic mission and an overview of Apollo 11 itself. Tune in!

Sources Used for This Episode:



Shoot for the Moon by James Donovan


Apollo 11. Directed by Todd Douglas Miller. CNN Films. 2019. Hulu. (LINK)


Math Invented fo...

The first part of a two part series running down the history the first man to ever walk on the moon. Learn all about how NASA was created and how one became an astronaut.

An episode all about our first draft of government - the Articles of Confederation! Including what led to it's eventual failure.

This episode focuses on the institution and attitude surrounding slavery in the immediate aftermath of the American Revolution. The new republic just battled to earn their independence - but what about those who were denied such freedom?

Let's celebrate the end of this decade.. I mean year with a review of all the historical stuff that went down in 2020, shall we?

From Kobe Bryant to impeachment; fires to COVID, 2020 grabbed our attention from the beginning and made sure we never stopped worrying. Come hang with me as I salute the end of the year and welcome 2021.

Sources Used This Episode:
Australia fires: A Visual guide to the bushfire crisis. BBC.com (LINK)

Novel Corona Virus - China. The World Health Organization. (LINK)
...

An overview on the impact of the American Revolution for those most forgotten in history - including a story of the first female soldier to earn a military pension.

This episode breaks down one of the most iconic documents in American History - the Declaration of Independence. A document that has served as our guiding light throughout history, I share the history of this document and how it started out as a piece of propaganda meant to drum up support for the ongoing war.

Listen in this week as I wrap up part two on the history of the Culper Spy Ring. This week focuses on the story that made the ring most famous - the discovery of the treasonous behavior by Benedict Arnold.

Did you know the founding father commonly known as the man who could not tell a lie was responsible for the development of a network of spies during the American Revolution? General George Washington, desperate to outsmart and outmaneuver the British, deployed a series of spies to feed him the information he so desperately needed.

So just what this spy ring? What did they do? Tune in and find out.

Sources Used This Episode:
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American R...

We've made it! Listen with me as I talk about the final leg of the history of the World's Fair. This week's episode covers the New York and San Francisco fairs of 1939, the Disney influenced fair of 1964 and how the U.S was determined to make their Seattle World's Fair a showcase of American resolve to win the space race.

Next week I return to regular programming and will take us back to the American Revolution. Thanks everyone!

You all have shown me so much love I wanted to return the favor with a special bonus episode all about Thanksgiving.

Thank you to all of who you have listened thus far. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Sources Used This Episode:
The History of Thanksgiving, History.com (LINK)
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, Britannica.com, (LINK)
The History of Pumpkin Pie, History.com (LINK)
The Real History of Black Friday, (LINK)

In this week's episode, I wrap up the 1893 Chicago World's Fair including the brief story of a serial killer, H.H Holmes and dive into both St. Louis and San Francisco's first shot at hosting their own event.

St. Louis vied hard to ensure no one else competed with their fair and fought to have the Summer Olympics held on site and away from the original host city - Chicago.

I end this episode where I began - back in Chicago; albeit under a different set of circumstances for the 1933 Centennial ...

Shout out to listener Stacey who reached out and ask that I cover the history of the World's Fairs in the United States.

There have been A LOT of them - and a lot of cool and amazing advancements have come about thanks to these demonstrations of new ideas, inventions and national pride. So much, in fact, that this will be a multi-part episode.

This week I cover the origins of World's Fairs, what brought them to the United States and how they differed from their counterparts. Enjoy!

Sources Us...

John Adams, John Hancock and... Josiah Quincy? This week I talk about three of the many individuals who participated in the run up to the American Revolution. All three men knew each other throughout their lives and their proximation to Boston could be seen as one of the reasons Massachusetts gets all the revolutionary ink. Grab your coffee and hang with me while I dive into the roles these rebels played.

Sources Used This Episode:
American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams and Quincy Families Fan...

Happy Voting day! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to give you all a bonus episode on one of the most historic civic duties in American history - voting. This is an episode all about the history of voting in the United States. I will cover how many individuals fought for the right to vote and why your ability to exercise your franchise may not be as protected as you may think.
I chat about the 15th, 19th and 24th Amendments as well as the Snyder Act and the history behind the term "grandfather...

Hey everyone! I know I mentioned talking about the rebels of the revolution in from Boycott to Bloodshed, but I took an offramp from the normal linear history path to share some background on Halloween in America. From the Celtic origins of the Samhain festival to the history of Haunted Houses, I touch on a few of the things that make Halloween the best holiday of the year. I even ventured into a little true crime with the Candy Man murder. Enjoy! I will return next week with the promised episod...