Season 1
Public Memory & Myths: Matthew Davis on A Biography of a Mountain
Join me as I sit down with author Matthew Davis to discuss his new book, A Biography of a Mountain , an in-depth look at the creation, meaning, and legacy of Mount Rushmore. Davis explores how the monument came to symbolize b...
The Insurrection Act: A Civics Lesson in Power, Law, and Order
The Insurrection Act has stood at the crossroads of law, power, and public order for over two centuries. This episode traces its roots from the Militia Acts of 1792 and 1795 to its modern interpretations in moments of national crisis. Discover how this rarely invoked law has shaped presidential authority, balanced federal and state power, and influenced some of the most turbulent chapters in American history. A civics deep dive into how one statute continues to test the boundaries of democra…
Victoria Woodhull: Eden Collinsworth on a Most Improbable Life
She was a child clairvoyant, the first woman to own a Wall Street brokerage firm—and in 1872, she became the first woman to run for president of the United States. Join me as I sit down with author Eden Collinsworth to unpack the astonishing, unconventional, and often-overlooked life of Victoria Woodhull. Drawing from her new book The Improbable Victoria Woodhull, Collinsworth shares insights into Woodhull’s rise from spiritualist and outsider to a figure who challenged nearly every social a…
The Fever That Haunted the South: The Forgotten Epidemic of 1878
What kind of epidemic could turn a thriving American city into a ghost town almost overnight?
Join me as I explore the chilling story of the 1878 yellow fever epidemic—a public health disaster that decimated Memphis and echoed far beyond the Mississippi River Valley. While yellow fever had haunted the U.S. since the slave trade, it was the post–Civil War era—with its railroads, riverboats, and lack of national infrastructure—that turned an outbreak into a catastrophe. The fever empti…
Before Jack the Ripper: The Savage Crimes of the Servant Girl Annihilator
What if America’s first serial killer wasn’t H.H. Holmes—but someone far more brutal and completely forgotten?
In this episode, I unravel the chilling mystery of the Servant Girl Annihilator, a violent and elusive murderer who stalked Austin, Texas from 1884 to 1885—years before Holmes ever claimed a victim. Eight people were slaughtered in their homes, yet this case remains buried beneath history’s more famous headlines. Who was this killer? Why were the crimes so quickly forgotten?…
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 Holy Local, which grew out of an in-depth oral history project focused on the Church of the Saviour.
Shae shares what it takes to build a public history project from the ground up, the unexpected challenges of capturing living memory, and why stories of faith—espec…
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 followed was one of the most sensational murder trials in Texas history.
Join me as I dive into the tangled story behind her death and the man accused of killing her—Abraham Rothschild, a wealthy Cincinnati heir with powerful family connections.
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 shockwaves across the Atlantic, bringing people, beliefs, and tensions into the heart of Louisiana. Hear the story of Betsey Toledano, a name often left out of the textbooks, and unravel the legend of Marie Laveau.
Voodoo in America has long been distorted by fear and f…
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 successfully defended their post for six months. Yet the Modoc War remains one of the least known conflicts in history.
Tune in to learn about the Modoc and what drove them to war.
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 sit down with author and illustrator Emma Duval to chat about her debut book, Unwed & Unbothered: The Defiant Lives of Single Women Throughout History. Learn about what motivated Emma to write such a book, what she uncovered in her research, and what learning a…
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 social foundation for future generations. Through everyday acts of care, resistance, and resilience, they redefined citizenship and freedom on their own terms. This episode is a closer look at how liberation was lived and fought for beyond policy and politics.
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’s career, from his role in shaping U.S. defense policy to the internal conflicts that defined his legacy. In this episode, we discuss how McNamara navigated war, power, and moral complexity while telling the story through a new lens. Whether you're a student of lead…
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 grassroots schools built by the Black community to the founding of the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Learn how freed people organized, taught, and funded early schools, often under threat of violence. I also touch on the role of the Freedme…
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.