Episodes

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.

Infighting, attacking the opposition, secret compromises. While this may sound like a headline from today, it was actually all part of one of the most scandalous elections in history: the presidential election of 1800.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson went head to head in a contest that led to a mini constitutional crisis and influenced the development of the twelfth amendment to the constitution.

Tune in this week as I dive into the election and its long term impacts to current political discourse.

Hey Peeps!

Welcome to a special BONUS episode of the pod! I had the opportunity to chat with Peter and Sam from the epic podcast, Two Songs One Couple, and we decided to do a crossover event for the masses.

Our crossover is a blend of both of our shows - a little bit of rock and roll, a little bit of history. Peter and Sam have part one - so go listen to it now so you have the context and know just exactly how this came to be.

This episode is part two! Picking up where our conversation left off. Please go follow Two Songs One Couple and listen to them wherever you get your podcasts!

Abigail Adams is one of the most infamous first ladies in American history. She is known for her sharp tongue and her partnership with "dear friend" John Adams. Supporter of education for women, opposed to slavery and unafraid to share her thoughts, Abigail was definitely a feminist of the moment.

But did you know she also was a business owner? Tune in this week as I cover some of the more interesting tidbits of our second first lady, Abigail Smith Adams.

Join me this week as I interview presidential historian and award winning author, Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky.

Dr. Chervinsky wrote The Cabinet: George Washington and The Creation of An American Institution where provides thoughtful analysis and tells the story of how and why Washington created the first presidential advisory council and why it was so revolutionary.

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Chervinsky about her book, why she chose this topic to explore and what students can learn from studying the make up and success of a presidential cabinet.

Tune in this week as I dive into the history of the most iconic house in the United States: the presidential mansion, also known as The White House.

The residence and workplace of the nation's chief executive, the White House has been known by many names and has some illustrious history. And though it is iconic, it mirrors our history in that its past is a bit complicated.

So grab your coffee and hang out as I dive into the history of the White House.

This week tune in as I dive into one of the most complicated presidencies in American history - John Adams.

A man who fought hard for the independence of his country and who always had his eye on history, Adams proved to be a mild and flawed chief executive. Those who know Adams know him for either the XYZ Affair or the Alien and Sedition Acts - but there is a bit more to be discovered.

Support the show (http://www.buymeacoffee.com/civicscoffeepod)

Political parties - we either love them or hate them. But where exactly did they come from?

All of the founding fathers tended agree on one thing: factions were not a good thing for the country. But as I explore in this episode, the very men who were adamantly opposed to the formation of parties - Alexander Hamilton & James Madison - were two of the most active and influential individuals in the development of the first political parties.

This episode explores why these parties emerged and why only two major parties get all the attention.

Tune in as I go into the history of the first woman in America to earn a living as a writer - one Hannah Adams.

Curious and dedicated to learning from a young age, Hannah Adams broke many molds for her time - including remaining single and child-free. She worked tirelessly in producing quality surveys on both history and religion, being the first to provide unbiased accounts of various religious sects.

This is the closing segment in the HH Holmes drama.

Join me in this episode as I track Holmes as he goes on the run from his creditors in Chicago, marries yet another woman and commits the murder that would prove his downfall - that of Benjamin Pitezel.

This episode comes to you per the request of a longtime fan of the show.

I briefly mentioned HH Holmes while covering the history of the World's Fair and one of you asked for a deeper dive on the notorious serial killer. This week starts us off on Holmes' background and his first suspected murders.

Come back next week as I wrap up his story and share a little about how he became so infamous.

Tune in this week as I discuss the first murder trial in United States history with a full written record - People v. Levi Weeks.

Charged with the murder of young Quaker Elma Sands, Levi was defended by the best legal minds in New York: Henry Livingston and political enemies Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The Manhattan Well Murder, as it is sometimes known, is the first in history to have a publish transcription of the court proceedings, giving life to a well loved genre in America - true crime.

In this episode I discuss some of the early treatment methods and individuals responsible for aiding those living in early America. From Barber Surgeons to Medicine Men, bloodletting to snake oil, getting sick in the nineteenth century was no laughing matter.

Prepare yourself for this one - it's a bit gross.

Join me this week as I dive into the first domestic rebellion faced by the new government.

It all started in January 1791 when Congress passed an excise tax on grain alcohol meant to raise revenue to pay off national debts. It culminated in the deployment of 13,000 troops led by the Commander in Chief himself - George Washington.

This week's episode comes at you via request from listener Peter.

He asked that I do a show all about the history of the death penalty in the U.S. And boy is it a dark - and gruesome - affair.

Tune in as I talk about the various methods, how it has evolved and what the Supreme Court has had to say about the matter.

This episode I wrap up the Washington focus by diving into the first presidency of the United States.

While the election of George Washington was hardly a surprise, his interpretation of what it meant to be president left an undeniable mark on the institution. There is so much to cover about the man and the myth, so I focused this episode on some of the incredible firsts he achieved and traditions he started as our first president.

This week I am diving into the story of the enslaved woman who managed a daring escape from the president's household - Ona Marie Judge Staines.

Listen in as I talk about her life, what prompted her escape and how she managed to seek a life of freedom, despite the odds.

Tune in as I continue my month of Washington based shows.  In this week's episode, I am talking all about our first First Lady, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.

We all know her as the first of the firsts, but there is so much more to her story. From outliving all of her children and her two husbands, to her time spent on the fields of battle during the American Revolution, Martha was one interesting character.

Tune in this week as I start on the journey that is the life of Washington. As I mention in the episode, the first president has made several appearances on prior episodes and I think they're worth listening to in preparation to the closing chapter of Washington.

Take a listen to the following episodes:
Episode 7: First Comes War...
Episode 19: The Culper Spy Ring, Part 1
Episode 20: The Culper Spy Ring, Part 2
Episode 22: The American Revolution - Impacts
Episode 29: The Madison Dash to the Constitution

Closing out Women's History Month with a bang ! Tune in as I discuss the infamous Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

She is known by many as the Notorious RBG, but Ginsburg life is an example of never giving up on your dreams and always fighting for what you believe.