Episodes

Not much is known about the first recorded drag queen in the United States, William Dorsey Swann. A man who was born into slavery in Maryland just ahead of the Civil War, Swann eventually moved to Washington, D.C. where he held parties celebrating a different form of expression. 

Tune in this week as I chat about William Dorsey Swann and how his actions are considered by some to be the origins of the LGBTQ rights movement.

Joining me this week is Dr. Robin Bernstein. She is a historian, professor, and author whose latest book Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America's Original Prison for Profit investigates the origins of penal capitalism.

In the nineteenth century, social norms dictated that proper ladies stayed in the domestic space, leaving the home for waged work only under desperate circumstances. As the federal government expanded during the Civil War, the need for labor intensified and administrators quickly realized they had an untapped source: women. 

Join me this episode as I dive into the history of women working for the federal service.

Born to a wealthy Black family, Charlotte Forten enjoyed a level of privilege uncommon for Black Americans of the period. She spent her life dedicated to the uplift of her fellow countrymen by pursuing a teaching career.

So just who was Charlotte Forten Grimke? Tune in to find out.

In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln authorized the execution of 38 Dakota warriors. His decision to execute, and the reasons used to justify the action remain a black mark on Lincoln's legacy. 

Join me this week as I dive into the latest listener request and explore what prompted the mass execution of Indigenous Americans and why it is one of the most troubling aspects to Lincoln's administration.

Born into slavery in 1818, Elizabeth Keckly learned a trade that would lead to her freedom and place her into the upper echelons of white society: sewing. 

Join me as I dive into the life of the woman who was known as "Madam Elizabeth" by her famous employers. Where did Elizabeth learn how to sew? How did she buy her freedom? And what caused her rift with First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln?

Joining me this week is historian and author Justin McHenry. In this episode we discuss his latest effort, Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place, which tells the story of the fictional Lemuria.

Justin dives into how Lemuria is tied to Atlantis, how Mt. Shasta is involved, and what it tells us about alternative narratives.

One of the topics you all wanted me to cover was the impact of the war on the home front.

Join me this week as I cover the impacts of a "total war" on local residents and how home front experiences changed depending on race, location, and economic status.

Edwin Stanton is perhaps best known as the man who oversaw the hunt for President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

The lawyer turned Secretary of War dealt with his fair share of heartache and uncertainty, but as I will cover in this episode, he was the right man at the right time.

Joining me this week is fellow podcast host and new audiobook author, Michael Trapani.

He is the host (and author) of How to Start a War and sat down with me to discuss both his project and what we can learn from studying the bad actors in history.

To learn more about Michael, head over to his website at www.howtostartawar.com

If you follow pop culture, then you may be aware that April 20th signifies a celebration of sorts by a certain portion of the population. Join me this week as I dive into the story behind how 420 became a cannabis smoker's holiday and how access and the legality of the drug has evolved in the United States throughout history. 

Listener discretion advised.

Join me this week as I wrap up the life of Mary Todd Lincoln. In this episode, I review her time as First Lady, her friendship with dressmaker Elizabeth Keckly, and why she was committed to an asylum.

The wife of 16th President Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln is generally known for her eccentric personality. However, there is so much more sitting beneath the surface. 

Join me this week as I begin the life and times of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Joining me this week is Michael Wolraich. We discuss his latest book, The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age, including what went into the research and how the murder of a woman rocked New York City politics.

The Civil War touched every corner of the United States and the people residing within its borders. Native Americans were no exception. 

As the country tore itself in two, Indigenous Americans had to determine the best course of action for their community. Should they side with the Union? The Confederacy? Or stay neutral?

Tune in this week to learn about Native Americans in the Civil War.

The bloodiest battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg was the fatal blow to Robert E. Lee's quest to invade the north and force a surrender. 

Tune in as I describe how thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers overtook a small, rural community in southern Pennsylvania and how the battlefield became a public history site.

I am back with another listener request! 

Longtime listener Arthur asked that I talk about the history of public assistance in the United States. Tune in this week to learn why that is quite the ask and why I decided to focus on the history of welfare in California instead.

Join me this week as I dive into the life of Jefferson Davis. 

A military man and southern politician, Jefferson Davis was the one and only president of the Confederate States of America. Why was he chosen? And what happened to him after the war? 

Tune in to find out.

The single most devastating military conflict in United States history, the Civil War took hundreds of thousands of American lives and permanently maimed many others. However the sheer volume of patients also provided an opportunity to test new procedures and hone processes.

Join me this week as I discuss medical advancements during the Civil War.

Join me this week as I speak with Professor of Literature and historical novelist Piper Hugely as we discuss her book By Her Own Design.

The novel tells a fictionalized account of the black fashion designer Ann Lowe and is an engaging, thought provoking look at the life of black women in Jim Crow United States.

The American Historical Association Conference was held last month in San Francisco. One of the largest conferences around, it attracts historians from all over to discuss and debate various historical topics. However, so much of the conference experience remains unknown. 

Join me this week as I dive into history conferences. What are they? Should you go? And how can you maximize your experience?

Known as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton lived several lifetimes in her 90 years on earth. She was a nurse, abolitionist, and activist, always challenging norms and pushing the envelope. 

Join me this week as I dive into the history of Clara Barton.

Joining me this week is Dr. Katlyn Carter who recently published her first book, Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions. The book traces the history of the origins of government for both the United States and France and illuminates how the call for transparency in government did not always translate in practice.

To read the Age of Revolutions blog, head to www.ageofrevolutions.com

Depicted in the 1989 Hollywood feature film "Glory" the Massachusetts 54th was the first all black regiment to fight in the Civil War. Established in the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation, the members serving in the regiment had much riding on their perceived success. 

Join me this week as I dive into the history of the Massachusetts 54th.