Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast
Civics & Coffee delivers bite-sized U.S. history with clear, engaging storytelling — all in the time it takes to drink your morning cup of coffee. Host Alycia brings America’s past to life with well-researched episodes that are approachable, human, and impossible to forget. In 2026, Civics & Coffee dives into the Gilded Age - a transformative era of booming industry, powerful presidents, labor uprisings, immigration waves, inequality, and social reformers. From national crises like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 to personal stories of figures such as Rutherford B. Hayes, Lucy Webb Hayes, and the Exodusters, each episode uncovers the people, tensions, and turning points that shaped modern America. Whether you’re a longtime history lover or just history-curious, Civics & Coffee offers context without the homework and storytelling without the fluff. Grab your mug and join the conversation, one cup at a time.
Episodes
Is the American experiment in democracy undergoing a temporary setback? Or is it undergoing a racial reckoning 400 years in the making? That is what Dr. Kelly Burton explores in her book The Price of Union: Race, Power, and the Make of American Democracy. Join me as I discuss her book and what motivated Dr. Burton's research - and where she thinks the United States goes from here.
In this conversation, Dr. Burton and I discuss...
Carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, and sharing ghost stories are just some of the wholesome Halloween traditions Americans love to enjoy every year, but what were things like during the rapidly changing era known as the Gilded Age? Join me as I explore the festivities of Halloween during the Gilded Age! Learn how the elite used Halloween as another way to celebrate and showcase their wealth and why Spiritualism was a popular rel...
Education has the power to open doors - and from 1935 to 1965 the New Farmers of America helped introduce rural Black youth to the world. Join me as I sit down with Dr. Bobby J. Smith to discuss his latest book Black Farm Boys: The Untold Story of the New Farmers of America which explores the origins of the organization and traces its impact and legacy on Black youth in agriculture.
In this conversation, Dr. Smith and I discu...
He was one Rhode Island's richest Black entrepreneurs. His death sent shockwaves into the small, coastal community of Newport. Initially ruled a suicide, rumors of family disputes, financial mismanagement, and concerns about a new addition to the household prompted authorities to dive deeper. What they exposed was a horrific story of greed and manipulation. Prepare yourself for the Gilded Age case of Benjamin J. Burton.
There has been a lot of talk lately about fascism, communism, and authoritarianism in U.S. politics, but what does the history tell us? Join me as I welcome historian Jackson van Uden to discuss his research on authoritarianism and its long thread through American history. Discover the distinctions between authoritarianism, fascism, and communism, and how these concepts manifest in various political contexts. Our conversation refle...
Was Alfred Packer a crazed maniac or a desperate man seeking a way to survive? Join me as I launch Civics & Coffee's annual spooky season with a look into the life of the would-be prospector known as the Colorado Cannibal. Learn how the thirst for gold drove Packer and twenty others into the treacherous Colorado mountains in the dead of winter and why his story of abandonment and panic failed to resonate with his fellow residen...
Does the United States really have free and fair elections? In this conversation, voting rights attorney David Walbert discusses his book Stealing Elections American Style, which explores America's contentious electoral history. He highlights the ongoing issues of voter suppression and the historical context of the 1876 election, illustrating how political structures have perpetuated racial inequalities and the challenges faced in ...
If you grew up taping posters of your favorite celebrities on your wall or consider yourself a Swiftie, you can thank Vaudeville. Tune in this week as I explore the early quintessential American mass entertainment medium and its lasting impact on modern culture. Discover how vaudeville shaped celebrity culture, influenced entertainment accessibility, and laid the groundwork for future media.
Lillian Smith was a best-selling author whose courageous decision to stand for civil rights in the Jim Crow south led to her erasure from discussions about influential leaders of the movement. Join me as I sit down with historian Keri Leigh Merritt whose insightful biography seeks to pull Smith from the shadows and highlight the ways Smith challenged societal norms and contributed to the early fights against racism.
Labor Day was first celebrated during the Gilded Age - amid a growing labor movement seeking recognition. Join me this week as I explore the origins, evolution, and current perceptions of Labor Day in the United States. Learn how Labor Day has transformed from a day of militant labor demonstrations to a more consumer-focused holiday, reflecting broader societal changes and the decline of organized labor's influence.
Join me as I sit down with author Stan Haynes to discuss his latest book And Slavery No More - a work of historical fiction that explores the mystery of General Lee's lost order and President Lincoln's evolution on slavery. Tune in to learn about how Haynes came to write historical fiction, the value to reading both fiction and nonfiction, and how he approaches blending creative elements grounded in historical events.
In 1882, President Chester A Arthur signed legislation barring Chinese laborers from entering the United States for a period of ten years. It went on to become known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, but is that an accurate framing? Join me this week as I explore Chinese immigration and why some historians refer to the 1882 law as the Chinese Restriction Act.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are two of the most notable men of the founding era - as is their complicated and occasionally fraught relationship. Join me as I sit down with Jim Rasenberger to discuss his latest book A Perfect Coincidence which explores their friendship, political differences, and what lessons we can learn from their reconciliation.
To learn more about Jim, check out his website: jimrasenberger.com
The gunfight at the OK Corral remains one of the most iconic moments of the American West, a whirlwind of chaos that lasted less than a minute but has echoed through history. Learn what led to the fight, why Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were in Tombstone to begin with, and how the battle scarred Earp for the remainder of his days. If all you know about the shootout is what Hollywood showed you, listen up - you're in for a wild ride....
How many of us make time? Join me as I sit with Jason Green to discuss his book Too Precious to Lose, which intertwines memoir and oral history to explore the rich history of a Black community in Maryland. He shares the importance of community, the richness uncovered in oral histories, and how preserving history is a collective responsibility. Green reflects on pivotal moments in his family's history and how these experiences conne...
James "Wild Bill" Hickok is a figure who embodies the spirit of the American frontier. His adventures, often dramatized in tales and folk songs, paint a vivid picture of a man who was both a hero and an outlaw. Tune in this week to learn about the man behind the legend and join me as I explore the life of Wild Bill Hickok; from his early days in Illinois to his rise as a frontier icon and his tragic end in Deadwood. Discover how hi...
Most know that the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 swept in massive labor reforms and highlighted the need for workplace safety laws. Yet, this is only part of the story. Join me as I sit down with Dr. David Conrad-Pérez to discuss his book Fire in the Heart of the City which explores the deeper implications of the fire with the rise of modern charity. Learn how critical the New York Times was in shaping public opin...
One of the most iconic individuals of the American West, Billy the Kid has dominated pop culture for over a century. Stories about his life are filled with fanciful details and he is described as one of the most dangerous, yet affable outlaws of the frontier. How did a gunslinging youngster from the wrong side of the tracks rise to such fame? And how much of his story is based in reality? Tune in this week to find out.
Healthcare in the United States has a long, complex history. Join me as I sit down with John McDonough, a Harvard professor and healthcare policy expert, to explore the history of the U.S. healthcare system, its intersection with neoliberalism, and potential paths forward. To learn more about this history, be sure to check out McDonough's latest book, America's Wrong Turn.
What did it mean to assert dignity in the former confederate south? For Black washerwomen in Atlanta, it was the act of going on strike. Join me this week as I explore the 1881 Washerwomen Strike and share the motivations behind the strike, how the women organized, and what the end results were. Learn why women who were already in economic precarious positions chose to risk their livelihoods - and their freedom - to demand recognit...
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